Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evolution of Foamy Viruses: The Most Ancient of All Retroviruses †

Recent evidence indicates that foamy viruses (FVs) are the oldest retroviruses (RVs) that we know and coevolved with their hosts for several hundred million years. This coevolution may have contributed to the non-pathogenicity of FVs, an important factor in development of foamy viral vectors in gene therapy. However, various questions on the molecular evolution of FVs remain still unanswered. The analysis of the spectrum of animal species infected by exogenous FVs or harboring endogenous FV elements in their genome is pivotal. Furthermore, animal studies might reveal important issues, such as the identification of the FV in vivo target cells, which than require a detailed characterization, to resolve the molecular basis of the accuracy with which FVs copy their genome. The issues of the extent of FV viremia and of the nature of the virion genome (RNA vs. DNA) also need to be experimentally addressed.
A novel compilation framework for supporting semi-regular distributions in hybrid applications

This paper explains how efficient support for semi-regular distributions can be incorporated in a uniform compilation framework for hybrid applications. The key focus of this work is in showing how, unlike other existing schemes, our scheme is able to minimize preprocessing overheads and maintain sophisticated communication optimizations (such as reduction of inter-processor communication during schedule generation and sharing of communicated information between regular and irregular accesses) even in the presence of semi-regular distributions. It is only natural that preprocessing overheads associated with semi-regular distributions be intermediate between those involved for regular and irregular distributions. This paper shows how various properties can be inferred for semi-regular distributions. These allow the use of the interval representation which in turn reduces the preprocessing overhead and makes possible compatible code generation for hybrid references. Experimental results on a 16-processor IBM SP-2 for a number of sparse applications using semi-regular distributions show that our scheme is feasible.
EMOTIONAL EFFECTS OF MUSIC: PRODUCTION RULES

It is an ancient, and very pervasive, idea that music expresses emotion. Apart from the copious literature to this effect contributed by composers, musicologists, and philosophers, there is also solid empirical evidence from psychological research, reviewed in chapters of this book (e.g. Gabrielsson & Lindstrom, this volume; Juslin, this volume), that listeners often agree rather strongly about what type of emotion is expressed in a particular piece. It is also a pervasive belief that music can, at times, actually produce emotion in listeners. The distinction between perception and production is related to the distinction between cognitivism and emotivism proposed by philosophers in their analysis of emotion in music (e.g. Kivy 1989). Whereas 'emotivists' hold that music elicits real emotional responses in listeners, 'cognitivists' argue that music simply expresses or represents emotions. Our view is that it would be premature to prejudge the issue and that both positions may be perfectly appropriate depending on a number of factors outlined below. Our purpose in this chapter is to provide a formalization of the processes whereby music produces emotional effects in the listener that go beyond the cognitive inference of what the music can be said to express. In addition, we review the pertinent evidence to date and suggest ways in which future research might investigate these processes in a systematic fashion. We state at the outset that our discussion and the review of the available evidence are largely based on Western classical music, thereby restricting the generalizability of our claims to other kinds of music and other cultures. Our attempt at a formalization of emotional effects of music will consist in defining the affective changes that music is supposed to produce in the listener and to identify the determinants of the listening situation (features such as the musical structure of the piece listened to, the interpretation by the performer, relevant state and trait characteristics of the listener, and the respective context). An important issue for discussion will be the relative weighting of the different determinants and the type of their interaction in producing the affective outcome. We follow the senior author's attempt to define the emotional meaning of music in analogy to Buhler's Organon model of language, postulating composition, expression, perception, and production rules to model the different facets of emotional meaning (Scherer, 2000d). In this context, the term rule is used to denote a certain regularity or lawfulness of the effects discussed that can be expressed in concrete predictions or hypotheses. It is not excluded that these rules can be integrated into attempts at computational modelling of the underlying mechanisms (in fact, we consider this a highly desirable option), but we do not feel that the current state of the
Combining Regression Estimators: GA-Based Selective Neural Network Ensemble

Neural network ensemble is a learning paradigm where a collection of neural networks is trained for the same task. In this paper, the relationship between the generalization ability of the neural network ensemble and the correlation of the individual neural networks constituting the ensemble is analyzed in the context of combining neural regression estimators, which reveals that ensembling a selective subset of trained networks is superior to ensembling all the trained networks in some cases. Based on such recognition, an approach named GASEN is proposed. GASEN trains a number of individual neural networks at first. Then it assigns random weights to the individual networks and employs a genetic algorithm to evolve those weights so that they can characterize to some extent the importance of the individual networks in constituting an ensemble. Finally it selects an optimum subset of individual networks based on the evolved weights to make up the ensemble. Experimental results show that, comparing with a popular ensemble approach, i.e., averaging all, and a theoretically optimum selective ensemble approach, i.e. enumerating, GASEN has preferable performance in generating ensembles with strong generalization ability in relatively small computational cost. This paper also analyzes the working mechanism of GASEN from the view of error-ambiguity decomposition, which reveals that GASEN improves generalization ability mainly through reducing the average generalization error of the individual neural networks constituting the ensemble.
Case law in extended argumentation frameworks

In this paper we discuss how recent developments in argumentation frameworks, most notably Extended Argumentation Frameworks, can inform the representation of a body of case law using abstract argumentation techniques. This builds on previous work which has first used abstract Argumentation Frameworks, and then Value based Argumentation Frameworks for this purpose. Extended Argumentation Frameworks augment Argumentation Frameworks to not only allow arguments to be attacked, but also attacks to be attacked. This allows argumentation based reasoning about information normally assumed to be metalevel to the object level domain of argumentation, including argumentation over preferences, values and the audience based ranking of values promoted by arguments. The Extended Argumentation Frameworks can then be rewritten as standard Argumentation Frameworks, so that cases, and values and their rankings relevant to the cases, can be reasoned about using standard dialogue games for Argumentation Frameworks. In this way precedents can be represented as collections of arguments and dialogues using these arguments. Now, when confronted with a new case, these dialogues may be used to identify ways of deploying the arguments in the new case so as to reach a favourable position.
An experimental comparison of MES aggregation rules in case of imbalanced datasets

Learning under imbalanced dataset can be difficult since traditional algorithms are biased towards the majority class, providing low predictive accuracy over the minority one. Among the several methods proposed in the literature to overcome such a limitation, the most recent uses multi-experts system (MES) composed of balanced classifiers, whose decisions are aggregated according to a combination rule. Each classifier of the MES is trained with a balanced subset of the original training set, which can be determined applying different division methods. This paper explores how different MES combination rules perform with imbalanced TS, experimentally comparing fusion and selection combination criteria. Furthermore, two methods have been used to divide the original TS, namely random selection and clustering. The results confirm and extend previous findings reported in the literature showing that, on the one side, combination rules belonging to selection framework outperform the others and, on the other side, dividing the original training set via random selection rather than clustering permits to attain better performance.
Towards Fuzzy Agents with Dynamic Personality for Human Behavior Simulation

In this article, the aim is define fuzzy agents with dynamic personality for the simulation of human behavior. Fuzzy sets are defined for personality traits and facets and the concise representation of personality knowledge is processed in fuzzy logic. This work is based on the personality knowledge as distilled from psychology [Oren and GhasemAghaee 2003a].
Middle Eocene primate tarsals from China: implications for haplorhine evolution.

We describe tarsal remains of primates recovered from the Middle Eocene (approximately 45 mya) Shanghuang fissures in southern Jiangsu Province, China. These tarsals document the existence of four higher-level taxa of haplorhine primates and at least two adapid species. The meager and poorly preserved adapid material exhibits some similarities to European adapines like Adapis. The haplorhine primates are divided into two major groups: a "prosimian group" consisting of Tarsiidae and an unnamed group that is anatomically similar to Omomyidae; and an "anthropoid group" consisting of Eosimiidae and an unnamed group of protoanthropoids. The anthropoid tarsals are morphologically transitional between omomyids (or primitive haplorhines) and extant telanthropoids, providing the first postcranial evidence for primates which bridge the prosimian-anthropoid gap. All of the haplorhines are extremely small (most are between 50-100 g), and the deposits contain the smallest euprimates ever documented. The uniqueness of this fauna is further highlighted by the fact that no modern primate community contains as many tiny primates as does the fauna from Shanghuang.
Self‐Reported Life Events, Social Support and Psychological Problems in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

Background: Several studies have reported relationships between life events and psychological problems in people with intellectual disabilities. In contrast to the general literature, data have consistently been collected via proxy informants and putative moderator variables such as social support have not been examined. Materials and Methods: Thirty-eight adults with intellectual disabilities completed three psychological measures in a semi-structured interview setting: the Bangor Life Events Schedule for Intellectual Disabilities Self-Report, the Brief Symptom Inventory, and the Social Network Map. Results: Exposure to life events was positively associated with measures of psychological problems. Social support was generally not found to be associated with psychological problems, although more psychological problems were reported by participants who also reported more criticism of them by others. Conclusion: Findings are broadly consistent with the proxy-report literature, though self-report measures may prove more sensitive. A number of methodological issues, clinical implications, and future research directions are discussed.
Hypocapnia and cerebral hypoperfusion in orthostatic intolerance.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Orthostatic and other stresses trigger tachycardia associated with symptoms of tremulousness, shortness of breath, dizziness, blurred vision, and, often, syncope. It has been suggested that paradoxical cerebral vasoconstriction during head-up tilt might be present in patients with orthostatic intolerance. We chose to study middle cerebral artery (MCA) blood flow velocity (BFV) and cerebral vasoregulation during tilt in patients with orthostatic intolerance (OI). METHODS Beat-to-beat BFV from the MCA, heart rate, CO2, blood pressure (BP), and respiration were measured in 30 patients with OI (25 women and 5 men; age range, 21 to 44 years; mean age, 31.3+/-1.2 years) and 17 control subjects (13 women and 4 men; age range, 20 to 41 years; mean age, 30+/-1.6 years); ages were not statistically different. These indices were monitored during supine rest and head-up tilt (HUT). We compared spontaneous breathing and hyperventilation and evaluated the effect of CO2 rebreathing in these 2 positions. RESULTS The OI group had higher supine heart rates (P<0.001) and cardiac outputs (P<0.01) than the control group. In response to HUT, OI patients underwent a greater heart rate increment (P<0.001) and greater reductions in pulse pressure (P<0.01) and CO2 (P<0.001), but total systemic resistance failed to show an increment. Among the cerebrovascular indices, all BFVs (systolic, diastolic, and mean) decreased significantly more, and cerebrovascular resistance (CVR) was increased in OI patients (P<0.01) compared with control subjects. In both groups, hyperventilation induced mild tachycardia (P<0.001), a significant reduction of BFV, and a significant increase of CVR associated with a fall in CO2. Hyperventilation during HUT reproduced hypocapnia, BFV reduction, and tachycardia and worsened symptoms of OI; these symptoms and indices were improved within 2 minutes of CO2 rebreathing. The relationships between CO2 and BFV and heart rate were well described by linear regressions, and the slope was not different between control subjects and patients with OI. CONCLUSIONS Cerebral vasoconstriction occurs in OI during orthostasis, which is primarily due to hyperventilation, causing significant hypocapnia. Hypocapnia and symptoms of orthostatic hypertension are reversible by CO2 rebreathing.
Clinical Effects and Lethal and Forensic Aspects of Propofol *

Abstract: Propofol is a potent intravenous anesthetic agent that rapidly induces sedation and unconsciousness. The potential for propofol dependency, recreational use, and abuse has only recently been recognized, and several cases of accidental overdose and suicide have emerged. In addition, the first documented case of murder using propofol was reported a few months ago, and a high profile case of suspected homicide with propofol is currently under investigation. A number of analytical methods have been employed to detect and quantify propofol concentrations in biological specimens. The reported propofol‐related deaths and postmortem blood and tissue levels are reviewed. Importantly, limitations of propofol detection are discussed, and future considerations are presented. Because propofol has the potential for diversion with lethal consequences, the forensic scientist must have a basic understanding of its clinical indications and uses, pharmacologic properties, and detection methods. In addition, medical institutions should develop systems to prevent and detect diversion of this potential drug of abuse.
La méthamphétamine – un stimulant comme les autres ou un problème plus complexe ?

La methamphetamine (MA) fait beaucoup couler d’encre dans les medias, par sa popularite grandissante ainsi que par ses effets psychotropes et nefastes. S’agit-il d’un stimulant comme un autre, ou la methamphetamine entraine-t-elle des difficultes specifiques chez ses utilisateurs ? Cet article se veut une breve revue de la documentation scientifique decrivant les raisons de sa popularite ainsi que les problemes physiques, dentaires, psychiatriques, cognitifs et judiciaires qui y sont associes. Les profils d’utilisateurs ainsi que les traitements proposes a ce jour seront egalement presentes. En somme, nous tenterons d’illustrer la complexite des troubles rencontres chez l’utilisateur de MA, les similitudes avec les utilisateurs de stimulants, ainsi que les limites des traitements actuels pour repondre aux besoins lies a cette complexite.
Are Treatments More Effective than Placebos? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background Placebos are widely used in clinical practice in spite of ethical restrictions. Whether such use is justified depends in part on the relative benefit of placebos compared to ‘active’ treatments. A direct test for differences between placebo and ‘active’ treatment effects has not been conducted. Objectives We aimed to test for differences between treatment and placebo effects within similar trial populations. Data Sources A Cochrane Review compared placebos with no treatment in three-armed trials (no treatment, placebo, and treatment). We added an analysis of treatment and placebo differences within the same trials. Synthesis Methods For continuous outcomes we compared mean differences between placebo and no treatment with mean differences between treatment and placebo. For binary outcomes we compared the risk ratio for treatment benefit (versus placebo) with the risk ratio for placebo benefit (versus no treatment). We conducted several preplanned subgroup analyses: objective versus subjective outcomes, conditions tested in three or more trials, and trials with varying degrees of bias. Results In trials with continuous outcomes (n = 115) we found no difference between treatment and placebo effects (MD = −0.29, 95% CI −0.62 to 0.05, P = 0.10). In trials with binary outcomes (n = 37) treatments were significantly more effective than placebos (RRR = 0.72, 95%CI = 0.61 to 0.86, P = 0.0003). Treatment and placebo effects were not different in 22 out of 28 predefined subgroup analyses. Of the six subgroups with differences treatments were more effective than placebos in five. However when all criteria for reducing bias were ruled out (continuous outcomes) placebos were more effective than treatments (MD = 1.59, 95% CI = 0.40 to 2.77, P = 0.009). Conclusions and Implications Placebos and treatments often have similar effect sizes. Placebos with comparatively powerful effects can benefit patients either alone or as part of a therapeutic regime, and trials involving such placebos must be adequately blinded.
Continuous attractor network models of grid cell firing based on excitatory–inhibitory interactions

Neurons in the medial entorhinal cortex encode location through spatial firing fields that have a grid‐like organisation. The challenge of identifying mechanisms for grid firing has been addressed through experimental and theoretical investigations of medial entorhinal circuits. Here, we discuss evidence for continuous attractor network models that account for grid firing by synaptic interactions between excitatory and inhibitory cells. These models assume that grid‐like firing patterns are the result of computation of location from velocity inputs, with additional spatial input required to oppose drift in the attractor state. We focus on properties of continuous attractor networks that are revealed by explicitly considering excitatory and inhibitory neurons, their connectivity and their membrane potential dynamics. Models at this level of detail can account for theta‐nested gamma oscillations as well as grid firing, predict spatial firing of interneurons as well as excitatory cells, show how gamma oscillations can be modulated independently from spatial computations, reveal critical roles for neuronal noise, and demonstrate that only a subset of excitatory cells in a network need have grid‐like firing fields. Evaluating experimental data against predictions from detailed network models will be important for establishing the mechanisms mediating grid firing.
Disability, Inability and Cyberspace

L�augmentation de la puissance des moyens de calcul complique la vie des personnes handicapees parce que des applications, de plus en plus nombreuses, deviennent disponibles mais avec des interfaces inutilisables. Une partie du probleme est economique, mais une autre procede d�un manque d�imagination. La revolution du cyberespace peut reduire potentiellement les differences entre les personnes « normales » et handicapees, parce que, en tant qu�internautes, aucun de nous ne recoit l�information dont il a besoin directement de ses sens, ni ne produit directement par l�usage de ses membres les effets desires sur les ordinateurs ou sur les gens. Nous dependons tous de la technologie pour aider nos sens, et amplifier et transformer nos mouvements. La difference entre les personnes avec et sans handicap devient simplement une question de dispositifs particuliers relatifs aux entrees/sorties dont ils ont besoin pour acceder au reseau. Dans cet article, nous etablissons une distinction entre degradation, incapacite, inaptitude, et handicap, et nous l�utilisons pour distinguer en outre deux perspectives sur les relations entre inaptitude et handicap, que nous appelons perspective intrinseque et circonstancielle. Nous discutons de l�espace d�accomplissement, distinguons les outils des infrastructures, et nous presentons une architecture pour un design accessible, le Total Access System. Enfin, nous mettons en regard le modele circonstanciel et le TAL avec l�American Disabilities Act (ADA).
A common idiotype on SJL and C57BL/6 anti-(4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl) acetyl antibodies and its relationship with lambda chain production

Hybridoma cell lines secreting antibodies specific to (3-nitro-4- hydroxyphenyl) acetyl (NP) were generated by fusion of NP-immunized SJL spleen cells with the SP2/0 cell line. One hybridoma (N-hybridoma) anti- NP antibody (mu, lambda2) was found to partially inhibit (35-40%) the binding of the predominant idiotype in primary C57BL/6 anti-NP antibodies (NPb). Iodinated hybridoma antibody could be completely bound with anti-idiotypic antiserum made against either specifically purified C57BL/6 anti-NP antibodies, SJL anti-NP antibodies, or N- hybridoma antibody. The idiotypic specificities defined with anti- idiotypic antiserum made against N-hybridoma antibody were termed NP-1 idiotype. Strain distribution and genetic mapping studies indicate that the gene(s) controlling the production of NP-1 idiotype is closely associated with Igh-1b and Igh-1e alleles and mapped within the same chromosomal segment that controls the synthesis of NPb idiotype. However, unlike NPb idiotype, the expression of NP-1 idiotype is not influenced by the gene(s) that control lambda1 chain synthesis. Thus, SJL mice that produce low or undetectable levels of NPb idiotype due to a defect in lambda1 chain production express high levels of NP-1 idiotype. Specifically purified C57BL/6 and SJL anti-NP antibodies fully express NP-1 idiotype, the level of which correlates with the level of lambda2 chain-bearing molecules. Nonetheless, further experiments indicate that lambda1-bearing anti-NP antibodies can express extremely weak NP-1 idiotypic cross-reactivity.