Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ANÁLISE DO COMPORTAMENTO TEMPORAL DOS PREÇOS DA BORRACHA NATURAL NO MERCADO INTERNACIONAL TIME SERIES ANALYSIS OF THE BEHAVIOR OF NATURAL RUBBER PRICES IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET

This work analyzed the behavior of natural rubber prices in the international market from January 1982 to December 2006 in function of its aggregated demand and supply, pointing out the main producing and consuming countries. Specifically, the research studied the evolution of prices and of the marketed quantum of natural rubber in the international market. It was characterized, identified, estimated and analyzed models for the real monthly prices series of raw rubber RSS 1 (US$/t), and the accuracy of the estimated models for forecasting prices of this commodity was tested from Jan/2006 to Dez/2006. The studied models were of ARIMA-ARCH class. The main results were: the real natural rubber prices presented decreasing tendency in the period being studied; the ARIMA family estimated model indicating the existence of heteroskedasticity in the series, making it necessary to identify, to estimate and to analyze the models of ARCH family; the model which best adjusted the returns of the price series of the raw rubber RSS1 was AR(1)-GARCH(1,1); the models of the ARIMA family didn't satisfy the prognosis conditions of the series being studied; the AIR (1)-GARCH (1,1) model was accurate for forecasting rubber prices.
Sorting of a nonmuscle tropomyosin to a novel cytoskeletal compartment in skeletal muscle results in muscular dystrophy

Tropomyosin (Tm) is a key component of the actin cytoskeleton and >40 isoforms have been described in mammals. In addition to the isoforms in the sarcomere, we now report the existence of two nonsarcomeric (NS) isoforms in skeletal muscle. These isoforms are excluded from the thin filament of the sarcomere and are localized to a novel Z-line adjacent structure. Immunostained cross sections indicate that one Tm defines a Z-line adjacent structure common to all myofibers, whereas the second Tm defines a spatially distinct structure unique to muscles that undergo chronic or repetitive contractions. When a Tm (Tm3) that is normally absent from muscle was expressed in mice it became associated with the Z-line adjacent structure. These mice display a muscular dystrophy and ragged-red fiber phenotype, suggestive of disruption of the membrane-associated cytoskeletal network. Our findings raise the possibility that mutations in these tropomyosin and these structures may underpin these types of myopathies.
Sustainability vs. credibility of fiscal consolidation. A Principal Components test for the Euro Zone

Why did some countries in the Euro Zone between 2010 and 2012 - until the European Central Bank stepped in - experience a dramatic vicious circle between hard austerity plans and rising default risk premia? Were such plans too small, and hence non credible, or too large, and hence non sustainable? These questions have prompted theoretical and empirical investigations in the line of the so-called "self-fulfilling beliefs" where beliefs of unsustainability of fiscal adjustments, and hence default on debt, feed higher risk premia which indeed make fiscal adjustments less sustainable. Detecting the sustainability factor in the evolution of spreads is uneasy because it is largely non observable, and may be proxied by different variables. In this paper we present the results of a dynamic Principal Components Factor Analysis applied to a panel data set of the eleven major EZ countries from 2000 to 2013 consisting of each country's spread of long-term interest rate over Germany as dependent variable, and an array of leading fiscal and macroeconomic indicators of solvency fiscal effort and its sustainability. We have been able to identify the role of these indicators that combine themselves as significant latent variables in boosting spreads. Moreover the large joint deterioration of these variables is identifiably located between 2009 and 2012 and particularly for the group of countries under most severe default risk (with Italy and France as borderline cases).
Excision of Reprogramming Transgenes Improves the Differentiation Potential of iPS Cells Generated with a Single Excisable Vector

The residual presence of integrated transgenes following the derivation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells is highly undesirable. Here we demonstrate efficient derivation of iPS cells free of exogenous reprogramming transgenes using an excisable polycistronic lentiviral vector. A novel version of this vector containing a reporter fluorochrome allows direct visualization of vector excision in living iPS cells in real time. We find that removal of the reprogramming vector markedly improves the developmental potential of iPS cells and significantly augments their capacity to undergo directed differentiation in vitro. We further propose that methods to efficiently excise reprogramming transgenes with minimal culture passaging, such as those demonstrated here, are critical since we find that iPS cells may acquire chromosomal abnormalities, such as trisomy of chromosome 8, similar to embryonic stem cells after expansion in culture. Our findings illustrate an efficient method for the generation of transgene‐free iPS cells and emphasize the potential beneficial effects that may result from elimination of integrated reprogramming factors. In addition, our results underscore the consequences of long‐term culture that will need to be taken into account for the clinical application of iPS cells. STEM CELLS 2010;28:64–74
Face image classification using appearance and texture features

Face image classification is a central problem in computer vision research and information retrieval area. Most image classification systems have taken one of two approaches, using either global or local features exclusively. This may be in part due to the difficulty of combining a single global feature vector with a set of local features in a suitable manner. To classify images for versatile applications, an effective algorithm is needed urgently. In this paper, we propose a new texture invariant descriptor to represent global features of an image, and propose a new method which combining local appearance feature with this texture descriptor in face image classification application. Results show the superior performance of these combined method over the hierarchical Bayesian classifier, with a reduction of over 2% in the error rate on a challenging two class dataset from Caltech dataset in face image classification.
Functional cooperation between the neural adhesion molecules L1 and N- CAM is carbohydrate dependent

The neural cell adhesion molecules L1 and N-CAM have been suggested to interact functionally by formation of a complex between the two molecules (Kadmon, G., A. Kowitz, P. Altevogt, and M. Schachner. 1990. J. Cell Biol. 110:193-208). To determine the molecular mechanisms underlying this functional cooperation, we have studied the contribution of carbohydrates to the association of the two molecules at the cell surface. Aggregation or adhesion between L1- and N-CAM- positive neuroblastoma N2A cells was reduced when the synthesis of complex and/or hybrid glycans was modified by castanospermine. Fab fragments of polyclonal antibodies to L1 inhibited aggregation and adhesion of castanospermine-treated cells almost completely, whereas untreated cells were inhibited by approximately 50%. Fab fragments of polyclonal antibodies to N-CAM did not interfere with the interaction between castanospermine-treated cells, whereas they inhibited aggregation or adhesion of untreated cells by approximately 50%. These findings indicate that cell interactions depending both on L1 and N-CAM ("assisted homophilic" binding) can be reduced to an L1-dominated interaction ("homophilic binding"). Treatment of cells with the carbohydrate synthesis inhibitor swainsonine did not modify cell aggregation in the absence or presence of antibodies compared with untreated cells, indicating that castanospermine-sensitive, but swainsonine-insensitive glycans are involved. To investigate whether the appropriate carbohydrate composition is required for an association of L1 and N-CAM in the surface membrane (cis-interaction) or between L1 on one side and L1 and N-CAM on the other side of interacting partner cells (trans-interaction), an L1-positive lymphoid tumor cell line was coaggregated with and adhered to neuroblastoma cells in the various combinations of castanospermine-treated and untreated cells. The results show that it is the cis-interaction between L1 and N-CAM that depends on the appropriate carbohydrate structures.
Effect of degree and direction of rotation in egocentric mental rotation of hand: an event-related potential study

We explored the neural mechanisms of mental rotation of hand, which may invoke a mental transformation of viewer's own hands. It was found that, when a hand picture was presented at an orientation rotated from the upright orientation, participants' performance in making left or right hand judgment was affected by the degree and direction of rotation, with the direction effect being implicated as the evidence for egocentric mental rotation. Our event-related potentials measure supported the idea that amplitude modulation in the parietal cortex is a psychophysiological marker of the mental rotation of hand. Furthermore, the rotation-direction-dependent modulation of a positive wave was identified as possible neural correlate for the egocentric nature of such mental rotation.
Everything is a Window: Utilizing the Window Manager for Multi-Touch Interaction

Interactive surfaces are becoming more and more common in research and everyday use. Recent research has focused on hardware technologies and basic interaction techniques. While the WIMP paradigm is the prevalent standard for desktop computers, there is no consensus yet on similar paradigms for interactive surfaces. In order to explore novel interaction paradigms for interactive surfaces, researchers commonly use specialized frameworks like the Microsoft Surface SDK or write their own middleware, forfeiting many advantages of existing operating systems and closing out legacy applications. This paper proposes an approach for building multitouchenabled desktop environments based on common UNIX paradigms and components. By extending the system’s window manager researchers can transparently control user input and graphical output on interactive surfaces, simultaneously supporting both multitouch-capable and legacy applications.
Making a Mobile Robot to Express its Mind by Motion Overlap

Various home robots like sweeping robots and pet robots have been developed, commercialized and now are studied for use in cooperative housework (Kobayashi & Yamada, 2005). In the near future, cooperative work of a human and a robot will be one of the most promising applications of Human-Robot Interaction research in factory, office and home. Thus interaction design between ordinary people and a robot must be very significant as well as building an intelligent robot itself. In such cooperative housework, a robot often needs users’ help when they encounter difficulties that they cannot overcome by themselves. We can easily imagine many situations like that. For example, a sweeping robot can not move heavy and complexly structured obstacles, such as chairs and tables, which prevent it from doing its job and needs users’ help to remove them (Fig. 1). A problem is how to enable a robot to inform its help requests to a user in cooperative work. Although we recognize that this is a quite important and practical issue for realizing cooperative work of a human user and a robot, a few studies have been done thus far in Human-Robot Interaction. In this chapter, we propose a novel method to make a mobile robot to express its internal state (called robot’s mind) to request users’ help, implement a concrete expression
The Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System as a Therapeutic Target for Endothelial Dysfunction

Endothelial dysfunction has been characterized by decreased nitric oxide (NO) synthesis or reduced NO bioavailability, which relates to inflammation, proliferation of smooth muscle cells, deposition of extracellular matrix, vasoconstriction, and a prothrombotic state within the vessel lumen. The endothelium is the site of the final step of synthesis of both NO and angiotensin II (Ang II) and is a major site for their countervailing interaction. Evidence suggests that renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockade may have an impact on early mechanisms of vascular disease, such as endothelial dysfunction and vascular remodeling that underlie clinical manifestations of cardiovascular disease. This article reviews the current views on the biologic organization of RAS. Evidence supports a pathologic role of RAS activity in promoting endothelial dysfunction characterized by the impairment of NO bioavailability, and provides the basis for considering inhibition of RAS activity as a major target for therapeutic intervention.
Using Non-Lexical Context to Improve a Language Model for Dialog

If we can model the cognitive and communicative processes underlying speech, we should be able to better predict what speakers will do, and thus improve language models. This paper presents an initial exploration of this idea. In the Switchboard corpus, we find that word probabilities vary with various non-lexical indicators of cognitive and communicative states, including local volume, local speaking rate and other prosodic features, and also time since start of utterance and since since other reference events. Conditioning word probabilities on 8 such features improved word predictions, reducing the perplexity by 4.4% relative to a trigram baseline.
Integrated Modeling of Cadmium and Zinc Contamination in Groundwater and Surface Water of the Kempen Region, The Netherlands

Regional modeling of subsurface cadmium and zinc transport in a diffusely polluted area in the south of the Netherlands is the subject of this study. The atmospheric deposition of cadmium and zinc was caused by three zinc-ore smelters (point sources of emission). Agriculture and other sources of heavy metals are small compared to the atmospheric deposition in the vicinity of the smelters. A coupled unsaturated and saturated zone flow and transport model was used to assess and predict reactive transport of cadmium and zinc in three different catchments in the area. For cadmium an extensive set of modeling results is presented, for zinc only preliminary results. The modeling started with a spatial reconstruction of the historic atmospheric deposition followed by an unsaturated zone transport model to calculate cadmium leaching to groundwater. After this, a 3-dimensional reactive transport model was used for the saturated zone. The calculated cadmium concentrations were compared with two datasets of shallow groundwater analyses for validation of the model. The range of modeled and measured concentrations is the same. The modeling results indicate that the amount of cadmium in the groundwater has been doubled in the past twelve years. In the saturated zone, cadmium becomes strongly retarded, despite the low reactivity of the sandy sediments. The maximum depth of modeled and measured concentrations is about 20 meter beneath surface level. In 2002 about 10% of the total estimated leached cadmium has been discharged in seepage areas. The integrated modeling system developed here can be used to run future scenarios to predict resulting concentrations in groundwater and surface water.
Moving with Ease: Feldenkrais Method Classes for People with Osteoarthritis

Objective. To investigate the effects of Feldenkrais Method classes on gait, balance, function, and pain in people with osteoarthritis. Design. Prospective study with pre-/postmeasures. Setting. Community. Participants. Convenience sample of 15 community-dwelling adults with osteoarthritis (mean age 67 years) attending Feldenkrais Method classes. Intervention. Series of Feldenkrais Method classes, two classes/week for 30 weeks. Main outcome measures: Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis scale, Human Activity Profile, stair climbing test, 6-minute walk test, timed up-and-go test, Four Square Step Test (4SST), gait analysis, and assessment of quality of life (AQoL). Results. Participants improved on the 4SST and on some gait parameters. They also reported a greater ease of movement. Conclusions. A 30-week series of Feldenkrais classes held twice per week was feasible in the community setting. The lessons led to improvements in performance of the four square step test and changes in gait.
In vitro and in vivo application of anti-cotinine antibody and cotinine-conjugated compounds

The combination of a high-affinity antibody to a hapten, and hapten-conjugated compounds, can provide an alternative to the direct chemical cross-linking of the antibody and compounds. An optimal hapten for in vitro use is one that is absent in biological systems. For in vivo applications, additional characteristics such as pharmacological safety and physiological inertness would be beneficial. Additionally, methods for cross-linking the hapten to various chemical compounds should be available. Cotinine, a major metabolite of nicotine, is considered advantageous in these aspects. A high-affinity anti-cotinine recombinant antibody has recently become available, and can be converted into various formats, including a bispecific antibody. The bispecific anti-cotinine antibody was successfully applied to immunoblot, enzyme immunoassay, immunoaffinity purification, and pre-targeted in vivo radioimmunoimaging. The anti-cotinine IgG molecule could be complexed with aptamers to form a novel affinity unit, and extended the in vivo half-life of aptamers, opening up the possibility of applying the same strategy to therapeutic peptides and chemical compounds. [BMB Reports 2014; 47(3): 130-134]
The development of explicit memory for basic perceptual features.

In three experiments with 164 individuals between 4 and 80 years old, we examined age-related changes in explicit memory for three perceptual features--item identity, color, and location. In Experiments 1-2, feature recognition was assessed in an incidental learning, gamelike task resembling the game Concentration. In Experiment 3, feature recognition was assessed using a pencil-and-paper task after intentional learning instructions. The form of the explicit memory function across the life span varied with the particular perceptual feature tested and the type of task. Item recognition was excellent at all ages but was significantly poorer for older adults than children, color recognition peaked in late childhood on the gamelike task, and location recognition peaked in early adulthood on the pencil-and-paper task. These findings indicate that performance on explicit memory tests is not a consistent inverted U-shaped function of age across various features. Explicit memory performance depends on what is measured and how. Because explicit memory typically reflects a composite of different features, age-related changes in explicit memory will not necessarily correspond to the function for any single one.
Estimating the benefits of linking ties in a deeply divided society: considering the relationship between domestic workers and their employers in South Africa

In South Africa social exclusion remains a problem due to the multiple and overlapping divisions in post-apartheid society and the lack of linking ties bridging the worlds of those who have plenty and those without. To quantify the potential benefit of such linking ties for socio-economic mobility, we examine the relationship between domestic workers and their employers – a case where we find frequent, proximate and intimate contact between individuals from these two different worlds. We construct a well matched comparison group for domestic workers via propensity score matching using a pooled version of seven General Household Surveys. The households of domestic workers appear to have lower unemployment duration and better quality jobs, a higher likelihood of owning assets and a lower prevalence of child and adult hunger. These differences provide evidence that the linking ties of domestic workers with their more affluent employers increase well-being in a way that is consistent with social network theory.
Tracking HoG Descriptors for Gesture Recognition

We introduce a new HoG (Histogram of Oriented Gradients) tracker for Gesture Recognition. Our main contribution is to build HoG trajectory descriptors (representing local motion) which are used for gesture recognition. First,we select for each individual in the scene a set of corner points to determine textured regions where to compute 2DHoG descriptors. Second, we track these 2D HoG descriptors in order to build temporal HoG descriptors. Lost descriptors are replaced by newly detected ones. Finally, we extract the local motion descriptors to learn offline a set of given gestures.Then, a new video can be classified according to the gesture occurring in the video. Results shows that the tracker performs well compared to KLT tracker [1]. The generated local motion descriptors are validated through gesture learning-classification using the KTH action database [2].
Demystifying Data-Driven and Pausible Clocking Schemes

VLSI systems are often constructed from a multitude of independently clocked synchronous IP blocks. Unfortunately, while a synchronous design style may produce efficient block level implementations it does little to support their composition. The addition of asynchronous interfaces to each synchronous block is one way to simplify and strengthen their integration. Asynchronous interfaces allow blocks to be composed without the need to consider synchronisation failure rates, permit data-driven operation and provide greater freedom when designing on-chip buses and networks. This paper surveys the significant body of published work in this area. We highlight similarities between schemes that are often concealed by differences in specification or circuit style. We also present new local clock implementations and provide solutions to mitigate the effect of clock-tree insertion delays. The ultimate goal of this work is to permit multi-clock synchronous systems to be composed simply, robustly and efficiently.
The Demographic Dividend: A New Perspective on the Economic Consequences of Population Change

This report reviews the debate over the effects of demographic change on economic growth and examines the research evidence on the economic impact of changes in age structure. It also examines the relationship between population change and economic development in particular regions of the world including the Middle East and North Africa. Finally it discusses how changes in the age structure interact with labor-market health and education policies to contribute to economic growth. (excerpt)