Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effects of hourly differences in air pollution on the risk of myocardial infarction: case crossover analysis of the MINAP database

Objectives To investigate associations between air pollution levels and myocardial infarction (MI) on short timescales, with data at an hourly temporal resolution. Design Time stratified case crossover study linking clinical data from the Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project (MINAP) with PM10, ozone, CO, NO2, and SO2 data from the UK National Air Quality Archive. Pollution effects were investigated with delays (lags) of 1–6, 7–12, 13–18, 19–24, and 25–72 hours in both single and multi-pollutant models, adjusted for ambient temperature, relative humidity, circulating levels of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, day of week, holidays, and residual seasonality within calendar month strata. Setting Population based study in 15 conurbations in England and Wales. Subjects 79 288 diagnoses of myocardial infarction recorded over the period 2003–6. Main outcome measures Excess risk of myocardial infarction per 10 µg/m3 increase in pollutant level. Results In single pollutant models, PM10 and NO2 levels were associated with a very short term increase in risk of myocardial infarction 1–6 hours later (excess risks 1.2% (95% confidence interval 0.3 to 2.1) and 1.1% (0.3 to 1.8) respectively per 10 μg/m3 increase); the effects persisted in multi-pollutant models, though with only weak evidence of an independent PM10 effect (P=0.05). The immediate risk increases were followed by reductions in risk at longer lags: we found no evidence of any net excess risk associated with the five pollutants studied over a 72 hour period after exposure. Conclusions Higher levels of PM10 and NO2, which are typically markers of traffic related pollution, seem to be associated with transiently increased risk of myocardial infarction 1–6 hours after exposure, but later reductions in risk suggest that air pollution may be associated with bringing events forward in time (“short-term displacement”) rather than increasing overall risk. The well established effect of air pollution on cardiorespiratory mortality may not be mediated through increasing the acute risk of myocardial infarction, but through another mechanism.
Multipliers and Imperfect Competition: What Is the Role of Capital Depreciation? Multipliers and Imperfect Competition: What Is the Role of Capital Depreciation?

In static general equilibrium models considering imperfectly competitive goods markets, the effectiveness of fiscal policy to stir output is shown to be greater than in the walrasian case. However, labour is the only input in these models. Here, I develop a simple intertemporal model allowing us to study the steady-state role of optimal capital stock in the fiscal policy transmission mechanism. I demonstrate the results depend strongly on the set of parameter values chosen and on the output definition. Using plausible numerical values the multiplier is larger in the walrasian case for small initial government purchases, and smaller for intermediate values. Work in progress. Comments and suggestions are welcome. In static general equilibrium models considering imperfectly competitive goods markets, the effectiveness of fiscal policy to stir output is shown to be greater than in the walrasian case. However, labour the only input in these models. Here, I develop a simple intertemporal model allowing us to study the steady-state role of optimal capital stock in the fiscal policy transmission mechanism. I demonstrate the results depend strongly on the set of parameter values chosen and on the output definition. Using plausible numerical values the multiplier is larger in the walrasian case for small initial government purchases, and smaller for intermediate values.
Distinct Signal Transduction Abnormalities and Erythropoietin Response in Bone Marrow Hematopoietic Cell Subpopulations of Myelodysplastic Syndrome Patients

Purpose: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are heterogeneous clonal diseases characterized by cytopenias as a result of ineffective hematopoiesis. Little is known about alterations in signal transduction pathways in MDS. Experimental Design: Multiparameter flow cytometry was used to evaluate the proteolytic activation of caspase-3 and the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and STAT5 specifically in defined CD34+, CD45+, or CD71+CD45− bone marrow (BM) cells from 60 MDS cases and normal controls, both at baseline and following stimulation with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and erythropoietin. Results: In CD71+CD45− cells from a subpopulation of 36 MDS cases who were predicted to be responsive by clinical parameters (endogenous erythropoietin levels, transfusion dependency, percentage of blasts in the BM), erythropoietin failed to activate ERK1/2 or STAT5 in 23 of 36 cases, but it was effective in 13 of 36 cases, although to a significantly lower degree than in CD71+CD45− cells from healthy donor BM. The erythropoietin response in vivo correlated with in vitro erythropoietin-dependent STAT5 activation in 20 of 22 cases. STAT5 was significantly activated at baseline in MDS cells compared with normal controls, whereas caspase-3 was activated in CD34+ and CD45+ MDS cells, and was activated more often in the RA and RAEB-1 MDS subtypes. G-CSF stimulation activated ERK1/2 and STAT5 equally in MDS and normal CD34+ cells. Conclusions: Abnormalities in the response to growth factors are restricted to erythropoietin stimulation in CD71+CD45− cells and correlate with the clinical response to erythropoietin. Activation of baseline signal transduction for proliferative and apoptotic signals is altered in MDS but with different patterns among the various BM subpopulations. Clin Cancer Res; 18(11); 3079–89. ©2012 AACR.
A study of graph simulation methodologies for synthetic Covert Social Network

Recent interest in Covert Social Network Analysis and problems in accessing realistic, complete social network dataset has catalyzed the development of numerous models to help artificially generate and understand these networks. Synthetic social network graph generators attempting to match properties of the realistic social networks. Generation of the artificial covert social network is still in the infancy state compared to artificial social network graph generation. In this paper we present a survey on artificial social network graph generation methodologies and artificial covert network graph generation techniques.
Study on the morphological parameters of quadruped robot designs considering ditch traversability

Legged robots have potentials of superior mobility than traditional wheeled and tracked vehicles on rugged terrains in extreme environment. To understand the best utilization of this exceptional locomotion capability, a plenty of legged robots are developed in recent decades. One of the most fundamental issue is how to optimize the morphological parameters such as limb length and joint configuration towards the best task performance. This paper presents an in-depth study on the relationship between the morphological parameters of quadruped robots and the capability of obstacle-negotiation in the ditch crossing scenario. Simulations are studied based on static stability and critical postures, and the results are analysed and discussed.
Achievement Goals, Motivation to Learn, and Mathematics Anxiety among Pre-Service Teachers.

This paper reports findings of a pilot study examining the feasibility of a research design to investigate how achievement goals relate to the construct of math anxiety. In addition, we also consider how other important achievement-related behaviors, like self-efficacy, help-seeking, and self-regulation, might also relate to students’ math anxiety. While math anxiety still remains a real issue affecting student performance and confidence, today it is more critical in our society with the greater emphasis on producing more students for careers in fields like Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The total multiple regression model predicted a significant amount (43%) of the variation in math anxiety of participants. Geist (2010) states that negative attitudes toward mathematics and what has come to be known as "math anxiety" are serious obstacles for young people in all levels of schooling today, and he feels that an anti-anxiety curriculum is critical in building students’ confidence when working with mathematics especially in the light of a great push for more people going into the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Helping students identify and address their math anxiety is critical in helping them cope with and overcome such anxiety that otherwise may negatively impact future choices in their academic and professional careers. As Boaler (2008) points out, it is critical to ensure students are confident and well prepared in mathematics if they are going to compete for such high-tech jobs today and in the future. Today, the United States is working to lead more young people into the STEM fields so we as a country can compete globally. Zollman (2012) believes that we need to evolve from learning for STEM literacy to using STEM literacy for learning to satisfy our societal, economic, and personal needs. If we are to build math confidence in our students, math teachers need to address head on the issue of math anxiety which often manifests itself as hesitancy or learned helplessness in observed math achievement.
Differential expression of transforming growth factor-β isoforms in bullous keratopathy corneas

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate transcriptional activities of genes encoding transforming growth factor (TGF)-β isoforms in bullous keratopathy corneas. Methods The study group consisted of 45 patients with bullous keratopathy (22 females and 23 males). The control group included 45 corneal donors (21 females and 24 males). Quantification of TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3 mRNAs was performed by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (QRT-PCR). Results TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3 mRNAs were detected in both normal and pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK) corneas. We found significantly lower transcriptional activity of TGF-β3 mRNA in bullous keratopathy corneas compared to normal tissues. TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 expressions were at the same level in both PBK and healthy corneas. Conclusions Downregulation of TGF-β3 gene expression may play a significant role in molecular changes observed in bullous keratopathy.
Problematic Internet Use, is it time to be taken seriously? Physiological and behavioural markers of Problematic Internet Use with reference to established addictions

The main aim of this thesis was to investigate a controversial type of problematic behaviour; problematic internet use, and assess whether or not its characteristics resemble traditional types of addictions such as substance dependence and pathological gambling. Problematic internet use is a construct which has created fierce debates amongst researchers. This reflects inconsistencies in the evidence associated with various factors related to it, which have left researchers arguing whether it is a real psychopathological entity and similar to substance-related and addictive disorders or not. This necessitates further research with an emphasis on identifying similarities and differences regarding problematic internet use in relation to markers that have been reliably associated with the development and maintenance of addictive behaviours. Thus, in this thesis I followed a pragmatic approach and comprehensively investigated behavioural and physiological markers of addictive behaviours in the field of problematic internet use. More specifically, emphasis was given to cognitive markers such as decision-making and the physiological function underling them, attentional bias and inhibitory control processes, as these have been implicated as playing a major role in the initiation and maintenance of addictive behaviour. The main research questions were investigated using a sample of internet users whose internet use ranged from non-problematic to problematic and was associated either with generic or specific online applications; Social Networking Sites (SNS). Overall the results of this thesis support the view that problematic internet use resembles substance-related and addictive disorders and offers important implications for its legitimacy.
Reverse Stack Execution in a MultiVariant Execution Environment

Multi-variant execution allows detecting exploited vulnerabilities before they can cause any damage to systems. In this execution method, two or more slightly different variants of the same application are executed simultaneously on top of a monitoring layer. In the course of execution, the monitoring layer checks whether the instances are always in complying states. Any discrepancies raises an alarm and will result in termination of the non-complying instances. We present a technique to generate program variants that use a stack that grows in reverse direction in contrast to the native stack growth direction of the platform. Such program variants, when executed along with a normal instance in a multi-variant environment, allow us to detect stack-based buffer overflow attacks. The technique is implemented by modifying GCC to generate executables that write their stacks in opposite direction. In addition, we briefly present the technique used to build our multi-variant execution environment. Through evaluation we have shown that our prototype system can interdict the execution of malicious code in popular applications such as the Apache web server by trading off a small performance penalty for a high degree of security.
Rayleigh Mixture Model-Based Hidden Markov Modeling and Estimation of Noise in Noisy Speech Signals

In this paper, we propose a new statistical model for noise periodogram modeling and estimation. The proposed model is a hidden Markov model (HMM) with a Rayleigh mixture model (RMM) in each state. For this new model, we derive an expectation-maximization (EM) training algorithm and a minimum mean-square error (MMSE) noise periodogram estimator. It is shown that when compared to the Gaussian mixture model (GMM)-based HMM, the RMM-based HMM has less computationally complex EM iterations and gives a better fit of the noise periodograms when the mixture models has a low number of components. Furthermore, we propose a specialization of the proposed model, which is shown to provide better MMSE noise periodogram estimates than any other of the tested HMM initializations for cyclo-stationary noise types
Rapid Sequential Spread of Two Wolbachia Variants in Drosophila simulans

The maternally inherited intracellular bacteria Wolbachia can manipulate host reproduction in various ways that foster frequency increases within and among host populations. Manipulations involving cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), where matings between infected males and uninfected females produce non-viable embryos, are common in arthropods and produce a reproductive advantage for infected females. CI was associated with the spread of Wolbachia variant wRi in Californian populations of Drosophila simulans, which was interpreted as a bistable wave, in which local infection frequencies tend to increase only once the infection becomes sufficiently common to offset imperfect maternal transmission and infection costs. However, maternally inherited Wolbachia are expected to evolve towards mutualism, and they are known to increase host fitness by protecting against infectious microbes or increasing fecundity. We describe the sequential spread over approximately 20 years in natural populations of D. simulans on the east coast of Australia of two Wolbachia variants (wAu and wRi), only one of which causes significant CI, with wRi displacing wAu since 2004. Wolbachia and mtDNA frequency data and analyses suggest that these dynamics, as well as the earlier spread in California, are best understood as Fisherian waves of favourable variants, in which local spread tends to occur from arbitrarily low frequencies. We discuss implications for Wolbachia-host dynamics and coevolution and for applications of Wolbachia to disease control.
Continuum and Atomic-Scale Modeling of Self-Positioning Microstructures and Nanostructures

This article presents investigations of self-positioning microstructures and nanostructures by analytical techniques, finite element analysis and atomic-scale modeling. Closed-form solutions for curvature radius of self-positioning hinge structures are obtained for plane strain and generalized plane strain deformation. The finite element method is used for predicting hinge curvature radius for self-positioning structures of variable width. Anisotropic finite element analysis of self-positioning structures with different orientation of material axes is performed to estimate the effect of material anisotropy on the self-positioning. An algorithm of the atomic-scale finite element method (AFEM) based on the Tersoff interatomic potential has been developed. The AFEM is applied to modeling of GaAs and InAs bi-layer self-positioning nanostructures. Nanohinge curvature radius dependence on the structure thickness and the material orientation angle is investigated. It was found that atomic-scale effects play considerable role for nanostructures of small thickness less than 40 nm.
Challenges with teaching HCI early to computer students

The introductory course on human-computer interaction (HCI) and usable systems, taught early for the computer science and computer engineering education programs, has suffered from bad course evaluations. To investigate the students' beliefs and values in relation to the subject matter and the course, focus groups were used. The results indicate challenges with a lack of maturity and motivation among the students and that they wrongly perceive the subject matter as trivial. An approach for dealing with the challenges in the form of a course re-design is presented and implemented. The evaluation of the new course showed that it worked well and was greatly appreciated.
The Topological Product of S 4 and S 5

The most obvious bimodal logic generated from unimodal logics L1 and L2 is their fusion, L1 ⊗L2, axiomatized by the theorems of L1 for 1 and of L2 for 2, and by the rules of modus ponens, substitution and necessitation for 1 and for 2. Shehtman introduced the frame product L1×L2, as the logic of the products of certain Kripke frames. Typically, L1 ⊗ L2 ( L1 × L2, e.g. S4⊗ S4 ( S4× S4. Van Benthem, Bezhanishvili, ten Cate and Sarenac generalized Shehtman’s idea and introduced the topological product L1 ×t L2, as the logic of the products of certain topological spaces: they showed, in particular, that S4 ×t S4 = S4 ⊗ S4. In this paper, we axiomatize S4 ×t S5, which is strictly between S4 ⊗ S5 and S4 × S5. We also apply our techniques to proving a conjecture of van Benthem et al concerning the logic of products of Alexandrov spaces with arbitrary topological spaces.
COUNTING THE NUMBER OF SOLUTIONS TO THE ERDŐS–STRAUS EQUATION ON UNIT FRACTIONS

Abstract For any positive integer $n$, let $f(n)$ denote the number of solutions to the Diophantine equation $$\begin{eqnarray*}\frac{4}{n} = \frac{1}{x} + \frac{1}{y} + \frac{1}{z}\end{eqnarray*}$$ with $x, y, z$ positive integers. The Erdős–Straus conjecture asserts that $f(n)\gt 0$ for every $n\geq 2$. In this paper we obtain a number of upper and lower bounds for $f(n)$ or $f(p)$ for typical values of natural numbers $n$ and primes $p$. For instance, we establish that $$\begin{eqnarray*}N\hspace{0.167em} {\mathop{\log }\nolimits }^{2} N\ll \displaystyle \sum _{p\leq N}f(p)\ll N\hspace{0.167em} {\mathop{\log }\nolimits }^{2} N\log \log N. \end{eqnarray*}$$ These upper and lower bounds show that a typical prime has a small number of solutions to the Erdős–Straus Diophantine equation; small, when compared with other additive problems, like Waring’s problem.
Filter-based dual-voltage architecture for low-power long-word TCAM design

Ternary Content Addressable Memory (TCAM) provides superior table-lookup performance to the conventional search algorithms. However, as word length increases, large-sized TCAM suffers from high power consumption and throughput degradation. This paper presents filter-based dual voltage architecture for long-word TCAM. Without sacrificing throughput and noise immunity, the proposed filter-based dual voltage architecture can reduce lots of dynamic and static power consumption. Simulation results show that the proposed technique can achieve 87% of dynamic power and 63% static power reduction in 40nm CMOS technology when compared with traditional TCAM architectures. This proposed architecture is well suitable for applications that need long-word TCAM.
Integrating video components in CS1

The Open University of Israel (OUI) is a distance learning university. Our CS1 course is taught through video-taped lectures that cover the study material. In addition, students may participate in face-to-face group meetings in study centers located all over the country and taught by tutors. There is a special group called Ofek, in which the tutor is located in a studio and the lesson is broadcast over the internet. Students enrolled in this group participate from their home PCs. The taped Ofek sessions as well as the lectures are stored on the course website, and students can watch them whenever convenient. We conducted a study to investigate students' viewing habits and the relationship between viewing and the success rate in the course.
Theoretical Prediction of a 443 nm Transition: A Potential Carrier of a Diffuse Interstellar Band

The carriers of the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) is one of the longest standing problems in astronomical spectroscopy. This completely unattributed absorption spectrum stretches from the UV to near-IR and can be seen in multiple interstellar sightlines with the strongest features at 443 nm and 578 nm. Additionally, the number of known features grows with every observation. No known molecular spectra have been matched to the DIBs as observed in the interstellar medium. It has been hypothesized that the molecular carriers of the DIBs may play a role in many aspects of astrochemistry including the potential for better understanding of the origins of the chemical building blocks of life. The current approach to answering the problem of the carriers of the DIBs, a form of experimental guess and test, has yet to prove fruitful. The use of chemical theory and computation in answering this problem seems promising, but has been held up by development of the necessary computing capabilities. With state-of-the-art computational techniques we have examined several proposed carriers of the DIBs. In this work, we report on our findings including a molecule that our methods predict to have a strong transition at 442 nm.
SCRUM-Scape: Jogo educacional de Role-Playing Game (RPG) para ensinar SCRUM

A utilizacao de metodologias de desenvolvimento agil em gerencia de projetos vem ganhando popularidade na area de tecnologia da informacao, principalmente a metodologia SCRUM. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste artigo e desenvolver um jogo educacional de RPG para ensinar os conceitos do SCRUM. O jogo foi desenvolvido sistematicamente usando o processo ENgAGED. O jogo foi aplicado e avaliado aprendizagem, experiencia do usuario e motivacao usando MEEGA em uma turma de gerencia de projetos do curso de Ciencia da Computacao. A avaliacao evidenciou que grande parte dos participantes considerou o jogo divertido, que apresentou experiencias significativamente positivas e contribuiu para o aprendizado de SCRUM.