Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biomechanics of quadrupedal walking: how do four-legged animals achieve inverted pendulum-like movements?

SUMMARY Walking involves a cyclic exchange of gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy of the center of mass. Our goal was to understand how the limbs of walking quadrupeds coordinate the vertical movements of the fore and hind quarters to produce these inverted pendulum-like movements. We collected kinematic and ground reaction force data from dogs walking over a range of speeds. We found that the fore and hind quarters of dogs behaved like two independent bipeds, each vaulting up and over its respective support limb. The center of mass moved up and down twice per stride, like a single walking biped, and up to 70% of the mechanical energy required to lift and accelerate the center of mass was recovered via the inverted pendulum mechanism. To understand how the limbs produce these center of mass movements, we created a simple model of two independent pendulums representing the movements of the fore and hind quarters. The model predicted that the fore and hind quarter movements would completely offset each other if the fore limb lagged the hind limb by 25% of the stride time and body mass was distributed equally between the fore and hind quarters. The primary reason that dogs did not walk with a flat trajectory of the center of mass was that each fore limb lagged its ipsilateral hind limb by only 15% of the stride time and thereby produced time periods when the fore and hind quarters moved up or down simultaneously. The secondary reason was that the fore limbs supported 63% of body mass. Consistent with these experimental results, the two-pendulum model predicts that the center of mass will undergo two fluctuations per stride cycle if limb phase is less than 25% and/or if the total mass is not distributed evenly between the fore or hind quarters.
Elevation of serum soluble E-selectin and VCAM-1 in severe asthma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the significance of circulating adhesion molecules associated with leucocyte-endothelial cell interactions in asthma, serum levels of soluble E (sE)-selectin, soluble P (sP)-selectin, soluble L (sL)-selectin, and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) were measured in mild, moderate and severe asthma. METHOD: Serum levels of sE-selectin, sP-selectin, sL-selectin, and sVCAM-1 were measured in 32 women with asthma and 30 healthy donors using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Twenty patients were suffering from severe asthma, and 12 from mild/moderate asthma. RESULTS: Serum sE-selectin and sVCAM-1 levels from patients with asthma were significantly higher than those observed in healthy donors (p < 0.01). The levels of sP-selectin were the same as those of controls. The level of sE-selectin exhibited an important increase in the severe asthmatic patients compared with mild/moderate asthma (p < 0.01). The sVCAM-1 level was increased in severe asthma when compared with healthy controls. There was no correlation between the levels of soluble selectins and the age of the patients. A significant correlation was found between sE-selectin and sVCAM-1 levels. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that circulating soluble forms of the selectins may have different kinetics during the clinical course of asthma, suggesting that they may reflect different inflammatory pathways in severe asthma. Both sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin may be useful immunological markers for monitoring disease activity in asthma.
In vitro estrogenicity of ambient particulate matter: contribution of hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM1) was collected at an urban and a rural site in Switzerland during a hibernal high air pollution episode and was investigated for estrogenicity using an estrogen‐sensitive reporter gene assay (ER‐CALUX). All samples that were tested induced estrogen receptor‐mediated gene expression in T47D human breast adenocarcinoma cells. Observed estrogenic activities corresponded to 17β‐estradiol (E2) CALUX equivalent concentrations ranging from 2 to 23 ng E2‐CEQ per gram of PM1 (particulate matter of ≤ 1 µm aerodynamic diameter) and from 0.07 to 1.25 pg E2‐CEQ per m3 of sampled air. There was a strong correlation between the PM1 estrogenicity of the urban and rural sites (r = 0.92). Five hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (hydroxy‐PAHs), which show structural similarities to E2, were assessed for their estrogenic activity. The following order of estrogenic potency was found: 2‐hydroxychrysene > 2‐hydroxyphenanthrene > 1‐hydroxypyrene > 2‐hydroxynaphthalene > 1‐hydroxynaphthalene. Three of these hydroxy‐PAHs, namely 2‐hydroxyphenanthrene, 2‐hydroxynaphthalene and 1‐hydroxynaphthalene, were detected in all PM1 extracts. However, they contributed only 0.01–0.2% to the overall estrogenic activity. Hence, mainly other estrogenic compounds not yet identified by chemical analysis must be responsible for the observed activity. The temporal trend of PM1 estrogenicity at the urban and rural site, respectively, was compared with the time course of several air pollutants (NO2, NO, SO2, O3, CO) and meteorological parameters (temperature, humidity, air pressure, solar irradiation, wind velocity). However, specific emission sources and formation processes of atmospheric xenoestrogens could not be elucidated. This study showed that ambient particulate matter contains compounds that are able to interact with estrogen receptors in vitro and potentially also interfere with estrogen‐regulated pathways in vivo. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficient Learning in Games

We consider the problem of learning strategy selection in games. The theoretical solution to this problem is a distribution over strategies that responds to a Nash equilibrium of the game. When the payoff function of the game is not known to the participants, such a distribution must be approximated directly through repeated play. Full knowledge of the payoff function, on the other hand, restricts agents to be strictly rational. In this classical approach, agents are bound to a Nash equilibrium, even when a globally better solution is obtainable. In this paper, we present an algorithm that allows agents to capitalize on their very lack of information about the payoff structure. The principle we propose is that agents resort to the manipulation of their own payoffs, during the course of learning, to find a ``game'' that gives them a higher payoff than when no manipulation occurs. In essence, the payoffs are considered an extension of the strategy set. At all times, agents remain rational vis-a-vis the information available. In self-play, the algorithm affords a globally efficient payoff (if it exists).
Schizotypy and contextual integration

Schizotypy is a personality dimension that maps on to symptom clusters found in schizophrenia. Schizotypy can help in investigating underlying cognitive processes that may be present in schizophrenia or that may indicate a greater vulnerability to schizophrenia. A current theory regarding the underlying information processing in schizophrenia is the context deficit hypothesis (e.g. Hemsley, 2005). Waters et al., (2004) found a difference in context memory between patients with schizophrenia and controls. This study employed an experimental design to investigate the role of context in memory. It compared 38 high scorers (one standard deviation above the mean) and 30 controls (mean and below) using the Schizotypal Personality Scale (Claridge and Broks, 1984) on a modified version of the Waters et al., (2004) task. The task was modified to raise the level of difficulty for the normal population. It also included self-report measures for possible confounding factors such as executive function (Hayling Burgess & Shallice, 1996), mood (HADS Zigmond & Snaith, 1983) dissociation and trauma history (Holmes & Steel, 2004). It was hypothesised that people with higher levels of schizotypy would score lower when integrating information in the memory task however, this was not supported by the results. Nor were there any significant relationships found between the possible confounding factors and the memory task. Several reasons for the lack of significant findings were discussed.
How was it for you? Experiences of participatory design in the UK health service

Improving co-design methods implies that we need to understand those methods, paying attention to not only the effect of method choices on design outcomes, but also how methods affect the people involved in co-design. In this article, we explore participants' experiences from a year-long participatory health service design project to develop ‘Better Outpatient Services for Older People’. The project followed a defined method called experience-based design (EBD), which represented the state of the art in participatory service design within the UK National Health Service. A sample of participants in the project took part in semi-structured interviews reflecting on their involvement in and their feelings about the project. Our findings suggest that the EBD method that we employed was successful in establishing positive working relationships among the different groups of stakeholders (staff, patients, carers, advocates and design researchers), although conflicts remained throughout the project. Participants' experiences highlighted issues of wider relevance in such participatory design: cost versus benefit, sense of project momentum, locus of control, and assumptions about how change takes place in a complex environment. We propose tactics for dealing with these issues that inform the future development of techniques in user-centred healthcare design.
Multiple fault diagnosis in analogue circuits

The paper deals with multiple fault diagnosis in analogue AC or DC circuits with limited accessible terminals for excitation and measurement and brings an algorithm for identifying faulty elements and evaluating their parameters. The main achievement is a method enabling us to efficiently identify faulty elements. For this purpose some testing equations are derived playing a key role in identification of possibly faulty elements which are next verified using a test of acceptance. The proposed approach is described in detail for two fault diagnosis. Also extension to three fault diagnosis is given. Although the method pertains to linear circuits, some aspects of multiple fault diagnosis of nonlinear circuits can be also performed using the small signal approach. A numerical example illustrates the proposed method and shows its efficiency.
A Survey of Image Segmentation based on Artificial Intelligence and Evolutionary Approach

In image analysis, segmentation is the partitioning of a digital image into multiple regions (sets of pixels), according to some homogeneity criterion. The problem of segmentation is a well-studied one in literature and there are a wide variety of approaches that are used. Different approaches are suited to different types of images and the quality of output of a particular algorithm is difficult to measure quantitatively due to the fact that there may be much correct segmentation for a single image. Image segmentation denotes a process by which a raw input image is partitioned into nonoverlapping regions such that each region is homogeneous and the union of any two adjacent regions is heterogeneous. A segmented image is considered to be the highest domain-independent abstraction of an input image. Image segmentation is an important processing step in many image, video and computer vision applications. Extensive research has been done in creating many different approaches and algorithms for image segmentation, but it is still difficult to assess whether one algorithm produces more accurate segmentations than another, whether it be for a particular image or set of images, or more generally, for a whole class of images. In this paper, The Survey of Image Segmentation using Artificial Intelligence and Evolutionary Approach methods that have been proposed in the literature. The rest of the paper is organized as follows.
Treatment of Lisfranc Joint Injury: Current Concepts

&NA; Injuries to the tarsometatarsal joint complex, also known as the Lisfranc joint, are relatively uncommon. However, the importance of an accurate diagnosis cannot be overstated. These injuries, especially when missed, may result in considerable long‐term disability as the result of posttraumatic arthritis. A high level of suspicion, recognition of the clinical signs of injury, and appropriate radiographic studies are needed for correct diagnosis. When surgery is indicated, closed reduction with percutaneous screw fixation should be attempted. If reduction is questionable, open reduction should be performed. Screw fixation remains the traditional fixation technique.
Rational Choice: The Contrast between Economics and Psychology

Rational Choice--the published record of a conference on economics and psychology--frames the issues as a contest between economic theory and the falsifying evidence from psychology. According to a third perspective, that of experimental economics, most standard theory provides a correct first approximation in predicting motivated behavior in laboratory experimental markets, but the theory is incomplete, particularly in articulating convergence processes in time and in ignoring decision cost. This view has roots in the work of Herbert Simon and Sidney Siegel, but it is not plainly represented in contemporary research in economic pyschology.
Role of Gender and Anatomical Region on Induction of Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Adipose-derived Stem Cells

Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) display multilineage plasticity and, under appropriate conditions, can mineralize their extracellular matrix and undergo osteogenesis. The aims of this study are to examine in vitro osteogenic differentiation properties of ASCs to assess the role of gender, fat depot, and optimal duration as variables for differentiation. Human ASCs were isolated from superficial and deep adipose layers of the abdominoplasty specimens obtained from patients undergoing elective surgeries. ASCs were cultured in osteogenic media (OM). After 1, 2, and 4 weeks of differentiation, cultures were assessed for markers of osteogenesis. Alkaline phosphatase (AP), alizarin red (AR) and Masson trichrome (MT) stainings for osteoblastic transformation, matrix mineralization, and collagen production; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for Gla-osteocalcin; and Western blot analysis for osteonectin protein expression were performed. Osteogenic differentiation began as early as 1 week. Cells exhibited a vertical growth pattern, lacunae formed in the cultures, matrix volume increased, and mineralization was observed. Differences in AP staining were most evident during the first week. AR activity progressively increased over 4 weeks, and collagen was secreted only by differentiated ASCs. There was no significant difference in the degree of osteogenic differentiation between the ASCs from both depots in the female. In the male, the superficial depot ASCs differentiated faster and more efficiently than those of the deep depot. Male ASCs from both depots differentiated more effectively than female ASCs from both depots. We describe a hierarchy of osteogenic differentiation potential based on gender and anatomic harvest site by layering adipose tissues of the abdominal wall. ASCs derived from male superficial layer were most efficient in achieving osteogenesis. In future clinical applications using stem cells for osseous healing, these gender and depot differences will guide our clinical methods.
The involvement load hypothesis: an inquiry into vocabulary learning

Introduction Vocabulary development is very important, regardless of the purpose of the language learning. In fact,we need to use our vocabulary knowledge whenever we communicate. Recent research has revealed that educated native speakers have a vocabulary size of around 20,000 headwords for word families (Goulden, Nation, & Read, 1990). The researchers counted word families,which include headwords,its inflected forms(e.g.,-ly, -ness, and un-)and its derived forms. Therefore, the actual number of words known seems to be even larger than20,000. In fact,native speakers increase their vocabulary an average of1,000words a year;they know about20,000words by the time they are20years old. Non-native speakers of English do not need to have as large a vocabulary as native speakers do,and it is most important for non-native speakers to learn the most useful words(Nation,2001). Still,non-native speakers of English have to learn a great many words,and it is a nearly overwhelming task. Therefore,language learners and language teaching professionals would like to find ways to increase vocabulary knowledge efficiently. In 2001,Laufer& Hulstijn(2001)proposed the involvement load hypothesis, and it seems to be beneficial for language learning. This paper is written to investigate the involvement load hypothesis. First I will define the hypothesis from the viewpoint of psychology, and then from the viewpoint of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Language (TESOL), especially in Japan. Afterwards, examples of language learning activities in Japanese university classrooms will be given. Finally,the research exploring
STATISTIK PENGUJI KESTABILAN BARISAN MATRIKS KORELASI

Kemampuan memonitor kestabilan barisan matriks korelasi merupakan hal yang amat penting baik dari segi aplikasi maupun dari segi teori. Berdasarkan literatur, sejak satu dekade terakhir, masalah kestabilan tersebut dapat dijumpai dalam spektrum bidang ilmu yang amat luas, mulai dari bisnis tanah milik, bisnis perumahan (real estate), bisnis asset, manajemen risiko, pasar ekuitas, pasar saham, pasar global hingga bisnis finansial dan ekonomi secara umum dan bahkan komputasi paralel. Sedangkan dari segi teori, dasar-dasarnya sudah dimulai sejak tujuh dekade yang lalu dan terus berkembang hingga tahun-tahun terakhir. Dari segi teori, kriteria yang digunakan umumnya adalah kriteria Likelihood Ratio Test (LRT). Statistik-statistik yang paling populer dan banyak dijumpai dalam aplikasi, yang dibangun dengan menggunakan kriteria LRT, adalah statistik Box, statistik Kullback, statistik Jennrich, statistik Fisher dan statistik Schott. Kepopulerannya terletak pada kemudahan penerapannya dan keefektifannya. Namun, pengujian berdasarkan LRT menghadapi kendala yang amat besar yakni hanya cocok untuk matriks korelasi yang berukuran kecil karena melibatkan perhitungan determinan dan invers matriks. Disertasi ini memperkenalkan suatu metode pemonitoran kestabilan barisan matriks korelasi yang bebas dari kendala tersebut di atas. Proses pemonitoran dilaksanakan dengan menggunakan pendekatan Multivariate Statistical Process Control (MSPC) di mana pengujian hipotesis kesamaan dua matriks korelasi dilakukan berulang-ulang. Statistik penguji yang diusulkan dalam disertasi ini didasarkan kepada apa yang kami sebut vektor variansi variabel-variabel standar (VVVS) sebagai ukuran dispersi multivariat di mana seluruh variabel yang terlibat berupa variabel standar. Agar VVVS dapat diimplementasikan dalam kajian inferensi, dalam disertasi ini terlebih dahulu akan diselidiki distribusi asimtotik sampel VVVS di bawah asumsi kenormalan. Selanjutnya akan diselidiki kesensitifan VVVS dengan membandingkannya terhadap statistik yang paling populer dan banyak digunakan yakni statistik Jennrich. Hasil eksperimen melalui simulasi menunjukkan bahwa statistik yang kami usulkan memiliki tingkat kesensitifan yang lebih baik. Di samping itu, ia memiliki tingkat kompleksitas komputasi yang jauh lebih rendah daripada statistik Jennrich.
Assessing engagement in a classroom : Synchronised neural recordings during video presentation

The efficacy of learning in a classroom depends on how engaged students are with the learning material. Is it possible to assess students engagement directly from their brain activity without distracting them from the material at hand? We performed simultaneous recordings of electroencephalography (EEG) from multiple students in a classroom, and measured the inter-subject correlation (ISC) of activity evoked by a common video stimulus. Many aspects of attentional modulation of this ISC, which were previously established in a laboratory setting, are reliably reproduced here with portable low-cost equipment. The present data suggests that stimulus-evoked neural responses, known to be modulated by attention, can be used to assess the engagement of a group of students in real-time.
The Political Economy of Federal Trade Commission Administrative Decision Making in Merger Enforcement

We would like to thank William Shughart for helpful comments. The analysis and conclusions presented herein are those of the authors, and do not purport to represent the views of the Commission or of any individual Commissioner, or the official position of any Commission Bureau. A previous version of this paper was presented at the January 1995 meetings of the American Economic Association in Washington D. C. Andrew Kleit would like to thank the LSU Faculty Summer Grant Program for partial assistance.
Shortest Path Techniques for Annotation and Retrieval of Environmental Sounds

Many techniques for text-based retrieval and automatic annotation of music and sound effects rely on learning with explicit generalization, training individual classifiers for each tag. Non-parametric approaches, where queries are individually compared to training instances, can provide added flexibility, both in terms of robustness to shifts in database content and support for foreign queries, such as concepts not yet included in the database. In this paper, we build upon prior work in designing an ontological framework for annotation and retrieval of environmental sounds, where shortest paths are used to navigate a network containing edges that represent content-based similarity, semantic similarity, and user tagging data. We evaluate novel techniques for ordering query results using weights of both shortest paths and minimum cost paths of specified lengths, pruning outbound edges by nodes’ K nearest neighbors, and adjusting edge weights depending on type (acoustic, semantic, or user tagging). We evaluate these methods both through traditional cross-validation and through simulation of live systems containing a complete collection of sounds and tags but incomplete tagging data.