Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Degree-1 Mantle Convection and the Origin of the Martian Hemispheric Dichotomy

The hemispheric dichotomy on Mars is largely an expression of varying crustal thickness [1]. Although there is some disagreement as to the timing of its formation, the dichotomy is very old, forming during or before the early Noachian [2]. Several formation mechanisms, including both exogenic (giant impacts) [3] and endogenic processes including mantle convection [4], plate tectonics [5], and overturn of magma ocean residue [6] have been proposed. We have investigated the possibility for mantle convection to produce the hemispheric dichotomy. To be feasible, the pattern of convection must reflect the shape of the dichotomy, primarily spherical harmonic degree-1. This pattern must also emerge on a timescale consistent with the early age of the dichotomy (within the first couple hundred Ma). We considered viscosity layering in the mantle as a method of promoting long-wavelength convection [4] addressing several key issues not previously considered. We generalized our study to three dimensions, used a more realistic temperatureand pressuredependent viscosity formulation [7] in addition to the layering, examined the extent to which internal heating controls the wavelength [8], examined the magnitude of the viscosity jump and total viscosity variation across the mantle, and noted the timescale required for the formation of degree-1. We also considered the possibility of generating degree-1 convection by means of an endothermic phase transition near the CMB [9]. We used finite-element convection codes to solve the continuity, momentum, and energy equations in 2-D axisymmetric and in 3-D (CitcomS) spherical geometry.
Optimization of Noise Equivalent Count Rate Performance for a Partially Collimated PET Scanner by Varying the Number of Septa

We present a simulation study of the global count-rate performance of a positron emission tomography (PET) scanner with different levels of partial collimation to maximize the noise equivalent count rate for whole-body PET imaging. We achieve partial collimation by removing different numbers of septal rings from the standard 2-D septa set for the GE Advance PET scanner. System behavior is studied with a photon tracking simulation package, which we modify to enable the production of random coincidences. The simulations are validated with measured data taken in 2-D and fully 3-D acquisition mode on a GE Advance system using the National Electrical Manufacturers Association NU-2 count-rate phantom with two sets of annular sleeves to expand the diameter to 27 and 35 cm. For all diameters and in 2-D and fully 3-D mode, there is good agreement between measurements and simulations. All studies use the three phantom diameters to evaluate the effect of patient thickness for each amount of collimation. Optimized system parameters, such as maximum ring difference for single slice rebinning, are determined for the five partially collimated systems considered. The resulting global count rates for true, scattered, and random coincidences, the noise equivalent count (NEC) rates, and the scatter fractions for different levels of collimation are compared along with the results from the conventional 2-D and fully 3-D modes. Improved statistical data quality relative to both 2-D and fully 3-D data is found with the partially collimated systems, particularly when one-half or two-thirds of the septal rings are removed. An increase in NEC rates of as much as 50% is found for clinically relevant activities between 5-10 mCi (184-370 MBq). Scatter fractions for the partially collimated systems are intermediate between the 2-D and fully 3-D numbers. Many factors that affect image quality have not been considered in this paper. However, the significant increase in statistical data quality warrants further investigation of the impact of partial collimation on clinical whole-body PET imaging.
Multi-object tracking via tracklet confidence-aided relative motion analysis

Applications for tracking multiple objects in an image sequence are frequently challenged by various uncertainties, such as occlusion, misdetection, and abrupt camera motion. In practical environments, these uncertainties may occur simultaneously and with no pattern so that they must be jointly considered to achieve reliable tracking. We propose a two-step online multi-object tracking framework that incorporates a confidence-aided relative motion network (RMN) to jointly consider various difficulties. Because of the framework’s two-step data association process and the similarity function using RMNs, the proposed method achieves robust performance in the presence of most kinds of uncertainties. In our experiments, the proposed method exhibits a very robust and efficient performance compared with other state-of-the-art algorithms.
A network service development kit supporting the end-to-end lifecycle of NFV-based telecom services

Ongoing evolutions in the Network Function Virtualization (NFV) area show that software will play an increasingly important role within the telecommunication industry. It enables telco providers to faster introduce telecom services, combined with new possibilities to optimize and fine-tune operational performance. New virtualization and softwarization methods support fine-grained scaling of resources and highly-customizable configuration settings. Additionally, multi-datacenter topologies are available to deploy the Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) a service consists of. In this context, specialized tools are needed for debugging and validating the deployment, placement, chaining, configuration and scaling of network services, before the operator deploys the service in production. This demo showcases an open-source Software Development Kit (SDK), built to support NFV-based services throughout their whole lifecycle. During the demo, several example VNFs will be loaded into the SDK environment to demonstrate the features a service developer is envisioned to use, while either creating or updating NFV-based telecom services.
Reinforcement learning/spl I.bar/hierarchical neuro-fuzzy politree model for control of autonomous agents

This work presents a new hybrid neuro-fuzzy model for automatic learning of actions taken by agents. The main objective of this new model is to provide an agent with intelligence, making it capable, by interacting with its environment, to acquire and retain knowledge for reasoning (infer an action). This new model, named reinforcement learning hierarchical neuro-fuzzy politree (RL-HNFP), descends from the reinforcement learing hierarchical neuro-fuzzy BSP (RL-HNFB) that uses binary space partitioning. By using hierarchical partitioning methods, together with the reinforcement learning (RL) methodology, a new class of neuro-fuzzy systems (SNF) was obtained, which executes, in addition to automatically learning its structure, the autonomous learning of the actions to be taken by an agent. These characteristics represent an important differential when compared with the existing intelligent agents learning systems. The obtained results demonstrate the potential of this new model, which operates without any prior information, such as number of rules, rules specification, or number of partitions that the input space should have.
Phytobezoar of the Stomach

inopelvic CT scan demonstrated a low-density, well-encapsulated massive gastric mass measuring 11 cm in diameter in its largest dimension ( fig. 1 ). Gastroduodenoscopy found an intrinsic foreign body in the stomach ( fig. 2 ). Endoscopic removal was attempted after chemical dissolution, but failed. After that, surgical removal by A 53-year-old man was admitted with epigastric pain, early satiety, nausea, and vomiting. Physical examination revealed no abnormalities. His medical history included gastric ulcers leading to a truncal vagotomy with partial gastrectomy performed several years previously and barbiturate medication. An abdomPublished online: January 8, 2010
A Method to Calculate Effective Modulus of Hybrid Composite Materials

A theoretical model for estimating the effective elastic modulus of particulate hybrid composites is proposed. A concept of "equivalent virtual volume fraction" is in troduced in order to take interaction among a matrix and inclusions into account. The model is illustrated by the effective shear modulus of particulate hybrid composites based upon a modified self-consistent method for two-phase composites. The obtained results reflect the influence of the matrix phase geometry more adequately than simple "self-consistent" models.
Gaussian Process Dynamical Models

This paper introduces Gaussian Process Dynamical Models (GPDM) for nonlinear time series analysis. A GPDM comprises a low-dimensional latent space with associated dynamics, and a map from the latent space to an observation space. We marginalize out the model parameters in closed-form, using Gaussian Process (GP) priors for both the dynamics and the observation mappings. This results in a nonparametric model for dynamical systems that accounts for uncertainty in the model. We demonstrate the approach on human motion capture data in which each pose is 62-dimensional. Despite the use of small data sets, the GPDM learns an effective representation of the nonlinear dynamics in these spaces. Webpage: http://www.dgp. toronto.edu/~jmwang/gpdm/
Effects of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation on Metabolic Status and Pregnancy Outcomes in Pregnant Women at Risk for Pre-Eclampsia

Abstract This study was designed to assess the beneficial effects of high-dose (cholecalciferol) vitamin D supplementation on metabolic profiles and pregnancy outcomes among pregnant women at risk for pre-eclampsia. This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed among 60 pregnant women at risk for pre-eclampsia according to abnormal uterine artery Doppler waveform. Subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups to receive 50 000 IU vitamin D supplements (n=30) or receive placebo (n=30) every 2 weeks from 20 to 32 weeks of gestation. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline study and 12 weeks after the intervention to quantify relevant variables. Newborn’s anthropometric measurements were determined. Pregnant women who received cholecalciferol supplements had significantly increased serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations (+17.92±2.28 vs. +0.27±3.19 ng/ml, p<0.001) compared with the placebo. The administration of cholecalciferol supplements, compared with the placebo, resulted in significant differences in serum insulin concentrations (+1.08±6.80 vs. +9.57±10.32 μIU/ml, p<0.001), homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (+0.19±1.47 vs. +2.10±2.67, p<0.001), homeostatic model assessment-beta cell function (HOMA-B) (+5.82±29.58 vs. +39.81±38.00, p<0.001) and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) score (−0.009±0.03 vs. −0.04±0.03, p=0.004). Furthermore, cholecalciferol-supplemented pregnant women had increased HDL-cholesterol concentrations (+2.67 ± 8.83 vs. −3.23±7.76 mg/dl, p=0.008) compared with the placebo. Finally, cholecalciferol supplementation led to a significant rise in plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) concentrations (+79.00±136.69 vs. −66.91±176.02 mmol/l, p=0.001) compared with the placebo. Totally, the administration of cholecalciferol supplements among pregnant women at risk for pre-eclampsia for 12 weeks had favorable effects on insulin metabolism parameters, serum HDL-cholesterol, and plasma TAC concentrations.
Facial Width-to-Height Ratio in a Large Sample of Commonwealth Games Athletes

Evidence that facial width-to-height ratio (FWHR) is a sexually dimorphic morphological measure is mixed. Research has also linked FWHR with aggression and other behavioral tendencies, at least in men. Again, other research has found no such relationship. Here, I tested for both possible relationships using a sample of 2,075 male and 1,406 female athletes from the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Men showed significantly greater FWHRs than women, but this difference could be attributed to differences in body size. In addition, I found greater FWHRs in men who competed in sports involving physical contact and those stereotyped as more masculine. Again, these results could be attributed to differences in body size between categories. For women, no differences in FWHR were found regarding the amount of contact involved in a sport and how that sport was stereotyped. Finally, the FWHRs of athletes showed no relationship with the amount of aggression and related traits that were judged as required for success in those sports, although FWHRs did correlate with perceived endurance demands in women. Therefore, in a large sample of athletes, the sex difference in FWHR could be attributed to body size, and little support was found for the predicted links between this facial measure and behavior.
Hepatitis B Infection Is Associated with Asymptomatic Malaria in the Brazilian Amazon

Background Areas that are endemic for malaria are also highly endemic for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Nevertheless, it is unknown whether HBV infection modifies the clinical presentation of malaria. This study aimed to address this question. Methodology and Findings An observational study of 636 individuals was performed in Rondônia, western Amazon, Brazil between 2006 and 2007. Active and passive case detections identified Plasmodium infection by field microscopy and nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). HBV infections were identified by serology and confirmed by real-time PCR. Epidemiological information and plasma cytokine profiles were studied. The data were analyzed using adjusted multinomial logistic regression. Plasmodium-infected individuals with active HBV infection were more likely to be asymptomatic (OR: 120.13, P<0.0001), present with lower levels of parasitemia and demonstrate a decreased inflammatory cytokine profile. Nevertheless, co-infected individuals presented higher HBV viremia. Plasmodium parasitemia inversely correlated with plasma HBV DNA levels (r = −0.6; P = 0.0003). Conclusion HBV infection diminishes the intensity of malaria infection in individuals from this endemic area. This effect seems related to cytokine balance and control of inflammatory responses. These findings add important insights to the understanding of the factors affecting the clinical outcomes of malaria in endemic regions.
Finding meaning as a mediator of burden on the health of caregivers of spouses with dementia

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the role of finding meaning in caregiving as a way of coping and potential mediator of the effect of caregiver burden on caregiver health, controlling for potentially influencing factors. Method: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study of 84 community-residing spouse caregivers for persons with dementia in which participants completed questionnaires during a face-to-face meeting. Variables included background and contextual variables, caregiver burden, finding meaning through caregiving (FMTCG), and caregiver physical and mental health. Measures included the Zarit Burden Interview, the FMTCG Scale, and the Medical Outcomes Short Form-36, v2. Results: Regression analyses revealed that FMTCG partially mediated the relationship between caregiver burden and caregiver mental health. Caregiver burden was not associated with caregiver physical health. Conclusion: This study contributed new information by examining the role of finding meaning in caregiving, conceptualized from an existential perspective, as a mediator in the stress-coping process. Caregiver burden had an indirect effect on caregiver mental health that was partially mediated by finding meaning. Results underscore the importance of the positive aspects of caregiving such as finding meaning as potential buffers of the burden of caregiving.
The Neuropsychological Correlates of Borderline Personality Disorder and Suicidal Behaviour

Objective: In subjects with borderline personality disorder (BPD), compared with subjects who attempted suicide, to review neuropsychological (NP) function that may predispose to suicidal behaviour along a continuum of high and low lethality. Method: We undertook electronic searches of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Biosos Reviews, and Cinhal. The searches were restricted to English-language publications from 1985 onward. The search terms borderline personality disorder, suicide, suicide attempt, self-harm behaviour, neuropsychological, executive function (EF), neurocognitive, and neuropsychological function produced 29 neuropsychology studies involving BPD and 7 neuropsychology studies of suicide attempters, regardless of psychiatric diagnosis. Results: Of the BPD studies, 83% found NP impairment in one or more cognitive domains, irrespective of depression, involving specific or generalized deficits linked to the dorsolateral prefrontal and orbitofrontal regions. The functions most frequently reported (in 71% to 86% of BPD studies) are response-inhibitory processes affecting executive function performance that requires speeded attention and visuomotor skills. Decision making and visual memory impairment are also most frequently affected; 60% to 67% of BPD studies report attentional impairment, verbal memory impairment, and visuospatial organizational impairment. Least affected processes in BPD appear to involve spatial working memory, planning, and possibly, IQ. The similarities in NP deficits found in BPD and suicide-attempt studies involve decision making and Trails performances. BPD studies, however, reflect more frequent impairment on the Stroop Test and Wisconsin Card Sort Test performance than the suicide-attempt studies, whereas verbal fluency appears to be more frequently impaired in those attempting suicide. Conclusions: Impaired EF and disinhibitory processes, as indicated by verbal fluency, Trails, and Stroop performance, primarily associated with dorsolateral prefrontal cortical regions may represent a dominant executive pathway to suicide attempt. A primary motivational inhibitory pathway involving conflictual, affective, and reflexive decision-making processes associated with orbitofrontal brain regions, in combination with significant cognitive rigidity, may influence the repetitive expression of self-harm or low-lethality suicidal behaviour. The hypothesis of a specific trait-like cognitive vulnerability for suicidal behaviour involving dysregulatory, disinhibiting pathways awaits confirmation.
LDC Construction with a Defined Structure

Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) wireless communication systems have shown to provide large capacity increase due to different modes available in the channel. The Linear Dispersion Codes (LDCs), proposed by Bell Labs, are open-loop techniques that achieve the maximum rate in highly dispersive scenarios. However, one important point to take into account is the error probability exhibited by these codes. In this paper, we present a LDC construction scheme for any number of antennas that is based on the use of orthogonal and scrambling matrices which can achieve a near optimum rate and low Pairwise Error Probability (PEP). We named these LDCs as Quasi Orthogonal Design LDCs (QOD-LDCs) The QOD-LDCs attain an upper bound of the PEP quite similar to the one achieved by a full diversity orthogonal code for all Es/N0 values.
Design of a 5-cm monopod hopping robot

The monopod hopper described fits into a cube that is 5 cm on a side, is autonomous, and is designed to be statically stable and passively dynamically stable. Hopping is achieved through the excitation of a spring-mass system at its resonant frequency. Simulations were extensively used to finalize the design, before construction of the robot. The hopper, although having no active directional control, is able to climb steps up to 1 mm, travel at a rate of 1.5 body lengths per second for an average of over 225 cm before deviating significantly from its original course, and can operate up to 45 min before depleting the energy stored in the batteries.
Coordinated Punishment of Defectors Sustains Cooperation and Can Proliferate When Rare

Learning to Work Together In group endeavors, there is often a tension between working for the greater good of the group as a whole versus working for one's own benefit. Sometimes these paths coincide and sometimes they do not; furthermore, the choices made by other group members can influence the calculation of which path to take. A pair of studies now approaches this challenge from experimental and theoretical points of view. In a forest or fishery, harvesting of wood or food needs to take into account the renewable character of the resource, as well as spatial heterogeneity. Janssen et al. (p. 613; see the Perspective by Putterman) show that communication among the group members is key, both to establishing a maintainable rate of harvesting, as well as enforcement via punishment of noncompliers. Boyd et al. (p. 617; see the Perspective by Putterman) develop a model showing that punishment, which is a costly activity, is most effectively levied when implemented with the approval of group members; that is, coordinated punishment works to the benefit of the whole, whereas individual actions do not. Communication and coordination are essential components in cooperative endeavors. Because mutually beneficial cooperation may unravel unless most members of a group contribute, people often gang up on free-riders, punishing them when this is cost-effective in sustaining cooperation. In contrast, current models of the evolution of cooperation assume that punishment is uncoordinated and unconditional. These models have difficulty explaining the evolutionary emergence of punishment because rare unconditional punishers bear substantial costs and hence are eliminated. Moreover, in human behavioral experiments in which punishment is uncoordinated, the sum of costs to punishers and their targets often exceeds the benefits of the increased cooperation that results from the punishment of free-riders. As a result, cooperation sustained by punishment may actually reduce the average payoffs of group members in comparison with groups in which punishment of free-riders is not an option. Here, we present a model of coordinated punishment that is calibrated for ancestral human conditions and captures a further aspect of reality missing from both models and experiments: The total cost of punishing a free-rider declines as the number of punishers increases. We show that punishment can proliferate when rare, and when it does, it enhances group-average payoffs.
When Digits Help Digits: Spatial–Numerical Associations Point to Finger Counting as Prime Example of Embodied Cognition

Spatial–numerical associations (SNAs) are prevalent yet their origin is poorly understood. We first consider the possible prime role of reading habits in shaping SNAs and list three observations that argue against a prominent influence of this role: (1) directional reading habits for numbers may conflict with those for non-numerical symbols, (2) short-term experimental manipulations can overrule the impact of decades of reading experience, (3) SNAs predate the acquisition of reading. As a promising alternative, we discuss behavioral, neuroscientific, and neuropsychological evidence in support of finger counting as the most likely initial determinant of SNAs. Implications of this “manumerical cognition” stance for the distinction between grounded, embodied, and situated cognition are discussed.