Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expertise Differences in Attentional Strategies Related to Pilot Decision Making

Objective: We investigated expertise differences in pilot decision making by examining a hypothesized attention-action link. During simulated flight we measured the accuracy and latency of more and less expert pilots' decision outcomes and used eye tracking to measure their attention. We also examined whether decision outcomes and attentional strategies were influenced by properties of the cues indicating problems. Background: Errors in decision making contribute to many accidents and incidents, especially among inexperienced pilots. Although much is known about decision errors in terms of their outcomes, less is known about the cognitive processes that underlie expert differences in aviation decision making. Method: Fourteen more expert and 14 less expert pilots flew 16 flights in a simulator. Half of the flights contained a failure requiring diagnosis and action in response to the failure. Cues signaling the failures varied in how diagnostic and/or correlated they were. Results: The more expert pilots generally made better decisions in terms of speed and accuracy. Both groups made faster correct decisions when cues were high versus low in diagnosticity. Only the more expert pilots made faster correct decisions when cues were correlated. More attention was allocated to relevant cues (measured by percentage dwell time on areas of interest) when a failure was present, primarily among expert pilots. Moreover, the amount of attention to cues was associated with decision accuracy. Conclusion: The findings support the link between greater attention and more effective decision making. Application: The expert advantage in attention underlying decision outcomes may provide targets for improving pilot training.
Assessment of cattle genetic introgression into domestic yak populations using mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA markers

Hybridization between yak Poephagus grunniens and taurine Bos taurus or indicine B. indicus cattle has been widely practiced throughout the yak geographical range, and gene flow is expected to have occurred between these species. To assess the impact of cattle admixture on domestic yak, we examined 1076 domestic yak from 29 populations collected in China, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Russia using mitochondrial DNA and 17 autosomal microsatellite loci. A cattle diagnostic marker-based analysis reveals cattle-specific mtDNA and/or autosomal microsatellite allele introgression in 127 yak individuals from 22 populations. The mean level of cattle admixture across the populations, calculated using allelic information at 17 autosomal microsatellite loci, remains relatively low (mYcattle = 2.66 ± 0.53% and Qcattle = 0.69 ± 2.58%), although it varies a lot across populations as well as among individuals within population. Although the level of cattle admixture shows a clear geographical structure, with higher levels of admixture in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and Mongolian and Russian regions, and lower levels in the Himalayan and Pamir Plateau region, our results indicate that the level of cattle admixture is not significantly correlated with the altitude across geographical regions as well as within geographical region. Although yak-cattle hybridization is primarily driven to produce F1 hybrids, our results show that the subsequent gene flow between yak and cattle took place and has affected contemporary genetic make-up of domestic yak. To protect yak genetic integrity, hybridization between yak and cattle should be tightly controlled.
Defining in English : a tool to measure writings abilities

Drawing conclusions, comparing and contrasting, defining, explaining reasons and purposes, speculating and verifying, inferring and implying and other patterns of writing organisation, are the very matter of communication, whether in the form of everyday conversation or more highly specialised uses of language. These functions of language could be used to measure foreign language students' capability in different skills, writing for instance. This paper deals with the ability to write definitions, as an alternative to essay writing, of the students of English Language in the 1st year of English Philology at the University of Murcia . They were asked to define 10 words accurately chosen from the vocabulary lists published by Nation (1999). The results obtained have been used as a parameter to measure their writing ability. Significant correlations have been found between the marks obtained in the Oxford Placement Test performed at the beginning of the semester and those in our test based on definitions. We propose that definitions be considered as a parameter to check the writing abilities of the students and as a complement to the Oxford Placement Test
Stacked GaAs pHEMTs: Design of a K-band power amplifier and experimental characterization of mismatch effects

This paper presents the design and experimental characterization of a 3-stage stacked MMIC power amplifier in GaAs pHEMT technology. The amplifier targets an output power of 2W from 20 to 23 GHz through direct series power combination, and is fabricated in a super-compact stacked monolithic layout. The design, from basic-cell layout optimization to matching, is described. Despite the presence of early compression spots, CW measurements exhibit gain higher than 9.5 dB with output power larger than 31.8 dBm, and saturated efficiency in excess of 27%, in a 15% bandwidth around 21.5 GHz. To verify the overall stacked module in absence of high-frequency effects, the same basic cell has been manufactured for low frequency operations. Load pull characterization on this structure demonstrates the reliability of the solution, capable to deliver 2W on a 50 Ω load from 2 to 6 GHz, and permits to relate the K-band early compression spots, responsible of suboptimal performance, to the output mismatch.
The affect-aware city

The goal of smart cities can be summarized as optimizing the city's services (transportation, utilities, safety and many others) in order to improve the quality of life of its residents. A means to this goal is the heavy use of information and communications technology to give the city awareness of the real world and enable intelligent decision making. At the same time, the field of Affective Computing aims to give machines the ability to interpret and utilize human emotions. It is argued that emotions are an inseparable aspect of human intelligence. We thus propose our vision of the affect-aware city. By being capable of understanding the affective states of its citizens, the city's decision making processes can be brought in line with what truly matters to the people. We give an overview of the relevant affective states. We show how they can be detected individually and then aggregated into a global model of affect. The paper concludes with some inspiring applications that are possible in an affective city.
Communication Networks Performance of TCP on low-bandwidth wireless links with delay spikes

SUMMARY We model the goodput of a single TCP source on a wireless link experiencing sudden increases in RTT, i.e., delay spikes. Such spikes trigger spurious timeouts that reduce the TCP goodput. Renewal reward theory is used to derive a straightforward expression for TCP goodput that takes into account limited sending rates (limited window size), lost packets due to congestion and the delay spike properties such as the average spike duration and distribution of the spike intervals. The basic model is for i.i. d. spike intervals, and correlated spike intervals are modeled by using a modulating background Markov chain. Validation by ns2 simulations shows excellent agreement for lossless scenarios and good accuracy for moderate loss scenarios (for packet loss probabilities less than 5%). Numerical studies have also been performed to assess the impact of different spike interval distributions on TCP performance.
The Infectious Burden in Atherothrombosis

Abstract Pathogenesis of atherosclerosis involves multiple mechanisms, including imbalanced lipid metabolism, disturbed equilibrium of the immune response, and chronic inflammation of the artery wall. Several reports have shown a relationship between the development of atherosclerosis and the presence of infectious diseases, widely occurring in the general population, often chronic and/or asymptomatic. Beyond Chlamydia pneumoniae, a large number of infectious agents have been linked with an increased risk of vascular disease, with variable strength of supporting data: Porphyromonas gingivalis, Helicobacter pylori, influenza A virus, herpes virus, hepatitis C virus, cytomegalovirus, and human immunodeficiency virus. Infections may contribute to atherosclerosis either via direct infection of vascular cells or via the indirect effects of cytokines or acute phase proteins induced by infection at “nonvascular” sites. More recently, investigators reported that the aggregate burden (“infectious burden”) of these chronic infections, rather than the effects of a single organism, might contribute to atherosclerosis and its thrombotic complications. However, the role of infection, as a proinflammatory cause of atherosclerosis, is still debated in the literature. This article will review available data suggesting a relationship between different infective pathogens and atherothrombosis, the hypothesized mechanisms, and the potential role for antimicrobial treatment.
A Prediction Method to Improve Training Management

The current research aims to use expert systems techniques to predict the training needs of trainees based on several factors related to the functional status of each employee (group, quality, job, training courses), which are essential factors in this forecasting process; because of the diversity of the training needs in light of the job conditions, technological and international development. So, the hold makers are imposed to identify these needs which are determined as the most important processes lead to success the training process. In this paper, three prediction algorithms were used: Bagging, NaviaBayes, and Neural Network to predict the training needs of the trainees in order to support and decision-making among the decision makers in education and increase the accuracy as well as the effectiveness of the training courses. The dataset consisted of 334 cases. The results of the experiments showed that the Bagging algorithm achieved the better accuracy against the rest of the algorithms.
Exogenous growth hormone stimulates somatotropic axis function and growth in neonatal pigs

Wester, Timothy J., TeresaA. Davis, Marta L. Fiorotto, and Douglas G. Burrin. Exogenous growth hormone stimulates somatotropic axis function and growth in neonatal pigs. Am. J. Physiol. 274 (Endocrinol. Metab. 37): E29–E37, 1998. —We studied the effects of exogenous porcine growth hormone (pGH) administration on circulating insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) concentration, IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP), tissue growth, and protein synthesis in neonatal pigs. One-day-old pigs were given daily intramuscular injections of either pGH (1 mg/kg body wt) (n 5 6) or saline (n 5 5) for 7 days, after which time we measured in vivo protein synthesis using a bolus of [3H]-phenylalanine. Mean plasma pGH concentration in pGH-treated pigs measured on day 7 was 22-fold higher than in controls. The plasma IGF-I concentration in pGH-treated pigs was significantly greater than in controls after 1 day of treatment and plateaued at 285% of control values after 4 days. After 7 days of treatment, plasma IGFBP-3 concentrations and the plasma glucose response to a meal were also greater in pGH-treated than control pigs. pGH treatment significantly increased body weight gain and food conversion efficiency and the protein synthesis rate in several visceral organs. Our results demonstrate that exogenous pGH increases circulating IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations and visceral organ growth in neonatal pigs, suggesting that the somatotrophic axis is functional in the neonate.
The wellness of families : the exploration into developing an integrated family counselling workbook

This thesis is an exploration into the integration of a pastoral, narrative and family therapy approach with the purpose of developing an integrated family workbook that ministers, pastors, counsellors and families can use as a pro-active guide in counselling. It is a qualitative exploratory study using in-depth literature studies as well as in-depth interviews and research into existing family counselling models. Participants to the study were social workers, ministers, pastors, counsellors and psychologist. The in-depth-literature study focused primarily on the theory and practice of a pastoral, narrative and family approach and secondly on the history of psychology and theology integration.Both the literature study, research into existing family therapy models and in-depth interviews confirm to the research questions: Is it possible to integrate a pastoral, narrative and family therapy approach? Is there a need for an integrated family therapy workbook? -in that - families do not only struggle to cope on a socio-economic level (lack of income and housing for example) but the lack of morals and values and “get together” also plays a vital role. In the voice of participants: “Families need to discover their own family belief and faith system and hear the voices of one another, they need to be understood in terms of their religion, culture, tradition, history and life story”. Many counsellors use one preferred approach in counselling. Harm can come to clients in counselling who are expected to fit all the specifications of a given theory. Practitioners need to challenge and tailor their theory and practice to fit the unique needs of clients/families. This requirement calls for counsellors to possess knowledge of various cultures, be aware of their own cultural heritage, and have skills to assist a wide spectrum of clients in dealing with reality. Each theory has its unique contributions and its own domain of expertise. By accepting that each theory has strengths and weaknesses and is, by definition, “different” from the others, practitioners have some basis to begin developing a theory that fits for them.
A novel detection scheme to mitigate the TD-LTE interference

In this article, a novel detection scheme will be introduced into the CR system based on the Time Duplex-Long Term Evolution (TD-LTE) scheme, in which radar system is the primary user. If the CR nodes carry on the on-line energy detection to the radar signal, it will be subject to the interference originated from the TD-LTE system's Base Station (BS) [1]. We propose a new detection program employed only in the TD-LTE uplink timeslots. In this program, the interference, which is coming from the TD-LTE system's User Equipment (UE) [2], may be weaker than it originated from BS. At the same time, the performance will be enhanced by accumulating multiple coherent detecting results. Through theoretical analysis and simulation, the feasibility of the new program has been verified.
Gap junction remodeling associated with cholesterol redistribution during fiber cell maturation in the adult chicken lens

Purpose To investigate the structural remodeling in gap junctions associated with cholesterol redistribution during fiber cell maturation in the adult chicken lens. We also evaluated the hypothesis that the cleavage of the COOH-terminus of chick Cx50 (formerly Cx45.6) during fiber cell maturation would affect the gap junction remodeling. Methods Freeze-fracture TEM and filipin cytochemistry were applied to visualize structural remodeling of gap junction connexons associated with cholesterol redistribution during fiber cell maturation in adult leghorn chickens (42-62 weeks old). Freeze-fracture immunogold labeling (FRIL) was used to label the specific Cx50 COOH-terminus antibody in various structural configurations of gap junctions. Results Cortical fiber cells of the adult lenses contained three subtypes of cholesterol-containing gap junctions (i.e., cholesterol-rich, cholesterol-intermediate, and cholesterol-poor or -free) in both outer and inner cortical zones. Quantitative studies showed that approximately 81% of gap junctions in the outer cortex were cholesterol-rich gap junctions whereas approximately 78% of gap junctions in the inner cortex were cholesterol-free ones. Interestingly, all cholesterol-rich gap junctions in the outer cortex displayed loosely-packed connexons whereas cholesterol-free gap junctions in the deep zone exhibited tightly, hexagonal crystalline-arranged connexons. Also, while the percentage of membrane area specialized as gap junctions in the outer cortex was measured approximately 5 times higher than that of the inner cortex, the connexon density of the crystalline-packed gap junctions in the inner cortex was about 2 times higher than that of the loosely-packed ones in the outer cortex. Furthermore, FRIL demonstrated that while the Cx50 COOH-terminus antibody was labeled in all loosely-packed gap junctions examined in the outer cortex, little to no immunogold labeling was seen in the crystalline-packed connexons in the inner cortex. Conclusions Gap junctions undergo significant structural remodeling during fiber cell maturation in the adult chicken lens. The cholesterol-rich gap junctions with loosely-packed connexons in the young outer cortical fibers are transformed into cholesterol-free ones with crystalline-packed connexons in the mature inner fibers. In addition, the loss of the COOH-terminus of Cx50 seems to contribute equally to the transformation of the loosely-packed connexons to the crystalline-packed connexons during fiber cell maturation. This transformation causes a significant increase in the connexon density in crystalline gap junctions. As a result, it compensates considerably for the large decrease in the percentage of membrane area specialized as gap junctions in the mature inner fibers in the adult chicken lens.
Study of Perception and Help Seeking Behaviour Among Parents for Their Children With Psychiatric Disorder: A Community Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Child mental health problems present a health challenge for all societies, which are aggravated by lack of knowledge in parents regarding them as well as suboptimal response to them with reference to the help seeking behaviour by parents of these cases. We tried to find out perception of child mental health problems in parents and also the help seeking behaviour of parents residing in an urban slum of Mumbai because understanding impediments to perceiving these disorders and thereby having optimal health seeking behaviour could greatly contribute to reducing the impact of these problems on children's growth and development overall. Study design & setting: A cross‑sectional study was conducted in urban slum of Mumbai. Materials & Methods: Systematic random sampling technique was used to select 257 respondents which were interviewed for presence of mental health disorder using semi-structured questionnaire. Parents of 38 children who were diagnosed for mental health disorder were interviewed with the help of pre-tested questionnaire for perception and help seeking behaviour for psychiatric disorder in their children. Interviews were conducted after getting informed consent. Two focus group discussions with the parents of the cases about their child’s mental health were also conducted. Results: 47.4% parents perceived the problems in behaviour of their child and of these, only 10.5% parents sought treatment voluntarily before the interview. Major reasons given for not taking treatment were unawareness, no felt need, stigma attached to mental health. Parents’ perception and help seeking behaviour were better for male gender, higher education of parents, employed parents, having 5-10 members’ family and stress-free family. Conclusion: Present study outlined the need of awareness in parents regarding child mental health problems. Parents also need to be addressed in intervention and education programs related to child mental health.
Targeted gene modification in mouse ES cells using integrase‐defective lentiviral vectors

Lentiviral vectors efficiently integrate into the host genome of both dividing and nondividing cells, and so they have been used for stable transgene expression in biological and biomedical studies. However, recent studies have highlighted the risk of insertional mutagenesis and subsequent oncogenesis. Here, we used an integrase‐defective lentiviral (IDLV) vector to decrease the chance of random integration and examined the feasibility of lentiviral vector‐mediated gene targeting into murine embryonic stem (ES) cells. After transduction with wild‐type lentiviral vectors, none of the 512 G418 resistant clones were found to be homologous recombinant clones. Although the transduction efficiency was lower with the IDLV vectors (5.9% of wild‐type), successful homologous recombination was observed in nine out of the 941 G418 resistant clones (0.83 ± 1.32%). Pluripotency of the homologous recombinant ES cells was confirmed by the production of chimeric mice and subsequent germ line transmission. Because lentiviral vectors can efficiently transduce a variety of stem cell types, our strategy has potential relevance for secure gene‐manipulation in therapeutic applications. genesis 47:217–223, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Artificial surfactant therapy for hyaline membrane disease.

The demonstration that the lungs of infants who died with hyaline membrane disease (HMD) had abnormal surface properties' prompted a number of attempts to treat the condition by administration of material with surface tension-lowering properties. The substance mainly used for this purpose during the period 1964-7 was synthetic dipalmitoyllecithin (DPL) prepared as an aerosol either in a mixture of propylene glycol and water or in a freon carrier.2 3 The results were uniformly disappointing and treatment with surfactant was soon stopped in favour of nonspecific supportive measures. The efforts exerted by neonatologists for achieving adequate resuscitation at birth, warmth, control of acid base status, and improved methods of assisted ventilation and blood-gas monitoring seem to have led to improved survival of preterm infants with HMD.4 Prenatal administration of steroids to induce maturation of the biochemical pathways for surfactant synthesis has also provided a possible means of preventing HMD in suitable cases.5 The possibility of prevention or treatment of HMD by instillation of artificial surfactant into the airways has however seemed sufficiently attractive to persuade several groups of workers to resume experimental studies in this area, particularly during the last 5 years.6-1" Fujiwara et al.12 have recently reported results after artificial surfactant treatment in a further small series of infants with HMD. In this issue (page 758), Morley et al.13 in a more cautious approach, compare the effects of administration of artificial with those of natural surfactant on the lungs of preterm rabbits. At this stage there are two questions which the neonatologist may reasonably ask. Firstly, has there been a significant increase in knowledge and technical ability during the last decade which justifies further consideration of a previously discredited mode of treatment? Secondly, if treatment with artificial surfactant were to be introduced, what would be the realistic prospects for reduction in neonatal mortality and morbidity?