Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
INTERACTIVE KNOWLEDGE CONSTRUCTION IN THE COLLABORATIVE BUILDING OF AN ENCYCLOPEDIA

One of the major challenges of applied artificial intelligence is to provide environments where high-level human activities like learning, constructing theories, or performing experiments are enhanced by artificial intelligence technologies. This paper starts with the description of an ambitious project: EnCOrE.1 The specific real-world EnCOrE scenario, significantly representing a much wider class of potential applicative contexts, is dedicated to the building of an encyclopedia of organic chemistry in the context of virtual communities of experts and students. Its description is followed by a brief survey of some major AI questions and propositions in relation with the problems raised by the EnCOrE project. The third part of the paper starts with some definitions of a set of “primitives” for rational actions, and then integrates them in a unified conceptual framework for the interactive construction of knowledge. To end with, we sketch out protocols aimed at guiding both the collaborative construction process and the collaborative learning process in the EnCOrE project. The current major result is the emerging conceptual model supporting interaction between human agents and AI tools integrated in Grid services within a socio-constructivist approach, consisting of cycles of deductions, inductions, and abductions upon facts (the shared reality) and concepts (their subjective interpretation) submitted to negotiations, and finally converging to a socially validated consensus.
Time-frequency ALOHA-like random access: A scalability study of Low-Power Wide-Area Networks for IoT using stochastic geometry

We study the multiple access interferences in a random time-frequency scheme which encompasses the classical pure Aloha protocol. Such an access, additionally to a single hop communication or star topology scheme where sensors communicate with a single base station, allows for a low energy consumption, but the cost to pay is the risk of collision. To finely study the collisions, we propose an approach to model random access schemes based on stochastic geometry, in which the total time-frequency resources is a two-dimensional plane, and transmissions from sensor nodes are represented by time- frequency patterns randomly drawn in the time-frequency plane. We study levels of overlapping between the information packets: provided that the overlap is not too strong, the packets are not necessarily lost when they collide. Fixing a maximal allowed probability of packet loss, we are then able to derive the capacity of the channel in terms of maximal number of nodes supported by the medium, what we call load-capacity. We finally illustrate our approach in an application in the cases of wide-band and ultra-narrow band transmissions.
The systemic velocities of four long-period cataclysmic variable stars

Although a large number of orbital periods of cataclysmic variable (CV) stars have been measured, comparison of period and luminosity distributions with evolutionary theory is affected by strong selection effects. A test has been discovered that is independent of these selection effects and is based upon the kinematics of CVs. If the standard models of evolution are correct then long-period (Porb > 5 h) CVs should be typically less than 1.5 Gyr old, and their line-of-sight velocity dispersion (σ) should be small. We present results from a pilot study, which indicate that this postulate is indeed true. Four long-period dwarf novae (EM Cyg, V426 Oph, SS Cyg and AH Her) were observed over a complete orbit, in order for accurate radial velocities to be obtained. We find values of −1.7, 5.4, 15.4 and 1.8 km s1 with uncertainties of the order of 3 km s1, referred to the dynamical local standard of rest, leading to a dispersion of 8 km s1. Calculation of a 95 per cent confidence interval gives the result 4 <σ < 28 km s1 compared with a prediction of 15 km s1. We also have an improved determination of mass donor spectral type, K2 and q for the four systems.
Spring onset variations and trends in the continental United States: past and regional assessment using temperature‐based indices

Phenological data are simple yet sensitive indicators of climate change impacts on ecosystems, but observations have not been made routinely or extensively enough to evaluate spatial and temporal patterns across most continents, including North America. As an alternative, many studies use weather‐based algorithms to simulate specific phenological responses. Spring Indices (SI) are a set of complex phenological models that have been successfully applied to evaluate variations and trends in the onset of spring across the Northern Hemisphere's temperate regions. To date, SI models have been limited by only producing output in locations where both the plants' chilling and warmth requirements are met. Here, we develop an extended form of the SI (abbreviated SI‐x) that expands their application into the subtropics by ignoring chilling requirements while still retaining the utility and accuracy of the original SI (now abbreviated SI‐o).
Association of Relatives of Hemodialysis Patients with Metabolic Syndrome, Albuminuria and Framingham Risk Score

Background and Aim Metabolic syndrome (MetS), albuminuria, and the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) are significant predictors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the relationship and clinical significance of these CVD predictors in individuals with a family history of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are unclear. We investigated the association of relatives of hemodialysis (HD) patients with MetS, albuminuria, and the FRS. Methods One hundred and sixty-six relatives of HD patients and 374 age- and sex- matched community controls were enrolled. MetS was defined using the Adult Treatment Panel III for Asians. Albuminuria was defined as urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio ≥30 mg/g. CVD risk was evaluated by the FRS. Results A significantly higher prevalence of MetS (19.9% vs. 12.5%, P = 0.026), albuminuria (12.7% vs. 5.1%, P = 0.002) and high FRS risk ≥10% of 10-year risk (15.7% vs. 8.5%, P = 0.013) was found in relatives of HD patients compared to their counterpart controls. In multivariate analysis, being relatives of HD patients (vs. controls) was an independent determinant for MetS (odds ratio [OR], 1.785; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.045 to 3.050), albuminuria (OR, 2.891; 95% CI, 1.431 to 5.841), and high FRS risk (OR, 1.863; 95% CI, 1.015 to 3.418). Higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR, 1.034; 95% CI, 1.017 to 1.052) and betel nut chewing (OR, 13.994; 95% CI, 3.384 to 57.871) were independent determinants for having a high FRS risk in relatives of HD patients. Conclusions Being relatives of HD patients was independently associated with MetS, albuminuria and high FRS risk, suggesting family members of ESRD patients may have higher CVD risks through the interactions of renal risk factors. Proactive surveillance of these CVD predictors and preventive strategies should be targeted to this high-risk population.
Destination Maui? An Exploratory Assessment of the Efficacy of Self-Booking in Travel

The travel industry, one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the world, appears particularly interesting in terms of the possibilities offered by electronic commerce. It is one of the industries where business is already conducted successfully on the Internet and where the importance of electronic commerce is likely to grow. In order to investigate the opportunities offered as well as the problems facing any consumer trying to make his/her own travel reservations on the Internet, an empirical study was conducted among students attending an intermediary level course on Electronic Commerce. The study was divided into two parts, consisting of (i) a quotation competition in which the students were to act as travel agents, submitting an offer for a journey according to some given specifications; and (ii) a measurement, in which the students who submitted offers were asked to report on their booking experiences, especially the problems they encountered during the task. Within the travel industry, t.
Monetary Divergence: Domestic Policy Autonomy in the Post-Bretton Woods Era

Political economists have gradually begun to question the assumption that globalization and international capital mobility are forcing a convergence of international monetary policies. "Monetary Divergence" analyzes fiscal, monetary and exchange rate policy, demonstrating why the convergence thesis is overstated and misleading, and explaining how the evidence actually contradicts it. This important new book explains partisan economic differences in the capitalist global economy, and offers a novel explanation for the observed gap between governments' exchange rates.
Context-dependent conservation of DNA methyltransferases in bacteria

DNA methytransferases (MTs) in bacteria are best understood in the context of restriction–modification (R–M) systems, which act as bacterial immune systems against incoming DNA including phages, but have also been described as selfish elements. But several orphan MTs, which are not associated with any restriction enzyme, have also been characterized and may protect against parasitism by R–M systems. The occurrence of MTs in these two contexts, namely as part of R–M systems or as orphans, is poorly understood. Here we report the results of a comparative genomic survey of DNA MTs across ∼1000 bacterial genomes. We show that orphan MTs overwhelm R–M systems in their occurrence. In general, R–M MTs are poorly conserved, whereas orphans are nearly as conserved within a genus as any average gene. However, oligonucleotide usage and conservation patterns across genera suggest that both forms of MTs might have been horizontally acquired. We suggest that many orphan MTs might be ‘degradation’ products of R–M systems, based on the properties of orphan MTs encoded adjacent to highly diverged REs. In addition, several fully degraded R–M systems exist in which both the MT and the RE are highly divergent from their corresponding reference R–M pair. Despite their sporadic occurrence, conserved R–M systems are present in strength in two highly transformable genera, in which they may contribute to selection against integration of foreign DNA.
Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage after Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Background/Aims While chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is considered to be a reasonable treatment for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC), there is little information about the associated risk of gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage. We investigated the clinical features of GI toxicity after CRT in patients with LAPC and examined the effect of GI hemorrhage on survival. Methods Patients enrolled in this study had received CRT for pathologically proven LAPC. Their medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Results A total of 156 patients with LAPC (median age, 65 years; range, 39 to 90 years) who received treatment between August 2005 and March 2009 were included in this study. The most common GI toxicities were ulcer formation (25.6%) and hemorrhage (25.6%), and the most common grade 3 to grade 5 GI toxicity was hemorrhage (65%). The origins of GI hemorrhage were gastric ulcer (37.5%), duodenal ulcer (37.5%), and radiation gastritis (15.0%). The independent risk factor for GI hemorrhage was tumor location in the pancreatic body. The median overall survival of the patients with a GI hemorrhage was 13.8 months (range, 2.8 to 50.8 months) and was not significantly different from that of patients without GI hemorrhage. Conclusions GI hemorrhage was common in patients with LAPC after CRT. Although GI hemorrhage was controlled with endoscopic hemostasis, preventive measures should be investigated to reduce needless suffering.
A Distributed Approach to Maintain Network Connectivity in Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks

The paper proposes a distributed and adaptive algorithm for movement of nodes in a MANET (mobile adhoc network) to maintain the routing path to establish a secure connection between any two nodes at any instant of time. The proposed algorithm assumes the presence of a GPS receiver at each node. Relative position and velocity of each node in the network are measured with respect to its neighbors by means of the GPS receiver. A simple heuristic algorithm is used to modify the node velocity with respect to that of its neighbors so that the entire network remains connected in subsequent beacon intervals. The simulation run of the algorithm is carried out on a few synthetically generated network scenarios and results thus obtained show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Chemical characterization of commercial liquid smoke products

The objective of this study was to determine important chemical characteristics of a full-strength liquid smoke, Code 10-Poly, and three refined liquid smoke products (AM-3, AM-10 and 1291) commercially available (Kerry Ingredients and Flavors, Monterey, TN). The pH of the products were significantly different (P < 0.05) and ranged from 2.3 (Code 10-Poly) to 5.7 (1291). The pH was inversely correlated with titratable acidity (R2 = 0.87), which was significantly different (P < 0.05) among products ranging from 10.3% acetic acid (Code 10-Poly) to 0.7% acetic acid (1291). Total phenol content was quantified using the Gibbs reaction; the only liquid smoke containing appreciable level of phenolic compounds was Code 10-Poly at 3.22 mg mL−1. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of liquid smoke dichloromethane extracts revealed that carbonyl-containing compounds were major constituents of all products, in which 1-hydroxy-2-butanone, 2(5H)-furanone, propanal and cyclopentenone predominated. Organic acids were detected by GC-MS in all extracts and correlated positively (R2 = 0.98) with titratable acidity. The GC-MS data showed that phenolic compounds constituted a major portion of Code 10-Poly, and were detected only in trace quantities in 1291. The refined liquid smokes had lighter color, lower acidity, and reduced level of carbonyl-containing compounds and organic acids. Our study revealed major differences in pH, titratable acidity, total phenol content, color and chemical make-up of the full-strength and refined liquid smokes. The three refined liquid smoke products studied have less flavor and color active compounds, when compared with the full-strength product. Furthermore, the three refined products studied have unique chemical characteristics and will impart specific sensorial properties to food systems. Understanding the chemical composition of liquid smokes, be these refined or full-strength products, is an important step to establish their functions and appropriate use in food systems.
Radio Observations of a Large Sample of Late M, L, and T Dwarfs: The Distribution of Magnetic Field Strengths

I present radio observations of 90 dwarf stars and brown dwarfs of spectral type M5-T8. Three sources exhibit radio activity, in addition to the six objects previously detected in quiescence and outburst, leading to an overall detection rate of ~10% for objects later than M7. The inferred magnetic field strengths are ~102 G in quiescence and nearly 1 kG during flares, while the majority of the nondetected objects have B ≲ 50 G. Depending on the configuration and size of the magnetic loops, the surface fields may approach 1 kG even in quiescence, at most a factor of a few smaller than in early M dwarfs. With the larger sample of sources I find continued evidence for (1) a sharp transition around spectral type of M7 from a ratio of radio to X-ray luminosity of log(LR/LX) ~ -15.5 to ≳-12, (2) increased radio activity (LR/Lbol) with later spectral type, in contrast to Hα and X-ray observations, and (3) an overall drop in the fraction of active sources from ~30% for M dwarfs to ~5% for L dwarfs, consistent with Hα and X-ray observations. Taken together, these trends suggest that some late M and L dwarfs are capable of generating 0.1-1 kG magnetic fields, but the overall drop in the fraction of such objects likely reflects changes in the structure of the chromospheres and coronae, possibly due to increasingly neutral atmospheres and/or a transition to a turbulent dynamo. These possibilities can best be tested through simultaneous observations, which can trace the effect of magnetic dissipation in a direct, rather than a statistical, manner. Still, a more extended radio survey currently holds the best promise for measuring the magnetic field properties of a large number of dwarf stars.
Bayesian Inference for Autonomous Personal Localisation Indoors

The principal concept of navigation is to start from a known (initial) position and to ensure a continued and reliable localisation of the user during his/her movement. The initial position of the trajectory is usually obtained via GPS or defined by the user. Consider a pedestrian navigation system which contains a set of inertial sensors, connected with a map database. In the urban environment and indoors the localisation depends entirely on the measurements from the inertial sensors. The trajectory is defined in a local coordinate system and with an arbitrary orientation. The problem to solve is to determine the users location using the map database and inertial measurements of the navigation system. The idea behind our approach is to find the location and orientation of the trajectory and thus the users location. The proposed solution associates the users trajectory with the map database applying statistical methods in combination with map-matching. Similar geometric forms must be identified in both the trajectory and the link-node model. The trajectory, defined by a set of consecutive points, is transformed to a set of lines thanks to a dedicated motion model. In this research we propose a solution based on statistical methods where the history of the route and actual measurements are treated at the same time. The determination of the absolute position is entirely represented by its probability density function (PDF) in the frame of Bayesian inference. Following this approach the posterior estimation of the users location can be calculated using prior information and actual measurements. Because of the non-linear nature of the estimation problem, non-linear filtering techniques like particle filters (Sequential Monte Carlo methods) are applied.
Renal Transplant Immunosuppression Impairs Natural Killer Cell Function In Vitro and In Vivo

Background Despite an increasing awareness of the importance of innate immunity, the roles of natural killer (NK) cells in transplant rejection and antiviral and cancer immunity during immunosuppression have not been clearly defined. Methods To address this issue we have developed a quantitative assay of NK cell function that can be used on clinical samples and have studied the influence of immunosuppression on NK cell function. NK cell degranulation and intracellular interferon (IFN)-γ production were determined by flow cytometry of peripheral blood samples. Results Overnight ex vivo treatment of peripheral blood cells from healthy controls with ciclosporin or tacrolimus inhibited NK cell degranulation and IFN-γ production in a dose-dependent manner. A similar impairment of function was seen in NK cells from patients treated in vivo with calcineurin inhibitors. In the early post-transplant period, there was a variable reduction of NK cell counts after treatment with alemtuzumab and basiliximab. Conclusions The functional inhibition of NK cells in early transplant patients coincides with the period of maximum susceptibility to viral infections. The ability to assay NK cell function in clinical samples allows assessment of the impact of immunosuppression on these effector cells. This information may be helpful in guiding the titration of immunosuppression in the clinical setting.
A New CMOS four-quadrant analog multiplier with differential output

This paper presents a new four-quadrant analog multiplier circuit based on a new symmetrical configuration designed in CMOS technology. The proposed circuit is suitable for low voltage and low power applications. Compared to the corresponding already published works, the dynamic input and output ranges of the circuit are improved owing to the fact that the circuit works in the saturation region not in weak inversion. High accuracy is the further advantage of the circuit. In order to simulate the circuit, HSPICE simulator is utilized to verify the validity of the theoretical analysis in 0.18 μm CMOS technology, where under supply voltage of 1.5 V, the input range of the proposed circuit is ±400 mV, total power consumption is 44 μW, and the corresponding nonlinearity remains as low as 1.5 %. Moreover, the band-width of the circuit is found to be 196 MHz.
STAT3 is a Critical Regulator of Astrogliosis and Scar Formation after Spinal Cord Injury

Signaling mechanisms that regulate astrocyte reactivity and scar formation after spinal cord injury (SCI) are not well defined. We used the Cre recombinase (Cre)-loxP system under regulation of the mouse glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter to conditionally delete the cytokine and growth factor signal transducer, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), from astrocytes. After SCI in GFAP-Cre reporter mice, >99% of spinal cord cells that exhibited Cre activity as detected by reporter protein expression were GFAP-expressing astrocytes. Conditional deletion (or knock-out) of STAT3 (STAT3-CKO) from astrocytes in GFAP-Cre-loxP mice was confirmed in vivo and in vitro. In uninjured adult STAT3-CKO mice, astrocytes appeared morphologically similar to those in STAT3+/+ mice except for a partially reduced expression of GFAP. In STAT3+/+ mice, phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3) was not detectable in astrocytes in uninjured spinal cord, and pSTAT3 was markedly upregulated after SCI in astrocytes and other cell types near the injury. Mice with STAT3-CKO from astrocytes exhibited attenuated upregulation of GFAP, failure of astrocyte hypertrophy, and pronounced disruption of astroglial scar formation after SCI. These changes were associated with increased spread of inflammation, increased lesion volume and partially attenuated motor recovery over the first 28 d after SCI. These findings indicate that STAT3 signaling is a critical regulator of certain aspects of reactive astrogliosis and provide additional evidence that scar-forming astrocytes restrict the spread of inflammatory cells after SCI.