Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tree-valued Markov chains and Poisson-Galton-Watson distributions

The Poisson-Galton-Watson distribution on nite trees, and the related PGW 1 (1) distribution on innnite trees with one end, arise in several contexts, in particular as n ! 1 weak limits within various size-n combinato-rial models. We review this topic, introducingslick notation for describing such distributions. We then describe a family of continuous-time Markov chains whose marginal distributions are of Poisson-Galton-Watson type. Diierent chains in this family have connections with diierent parts of the extensive literature on tree and forest-valued chains (the random graph process, stochastic coalescence, spanning tree chains) and also illustrate the classical state-space-compactiication theory of continuous-time countable-state chains.
2D Object Detection and Recognition

From the Publisher: Two important subproblems of computer vision are the detection and recognition of 2D objects in gray-level images. This book discusses the construction and training of models, computational approaches to efficient implementation, and parallel implementations in biologically plausible neural network architectures. The approach is based on statistical modeling and estimation, with an emphasis on simplicity, transparency, and computational efficiency. The book describes a range of deformable template models, from coarse sparse models involving discrete, fast computations to more finely detailed models based on continuum formulations, involving intensive optimization. Each model is defined in terms of a subset of points on a reference grid (the template), a set of admissible instantiations of these points (deformations), and a statistical model for the data given a particular instantiation of the object present in the image. A recurring theme is a coarse to fine approach to the solution of vision problems. The book provides detailed descriptions of the algorithms used as well as the code, and the software and data sets are available on the Web.
Development and Organization of the Evolutionarily Conserved Three-Layered Olfactory Cortex

Abstract The olfactory cortex is part of the mammalian cerebral cortex together with the neocortex and the hippocampus. It receives direct input from the olfactory bulbs and participates in odor discrimination, association, and learning (Bekkers and Suzuki, 2013). It is thought to be an evolutionarily conserved paleocortex, which shares common characteristics with the three-layered general cortex of reptiles (Aboitiz et al., 2002). The olfactory cortex has been studied as a “simple model” to address sensory processing, though little is known about its precise cell origin, diversity, and identity. While the development and the cellular diversity of the six-layered neocortex are increasingly understood, the olfactory cortex remains poorly documented in these aspects. Here is a review of current knowledge of the development and organization of the olfactory cortex, keeping the analogy with those of the neocortex. The comparison of olfactory cortex and neocortex will allow the opening of evolutionary perspectives on cortical development.
Developmental Programming of Hypertension: Physiological Mechanisms.

Epidemiological studies indicate that the origins of high blood pressure initiates in fetal life.1–3 Recent reviews highlight a role for numerous factors in the pathogenesis of the developmental programming of hypertension including epigenetic processes, glucocorticoids, reduced nephron number, activation of the sympathetic nervous system, and the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) and endothelial dysfunction.4–7 Studies published in Hypertension and other journals highlight the complexity of cardiovascular risk that has its origins in fetal life. The purpose of this minireview is to present an update on recent studies in Hypertension that investigate the underlying mechanisms that contribute to the developmental programming of hypertension and increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Barker8 first proposed the theory of the fetal origins of coronary heart disease based on the hypothesis that adaptive responses by the fetus to maternal undernutrition would enhance survival to birth at the expense of later cardiovascular health. The first animal studies to investigate the Barker hypothesis utilized rodent models to demonstrate that maternal undernutrition during gestation programs an increase in blood pressure in the offspring.9 Based on previous studies indicating a role for the renal nerves in experimental models of low birth weight,10,11 Mizuno et al12 proposed that increased blood pressure in protein-restricted offspring would be associated with an increase in baseline measure of renal sympathetic nerve activity (SNA). Although baseline measurement of renal SNA under anesthesia did not differ in male protein-restricted offspring versus male control at 4 to 5 months of age, renal SNA was significantly elevated in response to a secondary hit of physical stress in association with a greater blood pressure response12 indicating a role for an increase in renal SNA in the developmental programming of increased blood pressure and cardiovascular risk. Chronic systemic blockade of …
University of Groningen Psychological and behavioural factors associated with sexual risk behaviour among Slovak students

Background: Knowledge about the prevalence of sexual risk behaviour (SRB) in adolescence is needed to prevent unwanted health consequences. Studies on SRB among adolescents in Central Europe are rare and mostly rely on a single indicator for SRB. This study aims to assess the association of behavioural and psychological factors with three types of SRB in adolescents in Central Europe. Methods: We obtained data on behavioural factors (having been drunk during previous month, smoking during previous week, early sexual initiation), psychological factors (self-esteem, wellbeing, extroversion, neuroticism, religiousness), and SRB (intercourse under risky conditions, multiple sexual partners, and inconsistent condom use) in 832 Slovak university students (response 94.3%). Results: Among those with sexual experience (62%), inconsistent condom use was the most prevalent risk behaviour (81% in females, 72% in males). With the exception of having been drunk in males, no factor was associated with inconsistent condom use. Regarding the other types of SRB, early sexual initiation was most strongly associated. In addition, other, mostly behavioural, factors were associated, in particular having been drunk. Conclusion: Results suggest that behavioural factors are more closely related to SRB than psychological factors. Associations differ by type of SRB and gender but offer few clues to target risk groups for inconsistent condom use. Results show a high need for health-promotion programmes in early adolescence that target SRB in conjunction with other health risk behaviours such as alcohol abuse. Published: 13 January 2009 BMC Public Health 2009, 9:15 doi:10.1186/1471-2458-9-15 Received: 26 May 2008 Accepted: 13 January 2009 This article is available from: http://www.biomedcentral. com/1471-2458/9/15 © 2009 Kalina et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. BMC Public Health 2009, 9:15 http://www.biomedcentral. com/1471-2458/9/15
Time course of neutral red-induced autophagy in murine pancreatic acinar cells. A morphometrical and cytochemical study.

The knowledge of the time course of the influences of chemicals on autophagy is of great importance in the study of their modes of action and hence provides information relating the mechanism and dynamics of this catabolic process. Neutral red (NR) treatment has long been used to produce an accumulation of autolysosomes in different cell types. In the present study early (AV1), advanced (AV2) and late (AV3), as well as complex (fused) AVs (AVc) were distinguished. In our morphometrical measurements, we found all these AV subcompartments significantly expanded as early as 30 min after the injection of NR (0.4 mg/g b.wt.), i.e. a large number of AVs accumulated in the cells. Since cytoplasmic volume fraction (CVF) of AV increased 3-fold during this early period we conclude that, unlike vinblastine, NR is not a fusion inhibitor. Accumulation of AV1 (3-fold) in the presence of fusions possibly indicates that NR stimulates formation of AVs in this early period, after the accumulation of AVs continued. The maximal CVF of AVs were measured at 4 h, when 7.6% of the cytoplasmic volume was sequestered into the AV compartment, two third of which came from AV3. This finding indicates that NR is probably an inhibitor of intravacuolar degradation. However, the high rate of accumulation of AV2, AV3, and total AVs including a slower but still pronounced accumulation of AV1 cannot be explained solely from inhibition of degradation, but indicates a stimulated segregation (AV formation). Our results therefore argue for a possible coupling of the regulation of autophagic segregation and degradation since vinblastine and possibly some other degradation inhibitors were also found to stimulate AV formation in other studies. Another goal of this study was to follow the time course of changes in distribution of certain lysosomal enzymes after NR treatment. According to our enzyme cytochemical studies, acid phosphatase (AP) of untreated cells is mainly located in large and small lysosomal elements of the Golgi zone, aryl sulfatase B (AS) in trans-Golgi elements including pre-secretory granules and trimetaphosphatase (TP) in basal lysosomes. After NR injection TP seemed to appear first in AV1 whereas AP activity was characteristic of more advanced AVs. AS activity only occasionally appeared in AV3 and exclusively at late times after NR injection.
Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with Chinese herbal medicine: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional bowel disorder for which there is no reliable medical treatment. OBJECTIVE To determine whether Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is of any benefit in the treatment of IBS. DESIGN Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted during 1996 through 1997. SETTING Patients were recruited through 2 teaching hospitals and 5 private practices of gastroenterologists, and received CHM in 3 Chinese herbal clinics. PATIENTS A total of 116 patients who fulfilled the Rome criteria, an established standard for diagnosis of IBS. INTERVENTION Patients were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 treatment groups: individualized Chinese herbal formulations (n = 38), a standard Chinese herbal formulation (n = 43), or placebo (n = 35). Patients received 5 capsules 3 times daily for 16 weeks and were evaluated regularly by a traditional Chinese herbalist and by a gastroenterologist. Patients, gastroenterologists, and herbalists were all blinded to treatment group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Change in total bowel symptom scale scores and global improvement assessed by patients and gastroenterologists and change in the degree of interference in life caused by IBS symptoms assessed by patients. RESULTS Compared with patients in the placebo group, patients in the active treatment groups (standard and individualized CHM) had significant improvement in bowel symptom scores as rated by patients (P=.03) and by gastroenterologists (P=.001), and significant global improvement as rated by patients (P=.007) and by gastroenterologists (P=.002). Patients reported that treatment significantly reduced the degree of interference with life caused by IBS symptoms (P=.03). Chinese herbal formulations individually tailored to the patient proved no more effective than standard CHM treatment. On follow-up 14 weeks after completion of treatment, only the individualized CHM treatment group maintained improvement. CONCLUSION Chinese herbal formulations appear to offer improvement in symptoms for some patients with IBS.
Language acquisition in premature and full-term infants

We tested healthy preterm (born near 28 ± 2 weeks of gestational age) and full-term infants at various different ages. We compared the two populations on the development of a language acquisition landmark, namely, the ability to distinguish the native language from a rhythmically similar one. This ability is attained 4 months after birth in healthy full-term infants. We measured the induced gamma-band power associated with passive listening to (i) the infants’ native language (Spanish), (ii) a rhythmically close language (Italian), and (iii) a rhythmically distant language (Japanese) as a marker of gains in language discrimination. Preterm and full-term infants were matched for neural maturation and duration of exposure to broadcast speech. We found that both full-term and preterm infants only display a response to native speech near 6 months after their term age. Neural maturation seems to constrain advances in speech discrimination at early stages of language acquisition.
Computer-assisted arthroplasty using bio-engineered autografts

Recent advances in tissue-engineered cartilage open the door to new clinical treatments of joint lesions. Common to all therapies with in-vitro engineered autografts is the need for optimal fit of the construct, to allow screwless implantation and optimal integration into the live joint. Computer Assisted Surgery techniques are prime candidates to ensure the required accuracy while at the same time simplifying the procedure. A pilot study has been conducted aiming at assembling a new set of methods to support ankle joint arthroplasty using bio-engineered autografts. Computer assistance allows planning of the implant shape on a CT image, manufacturing the construct according to the plan and interoperatively navigating the surgical tools for implantation. A rotational symmetric model of the joint surface was used to avoid segmentation of the CT image; a new software was developed to determine the joint axis and make the implant shape parameterisable. A complete cycle of treatment from planning to operation was conducted on a human cadaveric foot, thus proving the feasibility of computer-assisted arthroplasty using bio-engineered autografts.
Integrating multiple data sources in a cardiology imaging laboratory

Nowadays, medical imaging laboratories are supported by heterogeneous systems, including image repositories, acquisition devices, viewer workstations and other administrative information systems. They hold tremendous amounts of data resulting not only from imaging modalities, but also from patient diagnosis, treatment, and services management. Unfortunately, the interoperability between the different medical information systems is still a major limitation. Despite the existence of standards to support the distinct RIS and PACS applications, such as DICOM and HL7, the interoperability between them is, in most cases, limited to a few sets of information elements. As a result, the establishment of cooperative workflows or the integrated visualization of patient data is still compromised. Moreover, this scenario severely constraints the usage of these data for research and business analytics purposes, commonly referred as secondary uses of data. In this document, we propose a method for transforming echocardiography reports held by proprietary information systems into DICOM Structured Reports (SR), the gold standard for interoperability in medical imaging. As a result, reports, images, and associated metadata can be accessed and shared by all PACS applications in an integrated and structured manner. Furthermore, the large-scale federation of those elements has a tremendous interest for data analytics and secondary uses of data.
Crime Places in Crime Theory

Criminologists and crime prevention practitioners are increasingly aware of the importance of places of crime. A place is a very small area, usually a street corner, address, building, or street segment. A focus on crime places contrasts with a focus on neighborhoods. Neighborhood theories usually highlight the development of offenders. while place level explanations emphasize crime events. Three perspectives suggest the importance of places for understanding crime: rational choice; routine activity theory; and crime pattern theory. Though these perspectives are mutually supportive, routine activity theory and crime pattern theory provide different explanations for crime occurring at different places. Five areas of research help us understand the importance of places: crime concentration about particular facilities (e.g., bars); the high concentration of crime at some addresses and the absence of crime at others; the preventive effects of various place features; the mobility of offenders; and studies of how offenders select targets. Concern has been expressed that efforts to prevent crime at specific locations will only move it to other, unprotected locations. Recent research suggests that these fears may be exaggerated, and that under some circumstances the opposite effect occurs: instead of crime displacing, the benefits of the prevention efforts diffuse to unprotected locations. This paper concludes with a review of the 14 original articles in this volume.
Phenotypic Diversity Caused by Differential RpoS Activity among Environmental Escherichia coli Isolates

ABSTRACT Enteric bacteria deposited into the environment by animal hosts are subject to diverse selective pressures. These pressures may act on phenotypic differences in bacterial populations and select adaptive mutations for survival in stress. As a model to study phenotypic diversity in environmental bacteria, we examined mutations of the stress response sigma factor, RpoS, in environmental Escherichia coli isolates. A total of 2,040 isolates from urban beaches and nearby fecal pollution sources on Lake Ontario (Canada) were screened for RpoS function by examining growth on succinate and catalase activity, two RpoS-dependent phenotypes. The rpoS sequence was determined for 45 isolates, including all candidate RpoS mutants, and of these, six isolates were confirmed as mutants with the complete loss of RpoS function. Similarly to laboratory strains, the RpoS expression of these environmental isolates was stationary phase dependent. However, the expression of RpoS regulon members KatE and AppA had differing levels of expression in several environmental isolates compared to those in laboratory strains. Furthermore, after plating rpoS + isolates on succinate, RpoS mutants could be readily selected from environmental E. coli. Naturally isolated and succinate-selected RpoS mutants had lower generation times on poor carbon sources and lower stress resistance than their rpoS + isogenic parental strains. These results show that RpoS mutants are present in the environment (with a frequency of 0.003 among isolates) and that, similarly to laboratory and pathogenic strains, growth on poor carbon sources selects for rpoS mutations in environmental E. coli. RpoS selection may be an important determinant of phenotypic diversification and, hence, the survival of E. coli in the environment.
Structure and luminescence of annealed nanoparticles of ZnS:Mn

Structural and light-emitting properties of nanoparticles of ZnS:Mn annealed in vacuum at temperatures up to 525 °C are presented. Annealing the 3.5 nm particles at temperatures up to 350 °C caused growth of some particles without substantial change in the luminescence or ZnS lattice. After annealing at 400–525 °C, the high-temperature wurtzite phase of ZnS appeared, accompanied by an increase of the average particle diameter to approximately 100 nm and a rearrangement of the Mn ions. Dramatic increase in cathodoluminescence emission was also observed and is compared to the structural information obtained from electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, x-ray absorption fine structure, and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements.
Influence of Drive Current to Unbalanced-Magnetic-Pull in Spindle Motor

Both symmetric and asymmetric armature windings are applied in the spindle motors used in hard disk drives. Consider the influence of the drive current in the windings, the analysis to the unbalanced-magnetic-pull (UMP) generated in the motor becomes more difficult. Besides the intrinsic and extrinsic components, the additional UMP can also induced by the current, and the UMP could thus be serious. This paper analyzes this phenomenon, and presents a model which can describe clearly the influence of the drive current to the UMP. For verifying the effectiveness of the analytic method proposed, several spindle motors are analyzed, and compared with the results obtained by using FE method. The comparing proves the effectiveness of the UMP model presented.
On the Long-Run Determinants of Real Exchange Rates for Developing Countries: Evidence from Africa, Latin America and Asia

The main goal of this paper is to tackle the empirical issues of the real exchange rate litterature by applying recently developed panel cointegration techniques to a structural long-run real exchange rate equation. We consider here a sample of 45 developing countries, divided into three groups according to geographical criteria: Africa, Latin America and Asia. Our investigations confirm that having a reference to assess the degree of distortion of real exchange rate is not as simple as it can be thought with the PPP concept. The real exchange rate is e? ectively at the centre of an economic spiral and its value depends on the economic specificities of each country. In other words, we don? t have a fixed and general norm but, for each economy, the real exchange rate trajectory depends on its development level, on the way economic policy is conducted, and on its position on the international market.
Batch Adsorption From Solution

A batch adsorption equation was derived by integrating an irreversible rate equation obtained by neglecting the desorption term of the Langmuir adsorption-rate equation. The integrated equation was in reasonably good agreement with experiment and provided a means for determining from the data the parameters q0 and k1. These constants, namely, the adsorptive capacity and the adsorption rate constant, completely characterized the adsorption system at that temperature. Agreement was found between these batch adsorption parameters and their counterparts previously derived from column adsorption experiments when both types of adsorption were performed simultaneously.
Conflict components of the Stroop effect and their “control”

We do not pretend that the distinction between task and information conflict can solve the ongoing argument regarding the mechanism behind the “flexibility” of the Stroop effect, as reflected by the proportion effect. We do believe that the awareness of the fact that only one of two components contributing to the Stroop effect is a genuine marker of the automaticity of reading, would undoubtedly help in further developing existing control models, and probably new ones, that would be able to answer the question regarding controllability of reading. Distinguishing between two types of conflict can also be valuable with respect to the “control vs. learning” debate. For now, the proposed learning mechanism (i.e., contingency learning), as an alternative explanation for some of the proportion congruent effects, has only been proven to be independent from the IC. However, as mentioned, the TC is what really matters. Hence, in order to be considered as an independently standing mechanism that is not part of the control system, the contingency learning should also be evident when no TC is produced by stimuli. Conflict of interest statement The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.