Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An autonomous agent-based framework for self-healing power grid

Reliable, secure and robust power grid network is a necessity for crucial financial, industrial and business networks. Since national electrical grid, telecommunication, information networks and transportation networks are interdependent critical infrastructures, having an agent-based self-healing framework to reduce cascading failures through the networks and finding reasonable solution for potential faults — would be an essential asset. In response to this need we propose a self-healing framework that employs advanced failure diagnosis techniques along with autonomous web services to provide temporary recovery solutions. Furthermore, it provides a cognitive planning cycle to find ultimate corrective solutions as well as evaluation service to verify the effectiveness and performance of the final solution.
The association between tinnitus and the risk of ischemic cerebrovascular disease in young and middle-aged patients: A secondary case-control analysis of a nationwide, population-based health claims database

Background Tinnitus and ischemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD) may share common pathophysiologic mechanisms. Nevertheless, no studies have investigated whether tinnitus is associated with a higher risk of ICVD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of ICVD among young and middle-aged patients with tinnitus. Methods Using the Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified 3,474 patients 20–45 years old with incident ICVD diagnosed between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2010 and 17,370 controls, frequency matched on age interval, sex, and year of the index date. Risk of ICVD associated with tinnitus was assessed using multiple logistic regression analyses. Results Tinnitus was significantly associated with a higher risk of incident ICVD among young and middle-aged patients (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34–2.04), adjusting for sex, age, and comorbidities. In addition, sex-stratified analysis showed that the associations were significant in both male (adjusted OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.16–2.07) and female patients (adjusted OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.30–2.41). Furthermore, tinnitus was significantly associated with a higher risk of ICVD in the 20.0–29.9 years (adjusted OR 4.11, 95% CI 1.98–8.52) and 30.0–39.9 years (adjusted OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.57–3.05) age groups, but not in the 40.0–45.0 years age group. Conclusions Tinnitus could be a novel risk factor or clinical indicator for young ischemic stroke, and further investigations are warranted.
Gemini-Phoenix infrared high-resolution abundance analysis of five giants in the bulge globular cluster NGC 6553

A detailed abundance analysis of 5 giants of the metal-rich bulge globular cluster NGC 6553 was carried out using high resolution infrared spectra in the H band, obtained at the Gemini-South 8m telescope. JK photometry collected at ESO and VI photometry from the Hubble Space Telescope are used to derive effective temperatures. The present analysis provides a metallicity $\rm [Fe/H] = -0.20\pm 0.10$. An overabundance of oxygen of $\rm [O/Fe] = +0.20$ is found from IR OH lines.
Mechanism of muscarinic receptor-induced K+ channel activation as revealed by hydrolysis-resistant GTP analogues

The role of a guanine nucleotide-binding protein (Gk) in the coupling between muscarinic receptor activation and opening of an inwardly rectifying K+ channel [IK(M)] was examined in cardiac atrial myocytes, using hydrolysis-resistant GTP analogues. In the absence of muscarinic agonist, GTP analogues produced a membrane current characteristic of IK(M). The initial rate of appearance of this receptor-independent IK(M) was measured for the various analogues in order to explore the kinetic properties of IK(M) activation. We found that IK(M) activation is controlled solely by the intracellular analogue/GTP ratio and not by the absolute concentrations of the nucleotides. Analogues competed with GTP for binding to Gk with the following relative affinities: GTP gamma S greater than GTP greater than GppNHp greater than GppCH2p. At sufficiently high intracellular concentrations, however, all GTP analogues produced the same rate of IK(M) activation. This analogue- independent limiting rate is likely to correspond to the rate of GDP release from inactive, GDP-bound Gk. Muscarinic receptor stimulation by nanomolar concentrations of acetylcholine (ACh), which do not elicit IK(M) under control conditions, catalyzed IK(M) activation in the presence of GTP analogues. The rate of Gk activation by ACh (kACh) was found to be described by the simple relationship kACh = 8.4 X 10(8) min- 1 M-1. [ACh] + 0.44 min-1, the first term of which presumably reflects the agonist-catalyzed rate of GDP release from the Gk.GDP complex, while the second term corresponds to the basal rate of receptor- independent GDP release. Combined with the estimated K0.5 of the IK(M)- [ACh] dose-effect relationship, 160 nM, this result also allowed us to estimate the rate of Gk.GTP hydrolysis, kcat, to be near 135 min-1. These results provide, for the first time, a quantitative description of the salient features of G-protein function in vivo.
Osteoporosis after total gastrectomy. Results of a prospective, clinical study.

BACKGROUND Osteopenia and enhanced risk of fractures have been reported after partial gastrectomy, but the significance of total gastrectomy is still unknown. METHODS Twenty-six patients were followed up for at least 3 years after total gastrectomy. The intake and S-levels of vitamin D, phosphate, magnesium, and calcium were prospectively studied, and a whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan was performed at a mean of 5 years after gastrectomy. RESULTS At this time point we found normal blood levels of vitamin D, calcium, and phosphate. Food intakes of phosphate, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D reached the recommended daily allowances. Bone mineral density was similar to that of a control population, and increasing values were seen concomitant with an increase in body weight with the time after gastrectomy. CONCLUSIONS Calcium homeostasis and bone mineral densities seem not to be affected by total gastrectomy, at least when studied over a period of 5 years, an observation that hypothetically can be explained by weight recovery with time after the operation.
Haptic interface for virtual reality based minimally invasive surgery simulation

This paper deals with the mechanical design and control of a novel 4-DOF force-reflecting manual man-machine interface for virtual reality based minimally invasive surgery simulation for training purposes. The realized force feedback manipulator is based on a novel spherical remote-center-of-motion mechanical structure, and features compactness, high sustained output force capability, low friction, zero backlash, and a particularly large, singularity-free workspace. An implicit force control scheme is employed for virtual object impedance simulations. Active compensation of manipulator gravity and actuator friction allows one to simulate static and dynamic object attributes including weight, elasticity, and viscosity over a wide dynamic range of approximately 1:100. Finally, a novel 'supervisory control' concept is proposed which allows one to connect the haptic feedback system to the corresponding graphical simulation environment with highly differing bandwidth requirements.
Prediction of Psilocybin Response in Healthy Volunteers

Responses to hallucinogenic drugs, such as psilocybin, are believed to be critically dependent on the user's personality, current mood state, drug pre-experiences, expectancies, and social and environmental variables. However, little is known about the order of importance of these variables and their effect sizes in comparison to drug dose. Hence, this study investigated the effects of 24 predictor variables, including age, sex, education, personality traits, drug pre-experience, mental state before drug intake, experimental setting, and drug dose on the acute response to psilocybin. The analysis was based on the pooled data of 23 controlled experimental studies involving 409 psilocybin administrations to 261 healthy volunteers. Multiple linear mixed effects models were fitted for each of 15 response variables. Although drug dose was clearly the most important predictor for all measured response variables, several non-pharmacological variables significantly contributed to the effects of psilocybin. Specifically, having a high score in the personality trait of Absorption, being in an emotionally excitable and active state immediately before drug intake, and having experienced few psychological problems in past weeks were most strongly associated with pleasant and mystical-type experiences, whereas high Emotional Excitability, low age, and an experimental setting involving positron emission tomography most strongly predicted unpleasant and/or anxious reactions to psilocybin. The results confirm that non-pharmacological variables play an important role in the effects of psilocybin.
Correspondence between structure and function in the human brain at rest

To further understanding of basic and complex cognitive functions, previous connectome research has identified functional and structural connections of the human brain. Functional connectivity is often measured by using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and is generally interpreted as an indirect measure of neuronal activity. Gray matter (GM) primarily consists of neuronal and glia cell bodies; therefore, it is surprising that the majority of connectome research has excluded GM measures. Therefore, we propose that by exploring where GM corresponds to function would aid in the understanding of both structural and functional connectivity and in turn the human connectome. A cohort of 603 healthy participants underwent structural and functional scanning on the same 3 T scanner at the Mind Research Network. To investigate the spatial correspondence between structure and function, spatial independent component analysis (ICA) was applied separately to both GM density (GMD) maps and to rs-fMRI data. ICA of GM delineates structural components based on the covariation of GMD regions among subjects. For the rs-fMRI data, ICA identified spatial patterns with common temporal features. These decomposed structural and functional components were then compared by spatial correlation. Basal ganglia components exhibited the highest structural to resting-state functional spatial correlation (r = 0.59). Cortical components generally show correspondence between a single structural component and several resting-state functional components. We also studied relationships between the weights of different structural components and identified the precuneus as a hub in GMD structural network correlations. In addition, we analyzed relationships between component weights, age, and gender; concluding that age has a significant effect on structural components.
Global climate policy impacts on livestock, land use, livelihoods, and food security

Recent research has shed light on the cost-effective contribution that agriculture can make to global greenhouse gas abatement; however, the resulting impacts on agricultural production, producer livelihoods, and food security remain largely unexplored. This paper provides an integrated assessment of the linkages between land-based climate policies, development, and food security, with a particular emphasis on abatement opportunities and impacts in the livestock sector. Targeting Annex I countries and exempting non-Annex I countries from land-based carbon policies on equity or food security grounds may result in significant leakage rates for livestock production and agriculture as a whole. We find that such leakage can be eliminated by supplying forest carbon sequestration incentives to non-Annex I countries. Furthermore, substantial additional global agricultural abatement can be attained by extending a greenhouse gas emissions tax to non-Annex I agricultural producers, while compensating them for their additional tax expenses. Because of their relatively large emissions intensities and limited abatement possibilities, ruminant meat producers face the greatest market adjustments to land-based climate policies. We also evaluate the impacts of climate policies on livelihoods and food consumption in developing countries. In the absence of non-Annex I abatement policies, these impacts are modest. However, strong income and food consumption impacts surface because of higher food costs after forest carbon sequestration is promoted at a global scale. Food consumption among unskilled labor households falls but rises for the representative farm households, because global agricultural supplies are restricted and farm prices rise sharply in the face of inelastic food demands.
Plasmid-determined silver resistance in Pseudomonas stutzeri isolated from a silver mine

A silver-resistant strain of Pseudomonas stutzeri was isolated from a silver mine. It harbored three plasmids, the largest of which (pKK1; molecular weight, 49.4 X 10(6)) specified silver resistance. Plasmid pKK1 was apparently nonconjugative but could be transferred to Pseudomonas putida by mobilization with plasmid R68.45.
Do communities evolve? A major question in evolu-tionary Paleoecology

Chapter 7 of Jim Valentine's classic book, Evolutionary Paleoecology of the Marine Biosphere, is titled "Community Ecology and Evolution" (Valentine 1973, 269-336). The first sixty-two pages of the chapter are about various general properties of community ecology and paleoecology, the next three and one-half pages concern the evolution of species within communities, and only the last two and one-half pages focus on communities through geological time. Valentine headed this short concluding section, "Many More Data Are Needed On Fossil Communities. " Two decades later the data exist to deal more explicitly with the question of community evolution (103 of the 122 references used in this chapter postdate the writing of Valentine's book). We hope to use these data to answer the question, do communities evolve? The focus in this chapter is primarily on marine paleoecology, in parallel with Valentine's original subject. The first questions asked in discussions of theory about communities are (1) what are communities, and (2) do they exist as identifiable entities? Numerous concepts and definitions of communities exist, ranging from the idea of the community as a superorganism to the view of the community as just a random aggregation of populations in a local habitat community definitions are ultimately rooted in the fact that populations of individuals of a variety of species live together in local geographic areas. Whether these populations are linked together tightly in a coevolved structure or not, a variety of interactions (ranging from trophic activity to habitat modification) take place among these organisms, either contemporaneously or over time. The reality of coexistence and interaction justifies the recognition of community as a level in the ecological hierarchy for associations of populations of noncon-specific organisms (Eldredge 1985, 162-73; Salthe 1985; Eldredge and ~ i e n e 1992). One reason why agreement on what is meant by terms such as community has never been achieved is that both ecological interactions and species occurrence patterns take place at a variety of scales. One worker may focus on a local patch, another on a widespread environment. Each may consider that the fauna and flora in the geographic region studied comprises a community, yet they may not be dealing with comparable entities. However, by using the concept of an eco
Streak-mode optical sensor in standard BiCMOS technology

A streak-mode optical sensor suitable for the accurate observation of nanosecond luminous phenomena is presented. The imager is fabricated in a standard 0.35 µm SiGe BiCMOS technology. It reaches a total acquisition rate of 512 GS/s and a temporal resolution of 490 ps at λ = 400 nm. The sensor has been successfully employed to acquire the fluorescence profile of a stilbene sample, demonstrating its capability to record nanosecond-order transients with high temporal resolution.
Psychosoziale Interventionen bei therapieresistenten Zwangsstörungen

In der Behandlung der Zwangsstörung sind die Pharmako- und die Psychotherapie wissenschaftlich evidenzbasiert und in der Versorgung entsprechend etabliert. Psychosoziale Interventionen dagegen wurden – auch aufgrund der uneinheitlichen Definition und Zuordnung – in der Vergangenheit nicht überall und keinesfalls selbstverständlich als gleichwertige Therapiesäule gesehen. Vor dem Hintergrund der jüngst publizierten S3-Leitlinie zu psychosozialen Therapien bei schweren psychischen Störungen soll der vorliegende Beitrag den Stellenwert dieser Maßnahmen insbesondere bei schweren Verläufen der Zwangsstörung aufzeigen.
Departures from linearity in the relationship between measures of muscular strength and physical performance of the lower extremities: the Women's Health and Aging Study.

BACKGROUND Sarcopenia, an age-related reduction in muscular mass and strength, may cause a decline in physical functioning and subsequent loss of autonomy. It has been suggested that strength is associated with lower extremity function mainly in the lower portion of the range of strength. Identifying the threshold under which strength is most critical to function may help in targeting groups who may benefit most from exercise interventions. METHODS The study uses data from the Women's Health and Aging Study. The study population, recruited by screening a population-based sample aged 65 years and older, comprised 1,002 women who represent the one-third most disabled women without severe cognitive impairment living in the community. Knee extensor and hip flexor strength were assessed using a hand-held dynamometer. Lower extremity performance was evaluated using tests of walking, standing balance, and rising from a chair. RESULTS Among women tested for strength (n = 892), those who could walk (97%), do the side-by-side stand (87%), or complete 5 chair stands (74%) had significantly greater strength. Walking speed was linearly associated with knee extensor strength over the entire range of strength, but its association with hip strength was limited to values below 15 kg. Time for five chair stands was associated with knee extensor and hip flexor strength below 10 and 15 kg, respectively, and no significant association was detected above these values. Stronger women were more likely to hold balance for 10 sec in the side-by-side, semi-tandem, and tandem positions. The percentage of the variance in performance explained by strength alone was always lower than 20%. CONCLUSIONS In this population, which does not include the strongest older women, there is a departure from linearity in the relationship between muscular strength and some measures of lower extremity performance.
Identities in Conflict: Forging an Orthodox Gay Identity

ABSTRACT Until very recently, the notion of a gay or lesbian Orthodox Jew would have been considered an oxymoron. However, today there is a critical mass of gay and lesbian Orthodox Jews. Their self-identification with both the gay and lesbian and religious communities requires some reevaluation of the issues and challenges they present not only to the latter communities but also to mental health professionals. For mental health professionals attempting to address the needs of this population, it is useful to understand the unique philosophical, psychological, and social tensions that can arise for Orthodox gay people. How do gay and lesbian Orthodox Jews come to terms with the inherent tensions and internal contradictions posed in trying to balance a traditionally Orthodox lifestyle with one that affirms their sexual identities? How do these men and women attempt to resolve their value conflicts? What factors contribute to their decision to remain in this difficult position? What does a double-life look .
RANDOMIZATION AND INFERENCE IN SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH

AN accusing finger has been leveled at those of us who test survey research data for statistical significance. In a recent paper Professor Hanan C. Selvin concludes that ". conditions under which tests of significance may validly be used are almost impossible of fulfillment in sociological research. ' 1 If his critical appraisal causes sociologists to re-examine their research procedures, Selvin will be due a great deal of credit. But, if some are convinced that his conclusion is correct, and if they act accordingly, the results could be disastrous for quantitative sociology. Selvin arrived at this conclusion by reasoning that tests of statistical significance are inapplicable in nonexperimental research. " 2 Now most sociological research is nonexperimental and more often than not it involves probability sampling from some population. Thus, the door is opened to the possibility of making statistical inferences. In this light, Selvin's charges certainly merit the most careful consideration. This paper contains an analysis of Selvin's position and presents some of the arguments against it.3 It is not meant to be a philippic, but is concerned almost exclusively with an evaluation of his claims. Specifically, it is contended that the statements quoted above are false and that the stated reasons for making them have nothing to do with statistical tests of significance. THE REASONS AGAINST
NRC Publications Archive Archives des publications du CNRC

The growth of the Internet has been accompanied by the growth of web services (e.g. e-commerce, e-health) leading to the need to protect the privacy of web service users. However, before privacy can be protected, it is necessary to understand the risks to privacy that come with the service. Indeed, such understanding is key to protecting privacy throughout the service lifecycle. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be any existing method for privacy risk analysis specifically designed for web services. This paper presents a straightforward method for web services privacy risk analysis that uses visual techniques to improve effectiveness and illustrates the method with an example.