Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recovery from Disrupted Ultradian Glucocorticoid Rhythmicity Reveals a Dissociation Between Hormonal and Behavioural Stress Responsiveness

Ultradian release of glucocorticoids is thought to be essential for homeostasis and health. Furthermore, deviation from this pulsatile release pattern is considered to compromise resilience to stress‐related disease, even after hormone levels have normalised. In the present study, we investigate how constant exposure to different concentrations of corticosterone affects diurnal and ultradian pulsatility. The rate of recovery in pulsatile hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) activity after withdrawal of exogenous corticosterone is also examined. Finally, the behavioural and neuroendocrine responsiveness to an audiogenic stressor is studied. Adrenally intact male rats were subcutaneously implanted with vehicle, 40% or 100% corticosterone pellets for 7 days. The continuous release of corticosterone from these implants abolished diurnal and ultradian corticosterone variation, as measured with high‐frequency automated blood sampling. Pellet removal on post‐surgery day 8 allowed rapid recovery of endogenous rhythms in animals previously exposed to daily average concentrations (40%) but not after exposure to high concentrations (100%) of corticosterone. Behavioural and neuroendocrine responsiveness to stress was distinctly different between the treatment groups. Audiogenic stimulation 1 day after pellet removal resulted in a similar corticosterone response in animals previously exposed to 40% corticosterone or vehicle. The 40% pellet group, however, showed less and shorter behavioural activity (i.e. locomotion, risk assessment) to noise stress compared to 100% corticosterone and vehicle‐treated animals. In conclusion, unlike the animals impanted with 100% corticosterone, we find that basal HPA axis activity in the 40% group, which had mean daily levels of circulating corticosterone in the physiological range, rapidly reverts to the characteristic pulsatile pattern of corticosterone secretion. Upon reinstatement of the ultradian rhythm, and despite the fact that these animals did not differ from controls in their response to noise stress, they did show substantial changes in their behavioural response to stress.
Towards flexible negotiation in teamwork

In a complex, dynamic multi-agent setting, coherent team actions are often jeopardized by agents' conflicting beliefs about different aspects of their environment, about resource availability, and about their own or teammates' capabilities and performance. Team members thus need to communicate and negotiate to restore team coherence. This paper focuses on the problem of negotiations in teamwork to resolve such conflicts. The basis of such negotiations is inter-agent argumentation based on Toulmin's argumentation pattern. There are several novel aspects in our approach. First, our approach to argumentation exploits recently developed general, explicit teamwork models, which make it possible to provide a generalized and reusable argumentation facility based on teamwork constraints. Second, an emphasis on collaboration in argumentation leads to novel argumentation strategies geared towards benefiting the team rather than the individual. Third, our goal, to realize argumentation in practice in an agent team, has led to decision theoretic and pruning techniques to reduce argumentation overhead. Our approach is implemented in a system called CONSA.
Correlation of Filler Loading and Silane Coupling Agent on the Physical Characteristics of Epoxidized Natural Rubber-Alumina Nanoparticles Composites

Studies were conducted on the effects of filler loading and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (SCA) on the physical characteristics of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR)-alumina nanoparticles composites (ENRAN). The filler loading varied from 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 phr in the absence and presence of 2 phr SCA in every formulation. The alumina nanoparticles have a positive interaction with the ENR matrix since they increase the glass transition temperature of the composites [Mohamad, N. , Muchtar, A. , Ghazali, M.J., Dahlan, H.M. and Azhari, C.H. (2008). The Effect of Filler on Epoxidized Natural Rubber-Alumina Nanoparticles Composites, Eur. J. Sci. Res., 24: 538—547]. The addition of SCA decreased the maximum torque (MH) and the torque difference (MH-ML) of ENRANs compound as well as causing the curing process to occur at a very fast rate. The spherical alumina particles were dispersed in ENR matrix and a uniform particle distribution was observed under scanning electron microscope enabling the increase of the torque values in the composites.
Characterizing Source-Channel Diversity Approaches Beyond the Distortion Exponent ∗

In this paper we analytically characterize the performance of several sourcechannel diversity approaches used to communicate over single and parallel quasistatic fading channels. An approximation is developed that provides a more accurate characterization than considering only the so-called “distortion exponent”. Specifically, we consider transmitting i.i. d. samples of a Gaussian source over quasistatic Rayleigh fading channels with receive, but not transmit, channel state information (CSI). The objective is to to minimize the mean-square distortion averaged over channel realizations. For a single channel, we obtain approximations for uncoded analog transmission, single and dual-layer digital schemes, and derive a lower bound on the expected distortion based upon CSI at the transmitter. For parallel channels, in addition to extending the above approaches, we develop a hybrid digital-analog scheme as a simple form of multiple descriptions and show that it offers good performance for a wide range of channel bandwidths.
Effect of Type I and Type II Antioxidants on Oxidative Stability, Microbial Growth, pH, and Color in Raw Poultry Meat

Meat color is an intrinsic property that plays a major role in consumer’s perception. Lipid oxidation by-products as well as free iron can adversely affect meat color. This study was to compare the effect of Type I (radical quenching) antioxidants eugenol and rosmarinic acid (RA) to that of Type II (metal chelating) antioxidants milk mineral (MM), phytate, and sodium tri-polyphosphate (STPP) in raw ground chicken patties packed with a single layer of polyvinylchloride (PVC) overwrap. Packaged patties were stored at 4℃ and analyzed on 0, 1, 4, 7, and 10 days for pH, surface color, extent of lipid oxidation, oxymyoglobin content, and microbial load. Color stability was measured using Hunter MiniScan calorimeter (L*, a*, b* values). An effect was observed in L* values (P < 0.05) of meat color between treatments due to the type of antioxidant. Lightness values for STPP and phytate were low and differed (P < 0.05) from eugenol and rosmarinic acid. Milk mineral effectively preserved fresh color and slowed lipid oxidation in chicken patties by day 10. Aerobic plate counts increased over the entire testing period while values for lightness, redness, yellowness and chroma decreased indicating an increase in pH favored microbial spoilage of the meat or vice versa. By day 10, eugenol and MM were more effective and significantly different (P < 0.05) than STPP in controlling lipid oxidation measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (0.198 mg/kg, 0.198 mg/kg, and 0.268 mg/kg, respectively). A positive correlation (r = 0.24, P < 0.005) between lipid oxidation and color saturation was observed indicating that poultry color darkened with increasing lipid oxidation levels.
12 CO(1{0) observations of NGC 4848: A Coma galaxy after stripping

We study the molecular gas content and distribution in the Coma cluster spiral galaxy NGC 4848 which is Hi decient and where the remaining atomic gas is on one side of the galaxy, presumably because of the strong ram-pressure in the rich Coma cluster. Plateau de Bure interferometric CO(1{0) observations reveal a lopsided H2 distribution with an o-center secondary maximum coincident with the inner part of the Hi. NGC 4848 is not at all decient in molecular gas as it contains MH2 4 10 9 M in the central and inner disk regions. As predicted by earlier calculations, ram-pressure has little influence on the dense molecular gas in the inner disk, which appears dynamically normal at our 2 kpc resolution. At the interface between the CO and Hi emission regions, about 8 kpc NW of the center, however, strong star formation is present as witnessed by H and radio continuum emission. From the radio and H fluxes we estimate the star formation rate in the northern emission region to be close to 0:3 M yr 1 , nearly that of an average quiescent spiral. This is the region in which earlier Fabry-P erot observations revealed a double-peaked H line, indicating gas at two dierent velocities at the same sky position. In order to understand these observations, we present the results of numerical simulations of the galaxy-cluster ICM interaction. We suggest that NGC 4848 already passed through the center of the cluster about 410 8 years ago. At the observed stage ram pressure has no more direct dynamical influence on the galaxy's ISM. We observe the galaxy when a fraction of the stripped gas is falling back onto the galaxy. Ram pressure is thus a short-lived event with longer-lasting consequences. The combination of ram-pressure and rotation results in gas at dierent velocities colliding where the double-peaked H line is observed. Ram-pressure can thus result, after re-accretion, in displaced molecular gas without the H2 itself being pushed eciently by the intracluster medium. This process, however, requires strong stripping, such that only galaxies with radial orbits can be aected as much as NGC 4848. A scenario where two interactions take place simultaneously is also consistent with the available data but less probable on the basis of our numerical simulations.
Integrating Tensile Parameters in Hexahedral Mass-Spring System for Simulation

Besides finite element method, mass-spring systems are widely used in Computer Graphics. It is indubitably the simplest and most intuitive deformable model. This discrete model allows to perform interactive deformations with ease and to handle complex interactions. Thus, it is perfectly adapted to generate visually plausible animations. However, a drawback of this simple formulation is the relative difficulty to control efficiently physically realistic behaviours. Indeed, none of the existing models has succeeded in dealing with this satisfyingly. We demonstrate that this restriction cannot be overpassed with the classical mass-spring model, and we propose a new general 3D formulation that reconstructs the geometrical model as an assembly of elementary hexahedral "bricks". Each brick (or element) is then transformed into a mass-spring system. Edges are replaced by springs that connect masses representing the vertices. The key point of our approach is the determination of the stiffness springs to reproduce the correct mechanical properties (Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio) of the reconstructed object. We validate our methodology by performing some numerical experiments. Finally, we evaluate the accuracy of our approach, by comparing our results with the deformation obtained by finite element method.
A New Approach of Synthesis of Al2O3 Nanofluid

The purpose of this paper is to research and develop a new nanofluid synthesis system that uses plasma arc as heat source to fabricate nanofluid having high suspension stability. This system uses high temperature produced by plasma arc system to cause transient vaporization to metal, which is then followed by the induction of vaporized metallic gas into the collection piping by the induction system. At the same time, it mixes thoroughly with the pre-condensed deionized water, and the mixture is then underwent a rapid cooling process. Because of low temperature, the metallic gas condenses into nanoparticles, which is finally stored in the collection tank in the form of nanofluid. This paper discusses the influence of working current towards the fabricated Al2O3 nanoparticle. Also, based on the Al2O3nanofluid having different pH values, it analyzes into the suspension stability of its Zeta potential value. Furthermore, it investigates into the absorption properties of Al2O3 nanofluid towards UV/Vis. Besides, as known from the experimental result of the fuel calorific test, when the weight concentration of the Al2O3 nanofluids that is produced by a better fabrication is 3%, it explores into its good combustion efficiency towards 92 unleaded gas.
EFFERENT INNERVATION OF VESTIBULAR LABYRINTH: HISTOCHEMICAL DEMONSTRATION OF ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY IN THE GUINEA PIG INNER EAR.

THE EXISTENCE and course of an efferent component in the vestibular nerve branches has been demonstrated by experimental neuroanatomical techniques. 3,8,9 Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity of this efferent system has been localized in the vestibular sensory epithelium of several species. 2,5,6,10,11 This histochemical study illustrates the distribution of AChE activity in the efferent nerve fibers within the vestibular nerve and its branches. The advantages of the employed technique are discussed elsewhere.1,4 Materials and Methods Twenty albino guinea pigs were used. The animals were decapitated under ether anesthesia. The petrous bones were removed, trimmed, and decalcified in four days with cold 10% disodium edetate (EDTA) in a 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.4. 1 Afterwards, the specimens were frozen on solidified CO 2 (Dry Ice) and sectioned at 20μ in a cryostat at −18 C. The sections were mounted on clear cover slips, and briefly dried. Then they were incubated
Effect of Task Presentation on the Performance of Crowd Workers - A Cognitive Study

We present our ongoing research on improving the task presentation using cognitively inspired features to optimize the performance of crowd workers. For the task of extracting text from scanned images, we generated three task-presentation designs by modifying two features of the task - visual saliency of target ﬁelds and working memory requirements. Our experiments conducted on Amazon Mechanical Turk (AMT) indicate that modifying visual saliency results in better performance.
High rate space-time codes for millimeter-wave systems with reconfigurable antennas

In this paper, we propose a high-rate space-time block code (STBC) for millimeter-wave wireless communication systems that are equipped with reconfigurable multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antennas. We assume that each reconfigurable antenna element has the capability of forming its beam and can independently change the characteristics of its radiation pattern1. We exploit this feature of the antenna elements to construct the proposed space-time block code where each coded symbol is sent over independent beams. As a result, the received coded symbols at different receive antennas will have different power levels, a desired property that can be used in data detection. We show that the proposed code achieves a coding rate of two and requires a low-complexity maximum likelihood (ML) detector. We carry out computer simulations that demonstrate the performance of the proposed code and shows its superiority in compared to previous rate-2 STBC counterparts. We also comment on the generalization of the proposed STBC for higher MIMO dimensions.
Early-life Predictors of Exceptional Longevity in the United States: Why Centenarians are Different From Their Shorter-lived Siblings

Permission is granted to make brief excerpts for a published review. Permission is also granted to make limited numbers of copies of items in this monograph for personal, internal, classroom or other instructional use, on condition that the foregoing copyright notice is used so as to give reasonable notice of the Society's copyright. This consent for free limited copying without prior consent of the Society does not extend to making copies for general distribution, for advertising or promotional purposes, for inclusion in new collective works or for resale. Abstract Knowledge of strong predictors of mortality and longevity is very important for actuarial practice. This study presents the first results of a large project on exceptional longevity in the United States, which investigates the biological and social correlates of why some people survive to extreme old age (older than 100 years). These are important issues not only for human-mortality and population-aging demographic forecasts and the policy implications on health care and pension expenditures, but also for improving our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of human aging and longevity. This study explores the effects of parental age at a person's birth and the month of birth on chances of survival to age 100. We have developed and analyzed a computerized database of 1,711 validated centenarians born in the United States between 1880 and 1895, as well as their shorter-lived siblings. Comparison was conducted using within-family analysis via conditional logistic regression, which allows researchers to control for unobserved shared childhood or adulthood environments and common genetic background. We found significant beneficial effects of a young maternal age at a person's birth on survival to age 100 with particularly strong positive influence at a maternal age of 20 of 24. The effect of a young mother is particularly prominent in smaller families, pertinent today because of the smaller average family size in contemporary population. We also found the season of birth has significant long-lasting effect on survival to age 100, and individuals born in September to November have the highest chance of becoming centenarians. These results support the idea of early-life programming of human aging and longevity. The study was supported by National Institute on Aging Grant AG028620.
Score-Based Resampling Method for Evolutionary Algorithms

In this paper, a gene-handling method for evolutionary algorithms (EAs) is proposed. Such algorithms are characterized by a nonanalytic optimization process when dealing with complex systems as multiple behavioral responses occur in the realization of intelligent tasks. In generic EAs which optimize internal parameters of a given system, evaluation and selection are performed at the chromosome level. When a survived chromosome includes noneffective genes, the solution can be trapped in a local optimum during evolution, which causes an increase in the uncertainty of the results and reduces the quality of the overall system. This phenomenon also results in an unbalanced performance of partial behaviors. To alleviate this problem, a score-based resampling method is proposed, where a score function of a gene is introduced as a criterion of handling genes in each allele. The proposed method was empirically evaluated with various test functions, and the results show its effectiveness.
Transmit power self-calibration for residential UMTS/HSPA+ femtocells

Downlink transmit power calibration is critical for femtocell deployment to achieve a good tradeoff between downlink coverage and interference impact to a co-channel macrocell network. In this paper, we study the performance of a femtocell power calibration algorithm that uses mobile reports to learn key information such as required coverage region for its own users and amount of interference to non-allowed users to fine-tune the femtocell downlink transmit power. It is shown that such a scheme is able to adapt to different deployment scenarios and provides better control of coverage-interference tradeoff than that provided by algorithms based on Network Listen Module alone.
Introduction to Behavioral Addictions

Background: Several behaviors, besides psychoactive substance ingestion, produce short-term reward that may engender persistent behavior, despite knowledge of adverse consequences, i.e., diminished control over the behavior. These disorders have historically been conceptualized in several ways. One view posits these disorders as lying along an impulsive-compulsive spectrum, with some classified as impulse control disorders. An alternate, but not mutually exclusive, conceptualization considers the disorders as non-substance or “behavioral” addictions. Objectives: Inform the discussion on the relationship between psychoactive substance and behavioral addictions. Methods: We review data illustrating similarities and differences between impulse control disorders or behavioral addictions and substance addictions. This topic is particularly relevant to the optimal classification of these disorders in the forthcoming fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). Results: Growing evidence suggests that behavioral addictions resemble substance addictions in many domains, including natural history, phenomenology, tolerance, comorbidity, overlapping genetic contribution, neurobiological mechanisms, and response to treatment, supporting the DSM-V Task Force proposed new category of Addiction and Related Disorders encompassing both substance use disorders and non-substance addictions. Current data suggest that this combined category may be appropriate for pathological gambling and a few other better studied behavioral addictions, e.g., Internet addiction. There is currently insufficient data to justify any classification of other proposed behavioral addictions. Conclusions and Scientific Significance: Proper categorization of behavioral addictions or impulse control disorders has substantial implications for the development of improved prevention and treatment strategies.
Thyroid hormones correlate with field metabolic rate in ponies, Equus ferus caballus

ABSTRACT During winter, free-living herbivores are often exposed to reduced energy supply at the same time that energy needs for thermoregulation increase. Several wild herbivores as well as robust horse breeds reduce their metabolism during times of low ambient temperature and food shortage. Thyroid hormones (THs) affect metabolic intensity and a positive effect of THs on basal metabolic rate (BMR) has been demonstrated in mammals and birds. As BMR and field metabolic rate (FMR) are often assumed to be intrinsically linked, THs may represent a reliable indicator for FMR. To test this hypothesis, 10 Shetland pony mares were kept under semi-extensive central European conditions. During the winter season, one group was fed 60% and one group 100% of their maintenance energy requirements. We measured FMR, locomotor activity, resting heart rate and TH levels in summer and winter. FMR, locomotor activity, resting heart rate and total T3 concentrations decreased substantially in winter compared with summer, whereas total T4 increased. Food restriction led to a reduced FMR and resting heart rate, while THs and locomotor activity were not affected. Across both seasons, FMR, resting heart rate and locomotor activity were positively correlated with total T3 but negatively and more weakly correlated with total T4. Summary: Thyroid hormones and energy expenditure are correlated in a semi-free-living ungulate.