Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The magic window: lessons from a year in the life of a co-present media space

The windows and doorways that connect offices to public spaces are a site for people to gather awareness information and initiate interaction. However, these portals often reveal more information to the public area than the office occupant would like. As a result, people often keep doors and window blinds closed, which means that nobody can gather awareness information, even those with whom the occupant would be willing to share. One solution to this problem is a co-present media space - a computer-mediated video connection at the boundary between an office and a public area. These systems can provide both greater privacy control to the occupant and greater overall awareness information to observers. To see how co-present media spaces would work in real world settings, we built what we believe are the first ever co-present media spaces, and deployed them in two offices. From observations gathered over fifteen months, it is clear that the systems can do a better job of balancing the occupant's need for privacy and the observers' need for awareness better, than a standard window. However, we also identified a number of issues that affected the use and the success of the systems: the existence of alternate information sources, confusion with existing social norms, disparities between effort and need, and reduced interactional subtlety for observers in the public area. Our work contributes both a novel arrangement of a media space for co-present collaborators, and the first investigation into the design factors that affect the use and acceptance of these systems.
Physiology and pathophysiology of the renal NaK-2 Cl cotransporter ( NKCC 2 )

Castrop H, Schießl IM. Physiology and pathophysiology of the renal Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC2). Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 307: F991–F1002, 2014. First published September 3, 2014; doi:10.1152/ajprenal.00432. 2014. —The Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC2; BSC1) is located in the apical membrane of the epithelial cells of the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle (TAL). NKCC2 facilitates 20–25% of the reuptake of the total filtered NaCl load. NKCC2 is therefore one of the transport proteins with the highest overall reabsorptive capacity in the kidney. Consequently, even subtle changes in NKCC2 transport activity considerably alter the renal reabsorptive capacity for NaCl and eventually lead to perturbations of the salt and water homoeostasis. In addition to facilitating the bulk reabsorption of NaCl in the TAL, NKCC2 transport activity in the macula densa cells of the TAL constitutes the initial step of the tubular-vascular communication within the juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA); this communications allows the TAL to modulate the preglomerular resistance of the afferent arteriole and the renin secretion from the granular cells of the JGA. This review provides an overview of our current knowledge with respect to the general functions of NKCC2, the modulation of its transport activity by different regulatory mechanisms, and new developments in the pathophysiology of NKCC2-dependent renal NaCl transport.
Counterfactual Learning from Bandit Feedback under Deterministic Logging : A Case Study in Statistical Machine Translation

The goal of counterfactual learning for statistical machine translation (SMT) is to optimize a target SMT system from logged data that consist of user feedback to translations that were predicted by another, historic SMT system. A challenge arises by the fact that risk-averse commercial SMT systems deterministically log the most probable translation. The lack of sufficient exploration of the SMT output space seemingly contradicts the theoretical requirements for counterfactual learning. We show that counterfactual learning from deterministic bandit logs is possible nevertheless by smoothing out deterministic components in learning. This can be achieved by additive and multiplicative control variates that avoid degenerate behavior in empirical risk minimization. Our simulation experiments show improvements of up to 2 BLEU points by counterfactual learning from deterministic bandit feedback.
A retrospective study

Narrowing of the dural sac cross-sectional area (DSCSA) and spinal canal cross-sectional area (SCCSA) have been consideredmajor causes of lumbar central canal spinal stenosis (LCCSS). DSCSA and SCCSA were previously correlated with subjective walking distance before claudication occurs, aging, and disc degeneration. DSCSA and SCCSA have been ideal morphological parameters for evaluating LCCSS. However, the comparative value of these parameters is unknown and no studies have evaluated the clinical optimal cut-off values of DSCSA and SCCSA. This study assessed which parameter is more sensitive. Both DSCSA and SCCSA samples were collected from 135 patients with LCCSS, and from 130 control subjects who underwent lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as part of a medical examination. Axial T2-weighted MRI scans were acquired at the level of facet joint from each subject. DSCSA and SCCSA were measured at the L4-L5 intervertebral level on MRI using a picture archiving and communications system. The average DSCSA value was 151.67±53.59mm in the control group and 80.04±35.36mm in the LCCSS group. The corresponding average SCCSA values were 199.95±60.96 and 119.17±49.41mm. LCCSS patients had significantly lower DSCSA and SCCSA (both P< .001). Regarding the validity of both DSCSA and SCCSA as predictors of LCCSS, Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed an optimal cut-off value for DSCSA of 111.09 mm, with 80.0% sensitivity, 80.8% specificity, and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.87 (95% confidence interval, 0.83–0.92). The best cut off-point of SCCSA was 147.12 mm, with 74.8% sensitivity, 78.5% specificity, and AUC of 0.85 (95% confidence interval, 0.81–0.89). DSCSA and SCCSAwere both significantly associated with LCCSS, with DSCSA being amore sensitive measurement parameter. Thus, to evaluate LCCSS patients, pain specialists should more carefully investigate the DSCSA than SCCSA. Abbreviations: AUC = area under the curve, DSCSA = dural sac cross-sectional area, LCCSS = lumbar central canal spinal stenosis, MRI = magnetic resonance imaging, SCCSA = spinal canal cross-sectional area, SD = standard deviation.
Purification and characterization of two reversible and ADP-dependent acetyl coenzyme A synthetases from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus

Pyrococcus furiosus is a strictly anaerobic archaeon (archaebacterium) that grows at temperatures up to 105 degrees C by fermenting carbohydrates and peptides. Cell extracts have been previously shown to contain an unusual acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) synthetase (ACS) which catalyzes the formation of acetate and ATP from acetyl-CoA by using ADP and phosphate rather than AMP and PPi. We show here that P. furiosus contains two distinct isoenzymes of ACS, and both have been purified. One, termed ACS I, uses acetyl-CoA and isobutyryl-CoA but not indoleacetyl-CoA or phenylacetyl-CoA as substrates, while the other, ACS II, utilizes all four CoA derivatives. Succinyl-CoA did not serve as a substrate for either enzyme. ACS I and ACS II have similar molecular masses (approximately 140 kDa), and both appear to be heterotetramers (alpha2beta2) of two different subunits of 45 (alpha) and 23 (beta) kDa. They lack metal ions such as Fe2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, and Mg2+ and are stable to oxygen. At 25 degrees C, both enzymes were virtually inactive and exhibited optimal activities above 90 degrees C (at pH 8.0) and at pH 9.0 (at 80 degrees C). The times required to lose 50% of their activity at 80 degrees C were about 18 h for ACS I and 8 h for ACS II. With both enzymes in the acid formation reactions, ADP and phosphate could be replaced by GDP and phosphate but not by CDP and phosphate or by AMP and PPi. The apparent Km values for ADP, GDP, and phosphate were approximately 150, 132, and 396 microM, respectively, for ACS I (using acetyl-CoA) and 61, 236, and 580 microM, respectively, for ACS II (using indoleacetyl-CoA). With ADP and phosphate as substrates, the apparent Km values for acetyl-CoA and isobutyryl-CoA were 25 and 29 microM, respectively, for ACS I and 26 and 12 microM, respectively, for ACS II. With ACS II, the apparent Km value for phenylacetyl-CoA was 4 microM. Both enzymes also catalyzed the reverse reaction, the ATP-dependent formation of the CoA derivatives of acetate (I and II), isobutyrate (I and II), phenylacetate (II only), and indoleacetate (II only). The N-terminal amino acid sequences of the two subunits of ACS I were similar to those of ACS II and to that of a hypothetical 67-kDa protein from Escherichia coli but showed no similarity to mesophilic ACS-type enzymes. To our knowledge, ACS I and II are the first ATP-utilizing enzymes to be purified from a hyperthermophile, and ACS II is the first enzyme of the ACS type to utilize aromatic CoA derivatives.
Effects of Child Behavior Problems on the Development of Preschoolers' Sleep Problems: A Longitudinal Examination

Sleep regulation is thought to be an important contributor to the development of behavior problems in children. However, little research has focused on the mechanisms underlying the development of sleep problems in early childhood. The main goal of this study was to examine the direction and strength of the relationship between child sleep problems and behavior problems across the early childhood period (3-6 years). A secondary goal was to examine the role of maternal harsh parenting and child effortful control abilities in the development of associations between sleep and behavior problems. Mothers reported the amount of sleep problems and externalizing behavior problems their children had at ages 3 and 6, as well as their use of harsh parenting strategies. Teachers also reported child externalizing behavior problems at ages 3 and 6. Children’s effortful control, an index of early self-regulatory control over attention and impulses, was assessed using both laboratory tasks and maternal ratings. Hierarchical multiple regression and structural equation analyses showed that mother-reported behavior problems at age 3 significantly contributed to sleep problems at age 6. The relationship between teacher-reported behavior problems at age 3 and child sleep problems at age 6 was mediated by early child effortful control. Results support careful consideration of other regulatory problems when diagnosing and treating sleep and behavior problems in young children.
Chronic Monoarthritis Pain Accelerates the Processes of Cognitive Impairment and Increases the NMDAR Subunits NR2B in CA3 of Hippocampus from 5-month-old Transgenic APP/PS1 Mice

Many factors impact cognitive impairment; however, the effects of chronic pain and the mechanisms underlying these effects on cognitive impairment are currently unknown. Here we tested the hypothesis that chronic pain accelerates the transition from normal cognition to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in 5-month-old transgenic APP/PS1 mice, an animal model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and that neurotoxicity induced by N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAR) subunits may be involved in this process. Chronic monoarthritis pain was induced in transgenic APP/PS1 mice and 5-month-old wild-type (WT) mice by intra- and pre-articular injections of Freund’s complete adjuvant (FCA) into one knee joint. Pain behavior, learning and memory function, and the distribution and quantity of NMDAR subunits (NR1, NR2A and NR2B) in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions were assessed. Our results showed that although persistent and robust monoarthritis pain was induced by the FCA injections, only the transgenic APP/PS1 mice with chronic monoarthritis pain exhibited marked learning and memory impairments. This result suggested that chronic monoarthritis pain accelerated the cognitive impairment process. Furthermore, only transgenic APP/PS1 mice with chronic monoarthritis pain exhibited an overexpression of NR2B and an increased NR2B/NR2A ratio in the hippocampus CA3. These findings suggest that chronic pain is a risk factor for cognitive impairment and that increased neurotoxicity associated with NMDAR subunit activation may underpin the impairment. Thus, NMDARs may be a therapeutic target for the prevention of chronic pain-induced cognitive impairment.
Potential of Central, Eastern and Western Africa Medicinal Plants for Cancer Therapy: Spotlight on Resistant Cells and Molecular Targets

Cancer remains a major health hurdle worldwide and has moved from the third leading cause of death in the year 1990 to second place after cardiovascular disease since 2013. Chemotherapy is one of the most widely used treatment modes; however, its efficiency is limited due to the resistance of cancer cells to cytotoxic agents. The present overview deals with the potential of the flora of Central, Eastern and Western African (CEWA) regions as resource for anticancer drug discovery. It also reviews the molecular targets of phytochemicals of these plants such as ABC transporters, namely P-glycoprotein (P-gp), multi drug-resistance-related proteins (MRPs), breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP, ABCG2) as well as the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/ErbB-1/HER1), human tumor suppressor protein p53, caspases, mitochondria, angiogenesis, and components of MAP kinase signaling pathways. Plants with the ability to preferentially kills resistant cancer cells were also reported. Data compiled in the present document were retrieved from scientific websites such as PubMed, Scopus, Sciencedirect, Web-of-Science, and Scholar Google. In summary, plant extracts from CEWA and isolated compounds thereof exert cytotoxic effects by several modes of action including caspases activation, alteration of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cancer cells and inhibition of angiogenesis. Ten strongest cytotoxic plants from CEWA recorded following in vitro screening assays are: Beilschmiedia acuta Kosterm, Echinops giganteus var. lelyi (C. D. Adams) A. Rich. , Erythrina sigmoidea Hua (Fabaceae), Imperata cylindrical Beauv. var. koenigii Durand et Schinz, Nauclea pobeguinii (Pobég. ex Pellegr.) Merr. ex E.M.A., Piper capense L.f. , Polyscias fulva (Hiern) Harms. , Uapaca togoensis Pax. , Vepris soyauxii Engl. and Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich. Prominent antiproliferative compounds include: isoquinoline alkaloid isotetrandrine (51), two benzophenones: guttiferone E (26) and isoxanthochymol (30), the isoflavonoid 6α-hydroxyphaseollidin (9), the naphthyl butenone guieranone A (25), two naphthoquinones: 2-acetylfuro-1,4-naphthoquinone (4) and plumbagin (37) and xanthone V1 (46). However, only few research activities in the African continent focus on cytotoxic drug discovery from botanicals. The present review is expected to stimulate further scientific efforts to better valorize the African flora.
A Ka-Band doherty power amplifier with 25.1 dBm output power, 38% peak PAE and 27% back-off PAE

We present the design and development of the first fully integrated, two stage Doherty power amplifier (DPA) in the Ka-Band. The DPA is fabricated in a 0.15-μm GaAs pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistor (pHEMT) process. At 26.4 GHz, the amplifier achieves measured small signal gain of 10.3 dB, output power at 1-dB compression point (P1dB) of 25.1 dBm, peak power added efficiency (PAE) of 38%, and PAE of 27% at 6 dB back-off power. To the best of the author's knowledge, this Doherty circuit is the first fully integrated millimeter-wave amplifier that achieves the highest power and a recorded 27% PAE at 6-dB back-off and each unit amplifier has 2 stages.
Videotaped Self-Modeling as a Technique for Training Preschoolers with Autism in Social-Communicative Functioning.

This report discusses findings of a study that investigated the effectiveness of video self-modeling (VSM) for increasing request communication of children with autism. A single subject design using multiple baselines across subjects was used. Four participants (ages 4-6) with autism were, taped in the home setting for the purpose of creating VSM training tapes and then observed in the school setting to monitor the generalization of requests. The VSM involved eliciting and videotaping request behaviors, editing the videotape to show only desired request behaviors, and having participants view the edited videos of themselves performing the desired request behaviors. During a 30-minute orchestrated play session, participants were allowed to choose from a range of board games, play dough, play with action figures, train play, and quiet time reading. The orchestrated play sessions were videotaped to provide video footage that could be edited to create training tapes. Following intervention, all four participants demonstrated stable baselines, variable accelerating trends during intervention, and stability during maintenance. Data show a positive change in participants' spontaneous requesting in preschool settings. Maintenance checks of participants 1 through 3 showed that the levels of spontaneous requests were stable after intervention. An appendix includes data charts. (Contains 34 references.) (CR) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. O Videotaped Self-Modeling as a Technique for Training Preschoolers with Autism in Social-Communicative Functioning Pennsylvania State University U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) . 1(This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy.
Perceptual and cognitive expertise in sport : implications for skill acquisition and performance enhancement

The science of expertise and skill acquisition in sports is a quite specific area of research within the more general field of motor skills acquisition. With a strong international focus from respected authorities in Europe, North America and Australia this is the first fully comprehensive and focussed work on the subject, providing the definitive collection of current research in this expanding area of study. The book integrates research and theory with implications for real world instruction and practice. As such it is of will appeal to both sports scientists and practitioners. Synopsis The acquisition of skill is fundamental to human existence and throughout life we are continuously trying to develop new skills and refine existing ones. Success in sport depends upon the athlete's ability to develop and fine-tune a specific set of perceptual, cognitive and motor skills. This book examines how we learn such skills and, in particular, considers the crucial role of practice and instruction in the process. Leading authorities within the field provide a comprehensive review of current research and theory on skill acquisition. Potential avenues for future work are highlighted and, where possible, implications for instruction and practice are discussed. Skill Acquisition in Sport will be of interest to those involved in motor behaviour work in the sport and movement sciences, as well as physical therapy, ergonomics and human factors. This book will appeal to students, academics and practitioners, given both its discussion of current and complex issues in motor behaviour and recommendations for effective practice in the field.
Deploying a large-scale PMU system for the Brazilian interconnected power system

Recent power system blackouts around the world have driven attention to the need of wide area measurement, protection and control (WAMPAC) systems. Currently, the Brazilian electric power industry is making an effort, lead by independent system operator ONS, to implement a large-scale wide-area measurement system utilizing the synchronized phasor measurement technology. The system will be utilized to realize many off-line and real-time operation applications for improving the reliability and economical operations of the national interconnected power system (NIPS). The novelty of the technology and the task to implement such a system in a deregulated environment present some special challenges to the project and ONS. This paper describes the overall approach that the Brazilian power industry and ONS had adopted in implementing this system. The approach aims to address several main aspects of the project that are critical for a successful implementation of the system, such as the regulatory framework, under which the system is to be deployed, deployment planning, and overall system performance assurance measures. The project has successfully completed the system architecture design and corresponding system components specifications. ONS is currently in the process to hire a qualified test entity to perform the PMU homologation testing and calibration.
Estrategias en el tratamiento de desintoxicación alcohólica

Antecedentes: El alcoholismo es uno de los problemas mas graves con los que se enfrentan los sistemas de salud, tanto por el alto grado de morbilidad como por el indice de discapacidad y por las complicaciones medicas y psicosociales. La fase de desintoxicacion supone la piedra angular en el tratamiento del paciente alcoholico. Metodos: Partimos de una revision bibliografica critica del TDA y de una discusion teorica de las dimensiones que ha de atender un tratamiento eficaz. Resultados: Proponemos una secuencia de fases con caracteristicas propias ( proceso diagnostico y primeras medidas, decisiones medicas y psicoterapicas, coordinacion multiprofesional del tratamiento, planificacion del alta y seguimiento) y discutimos un conjunto de tecnicas adaptadas a cada fase del tratamiento (arsenal farmacologico, estandarizacion de la exploracion, trabajo de motivacion, prevencion secundaria). Proponemos un protocolo de tratamiento escalonado para los diferentes cuadros en orden a su gravedad; este incluye farmacos eficaces (clometiazol, diazepam, tiapride, clonidina, carbamacepina, haloperidol, disulfiram, acamprosato y naltrexona) asi como tecnicas psicoterapicas (terapia grupal de confrontacion constructiva, analisis de los mecanismos de defensa patologicos, self-management guiado por una reorientacion de valores y por tecnicas de modificacion de conducta). Conclusion: El TDA tiene una dimension fundamentalmente medica pero su exito depende de un plan terapeutico multidimensional, pluriprofesional y personalizado que incluya un trabajo de motivacion a la abstinencia asi como una profilaxis de recaida.
MEAN-REVERSION JUMP-DIFFUSION

From the spot prices we have to identify the following six parameters: α , μ, σ, Km , γ, Φ. If necessary, a seventh parameter, λ, should be identified from the futures prices. The six parameters mentioned above can be identified using the maximum likelihood method (Ball and Torous, 1983; Lien and Strom, 1999; Clewlow and Strickland, 2000) or the moments method (Lien and Strom, 1999; Deng, 1999). Clewlow and Strickland (2000) and Clewlow et al. (2000b) present an intuitive step-wise method for the parameters identification. An alternative indirect method is presented by Jiang (1998).