Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Examining the profile of high-potency cannabis and its association with severity of cannabis dependence

Background Cannabis use is decreasing in England and Wales, while demand for cannabis treatment in addiction services continues to rise. This could be partly due to an increased availability of high-potency cannabis. Method Adults residing in the UK were questioned about their drug use, including three types of cannabis (high potency: skunk; low potency: other grass, resin). Cannabis types were profiled and examined for possible associations between frequency of use and (i) cannabis dependence, (ii) cannabis-related concerns. Results Frequent use of high-potency cannabis predicted a greater severity of dependence [days of skunk use per month: b = 0.254, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.161–0.357, p < 0.001] and this effect became stronger as age decreased (b = −0.006, 95% CI −0.010 to −0.002, p = 0.004). By contrast, use of low-potency cannabis was not associated with dependence (days of other grass use per month: b = 0.020, 95% CI −0.029 to 0.070, p = 0.436; days of resin use per month: b = 0.025, 95% CI −0.019 to 0.067, p = 0.245). Frequency of cannabis use (all types) did not predict severity of cannabis-related concerns. High-potency cannabis was clearly distinct from low-potency varieties by its marked effects on memory and paranoia. It also produced the best high, was preferred, and most available. Conclusions High-potency cannabis use is associated with an increased severity of dependence, especially in young people. Its profile is strongly defined by negative effects (memory, paranoia), but also positive characteristics (best high, preferred type), which may be important when considering clinical or public health interventions focusing on cannabis potency.
Hole detection algorithm for square peg-in-hole using force-based shape recognition

It is very difficult to assemble precision parts using only position control. To deal with these problems, force control approaches, which provide a proper motion response against the contact force, were investigated. Moreover, hole detection is a crucial step to eliminate the uncertainty in robotic assembly. Without a proper hole detection algorithm, assembly time increases along with the position difference between the peg and the hole. In this study, we propose a shape recognition algorithm based on a 6 axis F/T sensor and the hole detection algorithm. The proposed hole detection algorithm can find the direction of the hole regardless of the size of the position error between a peg and a hole. The same algorithm can be implemented not only to a circular peg, but also to a polygonal convex peg. A series of experimental results show that the proposed algorithms can estimate the shape and location of a peg reasonably well.
Measuring the income process in Italy

We use a panel dataset from the SHIW survey to study the features of household income in Italy. Income is described as a combination of deterministic and random components. In aggregate deterministic income grows at an average annual rate of 1.8% net of inflation, shocks feature stationarity, and the variance of persistent and transitory shocks is around 0.03. Income grows more quickly when the head is more highly educated; the volatility of shocks is sensitive to education and the job sector of the head. Only for public sector workers we find evidence of non-stationary shocks.
Fast Algorithm of Trigonometric Function of Specific Angle

A modified CORDIC algorithm is presented, based on computing the trigonometric function of specific angle in one cycle, which can be expressed with 2k\pi / 2^N and used in Fast Fourier Transform, Direct digital synthesis at al. Simulation results prove that the computing efficiency can be increased by about 50% and better precision may be obtained compared with the classic CORDIC algorithm. Therefore the algorithm is feasible and high availability.
Using of Clustering Techniques in Optimal Placement of Phasor Measurements Units

The phasor measurement unit (PMU) is considered to be one of the most important measuring devices in the future of power systems. The distinction comes from its unique ability to provide synchronized phasor measurements of voltages and currents from widely dispersed locations in an electric power grid. This paper proposes an algorithm based on the clustering techniques for solving the optimal PMU placement problem in power system state estimation. The data of IEEE 14-bus, IEEE 30-bus and, IEEE 57-bus have yielded the optimal results. Key-Words: optimal placement, phasor measurements unit, clustering techniques.
Personality Testing in the Church of Scientology: Implications for Outcome Research

Many fields of modern society require scientific proof of effectiveness before new methods can be widely accepted, as in clinical trials for new drugs, educational evaluation for teaching approaches, and outcome studies for psychological interventions. Previous outcome studies on the results from Scientology services are reviewed and found to be inconclusive. The paper is devoted to the question of whether the existing data base of several thousand case histories could be used for outcome studies. The existing data contain personality test scores on the Oxford Capacity Analysis (OCA) administered before and after scientology services. A detailed analysis of the OCA demonstrates that it was derived from the Johnson Temperament Analysis (JTA), a psychological test of poorly documented validity, by paraphrasing its items, copying its scoring weights and transforming its test norms, with some alterations. It was concluded that the OCA is presently unsuitable for outcome studies, but that this situation could change if additional research could demonstrate that the OCA had validities comparable to other personality tests. For future use, it is recommended that an entirely new version of the OCA be constructed with completely original items, simplified scoring weights, and empirically derived norms, and that its validity and reliability be demonstrated prior to implementation.
Multiple Roles of Staphylococcus aureus Enterotoxins: Pathogenicity, Superantigenic Activity, and Correlation to Antibiotic Resistance

Heat-stable enterotoxins are the most notable virulence factors associated with Staphylococcus aureus, a common pathogen associated with serious community and hospital acquired diseases. Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) cause toxic shock-like syndromes and have been implicated in food poisoning. But SEs also act as superantigens that stimulate T-cell proliferation, and a high correlation between these activities has been detected. Most of the nosocomial S. aureus infections are caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains, and those resistant to quinolones or multiresistant to other antibiotics are emerging, leaving a limited choice for their control. This review focuses on these diverse roles of SE, their possible correlations and the influence in disease progression and therapy.
Milky Way Mass Models and MOND

Using the Tuorla-Heidelberg model for the mass distribution of the Milky Way, I determine the rotation curve predicted by MOND (modified Newtonian dynamics). The result is in good agreement with the observed terminal velocities interior to the solar radius and with estimates of the Galaxy’s rotation curve exterior thereto. There are no fit parameters: given the mass distribution, MOND provides a good match to the rotation curve. The Tuorla-Heidelberg model does allow for a variety of exponential scale lengths; MOND prefers short scale lengths in the range 2.0 kpc ≲ Rd≲ 2.5 kpc. The favored value of Rd depends somewhat on the choice of interpolation function. There is some preference for the “simple” interpolation function as found by Famaey & Binney. I introduce an interpolation function that shares the advantages of the simple function on galaxy scales while having a much smaller impact in the solar system. I also solve the inverse problem, inferring the surface mass density distribution of the Milky Way from the terminal velocities. The result is a Galaxy with “bumps and wiggles” in both its luminosity profile and rotation curve that are reminiscent of those frequently observed in external galaxies.
Autonomous Shaping by High Density Visited States

Shaping is an effective method to reduce the state space that agent has to explore. But the shaping signal usually is provided by external observer, which requires lots of efforts, and weakens agent's autonomy. We propose an approach to make agent can autonomously shape itself by high density visited states. By gathering state trajectories that agent passed in training episodes, and eliminating the state loops in these state trajectories, then agent can find the high density visited states from these acyclic state trajectories. A high density visited state means agent has high frequency to pass it when agent wants to achieve the goal. So the high density visited state can be used to shape agent's exploration and make it reaching the goal faster. The experiment results on the Maze problem illustrated our approach being very effective. The major contribution is we make agent can autonomously shape itself by its experience.
On the Relationship between Interactive Decision Aids and Decision Strategies: A Theoretical Analysis

The amount of Internet sales has been growing at a high and constant rate over the last years. Many customers use Internet shops on a regular basis. Internet shops ensure a high transparency on product properties (including prices) and customers are able to easily compare a large number of products (options) and choose the one that best fits their expectations. During the decision process, customers apply decision strategies which describe the way on how they choose among different options. In the literature, a large variety of decision strategies is discussed. In Internet shops, customers are usually confronted with comparison matrixes where the properties of different products are visualized and compared in a table. To help the customers to choose the right product from such a matrix, Internet shops often use interactive decision aids like sorting of products, dropping products or product properties, or performing pairwise comparisons between products. Such decision aids should reduce the complexity of the decision task and help the customers to find the product that best fulfils their expectations. This paper studies the relationship between the decision strategy used by a customer and the proper electronic decision aid that should help the customer to choose among the different products. In particular, it answers the question which type of interactive decision aid is necessary to apply specific decision strategies in Internet shops. Based on the analysis, web designers can adapt their Internet shops and offer those decision aids that fit best to the decision strategy of the customers and make their decision process easier and more precise. Since previous empirical results on the frequency of the use of decision strategies in the Internet indicate that only a few decision strategies are preferred by Internet customers, the paper is able to make recommendations on which electronic decision aids are mandatory for web shops.
Why the Fence Is the Seat of Reason When Experts Disagree

ABSTRACT In order to properly understand how expert disagreement should be dealt with, it is essential to grasp how expert opinion is used in the reasoning process by which humans reach conclusions and make decisions. This paper utilises the tools of argumentation theory, specifically Douglas Walton’s argument schemes, and variations upon them, in order to examine how patterns of reasoning are affected by the presence of conflicting testimony. This study suggests that although it may be supplemented with the construction of epistemic hierarchies, the scheme of reasoning for the appeal to expert opinion provides no mechanism for establishing a preference for one expert statement over another, making it impossible to reach any rational conclusion as to the likely truth of the matter. Further, it is also argued that other schemes for presumptive argumentation are either unhelpful in themselves or lead to unwanted consequences.
DEFORMED DENSITY MATRIX AND GENERALIZED UNCERTAINTY RELATION IN THERMODYNAMICS

A generalization of the thermodynamic uncertainty relations is proposed. It is done by introducing an additional term proportional to the interior energy into the standard thermodynamic uncertainty relation that leads to existence of the lower limit of inverse temperature. In our opinion the approach proposed may lead to the proofs of these relations. To this end, the statistical mechanics deformation at Planck scale. The statistical mechanics deformation is constructed by analogy to the earlier quantum mechanical results. As previously, the primary object is a density matrix, but now the statistical one. The obtained deformed object is referred to as a statistical density pro-matrix. This object is explicitly described, and it is demonstrated that there is a complete analogy in the construction and properties of quantum mechanics and statistical density matrices at Planck scale (i.e. density pro-matrices). It is shown that an ordinary statistical density matrix occurs in the low-temperature limit at temperatures much lower than the Planck's. The associated deformation of a canonical Gibbs distribution is given explicitly.
Maternal lifestyle and environmental risk factors for autism spectrum disorders.

BACKGROUND Over the past 10 years, research into environmental risk factors for autism has grown dramatically, bringing evidence that an array of non-genetic factors acting during the prenatal period may influence neurodevelopment. METHODS This paper reviews the evidence on modifiable preconception and/or prenatal factors that have been associated, in some studies, with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including nutrition, substance use and exposure to environmental agents. This review is restricted to human studies with at least 50 cases of ASD, having a valid comparison group, conducted within the past decade and focusing on maternal lifestyle or environmental chemicals. RESULTS Higher maternal intake of certain nutrients and supplements has been associated with reduction in ASD risk, with the strongest evidence for periconceptional folic acid supplements. Although many investigations have suggested no impact of maternal smoking and alcohol use on ASD, more rigorous exposure assessment is needed. A number of studies have demonstrated significant increases in ASD risk with estimated exposure to air pollution during the prenatal period, particularly for heavy metals and particulate matter. Little research has assessed other persistent and non-persistent organic pollutants in association with ASD specifically. CONCLUSIONS More work is needed to examine fats, vitamins and other maternal nutrients, as well as endocrine-disrupting chemicals and pesticides, in association with ASD, given sound biological plausibility and evidence regarding other neurodevelopmental deficits. The field can be advanced by large-scale epidemiological studies, attention to critical aetiological windows and how these vary by exposure, and use of biomarkers and other means to understand underlying mechanisms.
Structure of p300 bound to MEF2 on DNA reveals a mechanism of enhanceosome assembly

Transcription co-activators CBP and p300 are recruited by sequence-specific transcription factors to specific genomic loci to control gene expression. A highly conserved domain in CBP/p300, the TAZ2 domain, mediates direct interaction with a variety of transcription factors including the myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2). Here we report the crystal structure of a ternary complex of the p300 TAZ2 domain bound to MEF2 on DNA at 2. 2Å resolution. The structure reveals three MEF2:DNA complexes binding to different sites of the TAZ2 domain. Using structure-guided mutations and a mammalian two-hybrid assay, we show that all three interfaces contribute to the binding of MEF2 to p300, suggesting that p300 may use one of the three interfaces to interact with MEF2 in different cellular contexts and that one p300 can bind three MEF2:DNA complexes simultaneously. These studies, together with previously characterized TAZ2 complexes bound to different transcription factors, demonstrate the potency and versatility of TAZ2 in protein–protein interactions. Our results also support a model wherein p300 promotes the assembly of a higher-order enhanceosome by simultaneous interactions with multiple DNA-bound transcription factors.
Lesion of the Olfactory Epithelium Accelerates Prion Neuroinvasion and Disease Onset when Prion Replication Is Restricted to Neurons

Natural prion diseases of ruminants are moderately contagious and while the gastrointestinal tract is the primary site of prion agent entry, other mucosae may be entry sites in a subset of infections. In the current study we examined prion neuroinvasion and disease induction following disruption of the olfactory epithelium in the nasal mucosa since this site contains environmentally exposed olfactory sensory neurons that project directly into the central nervous system. Here we provide evidence for accelerated prion neuroinvasion and clinical onset from the olfactory mucosa after disruption and regeneration of the olfactory epithelium and when prion replication is restricted to neurons. In transgenic mice with neuron restricted replication of prions, there was a reduction in survival when the olfactory epithelium was disrupted prior to intranasal inoculation and there was >25% decrease in the prion incubation period. In a second model, the neurotropic DY strain of transmissible mink encephalopathy was not pathogenic in hamsters by the nasal route, but 50% of animals exhibited brain infection and/or disease when the olfactory epithelium was disrupted prior to intranasal inoculation. A time course analysis of prion deposition in the brain following loss of the olfactory epithelium in models of neuron-restricted prion replication suggests that neuroinvasion from the olfactory mucosa is via the olfactory nerve or brain stem associated cranial nerves. We propose that induction of neurogenesis after damage to the olfactory epithelium can lead to prion infection of immature olfactory sensory neurons and accelerate prion spread to the brain.
Evaluation of the oppressed : a social justice approach to program evaluation.

EVALUATION OF THE OPPRESSED: A SOCIAL JUSTICE APPROACH TO PROGRAM EVALUATION FEBRUARY 2003 MOHAMED IBRAHIM, B.Sc., AIN SHAMS UNIVERSITY, CAIRO, EGYPT M.Sc., UNIVERSITY OF KHARTOUM, SUDAN Ed.D. , UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Directed by: Professor Robert Miltz In this dissertation, I explore a different concept in program evaluation. There is little literature on using evaluation research as a tool for social justice. The Oppression Evaluation Approach I am introducing is about an alternative method in conducting program evaluation under dominant political conditions, simply dealing with the ethical question: whose side are the evaluators on? The study is based on the experiences of environmental activists in Sudan who have worked under oppressive environments for decades, and how this reflected on the microenvironment of projects run by authoritative managements. The purpose of this study was: 1) To critically review the concept of educational evaluation, with a focus on areas that are not usually tackled, e.g., evaluation abuse. I introduce a number of illegitimate purposes for doing program evaluations in addition to the ones cited in the U.S.A evaluation literature. I also highlight major contemporary models and approaches, which have emerged during the past three decades. 2) To introduce a new approach or model, tentatively called Oppression Evaluation, to develop its theoretical framework based on my experience with
Change Management of Long Term Composed Services

We propose a framework for managing changes in Long term Composed Services (LCSs). The key components of the proposed framework include a Web Service Change Management Language (SCML), change enactment, and change optimization. The SCML is a formal language to specify top-down changes. It is built upon a formal model which consists of a Web service ontology and a LCS schema. The Web service ontology gives a semantic description on the important features of a service, including functionality, quality, and context. The LCS schema gives a high-level overview of a LCS's key features. A top-down change is specified as the modification of a LCS schema in the first place. Change enactment is the process of reacting to a top-down change. It consists of two subcomponents, including change reaction and change verification. The change reaction component implements the proposed change operators by modifying a LCS schema and the membership of Web services. The change verification component ensures that the correctness of a LCS is maintained during the process of change reaction. We propose a set of algorithms for the processes of change reaction and verification. The change optimization component selects the Web services that participate in a LCS to ensure that the change has been reacted to in the best way. We propose a two-phase optimization process to select services using both service reputation and service quality. We present a change management system that implements the proposed approaches. We also conduct a set of simulations to assess the performance. Acknowledgments First and foremost, I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Athman Bouguettaya, for his continuous support during my entire PhD study. Dr. Bouguettaya's keen interest and passion in research, his vision in the fields of service computing and data management, and his disciplined research methodology truly inspired me and will guide me throughout my career. It is the tremendous time and effort that he devoted on advising that trained me into a real researcher. His disciplined guidance is the most valuable asset for me to learn how to conduct independent and creative research. Dr. Bouguettaya's dedication, patience, and inspiration are a great fortune to my PhD study and are highly appreciated.
The minimum-time problem for discrete-time linear systems: A non-smooth optimization approach

This paper addresses the problem of driving the state of a linear discrete-time system to zero in minimum time. The inputs are constrained to lie in a bounded and convex set. The solution presented in the paper is based on the observation that the state sequence induced by the minimum-time control sequence is the sparsest possible state sequence over a certain finite horizon. That is, the desired state sequence must contain as many zero vectors as possible, all those zeros corresponding to the highest values of the time index. Hence, by taking advantage of some recent developments in sparse optimization theory, we propose a numerical solution. We show in simulation that the proposed method can effectively solve the minimum-time problem even for multi-inputs linear discrete-time systems.
Feasibility and acceptability of telephone‐delivered cognitive‐behavioral‐based physical therapy for patients with traumatic lower extremity injury

This work was funded in part by the Department of Defense through the Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program of the Congressional Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) under Award No. W81XWH-16-2-0060. Opinions, interpretations, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Department of Defense.
Generation of Facial Emotional Expressions Based on Psychological Theory

Facial expressions are an important aspect in affective social computing. They express internal states of robots during social interactions. In this paper we present the use of Scherer’s psychological theory to express facial emotions. This theory has the advantage of linking cognitive and emotional processes. We have implemented a part of this theory on a robot: iCat. We present results by comparing several representations of the same emotions.