Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The interstitial CiOi defect in bulk Si and Si1−xGex

The equilibrium geometries, phonon spectra, electronic structures and optical properties of the CiOi defect in bulk Si and Si1−xGex systems are calculated using the ab initio plane wave density-functional method. We find that in a Ge-doped Si crystal it is more energetically favourable for the defect to stabilize in a configuration with no Ge atoms in the first sphere. Our calculations show that the vibrational properties of the defect in the Si1−xGex alloy are similar to those in the pure Si bulk crystal and only one local vibrational mode is sensitive to the presence of the Ge substitutions. The effect of C, O, Si and Ge isotopes on the phonon spectra are also investigated and found to be in good agreement with available experimental data. It also follows from our calculations of the singlet–triplet splitting and a position of the gap state of the defect with respect to the top of the valence band that the optical energies of the CiOi defect are expected to increase due to Ge doping, which is in agreement with available experimental data.
The prevalence of stalking: Current data from a German victim survey

The present study, as part of a large-scale victim survey, examines the prevalence and nature of stalking in a representative German quota sample (N = 5779). Applying a broad definition of stalking, the lifetime prevalence added up to 15 percent, depending on respondents’ age, gender, and immigrant background, as well as household size and relationship status. Conditional inference trees revealed that gender, relationship status, and household size were key factors in identifying victims of stalking. Offenders mostly committed stalking against the opposite gender. This pertains especially to female (vs. male) victims. In most cases the offender and victim knew each other prior to the stalking. The results are compared with national and international findings. Implications and potential limitations are discussed.
A decoupling technique to improve the efficacy of the vector control model for SSSC

In this paper a decoupling technique for improving the vector control model of SSSC is presented. In the present vector models for SSSC, which are based on d-q line currents so called indirect control methods, there is a coupling between d and q axis, and therefore a coupling between P & Q control channel is seen. Obviously it would be more interesting to completely separate the controlled parameters which in the case of a SSSC are active and reactive powers in such a way that the deviation of one of the parameters affects the other one as least as possible. By the technique presented here, an independent control of P and Q is achieved while other control parameters of the SSSC (such as rise time, settling time, overshoot and .) are also improved and a faster and more precise response is achieved. Simulation results are presented to prove the validity of this technique
Gene expression analysis of photoreceptor cell loss in bbs4-knockout mice reveals an early stress gene response and photoreceptor cell damage.

PURPOSE To identify and characterize gene expression changes associated with photoreceptor cell loss in a Bbs4-knockout mouse model of retinal degeneration. METHODS Differential gene expression in the eyes of 5-month-old Bbs4(-/-) mice undergoing retinal degeneration were analyzed using gene microarrays (Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA). Elevated ocular transcripts were confirmed by Northern blotting of RNA from Bbs4(-/-) and three additional mouse models of Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS). TUNEL assays and transmission electron microscopy were used to study cell death and photoreceptor morphology in these mice. RESULTS Three hundred fifty-four probes were differentially expressed in Bbs4(-/-) eyes compared with controls using a twofold cutoff. Numerous vision-related transcripts decreased because of photoreceptor cell loss. Increased expression of the stress response genes Edn2, Lcn2, Serpina3n, and Socs3 was noted at 5 months of age and as early as postnatal week 4 in the eyes of four BBS mouse model strains. A burst of apoptotic activity in the photoreceptor outer nuclear layer at postnatal week 2 and highly disorganized outer segments by postnatal weeks 4 to 6 was observed in all four strains. CONCLUSIONS The specific loss of photoreceptors in Bbs4(-)(/)(-) mice allows us to identify a set of genes that are preferentially expressed in photoreceptors compared with other cell types found in the eye and is a valuable resource in the continuing search for genes involved in retinal disease. The molecular and morphologic changes observed in young BBS animal model eyes implies that BBS proteins play a critical, early role in establishing the correct structure and function of photoreceptors.
The Cyanobacterial Ribosomal-Associated Protein LrtA Is Involved in Post-Stress Survival in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

A light-repressed transcript encodes the LrtA protein in cyanobacteria. We show that half-life of lrtA transcript from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 is higher in dark-treated cells as compared to light-grown cells, suggesting post-transcriptional control of lrtA expression. The lrtA 5´ untranslated leader region is involved in that darkness-dependent regulation. We also found that Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 LrtA is a ribosome-associated protein present in both 30S and 70S ribosomal particles. In order to investigate the function of this protein we have constructed a deletion mutant of the lrtA gene. Cells lacking LrtA (∆lrtA) had significantly lower amount of 70S particles and a greater amount of 30S and 50S particles, suggesting a role of LrtA in stabilizing 70S particles. Synechocystis strains with different amounts of LrtA protein: wild-type, ∆lrtA, and LrtAS (overexpressing lrtA) showed no differences in their growth rate under standard laboratory conditions. However, a clear LrtA dose-dependent effect was observed in the presence of the antibiotic tylosin, being the LrtAS strains the most sensitive. Similar results were obtained under hyperosmotic stress caused by sorbitol. Conversely, after prolonged periods of starvation, ∆lrtA strains were delayed in their growth with respect to the wild-type and the LrtAS strains. A positive role of LrtA protein in post-stress survival is proposed.
Multilayer perceptron with particle swarm optimization for well log data inversion

A nonlinear mapping exists between the measured apparent conductivity (Ca) and the true formation conductivity (Ct). We adopt the multilayer perceptron (MLP) to approximate the nonlinear input-output mapping and propose the use of particle swarm optimization with mutation (MPSO) algorithm to adjust the weights in MLP. In the supervised training step, the input of the network is the measured Ca and the desired output is the Ct. MLP with optimal size 10-9-10 is chosen as the model. We have experiments in simulation and real data application. In simulation, there are 31 sets of simulated well log data, where 25 sets are used for training, and 6 sets are used for testing. After training the MLP network, input Ca, then Ct' can be inverted in testing process. Compared with radial basis function (RBF) networks and particle swarm optimization (PSO) method, the error of MPSO is the smallest. Also we apply it to the inversion of real field well log data. The result is acceptable. It shows that the proposed MPSO algorithm in MLP weight adjustments can perform the well log data inversion.
Comprovação empirica de uma medida relacionada ao excessivo consumo de álcool em Brasileiros

The consumption of alcohol in college students has been a crucial problem for interpersonal relationships and academic development; but it is also a problem that means a social, economic and health damage. It has been emerged and suggested measures to be ratified to identify the phenomenon of alcohol consumption. However, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is still the most used instrument in world studies, the same one that has remained constant. The present research aims to assess the internal and factorial consistency of the AUDIT in college students from different Brazilian States. A total of 639 college students of both sexes over 18 years old, distributed in different advanced courses of public and private institutions in four Brazilian States, responded the AUDIT and socio-demographic data. Performing different statistical calculations, psychometric indicators were observed which gave confidence to the AUDIT measurement in the investigated sample. This procedure guaranteed the measure regarding the identification of the alcohol consumption problem, as it also observed that independent of the educational context of college students in the concerned Brazilian States, all respondents revealed problems with alcohol consumption
ASSOCIATION BETWEEN VISUAL FUNCTION AND SUBRETINAL DRUSENOID DEPOSITS IN NORMAL AND EARLY AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION EYES

Purpose: To examine the association between subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDDs) identified by multimodal retinal imaging and visual function in older eyes with normal macular health or in the earliest phases of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: Age-related macular degeneration status for each eye was defined according to the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) 9-step classification system (normal = Step 1, early AMD = Steps 2–4) based on color fundus photographs. Visual functions measured were best-corrected photopic visual acuity, contrast and light sensitivity, mesopic visual acuity, low-luminance deficit, and rod-mediated dark adaptation. Subretinal drusenoid deposits were identified through multimodal imaging (color fundus photographs, infrared reflectance and fundus autofluorescence images, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography). Results: The sample included 1,202 eyes (958 eyes with normal health and 244 eyes with early AMD). In normal eyes, SDDs were not associated with any visual function evaluated. In eyes with early AMD, dark adaptation was markedly delayed in eyes with SDDs versus no SDD (a 4-minute delay on average), P = 0.0213. However, this association diminished after age adjustment, P = 0.2645. Other visual functions in early AMD eyes were not associated with SDDs. Conclusion: In a study specifically focused on eyes in normal macular health and in the earliest phases of AMD, early AMD eyes with SDDs have slower dark adaptation, largely attributable to the older ages of eyes with SDD; they did not exhibit deficits in other visual functions. Subretinal drusenoid deposits in older eyes in normal macular health are not associated with any visual functions evaluated.
Capitalismo, desarrollo y Estado. Una revisión crítica de la teoría del Estado de Schumpeter

Current theories of the State would benefit from a new look at the economic role of the State in the work of the great economists of the 19th and 20th Centuries. Schumpeter’s central theme of technological innovation for long-term economic growth makes his work particularly interesting to development economics. However, Schumpeter’s rejection of the State’s role in income redistribution is too simplistic and contradictory. Structural change may enhance the prospects for long-term growth, but also creates social and economic disruptions. This paper explores this basic contradiction and briefly discusses the application of Schumpeter’s theory of the State to new industrializing countries in East Asia and Latin America.
GPU-based real-time 3D workspace generation of arbitrary serial manipulators

This paper presents a method to solve - in real time - the three dimensional workspace generation problem for arbitrary serial manipulators. Our approach is based on Monte Carlo simulation, to process a high number of forward kinematics with randomly chosen joint values. This results in an asymptotic coverage of the reachable workspace. Additionally, collision detection is integrated to consider obstacles within the manipulator's environment. The method is implemented on the graphics processing unit (GPU), such that an extremely high number of workspace points can be processed in parallel. Tests have shown that this approach is capable to generate acceptable workspace coverage within milliseconds. Furthermore, the workspace is held as a three dimensional texture volume on the graphics memory, allowing for instant visualisation of the workspace during the generation process without the need for further time-intensive data exchange.
How Much Do Social Work Students and Older Adults Know about Medicare Part D?

The Medicare prescription drug benefit (Medicare Part D) is the biggest change to Medicare in decades. Knowledge of the plan among social work undergraduate students and older adults in the community was assessed. Sequential cohorts of students completed a short questionnaire assessing knowledge about Medicare Part D. Among social work students, an increase in knowledge was apparent. Older adults with Medicare knew more about the program than students. For social work students and older adults, Medicare Part D requires extensive learning about a program that is different from all other Medicare benefits, plans, and programs.
Energy Efficient and QoS-Aware Tasks Allocation for Sensor Networks

Collaborative processing among sensors to fulfill given tasks is a promising solution to save significant energy in resource-limited wireless sensor networks (WSN). Quality-of-Service (QoS) such as lifetime and latency is largely affected by how tasks are mapped to sensors in network. Tasks allocation is a well-defined problem in the area of high performance computing and has been extensively studied in the past. Due to the limitations of WSN, existing algorithms cannot be directly used. In this paper, a novel nested optimization technique based on genetic algorithm is proposed to assign tasks onto sensors with minimal cost while meeting application's QoS requirements. Optimal solution can be achieved by incorporating task mapping, routing path allocation, communication scheduling, dynamic voltage scaling. Performance is evaluated through experiments with randomly generated Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAG) and experiments results show better solution compared with existing methods.
Some theoretical results about the computation time of evolutionary algorithms

This paper focuses on the computation time of evolutionary algorithms. First, some exact expressions of the mean first hitting times of general evolutionary algorithms in finite search spaces are obtained theoretically by using the properties of Markov chain. Then, by introducing drift analysis and applying Dynkin's Formula, the general upper and lower bounds of the mean first hitting times of evolutionary algorithms are given rigorously under some mild conditions. These results obtained in this paper, and the analytic methods used in this paper, are widely valid for analyzing the computation time of evolutionary algorithms in any search space(finite or infinite)as long as some simple technique processes are introduced.
Applications of simulated students: an exploration

It is now possible to build machine learning systems whose behavior is consistent with data from human students. How can education use such simulated students? Applications that help three user groups are discussed. Teachers can practice the art of tutoring by having them teach a simulated student. Using a simulation instead of a real student allows teachers to see how their actions a ect that student's knowledge, to undo their actions, and to try their skills on students with varying prior knowledge and learning strategies. Students can learn in collaboration with a simulated student. Because the simulated student can be simultaneously an expert and a colearner, it can sca old and guide the human's learning in subtle ways. Instructional developers can test their instruction on simulated students. Unlike formative evaluations with real students, a simulation-based evaluation can indicate exactly what piece of the instruction caused which pieces of knowledge, and thus help developers troubleshoot their instructional designs early in the design process. For each of these three areas of application, inherent technical limitations, existing systems and prospective systems are discussed. New technologies have made it possible for computer systems to learn sophisticated skills and knowledge. Both symbolic machine learners and arti cial neural networks have demonstrated remarkable successes, especially within the last decade. During that time, empirical work on human learning of higher level skills and knowledge has expanded enormously (see VanLehn, 1989a, for a brief review), and several general theories of skill acquisition have been proposed (Anderson, 1983; Holland, Holyoak, Nisbett & Thagard, 1986; Newell, 1990; Ohlsson, 1993; VanLehn, 1989b). It is
Molecular insights into colorectal cancer stem cell regulation by environmental factors

Colorectal cancer remains a significant cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, mainly because of tumor relapse and metastases. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are considered to be the main cause of resistance to chemotherapeutic agents, as well as being responsible for distant metastases. Although CSCs themselves possess innate abilities for self-renewal and differentiation, the environment surrounding CSCs provides oxygen, nutrients and secreted factors, and also supports angiogenesis, thus it's responsible for maintaining their CSC properties. Furthermore, extensive investigations have revealed that obesity, accompanied by excess visceral adipose tissue, induces chronic inflammation, and is linked to the risk and progression of several gastrointestinal cancers, through modulating the capacities of the CSCs. This review presents the evidence linking colorectal CSCs and their environment and summarizes our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying this relationship.
PHASE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SKIN TEMPERATURE AND SLEEP-WAKE RHYTHMS IN WOMEN WITH VASCULAR DYSREGULATION AND CONTROLS UNDER REAL-LIFE CONDITIONS

The aim of the study was to investigate whether women with primary vascular dysregulation (VD; main symptoms of thermal discomfort with cold extremities) and difficulties initiating sleep (DIS) exhibit a disturbed phase of entrainment (Ψ) under everyday life conditions. The authors predicted a phase delay of the distal-proximal skin temperature gradient and salivary melatonin rhythms with respect to the sleep-wake cycle in women with VD and DIS (WVD) compared to controls (CON), similar to that found in their previous constant-routine laboratory data. A total of 41 young healthy women, 20 with WVD and 21 matched CON without VD and normal sleep onset latency (SOL), were investigated under ambulatory conditions (following their habitual bedtimes) during 7 days of continuous recording of skin temperatures, sleep-wake cycles monitored by actimetry and sleep-wake diaries, and single evening saliva collections for determining the circadian marker of dim light melatonin onset (DLMO). Compared to CON, WVD showed increased distal vasoconstriction at midday and in the evening, as indicated by lower distal (DIST; hands and feet) and foot-calf skin temperatures, and distal-proximal skin temperature gradients (p < .05). WVD manifested distal vasoconstriction before lights-off that also lasted longer after lights-off than in CON. In parallel, WVD exhibited a longer SOL (p < .05). To define internal phase-relationships, cross-correlation analyses were performed using diurnal rhythms of wrist activity and foot skin temperature. WVD showed a phase delay in foot skin temperature (CON versus WVD: 3.57 ± 17.28 min versus 38.50 ± 16.65 min; p < .05) but not in wrist activity. This finding was validated by additional within-subject cross-correlation analyses using the diurnal wrist activity pattern as reference. DLMO and habitual sleep times did not differ between CON and WVD. The authors conclude that WVD exhibit a phase delay of distal vasodilatation with respect to their habitual sleep-wake cycle and other circadian phase markers, such as DLMO. A full factorial design will have to show whether the finding is specific to primary vascular dysregualtion, to DIS, or to their interaction. (Author correspondence: Kurt.kraeuchi@upkbs.ch)
A New and Efficient Synthesis of 6-O-Methylscutellarein, the Major Metabolite of the Natural Medicine Scutellarin

In this paper, a new and efficient synthesis of 6-O-methylscutellarein (3), the major metabolite of the natural medicine scutellarin, is reported. Two hydroxyl groups at C-4′ and C-7 in 2 were selectively protected by chloromethyl methyl ether after the reaction conditions were optimized, then 6-O-methyl-scutellarein (3) was produced in high yield after methylation of the hydroxyl group at C-6 and subsequent deprotection of the two methyl ether groups.
Novel Bioassay for the Discovery of Inhibitors of the 2-C-Methyl-D-erythritol 4-Phosphate (MEP) and Terpenoid Pathways Leading to Carotenoid Biosynthesis

The 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway leads to the synthesis of isopentenyl diphosphate in plastids. It is a major branch point providing precursors for the synthesis of carotenoids, tocopherols, plastoquinone and the phytyl chain of chlorophylls, as well as the hormones abscisic acid and gibberellins. Consequently, disruption of this pathway is harmful to plants. We developed an in vivo bioassay that can measure the carbon flow through the carotenoid pathway. Leaf cuttings are incubated in the presence of a phytoene desaturase inhibitor to induce phytoene accumulation. Any compound reducing the level of phytoene accumulation is likely to interfere with either one of the steps in the MEP pathway or the synthesis of geranylgeranyl diphosphate. This concept was tested with known inhibitors of steps of the MEP pathway. The specificity of this in vivo bioassay was also verified by testing representative herbicides known to target processes outside of the MEP and carotenoid pathways. This assay enables the rapid screen of new inhibitors of enzymes preceding the synthesis of phytoene, though there are some limitations related to the non-specific effect of some inhibitors on this assay.
How Should Passenger Travel in Mexico City Be Priced?

This paper uses an analytical-simulation model to examine the optimal extent and welfare effects of pricing reforms for passenger transportation in Mexico City. The model incorporates travel by auto, microbus, public bus, and rail, plus externalities from local and global air pollution, traffic congestion, and road accidents. In our benchmark case, the optimal gasoline tax is $2.72 (29.6 pesos) per gallon, or 16 times the current tax. However, a per-mile toll would reduce traffic congestion, the largest externality, more directly, and we put the optimized auto toll at 20.3 cents per mile. Tolls should also be imposed on microbuses even though the welfare gains are relatively modest, as are those from reforming public transit fares.