Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spirometric reference values from a sample of the general U.S. population.

Spirometric reference values for Caucasians, African-Americans, and Mexican-Americans 8 to 80 yr of age were developed from 7,429 asymptomatic, lifelong nonsmoking participants in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Spirometry examinations followed the 1987 American Thoracic Society recommendations, and the quality of the data was continuously monitored and maintained. Caucasian subjects had higher mean FVC and FEV1 values than did Mexican-American and African-American subjects across the entire age range. However, Caucasian and Mexican-American subjects had similar FVC and FEV1 values with respect to height, and African-American subjects had lower values. These differences may be partially due to differences in body build: observed Mexican-Americans were shorter than Caucasian subjects of the same age, and African-Americans on average have a smaller trunk:leg ratio than do Caucasians. Reference values and lower limits of normal were derived using a piecewise polynomial model with age and height as predictors. These reference values encompass a wide age range for three race/ethnic groups and should prove useful for diagnostic and research purposes.
Rotary Traveling-Wave Oscillator With Differential Nonlinear Transmission Lines

A methodology for the harmonic-balance analysis and design of rotary-traveling wave oscillator is presented. Two different implementations are compared. The first one is the standard configuration based on a distributed transmission lines. The second one is a new configuration based on a differential nonlinear transmission line (NLTL), which enables the generation of square waveforms with reduced number of stages, while still maintaining the capability to produce multiphase signals. The possible coexistence of oscillation modes is investigated with a detailed bifurcation analysis versus practical parameters such as the device bias voltage. The phase-noise spectrum is predicted from the variance of the common phase deviation. The parameters that determine this variance are identified with the conversion-matrix approach. The two prototypes, based on a distributed transmission line and a differential NLTL, have been manufactured and characterized experimentally, obtaining very good agreement between simulations and measurements.
The Impact of Life Meaning on Life Satisfaction of Left-behind Elders in Rural China: Mediating Effect of Negative Emotion

This study found a mediating association of negative emotion between life meaning and life satisfaction of Chinese rural elders. Life meaning had a negative prediction to negative emotion, and a positive prediction to life satisfaction; negative emotion negatively predicted to life satisfaction. Keywords—life meaning, life satisfaction, negative emotion, leftbehind elders, rural China
Finite State Machine based Testing of Web Applications

Web testing is an effective technique to ensure the quality of Web applications. With the development and implementation of web applications in variety of industries, testing web system becomes more and more important and difficult. This literature review paper addresses the use of practical usage model based on finite state machine. According to the FSM usage model, it details the process of generating test cases. Finite state machine are the best method for developing computational model for hardware and software. By using the concept of finite State modeling, a computational model of web application can be built. In this model, web pages can be considered as states of finite state model and links can be considered as state transitions with input condition provided at each state. After building computational model test cases can be generated by using various techniques [2].
Genetic Resource Libraries : Bioprospecting and Knowledge Assets ¤

The article examines the incentives facing owners of genetic resource collections to invest in collecting data about their materials. Characterization converts an unordered collection of materials into a cataloged library. Researchers ̄lter these data through models that suggest how well observed characteristics correlate with potential success in R&D projects. The catalog enables the manufacture of variance in the researcher's distribution of beliefs regarding the utility of di®erent leads. It allows her to focus her search on promising subsets of the collection, increasing the e±ciency of research. Because \cataloged" leads are more likely to land in the upper tail of this distribution, they are more likely to be tested and, thus, are more likely ¤Gordon C. Rausser is Robert Gordon Sproul Distinguished Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Califoria at Berkeley; and Member, Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics. Arthur A. Small, III, is Assistant Professor in the School of International and Public A®airs at Columbia University. For thoughtful comments and suggestions we thank, without attributing either endorsement or blame: Christopher Costello, Geo® Heal, Steve Polasky, David Simpson, and workshop participants at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, Santa Barbara, California. Correspondence to: Arthur A. Small, Columbia University SIPA, 420 West 118th Street, Mail Code 3323, New York, NY 10027, USA; tel: 1-212-854-9016; fax: 1-212-854-5765; email: aas69@columbia.edu; web: www.columbia.edu/~aas69.
Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences the Role of Target and Bystander Cells in Dose-response Relationship of Radiation-induced Bystander Effects in Two Cell Lines

which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Objective(s): Radiation effect induced in nonirradiated cells which are adjacent or far from irradiated cells is termed radiation-induced bystander effect (RIBE). Published data on dose-response relationship of RIBE is controversial. In the present study the role of targeted and bystander cells in RIBE dose-response relationship of two cell lines have been investigated. Materials and Methods: Two cell lines (QU-DB and MRC5) which had previously exhibited different dose-response relationship were selected. In the previous study the two cell lines received medium from autologous irradiated cells and the results showed that the magnitude of damages induced in QU-DB cells was dependent on dose unlike MRC5 cells. In the present study, the same cells irradiated with 0.5, 2 and 4 Gy gamma rays and their conditioned media were transferred to nonautologous bystander cells; such that the bystander effects due to cross-interaction between them were studied. Micronucleus assay was performed to measure the magnitude of damages induced in bystander cells (RIBE level). Results: QU-DB cells exhibited a dose-dependent response. RIBE level in MRC5 cells which received medium from 0.5 and 2 Gy QU-DB irradiated cells was not statistically different, but surprisingly when they received medium from 4Gy irradiated QU-DB cells, RIBE was abrogated. Conclusion: Results pertaining to QU-DB and MRC5 cells indicated that both target and bystander cells determined the outcome. Triggering the bystander effect depended on the radiation dose and the target cell-type, but when RIBE was triggered, dose-response relationship was predominantly determined by the bystander cell type.
A More Effective Method for Image Representation: Topic Model Based on Latent Dirichlet Allocation

Nowadays, the Bag-of-words (BoW) representation is well applied to recent state-of-the-art image retrieval works. However, with the rapid growth in the number of images, the dimension of the dictionary increases substantially which leads to great storage and CPU cost. Besides, the local features do not convey any semantic information which is very important in image retrieval. In this paper, we propose to use "topics" instead of "visual words" as the image representation by topic model to reduce the feature dimension and mine more high level semantic information. We call this as Bag-of-Topics (BoT) which is a type of statistical model for discovering the abstract "topics" from the words. We extract the topics by Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and calculate the similarity between the images using BoT model instead of BoW directly. The results show that the dimension of the image representation has been reduced significantly, while the retrieval performance is improved.
Fine "mist" vs large droplets in phase separated manganites

The properties of phase-separated systems, e.g. manganites, close to a I order phase transition between charge-ordered insulator and ferromagnetic metal, are usually described by the percolation picture. We argue that the correlated occupation of metallic sites leads to the preferential formation of larger metallic clusters, which explains the often observed inverse, or ``overshot'' hysteresis in manganites (when the resistivity with increasing temperature is larger than with decreasing T). It also explains the recently discovered thermal cycling effect in manganites. Thus in treating this and similar systems in percolation picture, not only the total concentration of metallic phase, but also the distribution of metallic clusters by shape and size may significantly influence the properties of such systems.
Reduced Ca 2-dependent activation of large-conductance Ca 2-activated K channels from arteries of Type 2 diabetic Zucker diabetic fatty rats

Burnham, Matthew P., Ian T. Johnson, and Arthur H. Weston. Reduced Ca -dependent activation of large-conductance Ca -activated K channels from arteries of Type 2 diabetic Zucker diabetic fatty rats. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 290: H1520–H1527, 2006. First published November 4, 2005; doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00827. 2005. —Although it is well established that diabetes impairs endotheliumdependent vasodilation, including those pathways involving vascular myocyte large-conductance Ca -activated K channels (BKCa), little is known about the effects of diabetes on BKCa activation as an intrinsic response to contractile stimulation. We have investigated this mechanism in a model of Type 2 diabetes, the male Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rat. BKCa function in prediabetic (5–7 wk) and diabetic (17–20 wk) ZDF and lean control animals was assessed in whole arteries using myograph and electrophysiology techniques and in freshly dissociated myocytes by patch clamping. Log EC25 values for phenylephrine concentration-tension curves were shifted significantly to the left by blockade of BKCa with iberiotoxin (IBTX) in arteries from nonand prediabetic animals but not from diabetic animals. Smooth muscle hyperpolarizations of arteries evoked by the BKCa opener NS-1619 were significantly reduced in the diabetic group. Voltage-clamp recordings indicated that IBTX-sensitive currents were not enhanced to the extent observed in nondiabetic controls by increasing the Ca concentration in the pipette solution or the application of NS-1619 in myocytes from diabetic animals. An alteration in the expression of BKCa 1 subunits was not evident at either the mRNA or protein level in arteries from diabetic animals. Collectively, these results suggest that myocyte BKCa of diabetic animals does not significantly oppose vasoconstriction, unlike that of prediabetic and control animals. This altered function was related to a reduced Ca -dependent activation of the channel not involving 1 subunits.
Integrated Through-Silicon Via Placement and Application Mapping for 3D Mesh-Based NoC Design

This article proposes a solution to the integrated problem of Through-Silicon Via (TSV) placement and mapping of cores to the routers in a three-dimensional mesh-based Network-on-Chip (NoC) system. TSV geometry restricts their number in three-dimensional (3D) ICs. As a result, only about 25% of routers in a 3D NoC can possess vertical connections. Mapping plays an important role in evolving good system solutions in such a situation. TSVs have been placed with detailed consultation with the application mapping process. The integrated problem was first solved using the exact method of Integer Liner Programming (ILP). Next, a solution was obtained via a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) formulation. Several augmentations to the basic PSO strategy have been proposed to generate good-quality solutions. The results obtained are better than many of the contemporary approaches and close to the theoretical situation in which all routers are 3D in nature.
Quantifying the Similarity of Multiple Multi-Dimensional Point Processes by Integer Programming with Application to Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer ’ s Disease from EEG

A novel approach is proposed to quantify the similarity (or “synchrony”) of multiple multi-dimensiona l point processes. It is based on a generative stochastic model that describes how two or more point processes are related to each other. Inference in that model is carried out by integer programming. As an application, the problem of diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) from multi-channel EEG recordings is considered. The proposed method seems to be more sensitiv e to AD induced perturbations in EEG synchrony than classical similarity measures.
Wide Baseline Matching using Triplet Vector Descriptor

We propose an image matching method using triplet vector descriptor. The triplet vector descriptor consists of two different types of affine invariants: the gray level profile between two feature points and the two covariance matrices of those points. In order to establish point matches, we first vote the similarities of the triplet vector descriptors into candidate matches, and then, we verify the matches by normalized triangular region vectors, which are also affine invariant. After enforcing the uniqueness of the candidate matches, we finally adopt RANSAC with the epipolar constraint for removing outliers. By using our method, we can obtain correct matches on wide baseline matching problems. We show the effectiveness of our method by real image examples.
Obesity Is Not Associated with Increased Operative Complications in Single-Site Robotic Partial Nephrectomy

Purpose To evaluate the impact of high body mass index (BMI) on outcomes following robotic laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (R-LESS) robotic-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RPN). Materials and Methods Data from 83 Korean patients who had undergone robotic partial nephrectomy from 2006 to 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The subjects were stratified into two groups according to WHO definitions for the Asian population, consisting of 56 normal range (BMI=18.5-24.99 kg/m2) and 27 obese (≥25 kg/m2) patients. Outcome measurements included Trifecta achievement and the perioperative and postoperative comparison between high and normal BMI series. The measurements were estimated and analyzed with SPSS version 17. Results Tumor's complexity characteristics (R.E.N.A.L. score, tumor size) of both groups were similar. No significant differences existed between the two groups with regard to operative time (p=0.27), warm ischemia time (p=0.35) estimated blood loss (p=0.42), transfusion rate (p=0.48) renal function following up for 1 year, positive margins (p=0.24) and postoperative complication rate (p=0.34). Trifecta was achieved in 5 (18.5%) obese and 19 (33.9%) normal weight patients, respectively (p=0.14). In multivariable analysis, only tumor size was significantly correlated with the possibility of Trifecta accomplishment. Conclusion Our findings suggest that R-LESS RPN can be effectively and safely performed in patients with increased BMI, since Trifecta rate, and perioperative and postoperative outcomes are not significantly different in comparison to normal weight subjects.
Menschenfeindliche Vorurteile im Kontext von Radikalisierungsdynamiken und rechtsextremen Handlungen

Anti-human prejudices and stereotypes are widespread among the population according to long-term studies on group-based enmity (GMF). These prejudices initially appear to be of little criminological relevance because they are anti-democratic, but are not classified as extremist, unless they affect the law. The empirical studies on GMF show, however, that misanthropic prejudices are an essential element of right-wing populist, right-wing extremist and new-right convictions, which in turn are significantly associated with violent orientations. The article reports on empirical dimensions of beliefs and analyses the hinge function of prejudices on anti-democratic attitudes and the radicalization of attitudes in the middle of society. The empirical analyses show the importance of prejudices, value attitudes and a simple national identity category for the radicalization of individuals.
Dexamethasone (DEX) induces Osmotic stress transcription factor 1 (Ostf1) through the Akt-GSK3β pathway in freshwater Japanese eel gill cell cultures

Summary Osmosensing and osmoregulatory processes undertaken in gills of euryhaline fish are coordinated by integrative actions of various signaling molecules/transcriptional factors. Considerable numbers of studies report the hyper- and hypo-osmoregulatory functions of fish gills, by illustrating the process of gill cell remodeling and the modulation of the expression of ion channels/transporters. Comparatively mechanistic information relayed from signal integration to transcriptional regulation in mediating gill cell functions has not yet been elucidated. In this study we demonstrate the functional links from cortisol stimulation, to Akt activation, to the expression of the transcriptional factor, Ostf1. Using the synthetic glucocorticoid receptor agonist, dexamethasone (DEX), Ostf1 expression is found to be activated via glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and mediated by the Akt-GSK3&bgr; signaling pathway. Pharmacological experiments using kinase inhibitors reveal that the expression of Ostf1 is negatively regulated by Akt activation. The inhibition of PI3K or Akt activities, by the specific kinase inhibitors (wortmannin, LY294002 or SH6), stimulates Ostf1 expression, while a reduction of GSK3&bgr; activity by LiCl reduces Ostf1 expression. Collectively, our report for the first time indicates that DEX can induce Ostf1 via GR, with the involvement of the Akt-GSK3&bgr; signaling pathway in primary eel gill cell cultures. The data also suggest that Ostf1 may play different roles in gill cell survival during seawater acclimation.
What forms of interaction do adult learners identify as equivalent in self-paced online courses ?

This paper examines the key issues regarding The Interaction Equivalency Theorem posited by Anderson (2003a), which consists of the three interaction elements found in formal education courses among teacher, student, and content. It first examines the core concepts of the theorem and argues that two theses of different dimensions can be articulated in the theorem, namely, value and amount (or quality and quantity). Prior studies in distance education and blended learning that have tested the validity of the theorem concepts are also examined: all research results support the first thesis; however, further research is required to examine the second thesis. The paper highlights the key issues for further exploration as research schemes.
Complete genome sequence of a heavy metal resistant bacterium Maribacter cobaltidurans B 1 T , isolated from the deep-sea sediment of the South Atlantic Ocean

Many bacteria in the environment have adopted to the presence of toxic heavy metals. Here we present the complete genome sequence of a heavy metal resistant bacterium, Maribacter cobaltidurans B1 (=CGMCC 1.15508 = KCTC 52882 = MCCC 1K03318), which was isolated from a deep-sea sediment sample collected from the South Atlantic Ocean. Strain B1 is able to resist high concentrations of Co (10.0 mM) in Marine Agar 2216. The genome of strain B1 comprises 4,639,957 bp in a circular chromosome with G + C content of 39.7 mol%. Resistance to Co is mainly based on efflux system in the genome of stain B1, including czcCBA operons, czcD genes, corC genes, etc. Comparing with the closely related species M. orientalis DSM 16471, the genome of B1 harbors twenty more copies of genes in czcCBA operon and two copies of the czcD genes related to Co efflux. The function of these genes may contribute to the high level of cobalt resistance, revealing its potential application in biotechnological industry.
Learning with Bayesian Networks

A Bayesian network is a graphical tool which contains probabilistic relationships among various random variables. When used jointly with statistical techniques, the graphical model has several advantages for data analysis. First, a Bayesian network can be used to learn probabilistic relationships, and thus can be used in a learning system to gain the understanding of a problem domain and to predict the consequences of intervention. Second, it is an ideal representation for combining prior knowledge, which often comes in causal form, with data. Three, Bayesian statistical methods along with network structures can encode dependencies among all random variables. In this paper, we discuss methods for constructing Bayesian networks from prior knowledge and summarize Bayesian statistical methods for learning from data to improve probabilistic models of stochastic processes.
A New Measurement of the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation Temperature at z = 1.97

We present detections of absorption from the ground state and excited states of C I in the z = 1.9731 damped Lyα system of the QSO 0013-004. The excitation temperature between the J = 0 and J = 1 fine-structure levels of C I is 11.6 ± 1.0 K. We estimate other contributions to the excitation of the C I fine-structure levels, and use the population ratio of the excited state to the ground state to derive an estimate for the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) temperature of T = 7.9 ± 1.0 K at 0.61 mm and z = 1.9731, which is consistent with the predicted value of T = 8.105 ± 0.030 K from the standard cosmology.
Patterns of vegetative growth and gene flow in Rhizopogon vinicolor and R. vesiculosus (Boletales, Basidiomycota)

We have collected sporocarps and tuberculate ectomycorrhizae of both Rhizopogon vinicolor and Rhizopogon vesiculosus from three 50 × 100 m plots located at Mary's Peak in the Oregon Coast Range (USA); linear map distances between plots ranged from c. 1 km to c. 5.5 km. Six and seven previously developed microsatellite markers were used to map the approximate size and distribution of R. vinicolor and R. vesiculosus genets, respectively. Genetic structure within plots was analysed using spatial autocorrelation analyses. No significant clustering of similar genotypes was detected in either species when redundant samples from the same genets were culled from the data sets. In contrast, strong clustering was detected in R. vesiculosus when all samples were analysed, but not in R. vinicolor. These results demonstrate that isolation by distance does not occur in either species at the intraplot sampling scale and that clonal propagation (vegetative growth) is significantly more prevalent in R. vesiculosus than in R. vinicolor. Significant genetic differentiation was detected between some of the plots and appeared greater in the more clonal species R. vesiculosus with ΦST values ranging from 0.010 to 0.078*** than in R. vinicolor with ΦST values ranging from −0.002 to 0.022** (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001). When tested against the null hypothesis of no relationship between individuals, parentage analysis detected seven likely parent/offspring pairs in R. vinicolor and four in R. vesiculosus (α = 0.001). Of these 11 possible parent/offspring pairs, only two R. vinicolor pairs were still supported as parent/offspring when tested against the alternative hypothesis of being full siblings (α = 0.05). In the latter two cases, parent and offspring were located at approximately 45 m and 28 m from each other. Challenges to parentage analysis in ectomycorrhizal fungi are discussed.