Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measurement of Cranial Optical Path Length as a Function of Age Using Phase Resolved Near Infrared Spectroscopy

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been used to measure concentration changes of cerebral hemoglobin and cytochrome in neonates, children, and adults, to study cerebral oxygenation and hemodynamics. To derive quantitative concentration changes from measurements of light attenuation, the optical path length must be known. This is obtained by multiplying the source/detector separation by a laboratory measured differential path length factor (DPF) which accounts for the increased distance traveled by light due to scattering. DPF has been measured by time of flight techniques on small populations of adults and postmortem infants. The values for adults are greater than those for newborns, and it is not clear how to interpolate the present data for studies on children. Recent developments in instrumentation using phase resolved spectroscopy techniques have produced a bedside unit which can measure optical path length on any subject. We have developed an intensity modulated optical spectrometer which measures path length at four wavelengths. Two hundred and eighty three subjects from 1 d of age to 50 y were studied. Measurements were made at a fixed frequency of 200 MHz and a source detector separation of 4.5 cm. Results suggest a slowly varying age dependence of DPF, following the relation DPF690 = 5.38 + 0.049A0. 877, DPF744 = 5.11 + 0.106A0. 723, DPF807 = 4.99 + 0.067A0. 814, and DPF832 = 4.67 + 0.062A0. 819, where DPF690 is the DPF measured at 690 nm and A is age is expressed in years from full term. There was a wide scatter of values, however, implying that ideally DPF should be measured at the time of each study.
Acto-myosin reorganization and PAR polarity in C. elegans

The symmetry-breaking event during polarization of C. elegans embryos is an asymmetric rearrangement of the acto-myosin network, which dictates cell polarity through the differential recruitment of PAR proteins. The sperm-supplied centrosomes are required to initiate this cortical reorganization. Several questions about this event remain unanswered: how is the acto-myosin network regulated during polarization and how does acto-myosin reorganization lead to asymmetric PAR protein distribution? As we discuss, recent studies show that C. elegans embryos use two GTPases, RHO-1 and CDC-42, to regulate these two steps in polarity establishment. Although RHO-1 and CDC-42 control distinct aspects of polarization, they function interdependently to regulate polarity establishment in C. elegans embryos.
FPRESSO: Enabling Express Transistor-Level Exploration of FPGA Architectures

In theory, tools like VTR---a retargetable toolchain mapping circuits onto easily-described hypothetical FPGA architectures---could play a key role in the development of wildly innovative FPGA architectures. In practice, however, the experiments that one can conduct with these tools are severely limited by the ability of FPGA architects to produce reliable delay and area models---these depend on transistor-level design techniques which require a different set of skills. In this paper, we introduce a novel approach, which we call Fpresso, to model the delay and area of a wide range of largely different FPGA architectures quickly and with reasonable accuracy. We take inspiration from the way a standard-cell flow performs large scale transistor-size optimization and apply the same concepts to FPGAs, only at a coarser granularity. Skilled users prepare for \fpresso locally optimized libraries of basic components with a variety of driving strengths. Then, ordinary users specify arbitrary FPGA architectures as interconnects of basic components. This is globally optimized within minutes through an ordinary logic synthesis tool which chooses the most fitting version of each cell and adds buffers wherever appropriate. The resulting delay and area characteristics can be automatically used for VTR. Our results show that \fpresso provides models that are on average within some 10-20\% of those by a state-of-the-art FPGA optimization tool and is orders of magnitude faster. Although the modelling error may appear relatively high,we show that it seldom results in misranking a set of architectures, thus indicating a reasonable modeling faithfulness.
Positive Psychology Interventions: A Review for Counselling Practitioners

Positive psychology is focused on the prevention of mental health disorders, promotion of mental health, and treatment of distress via positive psychology interventions (PPIs). Effective in generating positive affect and experiences, PPIs alleviate depression and boost happiness in clinical and nonclinical populations. Geared toward counselling practitioners, the present article explores a sampling of PPIs such as savouring, gratitude, self-compassion, and capitalization. Why, how, and under what conditions these interventions are successful, and for whom they work are discussed. It is hoped that practitioners will use PPIs to enrich their work, contribute to the validation of the PPIs, and facilitate a true state of mental health for clients.
Body-Bias-Driven Design Strategy for Area- and Performance-Efficient CMOS Circuits

Worst-case design uses extreme process corner conditions which rarely occur. This limits maximum speed specifications and costs additional power due to area over-dimensioning during synthesis. We present a new design synthesis strategy for digital CMOS circuits that makes use of forward body biasing. Our approach renders consistently a better performance-per-area ratio by constraining circuit over-dimensioning without sacrificing circuit performance. An in-depth analysis of the body-bias-driven design theory is provided. It is complemented by an algorithm that enables fast reconstruction of the area-clock period tradeoff curve of the design. We validated these new concepts through industrial processor designs in 90-nm low-power CMOS. For standard- Vth implementations, we observed performance-per-area improvements up to 40%, area and leakage reductions up to 30%, and dynamic power savings of up to 10% without performance penalties as a benefit from our proposed body-bias-driven design strategy. The benefits are larger for high-Vth implementations. In this case, we observed performance-per-area improvements up to 90%, area and leakage reductions up to 40%, and dynamic power savings of up to 25% without performance penalties.
The Study of Preservice Teachers' Perceptions about Children from Single Parent Families

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of preservice teachers toward children from single parent families. 218 preservice teachers (209 female and 9 male) who were enrolled in the department of early childhood education and child care & education were participated in this study. A questionnaire was developed based on the questionnaire developed by Song, Sung, & Han (2003). Data were analyzed by using SPSS 11.5. The results were followed. First, preservice teachers' personal experiences of single parent families did not influence their perception of children from single-parent family. Second, preservice teachers who strongly held the view of keeping traditional family structure showed negative expectations of children's school adjustment. Third, preservice teachers reported the importance to help the children adjustment at school as well as to deal with their personal and family problem. The results presented that there was an increasing need in teacher education, to develop curriculum for preservice teachers to have balanced views or reduce their biased perception against diverse family structure and children from single parent families.
Tourism for all: challenge for persons with disabilities

The trends of tourism for all, including persons with disabilities, are visible both in the Czech Republic and in Poland, being reflected in the literature. However, publications presenting evidence-based research are still missing. In the paper, the authors refer to the issue, focusing on the explanation of principles, planning to deepen the focus in the forthcoming research. The United Nations Charter of Human Rights, issued in 1948, is mentioned as the first official modern document in which rights, freedom and obligations of ‘different people’ were defined with regard to political, social, and economic domains. The next important initiative was the Decade of People with disabilities (1981–1991). The issue of physical activity and sport of persons with disabilities was stressed in the European Charter of Sports for All: Handicapped People (1987). All types and forms of physical activities are possible to be realized in the separate, parallel, and inclusive environments. Tourism and its accessibility for persons with disabilities should be accepted as the recent and future trend. Adaptation of communication, attitudes, methods, content of programs and technique conditions is important and has to respect the limits and abilities of the participants, but personal determinants are crucial.
Effects of lactoferrin on rat dermal interstitial fluid pressure (Pif) and in vitro endothelial barrier function.

We recently demonstrated that intravenous (i.v.) injection of the iron-binding protein lactoferrin (Lf) followed by antilactoferrin (aLf) antibodies or iron-saturated Lf alone increased albumin extravasation in vivo in several tissues including skin. Increased driving pressure for blood-tissue exchange or direct effects of Lf on the endothelial barrier are possible mechanisms. We therefore, firstly, measured interstitial fluid pressure (Pif) in dermis of rats given 1 mg Lf i.v. followed 30 min later by aLf or saline and circulatory arrest 1 or 5 min thereafter and compared with controls. Secondly, transmonolayer passage of Evans blue labelled albumin (EB-albumin) was evaluated in porcine pulmonary artery endothelial cells exposed to iron-free or iron-saturated Lf (both 100 microg mL-1) in the absence and presence of 0.5 mM hydrogen peroxide. Pif increased significantly at 11-30 min following Lf to +2.1 +/- 0.3 and +1.7 +/- 0.2 mmHg at 11-20 and 21-30 min, respectively, compared with +0.1 +/- 0.2 mmHg before Lf (P < 0.05, n=25). Endothelial transmonolayer passage of EB-albumin during 3 h was not affected by iron-free or iron-saturated Lf neither in the absence nor presence of hydrogen peroxide that increased passage 3.5 times compared with controls. In conclusion, Lf-induced increase in albumin extravasation in rat skin is not explained by changes in Pif (because Lf raised Pif significantly) or direct effects of Lf on the endothelial barrier.
Patents as Quality Signals for Entrepreneurial Ventures * Ii Patents as Quality Signals for Entrepreneurial Ventures

This study examines the patenting and venture financing activities of 370 semiconductor startups that received more than 800 rounds of funding from 1980 through 2005. We find a significant effect of patents on investor estimates of start-up firm value, with a doubling in patent application stock associated with a 28 percent boost in funding-round valuations beyond what would otherwise be expected. We also find that the signaling value of patents is greater in earlier financing rounds and when funds are secured from prominent investors. Finally, our results suggest that having larger patent application stocks increases both the likelihood of sourcing initial capital from a prominent venture capitalist and of achieving liquidity through an initial public offering. We find little evidence, however, for the role of start-up affiliations with prominent partners once patenting activities are taken into account. These findings highlight the important interplay between external resource providers and the patent signaling strategies of entrepreneurial ventures.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia : revelations from the B-cell receptor

The finding that chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) consists of 2 clinical subsets, distinguished by the incidence of somatic mutations in the immunoglobulin (Ig) variable region (V) genes, has clearly linked prognosis to biology. Antigen encounter by the cell of origin is indicated in both subsets by selective but distinct expression of V genes, with evidence for continuing stimulation after transformation. The key to distinctive tumor behavior likely relates to the differentialabilityof theB-cell receptor (BCR) to respond. Both subsets may be undergoing low-level signaling in vivo, although analysis of blood cells limits knowledge of critical events in the tissue microenvironment. Analysis of signal competence in vitro reveals that unmutated CLL generally continues to respond, whereas mutated CLL is anergized. Differential responsiveness may reflect the increased ability of post–germinal center B cells to be triggered by antigen, leading to long-term anergy. This could minimize cell division in mutated CLL and account for prognostic differences. Unifying features of CLL include low responsiveness, expression of CD25, and production of immunosuppressive cytokines. These properties are reminiscent of regulatory T cells and suggest that the cell of origin of CLL might be a regulatory B cell. Continuing regulatory activity, mediated via autoantigen, could suppress Ig production and lead to disease-associated hypogammaglobulinemia. (Blood. 2004;103:4389-4395)
Results From the IQ‐CSRC Prospective Study Support Replacement of the Thorough QT Study by QT Assessment in the Early Clinical Phase

The QT effects of five “QT‐positive” and one negative drug were tested to evaluate whether exposure–response analysis can detect QT effects in a small study with healthy subjects. Each drug was given to nine subjects (six for placebo) in two dose levels; positive drugs were chosen to cause 10 to 12 ms and 15 to 20 ms QTcF prolongation. The slope of the concentration/ΔQTc effect was significantly positive for ondansetron, quinine, dolasetron, moxifloxacin, and dofetilide. For the lower dose, an effect above 10 ms could not be excluded, i.e., the upper bound of the confidence interval for the predicted mean ΔΔQTcF effect was above 10 ms. For the negative drug, levocetirizine, a ΔΔQTcF effect above 10 ms was excluded at 6‐fold the therapeutic dose. The study provides evidence that robust QT assessment in early‐phase clinical studies can replace the thorough QT study.
The Pared�n, Mexico, Obsidian Source and Early Formative Exchange

In 1975, archeological surface surveys of trade routes located again a pre-Hispanic obsidian source in central Mexico first reported in 1902. Initial trace element studies of the Pared�n source through an analysis by neutron activation have been compared with similar studies of the obsidian found at Chalcatzingo 150 kilometers from the source. These comparisons indicate that obsidian from Pared�n, rather than Otumba, was of primary importance during the Early Formative in central Mexico.
The Yeast Actin Cytoskeleton: from Cellular Function to Biochemical Mechanism

SUMMARY All cells undergo rapid remodeling of their actin networks to regulate such critical processes as endocytosis, cytokinesis, cell polarity, and cell morphogenesis. These events are driven by the coordinated activities of a set of 20 to 30 highly conserved actin-associated proteins, in addition to many cell-specific actin-associated proteins and numerous upstream signaling molecules. The combined activities of these factors control with exquisite precision the spatial and temporal assembly of actin structures and ensure dynamic turnover of actin structures such that cells can rapidly alter their cytoskeletons in response to internal and external cues. One of the most exciting principles to emerge from the last decade of research on actin is that the assembly of architecturally diverse actin structures is governed by highly conserved machinery and mechanisms. With this realization, it has become apparent that pioneering efforts in budding yeast have contributed substantially to defining the universal mechanisms regulating actin dynamics in eukaryotes. In this review, we first describe the filamentous actin structures found in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (patches, cables, and rings) and their physiological functions, and then we discuss in detail the specific roles of actin-associated proteins and their biochemical mechanisms of action.
USING NEURAL NETWORKS TO EXPLICATE HUMAN CATEGORY LEARNING: A SIMULATION OF CONCEPT LEARNING AND LEXICALISATION

Neural networks, provide a basis for studying various aspect of human learning and cognitive development in a seemingly ‘psychologically plausible’ manner. We present a ‘hybrid’ neural network architecture comprising two Kohonen maps interrelated by Hebbian connections to perform a neural network based simulation of the development of a ‘concept memory’, ‘word lexicon’ and ‘concept lexicalisation’ in an unsupervised learning environment using realistic psycholinguistic data. The results of the simulation demonstrate how neural networks, incorporating unsupervised learning mechanisms, can indeed simulate the learning of categories amongst children. The work demonstrates the efficacy of neural networks towards providing some insights into the elusive mechanisms that lead to the emergence of human categories and an explication of inherent conceptual categories.
Case-Based Techniques Used for Dialogue Understanding and Planning in a Human-Robot Dialogue System

We describe an approach to the use of case-based techniques for natural language understanding and for action planning in a system for dialogue between a human and a robot, which in our case is a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle). A single case base and case-based reasoning engine is used both for understanding and for planning actions by the UAV. This approach has been developed through the work on an experimental dialogue system, called CEDERIC. Dialogue experiments where a number of users have solved tasks by dialogue with this system showed very adequate success rates, while at the same time they indicated a few weak points in the system that could then easily be corrected.
The effect of rolipram, a type IV phosphodiesterase inhibitor, on Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection of respiratory mucosa.

We have investigated the effect of rolipram, a type IV phosphodiesterase inhibitor, on Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection of the respiratory mucosa of an organ culture model and on the reduction in intracellular cAMP levels seen in human nasal epithelial cells incubated with P. aeruginosa culture filtrate. We have compared rolipram with salmeterol, a long-acting beta-2 agonist, and have also studied the effect of the two agents together. Infected organ cultures had significantly (P < or = .05) increased epithelial damage. Rolipram significantly (P < or = .05) reduced P. aeruginosa-induced epithelial damage and reduced the total number of bacteria adhering to the respiratory mucosa (P < or = .04) in a concentration-dependent manner, although neither rolipram nor salmeterol affected P. aeruginosa growth in broth cultures. Rolipram reduced P. aeruginosa-induced mucosal damage more than salmeterol (P < or = .03). The effect of the two agents was neither additive nor synergistic. Rolipram, salmeterol and both agents together significantly (P < or = .01) increased intracellular cAMP levels in epithelial cells treated with P. aeruginosa culture filtrate. Rolipram alone increased cAMP more than salmeterol or both agents together (P < or = .01), probably because of an interaction between the two agents. These results suggest that agents that elevate intracellular cAMP protect the epithelium during bacterial infection. Rolipram is more effective than salmeterol in preventing P. aeruginosa-induced epithelial damage.
The effect of carrier phase jitter on MC-CDMA performance

We investigate the influence of the carrier phase jitter of a phase-locked local oscillator on the performance of a multicarrier code-division multiple-access (MC-CDMA) system in a nondispersive channel. This carrier phase jitter degrades the signal-to-noise ratio at the input of the decision device. When all users have the same power level and phase jitter spectrum, it is shown that for the highest load, the degradation only depends on the jitter variance but not on the specific shape of the jitter spectrum nor on the number of carriers.
A Review of Mood and Anxiety Disturbances in Alzheimer's Disease: Implications for Treatment Outcomes

Alzheimer's disease was identified almost 100 years ago and cognitive morbidity (deterioration in memory, attention, language, and executive functioning) was regarded as a sufficient index for the description and diagnosis of this disease. Within the cognitive discourse, the importance of neuropsychiatric and neurobehavioural referents were often eschewed. Recent research shows the profound impact of the non-cognitive symptoms on patient and caregiver. This article reviews the studies on disturbances in Alzheimer's disease, its prevalence, and its manifestation with reference to neuropathology. The article elucidates the potential for pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to management of symptoms. Some reflections on Alzheimer's disease and the cultural expression of symptoms in an African setting is included.
HEVC in-loop filters GPU parallelization in embedded systems

The added encoding efficiency and visual quality that is offered by the latest HEVC standard is mostly attained at the cost of a significant increase of the computational complexity at both the encoder and decoder. However, such added complexity greatly compromises the implementation of this standard in computational and energy constrained devices, including embedded systems, mobile and battery supplied devices. To circumvent this limitation, this paper proposes the exploitation of embedded GPU devices already equipping many state of the art SoCs to accelerate the HEVC in-loop filters (i.e. deblocking filter and sample adaptive offset). The presented approaches comprehensively exploit both fine and coarse-grained parallelization opportunities of these filters in an NVIDIA Tegra GPU.According to the conducted experimental evaluation, the proposed approach showed to be a remarkable strategy to satisfy the real-time requirements of the HEVC decoder, being able to filter each Ultra HD 4K intra frame in less than 20 ms (about 50 fps).