Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic ray shooting and shortest paths via balanced geodesic triangulations

of Results TVe give new methods for maintaining a data structure that supports ray shooting and shortest path queries in a dynamically-changing connected subdivision S. Our approach is based on a new dynamic method for maintaining a balanced decomposition of a simple polygon via geodesic triangles. We maintain such triangulations by viewing their dual trees as balanced trees. We show that rotations in these trees can be implemented via a simple “diagonal swapping” operation performed on the corresponding geodesic triangles, and that edge insertion and deletion can be implemented on these trees using operations akin to the standard split ancl splice operations. We also maintain a dynamic point location structure on the geodesic triangulation, so that we may implement ray shooting queries by first locating the ray’s endpoint and then walking along the ray from geodesic triangle to geodesic triangle until we hit the boundary of some region of S. The shortest path between two points in the same region is obtained by locating the two points and then walking from geodesic triangle to geodesic triangle either following a boundary or taking a shortcut through a common tangent. Our data structure uses 0(72) space and supports queries and updates in 0(log2 n) time, where n is the current size of S. It outperforms the previous best data structure for this problem by a log n factor in all the complexity measures (space, query times, and update times).
Turbo coded successive detector with virtual channels for MIMO-OFDM

An iterative virtual channel receiver using Turbo codes is proposed in this paper. The receiver can detect signals even when the number of the signal streams exceeds the number of the receive antennas. We show that SISO detection can improve the BER performance compared to when the hard detection is used. Moreover, it is shown that it is better to use the same phase pattern in calculating LLRs of the phase elements.
The effect of first year mental health fieldwork on attitudes of occupational therapy students towards people with mental illness

Background and Aims: Despite recent initiatives to reduce stigma towards people with mental illness, negative attitudes persist both in the community and among health professionals. Fieldwork experience has been identified as the most powerful way of modifying the attitudes of health professional students. Research to date suggests that later placements tend to have a more positive effect on attitudes than do earlier placements. However, inconsistencies within the literature suggest that it is the nature of the fieldwork experience that is the critical factor. We set out to investigate whether a program of fieldwork that included a tutorial component would bring about positive attitudinal change in first year occupational therapy students. Methods: We conducted secondary analysis of data collected from first year students before and after first year fieldwork experience in mental health settings. Student statements were rated to identify positive versus negative attitudes, and attitudinal themes were analysed. Results: Quantitative analysis revealed that students made significantly more statements reflecting positive attitudes following fieldwork than they did before. From pre- to post-fieldwork, attitudinal themes changed from: people with mental illness as different, fear of people with mental illness, and a deficit focus of mental illness, to: the ‘ordinariness’ of people with mental illness, students’ understanding of people with mental illness, and an enabling approach to people with mental illness. Conclusions: A program of fieldwork that includes a structured tutorial component can bring about positive changes in the attitudes of first year students towards people with mental illness.
Electroelastic Effect of Thickness Mode Langasite Resonators

Langasite is a very promising material for resonators due to its good temperature behavior and high piezoelectric coupling, low acoustic loss, and high Q factor. The biasing effect for langasite resonators is crucial for resonator design. In this article, the resonant frequency shift of a thickness-mode langasite resonator is analyzed with respect to a direct current (DC) electric field applied in the thickness direction. The vibration modes of a thin langasite plate fully coated with an electrode are analyzed. The analysis is based on the theory for small fields superposed on a bias in electroelastic bodies and the first-order perturbation integral theory. The electroelastic effect of the resonator is analyzed by both analytical and finite-element methods. The complete set of nonlinear elastic, piezoelectric, dielectric permeability, and electrostrictive constants of langasite is used in the theoretical and numerical analysis. The sensitivity of electroelastic effect to nonlinear material constants is analyzed.
Equal Protection Implies Proportional Representation

This paper shows that for a single-vote electoral system for a representative body to treat all voters and all parties equally, it must produce results essentially identical to list proportional representation (PR). Democratic theory has often been agnostic concerning representative institutions. Different institutions have been compared in terms of behavioral outcomes rather than axiomatic properties. Building on van der Hout et al.’s (2002) result, we show that for an electoral system to completely respect the principle of political equality, its results must be equivalent to those of list PR.
TD-GAC: Machine Learning Experiment with Give-Away Checkers

This paper presents results of applying the temporal difference learning methods in the game of give-away checkers. Each of the following: the TD(λ), TDLeaf(λ) and a pseudo evolutionary algorithm was used in order to modify weights of a linear state value function in a self-play mode. Empirical results show the success of Temporal Difference methods in improving the quality of computer player’s policy. The most promising results were achieved while learning on non-positive game outcomes and on strong opponents using the TD(λ) algorithm.
Negative reactions to personal control.

Three experiments were conducted to explain why increases in personal control sometimes have been found to lead to negative reactions, such as lowered self-esteem and increased negative mood. In Experiment 1, subjects either were allowed a choice or had no choice of experimental tasks. Further, subjects had been led to believe that they were either fairly competent or incompetent on the chosen task. Increases in negative mood were found among subjects in the choice conditions, but, contrary to prediction, the level of competence on the task had no effect. In Experiment 2, subjects again were allowed either a choice or no choice of tasks, but half of the subjects were led to believe that their performance on the task would be unknown to the experimenter. Lower self-esteem and increases in negative mood were found only among subjects given a choice of tasks who also believed that the outcome of their performance would be known. In Experiment 3, subjects given a choice of two tasks at which they believed the.
Balancing independence and safety: the challenge of supporting older people with dementia and sight loss.

BACKGROUND dementia and visual impairment are common in older adults, and both conditions create a high risk of disability. Care professionals lack evidence on how best to support older adults with both conditions. OBJECTIVE the study investigated attitudes towards working with older adults with concurrent sight loss and dementia, the challenges involved and suggestions for service development. METHODS a qualitative study was conducted comprising 18 in-depth interviews and two focus groups with care professionals within mental health and low vision services. RESULTS care professionals were alert to the high levels of risk among patients with joint sight loss and dementia. In-depth interviews revealed that insufficient time and expertise can lead to an overcautious approach that prioritises the reduction of risk rather than the promotion of independence. Focus groups highlighted the role that joint working can play in supporting older adults' valued roles and activities. Barriers to joint working were identified alongside strategies to assist the process. CONCLUSION it is essential that care professionals and service providers acknowledge and respond to the complex needs of this population. Joint working was considered key to assessing risks and targeting interventions. The research workshop presented here provides a useful format for improving practice across inter-professional boundaries.
Intensified platinum therapy is an ineffective strategy for improving outcome in pediatric patients with advanced hepatoblastoma.

PURPOSE The INT-0098 Intergroup Liver Tumor Study demonstrated no statistically significant differences in event-free and overall survival between patients randomized to treatment with either cisplatin + fluorouracil + vincristine (C5V) or cisplatin + doxorubicin. Results from this and other therapeutic trials suggested that cisplatin was the most active agent against hepatoblastoma. To increase the platinum dose-intensity, a novel regimen was developed alternating carboplatin and cisplatin (CC) every 2 weeks. The P9645 study was designed to compare the risk of treatment failure for patients with stage III/IV hepatoblastoma randomized to either C5V or CC. METHODS C5V was given according to INT-0098 and CC consisted of carboplatin at 700 mg/m2 on day 0 (560 mg/m2 after two cycles) followed by cisplatin 100 mg/m2 on day 14. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was used after each CC cycle. All patients received four to six cycles of chemotherapy. RESULTS From the time the study was opened until the time that random assignment was halted, 56 patients received CC and 53 patients received C5V. The 1-year event-free survival was 37% for patients receiving CC and 57% for those receiving C5V (P = .017). Patients randomly assigned to CC required more blood product support. As a result of a semiannual review by the Children's Oncology Group Data and Safety Monitoring Committee, random assignment was discontinued after 3 years of enrollment because the projected improvement in long-term outcome associated with CC was statistically excluded as a possible outcome of this trial. CONCLUSION Intensification of therapy by alternating platinum analogs increased the risk of adverse outcome in children with unresectable or metastatic hepatoblastoma.
Insulating oil decaying assessment by FTIR and UV-Vis spectrophotometry measurements

The most easily accessible and efficient way to determine the transformer condition is to use the insulating oil as diagnostic medium. Practical experiences have shown that more than 70% of incipient failures can be detected through oil tests. To meet pressing needs of power industries, fast, inexpensive and reliable laboratory testing procedures are necessary. In this contribution, oil samples aged in laboratory condition were monitored with traditional diagnostic methods - i.e., interfacial tension (IFT) and total acid number (TAN) - and alternative techniques based on spectral analysis, using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Dissolved decay products (DDP) assessed by spectrophotometer. From the obtained results, the sensitivity and reliability of each method in monitoring step-by-step the decay products formation are analyzed and discussed. It is shown that ratio of DDP to FTIR transmittance measurements at 1710 cm-1 might be possibly be used as index for assessing the degradation of transformer oil.
Omega-3 fatty acids and mood disorders.

OBJECTIVE This article is an overview of epidemiological and treatment studies suggesting that deficits in dietary-based omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may make an etiological contribution to mood disorders and that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids may provide a therapeutic strategy. METHOD Relevant published studies are detailed and considered. RESULTS Several epidemiological studies suggest covariation between seafood consumption and rates of mood disorders. Biological marker studies indicate deficits in omega-3 fatty acids in people with depressive disorders, while several treatment studies indicate therapeutic benefits from omega-3 supplementation. A similar contribution of omega-3 fatty acids to coronary artery disease may explain the well-described links between coronary artery disease and depression. CONCLUSIONS Deficits in omega-3 fatty acids have been identified as a contributing factor to mood disorders and offer a potential rational treatment approach. This review identifies a number of hypotheses and studies for consideration. In particular, the authors argue for studies clarifying the efficacy of omega-3 supplementation for unipolar and bipolar depressive disorders, both as individual and augmentation treatment strategies, and for studies pursuing which omega-3 fatty acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), is likely to provide the greatest benefit.
Financial professionals ’ overconfidence : Is it experience , job , or attitude ?

This paper examines financial professionals’ overconfidence in their forecasting performance. We are the first to compare individual financial professionals’ self-ratings with their true forecasting performance. Data spans several years at monthly frequency. The forecasters in our sample do not provide feasible self-ratings compared to their true performance but show overconfidence on average. In analyzing this, we find an easing relation to experience. Job characteristics are also related to less overconfidence, such as being a fund manager and using fundamental analysis. The same effect is found for the attitude to herd, whereas recent forecasting success comes along with more overconfidence. JEL-Classification: G 1, D 84, F 31
Methane oxidation coupled to nitrate reduction under hypoxia by the Gammaproteobacterium Methylomonas denitrificans, sp. nov. type strain FJG1.

Obligate methanotrophs belonging to the Phyla Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia require oxygen for respiration and methane oxidation; nevertheless, aerobic methanotrophs are abundant and active in low oxygen environments. While genomes of some aerobic methanotrophs encode putative nitrogen oxide reductases, it is not understood whether these metabolic modules are used for NOx detoxification, denitrification or other purposes. Here we demonstrate using microsensor measurements that a gammaproteobacterial methanotroph Methylomonas denitrificans sp. nov. strain FJG1(T) couples methane oxidation to nitrate reduction under oxygen limitation, releasing nitrous oxide as a terminal product. Illumina RNA-Seq data revealed differential expression of genes encoding a denitrification pathway previously unknown to methanotrophs as well as the pxmABC operon in M. denitrificans sp. nov. strain FJG1(T) in response to hypoxia. Physiological and transcriptome data indicate that genetic inventory encoding the denitrification pathway is upregulated only upon availability of nitrate under oxygen limitation. In addition, quantitation of ATP levels demonstrates that the denitrification pathway employs inventory such as nitrate reductase NarGH serving M. denitrificans sp. nov. strain FJG1(T) to conserve energy during oxygen limitation. This study unravelled an unexpected metabolic flexibility of aerobic methanotrophs, thereby assigning these bacteria a new role at the metabolic intersection of the carbon and nitrogen cycles.
Social risk or genetic liability for psychosis? A study of children born in Sweden and reared by adoptive parents.

OBJECTIVE Recent studies suggest a role for social factors during childhood in the later development of schizophrenia. Since social conditions in childhood are closely related to parental psychiatric illness, there is a need to disentangle how genes and social environmental factors interact. METHOD A total of 13,163 children born in Sweden between 1955 and 1984 and reared in Swedish adoptive families were linked to the National Patient Register until 2006 regarding admissions for non-affective psychoses, including schizophrenia. Hazard ratios for nonaffective psychoses were estimated in relation to three indicators of socioeconomic position in childhood (household data of the rearing family obtained via linkage to the National Censuses of 1960-1985) and in relation to indicator of genetic liability (biological parental inpatient care for psychosis). In addition, the total Swedish-born population was investigated. RESULTS Increased risks for nonaffective psychosis were found among adoptees (without biological parental history of psychosis) reared in families with disadvantaged socioeconomic position, which consisted of adoptive parental unemployment (hazard ratio=2.0), single-parent household (hazard ratio=1.2), and living in apartments (hazard ratio=1.3). The risk was also increased among persons with genetic liability for psychosis alone (hazard ratio=4.7). Among those exposed to both genetic liability and a disadvantaged socioeconomic situation in childhood, the risk was considerably higher (hazard ratio=15.0, 10.3, and 5.7 for parental unemployment, single-parent household, and apartment living, respectively). Analyses in the larger population supported these results. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that children reared in families with a disadvantaged socioeconomic position have an increased risk for psychosis. There was also some support for an interaction effect, suggesting that social disadvantage increases this risk more in children with genetic liability for psychosis.
Secure communication of smart metering data in the smart grid secondary substation

Smart Metering is considered as a critical infrastructure that collects low voltage network data for billing, management and automation applications in the smart grid. Secondary substation also plays significant role in the future smart grid and can participate in Smart Metering process. Reliable smart grid operation requires authentic metering data. Thus, Smart Metering data communication in Secondary substation must be protected against cyber-security attacks. This paper discusses Smart Metering architecture and security requirements, and then proposes utilization of the Secondary substation automation device for secure transmission of metering data from customer site to distribution network control center. The Secondary substation automation device provides security for communicating to customer site and control center via DLMS/COSEM security mechanisms and tunneled IEC 60870-5-104 data in PPTP VPN, respectively. Accordingly, customer metering data is securely transmitted to higher level information systems of the utility company via Secondary substation.
Effect of putative phospholipase A2 inhibitors on acetic acidi‐induced acute colitis in the rat

Phospholipase activation may play an important role in ulcerative colitis. This hypothesis was tested by evaluating the effect of two non‐selective phospholipase (PL) A2 inhibitors, quinacrine and p‐bromophenacyl‐bromide (pBPB), on acetic acid‐induced colitis in the rat. The calcium antagonist verapamil, which may also act as a PLA2 inhibitor, was also tested. Acute colitis was induced in an isolated colonic segment by instillation of 4 per cent acetic acid for 15 s; this induces a uniform colitis after 4 days. The severity of colitis was evaluated histologically, by measuring myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and by determining plasma exudation into the lumen of the colon (permeability) with 125I‐labelled albumin given intravenously. All three putative PLA2 inhibitors tested were found to prevent the development of colitis. Intravenous administration of quinacrine 10 mg kg−1 at 30 min before instillation of acetic acid resulted in a normal mucosal appearance, normal MPO activity and a significantly reduced increase in plasma exudation into the colon. A similar effect was achieved using verapamil. Intracolonic administration of either quinacrine or pBPB also prevented acetic acid‐induced colitis. However, three doses, starting immediately after acetic acid administration and repeated on the first and second days, were needed to achieve this, whereas one dose produced only a partial effect. PLA2 may play an important role in acetic acid‐induced colitis and inhibition of its activity, may offer an alternative mode of treatment in ulcerative colitis.
Cervical spondylosis causing vertebrobasilar insufficiency: a surgical treatment

Although the most common aetiology of transient vertebrobasilar insufficiency is atherosclerosis, a similar syndrome may occasionally be produced by cervical osteophytes. The possibility of such a remedial lesion makes further investigation mandatory in such patients—especially if symptoms are associated with sudden movements of the head or neck. When vertebral compression results from osteophytes, it can be easily relieved by a minor modification of the usual anterior cervical fusion technique. This method has proved to be quite efficacious in two patients whose case histories are reported.
An Exploration of Tinto's Integration Framework for Community College Students

Tinto's integration framework is often assumed to be inapplicable to the study of student persistence at community colleges because one of the linchpins of the framework—social integration—is considered unlikely to occur for students at these institutions. Community college students are thought to lack the time to participate in activities, such as clubs, that would facilitate social integration. Using in-depth interviews with students at two urban community colleges in the Northeast, we examine the ways that first-year community college students engage with their institutions. We find that the majority of them do develop attachments to their institutions. Moreover, this sense of attachment is related to their persistence in the second year of college. We also find that this integration is both academic and social. Contrary to findings from other studies that apply Tinto's framework, we find that these two forms of integration develop in concert for community college students. The same activities lead to both academic and social relatedness. This is particularly true for information networks that students develop in the classroom.
Does active engagement in community music support the well-being of older people?

Background: There is considerable evidence that participating in music making can have benefits for children and young people. This research explored how participation in making music might support the social, emotional and cognitive well-being of older people. Methods: Comparisons were made between older people participating in a wide range of musical and other activities in relation to their responses to questionnaires and psychological needs scales (the CASP-12 and the Basic Needs Satisfaction Scale; Deci & Ryan, 2000). Comparisons were also made between those older people participating in the musical activities who were in the third and fourth ages. Results: Factor analysis of responses revealed three factors: purpose (having a positive outlook on life); autonomy and control; and social affirmation (positive social relationships, competence and a sense of recognised accomplishment). Comparisons between those participating in the music groups and those participating in other activities revealed statistically significant differences on all three factors with the music groups giving more positive responses. There was also no deterioration in responses in the music groups between those in the third and fourth ages as might have been expected except in relation to purpose. Conclusions: Actively participating in making music has beneficial effects on the well-being of older people. Further research is needed to identify the mechanisms through which music is able to achieve these effects.