Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epigenetics of Early Child Development

Comprehensive clinical studies show that adverse conditions in early life can severely impact the developing brain and increase vulnerability to mood disorders later in life. During early postnatal life the brain exhibits high plasticity which allows environmental signals to alter the trajectories of rapidly developing circuits. Adversity in early life is able to shape the experience-dependent maturation of stress-regulating pathways underlying emotional functions and endocrine responses to stress, such as the hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) system, leading to long-lasting altered stress responsivity during adulthood. To date, the study of gene–environment interactions in the human population has been dominated by epidemiology. However, recent research in the neuroscience field is now advancing clinical studies by addressing specifically the mechanisms by which gene–environment interactions can predispose individuals toward psychopathology. To this end, appropriate animal models are being developed in which early environmental factors can be manipulated in a controlled manner. Here we will review recent studies performed with the common aim of understanding the effects of the early environment in shaping brain development and discuss the newly developing role of epigenetic mechanisms in translating early life conditions into long-lasting changes in gene expression underpinning brain functions. Particularly, we argue that epigenetic mechanisms can mediate the gene–environment dialog in early life and give rise to persistent epigenetic programming of adult physiology and dysfunction eventually resulting in disease. Understanding how early life experiences can give rise to lasting epigenetic marks conferring increased risk for mental disorders, how they are maintained and how they could be reversed, is increasingly becoming a focus of modern psychiatry and should pave new guidelines for timely therapeutic interventions.
Reuse for Code-Level Generalization

This paper describes how code reuse combined with good programming practices can also be used as a means to attain code-level generalization of certain programs. It presents some basic principles to be used when refactoring code for reuse and presents a case study in which the functionality of two AI planners are easily combined via application of these principles.
Barriers to Technology Adoption and Entry

A key feature of recent work on barriers to technology adoption is the assumption that monopoly rights of insiders are limited by the ability of industry outsiders to enter. This paper endogenizes the decision of a government to provide barriers to technology adoption alone or in combination with barriers to entry of outsiders. Using a political economy model, we find that a government provides barriers to both technology adoption and outsider entry. If governments are not too "corrupt", restricting their ability to provide barriers to entry may eliminate barriers to adoption. However, for sufficiently "corrupt" governments, prohibiting barriers to entry leads to more extreme barriers to technology adoption.
The Metallicity of the Old Open Cluster NGC 6791

We have observed four red clump stars in the very old, metal-rich open cluster NGC 6791 to derive its metallicity using the high-resolution spectrograph SARG mounted on the Galileo National Telescope (TNG). Using a spectrum synthesis technique, we obtain an average value of [Fe/H] = +0.47 (±0.04, rms = 0.08) dex. Our method was tested on μ Leo, a well-studied, metal-rich field giant. We also derive average oxygen and carbon abundances for NGC 6791 from synthesis of [O I] at 6300 Å and C2 at 5086 Å, finding [O/Fe] ≃ -0.3 and [C/Fe] ≃ -0.2.
Anti‐human immunodeficiency virus‐gag CD8+ memory T cells generated in vitro from Listeria‐immunized mice

The goal of vaccination is the generation of immune memory, an immune state that permits rapid and intense recall responses to a pathogen. Considerable effort is being made to understand the nature of memory T cells. We report here that by extending the length of in vitro culture following a single restimulation with specific peptide, preparations of highly enriched, highly active antigen‐specific CD8+ memory T cells could be obtained. These cultures were begun with splenocytes from mice primed by infection either with an attenuated strain of Listeria monocytogenes or vaccinia virus, both expressing the human immunodeficiency virus‐1‐gag gene. In the cultures, antigen‐specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity reached a maximum at about 9 days and thereafter fell to negligible values. Concomitant with the fall of CTL activity, however, we observed enrichment for a subset of CD11ahigh antigen‐specific gag‐tetramerpos CD8+ T cells. The cells showed little or no 4‐hr CTL activity, but had high delayed (18‐hr) CTL activity, and very high cytolytic activity after restimulation. They rapidly expressed interferon‐γ production. Their growth and survival after sorting was completely dependent on interleukin‐2 or ‐15. As few as 5000 of the fluorescence‐activated cell sorting‐purified cells protected recipients against challenge 3 months after transfer. In response to the challenge, the cells repopulated lymphoid and non‐lymphoid organs and showed a sizeable increase in number. The cells therefore demonstrate high protective activity for long periods of time. These cultured cells are thus a potential source of enriched natural memory T cells for reperfusion studies and in which the mechanisms that underlie the generation, differentiation and persistence of memory can be examined.
Reduced muscle strength, exercise intolerance and disabling symptoms in sarcoidosis

Purpose of review This review focuses on innovations in the field of assessment and treatment of muscle weakness and exercise intolerance in sarcoidosis and the association between these and fatigue, dyspnea and quality of life (QoL). Recent findings Muscle strength and exercise intolerance are prevalent in patients with sarcoidosis. Exercise testing can be used to identify the presence of strength deficits and exercise intolerance. Routinely performed clinical tests, including lung function tests and imaging methods, are only weakly related to these nonspecific health complaints. Assessment of exercise capacity might also be useful for the early detection of parenchymal involvement and diagnosis of sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary hypertension. Both muscle weakness and exercise intolerance have been suggested as underlying causes of fatigue and dyspnea complaints, resulting in reduced QoL. Research is required to find out whether a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program is of clinical benefit in the management of sarcoidosis patients. Summary This review underlines the added value of physical testing in the management of sarcoidosis patients, especially in those with unexplained physical complaints.
Adaptive fuzzy terminal sliding mode controller for linear systems with mismatched time-varying uncertainties

A new design approach of an adaptive fuzzy terminal sliding mode controller for linear systems with mismatched time-varying uncertainties is presented in this paper. A fuzzy terminal sliding mode controller is designed to retain the advantages of the terminal sliding mode controller and to reduce the chattering occurred with the terminal sliding mode controller. The sufficient condition is provided for the uncertain system to be invariant on the sliding surface. The parameters of the output fuzzy sets in the fuzzy mechanism are adapted on-line to improve the performance of the fuzzy sliding mode control system. The bounds of the uncertainties are not required to be known in advance for the presented adaptive fuzzy sliding mode controller. The stability of the fuzzy control system is also guaranteed. Moreover, the chattering around the sliding surface in the sliding mode control can be reduced by the proposed design approach. Simulation results are included to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive fuzzy terminal sliding mode controller.
Cognitive personal positioning based on activity map and adaptive particle filter

This paper presents a cognitive approach for a reliable yet battery-friendly personal positioning. A user's position is learned from both historical log and possible measurements. Firstly, user's past activities recorded in the log are summarized into an activity map. Accordingly, a user-habit guided particle filtering algorithm is presented for position prediction. Specifically, our algorithm makes reference to the map to determine the most probable correct position, smoothed with occasional measurement. User's current position is modeled probabilistically by a collection of particles and her future moves are modeled with a tendency to follow a familiar path on the map; The estimate is then smoothed by Bayesian filtering. We also allow the number of particles to vary according to user's position in the map. Thus, along with better insights about user's movement experience, our approach can learn from the past and potentially improve the quality of estimates. Our experiments show that this adaptive filtering model using the activity map can deal with non-linear behaviors rather effectively. The new cognitive scheme can indeed track the user's position with a high degree of accuracy. Moreover, the algorithms exhibit low computational complexities, making them well suited for applications on wearable computers.
Learning enhances female control over reproductive investment in the Japanese quail

The adaptive significance of learning is supported by studies showing its positive effects on mating behaviour, but they rarely go beyond fertilization success. Here we studied how learning contributes to qualitative reproductive investment, by testing the hypothesis that mating in the context that predicts male appearance has positive effects on female reproductive investment compared with unsignalled mating. Using Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), we found that effects of mating in the context predicting mating opportunity depend on female body condition and receptivity, while the outcome of unexpected mating depends on male behaviour. In particular, among females mated with the familiar male in the context predicting that he will appear, female condition positively affected the number of fertilized eggs and egg mass and more receptive females tended to produce more sons. Additionally, conditioned females laid heavier eggs for daughters than for sons. In contrast, in females that were mated unexpectedly and with a novel male, the number of fertilized eggs was highly dependent on male behaviour and was negatively related to maternal body condition. Egg mass was not related to body condition, and there were no indications of sex allocation. This is, to our knowledge, the first study demonstrating how female body condition and behaviour interact with the context of mating in shaping maternal reproductive investment.
Metacarpal and Phalangeal Lengthening by Callus Distraction

Twelve metacarpals and two phalanges in 14 patients (nine males and five females) were lengthened between August 1992 and March 1999 by the callus distraction technique using a small external fixator (Orthofix®). The indications were traumatic amputation (10 cases), aplasia (three cases) and hypoplasia owing to premature epiphyseal closure of the metacarpal (one case). All patients were reviewed with a median follow-up time of 39 (range, 9–88) months. The median age of the patients was 15 (range, 4–39) years. The median lengthening was 21 (range, 13–34) mm which was a median of 82% (range, 38–162) of the original bone length. The median times for callus distraction and consolidation were 4.5 and 7.5 weeks respectively. All except one patient tolerated the procedure well and were satisfied with the results. Functional improvement was seen in 13 out of 14 patients, but non-union was observed in one patient.
Survey of characterization techniques for nonlinear communication components and systems

This paper focuses on the measurement and modeling techniques needed for the construction and validation of system-level simulation tools, as well as the diagnosis and specification validation of hardware components and subsystems. A comparison of frequency- and time-domain measurement approaches will first be made, especially as they apply to nonlinear contexts. Based on a key vector network analyzer (VNA)-based technique developed for characterizing frequency-translating devices, a new baseband time-domain measurement system will be described that provides the state-of-the-art accuracy needed for the characterization, verification, and troubleshooting of emerging wideband communication systems. The paper's second part addresses modeling topics such as fidelity requirements determination, n-box models for power amplifiers, and the polyspectral method, a powerful technique for system-level modeling based on time-domain measurements that can consist of operational digitally modulated signals. Concrete applications of the method to power amplifier modeling will be made, demonstrating the highest predictive fidelity levels of any approach known to the authors
Maximization of the Supportable Number of Sensors in QoS-Aware Cluster-Based Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks

This paper proposes a practical low-complexity MAC (medium access control) scheme for quality of service (QoS)-aware and cluster-based underwater acoustic sensor networks (UASN), in which the provision of differentiated QoS is required. In such a network, underwater sensors (U-sensor) in a cluster are divided into several classes, each of which has a different QoS requirement. The major problem considered in this paper is the maximization of the number of nodes that a cluster can accommodate while still providing the required QoS for each class in terms of the PDR (packet delivery ratio). In order to address the problem, we first estimate the packet delivery probability (PDP) and use it to formulate an optimization problem to determine the optimal value of the maximum packet retransmissions for each QoS class. The custom greedy and interior-point algorithms are used to find the optimal solutions, which are verified by extensive simulations. The simulation results show that, by solving the proposed optimization problem, the supportable number of underwater sensor nodes can be maximized while satisfying the QoS requirements for each class.
Adhesive and degradative properties of human placental cytotrophoblast cells in vitro

Human fetal development depends on the embryo rapidly gaining access to the maternal circulation. The trophoblast cells that form the fetal portion of the human placenta have solved this problem by transiently exhibiting certain tumor-like properties. Thus, during early pregnancy fetal cytotrophoblast cells invade the uterus and its arterial network. This process peaks during the twelfth week of pregnancy and declines rapidly thereafter, suggesting that the highly specialized, invasive behavior of the cytotrophoblast cells is closely regulated. Since little is known about the actual mechanisms involved, we developed an isolation procedure for cytotrophoblasts from placentas of different gestational ages to study their adhesive and invasive properties in vitro. Cytotrophoblasts isolated from first, second, and third trimester human placentas were plated on the basement membrane-like extracellular matrix produced by the PF HR9 teratocarcinoma cell line. Cells from all trimesters expressed the calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecule cell-CAM 120/80 (E-cadherin) which, in the placenta, is specific for cytotrophoblasts. However, only the first trimester cytotrophoblast cells degraded the matrices on which they were cultured, leaving large gaps in the basement membrane substrates and releasing low molecular mass 3H-labeled matrix components into the medium. No similar degradative activity was observed when second or third trimester cytotrophoblast cells, first trimester human placental fibroblasts, or the human choriocarcinoma cell lines BeWo and JAR were cultured on radiolabeled matrices. To begin to understand the biochemical basis of this degradative behavior, the substrate gel technique was used to analyze the cell-associated and secreted proteinase activities expressed by early, mid, and late gestation cytotrophoblasts. Several gelatin-degrading proteinases were uniquely expressed by early gestation, invasive cytotrophoblasts, and all these activities could be abolished by inhibitors of metalloproteinases. By early second trimester, the time when cytotrophoblast invasion rapidly diminishes in vivo, the proteinase pattern of the cytotrophoblasts was identical to that of term, noninvasive cells. These results are the first evidence suggesting that specialized, temporally regulated metalloproteinases are involved in trophoblast invasion of the uterus. Since the cytotrophoblasts from first trimester and later gestation placentas maintain for several days the temporally regulated degradative behavior displayed in vivo, the short-term cytotrophoblast outgrowth culture system described here should be useful in studying some of the early events in human placen
The Motivating Role of Perceived Right Violation and Efficacy Beliefs in Identification with the Italian Water Movement

Because individuals' fundamental right to water is often taken for granted, little is known about why individuals participate in water activism. We examine how individuals identify with and intend to participate in the Italian Water Movement to defend the “public management” of water supply. Building on the collective-action literature, we test an explanatory model in which the perceived violation of the right to water and group and participative-efficacy beliefs increase movement identification, which predicts subsequent activism. Study 1 (N = 153 activists) largely confirmed our hypotheses: right violation and participative efficacy uniquely influenced movement identification, which in turn predicted activism. Study 2 corroborated these findings by employing a broader sample of 132 Italian citizens, with right violation, participative and group-efficacy beliefs predicting movement identification, which in turn predicted activism. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.
Enterprise and community : new directions in corporate governance

Contents include: Introduction: Simon Deakin and Alan Hughes (ESRC Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge)Ethics and Shareholder Rights: John Hendry (Judge Institute of Management Studies, University of Cambridge)Corporate Governance and Processes of Accountability: John Roberts (Judge Institute of Management Studies, University of Cambridge)Patterns of Governance and Executive Pay and Dismissals: Andy Cosh, Alan Hughes, Alain Alcouffe and Joachim Schwalbach (ESRC Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge, Department of Economics, University of Social Sciences, Toulouse, Institute of Management, Humboldt University)Hostile Takeovers, Company Law and the Theory of the Firm: Simon Deakin and Giles Slinger (ESRC Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge)Corporate Governance and Relational Contracting: David Campbell (School of Financial Studies and Law, Sheffield Hallam University)Workers as Potential Stakeholders: Sally Wheeler (Faculty of Law, University of Leeds)Pension Rights and Corporate Restructuring: Theresa Ghilarducci (Department of Economics, University of Notre Dame, USA)The Impact of Corporate Strategies on Communities: Charles Craypo (Department of Economics, University of Notre Dame, USA)
Hormones and the Aging Process

tion of samples and normal values. Part two is devoted to methods of analysis of biological fluids. The description of each method includes an introduction, recommended procedure or procedures, discussion, brief note on the physiological significance, and bibliography. The subject matter is treated in a simple and direct way, which is by no means complete, but the material is well selected to be representative and significant. Directors of hospital laboratories, clinical pathologists, teachers of courses in medical technology, and others who have responsibility for technical training in either the research or service laboratory will find it a useful aid.
Cytoplasmic calcium oscillations and store‐operated calcium influx

Intracellular calcium oscillations have fascinated scientists for decades. They provide an important cellular signal which, unlike most signalling mechanisms, is digitally encoded. While it is generally agreed that oscillations most frequently arise from cyclical release and re‐uptake of intracellularly stored calcium, it is becoming increasingly clear that influx of calcium across the plasma membrane also plays a critical role in their maintenance and even in delivering their signal to the correct cellular locus. In this review we will discuss the role played by Ca2+ entry mechanisms in Ca2+ oscillations, and approaches to understanding the molecular nature of this Ca2+ entry pathway.
Contextual effects for version-consistent dynamic software updating and safe concurrent programming

This paper presents a generalization of standard effect systems that we call contextual effects. A traditional effect system computes the effect of an expression e. Our system additionally computes the effects of the computational context in which e occurs. More specifically, we computethe effect of the computation that has already occurred(the prior effect) and the effect of the computation yet to take place (the future effect). Contextual effects are useful when the past or future computation of the program is relevant at various program points. We present two substantial examples. First, we show how prior and future effects can be used to enforce transactional version consistency(TVC), a novel correctness property for dynamic software updates. TV Censures that programmer-designated transactional code blocks appear to execute entirely at the same code version, even if a dynamic update occurs in the middle of the block. Second, we show how future effects can be used in the analysis of multi-threaded programs to find thread-shared locations. This is an essential step in applications such as data race detection.
Computational Developmental Psychology

Despite decades of scientific research, the core issues of child development remain too complex to be explained by traditional verbal theories. These issues include structure and transition, representation and processing, innate and experiential determinants of development, stages of development, the purpose and end of development, and the relation between knowledge and learning. In this book Thomas Shultz shows how computational modeling can be used to capture these complex phenomena, and in so doing he lays the foundation for a new subfield of developmental psychology, computational developmental psychology. A principal approach in developmental thinking is the constructivist one. Constructivism is the Piagetian view that the child builds new cognitive structures by using current mental structures to understand new events. In this book Shultz features constructivist models employing networks that grow as well as learn. This allows models to implement synaptogenesis and neurogenesis in a way that allows qualitative changes in processing mechanisms. The book's appendices provide additional background on the mathematical concepts used, and a companion Web site contains easy-to-use computational packages.