Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effort or Circumstances: Does the Correlation Matter for Inequality of Opportunity in Health?

This paper proposes a method to quantify the contribution of inequalities of opportunities and inequalities due to differences in effort to be in good health to overall health inequality. It examines three alternative specifications of legitimate and illegitimate inequalities drawing on Roemer, Barry and Swift‟s considerations of circumstances and effort. The issue at stake is how to treat the correlation between circumstances and effort. Using a representative French health survey undertaken in 2006 and partly designed for this purpose, and the natural decomposition of the variance, the contribution of circumstances to inequalities in self-assessed health only differs of a few percentage points according to the approach. The same applies for the contribution of effort which represents at most 8%, while circumstances can account for up to 46%. The remaining part is due to the impact of age and sex.
Typicality of a Good Rate-Distortion Code

We consider a good code for a discrete memoryless source with a specified distortion level to be one whose rate is close to the corresponding rate-distortion function and which, with large probability, reproduces the source within the allowed distortion level. We show that any good code must contain an exponentially large set of codewords, of effectively the same rate, which are all typical with respect to the output distribution induced by the rate-distortion achieving channel. Furthermore, the output distribution induced by a good code is asymptotically singular with respect to the i.i. d. output distribution induced by the rate-distortion achieving channel. However, the normalized (Kullback-Leibler) divergence between these output distributions converges to the conditional entropy of the output under the rate-distortion achieving channel.
Neuromuscular interaction is required for neurotrophins-mediated locomotor recovery following treadmill training in rat spinal cord injury

Recent results have shown that exercise training promotes the recovery of injured rat distal spinal cords, but are still unclear about the function of skeletal muscle in this process. Herein, rats with incomplete thoracic (T10) spinal cord injuries (SCI) with a dual spinal lesion model were subjected to four weeks of treadmill training and then were treated with complete spinal transection at T8. We found that treadmill training allowed the retention of hind limb motor function after incomplete SCI, even with a heavy load after complete spinal transection. Moreover, treadmill training alleviated the secondary injury in distal lumbar spinal motor neurons, and enhanced BDNF/TrkB expression in the lumbar spinal cord. To discover the influence of skeletal muscle contractile activity on motor function and gene expression, we adopted botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) to block the neuromuscular activity of the rat gastrocnemius muscle. BTX-A treatment inhibited the effects of treadmill training on motor function and BDNF/TrKB expression. These results indicated that treadmill training through the skeletal muscle-motor nerve-spinal cord retrograde pathway regulated neuralplasticity in the mammalian central nervous system, which induced the expression of related neurotrophins and promoted motor function recovery.
My Second Bike: A TV-Enabled Social and Interactive Riding Experience

In this paper, we propose a novel concept for a social TV application targeting the demographic of viewers enjoying live sports events, such as road bicycle racing. We intend to enhance the viewing experiences of spectators with sensor-fitted bikes tied to an interactive biking environment on television. The system enables a new form of personalized, physical, and virtual-reality interaction between viewers and a TV program, as well as interactions within or between communities of friends. We also describe a prototype we have implemented to demonstrate the feasibility of our idea. The prototype, My Second Bike, uses a 3D mirrored world environment (Google Earth) to visually represent participating spectators, competing athletes and outdoor bikers. We contend that the system has the potential to attract and support a large user base on account of its scalability ease of deployment and ability to promote audience participation in live sports events on TV.
Optical parametric oscillator system for CARS microscopy

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy as a labelling free nonlinear imaging technique has been extensively researched and been employed for many applications, e.g. live cell imaging, cell membrane studies, tissue imaging as well as brain tumour imaging [1]. The most common optical system for CARS microscopy employs two tightly synchronised ultra-short pulsed lasers overlapped temporally and spatially. Not only is this expensive, however, but this approach is also complex and the stability of the system is almost entirely dependent upon the electronic locking mechanism. For CARS microscopy to become routinely applied in a research or a clinical environment, improved photonics technology is clearly required. As a consequence of this need, we demonstrate a flexible CARS imaging system based on a synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based upon a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal. This approach circumvents the need for two costly platform laser sources yet provides a wide wavelength tuning range to facilitate a wide range of CARS imaging experiments.
Fluoroscopically guided laser lithotripsy versus extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for retained bile duct stones: a prospective randomised study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To compare extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and laser induced shock wave lithotripsy (LISL) of retained bile duct stones to stone free rate, number of therapeutic sessions, and costs. PATIENTS: Thirty four patients were randomly assigned to either ESWL or LISL therapy. The main reasons for failure of standard endoscopy were due to stone impaction (n = 12), biliary stricture (n = 8), or large stone diameter (n = 14). METHODS: An extracorporeal piezoelectic lithotripter with ultrasonic guidance and a rhodamine 6G laser with an integrated stone tissue detection system were used. LISL was performed exclusively under radiological control. RESULTS: Using the initial methods complete stone fragmentation was achieved in nine of 17 patients (52.4%) of the ESWL group and in 14 of 17 patients (82.4%) in the LISL group, or combined with additional fragmentation techniques 31 of the 34 patients (91.2%) were stone free at the end of treatment. In comparison LISL tended to be more efficient in clearing the bile ducts (p = 0.07, NS). Significantly less fragmentation sessions (1.29 v 2.82; p = 0.0001) and less additional endoscopic sessions (0.65 v 1.6; p = 0.002) were necessary in the LISL group. There were no major complications in either procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with ESWL, fluoroscopically guided LISL achieves stone disintegration more rapidly and with significantly less treatment sessions, which leads to a significant reduction in cost.
The sonority controversy

In linguistics, the notion of sonority is correlated with the relative loudness of speech sounds. Sonority is often claimed to be a governing force in the organization of sounds into syllables. However, there is widespread disagreement about how sonority should be expressed in our theoretical models of speech production and perception. This is the first book focusing entirely on sonority. The list of contributors includes many well-known specialists in the fields of phonology and phonetics. Alltwelve chapters in the volume present cutting-edge research on the function of sonority in linguistic systems. The controversial nature of the topic is reflected in the diverging opinions about the role of sonority in analyzing the world's languages.
Hardware and control design considerations for a monitoring system of autonomous mobile robots in extreme environment

We are designing an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) for use in a large-scale and long-term environmental monitoring system. Existing high-performance UGVs cannot cope with unexpected events because their design concept, like that of almost all previous mobile robots, is based on the development of a single high-performance robot capable of performing every task. To overcome this limitation, we propose using multiple inexpensive robots and operating them such that each compensates for the shortcomings of the others. The objective of this study is to design a robot that could be used to realize a multiple autonomous mobile robot system for long-term outdoor operation. These robots use only two motors for movement and rely on internal sensors for the control of the robot, thus minimizing the cost. The developed robot is capable of handling unexpected events such that could traverse extreme environments such as forests. The design concept will contribute to the configuration of a multiple robot system and also to increasing the robustness of the overall system. In addition to proposing a robotic system for long-term operation, this study also proposes a novel idea whereby parts of a robot may be sacrificed to attain the overall objective. In this paper, we describe the details of the wheel and the control design of the robot, and also present the results of some experiments using the developed robot.
X-RAY SPECTRAL PROPERTIES OF THE BAT AGN SAMPLE

The 9-month Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) catalog provides the first unbiased (NH < 1024 cm−2) look at local (〈z〉 = 0.03) active galactic nuclei (AGNs). In this paper, we present the collected X-ray properties (0.3–12 keV) for the 153 AGNs detected. In addition, we examine the X-ray properties for a complete sample of nonbeamed sources, above the Galactic plane (b ⩾ 15°). Of these, 45% are best fit by simple power law models, while 55% require the more complex partial covering model. One of our goals was to determine the fraction of “hidden” AGNs, which we define as sources with scattering fractions less than or equal to 0.03 and ratios of soft to hard X-ray flux less than or equal to 0.04. We found that “hidden” AGNs constitute a high percentage of the sample (24%), proving that they are a very significant portion of local AGNs. Further, we find that the fraction of absorbed sources does increase at lower unabsorbed 2–10 keV luminosities, as well as accretion rates. This suggests that the unified model requires modification to include luminosity dependence, as suggested by models such as the “receding torus” model. Some of the most interesting results for the BAT AGN sample involve the host galaxy properties. We found that 33% are hosted in peculiar/irregular galaxies and only 5/74 are hosted in ellipticals. Further, 54% are hosted in interacting/merger galaxies. Finally, we present both the average X-ray spectrum (0.1–10 keV) and log N–log S in the 2–10 keV band. With our average spectrum, we have the remarkable result of reproducing the measured CXB X-ray power law slope of Γ ≈ 1.4. From the log N–log S relationship, we show that we are complete to log S ⩾ −11 in the 2–10 keV band. Below this value, we are missing as many as 3000 sources at log S = −12. Both the collected X-ray properties of our uniform sample and the log N–log S relationship will now provide valuable input to X-ray background models for z ≈ 0.
Affordance Extraction via Word Embeddings

Autonomous agents must often detect affordances: the set of behaviors enabled by a situation. Affordance detection is particularly helpful in domains with large action spaces, allowing the agent to prune its search space by avoiding futile behaviors. This paper presents a method for affordance extraction via word embeddings trained on a tagged Wikipedia corpus. The resulting word vectors are treated as a common knowledge database which can be queried using linear algebra. We apply this method to a reinforcement learning agent in a text-only environment and show that affordance-based action selection improves performance in most cases. Our method increases the computational complexity of each learning step but significantly reduces the total number of steps needed. In addition, the agent’s action selections begin to resemble those a human would choose.
Time-limited modulation of appetitive Pavlovian memory by D1 and NMDA receptors in the nucleus accumbens

Recent research has implicated the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in consolidating recently acquired goal-directed appetitive memories, including spatial learning and other instrumental processes. However, an important but unresolved issue is whether this forebrain structure also contributes to the consolidation of fundamental forms of appetitive learning acquired by Pavlovian associative processes. In addition, although dopaminergic and glutamatergic influences in the NAc have been implicated in instrumental learning, it is unclear whether similar mechanisms operate during Pavlovian conditioning. To evaluate these issues, the effects of posttraining intra-NAc infusions of D1, D2, and NMDA receptor antagonists, as well as d-amphetamine, were determined on Pavlovian autoshaping in rats, which assesses learning by discriminated approach behavior to a visual conditioned stimulus predictive of food reward. Intracerebral infusions were given either immediately after each conditioning session to disrupt early memory consolidation or after a delay of 24 h. Findings indicate that immediate, but not delayed, infusions of both D1 (SCH 23390) and NMDA (AP-5) receptor antagonists significantly impair learning on this task. By contrast, amphetamine and the D2 receptor antagonist sulpiride were without significant effect. These findings provide the most direct demonstration to date that D1 and NMDA receptors in the NAc contribute to, and are necessary for, the early consolidation of appetitive Pavlovian learning.
Similarity estimation among OWL descriptions of computational cardiology problems in a knowledge base

The purpose of this study is to evaluate ontologies in order to achieve an efficient search of medical computational problems in cardiology (MCP). These ontologies provide the ability to standardize the description process of cardiology problems and algorithms by utilizing Ontology Web Language -Description Logic (OWL-DL). The final aim is to build a knowledge base (KB) from the OWL descriptions of the MCPs. The identification of a new cardiology problem or related to this problem included in KB is proposed to be conducted by cosine-based similarity. A novel algorithm that constructs the MCPs vectors from the ontology individuals is presented. These vectors are defined by a matrix based on problems, Concept Unique Identifier (CUI) Keywords and CUI Categories. The CUIs are automatically received by the Unified Medical Language System Knowledge Server (UMLS-KS) and stored into ontologies. Finally, an example where twelve cardiology problems vectors are constructed from the corresponding individuals of the ontology classes is presented and analyzed
A discrete source model for simulating bowl-shaped focused ultrasound transducers on regular grids: Design and experimental validation

Accurately representing the behaviour of acoustic sources is an important part of ultrasound simulation. This is particularly challenging in ultrasound therapy where multi-element arrays are often used. Typically, sources are defined as a boundary condition over a 2D plane within the computational model. However, this approach is difficult to apply to arrays with multiple elements distributed over a non-planar surface. In this work, a grid-based discrete source model for single and multi-element bowl-shaped transducers is developed. The source model is defined as a symmetric, simply-connected surface with a single grid point thickness. Simulations using the source model with the open-source k-Wave toolbox are validated using the Rayleigh model and experimental measurements of a focused bowl transducer. The results show good agreement, even at very low grid resolutions. As the model only requires the geometry and drive signal, it allows modelling of multi-element transducers where measuring an input plane is not possible. This may be particularly useful for modelling hemispherical ultrasound arrays often used in transcranial applications.
Do Girls Really Outperform Boys in Educational Outcomes

The reversing gender gap observed in many countries led to a heated debate to explain the persistent gap in academia and other top fields despite the reversal. This paper aims at analyzing the gender gap in education outcomes from different evaluation and exam techniques and gender gap in outcomes of college applications using Turkish administrative data. In Turkey, university applications are centralized based on a standardized test. Assignments of applicants depend on an assignment score which is calculated as a weighted sum of standardized test score and high school GPA with a little contribution from the latter. I find considerable gender gap in favor of females in high school GPAs which is a long term evaluation of students based on every written exam during high school while the female outperformance is not as obvious in standardized test scores which comes from a stressful 3 hours multiple choice test. I also analyze the gender gap in college application outcomes and show that females are less likely to be assigned to a top major conditional on test scores. These findings contribute to the discussion of gender gap in performance in education suggesting that evaluation systems might have gender biased impacts on students and underrepresentation of females in top fields and/or universities can not be explained only by mean differences in test scores and test score distributions.
Explanting Is an Ex Vivo Model of Renal Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Recognised by their de novo expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA), recruitment of myofibroblasts is key to the pathogenesis of fibrosis in chronic kidney disease. Increasingly, we realise that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) may be an important source of these cells. In this study we describe a novel model of renal EMT. Rat kidney explants were finely diced on gelatin-coated Petri dishes and cultured in serum-supplemented media. Morphology and immunocytochemistry were used to identify mesenchymal (vimentin+, α-smooth muscle actin (SMA)+, desmin+), epithelial (cytokeratin+), and endothelial (RECA+) cells at various time points. Cell outgrowths were all epithelial in origin (cytokeratin+) at day 3. By day 10, 50 ± 12% (mean ± SE) of cytokeratin+ cells double-labelled for SMA, indicating EMT. Lectin staining established a proximal tubule origin. By day 17, cultures consisted only of myofibroblasts (SMA+/cytokeratin−). Explanting is a reproducible ex vivo model of EMT. The ability to modify this change in phenotype provides a useful tool to study the regulation and mechanisms of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis.
Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Effect of Plumbagin through Inhibition of Nuclear Factor-κB Activation

Plumbagin (5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) (PL) is a naturally occurring yellow pigment found in the plants of the Plumbaginaceae, Droseraceae, Ancistrocladaceae, and Dioncophyllaceae families. It has been reported that PL exhibits anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities. However, the mechanism underlying its anti-inflammatory action remains unknown. In the current study, we investigated and characterized the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of PL orally administrated in a range of dosages from 5 to 20 mg/kg. We also examined the role of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and proinflammatory cytokines and mediators in this effect. The results showed that PL significantly and dose-dependently suppressed the paw edema of rats induced by carrageenan and various proinflammatory mediators, including histamine, serotonin, bradykinin, and prostaglandin E2. PL reduced the number of writhing episodes of mice induced by the intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid, but it did not reduce the writhing episode numbers induced by MgSO4 in mice or prolong the tail-flick reaction time of rats to noxious thermal pain. Mechanistic studies showed that PL effectively decreased the production of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 1β, interleukin 6, and tumor necrosis factor α. It also inhibited the expression of the proinflammatory mediators inducible nitric-oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase 2, whereas it did not inhibit the expression of cyclooxygenase 1. Further studies demonstrated that PL suppressed inhibitor of κBα phosphorylation and degradation, thus inhibiting the phosphorylation of the p65 subunit of NF-κB. This study suggests that PL has a potential to be developed into an anti-inflammatory agent for treating inflammatory diseases.
Life-style and genital human papillomavirus in a cross-sectional survey in Shanxi Province, China.

BACKGROUND To determine the age-stratified HPV prevalence rate and the risk factors of life-style associated with HPV infection among women in rural China. METHODS An age-stratified, cross-sectional survey of 941 women between 16-59 years old was conducted in rural China. Carcinogenic HPV infection was determined using Digene's Hybrid Capture II HPV DNA test and interviews of life-style were conducted. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) from the logistic regression models were used to determine the risk factors associated with HPV. RESULTS Among 941 women, 745 who had sexual intercourse underwent a cervical examination. The prevalence rate of 13 carcinogenic HPV infections among women 20-59 years old was 15.97%. the rate of HPV prevalence in the 25-34 age group was statistically lower than that in 20-24 and 35-59 age groups (X²=13.3, P=0.0013). The OR of bathing every 7-19 days, 20-180 days, less than once every 180 days vs. bathing at least once a week were 1.19, 1.83 and 2.29 respectively and they had a dose-response relationship (Trend Test: P=0.003). The OR of women aged 25-34 age group vs. 20-24 age group was 0.40 (0.16 - 0.97) and the OR of bathing once every 180 days or less vs. at least once weekly was 2.22 (1.14 - 4.33) adjusted for the other confounding factors,. CONCLUSIONS The HPV prevalence rate was lowest among child bearing women aged 25-34 year. Also, personal hygiene is significantly associated with the HPV infection in this area, regardless of age.
Federated search in the wild: the combined power of over a hundred search engines

Federated search has the potential of improving web search: the user becomes less dependent on a single search provider and parts of the deep web become available through a unified interface, leading to a wider variety in the retrieved search results. However, a publicly available dataset for federated search reflecting an actual web environment has been absent. As a result, it has been difficult to assess whether proposed systems are suitable for the web setting. We introduce a new test collection containing the results from more than a hundred actual search engines, ranging from large general web search engines such as Google and Bing to small domain-specific engines. We discuss the design and analyze the effect of several sampling methods. For a set of test queries, we collected relevance judgements for the top 10 results of each search engine. The dataset is publicly available and is useful for researchers interested in resource selection for web search collections, result merging and size estimation of uncooperative resources.