Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Retirement and death in office of U.S. Supreme Court justices

We construct demographic models of retirement and death in office of U.S. Supreme Court justices, a group that has gained demographic notice, evaded demographic analysis, and is said to diverge from expected retirement patterns. Models build on prior multistate labor force status studies, and data permit an unusually clear distinction between voluntary and “induced” retirement. Using data on every justice from 1789 through 2006, with robust, cluster-corrected, discrete-time, censored, event-history methods, we (1) estimate retirement effects of pension eligibility, age, health, and tenure on the timing of justices’ retirements and deaths in office, (2) resolve decades of debate over the politicized departure hypothesis that justices tend to alter the timing of their retirements for the political benefit or detriment of the incumbent president, (3) reconsider the nature of rationality in retirement decisions, and (4) consider the relevance of organizational conditions as well as personal circumstances to retirement decisions. Methodological issues are addressed.
Accuracy and reliability of forensic latent fingerprint decisions

The interpretation of forensic fingerprint evidence relies on the expertise of latent print examiners. The National Research Council of the National Academies and the legal and forensic sciences communities have called for research to measure the accuracy and reliability of latent print examiners’ decisions, a challenging and complex problem in need of systematic analysis. Our research is focused on the development of empirical approaches to studying this problem. Here, we report on the first large-scale study of the accuracy and reliability of latent print examiners’ decisions, in which 169 latent print examiners each compared approximately 100 pairs of latent and exemplar fingerprints from a pool of 744 pairs. The fingerprints were selected to include a range of attributes and quality encountered in forensic casework, and to be comparable to searches of an automated fingerprint identification system containing more than 58 million subjects. This study evaluated examiners on key decision points in the fingerprint examination process; procedures used operationally include additional safeguards designed to minimize errors. Five examiners made false positive errors for an overall false positive rate of 0.1%. Eighty-five percent of examiners made at least one false negative error for an overall false negative rate of 7.5%. Independent examination of the same comparisons by different participants (analogous to blind verification) was found to detect all false positive errors and the majority of false negative errors in this study. Examiners frequently differed on whether fingerprints were suitable for reaching a conclusion.
Drug resistance confounding prion therapeutics

Significance As people live longer, the prevalence and economic impact of neurodegenerative diseases rise. No cures or effective treatments exist for any of these fatal disorders, so identifying potential therapeutics that extend survival in animal models is vital. Many neurodegenerative illnesses have been shown to be caused by the accumulation of self-propagating misfolded proteins—the hallmark of prion diseases. We report the efficacy of 2-aminothiazoles, which were identified in cell-based screens as antiprion compounds, in extending the lives of prion-infected animals. Efficacy was limited by the development of drug-resistant prions, which is likely to have important implications for creating therapeutics in many different neurodegenerative diseases. There is not a single pharmaceutical that halts or even slows any neurodegenerative disease. Mounting evidence shows that prions cause many neurodegenerative diseases, and arguably, scrapie and Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease prions represent the best therapeutic targets. We report here that the previously identified 2-aminothiazoles IND24 and IND81 doubled the survival times of scrapie-infected, wild-type mice. However, mice infected with Rocky Mountain Laboratory (RML) prions, a scrapie-derived strain, and treated with IND24 eventually exhibited neurological dysfunction and died. We serially passaged their brain homogenates in mice and cultured cells. We found that the prion strain isolated from IND24-treated mice, designated RML[IND24], emerged during a single passage in treated mice. Although RML prions infect both the N2a and CAD5 cell lines, RML[IND24] prions could only infect CAD5 cells. When passaged in CAD5 cells, the prions remained resistant to high concentrations of IND24. However, one passage of RML[IND24] prions in untreated mice restored susceptibility to IND24 in CAD5 cells. Although IND24 treatment extended the lives of mice propagating different prion strains, including RML, another scrapie-derived prion strain ME7, and chronic wasting disease, it was ineffective in slowing propagation of Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease prions in transgenic mice. Our studies demonstrate that prion strains can acquire resistance upon exposure to IND24 that is lost upon passage in mice in the absence of IND24. These data suggest that monotherapy can select for resistance, thus intermittent therapy with mixtures of antiprion compounds may be required to slow or stop neurodegeneration.
Herpes Simplex Virus Glycoproteins: Participation of Individual Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Glycoprotein Antigens in Immunocytolysis and Their Correlation with Previously Identified Glycopolypeptides

Tissue culture cells infected with herpes simplex type 1 virus express virus-specified glycoprotein antigens on the plasma membrane. Three of these have been previously identified and have been designated as Ag-11, Ag-8, and Ag-6. In the present study, immunoglobulins to each of the antigens were shown to be capable of mediating immunocytolysis in the presence of either complement (antibody-dependent complement-mediated cytotoxicity) or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity [ADCC]). Two herpes simplex virus type 1 strains, VR-3 and F, reacted similarly in the ADCC test in the presence of immunoglobulins to Ag-11, Ag-8, and Ag-6 in both infected Chang liver cells and HEp-2 cells. Anti-Ag-6, however, produced a lower ADCC reaction in HEp-2 cells than in Chang liver cells, suggesting differences in the Ag-6 surface expression in, or release from, these cells. Chang liver and HEp-2 cells infected with the MP mutant strain of herpes simplex virus type 1 showed reduced ADCC in the presence of anti-Ag-11 and anti-Ag-8, but no reactivity at all with anti-Ag-6. Crossed immunoelectrophoretic analysis showed that MP-infected cell extracts contain Ag-11 and Ag-8, but lack Ag-6. Polypeptide analysis of herpes simplex virus type 1 strains F, VR-3, and MP showed that Ag-11 consists of the glycoproteins gA and gB, that Ag-8 consists of gD, and that Ag-6 consists of gC. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that either one of the glycoproteins (gC, gD, and a mixture of gA and gB) can function as a target for immunocytolysis and that the antibody preparation to gC (Ag-6) does not cross-react with any of the other glycoproteins.
Performance of Hybrid WSML Service Matching with WSMO-MX: Preliminary Results

The WSMO-MX matchmaker applies different matching filters to retrieve WSMO-oriented service descriptions that are semantically relevant to a given query with respect to seven degrees of hybrid matching. These degrees are recursively computed by aggregated valuations of ontology based type matching, logical constraint and relation matching, and syntactic similarity as well. In this paper, we provide preliminary results of our experimental evaluation of the performance of WSMO-MX. In summary, it turned out that hybrid matching of WSMLMX services performs reasonably well.
Transcriptomic Responses to Salinity Stress in the Pacific Oyster Crassostrea gigas

Background Low salinity is one of the main factors limiting the distribution and survival of marine species. As a euryhaline species, the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas is considered to be tolerant to relative low salinity. The genes that regulate C. gigas responses to osmotic stress were monitored using the next-generation sequencing of whole transcriptome with samples taken from gills. By RNAseq technology, transcript catalogs of up- and down-regulated genes were generated from the oysters exposed to low and optimal salinity seawater. Methodology/Principal Findings Through Illumina sequencing, we reported 1665 up-regulated transcripts and 1815 down-regulated transcripts. A total of 45771 protein-coding contigs were identified from two groups based on sequence similarities with known proteins. As determined by GO annotation and KEGG pathway mapping, functional annotation of the genes recovered diverse biological functions and processes. The genes that changed expression significantly were highly represented in cellular process and regulation of biological process, intracellular and cell, binding and protein binding according to GO annotation. The results highlighted genes related to osmoregulation, signaling and interactions of osmotic stress response, anti-apoptotic reactions as well as immune response, cell adhesion and communication, cytoskeleton and cell cycle. Conclusions/Significance Through more than 1.5 million sequence reads and the expression data of the two libraries, the study provided some useful insights into signal transduction pathways in oysters and offered a number of candidate genes as potential markers of tolerance to hypoosmotic stress for oysters. In addition, the characterization of C. gigas transcriptome will not only provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms about the response to osmotic stress of the oysters, but also facilitate research into biological processes to find underlying physiological adaptations to hypoosmotic shock for marine invertebrates.
Semantic Similarity Graphs of Mathematics Word Problems: Can Terminology Detection Help?

Curricula often lack metadata to characterize the relatedness of concepts. To investigate automatic methods for generating relatedness metadata for a mathematics curriculum, we first address the task of identifying which terms in the vocabulary from mathematics word problems are associated with the curriculum. High chance-adjusted interannotator agreement on manual identification of math terms was achieved by considering terms in their contexts. These terms represent 13% of the vocabulary in one seventh grade mathematics text. Six classification algorithms were compared to classify math terms for this text. To avoid overfitting to this curriculum, we relied on a small number of features that exploit external knowledge sources.
RedAlert: Determinacy inference for Prolog

Abstract This paper revisits the problem of determinacy inference addressing the problem of how to uniformly handle cut. To this end a new semantics is introduced for cut, which is abstracted to systematically derive a backward analysis that derives conditions sufficient for a goal to succeed at most once. The method is conceptionally simpler and easier to implement than the existing techniques, while improving the latter's handling of cut. Formal arguments substantiate correctness and experimental work, and a tool called ‘RedAlert’ demonstrates the method's generality and applicability.
Radialize: a tool for social listening experience on the web based on radio station programs

Radialize represents a service for listening to music and radio programs through the web. The service allows the discovery of the content being played by radio stations on the web, either by managing explicit information made available by those stations or by means of our technology for automatic recognition of audio content in a stream. Radialize then offers a service in which the user can search, be recommended, and provide feedback on artists and songs being played in traditional radio stations, either explicitly or implicitly, in order to compose an individual profile. The recommender system utilizes every user interaction as a data source, as well as the similarity abstraction extracted out of the radios' musical programs, making use of the wisdom of crowds implicitly present in the radio programs.
Massive MIMO for Decentralized Estimation of a Correlated Source

We consider a decentralized multi-sensor estimation problem where L sensor nodes observe noisy versions of a correlated random source vector. The sensors amplify and forward their observations over a fading coherent multiple access channel (MAC) to a fusion center (FC). The FC is equipped with a large array of N antennas and adopts a minimum mean-square error (MMSE) approach for estimating the source. We optimize the amplification factor (or equivalently transmission power) at each sensor node in two different scenarios: a) with the objective of total power minimization subject to mean square error (MSE) of source estimation constraint, and b) with the objective of minimizing MSE subject to total power constraint. For this purpose, based on the well-known favorable propagation condition (when L ≪ N) achieved in massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), we apply an asymptotic approximation on the MSE and use convex optimization techniques to solve for the optimal sensor power allocation in a) and b). In a), we show that the total power consumption at the sensors decays as 1/N, replicating the power savings obtained in massive MIMO mobile communications literature. We also show several extensions of the aforementioned scenarios to the cases where sensor-to-FC fading channels are correlated, and channel coefficients are subject to estimation error. Through numerical studies, we also illustrate the superiority of the proposed optimal power allocation methods over uniform power allocation.
A differential geometry perspective about multiple data streams preprocessing

In the Multiple Data Streams (MDS) environment, data sources generate data with no end in sight. Because of the difference of data sources, transaction numbers of MDS are not always equal to each other during a same period. Preprocessing MDS to obtain same number of samples for each stream is an essential step for lots of mining tasks. All existing preprocessing methods assume that data arrive simultaneously. However, this assumption may not be true in many real environments due to multiple data sources and different ways of data generating. This asynchronous issue is explored in this paper, by introducing the differential geometry as a trick. First, we establish a novel stream model called POLAR. The POLAR is an intrinsic surface spanned by time, probability and value. And then, we propose a preprocessing approach, called COPOLAR, to obtain same number of samples for each stream of MDS. COPOLAR first projects original observations onto POLAR; and then merges points with shortest geodesic distances along a geodesic on surface into mid-point on the same geodesic iteratively and incrementally until the number of points which we hope to obtain is met. Experimental results on synthetic and real data show that COPOLAR is effective in terms of maintaining characteristics of both statistics and vector.
MELODY HARMONIZATION IN EVOLUTIONARY MUSIC USING MULTIOBJECTIVE GENETIC ALGORITHMS

This paper describes a multiobjective approach for melody harmonization in evolutionary music. There are numerous methods and a myriad of results to a process of harmonization of a given melody. Some implicit rules can be extracted from musical theory, but some harmonic aspects can only be defined by preferences of a composer. Thus, a multiobjective approach may be useful to allow an evolutionary process to find a set of solutions that represent a trade-off between the rules in different objective functions. In this paper, a multiobjective evolutionary algorithm defines chord changes with differing degrees of simplicity and dissonance. While presenting such an algorithm, we discuss how to embed musical cognizance in Genetic Algorithms in a meta-level. Experiments were held and compared to human judgment of the results. The findings suggest that it is possible to devise a fitness function which reflects human intentions for harmonies.
Perspectives on the enablers of e-heath adoption: an international interview study of leading practitioners

Studies examining the application of information technology to the delivery of health-care services often highlight the anticipated benefits. In consequence, the benefits of health-care information technology adoption, often referred to as ‘e-health’, are widely reported yet there is limited empirical evidence as to how such benefits can be realized. Design and implementation guidelines have been considered from a socio-technical perspective and there is support for the successful application of these principles. There are also some global surveys on the topic, but these often report only statistical data and lack richness of content. This study draws on existing literature to examine whether the principles of health-care information technology adoption are currently applied in practice. The paper presents a timely international analysis of the drivers, critical enablers and successful deployment strategies for e-health from the perspective of leading practitioners. The study considers the adoption of e-health in 15 countries. A qualitative research design was used and semistructured interviews were conducted with 38 thought leaders with expertise in health-care information systems and technology. The study presents a comparative analysis of the lessons learned from implementing, integrating and embedding e-health in practice, and presents a four-phase approach from the perspective of practitioners for the accelerated deployment of e-health systems: (i) develop a strategic approach, (ii) engage the workforce, (iii) capitalize on information technology and (iv) partner with the patient/citizen.
Prediction of Circulation Flow Rate in the RH Degasser Using Discrete Phase Particle Modeling

Conservation equations for mass and momentum with a two equation k–e model are solved for the continuous phase along with a discrete phase particle modeling (representing gas bubbles) in the RH degasser to predict the circulation flow rate of water in a scaled down model and then the numerical solution has been extended to the real plant case for the prediction of steel circulation flow rate in the actual RH vessel. The prediction of the circulation flow rate of water from the present numerical solution matches reasonably well with that of the experimental observation, taking into account various uncertainties those have been imbedded in the numerical model. RH operation for multi up legs and single down leg for a water model shows that the circulation flow rate falls with the number of up legs and there is an optimum number of down legs for which the circulation flow rate is the maximum for the case of a single up leg. For the actual RH operation in plant it was seen that the circulation flow rate increases with the increase in snorkel diameter and snorkel immersion depth (SID). However, it is apparent that there is existence of optimum SID for maximum circulation flow rate. For different down leg immersion depth the circulation flow rate in the RH depends heavily on the up leg immersion depth. The actual RH operation of the plant for the multi up leg and down leg cases was found to be exactly similar in nature to that of the water model cases.
Reciprocation of micro-objects by contraction and extension of Vorticella convallaria using polylysine as adhesive material

Integration of bioactuators in engineered microstructures is expected to be beneficial to further miniaturize and functionalize microelectromechanical systems. However, it is difficult to achieve reciprocation of micro-objects with common biological motors, although reciprocating movement is an important mechanism in constructing micromechanical systems. The ciliate protozoan Vorticella convallaria possesses a contractile filamentous stalk approximately 100 μm long, of which the contraction–extension cycle has the potential of being used as a linear reciprocating machine. In this study, we used polylysine (PLL) to attach micro-objects to Vorticella convallaria with the purpose of reciprocating the objects by contracting and extending the Vorticella cells. Two types of micro-objects, namely, polystyrene microspheres and glass grits, were coated with positively charged PLL and attached by electrostatic interaction to negatively charged V. convallaria. We characterized the adhesive performance and analyzed the movement of the objects by optical microscope observation. Microspheres of diameter 21 μm were moved back and forth by the contraction and extension of V. convallaria. Comparison of the adhesiveness of PLL-coated and COOH-terminated spheres confirmed the effectiveness of our attachment and actuation method. The grits were actuated in various ways depending on their size, the point of attachment to V. convallaria, and the number of cells. The typical motions were linear and rotational and were propelled by a few cells. V. convallaria cells displaced thin glass grits of thickness up to tens of micrometers. The adhesive force and the drag forces were estimated hydrodynamically. The implemented reciprocating motion can be applied to biohybrid microfluidic systems.
Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strain LCT-PA41, with Changed Metabolism after Space Flight

ABSTRACT To explore the effects of space flight on microorganisms, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 was sent into orbit for 398 h on the spacecraft ShenZhou VIII. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of the P. aeruginosa strain LCT-PA41, determined after space flight.
The effect of increased chloride (Cl-) content in nutrient solution on yield and quality of strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) fruits.

Chloride and sodium are the main ions contributing to soil salinity in many regions but chloride is an essential element necessary for plant growth and development. It also controls the growth of some pathogens in plants. In this experiment, the effect of the chloride ion in nutrient solution on yield and fruit quality of two strawberry cultivars: 'Selva' and 'Camarosa' grown in hydroponic culture, was studied. Three kinds of nutrient solutions were used: 1) Hoagland-Arnon solution as control; 2) Hoagland-Arnon in which potassium nitrate was replaced with potassium chloride and ammonium nitrate was added as a nitrogen source and 3) the previous medium supplemented with 1.5 mmol l -1 magnesium chloride. Plant growth, total fruit yield, fruit firmness and leaf chlorophyll content were higher in plants grown in the second solution than the others, but there was no significant difference between the three solutions in terms of single fruit weight, soluble solids content and fruit dry weight. However, using 1.5 mmol l -1 magnesium chloride in a nutrient solution also increased the height of plants as well as total fruit production. The results showed that adding the chloride ion to the nutrient solution had no negative effects on fruit quality and leaf chlorophyll content.
Weld strength improvement for Al alloy by using laser weaving method

Laser welding of aluminum alloys usually produces linear welds that have shear-tensile strength lower than that of the base metal. This is usually due to porosity resulting from an unstable keyhole and cracking which is related to the high crack sensitivity of many of these alloys. In this work laser weaving is used to improve the joint strength of laser welds. In this research, lap welds and bead-on-plate welds were produced on 1 mm thick aluminum alloy sheets using various weaving schemes. When the weaving width was 4 mm, crack propagation was reduced, compared with a weaving width of 2mm. No cracks occurred when the weaving frequency was 5 Hz for weaving widths of 2 and 4 mm. The shear-tensile strengths were measured according to the weaving parameters such as weaving width and frequency. The laser weaving increased the fusion line length, therefore improving the joint strength.