Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lack of Citalopram Effect on Oral Digoxin Pharmacokinetics

The effect of chronic administration of citalopram on the single oral dose pharmacokinetics of digoxin was evaluated in 11 healthy adult subjects in an open, one‐way crossover study. Subjects received 1 mg digoxin on day 1. Serial blood samples and total urine were collected over 192 hours, followed by an 11‐day washout period. On days 22 through 50, subjects received 40 mg citalopram once daily. On day 43, a single dose of1 mg digoxin was coadministered; again, serial blood samples and total urine were collected over 192 hours after the digoxin dose. There were no statistically significant differences in any of the digoxin pharmacokinetic parameters (AUC→,∞’ AUC→ Cmax’ tmax’ t1/2’CL/F CL/renal’ and Ae→∞, and the 90% confidence intervals for treatment differences for the parameters (except for tmax) were all within 80% to 125%. Concomitant digoxin administration did not significantly affect citalopram pharmacokinetics. The treatment was well tolerated by all subjects; no serious adverse events and no clinically significant ECG changes were observed. These data suggest that it is unlikely that concomitantly administered citalopram would have any significant effect on serum digoxin concentrations in patients who are receiving chronic digoxin therapy.
A method for analog circuits visualization

A method for the visualization of an analog circuit starting from a netlist is described in this paper. The images obtained have a comprehensible form, symmetrical structures and other analog topological patterns being discovered in the circuit netlist. The method is based on two algorithms. The first one, the symmetry algorithm, exploits the possibility of extracting topology information from a graph representation of the circuit. The second one performs a grid expansion on a directed graph structure, using the results of the symmetry algorithm. The method has been implemented in the "A-warD" program. Test-cases demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.
Micromechanical modelling of the elastic behaviour of polymer mortars

Polymer concretes have applications in construction due to the greater tensile strength and chemical resistance of the polymeric binder compared to cementitious one. In order to predict the elastic characteristics of the mortar mixes, the homogenisation techniques are used. They are derived from the Mori–Tanaka (MT) scheme coupled with the orientation distribution function and are extended in this work to the case of a composite of four components: the polymeric binder, the fine part of silica sand (round grains), the coarse sand (ellipsoidal grains) and the porosity. The geometries of the reinforcements are taken into account in the Eshelby tensor. The influence of the coarse grain’s orientation is studied. The porosity is experimentally measured and its proportion is introduced in the models. To validate the proposed micromechanic modelling, the elastic properties of polymer mortars are evaluated by ultrasonic wave propagation measurements. The good correlation between numerical simulations and experimental results shows that the proposed homogenisation technique, taking into account the specific orientation of each inclusion’s family, provides satisfactory predictions of the elastic behaviours of epoxy resin mortars. Les bétons de polymères trouvent leurs applications en construction grâce à la résine polymère qui leur confère de meilleures résistances à la traction et aux sollicitations environnementales (résistance chimique). Les prédictions des caractéristiques élastiques des mortiers de résine sont réalisées par techniques d’homogénéisation, fondées sur le schéma de MT, couplé à la fonction de distribution d’orientation ODF, et étendues dans ce travail au cas d’un composite à 4 constituants: la matrice de résine polymère, la partie fine du sable de silice (grains ronds), la partie plus grossière du sable (gros grains ellipsoïdaux) et la porosité. Les différentes géométries des renforts sont prises en compte dans le tenseur d’Eshelby. L’influence de l’orientation des gros grains est étudiée. La porosité est mesurée expérimentalement et sa proportion introduite dans les modélisations. Afin de valider la modélisation proposée, les propriétés élastiques des mortiers de polymère sont évaluées par mesures ultrasonores. La bonne corrélation entre les simulations numériques et les résultats expérimentaux montre que la technique d’homogénéisation proposée, tenant compte de l’orientation propre de chaque famille de l’inclusion, fournit des prédictions satisfaisantes des comportements élastiques des mortiers résine époxy.
Wired on Steroids: Sexual Differentiation of the Brain and Its Role in the Expression of Sexual Partner Preferences

The preference to seek out a sexual partner of the opposite sex is robust and ensures reproduction and survival of the species. Development of female-directed partner preference in the male is dependent on exposure of the developing brain to gonadal steroids synthesized during critical periods of sexual differentiation of the central nervous system. In the absence of androgen exposure, a male-directed partner preference develops. The development and expression of sexual partner preference has been extensively studied in rat, ferret, and sheep model systems. From these models it is clear that gonadal testosterone, often through estrogenic metabolites, cause both masculinization and defeminization of behavior during critical periods of brain development. Changes in the steroid environment during these critical periods result in atypical sexual partner preference. In this manuscript, we review the major findings which support the hypothesis that the organizational actions of sex steroids are responsible for sexual differentiation of sexual partner preferences in select non-human species. We also explore how this information has helped to frame our understanding of the biological influences on human sexual orientation and gender identity.
RESPARC: A reconfigurable and energy-efficient architecture with Memristive Crossbars for deep Spiking Neural Networks

Neuromorphic computing using post-CMOS technologies is gaining immense popularity due to its promising abilities to address the memory and power bottlenecks in von-Neumann computing systems. In this paper, we propose RESPARC - a reconfigurable and energy efficient architecture built-on Memristive Crossbar Arrays (MCA) for deep Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs). Prior works were primarily focused on device and circuit implementations of SNNs on crossbars. RESPARC advances this by proposing a complete system for SNN acceleration and its subsequent analysis. RESPARC utilizes the energy-efficiency of MCAs for inner-product computation and realizes a hierarchical reconfigurable design to incorporate the data-flow patterns in an SNN in a scalable fashion. We evaluate the proposed architecture on different SNNs ranging in complexity from 2k–230k neurons and 1.2M–5.5M synapses. Simulation results on these networks show that compared to the baseline digital CMOS architecture, RESPARC achieves 500× (15×) efficiency in energy benefits at 300× (60×) higher throughput for multi-layer perceptrons (deep convolutional networks). Furthermore, RESPARC is a technology-aware architecture that maps a given SNN topology to the most optimized MCA size for the given crossbar technology.
Approaching motor and language deficits in autism from below: a biolinguistic perspective

OPINIONpublished: 30 March 2015doi: 10.3389/fnint.2015. 00025Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience | www.frontiersin. org 1 March 2015 | Volume 9 | Article 25Editedby:Jennifer M. Groh,Duke University, USAReviewedby:Genevieve Konopka,University of Texas SouthwesternMedical Center, USAErich David Jarvis,Duke University Medical Center, USA*Correspondence:Antonio Benitez-Burraco,antonio.benitez@dfesp.uhu. esReceived:15 January 2015Accepted:13 March 2015Published:30 March 2015Citation:Benitez-Burraco A and Boeckx C(2015) Approaching motor andlanguage deﬁcits in autism frombelow: a biolinguistic perspective.Front. Integr. Neurosci. 9:25.doi: 10.3389/fnint.2015. 00025
Leader selection via the manipulability of leader-follower networks

In this paper, we address the problem of selecting leaders in a network by investigating how much instantaneous impact the leaders have on the remaining agents. As a measurement of the influence of leaders' inputs, we exploit the notion of manipulability, which is recently developed for leader-follower networks driven by a state-dependent weighted consensus equation. This paper first extends the manipulability index in order to measure the influence of leaders' inputs on the network centroid. We then demonstrate in simulation how the manipulability index is suitable for selecting effective leaders.
Toward Diagnosing Leishmania infantum Infection in Asymptomatic Dogs in an Area Where Leishmaniasis Is Endemic

ABSTRACT The most frequently used diagnostic methods were compared in a longitudinal survey with Leishmania infantum-infected asymptomatic dogs from an area of Italy where leishmaniasis is endemic. In February and March 2005, 845 asymptomatic dogs were tested by an immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), a dipstick assay (DS), and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for L. infantum and by IFAT for Ehrlichia canis. Dogs seronegative for L. infantum were further parasitologically evaluated by microscopic examination of lymph node tissues and PCR of skin samples. A total of 204 animals both serologically and parasitologically negative for L. infantum at the first sampling were enrolled in the trial and were further examined for canine leishmaniasis (CanL) and canine monocytic ehrlichiosis in November 2005 (i.e., the end of the first sandfly season) and March 2006 and 2007 (1- and 2-year follow-ups, respectively). At the initial screening, the overall rates of L. infantum seroprevalence were 9.5% by IFAT, 17.1% by ELISA, and 9.8% by DS and the overall rate of E. canis seroprevalence was 15%. The rates of concordance between the results of IFAT and DS were almost equal, whereas the rate of concordance between the results of IFAT and DS and those of the ELISA was lower. The results of the annual incidence of Leishmania infection were variable, depending on the test employed, with the highest values registered for PCR (i.e., 5.7% and 11.4% at the 1- and 2-year follow-ups, respectively), followed by ELISA, IFAT, and DS. Over the 2 years of observation, 55 animals (i.e., 26.9%) became positive for L. infantum by one or more diagnostic tests at different follow-up times, with 12.7% showing clinical signs related to CanL, while the remaining 87.3% were asymptomatic. A diagnostic scheme for assessment of the L. infantum infection status in asymptomatic dogs is suggested.
Human keratocytes cultured on amniotic membrane stroma preserve morphology and express keratocan.

PURPOSE To develop a new method of expanding human corneal keratocytes in serum while maintaining their characteristic morphology and keratocan expression. METHODS Human keratocytes were isolated from central corneal buttons by digestion in 1 mg/mL of collagenase A in DMEM and seeded on plastic or the stromal matrix of human amniotic membrane (AM) in DMEM with different concentrations of FBS. On confluence, cells on AM were continuously subcultured for six passages on AM or plastic. In parallel, cells cultured on plastic at passages 3 and 11 were reseeded on AM. Cellular morphology and cell-cell networks were assessed by phase-contrast microscopy and a cell viability assay, respectively. Expression of keratocan was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. RESULTS Trephined stroma yielded 91,600 +/- 26,300 cells (ranging from 67,000 to 128,000 cells per corneal button). Twenty-four hours after seeding, cells appeared dendritic on AM, even in 10% FBS but fibroblastic on plastic. Such a difference in morphology correlated with expression of keratocan assessed by RT-PCR and Western blot, which was high and continued at least to passage 6 on AM, even in 10% FBS, but was rapidly lost each time when cells on AM were passaged on plastic. Fibroblasts continuously cultured on plastic to passages 3 and 11 did not reverse their morphology or synthesize keratocan when reseeded on plastic in 1% FBS or on AM. CONCLUSIONS Human keratocytes maintain their characteristic morphology and keratocan expression when subcultured on AM stromal matrix even in the presence of high serum concentrations. This method can be used to engineer a new corneal stroma.
THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF ORGANICS TOWARD THE HIGH-MASS YSO NGC 7538 IRS9

Complex molecules have been broadly classified into three generations dependent on the mode of formation and the required formation temperature (<25, 25–100 K, and >100 K). Around massive young stellar objects (MYSOs), icy grain mantles and gas are exposed to increasingly higher temperatures as material accretes from the outer envelope in toward the central hot region. The combination of this temperature profile and the generational chemistry should result in a changing complex molecular composition with radius around MYSOs. We combine IRAM 30 m and Submillimeter Array observations to explore the spatial distribution of organic molecules around the high-mass young stellar object NGC 7538 IRS9, whose weak complex molecule emission previously escaped detection. We find that emission from N-bearing organics and CH3OH present substantial increases in emission around 8000 AU and R < 3000 AU, while unsaturated O-bearing molecules and hydrocarbons do not. The increase in line flux for some complex molecules in the envelope, around 8000 AU or 25 K, is consistent with recent model predictions of an onset of complex ice chemistry at 20–30 K. The emission increase for many of the same molecules at R < 3000 AU suggests the presence of a weak hot core, where thermal ice evaporation and hot gas-phase reactions drive the chemistry. Complex organics thus form at all radii and temperatures around this protostar, but the composition changes dramatically as the temperature increases, which is used together with an adapted gas-grain astrochemical model to constrain the chemical generation(s) to which different classes of molecules belong.
Generative Modeling with Failure in PRISM

PRISM is a logic-based Turing-complete symbolic-statistical modeling language with a built-in parameter learning routine. In this paper,we enhance the modeling power of PRISM by allowing general PRISM programs to fail in the generation process of observable events. Introducing failure extends the class of definable distributions but needs a generalization of the semantics of PRISM programs. We propose a three valued probabilistic semantics and show how failure enables us to pursue constraint-based modeling of complex statistical phenomena.
New advances in the treatment of gout: review of pegloticase

Treatment-failure gout (TFG) affects approximately 50,000 patients or about 1% of the overall population of patients with gout in the United States of America. The severity of TFG is manifested by frequent acute attacks of disabling arthritis, chronic deforming joint disease, destructive masses of urate crystals (tophi), progressive physical disability, and poor health-related quality of life. Pegloticase (Krystexxa®; Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc), a novel PEGylated urate oxidase (uricase) enzyme, has been resubmitted for US Food and Drug Administration approval. In a 6-month, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 8 mg of pegloticase for every 2 weeks induced a lytic decrease of serum urate (sUr) concentrations, leading to dissolution of tophi in 40% of patients at final visit. However, 58% were nonresponders to the defined target sUr of 0.36 mmol/L (80% were nonresponders during months 3 and 6), possibly due to anti-body formation. Also, 26%–31% experienced infusion reactions (IRs) and 77% suffered from gout flares. Although long-term data are awaited, an anti-inflammatory strategy, eg, based on glucocorticosteroids, is needed to prevent pegloticase antibody formation leading to IRs and diminished or shortened efficacy, and might also prevent gout flares. According to the current clinical data, pegloticase might have an important role as a (bridging) treatment in sUr-responsive patients for tophi clearance in severe chronic refractory gout.
Signed directed acyclic graphs for causal inference

Summary. Formal rules governing signed edges on causal directed acyclic graphs are described and it is shown how these rules can be useful in reasoning about causality. Specifically, the notions of a monotonic effect, a weak monotonic effect and a signed edge are introduced. Results are developed relating these monotonic effects and signed edges to the sign of the causal effect of an intervention in the presence of intermediate variables. The incorporation of signed edges in the directed acyclic graph causal framework furthermore allows for the development of rules governing the relationship between monotonic effects and the sign of the covariance between two variables. It is shown that when certain assumptions about monotonic effects can be made then these results can be used to draw conclusions about the presence of causal effects even when data are missing on confounding variables.
Empirical Studies on the Security and Usability Impact of Immutability

Although it is well-known that API design has a large and long-term impact on security, the literature contains few substantial guidelines for practitioners on how to design APIs that improve security. Even fewer of those guidelines have been evaluated empirically. Security professionals have proposed that software engineers choose immutable APIs and architectures to enhance security. Unfortunately, prior empirical research argued that immutablity decreases API usability. This paper brings together the results from a number of previous papers that together aim to show that immutability, when carefully designed using usability as a first-class requirement, can have positive effects on both usability and security. We also make observations on study design in this field.
Approaches to Multiple-source Localization and Signal Classification

Source localization with a wireless sensor network remains an important area of research as the number of applications with this problem increases. This work considers the problem of source localization by a network of passive wireless sensors. The primary means by which localization is achieved is through direction-finding at each sensor, and in some cases, range estimation as well. Both single and multiple-target scenarios are considered in this research. In single-source environments, a solution that outperforms the classic least squared error estimation technique by combining direction and range estimates to perform localization is presented. In multiple-source environments, two solutions to the complex data association problem are addressed. The first proposed technique offers a less complex solution to the data association problem than a brute-force approach at the expense of some degradation in performance. For the second technique, the process of signal classification is considered as another approach to the data association problem. Environments in which each signal possesses unique features can be exploited to separate signals at each sensor by their characteristics, which mitigates the complexity of the data association problem and in many cases improves the accuracy of the localization. Two approaches to signal-selective localization are considered in this work. The first is based on the well-known cyclic MUSIC algorithm, and the second combines beamforming and modulation classification. Finally, the implementation of a direction finding system is discussed. This system includes a uniform circular array as a radio frequency front end and the universal software radio peripheral as a data processor. This work received support from the Wireless at Virginia Tech (Wireless@VT) group and in part by DRS Signal Solutions.
ON THE CALCULATION OF "TURNOVER TIME" AND "TURNOVER RATE" FROM EXPERIMENTS INVOLVING THE USE OF LABELING AGENTS

1. A new method for the determination of an immediate precursor of a substance occurring in the animal body is presented. 2. Calculations on the quantitative determination of the rate of turnover of a substance and their application to experiments involving the use of labeling agents are given. These calculations take into account loss of the isotopic substance by way of breakdown or transport.
A pixel missing patch inpainting method for remote sensing image

Image inpainting is an important research field in remote sensing image processing. Pixel missing patches on remote sensing image due to clouds and stripes were often processed through traditional synthesis and image inpainting techniques or multi-spectral and multi-temporal based methods. These methods have some limitations in practical applications. In this study, a new method was developed to restore pixel-missing patches on remote sensing images. It uses a corresponding recent image (reference image) as a Look-up table and fills up pixel missing patches using the non-missing pixels in the pixel missing image. The restoration effect of this new method was tested using two experiments. The restored image was almost identical to the original one visually. This new method is applicable when the reference image and pixel missing image are acquired from same or different sensors. It is also insensitive to the precision of atmospheric corrections for the reference and pixel missing images.
ALAMO: An Improved&#963;-Space Based Methodology for Modeling Process Parameter Variations in Analog Circuits

This paper describes an original methodology for accurately modeling MOSFET process parameter variations. As compared to other process parameter variation modeling methods, the proposed methodology is capable of correctly modeling not only differences of process/model parameters, but also the process parameter variations for individual devices. This capability is very important for popular analog circuits like current biasing circuits, voltage reference circuits, and single-ended output amplifiers
Recognition and classification of noun phrases in queries for effective retrieval

It has been shown that using phrases properly in the document retrieval leads to higher retrieval effectiveness. In this paper, we define four types of noun phrases and present an algorithm for recognizing these phrases in queries. The strengths of several existing tools are combined for phrase recognition. Our algorithm is tested using a set of 500 web queries from a query log, and a set of 238 TREC queries. Experimental results show that our algorithm yields high phrase recognition accuracy. We also use a baseline noun phrase recognition algorithm to recognize phrases from the TREC queries. A document retrieval experiment is conducted using the TREC queries (1) without any phrases, (2) with the phrases recognized from a baseline noun phrase recognition algorithm, and (3) with the phrases recognized from our algorithm respectively. The retrieval effectiveness of (3) is better than that of (2), which is better than that of (1). This demonstrates that utilizing phrases in queries does improve the retrieval effectiveness, and better noun phrase recognition yields higher retrieval performance.