Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
RE: A further plea for adherence to the principles underlying science in general and the epidemiologic enterprise in particular.

nisms that could lead to changes in incidence. Here I try to meet this latter need. I have adduced very substantial quantities of data to support the hypothesis that mammalian (including human) sex ratios (proportions male) at birth are partially controlled by the hormone levels of both parents around the time of conception. Baron-Cohen hypothesized that one cause of autism is high maternal intrauterine concentrations of testosterone. If both hypotheses were correct, then sibs of autistic probands should contain an excess of brothers. I reported evidence for such an inference at a statistically significant level, and this finding has itself been confirmed. So there is good evidence for BaronCohen’s hypothesis that one cause of autism is high maternal intrauterine testosterone concentration. There is good reason to suppose that over the past few decades, there has been an increase in women’s testosterone levels. Such an increase would be expected to have been associated with the rise in rates of diabetes, and of obesity in women. Thus, it seems reasonable to propose that the reported increase in rates of autism is at least partially real and due to increasing maternal intrauterine testosterone levels.
Bit error rate performance of a generalized diversity selection combining scheme in Nakagami fading channels

The severity of fading on mobile communication channels calls for the combining of multiple diversity sources to achieve acceptable error rate performance. Traditional approaches perform the combining of the different diversity sources using either: the conventional selective diversity combining (CSC), equal-gain combining (EGC), or maximal-ratio combining (MRC) schemes. CSC and MRC are the two extremes of compromise between performance quality and complexity. This paper presents a generalized diversity selection combining (GSC) scheme in which only those diversity branches whose energy levels are above a specified threshold are combined. Doing so, the proposed scheme will have a bit error (BER) performance that is upper- and lower-bounded by those of the CSC and MRC schemes respectively. Simulation results for the performances of this scheme over Nakagami (1960) fading channels are shown.
Factor Structure of Indices of the Second Derivative of the Finger Photoplethysmogram with Metabolic Components and Other Cardiovascular Risk Indicators

Background The second derivative of the finger photoplethysmogram (SDPTG) is an indicator of arterial stiffness. The present study was conducted to clarify the factor structure of indices of the SDPTG in combination with components of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), to elucidate the significance of the SDPTG among various cardiovascular risk factors. Methods The SDPTG was determined in the second forefinger of the left hand in 1,055 male workers (mean age, 44.2±6.4 years). Among 4 waves of SDPTG components, the ratios of the height of the "a" wave to that of the "b" and "d" waves were expressed as b/a and d/a, and used as SDPTG indices for the analysis. Results Principal axis factoring analysis was conducted using age, SDPTG indices, components of MetS, and the serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and uric acid. Three factors were extracted, and the SDPTG indices were categorized in combination with age as the third factor. Metabolic components and the SDPTG indices were independently categorized. These three factors explained 44.4% of the total variation. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed age, d/a, serum uric acid, serum CRP, and regular exercise as independent determinants of the risk of MetS. The odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 1.08 (1.04 to 1.11), 0.10 (0.01 to 0.73), 1.24 (1.06 to 1.44), 3.59 (2.37 to 5.42), and 0.48 (0.28 to 0.82), respectively. Conclusion The SDPTG indices were categorized in combination with age, and they differed in characteristics from components of MetS or inflammatory markers. In addition, this cross-sectional study also revealed decrease of the d/a as a risk factor for the development of MetS.
Asynchronous 4-bit flash analog-to-digital CMOS converter with over- and underflow detection system

This paper deals with the design and simulations of a 4-bit flash analog-to-digital asynchronous converter designed in 0.35 µm CMOS technology. The input voltage signals of a range of 1.6 V are converted to binary numbers based on flash method. Analog part of the project, which is made using full-custom technique, contains 17 comparators. The two extra comparators indicate when input signal is out of the conversion range. The digital part contains a decoder, which converts comparators outputs logic states into binary numbers and extra codes to indicate underflow, overflow or other conversion errors.
Seasonal sexual segregation in two Thalassarche albatross species: competitive exclusion, reproductive role specialization or foraging niche divergence?

Sexual segregation by micro– or macrohabitat is common in birds, and usually attributed to size–mediated dominance and exclusion of females by larger males, trophic niche divergence or reproductive role specialization. Our study of black–browed albatrosses, Thalassarche melanophrys, and grey–headed albatrosses, T. chrysostoma, revealed an exceptional degree of sexual segregation during incubation, with largely mutually exclusive core foraging ranges for each sex in both species. Spatial segregation was not apparent during brood–guard or post–guard chick rearing, when adults are constrained to feed close to colonies, providing no evidence for dominance–related competitive exclusion at the macrohabitat level. A comprehensive morphometric comparison indicated considerable species and sexual dimorphism in wing area and wing loading that corresponded, both within and between species, to broad–scale habitat preferences relating to wind strength. We suggest that seasonal sexual segregation in these two species is attributable to niche divergence mediated by differences in flight performance. Such sexual segregation may also have implications for conservation in relation to sex–specific overlap with commercial fisheries.
A novel approach to deal with temperature dependence of friction in mechanical control systems

This paper presents how the temperature dependence of the friction phenomena can be handled in mechanical control systems using state estimation techniques. The method is based on the dynamic friction model, originally introduced by Batista and Carlson (Physical Rev. E; 1996, 1998), where the temperature dependence of friction is described by an un-measurable internal state. According to the author's knowledge this model was not applied before in mechanical control system analysis and design. For the model a state estimator was developed based on the theory of hybrid systems. A robust tracking control algorithm was also developed for mechanical systems with temperature dependent friction. Simulation measurements are provided in the second part of the paper to show the applicability of the theoretical results.
Biological versus Foster Children Education: the Old-Age Support Motive as a Catch-up Determinant ? Some Evidence from Indonesia

This paper aims at explaining differences in education among foster-children and between foster and biological children in developing countries. Foster-children whose biological parents are alive may provide old-age support for both their host and biological parents. Therefore foster-children have lower returns to education than biological children and should receive less human capital investment in household where both types of children live together. However, in households where foster-children are alone, host parents will over-invest in their education to ensure that the expected old-age support will equal a minimum amount to survive. Using data from Indonesia, we provide some evidence supporting our hypothesis.
Feasibility Studies of Palm Oil Mill Waste Aggregates for the Construction Industry

The agricultural industry in Malaysia has grown rapidly over the years. Palm oil clinker (POC) is a byproduct obtained from the palm oil industry. Its lightweight properties allows for its utilization as an aggregate, while in powder form as a filler material in concrete. POC specimens obtained throughout each state in Malaysia were investigated to evaluate the physical, chemical, and microstructure characteristics. Variations between each state were determined and their possible contributory factors were assessed. POC were incorporated as a replacement material for aggregates and their engineering characteristics were ascertained. Almost 7% of density was reduced with the introduction of POC as aggregates. A sustainability assessment was made through greenhouse gas emission (GHG) and cost factor analyses to determine the contribution of the addition of POC to the construction industry. Addition of POC helps to lower the GHG emission by 9.6% compared to control specimens. By channeling this waste into the construction industry, an efficient waste-management system can be promoted; thus, creating a cleaner environment. This study is also expected to offer some guides and directions for upcoming research works on the incorporation of POC.
Research on Shoot-through Zero Vector of Impedance Source Linearization Control Strategy

Z-source inverter takes advantage of a distinctive impedance source network and modulation method of shootthrough vector, and achieves the function of buck/boost DC AC inverter in the single stage system at the same time, which is suitable for grid-connected PV systems with large input voltage variations. The purpose of this study is to draw a unified method of shoot-through vector and grid inverter of the z-source inverter, apply the method of state-space averaging for the modeling analysis of the z-source inverter and give a complete mathematical model. Based on which and according to the nonlinear control theory and making use of the linearization of affine nonlinear model of the z-source inverter, we can get the specific derivation of equation. The results of the simulation and experiment show that according to the linearization of the shoot-through vector with affine nonlinear model for the z-source, we can make the system have the characteristics of fast and accurate tracking, small overshoot, small DC voltage, AC current ripple and small THD, and it has a certain practical value.
Underdetermination of Bohmian Mechanics and quantum typicality

Bohmian mechanics represents the universe as set of continuous paths on the configuration space, with a probability measure defined on it. Such a structure corresponds to a stochastic process. Since there is just one universe, the probability measure is used to define typicality rather than relative frequencies. In the general language of stochastic processes, a precise criterion for the empirical equivalence of a process representing the universe to standard quantum mechanics is proposed. Such a criterion does not fix univocally the probability measure, which remains underdetermined. This corresponds to the well known underdetermination of Bohmian mechanics. In order to solve this ambiguity, the proposal is made to replace the probability measure with a less detailed mathematical structure, namely a quantum expression called typicality distance. Such a replacement requires a new rule, analogous to the Born rule, which derives typicality directly from the typicality distance, without the intermediation of a probability measure.
Aldehyde Oxidase Activity in Fresh Human Skin

Human aldehyde oxidase (AO) is a molybdoflavoenzyme that commonly oxidizes azaheterocycles in therapeutic drugs. Although high metabolic clearance by AO resulted in several drug failures, existing in vitro–in vivo correlations are often poor and the extrahepatic role of AO practically unknown. This study investigated enzymatic activity of AO in fresh human skin, the largest organ of the body, frequently exposed to therapeutic drugs and xenobiotics. Fresh, full-thickness human skin was obtained from 13 individual donors and assayed with two specific AO substrates: carbazeran and zoniporide. Human skin explants from all donors metabolized carbazeran to 4-hydroxycarbazeran and zoniporide to 2-oxo-zoniporide. Average rates of carbazeran and zoniporide hydroxylations were 1.301 and 0.164 pmol⋅mg skin–1⋅h–1, resulting in 13 and 2% substrate turnover, respectively, after 24 hours of incubation with 10 μM substrate. Hydroxylation activities for the two substrates were significantly correlated (r2 = 0.769), with interindividual variability ranging from 3-fold (zoniporide) to 6-fold (carbazeran). Inclusion of hydralazine, an irreversible inhibitor of AO, resulted in concentration-dependent decrease of hydroxylation activities, exceeding 90% inhibition of carbazeran 4-hydroxylation at 100 μM inhibitor. Reaction rates were linear up to 4 hours and well described by Michaelis-Menten enzyme kinetics. Comparison of carbazeran and zoniporide hydroxylation with rates of triclosan glucuronidation and sulfation and p-toluidine N-acetylation showed that cutaneous AO activity is comparable to tested phase II metabolic reactions, indicating a significant role of AO in cutaneous drug metabolism. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of AO enzymatic activity in human skin.
Payroll-Tax Financed Social Insurance with Variable Retirement

The optimal relationship between retirement benefits and retirement age is derived. The model assumes ex ante identical workers, zero-one labor supply, no private savings, wages and payroll taxes constant over life, random onset of an inability to work, and the impossibility of distinguishing those unable to work from those choosing retirement. This formulation is meant to capture some issues for retirement programs where governments commonly do not measure disability, e.g., ages 65-70. With intertemporally additive preferences, optimal benefits rise with the age of retirement, but more slowly than would be actuarially fair. A nonadditive example is also considered.
A Study of Group Size Effects on a Hybrid P2P System

P2P network is the one of the most important application models in Internet. Numerous structured and unstructured P2P models have been proposed in the last ten years, and both models do have distinctive advantages and disadvantages. We proposed a hybrid model to strike a balance between these two models using peer grouping. Since the size of peer groups is essential to performance, we analyze the effect of group size on the maintenance cost, which is measured in terms of the number of maintenance messages. Experimental results suggest that the group size obtained from our theoretical analysis is very close to the actual best group size obtained from simulation, and the hybrid model uses less messages in maintaining a P2P network than Chord does.
Motor Skill Learning in Children.

One of the recent major developments in the understanding of motor skill learning in children has been the establishment of schema theory (Schmidt, 1975). Few theories of motor behavior have stimulated as much inquiry and had the general support from the scientific community as this notion. This article presented a synthesis of the theoretical framework and implications for program application relevant to motor learning in children.
Approximation Algorithms for a Variant of discrete Piercing Set Problem for Unit Disks

In this paper, we consider constant factor approximation algorithms for a variant of the discrete piercing set problem for unit disks. Here a set of points P is given; the objective is to choose minimum number of points in P to pierce the unit disks centered at all the points in P. We first propose a very simple algorithm that produces 12-approximation result in O(n log n) time. Next, we improve the approximation factor to 4 and then to 3. The worst case running time of these algorithms are O(n8log n) and O(n15log n) respectively. Apart from the space required for storing the input, the extra work-space requirement for each of these algorithms is O(1). Finally, we propose a PTAS for the same problem. Given a positive integer k, it can produce a solution with performance ratio in nO(k) time.
EU Preferential Partners in Search of New Policy Strategies for Agriculture: The Case of Citrus Sector in Trinidad and Tobago

The paper assesses the competitive position of T&T's citrus industry and explains the declining productivity. It covers supply chain and agricultural trade policy issues and involves assembling two Policy Analysis Matrices, either with full cost of production or excluding establishment costs. Domestic and trade policy support shows significant for the sector. Production is internationally competitive, or possesses comparative advantage, only if costs of establishment are excluded. These results suggest that free trade agreements under the FTAA and the ACP-EU would work against the planting of new orchards and reinforce the decline of the sector.
Neuro-Fuzzy Models of Thermoelectric Power Station Installations

Taking into account the technical and economical problems with which the combined heat and power plants are confronted, after the reorganization of this domain in Romania, in order to improve the normal operation with small-efficiency when these centralized units are maintained in function, the paper proposes the implementation of a modeling method based on the soft computing theory. The main objective of the research team is in connection with the improvement of the performance and competitive of a combined heat and power plant total activity, through the fuel consumption reduction, the power efficiency increase and guaranteeing the supply with energy services by means of measures relating to the offer and demand, the power and heat production cost reduction. With that end in view the scientific research is focused on the theoretical and practical implementation of new hybrid neuro-fuzzy method to model the technological processes from a combined heat and power plant
Performance comparison of the semi-blind channel estimation methods of MIMO communication system

In this paper, we present semi-blind channel estimation (SBCE) methods using two deterministic blind algorithms: Subspace (SS) approach and Least-squares smoothing (LSS) approach. A cost function is design by combining conventional training based method with quadratic blind criterion. As optimization criterion, the channel normalized mean square error (NMSE) is chosen and compares the performance of semi-blind method using subspace and Least squares smoothing criterion with the conventional training based method as a function of weighting factor (α).
Transform Ati on and C Om Bi Nati on of H I Dden M Arkov M Odel S for Speaker Sel Ecti on Trai Ni Ng a Bstract

This paper presents a 3-stage adaptation framework based on speaker selection training. First a subset of cohort speakers is selected for test speaker using Gaussian mixture model, which is more reliable given very limited adaptation data. Then cohort models are linearly transformed closer to each test speaker. Finally the adapted model for the test speaker is obtained by combining these transformed models. Combination weights as well as bias items are adaptively learned from adaptation data. Experiments showed that model transformation before combination would improve the robustness of the scheme. W ith only 30s of adaptation data, about 14.9% relative error rate reduction is achieved on a large vocabulary continuous speech recognition task.
P 2 Y receptor signaling regulates phenotype and IFN-secretion of human plasmacytoid dendritic cells

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) play powerful regulatory roles in innate and adaptive immune responses and are a major source of type I interferon (IFN) following viral infection. During inflammation and mechanical stress, cells release nucleotides into the extracellular space where they act as signaling molecules via G protein–coupled P2Y receptors. We have previously reported on the regulation of myeloid dendritic cell (DC) function by nucleotides. Here, we report that human PDCs express several subtypes of P2Y receptors and mobilize intracellular calcium in response to nucleotide exposure. As a functional consequence, PDCs acquire a mature phenotype that is further enhanced in the context of CD40 ligation. Strikingly, nucleotides strongly inhibit IFNsecretion induced by influenza virus or CpG-A. This effect is most pronounced for the uridine nucleotides UDP and UTP and the sugar nucleotide UDP-glucose, ligands of P2Y6, P2Y4, and P2Y14, respectively. Nucleotide-induced inhibition of IFNproduction is blocked by suramin, a P2Y receptor antagonist. Pharmacological data point toward a role of protein kinase C in the negative regulation of type I IFN. Manipulating PDC function with P2Y receptor agonists may offer novel therapeutic strategies for autoimmune diseases or cancer. (Blood. 2008; 111:3062-3069)
Intra-Arrest Transnasal Evaporative Cooling: A Randomized, Prehospital, Multicenter Study (PRINCE Pre-ROSC IntraNasal Cooling Effectiveness)

Background— Transnasal evaporative cooling has sufficient heat transfer capacity for effective intra-arrest cooling and improves survival in swine. The aim of this study was to determine the safety, feasibility, and cooling efficacy of prehospital transnasal cooling in humans and to explore its effects on neurologically intact survival to hospital discharge. Methods and Results— Witnessed cardiac arrest patients with a treatment interval ≤20 minutes were randomized to intra-arrest cooling with a RhinoChill device (treatment group, n=96) versus standard care (control group, n=104). The final analysis included 93 versus 101 patients, respectively. Both groups were cooled after hospital arrival. The patients had similar demographics, initial rhythms, rates of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and intervals to cardiopulmonary resuscitation and arrival of advanced life support personnel. Eighteen device-related adverse events (1 periorbital emphysema, 3 epistaxis, 1 perioral bleed, and 13 nasal discolorations) were reported. Time to target temperature of 34°C was shorter in the treatment group for both tympanic (102 versus 282 minutes, P=0.03) and core (155 versus 284 minutes, P=0.13) temperature. There were no significant differences in rates of return of spontaneous circulation between the groups (38% in treated subjects versus 43% in control subjects, P=0.48), in overall survival of those admitted alive (44% versus 31%, respectively, P=0.26), or in neurologically intact survival to discharge (Pittsburgh cerebral performance category scale 1 to 2, 34% versus 21%, P=0.21), although the study was not adequately powered to detect changes in these outcomes. Conclusions— Prehospital intra-arrest transnasal cooling is safe and feasible and is associated with a significant improvement in the time intervals required to cool patients. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifier: NCT00808236.