Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fertilization Induces a Transient Exposure of Phosphatidylserine in Mouse Eggs

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is normally localized to the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane and the requirement of PS translocation to the outer leaflet in cellular processes other than apoptosis has been demonstrated recently. In this work we investigated the occurrence of PS mobilization in mouse eggs, which express flippase Atp8a1 and scramblases Plscr1 and 3, as determined by RT-PCR; these enzyme are responsible for PS distribution in cell membranes. We find a dramatic increase in binding of flouresceinated-Annexin-V, which specifically binds to PS, following fertilization or parthenogenetic activation induced by SrCl2 treatment. This increase was not observed when eggs were first treated with BAPTA-AM, indicating that an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration was required for PS exposure. Fluorescence was observed over the entire egg surface with the exception of the regions overlying the meiotic spindle and sperm entry site. PS exposure was also observed in activated eggs obtained from CaMKIIγ null females, which are unable to exit metaphase II arrest despite displaying Ca2+ spikes. In contrast, PS exposure was not observed in TPEN-activated eggs, which exit metaphase II arrest in the absence of Ca2+ release. PS exposure was also observed when eggs were activated with ethanol but not with a Ca2+ ionophore, suggesting that the Ca2+ source and concentration are relevant for PS exposure. Last, treatment with cytochalasin D, which disrupts microfilaments, or jasplakinolide, which stabilizes microfilaments, prior to egg activation showed that PS externalization is an actin-dependent process. Thus, the Ca2+ rise during egg activation results in a transient exposure of PS in fertilized eggs that is not associated with apoptosis.
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Research Department Consumption Over the Life Cycle : How Di ff erent Is Housing ?

Micro data over the life cycle shows two different patterns of consumption of housing and non-housing goods: the consumption profile of non-housing goods is hump-shaped while the consumption profile for housing first increases monotonically and then flattens out. These patterns hold true at each consumption quartile. This paper develops a quantitative, dynamic general equilibrium model of life cycle behavior, which generates consumption profiles consistent with the observed data. Borrowing constraints are essential in explaining the accumulation of housing assets early in life, while transaction costs are crucial in generating the slow downsizing of the housing assets later in life. The bequest motives play a role in determining total life time wealth, but not the housing profile.
A Worldwide Competition to Compare the Speed and Chemotactic Accuracy of Neutrophil-Like Cells

Chemotaxis is the ability to migrate towards the source of chemical gradients. It underlies the ability of neutrophils and other immune cells to hone in on their targets and defend against invading pathogens. Given the importance of neutrophil migration to health and disease, it is crucial to understand the basic mechanisms controlling chemotaxis so that strategies can be developed to modulate cell migration in clinical settings. Because of the complexity of human genetics, Dictyostelium and HL60 cells have long served as models system for studying chemotaxis. Since many of our current insights into chemotaxis have been gained from these two model systems, we decided to compare them side by side in a set of winner-take-all races, the Dicty World Races. These worldwide competitions challenge researchers to genetically engineer and pharmacologically enhance the model systems to compete in microfluidic racecourses. These races bring together technological innovations in genetic engineering and precision measurement of cell motility. Fourteen teams participated in the inaugural Dicty World Race 2014 and contributed cell lines, which they tuned for enhanced speed and chemotactic accuracy. The race enabled large-scale analyses of chemotaxis in complex environments and revealed an intriguing balance of speed and accuracy of the model cell lines. The successes of the first race validated the concept of using fun-spirited competition to gain insights into the complex mechanisms controlling chemotaxis, while the challenges of the first race will guide further technological development and planning of future events.
Multi-objective topology synthesis and FPGA prototyping framework of application specific network-on-chip

Network-on-Chip (NoC) topology synthesis problem targets to generate NoC topology for multiple system design objectives such as performance and area. A multi-objective NoC synthesis and prototyping framework based on FPGA platform is proposed to design application specific NoC. Using the multi-objective algorithm NSGAII, the workflow aims to supply Pareto solutions for the multiple design objectives, rather than one single objective subset, so that designers can make flexible decisions according to different design objectives and budgets. This multi-objective NoC synthesis is ensured by our complete TLM and RTL levels design framework. All the routers in the NoC library are synthesized for RTL implementation, and the area utilization information is used for hardware resource estimation at the high level NoC synthesis step. The system performances are obtained by SystemC TLM simulation with traffic defined in the core graph. After the high level NoC synthesis, the final selected Pareto solutions are generated and prototyped on FPGA platform with RTL traffic generators with same configurations as TLM level. Our multi-objective framework aims to provide a bridge from high level model to FPGA execution for accurate NoC design. Experiments on multimedia benchmark applications demonstrate the efficiency of this method.
Modeling the interplay between affect and deliberation.

Drawing on diverse lines of research in psychology, economics, and neuroscience, we develop a model in which a person’s behavior is determined by an interaction between deliberative processes that assess options with a broad, goal-based perspective, and affective processes that encompass emotions and other motivational states. Our model provides a framework for understanding many departures from rationality discussed in the literature and captures the familiar feeling of being “of 2 minds. ” Most important, by focusing on factors that moderate the relative influence of the 2 processes, our model generates a variety of novel testable predictions. We apply our model to intertemporal choice, risky decisions, and social preferences.
Statistical Matching of Noisy Space Curves on Different Scales

— This paper presents a new algorithm that finds the best (partial) match between a parametric model curve and a data segment from acquisition. Dynamic programming (DP) is employed for efficiency of computation and combined with the handling of noisy data for robustness. The optimal transformation and scaling in an entry of the DP table are determined from maximizing a probability function, which is solved with an extension to the ICP algorithm [1]. To control the matching accuracy, we have introduced a statistical characterization of dissimilarity. The algorithm has been demonstrated over synthetic and range data. The experiment shows that it adjusts well to the noise distribution of data and performs effectively over curves of complex shapes. An application to model-based 3-D object recognition is also presented.
Follow-up Study on Electroconvulsive Therapy in Treatment-resistant Depressed Patients after Remission: A Chart Review

Objective Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has proven to be effective in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). In recent reports, 70% to 90% of patients with TRD responded to ECT. However, post-ECT relapse is a significant problem. There are no studies investigating risk factors associated with reintroducing ECT in depressive patients after remission previously achieved with former ECT. The aim of the present study is to examine such risk factors using a sample of TRD patients. Methods We conducted a chart review to examine patient outcomes and adverse events over short- and long-term periods. Forty-two patients met the criteria for major depressive disorder. Results The response rate was 85.7% (36/42). There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics of patients exhibiting remission, response or non-response. The rate of adverse events was 21.4% (9/42). Among 34 patients who were available for follow-up, 18 patients relapsed (relapse rate, 52.9%), and 6 patients were reintroduced to ECT. The patients' age and age of onset were significantly higher in the re-ECT group than non re-ECT group. Conclusion Our results suggest that older age and older age of onset might be considered for requirement of re-ECT after remission previously achieved with former ECT.
Mechanisms for scheduling games with selfish players

Many challenges in operations research involve optimization. In particular, scheduling treats the optimal planning of tasks. This thesis focusses on machine scheduling models, where a number of tasks, called jobs, need to be scheduled on one or more machines. The outcome is determined by which job is scheduled on which machine and in what order the jobs will be processed by those machines. Classic optimization models often assume the availability of perfect information and the possibility of centralized control. Algorithmic game theory deals with optimization models, where such assumptions are dropped. This leads to settings where jobs are considered players of a game, that is designed by the optimizer. The rules of such a game, called the mechanism, are sometimes fixed in which case a worst-case analysis of the system performance, called price of anarchy, can be done. If such a mechanism is not fixed, a mechanism can be designed to perform optimally. This thesis treats several classic scheduling models in different game theoretic settings. First is an analysis of the price of anarchy for the related machines scheduling model with sum of completion times objective and selfish jobs. Both an upper bound and a lower bound are given, as well as a new characterization of optimal solutions. Second, the optimal mechanism design for the two-dimensional scheduling mechanism design problem is treated. While for single-dimensional mechanism design it is well known that optimal solutions can be found efficiently for most settings, the knowledge of optimal mechanism design for multi-dimensional problems is limited. The results from this thesis show that for the scheduling problem with two-dimensional private types, the optimal, randomized mechanism can in fact be found efficiently with the use of LP-techniques. Furthermore, the resulting interim allocations can be decomposed into a lottery over deterministic schedules. While randomized mechanisms can be found efficiently, finding deterministic mechanisms still remains a challenge. This thesis also shows that the use of heuristics based on the so-called type graph is a promising approach toward applying simple, efficient mechanisms.
Visual attention to reproductively relevant stimuli: The role of sex-linked biological and social factors

Visual Attention to Reproductively Relevant Stimuli: The Role of Sex-Linked Biological and Social Factors. (December 2011) Nora Elizabeth Charles, B.A., Northwestern University; M.S., Texas A&M University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Gerianne M. Alexander Research examining interest in stimuli associated with evolved reproductive motivations has demonstrated sex differences in preferences for potential mates and infants, as well as traits and states associated with increased attention to same-sex rivals. Manipulations of reproductive motivations (e.g., mate searching) have also been shown to affect visual attention to these types of stimuli. Most of this work has focused on physical attractiveness in adult targets, which evolutionary theories of mate preferences suggest is less important than social status for women’s mate selection, and no research to date has measured patterns of visual attention to infants. Additionally, the stimuli used in past research tend to have low ecological validity and it is not known whether the preferences displayed generalize to the perception of more realistic stimuli. Finally, the potential effects of circulating testosterone on attention to reproductively relevant stimuli have been studied only in very limited ways in men. In the current project, participants self-reported personality traits and characteristics associated with relationships and sexuality, provided samples for analysis of circulating testosterone, were selected to
A deterministic view of random sampling and its use in geometry

The combination of divide-and-conquer and random sampling has proven very effective in the design of fast geometric algorithms. A flurry of efficient probabilistic algorithms have been recently discovered, based on this happy marriage. We show that all those algorithms can be derandomized with only polynomial overhead. In the process we establish results of independent interest concerning the covering of hypergraphs and we improve on various probabilistic bounds in geometric complexity. For example, givenn hyperplanes ind-space and any integerr large enough, we show how to compute, in polynomial time, a simplicial packing of sizeO(rd) which coversd-space, each of whose simplices intersectsO(n/r) hyperplanes.
Méthodologies de conception de systèmes dans le médical : prise en compte des spécificités utilisateurs

Ce memoire d’Habilitation a Diriger des Recherche se veut etre un resume de mes activites professionnelles d’enseignements, de responsabilites administratives et de recherche scientifique Les activites de recherche sur lesquelles porte mon travail sont orientees autour des methodologies de conception de produits dans le domaine du handicap et de la sante en general. Les concepts theoriques tels que la Conception Centree Utilisateur, la Conception basee sur les Scenarios, la Conception Participative et la Recherche Action constituent les elements me permettant de construire mes experimentations et generer mes concepts. Des developpements de produits avec des therapeutes et des praticiens hospitaliers sont presentes. Des conceptions et fabrications de de produits avec des personnes en situation de handicap sont montrees. Ces experiences me permettent de proposer des methodes de conception integrant les specificites des utilisateurs finaux dans le processus de conception. Je montre dans ce document, la synergie existante entre mes activites enseignements – recherche – responsabilites administratives – associations citoyennes. L’importance de l’interdisciplinarite techno-sante autour des utilisateurs finaux et mes implications permanentes sur le terrain avec les tous les acteurs de la conception constituent l’essentiel de mes motivations en tant qu’acteur dans notre societe.
Field trial of a dual device user experience for iTV

With the rise in highly capable, mobile and networked secondary devices, the two-screen Enhanced TV is a more plausible proposition today than ever before. This paper presents a field trial of a prototype that aimed to understand a conceptual merger of TV and second screen user experiences. Our prototype concept can be described as a companion device experience that enhances TV viewing by providing auxiliary information and media on a second screen. The additional media is semantically related and synchronized, in terms of timeline, to the TV content. We ran a three-week field trial in 11 households. Participants used our prototype as a companion to their TV shows. We provided a total of 43 episodes from 10 popular TV shows throughout the study period. Overall feedback to our concept was quite positive. 10 out of our 11 participants said they enjoyed the experience. Our prototype allowed participants to better connect with their TV shows and have an enriched social life around TV. We also report some of the discovered user desires regarding user interaction design such as kinds of customization controls needed and the pacing of posts of additional information to the second screen.
The Study of Enterprise Working Time Optimization Simulation System Considering the Peak-Valley Power Price

The peak-valley time of use (TOU) power price is an effective demand side management measure which affects the power consumption way of the end-users via price mechanism. With the help of the peak-valley power price policy, an enterprise working time optimization and benefit analysis simulation system is designed and realized, which can guide the industrial users to optimize and adjust the work time reasonably in the condition of ensuring the total power consumption invariant. Firstly, the two most important constraint factors that influence the system design are analyzed. Then, the realization process of the simulation system is described detailedly. Finally, the system functions are verified by a case analysis. The results show that the system can assist the enterprise to reduce the electricity cost and support the power grid companies to realize the demand side management and peak load shaving through simulating the adjustment of the enterprise work time or the power consumption of a certain period for the simulation analysis the power consumption condition of the enterprise.
Speaking the Truth in Maritime Risk Assessment

Several major risk studies have been performed in recent years in the maritime transportation domain. These studies have had significant impact on management practices in the industry. The first, the Prince William Sound risk assessment, was reviewed by the National Research Council and found to be promising but incomplete, as the uncertainty in its results was not assessed. The difficulty in assessing this uncertainty is the different techniques that need to be used to model risk in this dynamic and data‐scarce application area. In previous articles, we have developed the two pieces of methodology necessary to assess uncertainty in maritime risk assessment, a Bayesian simulation of the occurrence of situations with accident potential and a Bayesian multivariate regression analysis of the relationship between factors describing these situations and expert judgments of accident risk. In this article, we combine the methods to perform a full‐scale assessment of risk and uncertainty for two case studies. The first is an assessment of the effects of proposed ferry service expansions in San Francisco Bay. The second is an assessment of risk for the Washington State Ferries, the largest ferry system in the United States.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Sports-Related Concussion : Cerebral Blood Flow Abnormalities Predict Time to Return to Play

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between athlete report of symptoms, neurophysiological activation and neuropsychological functioning is investiga ted in a sample of high school athletes. METHODS: All athletes were evaluated using functional Magnetic R esonance Imaging (fMRI), a computer-based battery of neurocognitive tests and a sub jective symptom scale. Athletes were evaluated within approximately one week of injury and again following clinical recovery using all assessment modalities. RESULTS: This study found that abnormal fMRI results during the fi rst week of recovery predicted clinical recovery. As a group, athletes who demo nstrated hyperactivation on fMRI scans at the time of their first fMRI scan demonstrated a m ore prolonged clinical recovery than did athletes who did not demonstrate hyperactivation at the time of their first fMRI scan. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate the relationship between neurophysiological, neuropsychological and subjective symptom data in a relatively large sample composed primarily of concussed high school athletes. fMRI represents an i mportant evolving technology for the understanding of brain recovery following concussion and m ay help shape return to play guidelines in the future.
Prognostic significance of prolonged PR interval in the general population.

AIMS Prolonged PR interval, or first degree AV block, has been traditionally regarded as a benign electrocardiographic finding in healthy individuals, until recent studies have suggested that it may be associated with increased mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to further elucidate clinical and prognostic importance of prolonged PR interval in a large middle-aged population with a long follow-up. METHODS AND RESULTS We evaluated 12-lead electrocardiograms of 10 785 individuals aged 30-59 years (mean age 44 years, 52% males) recorded between 1966 and 1972, and followed the subjects for 30 ± 11 years. Prolonged PR interval was defined as PR >200 ms, with further analysis performed using PR ≥220 ms. Main endpoints were all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and sudden cardiac death, and other endpoints included hospitalizations due to cardiovascular causes. During the baseline examination, prolonged PR interval >200 ms was present in 2.1% of the subjects, but PR interval normalized to ≤200 ms in 30% of these individuals during the follow-up. No increase in mortality or in hospitalizations due to coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, or stroke was associated with prolonged PR interval (P = non-significant for all endpoints). These results were not changed after multivariate adjustment or in several subanalyses. CONCLUSION In the middle-aged general population, prolonged PR interval normalizes in a substantial proportion of subjects during the time course, and it is not associated with an increased risk of all-cause or cardiovascular mortality.
Recherche d'informations dans un système d'autodocumentation informatisé : Compte rendu d'expériences et proposition d'un modèle de l'activité

Dans cet article, nous presentons deux experimentations sur l'evaluation des maquettes du systeme d'autodocumentation informatise «CD-Itineraire». Cette evaluation montre que dans l'informatisation de l'auto-information sous forme d'hypertexte, il est utile de prevoir un retour continu du sujet sur sa demarche et sur son niveau de connaissance pendant la phase de lecture / recherche d'information. Une activite de «balayage d'informations» permet en outre d'affiner progressivement les objectifs d'information. En bref, l'utilisation pedagogique de l'hypertexte nous permet de developper des outils d'information capables de gerer une situation ou le sujet ne sait pas toujours precisement ce qu'il cherche. Cette etude propose aussi un modele de l'activite de recherche d'informations, a deux niveaux : le niveau local (selection d'une information, traitement et evaluation de la pertinence de cette information) et le niveau global (planification d'une strategie, integration de nouvelles connaissances, evaluation des resultats). Nous suggerons que cette derniere activite gagnerait a etre etudiee en relation avec d'autres activites impliquees dans l'orientation scolaire et professionnelle (prise de decision par exemple)
Web 2.0 Mining: Analyzing Social Media

Social media systems such as blogs, photo and link sharing sites, wikis and on-line forums are estimated to produce up to one third of new Web content. One thing that sets these ”Web 2.0” sites apart from traditional Web pages and resources is that they are intertwined with other forms of networked data. Their standard hyperlinks are enriched by social networks, comments, trackbacks, advertisements, tags, RDF data and metadata. We describe recent work on building systems that analyse these emerging social media systems to recognize spam blogs, find opinions on topics, identify communities of interest, derive trust relationships, and detect influential bloggers.