Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Indian Metropolis: Native Americans in Chicago, 1945-75

Indian Metropolis: Native Americans in Chicago, 1945-75. By James B. LaGrand. (Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 2002. Pp. Xii, 284. Illus., notes, bib., index. Cloth, $34.95). In September 2004 the Smithsonian Institution will open a new museum in Washington, D.C. : The Museum of the North American Indian. The first exhibit will feature three native communities, including the Chicago American Indian Center (CAIC). The nation's oldest urban Indian center, the CAIC is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year (2003-2004). James B. LaGrand's Indian Metropolis: Native Americans in Chicago, 1945-75 comes just in time to celebrate both of these milestones. Indeed, despite popular images of Indians as rural, reservation-based people, during the second half of the twentieth century the majority of American Indians had moved to cities (as many as 53 percent by 1980). Focusing on Chicago's Indian community, LaGrand uses the methods of immigration studies to explore this population shift and the experiences of the native people who took part in it. He then examines the move's effect on peoples' tribal identities, offering the reader a strong social and cultural history. By demonstrating that American Indian people of the upper midwest were a part of Chicago's hinterland, he also adds a human aspect to the economic interactions described by William Cronon in Nature's Metropolis. An important addition to the slowly-growing literature on the history of urban Indians, LaGrand's book also captures a dimension of Chicago's neighborhood history that will interest a general audience. LaGrand argues that no single factor can explain the rapid urbanization of Indians in the 1950s and 1960s. In this he differs from previous historians who have focused exclusively on the federal policies of relocating Indians to urban centers and trying to terminate their official tribal status. Instead he explores the decisions of individual native people using immigration history's model of push and pull factors. In addition to federal relocation policy, he argues that push factors included reservation poverty and lack of job opportunities. The availability of wartime jobs, the offreservation experiences of veterans, and a higher standard of living all constituted pull factors. LaGrand also claims that the move fit into older native patterns of economic mobility. Finally, like many immigrant groups, chain migration played an important role in pulling Indian people to Chicago. LaGrand also recognizes that such factors as timing of migration, tribal affiliation, and gender all affected migration patterns and experiences. Rather than focus on a monolithic "Indian" experience, therefore, he uses untapped federal relocation files to point out significant tribal differences. For example, he demonstrates that Sioux migrants tended to move to Chicago in family groups while Chippewa (Ojibwa) people were younger, single, and more often female. …
Learning to Avoid Objects and Dock with a Mobile Robot

In this paper we describe a novel robot learning method that enables a mobile robot equipped with sonar and IR light sensors to automatically acquire the ability to negotiate objects and dock by simply interacting with the environment. We achieve this by providing the robot with sonar and IR sensors for detecting objects and the relative direction of IR beacons placed in the environment. A set of fuzzy associative maps (FAMs) is also provided to the robot for learning associations between sonar sensor data, immediate trajectories and appropriate velocities for traversing trajectories. Learning is performed in real time without the credit assignment problem by training each FAM with training data acquired from sonar sensors and the robot’s interactions with the environment. Once the robot learns to adequately perceive its environment in terms of trajectory velocities, object aviodance, and docking behaviour is possible by providing the robot with a single instruction to: follow fast trajectories toward highest priority beacons. Results are provided that show how this learning approach can automatically enable a mobile robot to acquire navigation skills and the ability to locate and dock with its charging bay within cluttered environments.
Psychology of Religion and Spirituality

Numerous studies on prayer have demonstrated the benefits of prayer on relationships, physical and mental health, and overall well-being. Given the practical benefits of prayer, understanding how laypersons conceive of prayer could supply valuable information to practicing clinicians and researchers seeking to establish a more nuanced understanding on what qualities of prayer contribute to its benefits. Utilizing a prototype approach, this study sought to understand how laypersons perceive the conceptual elements of prayer by identifying central and peripheral characteristics associated with prayer. To effectively assess laypersons' perspectives on the concept of prayer, the researchers utilized a prototype approach to determine what features (e.g. thanking God, listening, comfort) are most commonly attributed to the concept of prayer. The researchers conducted four studies that built on one another. The participants in the four studies (Study 1: N = 73; Study 2: N = 57; Study 3: N = 245; Study 4: N = 48) were all undergraduate students from a large, public university in the Southeastern United States. The median age of the samples was 19, and approximately 78% of the samples were female. In Study 1, participants were asked to generate a list of characteristics and attributes they "think of when they think of the word prayer" (p. 57). The list of all features generated by the participants were compiled, organized, and distilled into attribute categories of prayer. Three research assistants were assigned to code the attributes in such a way to maintain unique characteristics associated with prayer, while eliminating redundant words or phrases with similar meanings. The coding procedure extracted 232 prayer characteristics, of which 158 were eliminated due to being listed by two or less participants, leaving 74 prayer attributes. Next, Study 2 presented the previously gathered prayer attributes to participants and asked them to rate the attributes on their centrality to prayer (i.e. how important each attribute is related to the concept of prayer). Participants rated the attributes centrality to prayer on an 8-point scale (1 = least central to 8 = most central). The participants also used an 8-point scale to rate how positive or negative an attribute was (1 = very negative to 8 = very positive). The mean centrality ratings were computed using descriptive statistics and listed in order of strength of centrality. Some examples of the attributes with the highest centrality include God, Can be done at anytime, and Thanking God. Additionally, the prayer attributes were generally rated positively (M = 5.54, SD =.71), with 81% of the attributes receiving an average rating of 5 (out of 8). Some examples of highly positive items include, God, family, and love. Study 3 assessed whether "participants perceived behaviors described in a scenario as better characterizing prayer when central, as opposed to peripheral, [attributes] were used in the description" (p. …
The challenges of specifying intervals and absences in temporal queries: a graphical language approach

In our burgeoning world of ubiquitous sensors and affordable data storage, records of timestamped events are being produced across nearly every domain of personal and professional computing. The resulting data surge has created an overarching need to search these records for meaningful patterns of events. This paper reports on a two-part user study, as well as a series of early tests and interviews with clinical researchers, that informed the development of two temporal query interfaces: a basic, menu-based interface and an advanced, graphic-based interface. While the scope of temporal query is very broad, this work focuses on two particularly complex and critical facets of temporal event sequences: intervals (events with both a start time and an end time), and the absence of an event. We describe how users encounter a common set of difficulties when specifying such queries, and propose solutions to help overcome them. Finally, we report on two case studies with epidemiologists at the US Army Pharmacovigilance Center, illustrating how both query interfaces were used to study patterns of drug use.
The effects of a cafeteria diet on insulin production and clearance in rats

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of a cafeteria diet on the function and apoptosis of the pancreas, and the activity and expression of the insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE). Female Wistar rats were fed either with a cafeteria diet or a control diet for 17 weeks, and blood and tissues were then collected for analysis. The cafeteria diet-treated rats had higher plasma insulin and C-peptide levels (P < 0·05), showing increased insulin secretion by the pancreas. Insulin protein and gene expression levels were higher in the pancreas of obese rats, as was its transcriptional controller, pancreatic duodenal homeobox 1 (P < 0·05). Feeding a cafeteria diet down-regulated the gene expression of the anti-apoptotic marker B-cell/lymphoma 2 (BCL2), and up-regulated the protein levels of BCL2-associated X protein, a pro-apoptotic marker (P < 0·05). The cafeteria diet caused lipid accumulation in the pancreas and modified the expression of key genes that control lipid metabolism. To assay whether insulin clearance was also modified, we checked the activity of the IDE, one of the enzymes responsible for insulin clearance. We found increased liver IDE activity (P < 0·05) in the cafeteria diet-fed animals, which could, in part, be due to an up-regulation of its gene expression. Conversely, IDE gene expression was unmodified in the kidney and adipose tissue; although when the adipose tissue weight was considered, the insulin clearance potential was higher in the cafeteria diet-treated rats. In conclusion, treatment with a cafeteria diet for 17 weeks in rats mimicked a pre-diabetic state, with ectopic lipid accumulation in the pancreas, and increased the IDE-mediated insulin clearance capability.
Development of methanol sensor using shear horizontal surface acoustic wave devices for direct methanol fuel cells

Concentration of methanol (MeOH) solution is measured using a shear horizontal surface acoustic wave (SH-SAW) sensor. In this study, the SH-SAW sensor is applied as a MeOH sensor for a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). Bubbles are generated at high temperature and the sensor responses are influenced. By circulating the MeOH solution, the influence of the bubbles reduces. The long time stability at different flow rate and temperature are measured. A formic acid is generated during the electrode reaction in DMFC. To reduce the influence of formic acid showed that high frequency SH-SAW sensor must be used.
The role of interstitial brachytherapy in the management of primary radiation therapy for uterine cervical cancer

Purpose The aim of this study was to report the clinical results of uterine cervical cancer patients treated by primary radiation therapy including brachytherapy, and investigate the role of interstitial brachytherapy (ISBT). Material and methods All consecutive uterine cervical cancer patients who were treated by primary radiation therapy were reviewed, and those who were treated by ISBT were further investigated for clinical outcomes and related toxicities. Results From December 2008 to October 2014, 209 consecutive uterine cervical cancer patients were treated with primary radiation therapy. Among them, 142 and 42 patients were treated by intracavitary and hybrid brachytherapy, respectively. Twenty-five patients (12%) were treated by high-dose-rate (HDR)-ISBT. Five patients with distant metastasis other than para-aortic lymph node were excluded, and 20 patients consisted of the analysis. Three-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and local control (LC) rate were 44.4%, 38.9%, and 87.8%, respectively. Distant metastasis was the most frequent site of first relapse after HDR-ISBT. One and four patients experienced grade 3 and 2 rectal bleeding, one grade 2 cystitis, and two grade 2 vaginal ulcer. Conclusions Feasibility and favorable local control of interstitial brachytherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer was demonstrated through a single institutional experience with a small number of patients.
Les agriculteurs innovent par eux-mêmes pour leurs systèmes de culture

L'innovation est ici comprise a la fois comme un processus de creation et d'inscription d'une nouveaute, technique ou organisationnelle, dans un milieu socio-economique. Les sciences socia/es ont developpe differents modeles pour decrire la place des agriculteurs dans ces processus. Le developpement de collectifs professionnels autour d'alter-natives techniques qu'ils creent les moyens qu'ils developpent pour les faire evoluer et les adapter aux situations singulieres, ou encore pour les faire reconnaitre par d'autres agriculteurs ou par la societe, sont des sources de renouvellement des questions scientifiques sur l'innovation en agriculture. L'accompagnement de ces collectifs par des acteurs du developpement implique des formes d'action particulieres, visant a sus-citer l'autonomie decisionnelle; la creativite, et a valoriser la dynamique collective dans les processus d'innovation. (Resume d'auteur)
International Conference on Structural Dynamics , EURODYN 2017 Hysteresis based vibration control of base-isolated structures

An active control strategy for base-isolated structures is proposed in this work. The key idea comes from the observation that passive base isolation systems are hysteretic. Thus, an hysteresis based vibration control is designed in a way that the control force is smooth and limited by a prescribed bound. A model of a three-story building is used to study and compare the efficacy of a passive pure friction damper alone, with the addition of the proposed active control. We introduce a rate limiter to the actuator to simulate its limited speed capacity, present in every physical actuator. Simulations demonstrate that our active control strategy significantly reduces base displacements and shears without an increase in drift or accelerations. c 2017 he uthors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. 2017.
Z-osteotomy in hallux valgus: clinical and radiological outcome after Scarf osteotomy

Correction osteotomies of the first metatarsal are common surgical approaches in treating hallux valgus deformities whereas the Scarf osteotomy has gained popularity. The purpose of this study was to analyze short- and mid-term results in hallux valgus patients who underwent a Scarf osteotomy. The subjective and radiological outcome of 131 Scarf osteotomies (106 hallux valgus patients, mean age: 57.5 years, range: 22–90 years) were retrospectively analyzed. Mean follow-up was 22.4 months (range: 6 months–5 years). Surgical indications were: intermetatarsal angle (IMA) of 12–23°; increased proximal articular angle (PAA>8°), and range of motion of the metatarsophalangeal joint in flexion and extension >40°. Exclusion criteria were severe osteoporosis and/or osteoarthritis. The mean subjective range of motion (ROM) of the great toe post-surgery was 0.8±1.73 points (0: full ROM, 10: total stiffness). The mean subjective cosmetic result was 2.7±2.7 points (0: excellent, 10: poor). The overall post-operative patient satisfaction with the result was high (2.1±2.5 points (0: excellent, 10: poor). The mean hallux valgus angle improvement was 16.6° (pre-operative mean value: 37.5°) which was statistically significant (p<0.01). The IMA improved by an average of 5.96° from a pre-operative mean value of 15.4° (p<0.01). Neither osteonecrosis of the distal fragment nor perioperative fractures were noted during the follow-up. In keeping with our follow-up results, the Scarf osteotomy approach shows potential in the therapy of hallux valgus.
Entropy-based correction of eye tracking data for static scenes

In a typical head-mounted eye tracking system, any small slippage of the eye tracker headband on the participant's head leads to a systematic error in the recorded gaze positions. While various approaches exist that reduce these errors at recording time, only few methods reduce the errors of a given tracking system after recording. In this paper we introduce a novel correction algorithm that can significantly reduce the drift in recorded gaze data for eye tracking experiments that use static stimuli. The algorithm is entropy-based and needs no prior knowledge about the stimuli shown or the tasks participants accomplish during the experiment.
Processing Overt and Null Subject Pronouns in Italian: a Cognitive Model

In this paper, we present a cognitive model that simulates the processing of subject pronouns in Italian. The model is implemented in the cognitive architecture ACT-R and uses hierarchically ranked constraints to select the most likely referent of a pronoun. When this model is combined with a measure of accessibility in discourse and a processing time limit imposed by the speed of natural language production, the model accounts for novel empirical data of the interpretation of null as well as overt subject pronouns in Italian. The model generates concrete predictions on the basis of variations in cognitive capacities, which can be tested in subsequent experiments.
Genomic screen for loci associated with alcohol dependence in Mission Indians

Alcohol dependence is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Native Americans, yet biological factors underlying the disorder in this ethnic group remain illusive. This study's aims were to map susceptibility loci for DSM‐III‐R alcohol dependence and two narrower alcohol‐related phenotypes in Mission Indian families. Each participant gave a blood sample and completed an interview using the Semi‐Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism (SSAGA) that was used to make alcohol dependence diagnoses and the narrower phenotypes of withdrawal, and drinking severity. Genotypes were determined for a panel 791 microsatellite polymorphisms. Analyses of multipoint variance component LOD scores for the dichotomous DSM‐III‐R phenotype revealed no peak LOD scores that exceeded 2.0 at any chromosome location. Two chromosomes, 4 and 12, had peak LOD scores that exceeded 2 for the alcohol use severity phenotype and three chromosomes 6, 15, 16 were found to have peaks with LOD scores that exceeded 2 for the withdrawal phenotype. Evidence for linkage to chromosomes 4 and 15, and 16 have been reported previously for alcohol related phenotypes whereas no evidence has as yet been reported for chromosomes 6 and 12. Combined linkage and association analysis suggest that alcohol dehydrogenase 1B gene polymorphisms are partially responsible for the linkage result on chromosome 4 in this population. These results corroborate the importance of several chromosomal regions highlighted in prior segregation studies in alcoholism and further identify new regions of the genome that may be unique to either the restricted phenotypes evaluated or this population of Mission Indians. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of Free Fatty Acid Metabolism in Vivo

Abstract: In order to enable detailed studies of free fatty acid (FFA) metabolism, we recently introduced a method for the evaluation of tissue‐specific FFA metabolism in vivo. The method is based on the simultaneous use of 14C‐palmitate (14C‐P) and the non‐β‐oxidizable FFA analogue, [9,10‐3H]‐(R)‐2‐bromopalmitate (3H‐R‐BrP). Indices of total FFA utilization and incorporation into storage products are obtained from tissue concentrations of 3H and 14C, respectively, following intravenous administration of 3H‐R‐BrP and 14C‐P and their disappearance from plasma into tissues. This review covers the basis for, and developments in, the methodology, as well as some of the applications to date. In the rat, the method has been used to characterize tissue‐specific alterations in FFA metabolism in various situations, including skeletal muscle contraction, fasting, hyperinsulinemia, and various pharmacological manipulations. The results of all these studies clearly demonstrate tissue‐level control of FFA utilization and metabolic fate, refuting the traditional view that FFA utilization is simply supply‐driven. Recent developments enable the simultaneous evaluation of both tissue‐specific FFA and glucose metabolism by integrating the use of 2‐deoxyglucose and stable isotope‐labeled glucose tracers. In conclusion, the 3H‐R‐BrP methodology, especially in combination with other tracers, represents a powerful tool for elucidation of tissue‐specific fatty acid metabolism in vivo.
Homing abilities of the Australian intertidal ant Polyrhachis sokolova

SUMMARY The pressure of returning to and locating the nest after a successful foraging trip is immense in ants. To find their way back home, ants use a number of different strategies (e.g. path integration, trail following) and rely on a range of cues (e.g. pattern of polarised skylight, landmark panorama) available in their environment. How ants weigh different cues has been a question of great interest and has primarily been addressed in the desert ants from Africa and Australia. We here identify the navigational abilities of an intertidal ant, Polyrhachis sokolova, that lives on mudflats where nests and foraging areas are frequently inundated with tidal water. We find that these solitary foraging ants rely heavily on visual landmark information for navigation, but they are also capable of path integration. By displacing ants with and without vector information at different locations within the local familiar territory, we created conflicts between information from the landmarks and information from the path integrator. The homing success of full-vector ants, compared with the zero-vector ants, when displaced 5 m behind the feeder, indicate that vector information had to be coupled with landmark information for successful homing. To explain the differences in the homing abilities of ants from different locations we determined the navigational information content at each release station and compared it with that available at the feeder location. We report here the interaction of multiple navigation strategies in the context of the information content in the environment.
A Multi-Stage Framework for Dantzig Selector and LASSO

We consider the following sparse signal recovery (or feature selection) problem: given a design matrix X ∈ Rn×m (m ≫ n) and a noisy observation vector y ∈ Rn satisfying y = Xβ* + e where e is the noise vector following a Gaussian distribution N(0,σ2I), how to recover the signal (or parameter vector) β* when the signal is sparse? The Dantzig selector has been proposed for sparse signal recovery with strong theoretical guarantees. In this paper, we propose a multi-stage Dantzig selector method, which iteratively refines the target signal β*. We show that if X obeys a certain condition, then with a large probability the difference between the solution β estimated by the proposed method and the true solution β* measured in terms of the lp norm (p ≥ 1) is bounded as ||β-β*||p ≤ (C(s-N)1/p√log m + Δ)σ, where C is a constant, s is the number of nonzero entries in β*, the risk of the oracle estimator Δ is independent of m and is much smaller than the first term, and N is the number of entries of β* larger than a certain value in the order of O(σ√log m). The proposed method improves the estimation bound of the standard Dantzig selector approximately from Cs1/p √logmσ to C(s-N)1/p√logmσ where the value N depends on the number of large entries in β*. When N = s, the proposed algorithm achieves the oracle solution with a high probability, where the oracle solution is the projection of the observation vector y onto true features. In addition, with a large probability, the proposed method can select the same number of correct features under a milder condition than the Dantzig selector. Finally, we extend this multi-stage procedure to the LASSO case.