Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Haematopoietic and endothelial progenitor cells are deficient in quiescent systemic lupus erythematosus

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) contribute to vascular regeneration and repair, thereby protecting against atherosclerotic disease. EPCs are derived from CD34+ haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which have an increased propensity for apoptosis in the bone marrow of patients with SLE. Aim: To determine whether circulating HSCs and EPCs are reduced in SLE, contributing to an increased cardiovascular risk. Methods: Progenitor cells were sampled from 15 female patients with SLE in prolonged clinical remission from their disease and 15 matched healthy controls. HSC and CD34+KDR+ EPCs were quantified by flow cytometry. Annexin V staining was used to identify apoptotic cells. Results: Patients with SLE had reduced levels of circulating CD34+ HSCs and CD34+KDR+ EPCs, associated with increased HSC apoptosis. Compared with controls, the fraction of HSCs that could be identified as EPCs was higher in patients with SLE, consistent with a primary defect of HSCs. EPC outgrowth from mononuclear cells, which depends mainly on CD34− cells, was unaffected. Conclusions: Patients with SLE have lower levels of circulating HSCs and EPCs, even during clinical remission. The data suggest that increased HSC apoptosis is the underlying cause for this depletion. These observations indicate that progenitor cell-mediated endogenous vascular repair is impaired in SLE, which may contribute to the accelerated development of atherosclerosis.
Design and Analysis of Low-Density Parity-Check Codes for Block-Fading Channels

We solve the problem of designing powerful low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes with iterative decoding for the block-fading channel. We present a new family of full-diversity LDPC codes that exhibit near outage limit performance. This family competes with multiplexed parallel turbo codes suitable for non-ergodic channels and recently reported in the literature.
Developmental increase in the duration of memory for tone pitch.

This research examined developmental change in the duration of memory for tome pitch. In Experiment 1, the persistence of memory for pitch was examined with a 2-tone comparison task in children 6-7 and 10-12 years old and in adults. Because pitch perception differences could contaminate the measure of memory, the frequency difference between tones was adjusted for each subject until a criterion level of performance was reached. In a subsequent test phase, the resulting frequency difference was maintained but the time between tones was varied. Performance deteriorated across the intertone interval more quickly in younger than in older subjects. Experiment 2 demonstrated that the developmental difference in pitch memory persistence is unlikely to be based on the development of strategic processing
Automatic virtual calibration of range-based indoor localization systems

The localization methods based on received signal strength indicator (RSSI) link the RSSI values to the position of the mobile to be located. In the RSSI localization techniques based on propagation models, the accuracy depends on the tuning of the propagation models parameters. In indoor wireless networks, the propagation conditions are hardly predictable due to the dynamic nature of the RSSI, and consequently the parameters of the propagation model may change. In this paper, we present an automatic virtual calibration method of the propagation model that does not require human intervention; therefore, can be periodically performed, following the wireless channel conditions. We also propose a novel RSSI-based localization algorithm that selects the RSSI values according to their strength, and uses a calibrated propagation model to transform these values into distances, in order to estimate the position of the mobile. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (We propose an automatic calibration procedure of the signal propagation model that is only based on the RSSIs measured among the anchors and that can be executed periodically and automatically (i.e., without human intervention). Based on the virtual calibration procedure, we propose a localization algorithm that selects the anchors with higher signal strength, and it exploits the calibrated propagation model to relate RSSI measures with distances. Finally, in order to provide the mobile position, the algorithm uses a trilateration method. )
Toward Measuring Defect Debt and Developing a Recommender system for their prioritization ∗

Software development managers make a release decision without fully resolving the defects from current and previous releases due to tight deadlines. Deferring the defects would accumulate a tremendous amount of technical debt in the system. Typically, the defect debts are defined as the type of defect that should be fixed. However, due to competing priorities and the limited amount of time and resources, they would be postponed to the next release. In order to aid practitioners ,who make release decisions, to observe the amount of debt, there is a need for quantifying the defect debt. Software bug repositories roughly provide us with information about the amount of time the defect debt exist in the system, the time the defects are resolved and the severity of the defect. We suggest categorizing the defect into the regular defect and debt prone defect by analyzing this information. Afterwards, we compare the regular defect and debt-prone defect to determine the principal, interest and interest probability of defect debt. We also propose the reinforcement learning for scheduling which defect debt needs to be paid and when they need to be paid.
Block by ruthenium red of the ryanodine-activated calcium release channel of skeletal muscle

The effects of ruthenium red and the related compounds tetraamine palladium (4APd) and tetraamine platinum (4APt) were studied on the ryanodine activated Ca2+ release channel reconstituted in planar bilayers with the immunoaffinity purified ryanodine receptor. Ruthenium red, applied at submicromolar concentrations to the myoplasmic side (cis), induced an all-or-none flickery block of the ryanodine activated channel. The blocking effect was strongly voltage dependent, as large positive potentials that favored the movement of ruthenium red into the channel conduction pore produced stronger block. The half dissociation constants (Kd) for ruthenium red block of the 500 pS channel were 0.22, 0.38, and 0.62 microM, at +100, +80, and +60 mV, respectively. Multiple ruthenium red molecules seemed to be involved in the inhibition, because a Hill coefficient of close to 2 was obtained from the dose response curve. The half dissociation constant of ruthenium red block of the lower conductance state of the ryanodine activated channel (250 pS) was higher (Kd = 0.82 microM at +100 mV), while the Hill coefficient remained approximately the same (nH = 2.7). Ruthenium red block of the channel was highly asymmetric, as trans ruthenium red produced a different blocking effect. The blocking and unblocking events (induced by cis ruthenium red) can be resolved at the single channel level at a cutoff frequency of 2 kHz. The closing rate of the channel in the presence of ruthenium red increased linearly with ruthenium red concentration, and the unblocking rate of the channel was independent of ruthenium red concentrations. This suggests that ruthenium red block of the channel occurred via a simple blocking mechanism. The on-rate of ruthenium red binding to the channel was 1.32 x 10(9) M-1 s-1, and the off-rate of ruthenium red binding was 0.75 x 10(3) s-1 at +60 mV, in the presence of 200 nM ryanodine. The two related compounds, 4APd and 4APt, blocked the channel in a similar way to that of ruthenium red. These compounds inhibited the open channel with lower affinities (Kd = 170 microM, 4APd; Kd = 656 microM, 4APt), and had Hill coefficients of close to 1. The results suggest that ruthenium red block of the ryanodine receptor is due to binding to multiple sites located in the conduction pore of the channel.
Does Acute Side-alternating Vibration Exercise Enhance Ballistic Upper-body Power?

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acute vibration exercise, at 2 different frequencies, on upper body power output. Muscle activity (EMG) and upper-body peak power was measured in 12 healthy males during ballistic bench press throws at 30% of 1-repetition maximum on a Smith machine. Measures were made prior to, 30 s and 5 min after one of 3 conditions performed for 30 s in a press-up position: side-alternating vibration at 20 Hz, 26 Hz and no vibration. EMG was recorded in the anterior deltoid, triceps brachii and pectoralis major during ballistic bench press throws as well as during application of each condition. While peak power output was higher at 5 min post condition across all conditions, compared to baseline measures (P<0.05), only 20 Hz vibration resulted in a significant increase in peak power output (P<0.05) compared to no vibration. EMG was greater during both vibration conditions, compared to no vibration (P<0.001). However, this difference was not evident during bench press throws when no difference was seen in muscle activity between conditions. These findings suggest that 20 Hz vibration has an ergogenic effect on upper-body power that may be due to peripheral, rather than central, mediated mechanisms.
Differential IGF‐independent effects of insulin‐like growth factor binding proteins (1–6) on apoptosis of breast epithelial cells

We have demonstrated previously that insulin‐like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)‐3 alone has little growth inhibitory effect on Hs578T human breast cancer cells, but that it can dramatically accentuate the apoptotic response to the physiological trigger, ceramide, in an IGF‐independent manner. We have now studied the potential of other IGFBPs (1–6) to interact with apoptotic signalling pathways. Hs578T cells were preincubated with a binding protein (100 ng/ml) for 24 h, followed by co‐incubation of the binding protein with an apoptotic dose of ceramide or RGD‐containing peptide for a further 24 h. Apoptosis was assessed using flow cytometry, MTT (3‐[4,5‐Dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl]‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide; thiazolyl blue) assay and morphological assessment. Binding protein profiles were determined using ligand and immunoblotting techniques. Each of the IGFBPs (1–6) alone had no significant (P > 0.05) growth inhibitory effects relative to control cells. In contrast to IGFBP‐3, which significantly (P < 0.05) accentuated C2‐induced apoptosis, IGFBP‐1, ‐2, and ‐6 had no effect, whereas IGFBP‐4 and ‐5 each caused marked (P < 0.01) inhibition of ceramide‐induced programmed cell death. Apoptosis induced by RGD was also significantly (P < 0.05) reduced by IGFBP‐5, whereas IGFBP‐3 had no effect. These data provide evidence to suggest that individual IGFBPs have specific IGF‐independent effects and act differentially on apoptotic signalling pathways. J. Cell. Biochem. 75:652–664, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Towards a Human-Centred Approach in Modelling and Testing of Cyber-Physical Systems

The ability to capture different levels of abstraction in a system model is especially important for remote integration, testing/verification, and manufacturing of cyber-physical systems (CPSs). However, the complexity of modelling and testing of CPSs makes these processes extremely prone to human error. In this paper we present our ongoing work on introducing human-centred considerations into modelling and testing of CPSs, which allow for agile iterative refinement processes of different levels of abstraction when errors are discovered or missing information is completed.
Envisioning peaceful futures.

The new century invites reflection on the future: whether and by what means the 21st century can be less bloody and more benign than the 20th. The purpose of this special issue is to seek a balanced view that neither ignores the harsh realities of today's world nor drains us of hope for the future.
6 Language Shift in Community and Individual: The Phenomenon of the Laggard Semi-Speaker (1980)

This chapter looks at language retention on the level of the individual rather than on that of the community, in order to shed light on sources of language loyalty. It is commonplace, in communities where a language shift is underway, for some individuals to be in the vanguard and some to lag behind. Where the laggards are individuals who are more proficient in the language which is giving way, their position is easily understood. Another group of laggards may exist whose resistance to shift is far more difficult to fathom. The "semi-speakers", persist in speaking a language which has low prestige and limited currency despite the fact that they speak it imperfectly and in some cases haltingly. Neither in eastern Sutherland, nor in Berks County, are the bilinguals unaware of the language shift in progress. The semi-speaker phenomenon is apparently not universally characteristic of dying languages and dialects.Keywords: community; dialects; dying language; eastern Sutherland; group of laggards; individual; laggard semi-speaker; language loyalty; language shift
Cognitive flexibility in children with and without speech disorder

Most children's speech difficulties are `functional' (i.e. no known sensory, motor or intellectual deficits). Speech disorder may, however, be associated with cognitive deficits considered core abilities in executive function: rule abstraction and cognitive flexibility. The study compares the rule abstraction and cognitive flexibility of children with speech disorder and typically developing controls. Three groups of five-year-old children (typically developing, consistent atypical speech disorder and inconsistent speech disorder) were assessed on the Flexible Item Selection Test (Jacques and Zelazo, 2001). Children were shown a set of three cards and asked to select two that matched on one dimension (selection 1: abstraction). Children were then asked to select a different pair of cards that matched on another dimension (selection 2: flexibility). The children with consistent atypical speech disorder performed worse than the other two groups on selections 1 and 2. The children with an inconsistent speech disorder performed similarly to their typically developing peers. Children who use consistent atypical error patterns have difficulties with rule abstraction and flexibility that are not confined to the linguistic system. The results are discussed in terms of the deficits underlying different types of speech disorders.
Decision Maker's Preferences, Airport Gate Assignment Problem and Multiobjective Optimisation

We present an application of a methodology we developed earlier to capture a decision maker’s preferences in multiobjective environments to a notorious problem in the realm of Air Traffic Management, namely the Airport Gate Assignment Problem. The problem has been modelled as an all-integer optimisation problem with two criteria. We have implemented this methodology into the commercial solver CPLEX and also into an Evolutionary Multiobjective Optimisation algorithm and we have solved with them a numerical instance of the Airport Gate Assignment Problem for a couple of decision making scenarios.
Delay-Based Circuit Authentication With Application to Key Cards

We describe a technique to reliably identify individual integrated circuits (ICs), based on a prior delay characterization of the IC. We describe a circuit architecture for a key card for which authentication is delay based, rather than based on a digital secret key. We argue that delaybased authentication of the key card is secure because it is hard to create an accurate timing model for the circuit used in the key card. We also argue that key cards built in this fashion are resistant to many known kinds of attacks. Since the delay of ICs can vary with environmental conditions such as temperature, we develop compensation schemes and show experimentally that reliable authentication can be performed in the presence of significant environmental variations.
On the Calibration of Direct-Current Current Transformers (DCCT)

Modern commercial dc current transformers (DCCTs) can measure currents up to the kiloampere range with accuracies better than 1 × 10-5. We discuss here a DCCT calibration method and its implementation with commercial instruments typically employed in low-resistance calibration laboratories. The primary current ranges up to 2 kA; in the current range <;100 A, the calibration uncertainty is better than 3 × 10-7. An example of calibration of a high-performance DCCT specified for primary currents measurement up to 900 A is discussed in detail.
Predictors of work‐family enrichment: moderating effect of core self‐evaluations

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine core self‐evaluations (CSEs), family support, co‐worker support, supervisor support, job characteristics, work‐life balance policies (WLBPs) and work‐family culture as the predictors of work‐to‐family enrichment (WFE) and family‐to‐work enrichment (FWE) and explore the moderating effect of CSEs.Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected through a questionnaire survey from 485 employees from six organizations in India representing manufacturing, telecommunications and information technology sectors and were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regressions.Findings – Supervisor support, job characteristics, WLBPs and work‐family culture predicted WFE. CSEs, family support and job characteristics predicted FWE. Little moderating influence of CSEs was found. It moderated the relationship between supervisor support and WFE.Research limitations/implications – The cross‐sectional design of the study constrains inferring conclusions regarding causality.Prac.
Optimal myopic algorithms for random 3-SAT

Let F/sub 3/(n,m) be a random 3-SAT formula formed by selecting uniformly, independently and with replacement, m clauses among all 8(/sup n/C/sub 3/) possible 3-clauses over n variables. It has been conjectured that there exists a constant r/sub 3/ such that, for any /spl epsiv/>0, F/sub 3/[n,(r/sub 3/-/spl epsiv/)n] is almost surely satisfiable, but F/sub 3/[n,(r/sub 3/+/spl epsiv/)n] is almost surely unsatisfiable. The best lower bounds for the potential value of r/sub 3/ have come form analyzing rather simple extensions of unit-clause propagation. It was shown by D. Achlioptas (2000) that all these extensions can be cast in a common framework and analyzed in a uniform manner by employing differential equations. We determine optimal algorithms that are expressible in that framework, establishing r/sub 3/>3.26. We extend the analysis via differential equations, and make extensive use of a new optimization problem that we call the "max-density multiple-choice knapsack" problem. The structure of optimal knapsack solutions elegantly characterizes the choices made by an optimal algorithm.
Is Indirect Aggression Typical of Females? Gender Differences in Aggressiveness in 11- to 12-Year-Old Children

Gender differences regarding aggressive behaviour were investigated in 167 school children, 11 to 12 years of age, through peer-rating techniques supported by self-ratings and interviews. The social structure of the peer groups also was studied. The principal finding was that girls made greater use of indirect means of aggression, whereas the boys tended to employ direct means. Gender differences in verbal aggression were less pronounced. The social structure of peer groups was found to be tighter among girls, making it easier for them to exploit relationships and harm their victims by indirect manipulative aggression. Because indirect aggression has rarely been satisfactorily studied with tests of aggression, this finding may help to explain 1) the generally lower correlation found between peer-rated and self-rated aggression in girls than among boys (indirect means not being so readily recognized by the subject as a kind of aggression) and 2) the low stability of aggressiveness in girls often found in developmental studies.
A (k+3)/2-approximation algorithm for monotone submodular k-set packing and general k-exchange systems

We consider the monotone submodular k-set packing problem in the context of the more general problem of maximizing a monotone submodular function in a k-exchange system. These systems, introduced by Feldman et al. [Feldman,2011], generalize the matroid k-parity problem in a wide class of matroids and capture many other combinatorial optimization problems. We give a deterministic, non-oblivious local search algorithm that attains an approximation ratio of (k + 3)/2 + epsilon for the problem of maximizing a monotone submodular function in a k-exchange system, improving on the best known result of k+epsilon, and answering an open question posed by Feldman et al.
of Statistical Mechanics : Theory and Experiment

By means of numerical simulations we investigate the plasma frequency associated with voltage fluctuations in an n-type In0.53Ga0. 47As layer of thickness W and submicron length L embedded in a dielectric medium at T = 300 K. For W = 100 nm and carrier concentrations of 1016–1018 cm−3 the results are in good agreement with the standard three-dimensional (3D) expression for the plasma frequency. For W ≤ 10 nm the results exhibit a plasma frequency that depends on L, thus implying that the oscillation mode is dispersive. The corresponding frequency values are in good agreement with the two-dimensional (2D) expression for the plasma frequency obtained for a collisionless regime within the in-plane approximation for the self-consistent electric field. A region of crossover between the 2D and 3D behaviours of the plasma frequency, which we address as an open problem, is evidenced for c ©2009 IOP Publishing Ltd and SISSA 1742-5468/09/P01040+12$30.00 . S tt.M ech. (209) P 0040 A Monte Carlo investigation of plasmonic noise in nanometric InGaAs channels W > 10 nm. Problems associated with channel lengths shorter than the electron mean free path and the effects of an applied bias will be discussed.
Model Reduction Scheme of State-Affine Systems

In this paper, a new method for the approximation of discrete time state-affine systems is proposed. The method is based on the diagonalization of proposed generalized controllability and obeservability Gramians. The reduction algorithm employs singular value decomposition to retain states corresponding to dominant singular values of these Gramians. The proposed method can be considered as the generalization of the Moore’s balancing reduction approach for linear systems. A numerical example is used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Spatial Scan for Disease Mapping on a Mobile Population

In disease mapping, the spatial scan statistic is used to detect spatial regions where population is exposed to a significantly higher disease risk than expected. In this important application, the current residence is typically used to define the location of individuals from the population. Considering the mobility of humans at various temporal and spatial scales, using only information about the current residence may be an insufficiently informative proxy because it ignores a multitude of exposures that may occur away from home, or which had occurred at previous residences. In this paper, we propose a spatial scan statistic that is appropriate for disease mapping on mobile populations. We formulate a computationally efficient algorithm that uses the proposed statistic to find significant high-risk regions from mobile population's disease status data. The algorithm is applicable on large populations and over dense spatial grids. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is computationally efficient and outperforms the traditional disease clustering approaches at discovering high-risk regions in mobile populations.