Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Back by Popular Demand: A Narrative Review on the History of Food Addiction Research

In recent years, the concept of food addiction has gained more and more popularity. This approach acknowledges the apparent parallels between substance use disorders and overeating of highly palatable, high-caloric foods. Part of this discussion includes that “hyperpalatable” foods may have an addictive potential because of increased potency due to certain nutrients or additives. Although this idea seems to be relatively new, research on food addiction actually encompasses several decades, a fact that often remains unrecognized. Scientific use of the term addiction in reference to chocolate even dates back to the 19th century. In the 20th century, food addiction research underwent several paradigm shifts, which include changing foci on anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, obesity, or binge eating disorder. Thus, the purpose of this review is to describe the history and state of the art of food addiction research and to demonstrate its development and refinement of definitions and methodologies.
Virulence Factors and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus Isolates in Ready-to-Eat Foods: Detection of S. aureus Contamination and a High Prevalence of Virulence Genes

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the leading causes of food poisoning. Its pathogenicity results from the possession of virulence genes that produce different toxins which result in self-limiting to severe illness often requiring hospitalization. In this study of 200 sushi and sashimi samples, S. aureus contamination was confirmed in 26% of the food samples. The S. aureus isolates were further characterized for virulence genes and antibiotic susceptibility. A high incidence of virulence genes was identified in 96.2% of the isolates and 20 different virulence gene profiles were confirmed. DNA amplification showed that 30.8% (16/52) of the S. aureus carried at least one SE gene which causes staphylococcal food poisoning. The most common enterotoxin gene was seg (11.5%) and the egc cluster was detected in 5.8% of the isolates. A combination of hla and hld was the most prevalent coexistence virulence genes and accounted for 59.6% of all isolates. Antibiotic resistance studies showed tetracycline resistance to be the most common at 28.8% while multi-drug resistance was found to be low at 3.8%. In conclusion, the high rate of S. aureus in the sampled sushi and sashimi indicates the need for food safety guidelines.
Mutation-Based Evaluation of Weighted Test Case Selection for Firewall Testing

As part of network security testing, an administrator needs to know whether the firewall enforces the security policy as expected or not. In this setting, black-box testing and evaluation methodologies can be helpful. In this paper, we employ a simple mutation operation, namely flipping a bit, to generate mutant firewall policies and use them to evaluate our previously proposed weighted test case selection method for firewall testing. In the previously proposed firewall testing approach, abstract test cases that are automatically generated from firewall decision diagrams are instantiated by selecting test input values from different test data pools for each field of firewall policy. Furthermore, a case study is presented to validate the proposed approach.
Adding native specifications to JML

In the specification language JML we can see pure methods as a way to express user-defined predicates that will simplify the annotations. We take this idea a step further in allowing to only declare these predicates in JML without giving an explicit definition. The explicit definition is done directly in the language to which the Java program and the specifications are translated. To this end we introduce a new keyword to JML, the keyword native. To facilitate these definitions we have enabled the user to define also native types in the same way. In this paper we will describe these new constructs as well as their implementation in Jack, and their application to JML’s libraries and model fields.
Maternal Diabetes in Pregnancy: Early and Long-Term Outcomes on the Offspring and the Concept of “Metabolic Memory”

The adverse outcomes on the offspring from maternal diabetes in pregnancy are substantially documented. In this paper, we report main knowledge on impacts of maternal diabetes on early and long-term health of the offspring, with specific comments on maternal obesity. The main adverse outcome on progenies from pregnancy complicated with maternal diabetes appears to be macrosomia, as it is commonly known that intrauterine exposure to hyperglycemia increases the risk and programs the offspring to develop diabetes and/or obesity at adulthood. This “fetal programming”, due to intrauterine diabetic milieu, is termed as “metabolic memory”. In gestational diabetes as well as in macrosomia, the complications include metabolic abnormalities, degraded antioxidant status, disrupted immune system and potential metabolic syndrome in adult offspring. Furthermore, there is evidence that maternal obesity may also increase the risk of obesity and diabetes in offspring. However, women with GDM possibly exhibit greater macrosomia than obese women. Obesity and diabetes in pregnancy have independent and additive effects on obstetric complications, and both require proper management. Management of gestational diabetes mellitus and maternal obesity is essential for maternal and offspring's good health. Increasing physical activity, preventing gestational weight gain, and having some qualitative nutritional habits may be beneficial during both the pregnancy and offspring's future life.
Can Cosmological Constant be a Forbidden Zone (GAP) in Quantum Vacuum

In this work we suggest, without detailed mathematical analysis, a hypothesis on the physical meaning of cosmological constant. It is primarily based on a conceptual analogy with energy characteristics of the crystal lattice structure, i.e. energy zones theory in solid state physics. Namely, according to some theories (holographic principle, emergent gravity etc.) it is supposed that empty space, i.e. quantum vacuum holds a structure like to crystal lattice. It implies a possibility of the existence of totally occupied zones consisting of many levels of the negative energies as well as at least one negative energy forbidden zone, i.e. negative energy gap without any (occupied or empty) level of the negative energy. We suppose that given negative energy forbidden zone in the quantum vacuum represents effectively a positive energy zone without quantum particles that corresponds to cosmological constant. Also we suggest some other (less extravagant) model of the cosmological constant. Here cosmological constant is usually considered as the effect of the quantum vacuum fluctuations where problem of the cut-off can be solved quite simply since here integration over unlimited domain of the quasi-momentums must be changed by integration over one, finite "Brillouin zone".
Intersection theory in differential algebraic geometry: Generic intersections and the differential Chow form

In this paper, an intersection theory for generic differential polynomials is presented. The intersection of an irreducible differential variety of dimension d d and order h h with a generic differential hypersurface of order s s is shown to be an irreducible variety of dimension d − 1 d-1 and order h + s h+s . As a consequence, the dimension conjecture for generic differential polynomials is proved. Based on intersection theory, the Chow form for an irreducible differential variety is defined and most of the properties of the Chow form in the algebraic case are established for its differential counterpart. Furthermore, the generalized differential Chow form is defined and its properties are proved. As an application of the generalized differential Chow form, the differential resultant of n + 1 n+1 generic differential polynomials in n n variables is defined and properties similar to that of the Macaulay resultant for multivariate polynomials are proved.
Iterative Interference Cancellation for Multi-Code PR/MC-CDMA

The uplink transmission performance, e.g., bit error rate (BER) performance, of multi-carrier-code division multiple access (MC-CDMA) is limited by the multi-access interfeernce (MAI). Recently, we proposed a FD-PR/MC-CDMA, which uses frequency domain phase rotation and symbol mapping onto equi-distantly spaced sub-carriers. In FD-PR/MC-CDMA, multiple users can be multiplexed without causing MAI as long as the number of multiplexed users is smaller than the spreading factor devided by the maximum channel length. However, the number of users to be accomodated is limited by the lenth of the channel impulse response and the spreading factor. To increase the number of users or the data rate per user, the code multiplexing is effective, but this results in the performance degradation. In this paper, an iterative interference cancellation is applied to FD-PR/MC-CDMA and the impacts of the spreading factor and the length of the channel impulse response are evaluated by computer simulation.
PSR J1909–3744: A Binary Millisecond Pulsar with a Very Small Duty Cycle

We report the discovery of PSR J1909-3744, a 2.95 ms pulsar in a nearly circular 1.53 day orbit. Its narrow pulse width of 43 μs allows pulse arrival times to be determined with great accuracy. We have spectroscopically identified the companion as a moderately hot (T ≈ 8500 K) white dwarf with strong absorption lines. Radial velocity measurements of the companion will yield the mass ratio of the system. Our timing data suggest the presence of Shapiro delay; we expect that further timing observations, combined with the mass ratio, will allow the first accurate determination of a millisecond pulsar mass. We have measured the timing parallax and proper motion for this pulsar, which indicate a transverse velocity of 140 km s-1. This pulsar's stunningly narrow pulse profile makes it an excellent candidate for precision timing experiments that attempt to detect low-frequency gravitational waves from coalescing supermassive black hole binaries.
Class DE inverters and rectifiers for DC-DC conversion

A new family of Class DE inverters and related rectifiers is presented. Based on the Class D RF inverter, the circuits feature Class E switching transitions (zero voltage, zero dv/dt), giving low switching losses despite device capacitance and stored charge, combined with low voltage stress. Matching between inverter and rectifier is considered, time reversal duality is introduced and a family of inverters and rectifiers is presented. The circuits should find application in megahertz DC-DC converters.
Joint effects of sodium and potassium intake on subsequent cardiovascular disease: the Trials of Hypertension Prevention follow-up study.

BACKGROUND Previous studies of dose-response effects of usual sodium and potassium intake on subsequent cardiovascular disease (CVD) have largely relied on suboptimal measures of intake. METHODS Two trials of sodium reduction and other interventions collected 24-hour urinary excretions intermittently during 18 months from September 17, 1987, to January 12, 1990 (Trials of Hypertension Prevention [TOHP] I), and during 36 months from December 18, 1990, to April 7, 1995 (TOHP II), among adults with prehypertension aged 30 to 54 years. Among adults not assigned to an active sodium reduction intervention, we assessed the relationship of a mean of 3 to 7 twenty-four-hour urinary excretions of sodium and potassium and their ratio with subsequent CVD (stroke, myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, or CVD mortality) through 10 to 15 years of posttrial follow-up. RESULTS Among 2974 participants, follow-up information was obtained on 2275 participants (76.5%), with 193 CVD events. After adjustment for baseline variables and lifestyle changes, there was a nonsignificant trend in CVD risk across sex-specific quartiles of urinary sodium excretion (rate ratio [RR] from lowest to highest, 1.00, 0.99, 1.16, and 1.20; P = .38 for trend) and potassium excretion (RR, 1.00, 0.94, 0.91, and 0.64; P = .08 for trend) but a significant trend across quartiles of the sodium to potassium excretion ratio (RR, 1.00, 0.84, 1.18, and 1.50; P = .04 for trend). In models containing both measures simultaneously, linear effects were as follows: RR, 1.42; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.99 to 2.04 per 100 mmol/24 h of urinary sodium excretion (P = .05); and 0.67; 0.41 to 1.10 per 50 mmol/24 h of urinary potassium excretion (P = .12). A model containing the sodium to potassium excretion ratio (RR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.05-1.46; P = .01) had the lowest Bayes information criterion (best fit). CONCLUSION A higher sodium to potassium excretion ratio is associated with increased risk of subsequent CVD, with an effect stronger than that of sodium or potassium alone.
Polymyxin B dosing in obese and underweight adults.

TO THE EDITOR—Sandri et al [1] recently reported important population pharmacokinetic data on intravenous polymyxin B in critically ill patients. They conclusively demonstrate that the dosage of polymyxin B should not be based on kidney function. Although no specific dosage regimen is recommended, the inference from this work is that polymyxin B should be dosed on total body weight (TBW). Unfortunately, the results presented by the authors appear to contradict this conclusion [1]. Dosing polymyxin B on TBWmay actually lead to overexposure in morbidly obese patients and underexposure in underweight patients. The mathematical assumptions and limitations of TBW-based dosing have recently been reviewed and serve as the basis for this alternate viewpoint [2]. The area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) tominimum inhibitory concentration ratio is considered to be the pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic index that has been linked to antibacterial effect for this class of agents [3, 4]. The AUC is dependent on the dose and clearance (CL) of a drug (AUC = dose/CL). To achieve isometric AUC values in a population, the dose should be modified in proportion to CL [2]. Sandri et al [1] evaluated 24 patients with a median TBW of 62.5 kg (range, 41–110 kg), with inclusion of one 250-kg patient. No patients between 110 kg and 250 kg were evaluated. Figure 3 in their manuscript demonstrates that the range of polymyxin B CL to be distributed between approximately 1.0 to 2.5 L/hour, and an average population estimate of 1.87 L/hour is reported [1]. The exception to this CL distribution is an outlier of approximately 5 L/hour, observed in the 250-kg patient. Figure 3 also shows that the patient with the highest TBW-scaled CL of 0.06 L/hour/kg had a creatinine clearance of 100 mL/minute, and an unscaled polymyxin B CL of 2.5 L/ hour. This patient likely represents the 41 kg (2.5 L/hour ÷ 0.06 L/hour/kg) individual [1]. The 250-kg patient has a polymyxin B CL that is only 2-fold higher than the 41-kg patient (5 L/hour vs 2.5 L/hour), so the daily dose should only vary by 2-fold in order to achieve the same AUC. Dosing on TBW such as 2.5 mg/kg/ day will lead to calculation of a 103 mg (41 kg) and 625 mg (250 kg) daily dose of polymyxin B that is 6-fold different between these extremes of body weight. If the “best” dose of polymyxin B is at least 200 mg/day [1, 5], then the 41-kg patient will be underdosed and the 250kg patient potentially overdosed. A linear and proportionate relationship should exist between TBW and drug CL for this body size metric to be optimal to scale drug doses [2]. This is rarely the case, and the authors note that the CL of polymyxin B actually scaled “slightly better” with an allometric (nonlinear) assumption (TBW). Clinicians should exercise caution with the suggested approach of dosing polymyxin B on TBW, especially among patients at the extremes of TBW.
Low selectivity problem using the concept of sampling

There is an increase in the interest to utilize various available network structures and also the available information on social peers for improving the information needs of a user or node, this is because of the birth of online social networks. In this paper, the focus is on improvement of the performance of collecting information from the neighborhood of a user or a node in a dynamic social network. To explore user’s or node’s social network correctly we have introduced sampling based algorithms by keeping in mind the structure of social network and to approximate the quantities of interest in short time. By showing correlations across our samples we have introduced and also analyzed variants of basic sampling scheme. Here, the models of distributed and centralized network are considered. Assuming that information for each user or node is available we have showed that our algorithms can be utilized to rank nodes which are neighbor to the user. We demonstrate the working of our algorithms for approximation of various quantities of interest and validate analysis results. This is done using real and synthetic data. The methods we describe can be possibly easily adopted in verities of strategies which aim to collect information efficiently from a social graph.
Unstructured Environmental Audio: Representation, Classification and Modeling

Unstructured audio is an important aspect in building systems that are capable of understanding their surrounding environment through the use of audio and other modalities of information, i.e. visual, sonar, global positioning, etc. Consider, for example, applications in robotic navigation, assistive robotics, and other mobile device-based services, where context aware processing is often desired. Human beings utilize both vision and hearing to navigate and respond to their surroundings, a capability still quite limited in machine processing. The first step toward achieving recognition of multi-modality is the ability to process unstructured audio and recognize audio scenes (or environments). abStract
A model-based method for seamless web and mobile experience

Consumer-centered software applications nowadays are required to be available both as mobile and desktop versions. However, the app design is frequently made only for one of the two (i.e., mobile first or web first) while missing an appropriate design for the other (which, in turn, simply mimics the interaction of the first one). This results into poor quality of the interaction on one or the other platform. Current solutions would require different designs, to be realized through different design methods and tools, and that may require to double development and maintenance costs. In order to mitigate such an issue, this paper proposes a novel approach that supports the design of both web and mobile applications at once. Starting from a unique requirement and business specification, where web-- and mobile--specific aspects are captured through tagging, we derive a platform-independent design of the system specified in IFML. This model is subsequently refined and detailed for the two platforms, and used to automatically generate both the web and mobile versions. If more precise interactions are needed for the mobile part, a blending with MobML, a mobile-specific modeling language, is devised. Full traceability of the relations between artifacts is granted.
Jobs for Young University Graduates: Is it Worth Having a Degree?

This study addresses the question: Are workers who hold a university degree increasingly filling job openings meant for people with lower levels of schooling? It focuses on Portugal, where the higher education system has been expanding at a fast pace and the share of university graduates in total labour force has been increasing, but where the unemployment rate for such workers has also been increasing. The analysis relies on a remarkable dataset covering the entire workforce in manufacturing and services private sectors, to implement the conceptual framework developed by Gottschalk and Hansen (2003). Results indicate that the university wage premium increased and the proportion of university graduates working in non-university jobs declined sharply over time. Therefore, no support is found for the skepticism over investment in higher education. Results are consistent with the idea that skillbiased technological progress taking place in some sectors raises the productivity of workers with higher schooling levels, thus raising their wages, which attracts new workers with high qualifications.
The Long-term Development of Socio-spatial Differentiation in Socialist and Post-socialist Prague

The article examines how different social and urban processes were refl ected in the spatial patterns of three dimensions of population structure (demographic, socio-economic, and ethnic statuses) in Prague during the socialist and post-socialist periods. The article has three main objectives. First, it analyses inertia and change in socio-spatial patterns and evaluates the processes that have infl uenced them. Second, it investigates how the importance of all three statuses in the spatial differentiation of urban space has evolved. Third, the article focuses on the level of geographical variability as recorded within different spatial scales, and the development of this variability. It examines selected indicators of socio-economic, demographic, and ethnic statuses by employing detailed statistical data on the level of basic settlement units from the Population Censuses held in 1970, 1991, and 2011. The results confi rm that the most signifi cant changes in socio-spatial patterns between socialism and post-socialism can be observed for ethnic spatial differentiation. In addition, the city witnessed considerable changes in demographic spatial patterns in both periods, while socio-economic spatial patterns have remained relatively stable. New socio-spatial processes driven predominantly by movements of young and better-off populations have taken place in previously less attractive neighbourhoods. As a result, very different populations often live side-by-side in contemporary Prague.
Application of a Persistent Heparin Treatment Inhibits the Malignant Potential of Oral Squamous Carcinoma Cells Induced by Tumor Cell-Derived Exosomes

Exosomes are 30–100 nm-sized membranous vesicles, secreted from a variety of cell types into their surrounding extracellular space. Various exosome components including lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids are transferred to recipient cells and affect their function and activity. Numerous studies have showed that tumor cell-derived exosomes play important roles in tumor growth and progression. However, the effect of exosomes released from oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) into the tumor microenvironment remains unclear. In the present study, we isolated exosomes from OSCC cells and investigated the influence of OSCC cell-derived exosomes on the tumor cell behavior associated with tumor development. We demonstrated that OSCC cell-derived exosomes were taken up by OSCC cells themselves and significantly promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion through the activation of the PI3K/Akt, MAPK/ERK, and JNK-1/2 pathways in vitro. These effects of OSCC cell-derived exosomes were obviously attenuated by treatment with PI3K, ERK-1/2, and JNK-1/2 pharmacological inhibitors. Furthermore, the growth rate of tumor xenografts implanted into nude mice was promoted by treatment with OSCC cell-derived exosomes. The uptake of exosomes by OSCC cells and subsequent tumor progression was abrogated in the presence of heparin. Taken together, these data suggest that OSCC cell-derived exosomes might be a novel therapeutic target and the use of heparin to inhibit the uptake of OSCC-derived exosomes by OSCC cells may be useful for treatment.