Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brightness as an Indicator to Distance: Relative Brightness per Se or Contrast with the Background?

A black and a white target are displayed, in five different conditions, on five grey backgrounds having different degrees of brightness (from very bright to very dark). The results show that the target having the higher contrast with its background is perceived as the nearer. With the off-white background, e.g., the black target appears as the nearer to the observer. This contradicts the well-known concept according to which the brighter target should in any case be perceived as the nearer (‘relative brightness’ cue). The conclusion is that the frame of reference must be taken into consideration: study of the indicators to distance in an empty space and per se is not sufficient.
VAGAL AND SYMPATHETIC EFFECTS ON THE PACEMAKER FIBERS IN THE SINUS VENOSUS OF THE HEART

1. Action potentials from sinus venosus and auricle fibers of spontaneously beating frog hearts have been recorded with intracellular electrodes. 2. Sinus fibers show a slow depolarization, the pacemaker potential, during diastole. The amplitude of this potential varies in different parts of the sinus. In some fibers the membrane potential falls by 11 to 15 mv. during diastole and the transition to the upstroke of the action potential is comparatively gradual. In other regions the depolarization develops more slowly and the action potential takes off more abruptly from a higher membrane potential. It is proposed that the fibers showing the largest fall in membrane potential during diastole are the pacemaker fibers of the heart, and that the rest of the preparation is excited by conduction. In auricle fibers the membrane potential is constant during diastole. 3. The maximum diastolic membrane potential and the overshoot of the action potential vary inversely with the amplitude of the pacemaker potential. The highest values were measured in auricle fibers. 4. Stimulation of vagi suppresses the pacemaker potentials. While the heart is arrested the membrane potential of the sinus fibers rises to a level above the maximum diastolic value reached in previous beats. In 28 experiments vagal stimulation increased the membrane potential from an average maximal diastolic value of 55 mv. to a "resting" level of 65.4 mv. The biggest vagal polarization was 23 mv. 5. In contrast to the sinus fibers vagal inhibition does not change the diastolic membrane potential of frog auricle fibers. 6. Vagal stimulation greatly accelerates the repolarization of the action potential and reduces its amplitude. These changes were seen both in the sinus and in auricle fibers stimulated by direct shocks during vagal arrest. 7. The conduction velocity in the sinus venosus of the tortoise is reduced by vagal stimulation. Block of conduction often occurs. 8. In the frog sinus venosus sympathetic stimulation increases the rate of rise of the pacemaker potential, accelerating the beat. The threshold remains unchanged. The rate of rise of the upstroke and the amplitude of the overshoot are increased. 9. The analogies between the vagal inhibition of the heart and the nervous inhibition of other preparations are discussed.
Reconfigurable Slot Antenna for Switchable Multiband Operation in a Wide Frequency Range

A reconfigurable antenna with switchable multiband functionalities is presented. The antenna operates one at a time at five adjacent frequency subbands in the upper ultrawideband (UWB) frequency band of 6.0-10.6 GHz. The switching from one subband to another is done electronically by means of five PIN diode switches. The antenna also has a nearly omnidirectional radiation pattern, with vertical polarization at each of its frequency subbands. Simulated and measured results are compared and are shown to be in good agreement.
Genetically Encoded Green Fluorescent Ca2+ Indicators with Improved Detectability for Neuronal Ca2+ Signals

Imaging the activities of individual neurons with genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators (GECIs) is a promising method for understanding neuronal network functions. Here, we report GECIs with improved neuronal Ca2+ signal detectability, termed G-CaMP6 and G-CaMP8. Compared to a series of existing G-CaMPs, G-CaMP6 showed fairly high sensitivity and rapid kinetics, both of which are suitable properties for detecting subtle and fast neuronal activities. G-CaMP8 showed a greater signal (F max/F min = 38) than G-CaMP6 and demonstrated kinetics similar to those of G-CaMP6. Both GECIs could detect individual spikes from pyramidal neurons of cultured hippocampal slices or acute cortical slices with 100% detection rates, demonstrating their superior performance to existing GECIs. Because G-CaMP6 showed a higher sensitivity and brighter baseline fluorescence than G-CaMP8 in a cellular environment, we applied G-CaMP6 for Ca2+ imaging of dendritic spines, the putative postsynaptic sites. By expressing a G-CaMP6-actin fusion protein for the spines in hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons and electrically stimulating the granule cells of the dentate gyrus, which innervate CA3 pyramidal neurons, we found that sub-threshold stimulation triggered small Ca2+ responses in a limited number of spines with a low response rate in active spines, whereas supra-threshold stimulation triggered large fluorescence responses in virtually all of the spines with a 100% activity rate.
Adult Peritoneal Dialysis-Related Peritonitis Treatment Recommendations: 2000 Update

Department of Medicine,1 Hennepin County Medical Center, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Albany College of Pharmacy,2 Albany, New York, U.S.A. ; Department of Peritoneal Dialysis,3 Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Manchester Royal Infirmary,4 Manchester, United Kingdom; Vanderbilt University Medical Center,5 Nashville, Tennessee; Baxter Healthcare Corporation,6 McGaw Park, Illinois, U.S.A. ; Renal Division,7 Jikei-kai University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; University of Pittsburgh Medical Center,8 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. ; Renal Division,9 Department of Medicine, Evangelic School of Medicine, Curitiba Parana, Brazil; University of Toronto,10 Toronto Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The Phenomenon of international new ventures, global start-ups, and born-globals :

In this paper, 27 studies from the last decade which deal more or less explicitly with the International New Venture, global start-up or born-global phenomenon are first identified, and then fully examined and critically assessed as a basis for obtaining an adequate view of the state-of-the-art of this increasingly important research avenue in the field of International Entrepreneurship (IE). The methodology used for this synthetic review allow us to analyze a number of recent, purposefully-chosen studies that are systematically compared along the following criteria: 1) main objective and type of research; 2) theoretical framework/s of reference, 3) methodological issues, and 4) main findings and/or conclusions. As a result of this literature review, a critical assessment follows in which the most relevant benefits and contributions as well as potential drawbacks, limitations or major discrepancies in the research activities conducted so far are discussed. Finally, some suggestions and implications are provided in the form of future research directions.
Decade bandwidth single and cascaded travelling wave medium power amplifiers using sige hbts

This paper presents two integrated class-A travelling wave medium power amplifiers employing 0. 35µm SiGe HBT process. The first amplifier realized is a 1.3×1mm2 device comprising of a single-stage configuration using a single transistor that exhibits an average small-signal gain of 7dB and power level of 14dBm between 0.25 to 2.5GHz while maintaining power-added efficiency in the range 30% to 10%. The second amplifier is 1.8×2.3mm2 device comprising of a driver stage cascaded with two identical amplifier stages in a parallel configuration whose outputs are combined together to enhance the devices output power by 3dB across the wideband frequency range. This amplifier's unique topology is implemented using a version of the first amplifier. The amplifier's measured output power was approximately 18dBm, the average small-signal gain was 21dB, and efficiency between 30% to 10% across 0.2–2.2GHz.
Objectivity in Objective Structured Clinical Examinations: Checklists Are No Substitute for Examiner Commitment

Purpose This study explored factors that contribute to objectivity in objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs). The authors quantified the effect of examiners on interrater reliability and separated this effect from that of station construction, determined the effect of objectification on station reliability and validity, and explored examiner factors that may contribute to interrater reliability. Method Data came from examiners' mark sheets from four annual OSCEs (1997–2000). The OSCEs were conducted identically and simultaneously at three sites, within the University of Otago medical school in New Zealand, with two examiners at each station. The contribution to interrater correlations of station construction and mark sheet compared with examiners' contribution was partitioned out using a random-effects analysis of variance. For one OSCE, a multiple linear regression was used to determine the independent contributions to interrater reliability of the number of checklist items per mark sheet, examiner experience, and examiner involvement in station construction. Results Station construction and mark sheets contributed 10.1% and examiners contributed 89.9% to the variation in interrater reliability. Following multivariate analysis, the number of items per mark sheet was negatively associated, and examiner involvement in station construction was positively associated, with interrater reliability. Examiner experience in examining or in clinical medicine was not associated with interrater reliability. There was a negative, but nonsignificant, correlation between number of items per mark sheet and that station's correlation with the aggregate OSCE mark. Conclusions The contribution of objective mark sheets to objectivity is relatively minor compared with examiners' contribution. Increasing the number of checklist items per mark sheet decreased both reliability and validity. Achieving objectivity requires diligent examiners who are involved in the whole assessment.
Tuberculosis Treatment Outcome in a Tertiary Hospital in South Eastern Nigeria; a Five Year Retrospective Study

Tuberculosis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries of the world. Monitoring tuberculosis treatment outcomes is important in evaluating the effectiveness of tuberculosis control programme. This study investigated the outcome of tuberculosis treatment at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH) in South Eastern Nigeria. This a retrospective analysis of tuberculosis patients registered at COOUTH from January 2013 to January 2018. The secondary data was obtained from the facility central tuberculosis register, with treatment outcome and tuberculosis type categorized based on the guideline of National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli ulcer Control Programme (NTBLCP) of Nigeria. The association of treatment outcome with demographic characteristics and other clinical factors was analyzed using the Chi-square test. Out of the 578 tuberculosis patients, 74.2% were successfully treated, 18.9% were lost to follow up, 5.7% died and 0.3% had treatment failure. Outcome of tuberculosis treatment was significantly associated with age, site of disease and HIV status of patients. Tuberculosis treatment outcome in COOUTH was satisfactory. However, patients at risk of unsuccessful outcome should be identified promptly and granted appropriate support and follow-up.
Estragole blocks neuronal excitability by direct inhibition of Na+ channels

Estragole is a volatile terpenoid, which occurs naturally as a constituent of the essential oils of many plants. It has several pharmacological and biological activities. The objective of the present study was to investigate the mechanism of action of estragole on neuronal excitability. Intact and dissociated dorsal root ganglion neurons of rats were used to record action potential and Na+ currents with intracellular and patch-clamp techniques, respectively. Estragole blocked the generation of action potentials in cells with or without inflexions on their descendant (repolarization) phase (Ninf and N0 neurons, respectively) in a concentration-dependent manner. The resting potentials and input resistances of Ninf and N0 cells were not altered by estragole (2, 4, and 6 mM). Estragole also inhibited total Na+ current and tetrodotoxin-resistant Na+ current in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 of 3.2 and 3.6 mM, respectively). Kinetic analysis of Na+ current in the presence of 4 mM estragole showed a statistically significant reduction of fast and slow inactivation time constants, indicating an acceleration of the inactivation process. These data demonstrate that estragole blocks neuronal excitability by direct inhibition of Na+ channel conductance activation. This action of estragole is likely to be relevant to the understanding of the mechanisms of several pharmacological effects of this substance.
“It’s All About Security to Me”

This qualitative study explores financial behavior and expectations in families of origin in addition to youth financial education and savings behaviors. The authors interviewed 14 youths, aged 17 to 19 years, whose families had low incomes, education levels, and savings rates and who participated in a youth-based financial education and dedicated savings program and present key themes and subthemes that were revealed during data analysis. Findings suggest that, rather than replicating the behavior of their parents and experiencing the same financial struggles, the youths interviewed were motivated by a desire to avoid these challenges. However, youths in this study also noted that they experienced social and economic barriers that their higher income peers did not. Policy, practice, and research implications of these findings are discussed.
Anytime algorithms for multiagent decision making using coordination graphs

Coordination graphs provide a tractable framework for cooperative multiagent decision making by decomposing the global pay off function into a sum of local terms. In this paper we review some distributed algorithms for action selection in a coordination graph and discuss their pros and cons. For real-time decision making we emphasize the need for anytime algorithms for action selection: these are algorithms that improve the quality of the solution over time. We describe variable elimination, coordinate ascent, and the max-plus algorithm, the latter being an instance of the belief propagation algorithm in Bayesian networks. We discuss some interesting open problems related to the use of the max-plus algorithm in real-time multiagent decision making
Energy efficiency in virtual machines allocation for cloud data centers with lottery algorithm

Energy usage of data centers is a challenging and complex issue because computing applications and data are growing so quickly that increasingly larger servers and disks are needed to process them fast enough within the required time period. In the past few years, many approaches to virtual machine placement have been proposed. This study proposes a new approach for virtual machine allocation to physical hosts. Either minimizes the physical hosts and avoids the SLA violation. The proposed method in comparison to the other algorithms achieves better results.
Surgical management of complex humerus head fractures

The locked plate systems provided adequate fixation of osteoporotic fractures of the proximal humerus in the elderly. But is the PHILOS plate adequate for stabilization of high-energy fractures, and fracture-dislocations of the proximal humerus in relatively younger age populations? In this retrospective study, performed at a referral, academic supervised, level III-trauma center, all high-energy trauma patients under the age of 55 years, with closed, 3 part, 4 part fractures, and/or fracture dislocations, were included in this study. Patients with open fractures, osteoporotic low-energy fractures, as well as patients older than 55 years were excluded. Fifty-nine patients entered and completed the study. They were all managed by open reduction and internal fixation using the PHILOS plate system. Patients' age ranged between 31–52 years, with a mean of 42 years. A minimal follow-up period of two years was a mandatory inclusion criterion in this study. All the patients who did not complete the follow-up period were excluded from the study. The results were evaluated using the Constant, Neer and DASH scoring systems, which revealed favorable results in 41 patients (69.5%). The results were comparable to the recent articles published in the literature in relatively older age groups. It was concluded that, despite the relatively high rate of complications encountered in the management of these complicated high-energy fractures, the PHILOS plating system could be considered an adequate management of polytrauma patients.
Consideration on oscillation frequency and amplitude condition in a VHF self-excitation gate driver using a Class-Ψ2 resonant inverter

Resonant switching techniques are indispensable to highly efficient high-frequency converters. In the frequency range of VHF (30-300 MHz), feedback control circuit holds the key for a performance converter. LC oscillators are suitable for VHF gate driver in resonant converters, since lag in the feedback circuit is small. However, their oscillation frequencies are unknown because of the complexity. In this paper, an analysis on oscillation conditions of a 110-MHz self-excitation gate driver based on class-Φ2 inverter is reported. The oscillation frequency characteristics and the conditions for oscillation are analyzed in detail including the influence due to the internal capacitances of switching device and so forth.
Trust Variable Factor : A trust based method to detect misbehaving nodes in MANET

MANET (Mobile Ad-hoc NETwork) is a wireless Ad-hoc network which has it's nodes working as transmitters and receivers. However, every node in a MANET will also be entrusted with the responsibility of being intermediaries to transmit and receive data for other nodes and thus act as routers. Nodes in a MANET can misbehave to save valuable resources, which can have a great impact on network performance and throughput. The proposed method introduces the concept of Trust Variable Factor (TVF) which enables to identify misbehaving nodes in MANET. Using TVF, the amount of data transmitted to identify misbehaving nodes can be reduced to a greater extent. The method can adapt to varying Quality of Service (QoS) requirements and would result in better throughput and performance.
The UPC-lsi Discriminative Phrase Selection System: NIST MT Evaluation 2008

This document describes the system developed by the Empirical MT Group at the Technical University of Catalonia, LSI Department, for the Arabic-to-English task at the 2008 NIST MT Evaluation Campaign. Our system explores the application of discriminative learning to the problem of phrase selection in Statistical Machine Translation. Instead of relying on Maximum Likelihood estimates for the construction of translation models, we use local classifiers which are able to take further advantage of contextual information. Local predictions are softly integrated into a global log-linear phrase-based statistical MT system as an additional feature. Automatic evaluation results according to a heterogeneous set of metrics operating at different linguistic levels are presented. These show a low level of agreement between metrics. Improvements over the baseline are either inexistent or not significant, except for the case of semantic metrics based on discourse representations and several syntactic metrics based on constituent and dependency parsing.
Spectral Efficiency of Noncooperative Uplink Massive MIMO Systems with Joint Decoding

Massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems have been drawing considerable interest. In the uplink, massive MIMO systems are commonly studied assuming that each base station (BS) decodes the signals of its user terminals separately and linearly while treating all interference as noise. Although this approach provides improved spectral efficiency (SE) in favorable channel conditions, it is generally sub-optimal from an information-theoretic perspective. In this work we characterize the SE of massive MIMO when the BSs are allowed to jointly decode the received signals. We consider two schemes for handling the interference, and derive their SEs for both finite and asymptotic number of antennas. Simulation tests of the proposed methods illustrate their gains in SE compared to standard separate linear decoding, and show that the standard approach fails to capture the actual achievable rates of massive MIMO systems, particularly when the interference is dominant.
VGS Hand: A Novel Hybrid Grasping Modes Robot Hand with Variable Geometrical Structure

Robot hand is the device used for robots to interact with the environments, it has many potential applications. Traditional robot hands cannot translate their finger end along a straight line, which makes them not suitable for grasping thin objects on a flat surface. In order to overcome the bottleneck of traditional hands and enlarge the application possibility of robot hands, this paper develops a novel hybrid grasping modes hand with the variable geometrical structure (called VGS hand). The hand consists of 4-DOF (degree of freedom), two actuators and two fingers. It can perform both linear-parallel and self-adaptive grasping modes. Kinematics, dynamics, and contact forces analysis are conducted to provide a theoretical reference for the design. A prototype was manufactured for grasping experiments; the results of the experiments indicate that the hand has a good grasping performance and can meet different application requirements.
Three New Scorpion Chloride Channel Toxins as Potential Anti-Cancer Drugs: Computational Prediction of The Interactions With Hmmp-2 by Docking and Steered Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Scorpion venom is a rich source of toxins which have great potential to develop new therapeutic agents. Scorpion chloride channel toxins (ClTxs), such as Chlorotoxin selectively inhibit human Matrix Methaloproteinase-2 (hMMP-2). The inhibitors of hMMP-2 have potential use in cancer therapy. Three new ClTxs, meuCl14, meuCl15 and meuCl16, derived from the venom transcriptome of Iranian scorpion, M. eupeus (Buthidea family), show high sequence identity (71.4%) with Chlorotoxin. Here, 3-D homology model of new ClTxs were constructed. The models were optimized by Molecular Dynamics simulation based on MDFF (molecular dynamics flexible fitting) method. New ClTxs indicate the presence of CSαβ folding of other scorpion toxins. A docking followed by steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations to investigate the interactions of meuCl14, meuCl15, and meuCl16 with hMMP-2 was applied. The current study creates a correlation between the unbinding force and the inhibition activities of meuCl14, meuCl15 and meuCl16 to shed some insights as to which toxin may be used as a drug deliverer. To this aim, SMD simulations using Constant Force Pulling method were carried out. The SMD provided useful details related to the changes of electrostatic, van de Waals (vdW), and hydrogen-bonding (H-bonding) interactions between ligands and receptor during the pathway of unbinding. According to SMD results, the interaction of hMMP-2 with meuCl14 is more stable. In addition, Arginine residue was found to contribute signiﬁcantly in interaction of ClTxs with hMMP-2. All in all, the present study is a dynamical approach whose results are capable of being implemented in structure-based drug design.