Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Peter Orlebar Bishop. 14 June 1917—3 June 2012

Peter Orlebar Bishop was an Australian neurophysiologist renowned for his ingenious quantitative approach to the study of the mammalian visual system and his great ability to attract a large number of talented people to visual research. Peter’s research was based on specially designed, precise instrumentation and data quantification applied mainly to analysis of the response properties of single neurones in the principal dorsal thalamic visual relay nucleus, the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGNd) and the primary visual cortex. This quantitative bent was evident throughout Peter’s entire research career: starting with the design and construction of innovative DC amplifiers; to his quantitative analysis of optics, ‘schematic eye’ for the cat, which rivalled Gullstrand’s schematic eye for humans; to creating and demonstrating validity of the concept of ‘projection lines’ in the representation of contralateral visual field in different cellular layers of the LGNd of mammals with frontally positioned eyes and discovery of massive binocular input to single LGNd neurones. Peter’s engineering approach was probably at its heuristic peak when it revealed many details of binocular interactions at the level of single neurones in the primary visual cortex—the interactions which appear to underpin overall mechanisms underlying stereopsis, the high precision binocular depth sense.
Study of the Compression Behavior of Steel-Fiber Reinforced Concrete by Means of the Response Surface Methodology

The compression behavior of steel-fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) has been addressed exhaustively in recent decades thereby highlighting a variety of differences with regard to the effect that the addition of fiber has on it. In this paper, a detailed study of the subject is developed for which a database has been created, which includes 197 tests performed on cylindrical concrete specimens with dimensions of 150 × 300 mm 2 (diameter × height). By means of the response surface methodology, we disclose the relationship that exists between the geometric parameters of the fiber (length, diameter, and aspect ratio), their amount (fraction in volume), and some matrix parameters (compression resistance and maximum size of coarse aggregate) with the different compression responses of the SFRC, which are strength, elastic modulus, critical deformation under maximum load, and the volumetric deformation work in the pre- and post-peak branch. Linear polynomial models are chosen to adjust each response with the defined factors, and said variables are studied in a dimensional and non-dimensional format. From the results obtained, it is verified how the inclusion of steel-fibers produces notable improvements in ductility and the energy absorption capacity of the concrete when significantly increasing the works of volumetric deformation in the pre- and post-peak branch with respect to the matrix without fibers. In addition, a new model is analyzed, which describes the stress–strain curve of the compression behavior of the SFRC based on the increase of ductility and energy absorption. This model is characterized by a softening branch subsequent to the peak load determined by means of the residual compressive strength, a parameter that corresponds to the value of the compressive stress associated with a strain equal to three times that of the peak of the curve, which is significantly dependent on the aspect ratio and fiber content.
Modification Point Aware Test Prioritization and Sampling to Improve Patch Validation in Automatic Program Repair

Recently, Automatic Program Repair (APR) has shown a high capability of repairing software bugs automatically. In general, most of the APR techniques require test suites to validate automatically generated patches. However, the test suites used for patch validation might contain thousands of test cases. Running these whole test suites to validate every program variant makes the validation process not only time-consuming but also expensive. To mitigate this issue and to enhance the patch validation in APR, we introduce (1) MPTPS (Modification Point-aware Test Prioritization and Sampling), which iteratively records test execution. Based on the failed test information, it performs test prioritization, then sampling to reduce the test execution time by moving forward the test cases that are most likely to fail in the test suite; and (2) a new fitness function that refines the existing one to improve repair efficiency. We implemented our MPPEngine approach in the Astor workspace by extending jGenProg. And the experiments on the Defects4j benchmark against jGenProg show that, on average, jGenProg consumes 79.27 s to validate one program variant, where MPPEngine takes only 33.70 s for results in 57.50% of validation time reduction. Also, MPPEngine outperforms jGenProg by finding patches for six more bugs than jGenProg.
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS): An Introduction to Environmental Illness

Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and electromagnetic hypersensitivity are disabling conditions hallmarked by adverse reactions to chemicals and electromagnetic frequencies at levels generally considered safe. MCS is underpinned by a vicious cycle of escalating sensitivity initiated by exposure to seven classes of neurotoxicants. Our case study concerns a family sensitized to foods, chemicals and electromagnetic radiation after heavy exposure to phenoxy herbicides and organophosphate pesticides. Also addressed are a number of conditions frequently co-morbid with MCS, which also frequently involve an environmental sensitivity component-which include migraine, rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, ADHD, hypertension and certain
Sensitivity of Deep Ocean Mixing to Local Internal Tide Breaking and Mixing Efficiency

There have been recent advancements in the quantification of parameters describing the proportion of internal tide energy being dissipated locally and the “efficiency” of diapycnal mixing, that is, the ratio of the diapycnal mixing rate to the kinetic energy dissipation rate. We show that oceanic tidal mixing is nontrivially sensitive to the covariation of these parameters. Varying these parameters one at a time can lead to significant errors in the patterns of diapycnal mixing‐driven upwelling and downwelling and to the over and under estimation of mixing in such a way that the net rate of globally integrated deep circulation appears reasonable. However, the local rates of upwelling and downwelling in the deep ocean are significantly different when both parameters are allowed to covary and be spatially variable. These findings have important implications for the representation of oceanic heat, carbon, nutrients, and other tracer budgets in general circulation models.
Exploring Novel Treatment Approaches for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a disorder characterized by an inability to extinguish traumatic memories and heightened reactivity to emotional stimuli. Due to the heightened resistance of traumatic memories to extinction, treatment for PTSD has been challenging and is limited to behavioral therapies targeted at reducing responsivity to threatening stimuli. Currently there are no standard pharmacological interventions that are specific to PTSD; rather, drugs used appear to target symptoms of some of the co-morbid conditions, such as anxiety (e.g. benzodiazepines) or depression (antidepressants) which may also affect fear-memory. In this thesis, we explore the effects of natural health products (NHPs) including naturally occurring peptides and some medical botanicals on fear memory in order to explore the efficacy of natural products as potential pharmacological targets for fear-based disorders. Fear-conditioning has been used effectively in both rodents and humans to study fearlearning. Fear-conditioning is a learning paradigm during which an unconditioned aversive stimulus (such as foot shock) is paired with a neutral stimulus (such as light or tone), such that the neutral stimulus becomes associated with aversion. Fear-learning has several wellcharacterized stages, including acquisition, consolidation, reconsolidation, expression, and extinction that can be manipulated in order to study the pharmacological action(s) on the attenuation of learned-fear. Blockade of reconsolidation, the state during which formed memories are briefly rendered susceptible to change following recall, may provide a window of opportunity to pharmacologically diminish learned fear. In Chapter 1 of the thesis, we discuss fear-conditioning as a pre-clinical model of PTSD to explore the effects of novel pharmacological treatments on the reconsolidation process in rodents. We ultimately hope to
Perioperative transfusions adversely affect post-operative outcomes in less than 18-year undergoing surgical repairs on cardiopulmonary bypass

allogenic blood transfusion practices between the four groups of children under 18 years in the same institution. Materials and Methods: A total of 791 children (excluding neonates) underwent open-heart surgery in our institute by two different surgeons (A and B) during 2006–2012, each following different perioperative packed red blood cell (PRBC) or blood product transfusion protocols for their patients. Children were categorized into 2 equal and matched groups in terms of their numbers (in each category of similar type of surgery). Surgeon-A, operated all children in Group A ( n = 396), received with hemoglobin (Hb) ≤7 g/dl further divided into Groups 1 and 2 while Group B ( n = 396) operated equal numbers in empirical transfusion protocol was followed, received with Hb ≤10 g/dl further divided into Groups 3 and 4 based on transfusion received or not received. Restricted and targeted PRBC transfusion criteria were followed in all children. Results: Transfusion was required more often in critical and sick children and in those who have had longer CPB for complex repairs. 57.8% of children in Group B received either or both PRBC and blood product transfusion during its hospital stay. Logistic regression revealed that after adjusting the effect of their age, total chest, hospital stay, and ventilator time, had higher risk of mortality in the Group 1 (8.68, P < 0.001), Group 2 (1.38, P = 0.458), and Group 3 (5.17, P < 0.001) in contrast with Group 4 (no transfusion, Hb >10 g/dl). Conclusion: PRBC or blood product transfusions in perioperative period adversely affect the post-operative outcomes; period of hospitalization, duration of recovery (morbidity), and survival (mortality) in children under 18 years.
The electoral personalization of Italian mayors. A study of 25 years of direct election

Abstract This paper presents an analysis of the personalization of the vote in Italian municipal elections in the period 1993–2017. Considering the ability of mayoral candidates to attract more votes than those of the lists that support them, the paper outlines the socio-demographic and political characteristics of the candidates who receive the most personalized votes. Contrary to what one might expect, the most personalized candidates are the losing candidates, not the winning ones. At the same time, the candidates who present themselves as outsiders are more personalized: women; candidates at the head of civic lists; those who lead coalitions positioned at the extremes of the left/right axis; candidates supported by one or two lists. Thus, the paper shows the propensity of the Italian electorate to use the split vote to reward those candidates who present themselves as challengers, rather than the established ones, also in the more pragmatic context of local government elections. Moreover, while it is true that personalization is increasingly more important in the political and electoral context, the ability to create lists of candidates for municipal elections capable of obtaining the broad support of voters seems to count as much, if not more.
An adaptive multipopulation genetic algorithm for the optimization of active magnetic bearings

Active magnetic bearings (AMBs)are mechatronic systems to support the rotors without any physical contact. Compact AMBs are required for better performance. Present work aims at optimization of AMB for achieving the compact size. Genetic algorithms (GAs) are mostly used for the optimization of such nonlinear design problems. However, GAs with fixed parameters may result in convergence to local optimal solutions and sluggish convergence speed.To remove these deficiencies, the adaptive multipopulation genetic algorithm (AMPGA) is used for the optimization of AMB in the present work. In this algorithm, crossover and mutation probabilities and migration rateare regulated based onpopulation diversity. In addition, real-encoded chromosomes are used. Performance of the designed AMPGA is studied in terms of the convergence speed and optimal solution. It is found that AMPGA converges at a faster rate and gives a better optimal solution than both multipopulation genetic algorithm (MPGA) and simple genetic algorithm (SGA). The optimal value of the AMB size obtained by AMPGA is found to be smaller than that obtained by MPGA and SGA.
Rod phototransduction and light signal transmission during type 2 diabetes

Introduction Diabetic retinopathy is a major complication of diabetes recently associated with compromised photoreceptor function. Multiple stressors in diabetes, such as hyperglycemia, oxidative stress and inflammatory factors, have been identified, but systemic effects of diabetes on outer retina function are incompletely understood. We assessed photoreceptor physiology in vivo and in isolated retinas to better understand how alterations in the cellular environment compared with intrinsic cellular/molecular properties of the photoreceptors, affect light signal transduction and transmission in the retina in chronic type 2 diabetes. Research design and methods Photoreceptor function was assessed in BKS.Cs-Dock7m+/+Lepr db/J mice, using homozygotes for Leprdb as a model of type 2 diabetes and heterozygotes as non-diabetic controls. In vivo electroretinogram (ERG) was recorded in dark-adapted mice at both 3 and 6 months of age. For ex vivo ERG, isolated retinas were superfused with oxygenated Ames’ media supplemented with 30 mM glucose or mannitol as iso-osmotic control and electrical responses to light stimuli were recorded. Results We found that both transduction and transmission of light signals by rod photoreceptors were compromised in 6-month-old (n=9–10 eyes from 5 animals, ***p<0.001) but not in 3-month-old diabetic mice in vivo (n=4–8 eyes from 2 to 4 animals). In contrast, rod signaling was similar in isolated retinas from 6-month-old control and diabetic mice under normoglycemic conditions (n=11). Acutely elevated glucose ex vivo increased light-evoked rod photoreceptor responses in control mice (n=11, ***p<0.001), but did not affect light responses in diabetic mice (n=11). Conclusions Our data suggest that long-term diabetes does not irreversibly change the ability of rod photoreceptors to transduce and mediate light signals. However, type 2 diabetes appears to induce adaptational changes in the rods that render them less sensitive to increased availability of glucose.
R/UAStools::plotshpcreate: Create Multi-Polygon Shapefiles for Extraction of Research Plot Scale Agriculture Remote Sensing Data

Agricultural researchers are embracing remote sensing tools to phenotype and monitor agriculture crops. Specifically, large quantities of data are now being collected on small plot research studies using Unoccupied Aerial Systems (UAS, aka drones), ground systems, or other technologies but, data processing and analysis lags behind. One major contributor to current data processing bottlenecks has been the lack of publicly available software tools tailored towards remote sensing of small plots, and usability for researchers inexperienced in remote sensing. To address these needs we created plot shapefile maker (R/UAS::plotshpcreate), an open source R function which rapidly creates ESRI polygon shapefiles to the desired dimensions of individual agriculture research plots areas of interest and associates plot specific information. Plotshpcreate was developed to utilize inputs containing experimental design, field orientation, and plot dimensions for easily creating a multi-polygon shapefile of an entire small plot experiment. Output shapefiles are based on the user inputs geolocation of the front left corner of the research field ensuring accurate overlay of polygons often without manual user adjustment. The output shapefile is useful in GIS software to extract plot level data tracing back to the unique IDs of the experimental plots. Plotshpcreate is available on GitHub (https://github.com/andersst91/UAStools).
Current Issues in Histology, Biology and Prognosis of Hodgkin Lymphoma

Summary High risk Hodgkin lymphoma patients may occasionally have borderline characteristics similar to gray zone lymphomas and T-cell/histiocyte rich B cell lymphomas. These entities require different and more aggressive treatment modalities. Aggressive behavior is often associated with disturbances caused by Epstein Barr virus, or immune evasion caused by overexpression of check point inhibitors PDL-1 and PDL-2 coupled with the lack of expression of Class I and II MHC molecules. Galectin-1, TARC, sCD163 and other surrogate markers of immunosuppression in Hodgkin lymphoma may be useful for the assessment of treatment response. The improvements in lymphoma management diminished the importance of prognostic factors unified in the International Prognostic Scoring system, reducing them from 7 to 3 factors that remained relevant. Interim PET analysis is the only method able to identify resistant patients while chemotherapy is ongoing, thus enabling adjustment of treatment according to the treatment response. Efforts for stratification of patients according to disease histology, biology, microenvironment, clinical scoring systems and PET scan are ongoing. Current breakthroughs have set strong background for novel therapies with monoclonal antibodies and check point inhibitors that will result in improvement of management of high risk patients.
Comparative evaluation of satranidazole and ornidazole effectiveness in the treatment of chronic periodontal diseases along with mechanical debridement

Background: Periodontitis is a common chronic inflammatory dental disease, which occurs due to the existence of pathogenic microorganisms within the gingival plaque and lead to the formation of periodontal pocket. This study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of satranidazole and ornidazole in the treatment of chronic periodontal diseases along with mechanical debridement. Methods: Forty subjects were randomly selected to access the effectiveness of selected drugs on the basis of clinical and microbiological investigations over a period of 14 days. Six Ramfjord teeth (i.e. 16, 21, 24, 36, 41 and 44) were examined for investigating clinical parameters such as gingival inflammation, pocket depth and bleeding on probing. Microbiological investigations were carried out to examine the presence of gram positive (cocci and bacilli), gram negative (cocci and bacilli) and spirochaetes. Results: A substantial progress was recorded in treating gingival inflammation, pocket depth and bleeding on probing. The results of microbiological investigations suggest that the satranidazole and ornidazole were equally effective when used alone and with scaling and root planning in reducing microbial infections. The results indicated a significant (p <0.0001) effect of model drugs on clinical and microbiological parameters in different study subjects at baseline (pre-treatment), and 7 days and 14 days post treatment. Conclusions: The results concluded that ornidazole is better than satranidazole in treating periodontal diseases.
Aging and Muscle Fatigability in the Upper Extremity

AGING AND MUSCLE FATIGABILITY IN THE UPPER EXTREMITY Andrew Kuplic Marquette University, 2017 Aging is accompanied by reductions in strength and contraction velocity, and increased fatigability of limb muscles during high-velocity dynamic contractions. These age-related changes affect functional tasks and are well described for the lower limb, with less known about the upper limb muscles. The aims of the thesis were to compare in young and old men and women: (1) maximal torque and power of the elbow flexor muscles across a range of isokinetic velocities, and (2) the neural (supraspinal) and muscular mechanisms of fatigue induced by high-velocity dynamic contractions of the elbow flexor muscles. 28 young (23.2 ± 2.6 years) men (n = 14) and women (n = 14) and 33 (72.6 ± 5.6 years) old men (n = 18) and women (n = 15) with the elbow flexor muscles performed: (1) maximal isokinetic contractions at 15 velocities to assess strength and power (0450°/s), and (2) a dynamic fatiguing task involving 80 fast, maximal-effort contractions with a load equivalent to 20% of maximal voluntary isometric torque (MVIC). Before and after the fatiguing task the following were assessed: voluntary activation using motor cortical stimulation as a measure of supraspinal fatigue, and contractile properties evoked with electrical stimulation as a measure of muscular mechanisms. The elbow flexor muscles of the old adults were weaker and less powerful than young adults across all the velocities assessed (P<0.01), although voluntary activation was similar between the age groups (P>0.05). Some young and old adults were not able attain higher contraction velocities, primarily driven by the women. Old adults were more fatigable than young adults (P<0.001, 15% difference) with now sex differences (P>0.05). Old adults exhibited a larger reduction in voluntary activation (P=0.036, 7.5% age difference) and greater increase in relaxation in the old adults (55%) than the young (36%) following the fatiguing task. The elbow flexor muscles of old men and women were weaker and less powerful than young, but this was not due to differences in voluntary activation. The greater fatigability of elbow flexor muscles in the old adults however, was due to both supraspinal mechanisms and slowing of the muscle that occurs with aging.