Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Domain-General Factors Influencing Numerical and Arithmetic Processing

This special issue contains 18 articles that address the question how numerical processes interact with domain-general factors. We start the editorial with a discussion of how to define domain-general versus domain-specific factors and then discuss the contributions to this special issue grouped into two core numerical domains that are subject to domain-general influences (see Figure 1). The first group of contributions addresses the question how numbers interact with spatial factors. The second group of contributions is concerned with factors that determine and predict arithmetic understanding, performance and development. This special issue shows that domain-general (Table 1a) as well as domain-specific (Table 1b) abilities influence numerical and arithmetic performance virtually at all levels and make it clear that for the field of numerical cognition a sole focus on one or several domain-specific factors like the approximate number system or spatial-numerical associations is not sufficient. Vice versa, in most studies that included domain-general and domain-specific variables, domain-specific numerical variables predicted arithmetic performance above and beyond domain-general variables. Therefore, a sole focus on domain-general aspects such as, for example, working memory, to explain, predict and foster arithmetic learning is also not sufficient. Based on the articles in this special issue we conclude that both domain-general and domain-specific factors contribute to numerical cognition. But the how, why and when of their contribution still needs to be better understood. We hope that this special issue may be helpful to readers in constraining future theory and model building about the interplay of domain-specific and domain-general factors.
Control and simulation for hybrid solid oxide fuel cell power systems

Hybrid solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)-gas turbine (GT) power system provides a promising solution for powering the future aircraft. This electrical power generation technology can achieve both the high efficiency and very low emission. However, two independent energy sources in the system, SOFC and GT, require more dedicated power management strategy. A novel power tracking control method is proposed in this paper to address the issue of power partitioning between two energy sources. In order to analysis and verify the control strategy in the hybrid SOFC system, a detailed system simulation platform is developed. The simulation results demonstrate that the power tracking control can effectively control the load power distribution between two channels.
Outdoor Object Recognition for Smart Audio Guides

We present a smart audio guide that adapts itself to the environment the user is navigating into. The system builds automatically a point of interest database exploiting Wikipedia and Google APIs as source. We rely on a computer vision system, to overcome the likely sensor limitations, and determine with high accuracy if the user is facing a certain landmark or if he is not facing any. Thanks to this the guide presents audio description at the most appropriate moment without any user intervention, using text-to-speech augmenting the experience.
Neuronal oscillations: unavoidable and useful?

Neuronal systems have a high propensity to engage in oscillatory activity because both the properties of individual neurons and canonical circuit motifs favour rhythmic activity. In addition, coupled oscillators can engage in a large variety of dynamical regimes, ranging from synchronization with different phase offsets to chaotic behaviour. Which regime prevails depends on differences between preferred oscillation frequencies, coupling strength and coupling delays. The ability of delay coupled oscillator networks to generate a rich repertoire of temporally structured activation sequences is exploited by central pattern generator networks for the control of movements. However, it is less clear whether temporal patterning of neuronal discharges also plays a role in cognitive processes. Here, it will be argued that the temporal patterning of neuronal discharges emerging from delay coupled oscillator networks plays a pivotal role in all instances in which selective relations have to be established between the responses of distributed assemblies of neurons. Examples are the dynamic formation of functional networks, the selective routing of activity in densely interconnected networks, the attention‐dependent selection of sensory signals, the fast and context‐dependent binding of responses for further joint processing in pattern recognition and the formation of associations by learning. Special consideration is given to arguments that challenge a functional role of oscillations and synchrony in cognition because of the volatile nature of these phenomena and recent evidence will be reviewed suggesting that this volatility is functionally advantageous.
Smoking and Alzheimer's disease among Mongolian and Han Chinese aged 55 years and over living in the Inner Mongolia farming area of China

Residents aged 55 years or older from 27 communities and two settlements in Xilingol League of Inner Mongolia were selected for participation in an Alzheimer's disease epidemiological investigation from June 2008 to June 2009, including 3 259 Mongolians and 5 887 Han Chinese. The Mongolian subjects in the Alzheimer's disease group were at age of 55 years or older (on average), and more of them were male, illiterate and/or had a history of coronary artery disease and/or diabetes compared with the Mongolian subjects in the non-Alzheimer's disease group. The Han Chinese subjects in the Alzheimer's disease group were at age of 55 years or older (on average) and more of them were women, illiterate and/or had a history of coronary artery disease, and less of them had a history of alcohol consumption compared with the non-Alzheimer's disease group. Non-conditional multivariate stepwise logistic regression identified that male gender, increasing age and having a history of diabetes and/or coronary heart disease were associated with higher odds of Alzheimer's disease among Mongolians while having an educational background was associated with lower odds (OR = 0.259, 95%CI 0.174–0.386). Among the Han Chinese subjects, male gender, increasing age and having a history of coronary heart disease and/or hypertension was associated with higher odds of Alzheimer's disease, while having an educational background was associated lower odds (OR = 0.271, 95%CI 0.192–0.381). The results also indicated that extremely heavy smoking may be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease in Mongolian males aged over 55 years. There was no significant difference in smoking habits between the Mongolian and Han Chinese subjects with Alzheimer's disease.
Derivation of the transfer functions of 1-bit Multi-Step Look-Ahead ΣΔ modulators using system identification methods

A method to calculate the transfer functions of Multi-Step Look-Ahead (MSLA) ΣΔ modulators is presented. MSLA ΣΔ modulators exhibit better noise shaping characteristics and stability than conventional ones. They are comprised of a number of conventional ΣΔ modulators in parallel, sharing a multi-input 1-bit output quantizer. MSLA modulators are highly nonlinear systems due to the multi-input quantizer. Modeling of the quantizer using conventional linearization methods does not give satisfactory results. Therefore, this work applies system identification methods to derive the linearized MSLA modulator system transfer functions. More specifically the Vector Fitting algorithm is used for the linearization of a number of MSLA modulators. The obtained transfer functions are in very good agreement with simulation results, showcasing the effectiveness of the applied methods.
Decreased CD10 Expression i Patients

Background: HIV-1 infection is associated with various quantitative and qualitative changes in haemopoietic cells. Clear distinction between primary myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and secondary dysplasia may not always be possible. Adjunctive analyses used in the dia gnosis of MDS include cytogenetics and flow cytometry (FCM). Much focus has been placed on establishing FCM guidelines aiding in the diagnosis of MDS, and to distinguish this condition from secondary dysplastic changes. One of the parameters often cited is expression on the granulocyte population, as this marker denotes granulocytic maturation. Aims: To determine the expression level of CD10 on granulocytes in HIV positive patients. Methods: In total, 117 HIV-1 positive and 29 HIV study. Bone marrow aspirate samples were evaluated in terms of morphological abnormality as well as CD10 expression on the granulocytic population. Results: The average CD10 expression among the HIV reduced, at 18.4%, and 113 patients (96.6%) of these patients had expression levels below 50%. Discussion: Disease conditions causing secondary dysplasia, especially HIV associated with a marked reduction in CD10 expression on the granul independent from the presence of myelodysplastic features. This marker is therefore of doubtful significance as a diagnostic tool in distinguishing between primary and secondary dysplasia.
Software-Defined Radio: Finding Its Use in Public Safety

In this article, the deployment of software-defined radio (SDR) technologies for public safety (PS) is addressed for the purpose of providing a useful reference integrating PS-specific requirements and the relevant applicable technologies. Both user requirements and SDR technologies have been examined by a lot of working groups in recent years. In turn, they have been providing support to many European-funded programs, completing the work started by the European Commission's (EC's) Sixth and Seventh Framework Programmes (FP6 and FP7), which are approaching their last steps. Narrowband up to broadband radio communications have been analyzed, also addressing security, group calls, and other specific requirements demanded by PS.
Peritoneal Cytology in Patients with Potentially Resectable Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas

The prognostic significance of malignant cells in the peritoneal washings of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma remains poorly defined. Prior reports suggest that positive peritoneal cytology (PPC) is associated with advanced disease and reduced survival. To determine the prognostic value of PPC in patients with pancreatic cancer, we retrospectively reviewed our database between July 1987 and September 2002 and identified 168 patients who had undergone exploration for potentially resectable pancreatic cancer with peritoneal washings performed at the time of exploration. One hundred thirty-five patients underwent resection; 33 were considered unresectable. PPC was reported for 27 patients (16.1%): 13 (9.6%) in the resected and 14 (42.4%) in the unresected group. Median time to macroscopically detected recurrence in the resected group was not significantly different in the PPC versus negative peritoneal cytology (NPC) patients (10 vs 12 months, P = 0.46). Median overall survival of patients with PPC versus NPC approached, but did not reach, significance (15 vs 19 months, P = 0.055). Peritoneal cytology status was not associated with administration of chemoradiation, margin status, antecedent fine-needle aspiration, stage, or site of recurrence. These data suggest that malignant cells in peritoneal washings of patients with potentially resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma should not preclude resection. Long-term survival may be achieved, therefore aggressive treatment should strongly be considered.
Aggregation of blood pressure in infants and their siblings.

Sibling aggregation of blood pressure has been shown in children 2 to 14 years of age. To determine the earliest age at which this finding is detectable, blood pressures were evaluated in 98 siblings from 43 black families with newborns. Variances of blood pressure scores were significantly greater among families than within families for systolic (p less than .025) but not diastolic pressures. Sib-sib intraclass correlation coefficients were . 26 (95% two-sided confidence limits .05 to .47) for systolic and . 16 (-.06 to .38) for diastolic pressures. When 1-month-old infant pressures were added, significant aggregation was present for systolic (p less than .01) and diastolic (p less than .025) pressures. The intraclass correlation coefficients were . 21 (.02 to .38) and . 17 (.03 to .34), respectively. When newborn scores were substituted, aggregation was not demonstrable. These data demonstrate a familial influence on blood pressure in infancy by 1 month of age.
L‐phenylalanine selectively depresses currents at glutamatergic excitatory synapses

To explore the hypothesis that L‐phenylalanine (L‐Phe) depresses glutamatergic synaptic transmission and thus contributes to brain dysfunction in phenylketonuria (PKU), the effects of L‐Phe on spontaneous and miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (s/mEPSCs) in rat and mouse hippocampal and cerebrocortical cultured neurons were studied using the patch‐clamp technique. L‐Phe depressed the amplitude and frequency of both N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) and non‐NMDA components of glutamate receptor (GluR) s/mEPSCs. The IC50 of L‐Phe to inhibit non‐NMDAR mEPSC frequency was 0.98 ± 0.13 mM, a brain concentration seen in classical PKU. In contrast, D‐Phe had a significantly smaller effect, whereas L‐leucine, an amino acid that competes with L‐Phe for brain transporter, had no effect on mEPSCs. Unlike GluR s/mEPSCs, GABA receptor mIPSCs were not attenuated by L‐Phe. A high extracellular concentration of glycine prevented the attenuation by L‐Phe of NMDAR current, activated by exogenous agonist, and of NMDAR s/mEPSC amplitude, but not of NMDAR s/mEPSC frequency. On the other hand, L‐Phe significantly depressed non‐NMDAR current activated by low but not high concentrations of exogenous agonists. Glycine‐independent attenuation of NMDAR s/mEPSC frequency suggests decreased presynaptic glutamate release caused by L‐Phe, whereas decreased amplitudes of NMDAR and non‐NMDAR s/mEPSCs are consistent with competition of L‐Phe for the glycine‐ and glutamate‐binding sites of NMDARs and non‐NMDARs, respectively. The finding that GluR activity is significantly depressed at conditions characteristic of classical PKU indicates a potentially important contribution of impaired GluR function to PKU‐related mental retardation and provides important insights into the potential physiological consequences of impaired GluR function. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An information-centric approach to data security in organizations

Many organizations focus on a computing-centric approach to information security whilst neglecting the security of information on paper and amongst personnel This paper presents a model that is both media-independent and information-centric, allowing organizations to pursue an integrated methodology towards analysing risks and providing information protection across all types of media. Using this model to map information flows within business and knowledge processes will quickly show that it will be almost impossible to control all risks, but the resulting detailed risk profile may enable the organization to explore alternative processes with lower risks.
Valuing Clinical Strategies Early in Their Development

1 he unremitting growth of health expenditures has created growing demands on physicians to justify diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. To do so, physicians usually focus on the question of whether treatments can work in the ideal—the question of efficacy (1). Because efficacy is assessed in highly controlled environments, physicians have focused more recently on whether treatments do work under the conditions in which they are applied in practice—the question of effectiveness (2). However, because neither efficacy nor effectiveness measures the resources required to achieve an outcome, physicians have also become interested in the question of cost required to achieve a given outcome—the question of efficiency (3). This juxtaposition of cost and outcome provides a measure of value, which can then be appraised by a society faced with many competing needs and desires.
Starting a laparoscopic hepatectomy programme.

INTRODUCTION Laparoscopic hepatectomy has been performed in many overseas centres. By avoiding long incisions associated with open hepatectomies, patients suffer less pain, recover faster and enjoy a shorter hospital stay. In Singapore, many centres have recently embarked on this approach. We believe that careful patient selection can facilitate scaling the learning curve. The aim of this study was to review our centre's initial outcome with laparoscopic anatomical liver resection when stringent selection criteria were applied. METHODS For our initial experience, we based our patient selection on criteria recommended by centres more experienced with laparoscopic hepatectomy. We selected only patients with small lesions confined to Couinaud's liver segments of II, III, IVB, V and VI. The surgical technique was similar in all cases, including intraoperative ultrasonography for localisation, ultrasonic shears and surgical staplers for parenchymal transection, and delivery of the specimen via a Pfannenstiel incision. No hand ports were used. Patients' records were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS Between July 2006 and August 2007, we had five consecutive patients. Their median age was 50 (range 36-66) years. Four of these patients had hepatocellular carcinomas and one had a liver abscess. The median operation time was 275 (range 250-290) minutes, and median intraoperative blood loss was 400 (range 200-700) ml. The median hospital stay was four days. CONCLUSION At the initial stages of a laparoscopic hepatectomy programme, we propose that a stringent patient selection criteria coupled with the proper surgical expertise can ensure favourable outcomes, comparable to more established centres.
Butterworth's medical dictionary

This interesting and provocative book tries to set Greek ideas down to Aristotle on the heart, blood, and brain as the source of life within their general social and philosophical context, and to provide them with an anthropology. To do this, the authors employ a series of theoretical antinomies-e.g. heart/brain, technician/ prophet, democrat/oligarch, experience/intuition, sensation/intellect-some of which are more convincing than others. However, the traditional and unsatisfactory dichotomy between Coan and Cnidian medicine still lingers on, and there is little attempt to see whether there is any development over time in any of the ideas in the Hippocratic Corpus. Where a Corpus text is discussed in detail, it is the singular and puzzling 'On the heart', given in Littr6's Greek and an Italian translation, and dated c. 340 B.C., just before Aristotle: contrast Medical History, 1973, 17: 1-15, 136-153, for stronger arguments in favour of a date c. 300-250 B.C. The most valuable portion is the long and lucid appendix on Galen, which, as well as trying to set him in his intellectual milieu, points out many of the difficulties and inconsistencies in his marriage of Plato and Hippocrates and in his reconciliation of their theories with the anatomical data provided by his own researches and those of Herophilus and Erasistratus. But while rightly insisting on the varied purposes of his treatises, the authors miss the opportunity of investigating the chronological development of his thought. His last work, 'On my own opinions', which I am in process of editing, provides an authentic summary of his views at the end of his life, which do not always correspond to those of his youth and middle age. Not all the ideas of the authors are convincing. The "Hippocratic" tract 'De alimento' is dated, p. 165, to the first century A.D.: this raises many problems, and, following Joly, I prefer to place it c. 250 B.C. or slightly earlier. On p. 174 Galen's post as doctor to the gladiators is connected with the shrine ofAsclepius at Pergamum: wrongly, for the highpriest who appointed him was in charge of another cult, that of the Roman emperors. This challenging book is valuable as an attempt to set ancient medical thought in its context, and, although it is not everywhere convincing, its methodology and its willingness to consider wider issues make a refreshing change from conventional continental approaches to the achievements of Classical Greece.
Fertility needs and funding in couples with blood‐borne viral infection

Couples infected with HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are increasingly seeking assisted conception. These couples avoid unprotected intercourse and use condoms at all times in order to minimize the risk of infecting their partner. As this practice inhibits pregnancy, assisted procreation is generally required for safe conception. For many couples, access to such services is restricted on ethical, geographical and financial grounds.
Psychiatric disorders and mitochondrial dysfunctions.

BACKGROUND Mitochondria play a key role in the production of the cell energy. The final product of this process is adenosine triphosphate (ATP), used as a source of chemical energy. Besides this major role, mithocondria have been shown to be involved in other functions, such as signaling, cellular differentiation, cell death, as well as the control of the cell cycle and cell growth. The aim of this paper is to highlight the relationships between psychiatric disorders, especially schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (BD), autism, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Alzheimer's dementia. RESULTS The review of the available literature indicate that different mitochondrial dysfunctions may accompany and/or be part of the clinical picture of some neuropsychiatric disorders. CONCLUSIONS Different data would indicate that mitochondrial dysfunctions may be involved in the pathophysiology of different neuropsychiatric disorders, given their key role in the cell energy metabolism. Moreover, they would greatly contribute to the process of neural apoptosis that should be at the basis of neurodegenerative disorders, such as schizophrenia, Alzheimer's dementia and the most severe forms of BD. In addition, data are available that mithocondrial abnormalities are present also in developmental disorders, such as autism and ADHD, although the studies aiming at elucidating the role of mithocondria in the onset and pathophysiology of all these conditions should be considered preliminary. In any case, taken together, these scattered findings would suggest novel drugs targeting protecting mitochondria from oxidative stress.