Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Continuum Neuronal Model for the Propagation of Cortical Spreading Depression

Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is a slow wave phenomenon in the cortex of the brain that is associated with the spread of depression of the electroencephalogram signal. Functionally, it is associated with migraine with aura, see Hadjikhane et al. [3]. CSD was discovered in 1944 by A.A. P. Leão ([9]), a Brazilian neurophysiologist, during his Ph.D. studies on epilepsy at the Harvard Medical School. These waves are characterized by their slow speeds of 1-15 mm/min and their appearance in a variety of cortex structures in the brains of many different animals, see Bures et al. [1] and in humans. Although CSD was discovered over 65 years ago, we still do not have a good understanding of how the different mechanisms conspire to form this coherent phenomenon. While there are many interesting aspects of CSD, its intimate connection with migraine with aura makes it a particularly important neurophysiological phenomenon to try to understand from the clinical point of view. In particular, the fact that migraine occurs three times more often in women than in men and recent experimental findings by Brennan et al. [2] that show the threshold for CSD in female mice is lower than that for male mice make a compelling argument for further theoretical studies of CSD. In particular, can we identify physiological or anatomical indicators that would explain these important findings. Mathematical models of CSD have been proposed almost since the time that CSD was originally discovered. The cellular automata method developed by Wiener and Rosenblueth for the study of cardiac waves was used by Shibata and Bures to study CSD. It was postulated early on by Grafstein that potassium was the major ion involved in CSD and that repeated neuronal firings were responsible for the large increase in extracellular potassium. Hodgkin proposed a simple single partial differential equation model, essentially the first equation in the FitzHugh-Nagumo equations for action potentials, to describe the leading edge of the CSD wave. Both the cellular automata methods and the simple single PDE model do not lend themselves easily to the incorporation of physiological mechanisms to explain the instigation and propagation of CSD waves. Furthermore, the flexibility in using mathematical models based on physiological mechanisms allows us to perform extensive studies of CSD occurrence which would be impossible to perform in the laboratory. The first detailed mathematical model of CSD that incorporated physiological mechanisms was proposed by Tuckwell and Miura [14]. Their model was based on the neurotransmitter hypothesis. It had been shown by Sugaya et al. [13] that CSD waves initiated in untreated cortical tissue could propagate through TTX-treated tissue, so that CSD waves did not need action potentials for their
Option pricing with imprecisely stated volatility: A fuzzy-random approach

The option pricing model performance crucially depends on the ability to estimate all necessary input parameters successfully. Within the standard models of Black-Scholes type, the most important parameter is volatility. Since it is often very difficult to obtain a single number, an alternative can be to apply interval approach or more generalized fuzzy-random approach. In this paper recent knowledge of fuzzy numbers and their approximations is utilized in order to suggest fuzzy-random simulation approach to option price modeling, ie. we use fuzzy-random variables. In particular, we suggest to replace a crisp volatility parameter in the standard market model (ie. Black-Scholes type) by a fuzzy random variable, which can be easily evaluated by Monte Carlo simulation. Application possibilities are shown on illustrative examples. In particular, we evaluate the model for various input data and option types. The results are compared to the Black-Scholes option price and market option prices.
The Analysis of Non-Stationary Pooled Time-Series Cross-Section-Data

It is common in macro-level research on violent crime to analyze datasets combining a cross-section (N units) with a time-series (T periods) dimension. A large body of methodological literature accumulated since the 1990s raises questions regarding the validity of conventional models for such Pooled Time-Series Cross-Section- (PTCS) data in the presence of non-stationarity (i. e. stochastic trends). Extant research shows that conventional techniques lead to consistent estimates only under specific conditions, and standard procedures for statistical inference do not apply. The approaches proposed in the literature to test for stochastic trends and cointegration (see the introduction to this issue) are reviewed, as well as methods for estimation and inference in the non-stationary PTCS-context. A host of procedures has been developed, including methods to take simultaneously cross-section dependence and/or structural breaks into account. Thus there are now all the tools needed for valid analyses of non-stationary PTCS-data available, although many of them need large samples to perform well. The general approach to the analysis of non-stationary PTCS-data is illustrated using a data set with robbery rates for eleven West-German federal states 1971-2004. Several meaningful long-run relationships are identified and estimated in these analyses. Normal 0 21 false false false DE X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Normale Tabelle"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
Nativity, Duration of Residence, and the Health of Hispanic Adults in the United States 1

This article examines subgroup differences in the health status of Hispanic adults in comparison to non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic lacks. We pay particular attention to the influences of nativity and duration of residence in the United States. Data are pooled from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) for 1989–94. Puerto Ricans exhibited the worst health outcomes of any group (including whites and blacks) for each of the three health measures. Persons of Central/South American origin exhibited the most favorable outcomes for activity limitations and bed sick days, advantages that were eliminated when controlled for nativity/duration. For two of the three health status variables, Mexican Americans were very similar to non-Hispanic whites in baseline models and were more favorable than non-Hispanic whites once socioeconomic factors were controlled; this was not the case, however, for self-reported overall health. Immigration also helped to explain the relatively positive outcomes among Central/South American origin individuals, Cubans, and Mexican Americans. For most Hispanic groups (as well as non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks), immigrants reported better health than the U.S. born, which is consistent with a selectivity hypothesis of immigrant health. In addition, this advantage tended to be significantly smaller among immigrants with ten or more years’ duration in the United States. Although the latter finding is consistent with the negative acculturation hypothesis, alternative interpretations, including the generally more limited access of immigrants to the formal health care system, are suggested.
Stacey, Paula C. and Kitterick, Pádraig T. and Morris, Saffron D. and Sumner, Christian J. (2016) The contribution of visual information to the perception of speech in noise with and without informative temporal fine structure. Hearing

Understanding what is said in demanding listening situations is assisted greatly by looking at the face of a talker. Previous studies have observed that normal-hearing listeners can benefit from this visual information when a talker's voice is presented in background noise. These benefits have also been observed in quiet listening conditions in cochlear-implant users, whose device does not convey the informative temporal fine structure cues in speech, and when normal-hearing individuals listen to speech processed to remove these informative temporal fine structure cues. The current study (1) characterised the benefits of visual information when listening in background noise; and (2) used sinewave vocoding to compare the size of the visual benefit when speech is presented with or without informative temporal fine structure. The accuracy with which normal-hearing individuals reported words in spoken sentences was assessed across three experiments. The availability of visual information and informative temporal fine structure cues was varied within and across the experiments. The results showed that visual benefit was observed using openand closed-set tests of speech perception. The size of the benefit increased when informative temporal fine structure cues were removed. This finding suggests that visual information may play an important role in the ability of cochlear-implant users to understand speech in many everyday situations. Models of audio-visual integration were able to account for the additional benefit of visual information when speech was degraded and suggested that auditory and visual informationwas being integrated in a similar way in all conditions. The modelling results were consistent with the notion that audio-visual benefit is derived from the optimal combination of auditory and visual sensory cues. © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Ant Colony Optimisation Applied to Non-Slicing Floorplanning

In this article experimental results are provided for a very-large-scale integration (VLSI) floorplan design problem. Given is a set of modules to be placed non-overlapping on a 2-dimensional rectangular plane. We use ant system simulation as a heuristics to produce feasible layouts in order to minimize the total unused area. The algorithm differs from many others in that fact that it produces non-slicing floorplan. Our experimental results show comparable results of previous methods using ant colony optimization (ACO) in VLSI design. For this purpose we define the “interior” structure for a geometrical computation of module positions.
GRB 120711A: an intense INTEGRAL burst with long-lasting soft γ-ray emission and a powerful optical flash

A long and intense γ-ray burst (GRB) was detected by INTEGRAL on 11 July 2012 with a duration of ∼115 s and fluence of 2.8 × 10 −4 erg cm −2 in the 20 keV−8 MeV energy range. GRB 120711A was at z ∼ 1.405 and produced soft γ-ray emission (>20 keV) for at least ∼10 ks after the trigger. The GRB was observed by several ground-based telescopes that detected a powerful optical flash peaking at an R-band brightness of ∼11.5 mag at ∼126 s after the trigger, or ∼9th magnitude when corrected for the host galaxy extinction (AV ∼ 0.85). The X-ray afterglow was monitored by the Swift, XMM-Newton ,a ndChandra observatories from 8 ks to 7 Ms and provides evidence for a jet break at ∼0.9 Ms. We present a comprehensive temporal and spectral analysis of the long-lasting soft γ-ray emission detected in the 20−200 keV band with INTEGRAL/IBIS, the Fermi/LAT post-GRB detection above 100 MeV, the soft X-ray afterglow and the optical/near-infrared detections from Watcher, Skynet/PROMPT, GROND, and REM. The prompt emission had a very hard spectrum (Epeak ∼ 1 MeV) and yields an Eγ,iso ∼ 10 54 erg (1 keV−10 MeV rest frame), making GRB 120711A one of the most energetic GRBs detected so far. We modelled the long-lasting soft γ-ray emission using the standard afterglow scenario, which indicates a forward shock origin. The combination of data extending from the near-infrared to GeV energies suggest that the emission is produced by a broken power-law spectrum consistent with synchrotron radiation. The afterglow is well modelled using a stratified wind-like environment with a density profile k ∼ 1.2, suggesting a massive star progenitor (i.e. Wolf-Rayet) with a mass-loss – – −−
GLIBENCLAMIDE LOADED SELF-MICROEMULSIFYING DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM (SMEDDS): DEVELOPMENT AND OPTIMIZATION

Objective: The objective of the present study was to develop and characterize self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) of anti-diabetic drug glibenclamide for filling into liquid filling hard gelatin capsules. Methods: Solubility of glibenclamide was evaluated in various nonaqueous careers that included oils, surfactants, and cosurfactants. Pseudo ternary phase diagrams were constructed to identify the self-microemulsification region. Preliminary screening was carried out to select proper components combination. Glibenclamide SMEDDS was prepared using Peceol (oil), Tween 20 (surfactant), Transcutol P (cosurfactant), and evaluated for self-emulsification property, droplet size, polydispesity index, zeta potential, optical clarity, drug content, in-vitro dissolution study in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer compared with plain glibenclamide and marketed tablet. Results: The optimized glibenclamide SMEDDS composed of 15% Peceol, 44% Tween 20 and 41% Transcutol P with droplet size 81.13 nm, PDI 0.270, zeta potential -55.12 mV and complete drug release within 15 min as compared with marketed tablet and plain glibenclamide, which showed limited dissolution rate. Conclusion: The results from this study demonstrate the potential use of SMEDDS as a means of improving solubility, dissolution, and concomitantly the bioavailability of glibenclamide.
Switchgrass as a biofuels feedstock in the USA

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has been identified as a model herbaceous energy crop for the USA. In this review, we selectively highlight current USDA-ARS research on switchgrass for biomass energy. Intensive research on switchgrass as a biomass feedstock in the 1990s greatly improved our understanding of the adaptation of switchgrass cultivars, production practices, and environmental benefits. Several constraints still remain in terms of economic production of switchgrass for biomass feedstock including reliable establishment practices to ensure productive stands in the seeding year, efficient use of fertilizers, and more efficient methods to convert lignocellulose to biofuels. Overcoming the biological constraints will require genetic enhancement, molecular biology, and plant breeding efforts to improve switchgrass cultivars. New genomic resources will aid in developing molecular markers, and should allow for marker-assisted selection of improved germplasm. Research is also needed on profitable mana.
Learning Analytics to Improve the Effectiveness of Continuous Assessment

In recent years, university courses have gone through many changes in terms of teaching and assessment methods. The introduction of continuous assessment is one of such changes, encouraging students to carefully plan and spread their eﬀorts over the whole duration of the course. However, this assessment method can imply problems such as task overload, which complicate the elaboration of eﬀective work plans by students. Ultimately, a poor work plan will likely lead to underwhelming performance by the student. This paper describes a work in progress on how learning analytics can be used in order to help students improve their performance in a continuous assessment setting. Some outlines for the objectives to be fulﬁlled by future work are provided as well.
Detecting Rat’s Kidney Inflammation Using Real Time Photoacoustic Tomography

Photoacoustic Tomography (PAT) is a promising medical imaging modality that combines optical imaging contrast with the spatial resolution of ultrasound imaging. It can also distinguish the changes in biological features. But, real-time PAT system should be confirmed due to photoacoustic effect for tissue. Thus, we have developed a real-time PAT system using a custom-developed data acquisition board and ultrasound linear probe. To evaluate performance of our system, phantom test was performed. As a result of those experiments, the system showed satisfactory performance and its usefulness has been confirmed. We monitored the degradation of inflammation which induced on the rat’s kidney using real-time PAT. Keywords—Photoacoustic tomography, inflammation detection, rat, kidney, contrast agent, ultrasound.
Late Quaternary variability of sedimentary nitrogen isotopes in the eastern South Pacific Ocean

[1] We present high-resolution bulk sedimentary δ15N data from the southern edge of the present-day oxygen minimum zone of the eastern South Pacific. The record is interpreted as representing changes in water column nitrogen removal during the last 70,000 years. We found significant fluctuations in the isotopic signal that suggest major reorganizations of the oxygen minimum zone at millennial timescales. These fluctuations were not related to other millennial-scale changes like the Northern Hemisphere's Dansgaard-Oeschger climate swings or local changes in primary productivity, so appear to be dictated by the Southern Hemisphere's climate rhythm. This is preliminarily corroborated by an overall agreement between our δ15N data and the sedimentary proxy of ice sheet dynamics in Patagonia, which is in turn correlated with surface water properties at the midlatitude subduction region of the eastern South Pacific intermediate waters. Finally, potential implications on late Quaternary changes in atmospheric CO2 concentrations are discussed.
Effects of Ownership Structure on Capital Structure of Indian Listed Firms: Role of Business Groups vis-à-vis Stand-Alone Firms

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between promoter ownership and capital structure of firms’ using a sample of Indian publicly listed firms for the period from 2006 to 2013. We find that the relationship between promoter ownership and leverage is inversely U-shaped in group-affiliated firms, whereas in stand-alone firms there is a U-shaped relationship. We argue that a substantial presence of family owners and the selection of managers from within the family play some role for such relationship in group-affiliated firms. On the other hand, the argument for observed relationship in stand-alone firms follows from alignment hypothesis, entrenchment hypothesis, managerial risk aversion hypothesis, and active monitoring hypothesis.
Ontology of Cyber Security of Self-Recovering Smart GRID

The article describes the modern Smart Grid from the standpoint of providing resistance to negative impacts, preventing them, and quickly restoring functions after accidents in accordance with the requirements of energy security. To implement this goal, the developed ontology of cyber-security of self-recovering Smart Grids has been proposed for implementation. A critical analysis of approaches and methods to ensure the sustainability of the functioning of power systems in the event of their destabilization. The ideology of sustainability of Smart Grid power systems on the basis of immunity was developed and a scheme for the formation of immunity for disturbances was proposed. Keywords—Smart Grid; ontology; self-recovery; immunity; cyber-security.
Validation of the SM-GIBED Scale: Attitudes of Emergency and Mental Health Nurses about Alcoholics and Other Drug-Dependent Patients

Objective: The goal of this study was to analyse the attitudes and perceptions of emergency and mental health nurses through the validation of the SM-GIBED scale in specialised care in Spain on alcoholics and other drug-dependent patients. Design and Setting: This cross-sectional study was developed using the Spanish hospital version of the Seaman-Mannello scale to denominate the SM-GIBED scale. Participants: 170 Emergency and Mental Health Nursing from five Spanish Hospitals. Intervention: Self-administered questionnaire to analiyse the perceptions and attitudes about the drug addict and the alcoholic. Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures: A descriptive and inferential analysis of the study variables was carried out. A psychometric analysis was performed to validate the scale. Results: A total of 170 questionnaires were collected from 257 healthcare workers. Overall, 99.1% of the participants had contact with drug-dependent patients during their professional experience. Nearly 75% had difficulties in treating them. The psychometric analysis of the SM-GIBED scale in the Spanish context obtained values of KMO = 0.655 and Bartlett's test p < 0.000. Cronbach's alpha of 0.738 was obtained from the reliability analysis. A reliability analysis of each of the SM-GIBED questions found no case with an alpha lower than 0.71. In conclusion, positive aspects include an ingratiating attitude and subject-to-subject communication when nurses self-define as empathic and non-paternalistic. Among the negative aspects, there is a lack of communication skills and assertiveness with these patients. This highlights a certain degree of resignation and dissatisfaction when working with drug addicts.
Dynamic models for mantle flow and seismic anisotropy in the North Atlantic region and comparison with observations

Dynamic mantle flow and temperature models for the North Atlantic based on a regionalized P‐wave and a global S‐wave tomography model were derived under the constraint of a maximum fit to the observed gravity field. For the regional flow model Cartesian geometry, temperature‐ and depth‐dependent viscosity and a free slip surface were assumed, while the global model assumed a radially dependent viscosity and kinematic plate velocity boundary conditions. Both models show pronounced upwellings within the upper mantle beneath the Iceland area and the lower mantle beneath, the regional model containing a lateral shift associated with a horizontal flow near 660 km depth. The upper mantle temperature field of the regional model shows two distinct anomalies, one beneath Iceland and the westerly adjacent regions with a connection to a deep mantle root and an excess temperature of 200°C, and a second one below 300 km at the Kolbeinsey Ridge with an excess temperature of 120°C. These anomalies do not appear to be connected. An essentially radial flow pattern is found south of Iceland with ridge parallel flow along Reykjanes and divergent flow at the Kolbeinsey Ridge. The long‐wavelength global model does not show such details but is characterized by a NE‐SW elongated upwelling flow beneath Iceland and a ridge perpendicular flow within the upper mantle. From the modeled flow fields, lattice preferred orientations (LPO) of olivine are calculated. For the regional model, azimuthal seismic anisotropy is predicted with fast directions diverging away from Iceland and the Kolbeinsey ridge. The global model predicts roughly ridge perpendicular fast directions. Comparison of predicted with observed seismic anisotropy models shows regions of good agreement north, east, and SE of Iceland, as well as for Iceland. No agreement is found beneath the Reykjanes Ridge area, leading to the speculation that the fast directions are perpendicular to the flow due to a change in the LPO generating mechanism. Regarding geochemical findings, the regional flow model can explain plume‐related geochemical signatures observed on the Reykjanes Ridge and predicts a deep, hot melt zone beneath the Kolbeinsey Ridge without plume tracers.
Dielectric Properties of Alumina Ceramics in the Microwave Frequency at High Temperature

The dielectric properties of alumina ceramics have been measured using a free-space time-domain technique from room temperature to 1400 oC in the frequency range 8.2 – 12.4 GHz. The effects of thickness and lateral size of specimen were investigated with comparing the measured values to the calculated ones based on the half-wavelength and the Gaussian beam focusing. From these results the optimum specimen dimension for the high temperature dielectric measurement was suggested with experimental verification.