Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prediction of EEG Signal by Digital Filtering

Prediction of EEG signal from past samples is needed for early diagnosis of patients, suffering from frequent epileptic seizure and/or psychotherapeutic treatment of psychiatric patients. This paper compares the performance of various digital filter algorithms to identify the right candidate for application in EEG prediction. The study includes variation of filter order and past sample size, and finally reaffirms the Kalman filter as the solution for its very low RMS prediction error in comparison to LMS, NLMS and RLS filter algorithms.
The Value of Share Buybacks

A formal theory is presented for the valuation of share buybacks. Formulas are given for calculating the equilibrium and effect on shareholder value in different share buyback scenarios. The prevalent belief amongst scholars and practitioners is that share buybacks can substitute for dividend payouts as a way for companies to return capital to shareholders, possibly with a tax benefit to shareholders. This so-called substitution hypothesis is shown both theoretically and empirically to be a fallacy as share buybacks may significantly affect the value to shareholders. This is important because share buybacks are now substantially larger than dividend payouts, possibly as a result of the substitution hypothesis commonly believed to be valid. The presented theory is also applied in several case studies.
A novel in vivo follicular dendritic cell-dependent iccosome-mediated mechanism for delivery of antigen to antigen-processing cells.

Recent scanning electron microscopic studies on isolated follicular dendritic cells (FDC) showed that dendrites of certain FDC were "beaded," i.e., consisting of a series of interconnected immune complex coated bodies (termed "iccosomes," measuring 0.3 to 0.7 micron diameter). In vitro these iccosomes detach from one another with ease. The major objectives herein were to establish whether these structures can be detected in sections and whether iccosomes serve to disseminate antigen in vivo. Beginning at day 1, the time point used for isolating beaded FDC, the popliteal lymph nodes of immune C3H mice were studied with light and transmission electron microscopy for 2 wk (i.e., at days 1, 3, 5, 8, and 14) after hind footpad injection of the histochemically detectable antigen, horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Iccosomes (0.25 to 0.38 micron diameter), contoured by a peroxidase (PO)-positive coat of HRP-anti-HRP complexes, were first detected by transmission electron microscopy at day 1 adjacent to cell bodies of certain FDC. Within their limiting membrane they contained flocculent material that was PO positive. At day 3 by light microscopy, germinal centers were seen enlarged and the antigen-retaining reticulum, composed of antigen-bearing FDC, appeared diffuse. This coincided with the transmission electron microscopic visualization of a dispersed state of iccosomes among the follicular lymphocytes. At that time iccosomes were seen attached to the surface of lymphocytes via PO-positive immune complexes and were surrounded by microvillous processes of these cells. Germinal center lymphocytes and tingible body macrophages both responded to contact with iccosomes by endocytosis. Antigen-containing tingible body macrophage were most conspicuous by light microscopy at day 5, when transmission electron microscopy showed that the majority of germinal center lymphocytes contained endocytosed HRP in secondary lysosome-like granules associated with the Golgi apparatus. The number of dispersed iccosomes was markedly reduced by day 5. In controls injected with HSA, a PO-negative antigen, lymphocytes and tingible body macrophages were PO-negative. The presence of antigen in both cell types was confirmed through the use of a gold-conjugated antigen (goat IgG). Simultaneous immunoperoxidase labeling of the same tissues with anti-Ia showed the gold conjugate containing B cells to be Ia+. Antigen-positive B cells and tingible body macrophages were greatly reduced in numbers by day 14, suggesting the intracellular fragmentation of the antigen. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Drug absorption. II. Effect of fasting on intestinal drug absorption.

The effects of fasting on the intestinal absorption profiles of salicylic acid, barbital, haloperidol, and chlorpromazine were studied in anesthetized rats. The in situ technique employed in this study yielded absorption rate constants which were realistic and comparable to those observed following oral drug administration. The weak acids, barbital and salicylic acid, were found to obey first-order kinetics throughout the experiments. The highly lipidsoluble weak bases, haloperidol and chlorpromazine, obeyed firstorder kinetics after the first 10 min. of experimentation. No apparent deviation in absorption patterns occurred when fasting periods were less than 20 hr. However, when the period of inanition exceeded 20 hr. , absorption rates were found to decrease significantly and the decrease was dependent on the duration of the fasting period. It is possible that the unusual drug absorption patterns noted in these studies could be accounted for by one or more of the various physiological and/or biochemical changes which occur within an organism subjected to conditions of prolonged fasting.
Hydroponic Cactus Pear Production, Productivity and Quality of Nopalito and Fodder

The use of cactus pear for producing young cladodes (nopalitos) and fodder represent an attractive option to intensify plant production in arid and semi-arid regions. Nopalitos are considered functional food (Saenz et al., 2004) and are used in Mexico since pre-Columbian times (Anaya, 2001). The adjective functional is due to additionally to the nutrient supplies, it provides health benefits and contributes to the prevention of some diseases (Saenz et al., 2004) as is evidenced by results of investigations on the control of cholesterol and the prevention of some diseases like diabetes and obesity (Paiz et al., 2010; Saenz, 2000). Nopalitos are served with meals, similar to green beans (Stintzing, 2005). Nopalitos of Opuntia are produced and consumed in temperate and dry regions while nopalitos of Nopalea genera are used in warm regions of Mexico (Sanchez-Venegas, 1995). Alternatively, fodder of cactus pear is significant in some regions of the world, mostly during the dry season of the year (Flores & Aguirre, 1979; Gonzaga and Cordeiro, 2005). Fodder nutrient quality studies on Opuntia and Nopalea cladodes show variations among species, variants, growth stage of the sprouts and agronomic handling (Lopez-Garcia et al., 2001; Nefzaoui & Ben Salem, 2001; Pinos-Rodriguez et al., 2006) and it has been stated that they have high carbohydrate and water content but have low nutrient and fiber content (Lopez-Garcia et al., 2001). Furthermore, nutritional potential of cactus pear to mitigate feed and water shortages in dry areas were demonstrated by Tegegnea et al. (2007).
How safe are service robots in urban environments? Bullying a robot

This paper describes and discusses the preliminary results of a behavioural study on robot social acceptability, which was carried out during a public demonstration in South Korea. Data was collected by means of direct observation of people behaviour during interaction with robots. The most interesting result to emerge is that of young people: they tended to react to the robots presence with extreme curiosity and, quite often, to treat them aggressively. In this paper, the word bullying is used to describe any kind of improper and violent behaviour, intended to cause damages or impede the robot operation. It is the authors' opinion that if not tackled appropriately, abuses towards robots may become a serious hindrance to their future deployment, and safety. Hence, the necessity to tackle this issue with dedicated solutions during the early phases of design.
Survival in 1,431 Pacemaker Patients: Prognostic Factors and Comparison With the General Population

A total of 1,431 patients (mean age 63.4 ± 14.1) with pacemakers (96.2% VVI) primoimplanled between 1967 and 1985 were followed for a mean duration of 78.2 ± 40 pacing months, with 0.6% loss to follow‐up. Cumulative survival for 1, 3, and 10 years was 0.9427, 0.9136, and 0.7536, respectively. There was no significant difference in survival between atrioventricular block (AVB) and sick sinus syndrome (SSS) patients. In addition to age and gender, factors existent prior to implantation that independently affected prognosis included manifest coronary heart disease (CHD), congenital/acquired heart lesions, heart failure, noncardiac internal disease, syncope, and generalized fatigue. After implantation, the most important factor was generalized fatigue, [hen age, stroke, myocardial infarct (Ml), gender (male), heart failure, and syncope. Patients with no underlying disease showed an extremely high cumulative survival (0.9173 at 10 years). Compared to the general population of Yugoslavia, the pacemaker patients showed a similar yearly mortality rate until 1981. After that, elderly males (70+) had a significantly lower yearly mortality than the matched population. Thus, in this large series of pacemaker patients followed into (he most recent period with an extremely low loss to follow‐up, short‐and long‐term survival was very high. Pacemaker patients of any age who are otherwise in good health have an excellent prognosis.
Passive knee joint range of motion is unrelated to the mechanical properties of the patellar tendon

The physiological factors that govern passive joint range of motion (ROM) are poorly understood. The present study investigated the relation between passive knee joint ROM and the mechanical properties of the patellar tendon. Knee joint ROM was assessed in 43 individuals, and the subjects with the greatest ROM (flexible group, n=10) and lowest ROM (inflexible group, n=10) were selected for further analysis. In these groups an overall “lower extremity joint ROM score” was determined with 11 clinical tests. The elongation of the patellar tendon was assessed during graded maximal isometric knee extensor contractions using ultrasonography, and the mechanical properties of the patellar tendon were determined from corresponding load and tendon deformation data. The two groups were similar with respect to weight, height, tendon cross‐sectional area and length, and were, furthermore, equally physically active. The knee joint ROM and lower extremity joint ROM score was significantly different between the groups (flexible: 136±7° vs inflexible: 76±16°, P<0.001 and flexible: −4.7±1.3 vs inflexible: 3.1±4.1, P<0.001). There was no difference between groups in maximal knee extensor force or the corresponding tendon deformation. The tendon stiffness (flexible: 3269±1591 vs inflexible: 3185±1457 N/mm), stress (flexible: 22.4±6.5 vs inflexible: 34.0±17.6 N/mm2), strain (flexible; 6.5±1.6 vs inflexible: 7.2±1.9%) and Young's modulus (flexible: 0.81±0.35 vs inflexible: 1.22±0.52 GPa) were not different between the two groups of subjects. These data suggest that differences in knee joint ROM cannot be explained by the mechanical properties of the patellar tendon.
Banking on crises: expensive lessons from recent financial crises

Caprio summarizes both basic and proximate factors behind financial crises, arguing that although a variety of factors contribute to the crises, the basic causes are information and incentive problems. Caprio develops a scoring system for the broad regulatory environment for a dozen Asian and Latin American financial systems in 1997. The Asian economies in crises score the lowest. Economies with the highest scores felt relatively little impact from the crises. This paper will address these issues. Section II will summarize briefly the voluminous literature on proximate and more distant causes of crises. Although both micro and macro factors are associated with crises, beyond lobbying for changes in the international financial system, national authorities are left with following sound macro policies, improving financial sector infrastructure, and upgrading regulation and supervision as mean of minimizing the likelihood and costs of financial crises. Is there a payoff to improving the regulatory framework? Tentative evidence presented in section III, which compares the broad regulatory environment in 12 selected Asian and Latin American countries, suggests that the answer is affirmative. This comparison both reveals how some countries have been progressing, and can help as a guide, indicating weak areas of regulation that should be a target for further improvement. Generally, those countries that have higher scores on their regulatory systems appear to have weathered the latest crisis well, suggesting that improving the regulatory environment, broadly interpreted, should be a goal for countries that have not thus far made much headway in this area. A plausible hypothesis then is that authorities are learning -- at great cost - - from the last 2 decades of crises and are moving to raise the cost or otherwise tighten the safety net supporting the banking sector. Section IV concludes with unresolved issues and suggestions for future research.
Salivary Citrate Content and Erosion of the Teeth

/cCLURE and Ruzicka6 observed the destructive action of citrate ions on rat tooth surfaces. Their experimental animals ingested large amounts of citrate in drinking water adjusted to a pH of 5.5 to 7.2 and areas on the lingual of the molars were decalcified. The possibility that this process might be related to erosion was suggested to the authors by the resemblance between the lesions illustrated by McClure and Ruzicka6 and the usual clinical appearance of erosion. It appeared that studies of the citrate content of the saliva of individuals with and without erosion should be of value. Earlier studies of the citrate content of saliva showed variations from zero to 1.3 mg. per 100 cubic centimeters. Kuyper and Mattill5 stated, "Apparently, saliva is the only body tissue tested in which citrate has not been detected. " Pucher, Sherman, and Vickery,9 however, found doubtful quantities of citrate in saliva from three individuals and 0.4 to 0.33 mg. per 100 c.c. in four others. From one individual 1.3 mg. per 100 c.c. of saliva was obtained three hours after grapefruit had been eaten, although the saliva of this subject had shown only traces previously. Dickens,2 in a report on citric acid content of tumor and bone tissue, cited Ostberg,7 Schersten,"1 and Gr6nvall4 as reporting that cerebrospinal fluid, amniotic and follicular fluids, blood serum, aqueous humor, saliva, and sweat contain diminishing quantities of citrate from 5 to 0.1 mg. per 100 cubic centimeters. * The first problem was to select a suitable analytic method for salivary citrate, then to establish "normals, " and finally, to compare the salivary citrate quantity of individuals with erosion and without erosion.
Recent Trends on TV White Space Deployments in Africa

In this paper, we presented the effects of Television White Space (TVWS) on digital divide in Africa. The trends in digital divide are found to be wide in most African countries, which are characterized with low internet penetration. Perhaps this is expected because over 60 % of people in Africa reside in the rural area and these areas are characterized with low literacy, poverty level and limited telecommunication infrastructure supports. There have been research efforts and regulations towards the secondary use of TV frequencies. However, findings indicate that there are limited opportunities for such system in Europe: This is due to high internet penetration in Europe, but the situation may be quite different in other part of the world like in Africa. Therefore, the TVWS could be used to provide affordable universal access in rural Africa. The paper also presents some benefits developing countries in Africa will incur from utilizing the TVWS solution. Also, recent trend in the deployment of TVWS and experiences got from African countries that embrace the solution are presented. http://dx.doi. org/10.4314/njt.v34i3. 19
The England and Wales electricity model : option or warning for developing countries?

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the England and Wales power supply industry underwent the most radical transformation ever experienced by such an industry, swiftly evolving from a state-owned, state-controlled, integrated structure to a privately owned, autonomously regulated, unbundled structure. The authors discusses the lessons for reformers in developing countries.
Loss of SHIP and CIS Recruitment to the Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Receptor Contribute to Hyperproliferative Responses in Severe Congenital Neutropenia/Acute Myelogenous Leukemia1

Mutations in the G-CSF receptor (G-CSFR) in patients with severe congenital neutropenia (SCN) are postulated to contribute to transformation to acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). These mutations result in defective receptor internalization and sustained cellular activation, suggesting a loss of negative signaling by the G-CSFR. In this paper we investigated the roles of SHIP and cytokine-inducible Src homology 2 protein (CIS) in down-modulating G-CSFR signals and demonstrate that loss of their recruitment as a consequence of receptor mutations leads to aberrant signaling. We show that SHIP binds to phosphopeptides corresponding to Tyr744 and Tyr764 in the G-CSFR and that Tyr764 is required for in vivo phosphorylation of SHIP and the formation of SHIP/Shc complexes. Cells expressing a G-CSFR form lacking Tyr764 exhibited hypersensitivity to G-CSF and enhanced proliferation, but to a lesser degree than observed with the most common mutant G-CSFR form in patients with SCN/AML, prompting us to investigate whether suppressor of cytokine signaling proteins also down-modulate G-CSFR signals. G-CSF was found to induce the expression of CIS and of CIS bound to phosphopeptides corresponding to Tyr729 and Tyr744 of the G-CSFR. The expression of CIS was prolonged in cells with the SCN/AML mutant G-CSFR lacking Tyr729 and Tyr744, which also correlated with increased G-CSFR expression. These findings suggest that SHIP and CIS interact with distal phosphotyrosine residues in the G-CSFR to negatively regulate G-CSFR signaling by limiting proliferation and modulating surface expression of the G-CSFR, respectively. Novel therapeutic approaches targeting inhibitory pathways that limit G-CSFR signaling may have promise in the treatment of patients with SCN/AML.
Rates of voluntary paternity establishment for infants born to unmarried adolescents.

OBJECTIVE To investigate factors associated with voluntary paternity establishment for infants born to teenagers. STUDY DESIGN The medical records of 402 unmarried women aged 13-19 years and delivering between January 1 and July 31, 2000, were reviewed, including prenatal charts, delivery records, birth worksheets, affidavits of parentage and infant birth certificates. The primary outcome was voluntary paternity establishment, as defined by having the father's name on the infant's birth certificate. RESULTS Separate documents from the medical records of teen mothers had different rates of identifying the father of the infant: 80% of prenatal records had the father's name, as did 76% of birth worksheets and 60% of birth certificates. Maternal age < 16 years was associated with lower rates of paternity establishment as compared with 18-19-year-old mothers (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.2, 6.7). CONCLUSION A significant proportion of birth certificates on children born to teenagers do not identify the father of the infant; however, the majority of mothers identified them, on either the prenatal record or birth worksheet. In order to develop effective programs that will affect rates of paternity establishment, we must understand barriers inherent in the process itself.
Decentralization and Its Implications for Service Delivery

This paper reviews efforts to improve the efficiency and responsiveness of urban service delivery in developing countries. It argues that failures in urban service delivery are not merely the result of a lack of technical knowledge on the part of local government staff, but also reflect constraints and perverse incentives confronting local personnel and their political leadership, and that these, in turn, are often the inadvertent result of problems in the relationship between central and local government. In this respect, the report reviews the spread of decentralization as a potentially fortuitous phenomenon.
Independent Directors: Magic Bullet or Band-Aid?

This article examines directors’ independence reforms in Australia, the US and Europe. It examines and contrasts how this end is achieved in the three jurisdictions. It then critically examines the assumption that independent directors necessarily improve corporate governance standards or a company’s performance. The fluid nature of Australian corporate governance standards make this inquiry relevant. It concludes that Australia should pause – and look very hard – before it leaps into adopting rules similar to those in the US or Europe.
[Neospora abortion in cattle].

Lifecycle A suggested summary of the lifecycle of Neospora is shown in Figure 1 and is composed of definitive and intermediate hosts without both the lifecycle cannot complete, however vertical transmission (from infected dam to calf across the placenta) is thought to be a more significant route of propagation within a herd (Schares, Peters et al. 1998; Dubey 1999). The fox has also been demonstrated as acting as a definitive host (Buxton, Maley et al. 1997a; Almeria, Ferrer et al. 2002), however shedding through infected faeces has yet to be conclusively demonstrated – therefore it remains unclear as to whether they can pass infection to cattle.
Path-Planning for optimal coverage under security constraints

In recent years, three-dimensional building reconstruction has been an active area of research, partly motivated by the spread of low cost unmanned aerial vehicles platforms. These permit exploiting the entire three-dimensional space as long as it is free of obstacles. Current approaches manually plan a set of viewpoints from which to conduct multiple scans of a target building, and then later select the best ones to use in a structure from motion system. This procedure often has two problems: some parts are covered with low detail or some parts are evenly uncovered. In these situations, an automatic view planner is necessary; it will completely cover a building surface, while reducing time and cost of the overall process. This thesis presents an automatic view planner for three-dimensional building reconstruction based on dividing edifices into several slices and for each one solve a two-dimensional problem. From a rough model of the environment and a desired detail level, both described in a cost function, the system computes a route in which there is a set of viewpoints to completely cover a target building surface of any shape, taking into account that there may be obstacles in the environment. The final route is proposed to be followed by an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a digital camera.