Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Database resources of the National Center for Biotechnology Information

In addition to maintaining the GenBank® nucleic acid sequence database, the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) provides analysis and retrieval resources for the data in GenBank and other biological data made available through the NCBI web site. NCBI resources include Entrez, the Entrez Programming Utilities, MyNCBI, PubMed, PubMed Central, Entrez Gene, the NCBI Taxonomy Browser, BLAST, BLAST Link (BLink), Electronic PCR, OrfFinder, Spidey, Splign, RefSeq, UniGene, HomoloGene, ProtEST, dbMHC, dbSNP, Cancer Chromosomes, Entrez Genomes and related tools, the Map Viewer, Model Maker, Evidence Viewer, Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COGs), Retroviral Genotyping Tools, HIV-1/Human Protein Interaction Database, Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), Entrez Probe, GENSAT, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals (OMIA), the Molecular Modeling Database (MMDB), the Conserved Domain Database (CDD), the Conserved Domain Architecture Retrieval Tool (CDART) and the PubChem suite of small molecule databases. Augmenting many of the web applications is custom implementation of the BLAST program optimized to search specialized data sets. All of the resources can be accessed through the NCBI home page at www.ncbi. nlm.nih. gov.
Impact of MOSFET gate-oxide reliability on CMOS operational amplifiers in a 130-nm low-voltage CMOS process

The effects of the gate-oxide reliability of MOSFETs on operational amplifiers were investigated with two-stage and folded-cascode structures in a 130-nm low-voltage CMOS process. The tested operating conditions include unity-gain buffer (close-loop configuration) and comparator (open-loop configuration) under different input frequencies and signals. After overstress, the small-signal parameters, such as small-signal gain, unity-gain frequency, and phase margin, were measured to verify the impact of gate-oxide reliability on circuit performance of the operational amplifier. The gate-oxide reliability can be improved by the stacked configuration in the operational amplifier with folded-cascode structure. A simple equivalent device model of gate-oxide reliability for CMOS devices in analog circuits was investigated and simulated.
Cognitive training with casual video games: points to consider

Brain training programs have proliferated in recent years, with claims that video games or computer-based tasks can broadly enhance cognitive function. However, benefits are commonly seen only in trained tasks. Assessing generalized improvement and practicality of laboratory exercises complicates interpretation and application of findings. In this study, we addressed these issues by using active control groups, training tasks that more closely resemble real-world demands and multiple tests to determine transfer of training. We examined whether casual video games can broadly improve cognition, and selected training games from a study of the relationship between game performance and cognitive abilities. A total of 209 young adults were randomized into a working memory–reasoning group, an adaptive working memory–reasoning group, an active control game group, and a no-contact control group. Before and after 15 h of training, participants completed tests of reasoning, working memory, attention, episodic memory, perceptual speed, and self-report measures of executive function, game experience, perceived improvement, knowledge of brain training research, and game play outside the laboratory. Participants improved on the training games, but transfer to untrained tasks was limited. No group showed gains in reasoning, working memory, episodic memory, or perceptual speed, but the working memory–reasoning groups improved in divided attention, with better performance in an attention-demanding game, a decreased attentional blink and smaller trail-making costs. Perceived improvements did not differ across training groups and those with low reasoning ability at baseline showed larger gains. Although there are important caveats, our study sheds light on the mixed effects in the training and transfer literature and offers a novel and potentially practical training approach. Still, more research is needed to determine the real-world benefits of computer programs such as casual games.
Surgical vs nonoperative treatment for lumbar disk herniation: the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT) observational cohort.

CONTEXT For patients with lumbar disk herniation, the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT) randomized trial intent-to-treat analysis showed small but not statistically significant differences in favor of diskectomy compared with usual care. However, the large numbers of patients who crossed over between assigned groups precluded any conclusions about the comparative effectiveness of operative therapy vs usual care. OBJECTIVE To compare the treatment effects of diskectomy and usual care. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS Prospective observational cohort of surgical candidates with imaging-confirmed lumbar intervertebral disk herniation who were treated at 13 spine clinics in 11 US states and who met the SPORT eligibility criteria but declined randomization between March 2000 and March 2003. INTERVENTIONS Standard open diskectomy vs usual nonoperative care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Changes from baseline in the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) bodily pain and physical function scales and the modified Oswestry Disability Index (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons/MODEMS version). RESULTS Of the 743 patients enrolled in the observational cohort, 528 patients received surgery and 191 received usual nonoperative care. At 3 months, patients who chose surgery had greater improvement in the primary outcome measures of bodily pain (mean change: surgery, 40.9 vs nonoperative care, 26.0; treatment effect, 14.8; 95% confidence interval, 10.8-18.9), physical function (mean change: surgery, 40.7 vs nonoperative care, 25.3; treatment effect, 15.4; 95% CI, 11.6-19.2), and Oswestry Disability Index (mean change: surgery, -36.1 vs nonoperative care, -20.9; treatment effect, -15.2; 95% CI, -18.5. to -11.8). These differences narrowed somewhat at 2 years: bodily pain (mean change: surgery, 42.6 vs nonoperative care, 32.4; treatment effect, 10.2; 95% CI, 5.9-14.5), physical function (mean change: surgery, 43.9 vs nonoperavtive care 31.9; treatment effect, 12.0; 95% CI; 7.9-16.1), and Oswestry Disability Index (mean change: surgery -37.6 vs nonoperative care -24.2; treatment effect, -13.4; 95% CI, -17.0 to -9.7). CONCLUSIONS Patients with persistent sciatica from lumbar disk herniation improved in both operated and usual care groups. Those who chose operative intervention reported greater improvements than patients who elected nonoperative care. However, nonrandomized comparisons of self-reported outcomes are subject to potential confounding and must be interpreted cautiously. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00000410.
Stability and change in personality disorder features: the Longitudinal Study of Personality Disorders.

BACKGROUND There exists no empirical literature documenting the long-term longitudinal stability of personality pathology comparable to that available for normal personality. A number of test-retest studies have usefully established the short-term reliability of Axis II measures. However, the test-retest design is methodologically inadequate for resolving issues related to the long-term stability of personality disorder (PD). This prospective longitudinal study evaluated the stability of PD features in multiwave perspective. METHODS Subjects (N = 250) drawn from a nonclinical university population were examined for PD features at 3 different time points using the International Personality Disorders Examination (IPDE) and the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory II (MCMI-II) during a study period of 4 years. RESULTS Features of PD displayed considerable evidence of stability for individual differences and group means, at the dimensional level of analysis, on both the IPDE and the MCMI-II. Both measures revealed modest declines in PD features over time; however, the observed changes were associated with relatively small effect sizes. CONCLUSION Features of PD, viewed from a dimensional perspective, seem to be relatively stable in terms of individual differences and group means based on both clinical interview and self-administered PD assessments.
A dynamical model improves reconstruction of handwriting from multichannel electromyographic recordings

In recent years, several assistive devices have been proposed to reconstruct arm and hand movements from electromyographic (EMG) activity. Although simple to implement and potentially useful to augment many functions, such myoelectric devices still need improvement before they become practical. Here we considered the problem of reconstruction of handwriting from multichannel EMG activity. Previously, linear regression methods (e.g., the Wiener filter) have been utilized for this purpose with some success. To improve reconstruction accuracy, we implemented the Kalman filter, which allows to fuse two information sources: the physical characteristics of handwriting and the activity of the leading hand muscles, registered by the EMG. Applying the Kalman filter, we were able to convert eight channels of EMG activity recorded from the forearm and the hand muscles into smooth reconstructions of handwritten traces. The filter operates in a causal manner and acts as a true predictor utilizing the EMGs from the past only, which makes the approach suitable for real-time operations. Our algorithm is appropriate for clinical neuroprosthetic applications and computer peripherals. Moreover, it is applicable to a broader class of tasks where predictive myoelectric control is needed.
Formal measures of learning in a secondary school mobile robotics course

During the summer of 2002, Robotic Autonomy was taught to thirty students at Carnegie Mellon West in cooperation with NASA/Ames (Moffett Field, CA). The authors at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute and at the University of Pittsburgh's Learning Research and Development Center planned a methodology for formally evaluating the educational efficacy of Robotic Autonomy. This article describes the educational analysis methodology and the statistically significant results of our analysis, demonstrating the positive impact of Robotic Autonomy on student learning beyond the boundaries of specific technical concepts in robotics. Educational robotics is gaining traction at all levels of the educational system, however formal analysis of its effectiveness has been lacking. This research project seeks to address this weakness by presenting statistically significant evidence of broad learning.
Water-Mediated Proton Hopping on an Iron Oxide Surface

Water-Assisted Proton Diffusion Proton diffusion on metal oxide surfaces can play an important role in many catalytic processes. The presence of water is thought to accelerate proton diffusion. Merte et al. (p. 889) used high-speed, high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy to study proton diffusion on an iron oxide. On oxygen-terminated FeO monolayer films formed on Pt, molecular water accelerated proton diffusion. Density function theory calculations implicated a H3O+ transition state in the diffusion process. The presence of adsorbed water enhances proton diffusion, likely through a hydronium ion transition state. The diffusion of hydrogen atoms across solid oxide surfaces is often assumed to be accelerated by the presence of water molecules. Here we present a high-resolution, high-speed scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) study of the diffusion of H atoms on an FeO thin film. STM movies directly reveal a water-mediated hydrogen diffusion mechanism on the oxide surface at temperatures between 100 and 300 kelvin. Density functional theory calculations and isotope-exchange experiments confirm the STM observations, and a proton-transfer mechanism that proceeds via an H3O+-like transition state is revealed. This mechanism differs from that observed previously for rutile TiO2(110), where water dissociation is a key step in proton diffusion.
Argumentation Semantics for Defeasible Logic

Defeasible reasoning is a simple but efficient rule-based approach to nonmonotonic reasoning. It has powerful implementations and shows promise to be applied in the areas of legal reasoning and the modelling of business rules. This paper establishes significant links between defeasible reasoning and argumentation. In particular, Dung-like argumentation semantics is provided for two key defeasible logics, of which one is ambiguity propagating and the other ambiguity blocking. There are several reasons for the significance of this work: (a) establishing links between formal systems leads to a better understanding and cross-fertilization, in particular our work sheds light on the argumentation-theoretic features of defeasible logic; (b) we provide the first ambiguity blocking Dung-like argumentation system; (c) defeasible reasoning may provide an efficient implementation platform for systems of argumentation; and (d) argumentation-based semantics support a deeper understanding of defeasible reasoning, especially in the context of the intended applications.
A Depth Information Based Fast Mode Decision Algorithm for Color Plus Depth-Map 3D Videos

With the advance of 3D display and related technologies, 3D video applications have been booming up recently. The color plus depth-map 3D video gains the attention for its relatively low storage and transmission bandwidth requirements as compared with stereo and multi-view videos. The color plus depth-map 3D video provides the depth information about the recorded content which brings new rooms for video processing and compression. This work reveals the usage of depth information for speeding up video encoding process. A novel fast mode decision algorithm based on depth information is proposed. The algorithm is also applicable to videos in which the associated depth-maps are not the ground-truth. By utilizing the depth information, we can classify scenes according to the associated depth and assign the appropriate modes. We can also deduce the configuration of the given macroblock by the associated depth information and select the suitable mode candidates; therefore, the encoding process will be speeded-up accordingly. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm is faster than existing mode decision approaches with similar coding efficiency. The entire encoding time is reduced by about 63% for Standard Definition (SD) and High Definition (HD) formats while the Rate-Distortion (RD) performance is almost the same as compared with the exhaustive full mode decision approach.
An Intelligent Guiding Bulletin Board System with Real-Time Vision and Multi-Keyword Spotting Multimedia Human-Computer Interaction

This paper presents an intelligent guiding bulletin board system (iGBBS), which is based on vision-interactive and multiple key word-spotting technology. The system is aimed to provide different kinds of multimedia human-computer interaction (MMHCI) for users under different requirements. At first, a real-time front-view face detection using Harr-like features is used to decide when iGBBS should wake up and become interactive with the user. After system initialization, some feature points within the detected face area are going to be found. Then the orientation of user's head will be estimated via pyramidal Lucas-Kanade optical flow tracking. In addition, spotting the keyword from user's utterance with some related augmented reality responses would be provided as well. The performance of vision-interaction in iGBBS could be reached to 20 fps under Pentium IV 1G Hz PC. The error rate of multiple key word-spotting interaction in iGBBS is about 36.2% and people can get the right response in 2.76 times search averagely. With the comparison to the traditional guiding system, bulletin board, or other non-vision-based input devices system, such like gloves or markers, our system offers a simple, useful and economical solution for the realtime interaction between the user and computer
Juridische knelpunten bij de bescherming van natuurgebieden. Interdepartementaal beleidsonderzoek Vogel-en Habitatrichtlijn

In september 2003 presenteerde het kabinet de resultaten van een Interdepartementaal beleidsonderzoek (IBO) naar de Europese en Nederlandse natuurbeschermingswetgeving onder de titel `Nederland op slot? In deze bijdrage wordt een korte samenvatting gegeven van een deel van het door auteurs ten behoeve van het IBO uitgevoerd jurisprudentieonderzoek naar de negatieve gevolgen/knelpunten van de natuurbeschermingswetgeving in Nederland. Hoewel het onderzoek ook betrekking had op gebiedsbescherming ingevolge de Natuurbeschermingswet (natuurmonumenten) en op soortbescherming, zoomen wij hier in op de knelpunten rond speciale beschermingszones ingevolge de Vogel- of de Habitatrichtlijn. Tevens zal worden ingegaan op het eindrapport van de IBO-werkgroep zelf en het kabinetsstandpunt naar aanleiding van het eindrapport.
What makes a leader?

Superb leaders have very different ways of directing a team, a division, or a company. Some are subdued and analytical; others are charismatic and go with their gut. And different situations call for different types of leadership. Most mergers need a sensitive negotiator at the helm, whereas many turnarounds require a more forceful kind of authority. Psychologist and noted author Daniel Goleman has found, however, that effective leaders are alike in one crucial way: they all have a high degree of what has come to be known as emotional intelligence. In fact, Goleman's research at nearly 200 large, global companies revealed that emotional intelligence--especially at the highest levels of a company--is the sine qua non for leadership. Without it, a person can have first-class training, an incisive mind, and an endless supply of good ideas, but he still won't make a great leader. The components of emotional intelligence--self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skill--can sound unbusinesslike. But exhibiting emotional intelligence at the workplace does not mean simply controlling your anger or getting along with people. Rather, it means understanding your own and other people's emotional makeup well enough to move people in the direction of accomplishing your company's goals. In this article, the author discusses each component of emotional intelligence and shows through examples how to recognize it in potential leaders, how and why it leads to measurable business results, and how it can be learned. It takes time and, most of all, commitment. But the benefits that come from having a well-developed emotional intelligence, both for the individual and the organization, make it worth the effort.
Prevalence and socio-economic distribution of hazardous patterns of alcohol drinking: study of alcohol consumption in men aged 25–54 years in Izhevsk, Russia

Aim To estimate the prevalence of hazardous drinking and its socio-economic distribution among Russian men. Design Participants were an age-stratified, population-based random sample of men aged 25–54 years living in Izhevsk, a city in the Urals, Russia. Interviewers administered questionnaires to cohabiting proxy respondents about behavioural indicators of hazardous drinking derived from frequency of hangover, frequency of drinking beverage spirits, episodes in the last year of extended periods of drunkenness during which the participant withdraws from normal life (zapoi), consumption of alcoholic substances not intended to be drunk (surrogates) and socio-economic position. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between socio-economic position and indicators of hazardous drinking in the past year. Findings Of 1750 men, 79% drank spirits and 8% drank surrogates at least sometimes in the past year; 25% drank spirits and 4% drank surrogates at least weekly and 10% had had an episode of zapoi in the past year. After adjustment for other socio-economic factors, education was strongly associated with indicators of hazardous drinking. Men with the lowest level of education compared to the highest level of education had an odds ratio of surrogate drinking of 7.7 (95% CI 3.2–18.5), of zapoi of 5.2 (2.3–11.8) and of frequent hangover of 3.7 (1.8–7.4). These indicators of hazardous drinking were also independently strongly associated with being unemployed (versus employed) and with levels of household wealth/amenities. Associations of all these variables with daily consumption of beverage spirits were weaker. Conclusion Using a novel range of indicator variables of hazardous drinking, this paper shows that the prevalence of these behaviours is high among working-age men in this Russian city. Moreover, these hazardous behaviours show very clear socio-economic patterns, with particularly high prevalence among those who have had the least education and are not in employment. In contrast, more conventional measures of heavy drinking, based on frequency of consumption of beverage spirits, are less prevalent and show much weaker associations with socio-economic position.
Wirkungen von Sanktionen für junge ALG-II-Bezieher: Schnellere Arbeitsaufnahme, aber auch Nebenwirkungen

 In Mehrpersonenbedarfsgemeinschaften fallen die Sanktionswirkungen für junge ALG-II-Bezieher schwächer aus als in Singlehaushalten. Das mag daran liegen, dass Erstere bei einer Sanktionierung auf die Ressourcen und Unterstützung anderer Haushaltsmitglieder zurückgreifen können. ALG-II-Bezieher sind verpflichtet, gegenüber den Jobcentern ein kooperatives Verhalten zu zeigen und sich um eine Arbeit oder Ausbildung zu bemühen. Kommen sie diesen Pflichten nicht nach, sieht das Gesetz Sanktionen vor, die für junge ALG-IIBezieher sehr strikt sind. Die vorliegende Studie untersucht die Wirkungen erster und wiederholter Sanktionen auf unter25-jährige Männer in Westdeutschland: Beschleunigen sie die Aufnahme einer Beschäftigung? Wie fallen die Tagesentgelte bei einer Arbeitsaufnahme infolge von Sanktionen aus? Ziehen sich die Betroffenen aufgrund der Sanktionen verstärkt vom Arbeitsmarkt zurück? Welche Rolle spielt der Haushaltskontext?