Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Populist Parties and the Failure of the Political Elites : The Rise of the Austrian Freedom Party (FPOe)

The author analyses the reasons behind the electoral success of European right-wing populist parties. Using the Austrian Freedom Party under Jorg Haider as a case study and with a richness of primary material, he argues that their success is only partly caused by «racism». It is also, and more prominently, the result of populism – i.e. a critique of the «elite». These parties and their voters should not, then, be labelled as arrogant insiders attacking downtrodden outsiders like immigrants, workers, and minorities. Instead, the right-wingers are more justly portrayed as outsiders and underdogs, raising their anger and frustration against the insiders: the «media elite» and the «leftists and the artists».
PhD Course in Biomechanical Modelling Assignment : Pulse wave propagation in arteries

The input signals to the arterial tree is a measured mass flow curve which is found on the course homepage1. Please note that this introduction is not complete, there are many open issues. You will, therefore, need to make assumptions based on your engineering experience and also look for information elsewhere. It is therefore important that you consider the validity of the assumption and its effect on the results. The assignment is to be reported as a submissible scientific paper. The page limit is ≤8 pages and the preferred font is Times 11pt, or similar.
Parasites of the Brazilian flathead Percophis brasiliensis reflect West Atlantic biogeographic regions

SUMMARY With the aim of evaluating the utility of marine parasites as indicators of zoogeographical regions in the South West Atlantic, we analyzed data on assemblages of long-lived larval parasites of 488 specimens of Percophis brasiliensis distributed in 11 samples from nine localities covering the entire distribution of the species in the Argentine biogeographical Province. Near half a million long-lived parasite individuals belonging to 17 species present in the whole sample displayed clear latitudinal patterns. Data for parasite assemblages at infracommunity and component community levels were analysed in relation to the geographical distance. Significant similarity decay of parasite assemblages over distance was observed, with those based on abundances and mean abundances showing departures from predicted values of regressions. These departures were represented by higher dissimilarities between samples coming from different zoogeographical regions than between those caught within the same region, independently of the distance separating them. Consequently, zoogeographical regions were identified in a distance-decay context. Multivariate analyses corroborated a close fit of similarity between assemblages to existing zoogeographical classifications. Regressions representing distance decay of similarity, and the identification of their outliers, can therefore shed light on the existence of discontinuities or uniformities in the geographic distribution of parasite assemblages and, in turn, in the zoogeography of their fish hosts.
A trial to prepare biodegradable collagen–hydroxyapatite composites for bone repair

This paper is a trial to prepare collagen-hydroxyapatite composites in vitro by an alternate immersion method. Collagen sponges of different biodegradabilities were prepared through chemical cross-linking of Type I collagen with glutaraldehyde (GA) at concentrations of 0.2, 1.0, and 2.0 wt%. The sponges were immersed at 37°C in Tris-HCl-buffered solution containing 200 mM CaCl2 (pH 7.4) for 2 h and then in an aqueous solution of 120 mM Na2HPO4 (pH 9.3) for a 2 h further (one immersion cycle). The alternate immersion cycle was repeated for different times to obtain collagen-hydroxyapatite composites. The characterization of the resulting composites was performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The weight of composites increased with an increase in immersion cycles and the rate of increase became greater with higher GA cross-linking levels for collagen sponge preparation. The pH of the phosphate solution decreased with the immersion cycle, which suggests H+ generation accompanied hydroxyapatite formation. Irrespective of the GA concentration and immersion cycle, every composite showed IR absorption bands attributable to phosphate and hydroxyl groups at 950-1100 or 550-650 and 3000-3500 cm-1 and broad peaks specific to hydroxyapatite on the XRD charts. SEM study revealed small white clusters of hydroxyapatite interspersed uniformly on/in the collagen framework without any preferential orientation. The composite prepared from 0.2 wt% GA cross-linked collagen sponge which showed favourable characteristics was applied to a rat skull defect to evaluate its osteoconductivity as well as biodegradability. The formation of new bone tissue was histologically observed at the defect 12 weeks after application in marked contrast to the collagen sponge alone. The composite degraded without any inflammation reaction. It is concluded that the collagen-hydroxyapatite composite prepared by the present method is a biodegradable biomaterial of osteoconductivity applicable to bone repair.
Effect of 3 Different Applications of Kinesio Taping Denko® on Electromyographic Activity: Inhibition or Facilitation of the Quadriceps of Males During Squat Exercise.

Kinesio taping consists of a technique which uses the application of an elastic adhesive tape. It has become a widely used rehabilitation modality for the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. The objective of this study was to verify the effect of the application of Kinesio Taping Denko® in three conditions (facilitation, inhibition, and placebo) on the electromyographic activity of the quadriceps and hamstrings muscles on facilitating or inhibiting the muscle function and on the perceived exertion during the barbell back squat exercise in healthy male subjects. METHODS It was a randomized, single-blinded and controlled study in which 18 males (28.0 ± 6.7 years old; 85.8 ± 8.2 kg mass; 1.80 ± 0.07 m tall; 0.97 ± 0.04 m lower limb length) performed barbell back squat exercise with different conditions of Kinesio Taping Denko® applications: Facilitation, inhibition and placebo. Previous to the mentioned conditions, all individuals were assessed without applying kinesio Taping Denko® during the exercise. OMNI scale was used after each set for perceived exertion evaluation. No differences (p < 0.05) in the electromyographic activity of the biceps femoris, vastus lateralis and vastus medialis or OMNI scale were recorded under any conditions. The results show that the kinesio taping denko® may not alter the magnitude of the electromyography activity of vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and biceps femoris during the squat exercise. Furthermore, the perceived exertion was not affected by the kinesio taping denko® application.
A Simplified Massive MIMO Approach Using Precoding

This paper considers the use of massive multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) combined with single-carrier with frequency-domain equalization (SC-FDE) modulations using a precoding approach. Although millimeter wave (mm-Wave) communications are expected to be a key part of 5G, these frequencies present considerable challenges due to high propagation free-space path losses and implementation difficulties. For this reason, it is desirable to have broadband mm-Wave communications with good power and spectral efficiencies that are compatible with high efficiency amplification. In this paper we propose a massive MIMO (m-MIMO) architecture for broadband mm-Wave communications using precoding approach. We consider three different types of precoding algorithms: Zero Forcing Transmitter (ZFT), Maximum Ratio Transmitter (MRT), and Equal Gain Combiner (EGT). The advantage of both MRT and EGT relies on avoiding the computation of pseudo-inverse of matrices. Their performance of MRT and EGT can be very close to the matched filter bound just after a few iterations of a new proposed interference cancellation, even when the number of receive antennas is not very high.
Analysts’ Long-Horizon Earnings Forecast Properties and Long-Horizon Macroeconomic Forecast Optimism

We examine whether the properties of earnings forecasts – bias and dispersion are different across periods when macroeconomic forecasts are optimistic than non-optimistic, and whether this difference in analyst forecast optimism is stronger during recessionary periods. We find that the long-horizon earnings forecasts are more optimistically biased in periods when the macroeconomic forecasts are optimistically biased as well, and the bias is more pronounced during periods of recession. We also find that the long-horizon earnings forecast dispersion is lower in periods when the long-horizon macroeconomic forecasts are optimistic than in other periods. These results suggest that firms that meet or beat earnings forecasts when there is no recession and macroeconomic forecast is optimistic are likely to have opportunistically biased their long-term forecasts and walked them down, i.e. opportunistic; and that firms that meet or beat earnings forecasts when there is recession and macroeconomic forecast is optimistic are likely to be the ones that are positioned to perform well when the economy recovers. Consistent with this we find that premium for meeting or beating the analysts’ earnings forecasts is highest in periods when there is recession and macroeconomic forecasts are optimistic; and there is no premium when there is no recession and macroeconomic forecast is optimistic. Collectively, the results show the interaction between the macroeconomic outlook and firm-level forecast properties.
Applying data mining on customer relationship management system for leisure coffee‐shop industry: a case study in Taiwan

The objective of this research is to identify high‐value markets by using the data mining technologies and a new model. The well‐known Fuzzy C‐Means algorithm is applied to process the market segmentation of the customer benefit market; and a new model [based on ‘Recency–Frequency–Monetary’ (RFM) model] is applied to process customer value markets for leisure coffee‐shop industry. The results show the relationships between the two types of markets (benefit and customer value), which are presented by fuzzy and nonfuzzy association rules. These rules can be applied to customer relationship management systems for obtaining useful and high‐value markets. The results can help leisure coffee‐shop industry to acquire knowledge of customers, and to identify the explicit customer values for marketing plans. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Diagnostic accuracy of tissue Doppler echocardiography for patients with acute heart failure

Background: Acute heart failure leads to high mortality and morbidity rates. The symptom of acute dyspnoea is non-specific and the diagnostic tools of acute heart failure are still not satisfactory. Tissue Doppler echocardiography is accurate in evaluating cardiac function; however, its efficacy in diagnosing patients with acute dyspnoea in emergency departments remains unclear. Methods: Patients with acute dyspnoea were included prospectively while visiting the emergency department. Tissue Doppler echocardiography was carried out and the ratios of peak early diastolic transmitral blood flow velocity (E) to the peak early diastolic tissue velocity over mitral annulus (Ea) were recorded. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of tissue Doppler parameters and the receiver-operating characteristic curves for diagnosing acute heart failure were also evaluated. Results: A total of 92 patients were enrolled. The ratio E:Ea was found to be a good diagnostic test to estimate the diagnostic performances of tissue Doppler echocardiography using receiver-operating characteristic curves in cases of acute heart failure in patients with preserved left ventricular systolic function (mean (SD) area under the curve = 0.875 (0.049); p<0.001; cut-off value = 11) and with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (mean (SD) area under the curve = 0.903 (0.061); p = 0.003; cut-off value = 16). E:Ea was an independent predictor of acute heart failure in multiple logistic regressions. For patients with a B-type natriuretic peptide level between 100 and 500 pg/ml, E:Ea provided an accuracy of 90.9% (p = 0.015) for diagnosing acute heart failure. Conclusions: Tissue Doppler echocardiography is accurate in diagnosing patients with acute heart failure in emergency departments. It can be a useful supplementary diagnostic tool for patients with inconclusive blood B-type natriuretic peptide level.
Effects of diet and exercise in 337 overweight/obese adults.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The purpose of the study was to determine for the first time the effects of a weight loss diet with or without exercise on body fat levels and other anthropometrical characteristics in overweight and obese Cypriot adults. METHODS Three hundred and thirty seven overweight and obese subjects were assigned randomly to either a diet only (DO) or diet and exercise group (DE) for an 18-week period. Both groups received an energy reduced diet of 1500 ± 200 Kcal. Furthermore, the DE group received specific dietary and activity guidelines involving a moderate intensity activity level included any of the following 3 criteria of ACSM guidelines and behavior modification consultation. All data analyses were performed by using the SPSS(v. 16.5) and the level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS No significant differences were observed in both DO and DE groups during baseline period. During the intervention period weight, BMI and WC decreased significantly in DO group (p<0.001). In addition, body fat levels were found to be significantly reduced (p<0.001) in the DE group compared with the DO group. In multiple regression analysis Body fat levels were independently associated with weight (Beta: 0.569, 95%CI: 0.157-1.296, P<0.001) BMI (Beta: 0.295, 95%CI:0.088-1.214, P<0.01) and WC (Beta:0.206, 95%CI:0.095-0.954, P<0.001) after adjustment of age and gender. CONCLUSIONS Despite the reduced effects of diet alone on body weight, BMI and WC, combining a reduced diet with exercise improves also BF levels which may have important benefits on several diseases later in life.
High-Temperature-Recessed Millimeter-Wave AlGaN/GaN HEMTs With 42.8% Power-Added-Efficiency at 35 GHz

In this letter, a high-temperature (HT) gate recess technique is implemented into the fabrication of high-performance millimeter-wave AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs). By virtue of the low damage feature of the HT recess, a high extrinsic transconductance of 422 mS/mm, a three-terminal breakdown voltage of 134 V with a source–drain separation of 2.4 <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, and a remarkable low Schottky gate leakage current of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$1.6\times 10^{-6}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> A/mm at <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V}_{\textsf {GS}} = -\textsf {60}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> V are achieved, which is at least two orders of magnitude lower than the HEMTs with gate recessed at room temperature. By employing a 0.2-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> T-shaped gate technology, a current-gain cutoff frequency <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${f}_{T}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> of 81 GHz and a unit-power-gain frequency <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${f}_{\textsf {MAX}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> of 194 GHz are realized. The current collapse in the HT-recessed AlGaN/GaN HEMTs is significantly suppressed, contributing to a record high power-added-efficiency of 42.8%, as well as high output power density of 5.1 W/mm at 35 GHz in a continuous-wave mode.
The Real-Time User Consent Acquisition System for Secure Use of Personal Information

Internet users have to provide their identity information to use various services from Internet service providers by pre-agreement for use contracts. However, efficient countermeasures are impossible against misuse of users' information, because most of use contracts require wide use of users' information. In order to address this problem, a technique is required, which informs users why their information has to be used and get consent from users when Internet service providers request the information. In this paper, we propose the real-time user consent acquisition system.
Attention deficit disorder and conduct disorder: longitudinal evidence for a familial subtype

Background. An obstacle to the successful classification of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the frequently reported co-morbidity between ADHD and conduct disorder (CD). Prior work suggested that from a familial perspective, ADHD children with CD may be aetiologically distinct from those without CD. Methods. Using family study methodology and three longitudinal assessments over 4 years, we tested hypotheses about patterns of familial association between ADHD, CD, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and adult antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Results. At the 4-year follow-up, there were 34 children with lifetime diagnoses of ADHD + CD, 59 with ADHD + ODD and 33 with ADHD only. These were compared with 92 non-ADHD, non-CD, non-ODD control probands. Familial risk analysis revealed the following: (1) relatives of each ADHD proband subgroup were at significantly greater risk for ADHD and ODD than relatives of normal controls; (2) rates of CD and ASPD were elevated among relatives of ADHD + CD probands only; (3) the co-aggregation of ADHD and the antisocial disorders could not be accounted for by marriages between ADHD and antisocial spouses; and (4) both ADHD and antisocial disorders occurred in the same relatives more often than expected by chance alone. Conclusions. These findings suggest that ADHD with and without antisocial disorders may be aetiologically distinct disorders and provide evidence for the nosologic validity of ICD-10 hyperkinetic conduct disorder.
Acute Beta Blocker Overdose: Factors Associated with the Development of Cardiovascular Morbidity

Objective: To identify factors in exposures to beta blockers (beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists) that are associated with the development of cardiovascular morbidity and contribute to disposition decisions from the emergency department. Methods: Prospective cohort of 280 beta blocker exposures reported to 2 regional poison centers. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine association of various clinical factors and outcome. Results: In this series of beta blocker exposures, 41 (15%) developed cardiovascular morbidity and 4 (1.4%) died. A history of cardioactive coingestant was the only factor significantly associated with the development of cardiovascular morbidity (p <. 05). When cases reporting cardioactive coingestants were excluded, a history of ingesting a beta blocker with membrane stabilizing activity was significantly associated with the development of cardiovascular morbidity (p <. 05). All those in whom the timing of symptoms could be determined, developed symptoms within 6 hours of ingestion. Conclusions: The single most important factor associated with the development of cardiovascular morbidity in beta blocker ingestion is a history of a cardioactive coingestant, primarily calcium channel blockers, cyclic antidepressants, and neuroleptics. In the absence of such co-ingestion, exposure to a beta blocker with membrane stabilizing activity is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity. Beta blocker ingestion is unlikely to result in symptoms if the patient remains asymptomatic for 6 hours after the time of ingestion.
Predicting social and communicative ability in school-age children with autism spectrum disorder: A pilot study of the Social Attribution Task, Multiple Choice

The Social Attribution Task, Multiple Choice is introduced as a measure of implicit social cognitive ability in children, addressing a key challenge in quantification of social cognitive function in autism spectrum disorder, whereby individuals can often be successful in explicit social scenarios, despite marked social adaptive deficits. The 19-question Social Attribution Task, Multiple Choice, which presents ambiguous stimuli meant to elicit social attribution, was administered to children with autism spectrum disorder (N = 23) and to age-matched and verbal IQ–matched typically developing children (N = 57). The Social Attribution Task, Multiple Choice performance differed between autism spectrum disorder and typically developing groups, with typically developing children performing significantly better than children with autism spectrum disorder. The Social Attribution Task, Multiple Choice scores were positively correlated with age (r = 0.474) while being independent from verbal IQ (r = 0.236). The Social Attribution Task, Multiple Choice was strongly correlated with Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales Communication (r = 0.464) and Socialization (r = 0.482) scores, but not with Daily Living Skills scores (r = 0.116), suggesting that the implicit social cognitive ability underlying performance on the Social Attribution Task, Multiple Choice is associated with real-life social adaptive function.
Traditional and Computer-Based Screening and Diagnosis of Reading Disabilities in Greek

In this study, we examined the characteristics of reading disability (RD) in the seventh grade of the Greek educational system and the corresponding diagnostic practice. We presented a clinically administered assessment battery, composed of typically employed tasks, and a fully automated, computer-based assessment battery that evaluates some of the same constructs. In all, 261 children ages 12 to 14 were tested. The results of the traditional assessment indicated that RD concerns primarily slow reading and secondarily poor reading and spelling accuracy. This pattern was matched in the domains most attended to in expert student evaluation. Automatic (computer-based) screening for RD in the target age range matched expert judgment in validity and reliability in the absence of a full clinical evaluation. It is proposed that the educational needs of the middle and high school population in Greece will be best served by concentrating on reading and spelling performance—particularly fluency—employing widespread computer-based screening to partially make up for expert-personnel shortage.
Developmental timing and tissue specificity of heterochromatin‐mediated silencing.

Heterochromatic position‐effect variegation (PEV) describes the mosaic phenotype of a euchromatic gene placed next to heterochromatin. Heterochromatin‐mediated silencing has been studied extensively in Drosophila, but the lack of a ubiquitous reporter gene detectable at any stage has prevented a direct developmental characterization of this phenomenon. Current models attribute variegation to the establishment of a heritable silent state in a subset of the cells and invoke differences in the timing of silencing to explain differences in the patch size of various mosaic patterns. In order to follow the course of heterochromatic silencing directly, we have generated Drosophila lines variegating for a lacZ reporter that can be induced in virtually all cells at any developmental stage. Our data indicate that silencing begins in embryogenesis and persists in both somatic and germline lineages. A heterogeneity in the extent of silencing is also revealed; silencing is suppressed in differentiated tissues but remains widespread in larval imaginal discs containing precursor cells for adult structures. Using eye development as an example, we propose that the mosaic phenotype is determined during differentiation by a variegated relaxation in heterochromatic silencing. Though unpredicted by prevailing models, this mechanism is evident in other analogous systems.