Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Comparison of Spatial Analysis Methods for the Construction of Topographic Maps of Retinal Cell Density

Topographic maps that illustrate variations in the density of different neuronal sub-types across the retina are valuable tools for understanding the adaptive significance of retinal specialisations in different species of vertebrates. To date, such maps have been created from raw count data that have been subjected to only limited analysis (linear interpolation) and, in many cases, have been presented as iso-density contour maps with contour lines that have been smoothed ‘by eye’. With the use of stereological approach to count neuronal distribution, a more rigorous approach to analysing the count data is warranted and potentially provides a more accurate representation of the neuron distribution pattern. Moreover, a formal spatial analysis of retinal topography permits a more robust comparison of topographic maps within and between species. In this paper, we present a new R-script for analysing the topography of retinal neurons and compare methods of interpolating and smoothing count data for the construction of topographic maps. We compare four methods for spatial analysis of cell count data: Akima interpolation, thin plate spline interpolation, thin plate spline smoothing and Gaussian kernel smoothing. The use of interpolation ‘respects’ the observed data and simply calculates the intermediate values required to create iso-density contour maps. Interpolation preserves more of the data but, consequently includes outliers, sampling errors and/or other experimental artefacts. In contrast, smoothing the data reduces the ‘noise’ caused by artefacts and permits a clearer representation of the dominant, ‘real’ distribution. This is particularly useful where cell density gradients are shallow and small variations in local density may dramatically influence the perceived spatial pattern of neuronal topography. The thin plate spline and the Gaussian kernel methods both produce similar retinal topography maps but the smoothing parameters used may affect the outcome.
Association of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with subclinical myocardial remodeling and dysfunction: A population‐based study

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and heart failure (HF) are obesity‐related conditions with high cardiovascular mortality. Whether NAFLD is independently associated with subclinical myocardial remodeling or dysfunction among the general population is unknown. We performed a cross‐sectional analysis of 2,713 participants from the multicenter, community‐based Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study who underwent concurrent computed tomography (CT) quantification of liver fat and comprehensive echocardiography with myocardial strain measured by speckle tracking during the Year‐25 examination (age, 43‐55 years; 58.8% female and 48.0% black). NAFLD was defined as liver attenuation ≤40 Hounsfield units after excluding other causes of liver fat. Subclinical left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction was defined using values of absolute peak global longitudinal strain (GLS). Diastolic dysfunction was defined using Doppler and tissue Doppler imaging markers. Prevalence of NAFLD was 10.0%. Participants with NAFLD had lower early diastolic relaxation (e’) velocity (10.8 ± 2.6 vs. 11.9 ± 2.8 cm/s), higher LV filling pressure (E/e’ ratio: 7.7 ± 2.6 vs. 7.0 ± 2.3), and worse absolute GLS (14.2 ± 2.4% vs. 15.2 ± 2.4%) than non‐NAFLD (P < 0.0001 for all). When adjusted for HF risk factors or body mass index, NAFLD remained associated with subclinical myocardial remodeling and dysfunction (P < 0.01). The association of NAFLD with e’ velocity (β = −0.36 [standard error = 0.15] cm/s; P = 0.02), E/e’ ratio (β = 0.35 [0.16]; P = 0.03), and GLS (β = −0.42 [0.18]%; P = 0.02) was attenuated after controlling for visceral adipose tissue. Effect modification by race and sex was not observed. Conclusions: NAFLD is independently associated with subclinical myocardial remodeling and dysfunction and provides further insight into a possible link between NAFLD and HF. (Hepatology 2015;62:773–783)
Recent advances in power electronics technology for industrial and traction machine drives

This paper presents a review of the state of the art of power electronics technology in both industrial and traction drive application. Key development trends include the dominance of AC adjustable-speed drives in new applications, with the squirrel-cage induction machine as the preferred machine in most cases. Particularly striking has been the rapid ascendance of the insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) as the predominant power switch in both industrial and traction applications ranging from fractional kilowatts to multimegawatts. Key current issues such as industrial drive input power quality and the effects of fast IGBT switching transients on the machines and electromagnetic interference (EMI) production are reviewed. Developments in electric traction for both rail and road vehicles are discussed, including the increasing modularity of new traction inverters in all sizes and the market introduction of new hybrid vehicles using advanced power electronics. The paper concludes with a discussion of expected future trends in power electronics technology that will likely expand the markets for industrial and traction drives during coming years.
The Asian Liquidity Crisis

A country's financial system is internationally illiquid if its potential short term obligations in foreign currency exceed the amount of foreign currency it can have access to in short notice. This condition may be crucial for the existence of financial crises and/or exchange rate collapses (Chang and Velasco 1998a, b). In this paper we argue that the 1997-98 crises in Asia were in fact a consequence of international illiquidity. This follows from an analysis of empirical indicators of illiquidity as well as other macroeconomic statistics. We trace the emergence of illiquidity to financial liberalization, the shortening of the foreign debt structure, and the currency denomination of assets versus liabilities. We explain how financial crises became exchange rate collapses due to a government policy of both fixing exchange rates and acting as lender of last resort. Finally, we outline the policy implications of our view for both preventing crises and dealing with them.
Supporting Employees Who Deploy: The Case for Financial Assistance to Employers of Military Reservists

Military reservists have become a vital component of Canada’s forces at home and abroad, and like their counterparts in the regular forces, provide a service for all Canadians. However, owing to recent federal and provincial job protection legislation, employers of reservists tend to bear a disproportionate share of the costs when their employees are deployed overseas or domestically. If reservists choose to take on full-time military duties, their civilian employer’s search for a temporary replacement worker of equal skill represents a genuine and potentially significant cost. An unintended consequence of the current policy framework is that relationships among employers, reservist employees, and the military can be eroded.
Tumor necrosis factor-α triggers a cytokine cascade yielding postoperative cognitive decline

Cognitive decline following surgery in older individuals is a major clinical problem of uncertain mechanism; a similar cognitive decline also follows severe infection, chemotherapy, or trauma and is currently without effective therapy. A variety of mechanisms have been proposed, and exploring the role of inflammation, we recently reported the role of IL-1β in the hippocampus after surgery in mice with postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Here, we show that TNF-α is upstream of IL-1 and provokes its production in the brain. Peripheral blockade of TNF-α is able to limit the release of IL-1 and prevent neuroinflammation and cognitive decline in a mouse model of surgery-induced cognitive decline. TNF-α appears to synergize with MyD88, the IL-1/TLR superfamily common signaling pathway, to sustain postoperative cognitive decline. Taken together, our results suggest a unique therapeutic potential for preemptive treatment with anti-TNF antibody to prevent surgery-induced cognitive decline.
Activist Investors, Distressed Companies, and Value Uncertainty

Hedge funds, private equity firms, and other alternative investment funds are frequently key players in corporate restructurings. Most commentators agree that the presence of a fund can change the dynamics of a chapter 11 case. They cannot agree, however, on the impact of this change — i.e., do funds create or destroy enterprise value? This essay contributes to the dialogue by analyzing data from chapter 11 cases in which funds are in a position to influence the debtor’s exit strategy. The data shed light on what such funds might achieve in chapter 11 cases and the potential implications for debtors and their other stakeholders. Although additional research is needed, the preliminary data suggest that the value of fund participation in chapter 11 cases likely depends on whom you ask and where they sit in the particular debtor’s capital structure.
Fundamentals and Stock Returns on the Warsaw Stock Exchange: the Application of Panel Data Models

This study examines the relationship between the future stock returns and the fundamental indices for companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange in Poland. The fundamental exogenous variables were constructed following the previous research of Lev and Thiagarajan [1993], Abarbanell and Bushee [1997], Piotroski [2000] and Mohanram [2004], while the endogenous variable is defined as a one-year-ahead stock return. Empirical analysis based on a panel data model for 187 companies in years 1999 – 2003 finds that the future stock returns are significantly related to three fundamental variables, i.e. gross margin, sales and administrative expenses and return on assets. Stock returns are also strongly associated with price-earnings ratio. Most of the relationships do no longer hold in case of short-term future stock returns.
The impact of an invasive plant changes over time.

Many exotic plant invaders pose a serious threat to native communities, but little is known about the dynamics of their impacts over time. In this study, we explored the impact of an invasive plant Heracleum mantegazzianum (giant hogweed) at 24 grassland sites invaded for different periods of time (from 11 to 48 years). Native species' richness and productivity were initially reduced by hogweed invasion but tended to recover after ~30 years of hogweed residence at the sites. Hogweed cover declined over the whole period assessed. A complementary common garden experiment suggested that the dynamics observed in the field were due to a negative plant-soil feedback; hogweed survival and biomass, and its competitive ability were lower when growing in soil inocula collected from earlier-invaded grasslands. Our results provide evidence that the initial dominance of an invasive plant species and its negative impact can later be reversed by stabilising processes.
Interaction between pre‐activity and stretch reflex in human triceps brachii during landing from forward falls.

1. Electromyographic (e.m.g.) profiles of proximal arm muscles were studied in human subjects falling forward onto a platform. 2. The stretching of the triceps lasted 200‐300 msec for deep falls, and immediately after impact angular velocities of the elbow joint up to 1000 degrees sec‐1 were reached. 3. For angles of fall between 50 and 90 degrees, more than half of the subjects exhibited marked short‐latency e.m. g. responses of the triceps brachii. Such responses began 20‐30 msec after touchdown, arising from a more or less plateau‐like activity which started about 130 msec before impact. In some cases distinct later responses were found, the second peak having a latency of 60‐80 msec after touchdown. 4. The early e.m. g. response even appeared when the subject was blindfolded and when the depth of the fall was randomly varied. 5. It is concluded that both the pre‐existing activity and the spinal stretch reflex contribute significantly to the over‐all activity of the triceps during stretch after impact.
MEMS for frequency control

Due to their need for high frequency selectivity and low noise frequency manipulation, portable wireless communication transceivers continue to rely on high-Q, off-chip resonator technologies that must interface with transistor electronics at the board-level, thus contributing to the substantial percentage (often more than 50%) of portable transceiver area taken up by board-level, passive components. Recent advances in IC-compatible micro-electroechanical system (MEMS) technologies that make possible micro-scale, mechanical circuits capable of low-loss switching, filtering, mixing, and frequency generation, now suggest methods for board-less integration of wireless transceiver components. In fact, given the existence already of technologies that merge micromechanics with transistor circuits onto single silicon chips, single-chip transceivers may eventually become possible, perhaps using alternative architectures that maximize (rather than minimize) the use of passive, low-loss, micromechanical circuits to enhance robustness and reduce power consumption for portable applications. In particular, given that vibrating micromechanical resonator technologies have already achieved on-chip Q's in excess of 10,000 at 1 GHz at room temperature—something previously not possible—even RF channel-selection becomes plausible, where channels are selected right at RF and inteferers removed before they reach any demodulation circuits. This course presents a detailed overview of the micromechanical circuits and associated technologies expected to play key roles in reducing the size and power consumption of future communication transceivers. It begins with a review of transceiver operation, emphasizing the need for low-loss and high-Q in both the transmit and receive paths, and identifying the functional blocks that stand to benefit most from MEMS implementation. Detailed coverage of the operation, design, and fabrication of the micromechanical devices most useful for communication applications then follows, including expositions on high-Q micromechanical resonators, filters, and mixer-filters; low-loss micromechanical switches; and medium-Q micro-machined inductors and tunable capacitors. Receiver architectures are then proposed that best harness the tiny size, zero dc power consumption, and ultra-high-Q (or low-loss) of micromechanical resonator and switch circuits. The course concludes with discussions pondering micro-scale physical phenomena that may eventually limit the scalability, and hence application range, of RF MEMS.
Customer Relationship Management: The Bottom Line to Optimizing Your ROI

I. OPERATIONAL CRM-ACCESSIBILITY. 1. Thinking Outside the CRM Box. 2. Start with the People. 3. The Secret to Risk Management of CRM: People. 4. The CRM Successful People Process(t) (CRM SPP(t)): The Key to Opening Up Employees to Change. 5. Teams and Their Impact on CRM Implementations. II. ANALYTICAL CRM-MEASURING PEOPLE, PROCESS, AND TECHNOLOGY. 6. Why Should You Measure Customer Service? 7. Customer Lifetime Value Calculations. 8. Benchmarking Your CRM Center. 9. Measuring People Who Provide Service. 10. The ROI of Training That Impacts the Bottom Line. 11. Using Technology the Smart Way: ROI of Improved Customer Service by an Airline. 12. Measuring Process: Promises, Promises-Service Level Let Downs vs. SP3M(t). 13. Technology That Optimizes CRM.
Efficient organic-dye-sensitized solar cells based on an iodine-free electrolyte.

An org. redox couple (McMT-/BMT) was used in dye-sensitized solar cells. Based on a low-cost org. dye, TH305, an efficiency of 4.0% was achieved under simulated sunlight (100 mW/cm2). Photoelectrochem. measurements provided insight into the difference between the org. redox couple and traditional I-based electrolytes.
Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism of the Vibrio anguillarum Serovar 01 Virulence Plasmid

Seventy-eight strains of Vibrio anguillarum serovar 01, all harboring one 65to 70-kilobase plasmid, were typed according to restriction fragment length polymorphism of the plasmid. Six types, three of which comprised 96% of the strains examined, were produced with the restriction endonuclease BamHI. The fragment length polymorphism type did not correlate to any of 12 different phenotypic properties tested.
Clinical, Electrocardiographic, Echocardiographic Characteristics and Long-Term Follow-Up of Elite Soccer Players With J-Point Elevation

Background—J-point elevation is common in athletes; nevertheless, the influence of structural changes associated with the athlete’s heart and its prognostic impact are still debated. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of J-point elevation, the associated clinical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic characteristics and its impact on long-term outcome in elite soccer players. Methods and Results—Clinical, electrocardiographic, and cardiopulmonary exercise test data from 332 male professional soccer players were retrospectively analyzed. For 235 (70.7%) athletes echocardiographic data were also available. J-point elevation was defined as an elevation ≥1 mm in ≥2 contiguous leads. Long-term follow-up data were obtained for all athletes, whereas univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to assess the associated characteristics. Overall, 118 (35.6%) athletes showed a J-point elevation ≥1 mm. At multivariable analysis a significant direct association of interventricular septum thickness (odds ratio for 1 SD increase, 1.361; 95% confidence interval, 1.019–1.817; P=0.036) and Sokolow–Lyon index (odds ratio for 1 SD increase, 1.367; 95% confidence interval, 1.026–1.822; P=0.033) and an inverse association of baseline heart rate (odds ratio for 1 SD increase, 0.686; 95% confidence interval, 0.508–0.927; P=0.011) with J-point elevation were observed. During a long-term follow-up (median, 13.3 years; first and third quartiles, 10.1–17.0 years), a low mortality rate was observed, not related to cardiovascular causes. Conclusions—The correlation between J-point elevation and interventricular septum thickness suggests a possible mechanistic role of exercise-induced left ventricular hypertrophy as the basis for J-point elevation. After a long-term follow-up, no cardiac death was observed.
RESOURCE GAP IN THE PROCESS OF INNOVATION CREATION (Luka zasobowa w procesie tworzenia innowacji)

In the following article the author analyzes the process of innovation creation by business enterprises. Special emphasis is put on the early-stage technology development which allows to gradually transform invention into innovation. In the further part of the paper three kinds of uncertainty concerning the corporate innovation processes are discussed. Then the author identifies, in his opinion, the key threat in R&D projects, i.e. the resource gap. The causes of resource gap are then thoroughly discussed and explained using both the appropriate psychological theory and the game-theoretic approach. Finally, the potential managerial and economic consequences of the resource gap are shown.
Ask for Information Retrieval: Part II. Results of a Design Study

In ‘ASK for Information Retrieval: Part I’, we discussed the theory and background to a design study for an information retrieval (IR) system based on the attempt to represent the anomalous states of knowledge (ASKs) underlying information needs. In Part II, we report the methods and results of the design study, and our conclusions.
Thermal and mechanical antinociceptive action of spinal vs peripherally administered clonidine in the rat inflamed knee joint model.

It has been demonstrated recently that in addition to its spinal analgesic actions, the alpha 2 adrenoreceptor agonist clonidine also has peripheral analgesic activity. Few data are available regarding the antinociceptive effects of spinal vs peripherally delivered clonidine in inflammatory pain. Thus we have studied spinal (intrathecal = i.t.) and peripheral (intra-articular = i.a.) administration of clonidine in the rat inflamed knee joint model. Thermal and mechanical antinociception was assessed in rats over 28 h using a modified Hargreaves box and von Frey hairs after induction of tonic persistent inflammatory pain by injection of a kaolin-carrageenan mixture into the right knee joint. Thirty minutes after injection of kaolin-carrageenan, clonidine was administered via an i.t. catheter or by i.a. injection into the right inflamed knee joint or by subcutaneous injection (s.c.) (highest effective intra-articular dose). The specific site of action was assessed using the alpha 2 antagonist yohimbine i.t. , i.a. or s.c. Clonidine i.t. resulted in thermal and mechanical antinociception during ongoing inflammation, which was not enhanced by inflammation. In contrast, i.a. delivery of clonidine, which also produced a dose-dependent thermal and mechanical antinociceptive effect, revealed a leftward shift in the antinociceptive activity produced by ongoing inflammation. Yohimbine inhibited the antinociceptive action of clonidine at the site of delivery. We suggest that clonidine produces potent thermal and mechanical antinociception regardless of the route of administration. However, chronic inflammatory processing appears to enhance the antinociceptive efficacy of the peripheral alpha 2 agonist.
Interdisciplinary versus multidisciplinary care teams: do we understand the difference?

As a manager of allied health staff in a major metropolitan health care service, I am responsible for recruitment to a variety of different disciplines. One of the questions I regularly ask at interview centres around the applicant? s understanding of interdisciplinary teams in the health care environment. Anecdotally, I would estimate that only around one in ten individuals can provide an accurate definition of the role of an interdisciplinary team. The remainder default to a description of multidisciplinary teams, and some even utilise the terms interchangeably. (non-author abstract)
HIV-1 DNA predicts disease progression and post-treatment virological control

In HIV-1 infection, a population of latently infected cells facilitates viral persistence despite antiretroviral therapy (ART). With the aim of identifying individuals in whom ART might induce a period of viraemic control on stopping therapy, we hypothesised that quantification of the pool of latently infected cells in primary HIV-1 infection (PHI) would predict clinical progression and viral replication following ART. We measured HIV-1 DNA in a highly characterised randomised population of individuals with PHI. We explored associations between HIV-1 DNA and immunological and virological markers of clinical progression, including viral rebound in those interrupting therapy. In multivariable analyses, HIV-1 DNA was more predictive of disease progression than plasma viral load and, at treatment interruption, predicted time to plasma virus rebound. HIV-1 DNA may help identify individuals who could safely interrupt ART in future HIV-1 eradication trials. Clinical trial registration: ISRCTN76742797 and EudraCT2004-000446-20 DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.03821. 001