Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Artificial Life

Computers are rapidly attammg their performance limit. Their computation speed is limited by the speed of light that determines also the speed of signals traveling back and forth between the processor and memory. During each computation step the processor fetches data from memory and after their processing returns them back. If, for instance, the processor distance from memory is one mm, then during computation data travel two mm and that cannot be done faster than the speed of light. This shortcoming is more obvious during the processing of many data, e. g. , the summing up of one million integers. When fetched by the processor, each number travels one mm and when the computation is done all numbers together have traveled one million mm, or 10 km. Considering the speed of light, this computation cannot be done faster than in 33 microseconds (i. e., 10/300,000 sec), which is the maximal computation speed of this computer. Performance can be improved by narrowing the distance between the processor and memory. Yet, even if reducing them to the size of atoms, computer performance is still limited. The only way out is building computers with many processors operating in parallel, like the Connection machine, a massively parallel computer whose 64,000 processors add two lists of 64,000 integers in one step [1]. Connecting together many processors in parallel is technologically simple, even relatively inexpensive since this can be done with off-the-shelf hardware. On the other hand, the design of an operating system that supervises parallel instructions or the construction of a higher-level programming language
From monitoring to vigilance about patient adherence to new oral anticoagulants.

Ambivalence envelops the European Heart Rhythm Association Practical Guide1 on the use of new oral anticoagulants (NOACs). The Guide recites the NOACs' marketing claim of ‘predictable effect without need for monitoring’, but proclaims that ‘therapy prescription with the new class of drugs requires vigilance’. ‘Monitoring’, thus renamed ‘vigilance’, draws prescribers into an array of partial measures of NOAC actions of limited value, e.g. interpretations where, to be viable, knowledge of the time since the last-taken dose is required but where approximately one-third of patient-reported data on dose-timing are substantially erroneous, even in controlled clinical trials settings. The Guide aptly emphasizes the …
Research Online Research Online Response analysis of saturable reactors and tap changer in an aluminium Response analysis of saturable reactors and tap changer in an aluminium smelting plant smelting plant

—Aluminium smelters are one of the peculiar loads, which typically represent a series of electrolytic cells supplied by a multi-pulse rectifier system. In order to address the complexity involved in the modelling of a smelting plant, the impact of multipulse configurations and its connection to HV networks and control aspects of load current should be considered. This paper addresses the issues related to the control of DC current using saturable reactors for different alumina feeding mechanisms in a typical smelter. The saturable reactors are modelled as variable inductors of which the magnitude is controlled using a proportional-integral control scheme. A smelting plant with a twelve pulse rectifier system and variable DC load has been modelled in PSCAD ® /EMTDC © . The plant is connected to the AC network through 220 kV/110 kV transformer with tap changing facilities to control the secondary voltage and associated load current of the smelter. The simulation results are reported for the control of DC current under varying load conditions.
Neuropsychological Functioning in Girls with Premature Adrenarche

Abstract Contemporary research indicates that brain development occurs during childhood and into early adulthood, particularly in certain regions. A critical question is whether premature or atypical hormone exposures impact brain development (e.g., structure) or function (e.g., neuropsychological functioning). The current study enrolled 40 girls (aged 6–8 years) diagnosed with premature adrenarche (PA) and a comparison group of 36 girls with on-time maturation. It was hypothesized that girls with PA would demonstrate lower IQ and performance on several neuropsychological tasks. The potential for a sexually dimorphic neuropsychological profile in PA was also explored. No significant univariate or multivariate group differences emerged for any neuropsychological instrument. However, effect size confidence intervals contained medium-sized group differences at the subscale level. On-time girls performed better on verbal, working memory, and visuospatial tasks. Girls with PA showed improved attention, but not a sexually dimorphic profile. These results, though preliminary, suggest that premature maturation may influence neuropsychological functioning. (JINS, 2012, 18, 151–156)
Late‐postnatal cannabinoid exposure persistently increases FoxP2 expression within zebra finch striatum

Prior work has shown that cannabinoid exposure of zebra finches during sensorimotor stages of vocal development alters song patterns produced in adulthood. We are currently working to identify physiological substrates for this altered song learning. FoxP2 is a transcription factor associated with altered vocal development in both zebra finches and humans. This protein shows a distinct pattern of expression within Area X of striatum that coincides with peak expression of CB1 cannabinoid receptors during sensorimotor learning. Coincident expression in a brain region essential for song learning led us to test for a potential signaling interaction. We have found that cannabinoid agonists acutely increase expression of FoxP2 throughout striatum. When administered during sensorimotor song learning, cannabinoids increase basal levels of striatal FoxP2 expression in adulthood. Thus, song‐altering cannabinoid treatments are associated with persistent increases in basal expression of FoxP2 in zebra finch striatum. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 2010
What drives information dissemination in continuous double auction markets?

In this paper, we investigate further the way information disseminates from informed to uninformed traders in a market populated by heterogeneous boundedly rational agents. In order to achieve the goal, a computer simulated market where only a small fraction of the population observe the risky asset's fundamental value with noise was constructed, while the rest of agents try to forecast the asset's price from past transaction data. The paper departs from previous studies in that the risky asset does not pay a dividend every period, so agents cannot learn from past transaction prices and subsequent dividend payments. The main finding is that information can potentially disseminate in the market as long as: (1) informed investors' trades tilt transaction prices in the fundamental path direction; and (2) the median investor's expectation is very responsive to transaction prices. Otherwise, markets may display crashes or bubbles. It is found that the first condition requires a minimal amount of informed investors, and is severely limited by short selling and borrowing constraints.
Barriers to utilization of childbirth services of a rural birthing center in Nepal: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND Maternal mortality and morbidity are public health problems in Nepal. In rural communities, many women give birth at home without the support of a skilled birth attendant, despite the existence of rural birthing centers. The aim of this study was to explore the barriers and provide pragmatic recommendations for better service delivery and use of rural birthing centers. METHODS We conducted 26 in-depth interviews with service users and providers, and three focus group discussions with community key informants in a rural community of Rukum district. We used the Adithya Cattamanchi logic model as a guiding framework for data analysis. RESULTS Irregular and poor quality services, inadequate human and capital resources, and poor governance were health system challenges which prevented service delivery. Contextual barriers including difficult geography, poor birth preparedness practices, harmful culture practices and traditions and low level of trust were also found to contribute to underutilization of the birthing center. CONCLUSION The rural birthing center was not providing quality services when women were in need, which meant women did not use the available services properly because of systematic and contextual barriers. Approaches such as awareness-raising activities, local resource mobilization, ensuring access to skilled providers and equipment and other long-term infrastructure development works could improve the quality and utilization of childbirth services in the rural birthing center. This has resonance for other centers in Nepal and similar countries.
Threonine as a perferred source of 2-carbon units for lipid synthesis in Trypanosoma brucei.

Culture forms of Trypanosoma brucei S42 were maintained in defined media by serial subculturing (Cross & Manning, 1973; Klein et al., 1975). Under these conditions considerable quantities of L-threonine were metabolized and equimolar concentrations of glycine and acetate were excreted. Glycine was identified by using an amino acid analyser and acetate was characterized as the p-bromophenacyl derivative (Cross et al., 1975). The pathway by which acetate is produced from L-threonine by culture form T. brucei was shown to involve the NAD+-dependent L-threonine dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.103) and 'aminoacetone synthase' (McGilvray & Morris, 1969). In homogenates the enzymic sequence is interrupted and aminoacetone is produced ; this was identified as the semicarbazide (R. A. Klein & D. J. Linstead, unpublished results). The breakdown of L-threonine is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1. Acetate produced from radioactively labelled L-threonine (1.23m~) was found to be a preferred source of lipid carbon even in the presence of both exogenous acetate (0.66m~) and a tenfold molar excess of glucose (13.2m~). The incorporation of radioactivity from labelled L-threonine into chloroform/ methanol-soluble lipid material was decreased by adding unlabelled sodium acetate (6.76m~) to the culture medium. However, the dilution effect (0.623+0.015) was very much less than expected on the basis of the relative concentrations used. This is shown in Fig. 2, where (a) represents the radioactivity incorporated from ~-[U-'~C]threonine alone, (b) from ~-[U-'~C]threonine in the presence of unlabelled sodium acetate
Comportamiento de ocho híbridos comerciales de pollos de ceba, criados en el trópico mexicano en instalaciones abiertas y controladas ambientalmente

2en las ambientalmente controladas. Las aves se alimentaron con dietas de inicio, crecimiento y finalizacion durante tres, tres y una semanas, respectivamente. El contenido de proteina bruta (PB) y energia metabolizable (EM) de las dietas fue 23, 20 y 19 % y 12.96, 13.27 y 13.38 MJ, respectivamente. Los datos se analizaron mediante un analisis de varianza doble via, que incluyo los efectos del sistema de alojamiento (fijo), hibrido de pollos de ceba (variable) y la interaccion de ambos (variable). Ademas, se calcularon los componentes de varianza por hibrido de engorde y por la interaccion hibrido de engorde x sistema de alojamiento, para determinar la repetibilidad en estos rasgos. El analisis de varianza mostro efectos significativos del tipo de hibridos en todos los rasgos de comportamiento y entre los sistemas de alojamiento, solamente para el peso vivo (PV), consumo de alimento (CA) y kilogramo de peso vivo/m 2 . Las interacciones fueron importantes (P < 0.01) para la conversion de alimento (CO) y para la mortalidad (MORT). Los estimados de repetibilidad para PV, CA, kg de PV/m 2 , CO y MORT fueron de 0.80, 0.98, 0.22, 0.33 y 0.04, respectivamente. Palabras clave: pollos hibridos de ceba, sistema de alojamiento, tropico, Mexico.
Pregnancy Suppression by an Antiserum to the Sperm Specific Lactate Dehydrogenase

An antiserum induced against the isozyme of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH-X) that is unique to spermatozoa reduced significantly the number of pregnancies in mice treated at varying times after they had mated. This effect of the antiserum occurred both prior to and following implantation. The fecundity of treated animals appeared to be normal in subsequent matings.
Características estructurales de las organizaciones deportivas

El documento pretende abordar las organizaciones que pertenecen al mundo del deporte y tratar de comprender las caracteristicas estructurales esenciales de las organizaciones deportivas. Las organizaciones que operan en este contexto se demuestra que viven en un proceso constante de ajuste (debido fundamentalmente a la profesionalizacion y comercializacion del deporte), lo que se traduce en la existencia de una gran variedad de formas estructurales, de caracter dinamico en tanto estan continuamente ajustandose al entorno cambiante. El trabajo parte de una revision y analisis de la literatura sobre estructura organizacional de entidades deportivas y expone las particularidades de las organizaciones que operan en el mundo del deporte, asi como los principales elementos a tener en cuenta a la hora de mirar sus caracteristicas estructurales. El documento ofrece un marco para la clasificacion de las organizaciones deportivas en funcion de la mision, objetivo y actividad principal que desarrolla la organizacion deportiva (Organismos de gobierno deportivo, Organizaciones proveedoras de actividad deportiva y Organizaciones productoras de eventos deportivos) y termina con la descripcion de las principales caracteristicas estructurales de las organizaciones deportivas dedicadas a la promocion y desarrollo del deporte.
How war affects political attitudes: evidence from eastern Ukraine

This study empirically evaluates the impact of the war in eastern Ukraine on the political attitudes and sentiments towards Ukraine and Russia among the population living close to the war zone on the territory controlled by the Ukrainian government. Exploiting unique survey data that were collected in early 2013 (13 months before the outbreak of the conflict) and early 2015 (11 months after the outbreak), we employ two strategies to infer how the war has affected two different groups defined by distance to the war zone. First, we apply a before-after analysis to examine intra-group changes in attitudes over time. Second, we use a difference-in-differences approach to investigate inter-group divergence over time. Under particular assumptions, the latter approach yields a lower absolute bound for the effect. We control for a range of observed characteristics and consider both parametric and semiparametric estimation based on inverse probability weighting. Our results suggest that one year of conflict negatively affected attitudes towards Russia, while mostly no statistically significant intra- or inter-group differences were found for sentiments towards Ukraine.
Security gap assessment for the fast fading wiretap channel

Using the error rate as a metric is useful for assessing the performance of actual transmission schemes from the physical layer security viewpoint. The security gap concept has been used over the additive white Gaussian noise channel as a practical measure for combined reliability and security. In this paper, the definition of security gap is extended to a wire-tap channel with fast fading. Our aim is to show that by introducing scrambling and error correction coding can significantly reduce the required quality difference between the channel of the authorized user and that of the unauthorized one.
Modeling of Longitudinal Academic Achievement Scores After Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury

In a prospective longitudinal study, academic achievement scores were obtained from youth 5 to 15 years of age who sustained mild-moderate (n = 34) or severe (n = 43) traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Achievement scores were collected from baseline to 5 years following TBI and were subjected to individual growth curve analysis. The models fitted age at injury, years since injury, duration of impaired consciousness, and interaction effects to Reading Decoding, Reading Comprehension, Spelling, and Arithmetic standard scores. Although scores improved significantly over the follow-up relative to normative data from the standardization sample of the tests, children with severe TBI showed persistent deficits on all achievement scores in comparison to children with mild-moderate TBI. Interactions of the slope and age parameters for the Arithmetic and Reading Decoding scores indicated greater increases over time in achievement scores of the children injured at an older age, but deceleration in growth curves for the younger children with both mild-moderate and severe TBI. These results are compatible with the hypothesis that early brain injuries disrupt the acquisition of some academic skills. Hierarchical regression models revealed that indexes of academic achievement obtained 2 years following TBI had weak relations with the duration of impaired consciousness and socioeconomic status. In contrast, concurrent cognitive variables such as phonological processing and verbal memory accounted for more variability in academic scores. Given the significant and persistent decrement in basic academic skills in youth with severe TBI, it is clear that head-injured youth require intensive, long-term remediation and intervention not only of the academic skills themselves, but also of those cognitive abilities that support the development and maintenance of reading and math.
Acquisition and evaluation of illumination series for unsupervised defect detection

Analyzing scenes under variable illumination has been an important and widely studied research area in the field of machine vision. In this article, we present an illumination device for capturing image series of small objects under variable illumination directions. Due to using a digital projector as programmable light source and a parabolic reflector to reflect the emitted illumination patterns, the device dispenses with the need of moving parts. Furthermore, we demonstrate the utility of illumination series for unsupervised surface defect detection by applying statistical anomaly detection to the measured reflectance data. To this end, we show how relevant illumination directions can be determined without using labeled information by a clustering-based approach.
DIPSS plus: a refined Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System for primary myelofibrosis that incorporates prognostic information from karyotype, platelet count, and transfusion status.

PURPOSE The Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System (DIPSS) for primary myelofibrosis (PMF) uses five risk factors to predict survival: age older than 65 years, hemoglobin lower than 10 g/dL, leukocytes higher than 25 × 10(9)/L, circulating blasts ≥ 1%, and constitutional symptoms. The main objective of this study was to refine DIPSS by incorporating prognostic information from karyotype, platelet count, and transfusion status. PATIENTS AND METHODS Mayo Clinic databases for PMF were used to identify patients with available bone marrow histologic and cytogenetic information. RESULTS Seven hundred ninety-three consecutive patients were selected and divided into two groups based on whether or not their referral occurred within (n = 428; training set) or after (n = 365; test set) 1 year of diagnosis. Multivariable analysis identified DIPSS, unfavorable karyotype, platelets lower than 100 × 10(9)/L, and transfusion need as independent predictors of inferior survival. Hazard ratio (HR)-weighted adverse points were assigned to these variables to develop a composite prognostic model using the training set. The model was subsequently validated in the test set, and its application to all 793 patients resulted in median survivals of 185, 78, 35, and 16 months for low, intermediate-1 (HR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.4 to 3.6), intermediate-2 (HR, 4.9; 95% CI, 3.2 to 7.7), and high-risk groups (HR, 10.7; 95% CI, 6.8 to 16.9), respectively (P < .001). Leukemia-free survival was predicted by the presence of thrombocytopenia or unfavorable karyotype (10-year risk of 31% v 12%; HR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.9 to 5.6). CONCLUSION DIPSS plus effectively combines prognostic information from DIPSS, karyotype, platelet count, and transfusion status to predict overall survival in PMF. In addition, unfavorable karyotype or thrombocytopenia predicts inferior leukemia-free survival.
Generation of human monoclonal antibodies that confer protection against pertussis toxin

A panel of human monoclonal antibodies reactive with pertussis toxin has been generated by means of Epstein-Barr virus infection. One of these, the 3F11 monoclonal antibody, showed the ability to neutralize in vitro and in vivo the toxic effects of the toxin. Western blot (immunoblot) analysis located the 3F11 epitope on the S3 subunit.
A 13.56-MHz RFID System Based on Organic Transponders

RFID tags based on organic transistors are described, discussing in detail the IC blocks used to build the logic and the radio. Tags energized and read out at 13.56 MHz, de facto standard frequency for item-level identification, have been tested and enabled for the first time multiple-object identification, using different 6-bit codes. A complete 64-bit transponder, the most complex organic RFID tag reported to date, operates at 125 kHz and employs 1938 transistors
Adhesion of Escherichia coli to Human Uroepithelial Cells In Vitro

Optimal conditions for in vitro adherence of Escherichia coli to uroepithelial cells, previously shown to more efficient for strains causing acute symptomatic than that for strains causing "asymptomatic" urinary tract infections, were investigated. Uroepithelial cells from fresh morning urine of healthy individuals and E. coli bacteria from patients with various forms of urinary tract infeciton were used. Adhesion was found to vary, between individuals and epithelial cell types, with epithelial cell viability, bacterial cultivation medium and growth phase, number of bacteria added to the epithelial cells, and incubation time and temperature. Adhesion was also influenced by variations in pH and osmolarity. Optimal test conditions were obtained with post-log-phase bacterial cultures grown on nutrient broth when 10(8) bacteria were added to 10(5) epithelial cells and incubated for 60 min. Considerable variation was found between experiments done on different days, whereas the variation between duplicates was small. The method described may provide a useful tool in the study of the host-parasite relationship in urinary tract infections.
Brain iron accumulation in aging and neurodegenerative disorders

Over the decades, various studies have established an association between accumulation of iron and both aging and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Excess levels of iron can lead to increased oxidative stress through Fenton chemistry, and depletion of iron can similarly have deleterious effects. In addition, metal ions are known to be involved in both Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease protein aggregation. Metal ion chelators have been extensively investigated in preclinical models, and may prove to be appropriate for modulating brain iron levels in age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Investigating age-related iron deposition is vital, and can possibly aid in determining at-risk groups and diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases at an early stage. Novel imaging methods have enabled researchers to examine iron deposition in vivo, and offer a noninvasive method of monitoring the progression of accumulation, and possible therapeutic effects of chelating compounds.