Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
' s personal copy Perceptual study of soundscapes in train stations

This paper presents a study on the perception of soundscapes in train stations. The two issues addressed by this study are (1) to show that people’s knowledge about the space typology that makes up a train station is also based on sound information, and (2) to show that this information is involved in the recognition of the type of space. This study is composed of two stages. In the first stage, two auditory experiments are performed on 66 soundscape samples recorded under natural conditions: (1) free categorization with verbalization and (2) forced-choice recognition. The statistical and lexical analysis of the first experiment reveals three main types of acoustical information: sound sources, human activities, and room effects. The results of the second experiment show that people were able to recognize the type of space (platform, hall, etc.) just by listening to its soundscape. Comparison between Experiments 1 and 2 reveals the auditory similarities of the soundscapes that were recognized as belonging to the same category. In the second step, an in situ questionnaire survey was carried out and confirms the laboratory results. Indeed, when travelers are asked to describe the soundscape of the space in which they are situated, they use the same kind of auditory similarities as those found in the experiments. 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Negotiating science and engineering: an exploratory case study of a reform-minded science teacher

ABSTRACT Engineering has been slowly integrated into K-12 science classrooms in the United States as the result of recent science education reforms. Such changes in science teaching require that a science teacher is confident with and committed to content, practices, language, and cultures related to both science and engineering. However, from the perspective of the science teacher, this would require not only the development of knowledge and pedagogies associated with engineering, but also the construction of new identities operating within the reforms and within the context of their school. In this study, a middle school science teacher was observed and interviewed over a period of nine months to explore his experiences as he adopted new values, discourses, and practices and constructed his identity as a reform-minded science teacher. Our findings revealed that, as the teacher attempted to become a reform-minded science teacher, he constantly negotiated his professional identities – a dynamic process that created conflicts in his classroom practices. Several differences were observed between the teacher’s science and engineering instruction: hands-on activities, depth and detail of content, language use, and the way the teacher positioned himself and his students with respect to science and engineering. Implications for science teacher professional development are discussed.
Motion Modeling with Geometry and Quad-tree Leaf Merging

Quad-tree structures are often used to model motion between frames of a video sequence. However, a fundamental limitation of the quadtree structure is that it can only capture horizontal and vertical edge discontinuities at dyadically related locations. In this paper we seek to address this limitation by introducing geometry information into the nodes of a pruned quad-tree. We start with a typical optimally pruned quad-tree where each node is allowed to model motion. Then for each node in the tree, we consider augmenting the node's motion model with a linear geometry model. Experimental results show that the introduction of geometry information improves the performance of quad-trees in representing motion. Recent work into quad-tree representations have highlighted the benefits of leaf merging. In this paper we extend the leaf merging paradigm to incorporate both geometry and motion information, allowing the creation of regions that have both motion and geometry attributes.
Regulation of Breast Cancer Progression by Phosphorylation of the Tumor Suppressor Tropomyosin-1 Alpha

Background: Tropomyosin 1 alpha chain (Tm1) is an actin-binding protein that regulates the endothelial cell response to oxidative stress following its phosphorylation at Serine 283 (S283). Tm1 is also a major tumor suppressor in breast cancer. In the present study, we investigated the role of phosphorylation of Tm1 in regulating its tumor suppressor properties. Methods: MDA MB231 breast cancer cells stably overexpressing wild type form of Tm1 or Tm1 mutants (S283A and S283E) were generated. Proliferation and cell viability were assayed by means of the enzymatic cleavage of the tetrazolium salt WST-1 to formazan dye by cellular mitochondrial dehydrogenases. Adhesion assays were performed at various periods of time on cells grown on plastic. Cell migration was evaluated by using the wound-healing assay and by measuring transendothelial migration of cancer cells. Malignant transformation in vitro was determined by using the anchorage-independent growth assay on soft agar. Results: We found that cells expressing the phosphomimetic form of Tm1 S283E/Tm1 are characterized by an increased adhesion to the substratum. Moreover, the migration of MDA-MB231/S283E/Tm1 cells in a wound closure assay is reduced compared to parental cells or those expressing the non-phosphorylatable form of Tm1 (S283A). Similarly, the transendothelial migration of MDA-MB231/S283E/Tm1 cells is also reduced as compared to the other cell lines. Moreover, we found that the cells expressing the S283A mutants form more colonies in soft agar that those expressing the S283E mutants. Conclusion: Phosphorylation of Tm1 at Ser283 contributes to its anti-tumor properties, and this effect results mainly from an increase in cell adhesion associated with a decrease in their migratory and invasive potentials.
Judgments and Perceptions Of Blame: The Impact Of Benevolent Sexism And Rape Type On Attributions Of Responsibility In Sexual Assault

Observers attributions of culpability in sexual assault cases have been studied in the context of psycholegal variables to explain how they come to their conclusions. Most research has revealed that there are differences between stranger and acquaintance rape, where victims of the latter are more likely to be blamed (Allgeier & Allgeier, 1995; Bridges & McGrail, 1989; Littleton, 2001; Mynatt & Allgeier, 1990; Scronce & Corcoran, 1995; Schuller & Klippenstine, 2004; Tetreault & Barnett, 1987). However, the work has been largely limited to examining rape myth acceptance and gender differences of observers. The present study addressed these limitations. The goals of this study were: (1) to examine judgments of perpetrator responsibility, (2) to examine the relationship between benevolent sexism and victim blame in an acquaintance rape, (3) to examine as to how benevolent sexism influences assailant blame, and (4) to examine differences between males and females on a sexism measure in relation to attribution of blame. This research utilized a community sample. Several groups of measures were utilized, including sexual assault vignettes with a questionnaire that assessed perceptions of sexual assault. Also administered were measures that assessed for social desirability,
Place Field Repetition and Purely Local Remapping in a Multicompartment Environment

Hippocampal place cells support spatial memory using sensory information from the environment and self-motion information to localize their firing fields. Currently, there is disagreement about whether CA1 place cells can use pure self-motion information to disambiguate different compartments in environments containing multiple visually identical compartments. Some studies report that place cells can disambiguate different compartments, while others report that they do not. Furthermore, while numerous studies have examined remapping, there has been little examination of remapping in different subregions of a single environment. Is remapping purely local or do place fields in neighboring, unaffected, regions detect the change? We recorded place cells as rats foraged across a 4-compartment environment and report 3 new findings. First, we find that, unlike studies in which rats foraged in 2 compartments, place fields showed a high degree of spatial repetition with a slight degree of rate-based discrimination. Second, this repetition does not diminish with extended experience. Third, remapping was found to be purely local for both geometric change and contextual change. Our results reveal the limited capacity of the path integrator to drive pattern separation in hippocampal representations, and suggest that doorways may play a privileged role in segmenting the neural representation of space.
Evolutionary Dynamics of Gene and Isoform Regulation in Mammalian Tissues

Whence Species Variation? Vertebrates have widely varying phenotypes that are at odds with their much more limited proteincoding genotypes and conserved messenger RNA expression patterns. Genes with multiple exons and introns can undergo alternative splicing, potentially resulting in multiple protein isoforms (see the Perspective by Papasaikas and Valcárcel). Barbosa-Morais et al. (p. 1587) and Merkin et al. (p. 1593) analyzed alternative splicing across the genomes of a variety of vertebrates, including human, primates, rodents, opossum, platypus, chicken, lizard, and frog. The findings suggest that the evolution of alternative splicing has for the most part been very rapid and that alternative splicing patterns of most organs more strongly reflect the identity of the species rather than the organ type. Species-classifying alternative splicing can affect key regulators, often in disordered regions of proteins that may influence protein-protein interactions, or in regions involved in protein phosphorylation. Messenger RNA alternative splicing is highly variable among vertebrates and links to kinase signaling pathways. Most mammalian genes produce multiple distinct messenger RNAs through alternative splicing, but the extent of splicing conservation is not clear. To assess tissue-specific transcriptome variation across mammals, we sequenced complementary DNA from nine tissues from four mammals and one bird in biological triplicate, at unprecedented depth. We find that while tissue-specific gene expression programs are largely conserved, alternative splicing is well conserved in only a subset of tissues and is frequently lineage-specific. Thousands of previously unknown, lineage-specific, and conserved alternative exons were identified; widely conserved alternative exons had signatures of binding by MBNL, PTB, RBFOX, STAR, and TIA family splicing factors, implicating them as ancestral mammalian splicing regulators. Our data also indicate that alternative splicing often alters protein phosphorylatability, delimiting the scope of kinase signaling.
Statistical mechanical assessment of a reconstruction limit of compressed sensing: Toward theoretical analysis of correlated signals

We provide a scheme for exploring the reconstruction limits of compressed sensing by minimizing the general cost function under the random measurement constraints for generic correlated signal sources. Our scheme is based on the statistical mechanical replica method for dealing with random systems. As a simple but non-trivial example, we apply the scheme to a sparse autoregressive model, where the first differences in the input signals of the correlated time series are sparse, and evaluate the critical compression rate for a perfect reconstruction. The results are in good agreement with a numerical experiment for a signal reconstruction.
High-Energy Nuclear Physics with Lorentz Symmetry Violation

If textbook Lorentz invariance is actually a property of the equations describing a sector of the excitations of vacuum above some critical distance scale, several sectors of matter with different critical speeds in vacuum can coexist and an absolute rest frame (the vacuum rest frame) may exist without contradicting the apparent Lorentz invariance felt by "ordinary" particles (particles with critical speed in vacuum equal to $c$, the speed of light). Sectorial Lorentz invariance, reflected by the fact that all particles of a given dynamical sector have the same critical speed in vacuum, will then be an expression of a fundamental sectorial symmetry (e.g. preonic grand unification or extended supersymmetry) protecting a parameter of the equations of motion. Furthermore, the sectorial Lorentz symmetry may be only a low-energy limit, in the same way as the relation $\omega $ (frequency) = $c_s$ (speed of sound) $k$ (wave vector) holds for low-energy phonons in a crystal. In this context, phenomena such as the absence of Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin cutoff for protons and nuclei and the stability of unstable particles (e.g. neutron, several nuclei.) at very high energy are basic properties of a wide class of noncausal models where local Lorentz invariance is broken introducing a fundamental length. Observable phenomena are expected at very short wavelength scales, even if Lorentz symmetry violation remains invisible to standard low-energy tests. We present a detailed discussion of the implications of Lorentz symmetry violation for very high-energy nuclear physics.
Protective and pathological roles of tissue factor in the heart

Summary Tissue factor (TF) is expressed in the heart where it is required for haemostasis. High levels of TF are also expressed in atherosclerotic plaques and likely contribute to atherothrombosis after plaque rupture. Indeed, risk factors for atherothrombosis, such as diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, smoking and hypertension, are associated with increased TF expression in circulating monocytes, microparticles and plasma. Several therapies that reduce atherothrombosis, such as statins, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers and anti-platelet drugs, are associated with reduced TF expression. In addition to its haemostatic and pro-thrombotic functions, the TF : FVIIa complex and downstream coagulation proteases activate cells by cleavage of protease-activated receptors (PARs). In mice, deficiencies in either PAR-1 or PAR-2 reduce cardiac remodelling and heart failure after ischaemia-reperfusion injury. This suggests that inhibition of coagulation proteases and PARs may be protective in heart attack patients. In contrast, the TF/thrombin/ PAR-1 pathway is beneficial in a mouse model of Coxsackievirus B3-induced viral myocarditis. We found that stimulation of PAR-1 increases the innate immune response by enhancing TLR3-dependent IFN-_ expression. Therefore, inhibition of the TF/thrombin/PAR-1 pathway in patients with viral myocarditis could have detrimental effects. Conclusion: The TF : FVIIa complex has both protective and pathological roles in the heart.
Short Utterance Speaker Recognition A research Agenda

Short Utterance Speaker Recognition (SUSR) is an important area of speaker recognition when only small amount of speech data is available for testing and training. We list the most commonly used state-of-the-art methods of speaker recognition and the significance of prosodic speaker recognition. A short survey of SUSR is hereby conducted, highlighting various methodologies when using short utterances to recognize speakers. We also specify future research directions in the field SUSR which, together with modern technologies and the ongoing research in prosodic speaker recognition, can lead to better results in speaker recognition.
THE TRUE DURATIONS OF STARBURSTS: HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS OF THREE NEARBY DWARF STARBURST GALAXIES

The duration of a starburst is a fundamental parameter affecting the evolution of galaxies yet, to date, observational constraints on the durations of starbursts are not well established. Here we study the recent star formation histories of three nearby dwarf galaxies to rigorously quantify the duration of their starburst events using a uniform and consistent approach. We find that the bursts range from ∼200 to ∼400 Myr in duration resolving the tension between the shorter timescales often derived observationally with the longer timescales derived from dynamical arguments. If these three starbursts are typical of starbursts in dwarf galaxies, then the short timescales (3–10 Myr) associated with starbursts in previous studies are best understood as “flickering” events which are simply small components of the larger starburst. In this sample of three nearby dwarfs, the bursts are not localized events. All three systems show bursting levels of star formation in regions of both high and low stellar density. The enhanced star formation moves around the galaxy during the bursts and covers a large fraction of the area of the galaxy. These massive, long-duration bursts can significantly affect the structure, dynamics, and chemical evolution of the host galaxy and can be the progenitors of “superwinds” that drive much of the recently chemically enriched material from the galaxy into the intergalactic medium.
Risky Sexual Behaviors among Female Youth in Tiss Abay, a Semi-Urban Area of the Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Background Little is known about sexual risks and associated factors about female youths in semi-urban areas of Ethiopia. This study aimed to describe the nature and magnitude of risky sexual behaviors, and the socio-demographic and behavioral determinants among female youths in Tiss Abay, a semi-urban area on the outskirts of Bahir Dar City of the Amhara Region in northern Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional census type study was conducted among female youths who were unmarried and aged 15–29 years in September 2011. Results 711 female youths participated in the study, with the mean age of initiation of sex of 78.6% being16.73±2.53 years. Only 52(9.3%) used condom during the first sex. Within the last 12 months, 509(71.6%) had sexual intercourse and 278(54.6%) had two or more sex partners, and 316(62.1%) did not use condom during their last sex. Sex under the influence of substances was reported by 350(68.8%), and a third of the recent sexes were against the will of participants. One or more risky sexual practices were reported by 503(70.3%) participants, including: multiple sexual partnerships, inconsistently using or not using condoms, sex under the influence of alcohol and/or sex immediately after watching pornography. Age group, current marital status, drinking homemade alcohol, chewing ‘khat’, watching pornography and using any form of stimulant substances were the predictors of risky sexual behavior. Watching pornography before sex and sex for transaction were the predicators of not using condom during most recent sex. Conclusions Risky sexual behaviors were very common among the female youths in Tiss Abay. Initiation of context-based interventions, such as raising awareness about the risks, safer sex practices, condom promotion and integration of gender issues in the programs are recommended.
HD 77361: A NEW CASE OF SUPER Li-RICH K GIANT WITH ANOMALOUS LOW 12C/13C RATIO

Results from high-resolution spectroscopic analysis of HD 77361 are reported. LTE analysis shows that HD 77361 is a K giant of atmospheric parameters: Teff = 4580 ± 75 K, log g = 2.5 ± 0.1, and ξt = 1.40 ± 0.5 km s−1. We found that the atmosphere of HD 77361 is highly enriched in Li with log ϵ (Li) = 3.82 ± 0.1. With this finding the total number of super Li-rich K giants (log ϵ(Li) ⩾ 3.3 ISM value) known to date reached six. Contrary to first dredge-up, extra-deep mixing and the associated cool bottom processing, and other recent predictions for K giants on the red giant branch (RGB) luminosity bump phase, HD 77361 shows a very low value of 12C/13C = 4.3 ± 0.5, having, simultaneously, very large amount of Li. Also, HD 77361 is the only Population I low-luminosity (log L/L☉ = 1.66 ± 0.1) low-mass K giant (M = 1.5 ± 0.2 M☉) among the known super Li-rich K giants that has a very low 12C/13C ratio. Results of HD 77361 further constrain our theoretical understanding of Li enhancement in the atmospheres of RGB stars.
Dynamical functional artificial neural network: use of efficient piecewise linear functions

A nonlinear adaptive time series predictor has been developed using a new type of piecewise linear (PWL) network for its underlying model structure. The PWL Network is a D-FANN (Dynamical Functional Artificial Neural Network) the activation functions of which are piecewise linear. The new realization is presented with the associated training algorithm. Properties and characteristics are discussed. This network has been successfully used to model and predict an important class of highly dynamic and non- stationary signals, namely speech signals.
Weak Lensing by High-Redshift Clusters of Galaxies. I. Cluster Mass Reconstruction

We present the results of a weak lensing survey of six high-redshift (z > 0.5), X-ray-selected clusters of galaxies. We have obtained ultra-deep R-band images of each cluster with the Keck Telescope and have measured a weak lensing signal from each cluster. From the background galaxy ellipticities we create two-dimensional maps of the surface mass density of each cluster. We find that the substructure seen in the mass reconstructions typically agree well with substructure in both the cluster galaxy distributions and X-ray images of the clusters. We also measure the one-dimensional radial profiles of the lensing signals and fit these with both isothermal spheres and "universal" CDM profiles. We find that the more massive clusters are less compact and not as well fitted by isothermal spheres as the less massive clusters, possibly indicating that they are still in the process of collapse.
Circular data matrix fiducial system and robust image processing for a wearable vision-inertial self-tracker

A wearable low-power hybrid vision-inertial tracker has been demonstrated based on a flexible sensor fusion core architecture, which allows easy reconfiguration by plugging-in different kinds of sensors. A particular prototype implementation consists of one inertial measurement unit and one out-ward-looking wide-angle smart camera, with a built-in DSP to run all required image-processing tasks. The smart camera operates on newly designed 2D bar-coded fiducials printed on a standard black-and-white printer. The fiducial design allows having thousands of different codes, thus enabling uninterrupted tracking throughout a large building or even a campus at very reasonable cost. The system operates in various real-world lighting conditions without user intervention due to homomorphic image processing algorithms for extracting fiducials in the presence of very non-uniform lighting.
Application of hyperbaric oxygen in liver transplantation

In recent years, hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) has been used in the treatment of a lot of diseases such as decompression sickness, arterial gas embolism, carbon dioxide poisoning, soft tissue infection, refractory osteomyelitis, and problematic wound, but little is known about its application in liver transplantation. Although several studies have been conducted to investigate the protective effects of HBO on liver transplantation and liver preservation, there are still some controversies on this issue, especially its immunomodulatory effect. In this short review, we briefly summarize the findings supporting the application of HBO during liver transplantation (including donors and recipients).