Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sampled-Data Design of FIR Dual Filter Banks for Dual-Tree Complex Wavelet Transforms via LMI Optimization

Starting from a given finite-impulse-response (FIR) primal filter bank, we design a dual filter bank such that the complex wavelets associated with the dual-tree filter bank are (almost) analytic. The dual filter bank is required to be FIR and have a prescribed number of zeros at . We formulate a sampled-data optimization problem based on the half-sample delay condition on scaling filters. A discrete-time filter is introduced in the formulation to specify the number of the zeros. The optimization problem is converted into an equivalent discrete-time control problem; the latter is further reduced to an LMI optimization problem. We then present a procedure for design of FIR dual filter banks. Illustrative examples are provided; the results compare favorably to early designs.
c-Met Is a Potentially New Therapeutic Target for Treatment of Human Melanoma

Purpose: c-Met is a receptor tyrosine kinase involved in cell growth, invasion, metastases, and angiogenesis. In this study, we investigated the role of c-Met in melanoma biology using a novel small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor SU11274 and small interfering (si) RNA against the receptor. Experimental Design: The effects of SU11274 and c-Met siRNA were studied on proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, reactive oxygen species, and intracellular signaling. c-Met mutations were examined, and the expression of c-Met and activated c-Met was studied in nevi, primary, and metastatic melanoma. Results: c-Met was expressed in 6:7 melanoma cell lines by immunoblotting. SU11274 inhibited cell growth in all melanoma cell lines by 85% to 98% with an IC50 between 1 and 2.5 μmol/L and caused apoptosis (12-58%) in five out of six cell lines. siRNA against c-Met inhibited proliferation of melanoma cells by 60%. This is the first study that shows that SU11274 and siRNA induced microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and several other melanoma differentiation proteins and a morphologically differentiated phenotype. SU11274 also inhibited reactive oxygen species formation and phosphorylation of c-Met receptor, AKT and S-6 kinase by the hepatocyte growth factor. A new missense c-Met mutation N948S was identified in cell lines and R988C in tumor tissue in the juxtamembrane domain of c-Met. It was found that c-Met was expressed in 88% of melanomas and 15% of nevi, and that c-Met (pY1003) was activated in 21% of human melanomas. Conclusion: These results support the role of c-Met in proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and tumor progression of melanoma. SU11274 could be used in the therapeutic inhibition of melanoma.
Sequential Expectations: The Role of Prediction-Based Learning in Language

Prediction-based processes appear to play an important role in language. Few studies, however, have sought to test the relationship within individuals between prediction learning and natural language processing. This paper builds upon existing statistical learning work using a novel paradigm for studying the on-line learning of predictive dependencies. Within this paradigm, a new "prediction task" is introduced that provides a sensitive index of individual differences for developing probabilistic sequential expectations. Across three interrelated experiments, the prediction task and results thereof are used to bridge knowledge of the empirical relation between statistical learning and language within the context of nonadjacency processing. We first chart the trajectory for learning nonadjacencies, documenting individual differences in prediction learning. Subsequent simple recurrent network simulations then closely capture human performance patterns in the new paradigm. Finally, individual differences in prediction performances are shown to strongly correlate with participants' sentence processing of complex, long-distance dependencies in natural language.
A sequence transformation algorithm for supporting cooperative work on mobile devices

Operational transformation (OT) is a promising technique for supporting collaboration using mobile devices because it allows users to work on local data replicas even in a disconnected mode. However, as work goes mobile, a large number of operations may accumulate, defying the capacity of current OT algorithms that are mostly designed for real-time group editing. Since their assumption is that operations are propagated frequently, they generally only address how to integrate one remote operation at a time. As a consequence, most algorithms take O(|H|2) to integrate one operation and thus O(|H|3) to integrate a long sequence, where H is the operation history. This paper proposes a novel algorithm that provides optimized transformation of long sequences, improving the time complexity to O(|H|). Our experiments will show that it takes 59 minutes in a recent algorithm versus 1.5 seconds in this work to integrate two long sequences on a mobile device. The performance improvement is critical towards achieving desired responsiveness and group productivity in a class of mobile collaborative applications.
Nonparametric Functional Calibration of Computer Models

Standard methods in computer model calibration treat the calibration parameters as constant throughout the domain of control inputs. In many applications, systematic variation may cause the best values for the calibration parameters to change between different settings. When not accounted for in the code, this variation can make the computer model inadequate. In this article, we propose a framework for modeling the calibration parameters as functions of the control inputs to account for a computer model's incomplete system representation in this regard while simultaneously allowing for possible constraints imposed by prior expert opinion. We demonstrate how inappropriate modeling assumptions can mislead a researcher into thinking a calibrated model is in need of an empirical discrepancy term when it is only needed to allow for a functional dependence of the calibration parameters on the inputs. We apply our approach to plastic deformation of a visco-plastic self-consistent material in which the critical resolved shear stress is known to vary with temperature.
Sickle Cell Anaemia and Malaria

Sickle cell anaemia is a major chapter within haemolytic anaemias; at the same time, its epidemiology is a remarkable signature of the past and present world distribution of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. In this brief review, in keeping with the theme of this journal, we focus on the close and complex relationship betweeen this blood disease and this infectious disease. On one hand, heterozygotes for the sickle gene (AS) are relatively protected against the danger of dying of malaria, as now firmly established through a number of clinical field studies from different parts of Africa. In addition, experimental work is consistent with a plausibile mechanism: namely, that in AS heterozygotes P falciparum-infected red cells sickle preferentially and are then removed by macrophages. On the other hand, patients who are homozygous for the sickle gene and therefore suffer from sickle cell anaemia (SCA) are highly susceptible to the lethal effects of malaria. The simplest explanation of this fact is that malaria makes the anaemia of SCA more severe; in addition, in SCA there is often hyposplenism, which reduces clearance of parasites. From the point of view of public health it is important that in malaria-endemic countries patients with SCA, and particularly children, be protected from malaria by appropriate prophylaxis.
Rethinking Social Action. Core Values in Practice Gender Differences in Teenagers’ Perceptions and Attitudes toward Sciences

The adolescence represents a significant period in the life of an individual, characterized by rapid transformations and evolutions, where new experiences are faced and lived practically, the most complex stage on the road to maturity. In general, the dynamics of this age is marked by deep crisis, by internal and external conflicts, emerged in the attempts to discover the self-identity. Studies on gender differences in adolescence are focused on issues concerning the formation of selfidentity, self-esteem, appearance of crisis that marks this stage and ways to overcome them on educational performance and school success, but also on the existed options of choosing a career or crystalizing the future profession. Differences in the perception and attitude of male and female adolescents are important in terms of discovering the mechanisms that favor to achieve outstanding results, which may generate interest for major topics and motivational support for specific activities. But when Science area (even in the traditional format of Physics-Chemistry-Biology) is presented to adolescences, it seems that it cannot be said that Science peak their interest, being qualified as having rather a negative image for most of them. In this sense, the aim of the paper is to highlight the teen-agers’ perception and their attitude towards scientific activities, taking into account the gender variable, considering the designing of appropriate learning opportunities in relation to students’ interests and particularities. The analysis was performed following the feed-back expressed by 185 high-school students (11th and 12th grades), before the classroom interventions of inquire-based science teaching modules designed in the frame of the European FP7 Project entitled: “PROFILES Professional Reflection Oriented Focus on Inquiry-based Learning and Education through Science”.
Effect of intraoperative infusion of ketamine on remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia

Background Opioid induced hyperalgesia (OIH) is related with high opioid dosage, a long duration of opioid administration, and abrupt discontinuation of infused opioids in anesthetic settings. Ketamine is known to attenuate OIH efficiently, but methods of administration and methods to quantify and assess a decrease in OIH vary. We demonstrated the existence of remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia and investigated the ability of ketamine to attenuate OIH. Methods Seventy-five patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecologic surgery under remifentanil-based anesthesia were assigned to one of the following groups: (1) group RL (remifentanil 0.05 µg/kg/min), (2) group RH (remifentanil 0.3 µg/kg/min), or (3) group KRH (remifentanil 0.3 µg/kg/min + ketamine 0.5 mg/kg bolus with 5 µg/kg/min infusion intraoperatively). Desflurane was administered for maintenance of anesthesia to target bispectral index scores (40-60) and hemodynamic parameters (heart rate and blood pressure < ± 20% of baseline values). All parameters related to OIH and its attenuation induced by ketamine were investigated. Results There was no significant difference among the three groups related to demographic and anesthetic parameters except the end-tidal concentration of desflurane. Additional analgesic consumption, numerical rating scale scores at 6 and 24 h, and cumulative fentanyl dose were significantly higher in group RH than in the other two groups. The value difference of the Touch-Test sensory evaluation was significantly higher negative in group RH than in the other two groups. Conclusions Remifentanil-induced hyperalgesia is significantly attenuated by intraoperative bolus and infusion of ketamine. Ketamine also decreased tactile sensitization, as measured by Touch-Test sensory evaluation.
A contextual dissimilarity measure for accurate and efficient image search

In this paper we present two contributions to improve accuracy and speed of an image search system based on bag-of-features: a contextual dissimilarity measure (CDM) and an efficient search structure for visual word vectors. Our measure (CDM) takes into account the local distribution of the vectors and iteratively estimates distance correcting terms. These terms are subsequently used to update an existing distance, thereby modifying the neighborhood structure. Experimental results on the Nister-Stewenius dataset show that our approach significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art in terms of accuracy. Our efficient search structure for visual word vectors is a two-level scheme using inverted files. The first level partitions the image set into clusters of images. At query time, only a subset of clusters of the second level has to be searched. This method allows fast querying in large sets of images. We evaluate the gain in speed and the loss in accuracy on large datasets (up to 500k images).
The revaluation of assets as a signalling device: a theoretical and an empirical analysis

Abstract In many countries, firms can choose whether or not to report a revaluation in the financial statements. An analytical model is developed to indicate conditions in which it is more likely that successful firms will choose not to revalue assets as a credible signal to potential investors. These industry settings include a high variance in performance and low equity-to-debt ratios. The empirical results for Belgium confirm that successful firms are less likely to revalue assets in those industries. However, only the revaluation of fixed tangible assets and not financial assets seems to be a credible signal. Finally, the results support the choice to revalue, but not the amount of revaluation, as a signalling device.
DynOAA — Dynamic offset adaptation algorithm for improving response times of CAN systems

CAN bus systems are used in many industrial control applications, particularly automotive. Due to growing system and functional requirements, the low capacity of the CAN bus and usually strict conditions under which it is used in realtime applications, applicability of CAN bus is severely limited. The paper presents an approach for achieving high utilization and breathes new life to CAN bus based systems by proposing a dynamic offset adaptation algorithm for scheduling messages and improving message response times without any changes to a standard CAN bus. This simple algorithm, which runs on all nodes of the system, results in excellent average response times at all loads and makes the approach particularly attractive for soft real-time systems. We demonstrate the performance improvement of the proposed approach by comparisons to other approaches and introduce a new performance measure in the form of a rating function.
Does clinical or cognitive insight predict outcome in psychosis? Findings from a longitudinal first episode cohort

article i nfo The outcome of first episode psychosis (FEP) is highly variable and difficult to predict. We studied prospec- tively the impact of poor insight and neuropsychological deficits on outcomes in a longitudinal cohort of 127 FEP patients. Participants were assessed on 5 domains of cognitive function and 2 domains of insight (clinical and cognitive). At 12 months, patients were assessed again for symptom severity and psychosocial function. Regression analyses revealed that cognitive insight (a measure of self-reflectiveness and self-certainty) was the best baseline predictor of overall psychopathology at 12 months whereas executive function performance at admission to the study indicated later severity of negative symptoms. Other neuro- psychological and insight measures were poor predictors of psychosocial function at 1 year. The results sug- gest that specific neuropsychological and insight factors have separate predictive capacities indicating that they are distinct psychological processes in psychosis. Cognitive insight proved to be a useful prognostic in- dicator, and should be considered for future studies and as a potential focus for treatment. © 2013 Published by Elsevier B.V.
Optimal chaos shift keying communications with correlation decoding

The effect of the chaotic map employed in chaos shift keying (CSK) communication systems is discussed. Based on the exact bit-error rate of a CSK system, the conditions for an optimal map are deduced. One group of asymptotically optimal maps is proposed which has asymptotic performance at the level of the theoretical BPSK lower bound. Simulation results using the optimal maps are provided and compared with commonly used chaotic maps. The proposals show how to design both coherent and non-coherent CSK systems, with spreading factors of two, which have the advantage of being chaotic and have the high performance of BPSK.
Analysis of Stability in Verbal Interaction Types of Science-Gifted Students.

Background:Science inquiry activities carried out in a small group are learner-centered activities operating under the premise of collaborative interaction between members through various types of communication and consultation in the process of resolving issues.Material and methods:The changes in the types of interactions in the three exploratory activities targeting science-gifted students were analyzed using the Social Network Analysis (SNA). As a result of analyzing eight small groups, it was possible to divide the interaction types into two groups, namely, the alienation retaining type—where the type of interactions was retained from start to end—and the alienation changing type where the types of interactions changed.Results:First, regarding active interactions between three members, the remaining students turned out to be alienated and could not participate in further inquiry activities. Second, changes of types occurred in accordance with the leaders’ central positions.Conclusions:On the basis of this study, it is expected that future analyses will show how the type of interaction changes according to the level of inquiry or familiarity status with the inquiry topics. In addition, it is expected that studies about guidance and feedback of teachers and new students’ participation in the interactions will follow.
Can federal reserve policy deviation explain response patterns of financial markets over time

Yes. By using real-time structure break monitoring techniques we find evidence against monotonic response pattern, specifically three response structures of US stock market to the federal monetary policy actions based on a sample from 1989-2010. We re-estimate the market response in each of the three structures and find results stronger than previously documented especially in 2001-2008. We propose a “FedGap” variable which measures the deviation of Fed policy from the “Taylor Rule” in explanation and find it to be significant with economic meaning. We conclude that market responses proportionally to the size of the FedGap and it thus serves as a new “macro-state” factor which can explain the dynamic response patterns of financial markets. We also examine the issue from the bond market, and find similar results.
Culturable Aerobic and Facultative Anaerobic Intestinal Bacterial Flora of Black Cobra (Naja naja karachiensis) in Southern Pakistan

Using morphological analysis and biochemical testing, here for the first time, we determined the culturable gut bacterial flora (aerobes and facultative anaerobes) in the venomous Black Cobra (Naja naja karachiensis) from South Asia. The findings revealed that these snakes inhabit potentially pathogenic bacteria including Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shewanella putrefaciens, Aeromonas hydrophila, Salmonella sp. , Moraxella sp. , Bacillus sp. , Ochrobactrum anthropi, and Providencia rettgeri. These findings are of concern, as injury from snake bite can result in wound infections and tissue necrosis leading to sepsis/necrotizing fasciitis and/or expose consumers of snake meat/medicine in the community to infections.
Chronic Sleep Disturbance Impairs Glucose Homeostasis in Rats

Epidemiological studies have shown an association between short or disrupted sleep and an increased risk for metabolic disorders. To assess a possible causal relationship, we examined the effects of experimental sleep disturbance on glucose regulation in Wistar rats under controlled laboratory conditions. Three groups of animals were used: a sleep restriction group (RS), a group subjected to moderate sleep disturbance without restriction of sleep time (DS), and a home cage control group. To establish changes in glucose regulation, animals were subjected to intravenous glucose tolerance tests (IVGTTs) before and after 1 or 8 days of sleep restriction or disturbance. Data show that both RS and DS reduce body weight without affecting food intake and also lead to hyperglycemia and decreased insulin levels during an IVGTT. Acute sleep disturbance also caused hyperglycemia during an IVGTT, yet, without affecting the insulin response. In conclusion, both moderate and severe disturbances of sleep markedly affect glucose homeostasis and body weight control.
Young learners’ response processes when taking computerized tasks for speaking assessment

We investigated how young language learners process their responses on and perceive a computer-mediated, timed speaking test. Twenty 8-, 9-, and 10-year-old non-native English-speaking children (NNSs) and eight same-aged, native English-speaking children (NSs) completed seven computerized sample TOEFL® Primary™ speaking test tasks. We investigated the children’s attentional foci on different test components (e.g., prompts, pictures, and a countdown timer) by means of their eye movements. We associated the children’s eye-movement indices (visit counts and fixation durations) with spoken performance. The children provided qualitative data (interviews; picture-drawings) on their test experiences as well. Results indicated a clear contrast between NNSs and NSs in terms of speech production (large score differences) as expected. More interestingly, the groups’ eye-movement patterns differed. NNSs tended to fixate longer on and looked more frequently at the countdown timer than their NS peers, who were more likely to look at content features, that is, onscreen pictures meant to help with building up speech. Specifically, the NNSs’ fixations on timers were likely to co-occur with hesitation phenomena (e.g., hemming; pausing; silence). We discuss (a) the potential effects of test-specific features on children’s performance and (b) child-appropriate test accommodations and practices.
Repetitive Traumatic Brain Injury in Patients From Kashan, Iran

Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a worldwide problem, especially in countries with high incidence of road traffic accidents such as Iran. Patients with a single occurrence of TBI have been shown to be at increased risk to sustain future TBI. Objectives The aim of this study was to present the incidence and characteristics of repeated TBI (RTBI) in Iranian patients. Patients and Methods During one year, all admitted TBI patients with prior TBI history were enrolled into the study. In each patient, data such as age, gender, past medical history, injury cause, anatomic site of injury, TBI severity, clinical findings and CT scan findings were collected. Results RTBI comprised 2.5% of TBI cases (41 of 1629). The incidence of RTBI per 100,000 individuals per years was 9.7. The main cause of RTBI was road traffic accident (68.3%); 9.7 % of cases had preexisting seizure/epilepsy disorder; 36.6% of patients with RTBI had pervious ICU admission due to severe TBI. Ten patients had Glasgow coma scale (GCS) ≤ 13 (24.4%). Seizure was seen in seven patients (17.1%). Thirty-nine percent of patients with RTBI had associated injuries. Eleven patients had abnormal CT scan findings (26.9%). Conclusions Considering the high incidence of trauma in developing countries, RTBI may also be more common compared with that of developed countries. This mandates a newer approach to preventive strategies, particularly in those with a previous experience of head injury.