Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rewards have a transient and task-specific effect on saccade latency and accuracy

The focus of this thesis was on investigating the key questions regarding the effectiveness of monetary rewards as a tool for behaviour change in rehabilitation. Firstly, do rewards consistently influence the eye movement behaviour in a neuro-typical human population? Secondly, do these effects persist once rewards are withdrawn? Finally, do these effects transfer to other unrewarded eye movement tasks? Nine experiments investigated the influence of monetary rewards on oculomotor function and attention in humans. Monetary rewards were found to consistently influence human saccadic behaviour such that faster eye movements were generated to rewarded locations compared to unrewarded locations. These effects persisted for a short period of time after rewards were withdrawn before extinguishing quickly. However, these hemifield-specific effects failed to transfer to any secondary unrewarded eye movement task, but instead produced a more general effect of reward in one experiment conducted. The present set of experiments have established a reward paradigm able to consistently produce behaviour change when rewards are present; however these effects were found to be context and task-specific. The findings of the present set of experiments have highlighted the transient nature of the effects of reward and provide a framework for the future use of monetary rewards as a tool for behaviour change. The findings provided by the present set of experiments can be harnessed in future to guide the effectiveness of monetary reinforcers in a neuro-atypical population.
Nutrient Requirements and Optimal Nutrition Higher Eating Frequency Does Not Decrease Appetite in Healthy Adults 1 , 2

Background: Consumption of small, frequent meals is suggested as an effective approach to control appetite and food intake and might be a strategy for weight loss or healthy weight maintenance. Despite much speculation on the topic, scientific evidence is limited to support such a relation in the absence of changes to diet composition. Objective: We examined the effects of high compared with low eating frequency (EF) on self-reported appetite as a secondary outcome in a controlled trial. Methods: We conducted a randomized, crossover intervention trial in 12 participants (4 men, 8 women) who completed 2 isocaloric 3-wk intervention phases of low EF (3 eating occasions/d) compared with high EF (8 eating occasions/d). On the last morning of each study phase, participants completed a 4-h appetite testing session. During the appetite testing session, participants completing the low EF phase consumed a meal at 0800. Participants completing the high EF intervention consumed the same meal spread evenly over 2 eating occasions at 0800 and 1030. Standardized ratings of hunger, desire to eat, fullness, thirst, and nausea were completed every 30 min with the use of paper-and-pencil semianchored 100-mm visual analog scales. A composite appetite score was calculated as the mean of hunger, desire to eat, and the inverse of fullness (calculated as 100-fullness rating). Linear regression analysis compared ratings between low EF and high EF conditions. Results: The mean composite appetite score was higher in the high EF condition for the total testing period (baseline through 1200) (P < 0.05) and for the time period from baseline through 1030 (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The results from this study in 12 healthy adults do not support the popularized notion that small, frequentmeals help to decrease overall appetite. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02548026. J Nutr doi: 10.3945/jn.115. 216978.
Does methadone maintenance treatment based on the new national guidelines work in a primary care setting?

BACKGROUND General practitioners (GPs) are being encouraged to treat more drug users but there are few studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of primary care treatment. AIM To determine whether patients retained on methadone maintenance treatment for one year in a modern British primary care setting, with prescribing protocols based on the new national guidelines, can achieve similar harm reduction outcomes to those demonstrated in other settings, using objective outcome measures where available. DESIGN OF STUDY Longitudinal cohort study. SETTING The Primary Care Clinic for Drug Dependence, Sheffield. METHOD The intervention consisted of a methadone maintenance treatment provided by GPs with prescribing protocols based on the 1999 national guidelines. The first 96 eligible consenting patients entering treatment were recruited; 65 completed the study. Outcome measures were current drug use, HIV risk-taking behaviour, social functioning, criminal activity, and mental and physical health, supplemented by urinalysis and criminal record data. RESULTS Frequency of heroin use was reduced from a mean of 3.02 episodes per day (standard deviation [SD] = 1.73) to a mean of 0.22 episodes per day (SD = 0.54), (chi 2 = 79.48, degrees of freedom [df] = 2, P < 0.001), confirmed by urinalysis. Mean numbers of convictions and cautions were reduced by 62% (z = 3.378, P < 0.001) for all crime. HIV risk-taking behaviour, social functioning, and physical and psychological wellbeing all showed significant improvements. CONCLUSION Patients retained on methadone maintenance treatment for one year in a primary care setting can achieve improvements on a range of harm reduction outcomes similar to those shown by studies in other, often more highly structured programmes.
Extractive Multi-Document Summarization with Integer Linear Programming and Support Vector Regression

We present a new method to generate extractive multi-document summaries. The method uses Integer Linear Programming to jointly maximize the importance of the sentences it includes in the summary and their diversity, without exceeding a maximum allowed summary length. To obtain an importance score for each sentence, it uses a Support Vector Regression model trained on human-authored summaries, whereas the diversity of the selected sentences is measured as the number of distinct word bigrams in the resulting summary. Experimental results on widely used benchmarks show that our method achieves state of the art results, when compared to competitive extractive summarizers, while being computationally efficient as well.
In vivo measurements of the wavelength dependence of tissue-scattering coefficients between 760 and 900 nm measured with time-resolved spectroscopy.

We present in vivo values for the optical transport coefficients (mu(a), mu(s)? ) of the adult human forearm, calf, and head from 760 to 900 nm measured with time-resolved spectroscopy. The accuracy of the method is tested with tissue-simulating phantoms. We obtain mu(s)? (lambda) approximately 1.1 - (5.1 x 10(-4) lambda) mm(-1) (forearm), 1.6 - (8.9 x 10(-4) lambda) mm(-1) (calf), and 1.45 - (6.5 x 10(-4) lambda) mm(-1) (head), where lambda is measured in nanometers. At 800 nm we obtain mu(a) = 0.023 +/- 0.004 mm(-1) (forearm), 0.017 +/- 0.005 mm(-1) (calf), and 0.016 +/- 0.001 mm(-1) (head). Our values differ substantially from published in vitro data. In particular, our transport coefficients for the adult head are substantially lower than previously reported values for adult human cerebral matter and pig skull cortical bone measured in vitro.
Canopy position has a profound effect on soybean seed composition

Although soybean seeds appear homogeneous, their composition (protein, oil and mineral concentrations) can vary significantly with the canopy position where they were produced. In studies with 10 cultivars grown over a 3-yr period, we found that seeds produced at the top of the canopy have higher concentrations of protein but less oil and lower concentrations of minerals such as Mg, Fe, and Cu compared to seeds produced at the bottom of the canopy. Among cultivars, mean protein concentration (average of different positions) correlated positively with mean concentrations of S, Zn and Fe, but not other minerals. Therefore, on a whole plant basis, the uptake and allocation of S, Zn and Fe to seeds correlated with the production and allocation of reduced N to seed protein; however, the reduced N and correlated minerals (S, Zn and Fe) showed different patterns of allocation among node positions. For example, while mean concentrations of protein and Fe correlated positively, the two parameters correlated negatively in terms of variation with canopy position. Altering the microenvironment within the soybean canopy by removing neighboring plants at flowering increased protein concentration in particular at lower node positions and thus altered the node-position gradient in protein (and oil) without altering the distribution of Mg, Fe and Cu, suggesting different underlying control mechanisms. Metabolomic analysis of developing seeds at different positions in the canopy suggests that availability of free asparagine may be a positive determinant of storage protein accumulation in seeds and may explain the increased protein accumulation in seeds produced at the top of the canopy. Our results establish node-position variation in seed constituents and provide a new experimental system to identify genes controlling key aspects of seed composition. In addition, our results provide an unexpected and simple approach to link agronomic practices to improve human nutrition and health in developing countries because food products produced from seeds at the bottom of the canopy contained higher Fe concentrations than products from the top of the canopy. Therefore, using seeds produced in the lower canopy for production of iron-rich soy foods for human consumption could be important when plants are the major source of protein and human diets can be chronically deficient in Fe and other minerals.
Chapter 8 Longleaf Pine Growth and Yield

Across the historical range of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.), less than 10% of lands previously occupied by longleaf ecosystems are currently in public ownership (Johnson and Gjerstad 1999; Alavalapati et al., this volume). The remainder is owned by private entities ranging from the forest industry, to timberland investment organizations, to highly varied nonindustrial private landowners. Any significant recovery of longleaf is therefore dependent on the participation of the private sector. Certainly, for the forest industry, and many other investor-type groups, the need for competitive returns from forest management is extremely important. And although experience has indicated that economic return is often not the primary motivator for nonindustrial landowners, it usually plays some role in management decision-making. One major area requiring more knowledge is the need for models to reliably project growth and, ultimately, economic value of longleaf
Why Business Modeling is Crucial in the Development of eHealth Technologies

The impact and uptake of information and communication technologies that support health care are rather low. Current frameworks for eHealth development suffer from a lack of fitting infrastructures, inability to find funding, complications with scalability, and uncertainties regarding effectiveness and sustainability. These issues can be addressed by defining a better implementation strategy early in the development of eHealth technologies. A business model, and thus business modeling, help to determine such an implementation strategy by involving all important stakeholders in a value-driven dialogue on what the technology should accomplish. This idea also seems promising to eHealth, as it can contribute to the whole development of eHealth technology. We therefore suggest that business modeling can be used as an effective approach to supporting holistic development of eHealth technologies. The contribution of business modeling is elaborated in this paper through a literature review that covers the latest business model research, concepts from the latest eHealth and persuasive technology research, evaluation and insights from our prior eHealth research, as well as the review conducted in the first paper of this series. Business modeling focuses on generating a collaborative effort of value cocreation in which all stakeholders reflect on the value needs of the others. The resulting business model acts as the basis for implementation. The development of eHealth technology should focus more on the context by emphasizing what this technology should contribute in practice to the needs of all involved stakeholders. Incorporating the idea of business modeling helps to cocreate and formulate a set of critical success factors that will influence the sustainability and effectiveness of eHealth technology.
Effect of Hydrogen Sulfide in a Porcine Model of Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion: Comparison of Different Administration Regimens and Characterization of the Cellular Mechanisms of Protection

Objective: We investigate the impact of different regimens of parenteral hydrogen sulfide (H2S) administration on myocardium during ischemia-reperfusion (IR) and the molecular pathways involved in its cytoprotective effects. Methods: Eighteen male Yorkshire pigs underwent 60 minutes of mid-left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion followed by 120 minutes of reperfusion. Pigs received either placebo (control, n = 6) or H2S as a bolus (bolus group, n = 6, 0.2 mg/kg over 10 seconds at the start of reperfusion) or as an infusion (infusion group, n = 6, 2 mg·kg−1·h−1 initiated at the onset of ischemia and continued into the reperfusion period). Myocardial function was monitored throughout the experiment. The area at risk and myocardial necrosis was determined by Monastral blue/triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining. Apoptosis and the expression pattern of various intracellular effector pathways were investigated in the ischemic territory. Coronary microvascular reactivity to endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent factors was measured. Results: H2S infusion but not bolus administration markedly reduce myocardial infarct size (P < 0.05) and improve regional left ventricular function, as well as endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent microvascular reactivity (P < 0.05). The expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (P = 0.059), heat shock protein 27 and αB-crystallin (P < 0.05) were lower in H2S-treated groups. Infusion of H2S caused higher expression of phospho-glycogen synthase kinase-3 β isoform(P < 0.05) and lower expression of mammalian target of rapamycin and apoptosis-inducing factor (P < 0.05). Bolus of H2S caused higher expression of phospho-p44/42 MAPK extracellular signal-regulated kinase and lower expression of Beclin-1 (P < 0.05). The expression of caspase 3 and cleaved caspase 3 were lower (P < 0.05), whereas the expression of phospho-Bad(Ser136) was higher in the bolus group versus control and infusion groups (P < 0.05). The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cell count was lower in both H2S-treated groups compared with the control (P < 0.05). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that infusion of H2S is superior to a bolus alone in reducing myocardial necrosis after IR injury, even though some markers of apoptosis and autophagy were affected in both H2S-treated groups. Thus, the current results indicate that infusion of H2S throughout IR may offer better myocardial protection from IR injury.
Online Ranking: Discrete Choice, Spearman Correlation and Other Feedback

Given a set $V$ of $n$ objects, an online ranking system outputs at each time step a full ranking of the set, observes a feedback of some form and suffers a loss. We study the setting in which the (adversarial) feedback is an element in $V$, and the loss is the position (0th, 1st, 2nd.) of the item in the outputted ranking. More generally, we study a setting in which the feedback is a subset $U$ of at most $k$ elements in $V$, and the loss is the sum of the positions of those elements. We present an algorithm of expected regret $O(n^{3/2}\sqrt{Tk})$ over a time horizon of $T$ steps with respect to the best single ranking in hindsight. This improves previous algorithms and analyses either by a factor of either $\Omega(\sqrt{k})$, a factor of $\Omega(\sqrt{\log n})$ or by improving running time from quadratic to $O(n\log n)$ per round. We also prove a matching lower bound. Our techniques also imply an improved regret bound for online rank aggregation over the Spearman correlation measure, and to other more complex ranking loss functions.
Generating Skilled Self-Employment in Developing Countries: Experimental Evidence from Uganda

We study a government program in Uganda designed to help the poor and unemployed become self-employed artisans, increase incomes, and thus promote social stability. Young adults in Uganda’s conflict-affected north were invited to form groups and submit grant proposals for vocational training and business start-up. Funding was randomly assigned among screened and eligible groups. Treatment groups received unsupervised grants of $382 per member. Grant recipients invest some in skills training but most in tools and materials. After four years, half practice a skilled trade. Relative to the control group, the program increases business assets by 57%, work hours by 17%, and earnings by 38%. Many also formalize their enterprises and hire labor. We see no effect, however, on social cohesion, antisocial behavior, or protest. Effects are similar by gender but are qualitatively different for women because they begin poorer (meaning the impact is larger relative to their starting point) and because women’s work and earnings stagnate without the program but take off with it. The patterns we observe are consistent with credit constraints.
Laser induced fluorescence characterization of ions emitted from hollow cathodes

Laser induced fluorescence (LIF) was used to measure the mean and variance of the velocity distribution of xenon ions emitted from two hollow cathode assemblies operating at low power. High-energy ions detected in plumemode and spot-mode operation are consistent with the potential-hill model of high-energy ion production. The distributions of velocities were modeled, yielding temperatures on the order of a few eV in plume-mode and one eV in spot-mode. LIF of neutral xenon atoms in the plumes indicated thermal temperatures significantly less than the temperatures associated with the ion velocity distributions.
Reaching truckers in Brazil with non-stigmatizing and effective HIV / STI services.

Research with mobile populations has demonstrated that men in the mobile workforce tend to be exposed to greater HIV risk and have higher sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV prevalence than those in less mobile or non-mobile professions. Truck drivers like other highly mobile groups spend much of their time away from family and community which increases the likelihood that they may engage in sexual risk behaviors and limits their access to stable health services or sustained exposure to public health messages. At the request of the Brazilian Ministry of Health and with support from USAID/Brazil Population Council conducted an assessment in 2001 in Brazilian border areas to determine which populations were most in need of HIV prevention activities. The research findings in the southern region revealed the presence of an extremely mobile international truck driver community with little to no access to HIV prevention testing and treatment services. In response to this need Horizons/Population Council implemented an operations research study focused on trucker drivers (2002-2005) in the south of Brazil. In collaboration with the administration of the customs stations municipal and state STI/AIDS programs and Health Ministries the investigators sought to examine the feasibility and impact of an HIV prevention project targeted to truckers crossing the southern border of Brazil. (excerpt)
The “Voice” Has It: Screen Reader Adoption and Switching Behavior Among Vision Impaired Persons in India

We present results from a mixed methods study of screen reader use and switching behavior among people with vision impairments in India. We examine loyalty and experimentation with screen readers and find that the main drivers of adoption for early users differ significantly from the factors that drive continued use by advanced users. We discuss the factor that emerges as one of the strongest stated drivers of early adoption, text-to-speech “voice” quality, particularly a “human-sounding voice” as one of the key features differentiating free/open source products from more expensive proprietary products. While the initial preferences are driven by voice quality, application support becomes more important over time as users speed up their sound settings and become more comfortable with the resultant non-human-sounding speech. We discuss these findings from two theoretical perspectives—first, through the application of the economics of behavior switching, and second, vis-à-vis novice and expert approaches toward new product adoption. We argue that these findings further our understanding of initial user comfort related to assistive technology adoption, and the impact of early technology choices on long-term technology switching behavior.
Comparison of Commercial Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test Methods for Testing of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococci against Vancomycin, Daptomycin, and Linezolid

ABSTRACT Three commercial antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methods were compared to broth microdilution for testing of Staphylococcus aureus and enterococci against vancomycin, daptomycin, and linezolid. Despite high levels of categorical agreement and essential agreement, vancomycin MICs determined by MicroScan were often 1 log2 concentration higher and MICs determined by Phoenix 1 log2 concentration lower. Daptomycin MICs were 1 to 2 log2 concentrations higher by all AST methods, except Etest, potentially impacting definitive antimicrobial therapy for bloodstream infections due to these organisms.
A novel effective method for the assessment of microvascular function in male patients with coronary artery disease: a pilot study using laser speckle contrast imaging

Evaluation of microvascular endothelial function is essential for investigating the pathophysiology and treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Although laser speckle contrast imaging technology is well accepted as a noninvasive methodology for assessing microvascular endothelial function, it has never been used to compare male patients with coronary artery disease with male age-matched healthy controls. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine whether laser speckle contrast imaging could be used to detect differences in the systemic microvascular functions of patients with established cardiovascular disease (n=61) and healthy age-matched subjects (n=24). Cutaneous blood flow was assessed in the skin of the forearm using laser speckle contrast imaging coupled with the transdermal iontophoretic delivery of acetylcholine and post-occlusive reactive hyperemia. The maximum increase in skin blood flow induced by acetylcholine was significantly reduced in the cardiovascular disease patients compared with the control subjects (74 vs 116%; P<0.01). With regard to post-occlusive reactive hyperemia-induced vasodilation, the patients also presented reduced responses compared to the controls (0.42±0.15 vs 0.50±0.13 APU/mmHg; P=0.04). In conclusion, laser speckle contrast imaging can identify endothelial and microvascular dysfunctions in male individuals with cardiovascular disease. Thus, this technology appears to be an efficient non-invasive technique for evaluating systemic microvascular and endothelial functions, which could be valuable as a peripheral marker of atherothrombotic diseases in men.