Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Localization of Long-Distance Dependency Components: Integrating the Focal-lesion and Neuroimaging Record

In the sentence “The captain who the sailor greeted is tall,” the connection between the relative pronoun and the object position of greeted represents a long-distance dependency (LDD), necessary for the interpretation of “the captain” as the individual being greeted. Whereas the lesion-based record shows preferential involvement of only the left inferior frontal (LIF) cortex, associated with Broca's aphasia, during real-time comprehension of LDDs, the neuroimaging record shows additional involvement of the left posterior superior temporal (LPST) and lower parietal cortices, which are associated with Wernicke's aphasia. We test the hypothesis that this localization incongruence emerges from an interaction of memory and linguistic constraints involved in the real-time implementation of these dependencies and which had not been previously isolated. Capitalizing on a long-standing psycholinguistic understanding of LDDs as the workings of an active filler, we distinguish two linguistically defined mechanisms: GAP-search, triggered by the retrieval of the relative pronoun, and GAP-completion, triggered by the retrieval of the embedded verb. Each mechanism is hypothesized to have distinct memory demands and given their distinct linguistic import, potentially distinct brain correlates. Using fMRI, we isolate the two mechanisms by analyzing their relevant sentential segments as separate events. We manipulate LDD-presence/absence and GAP-search type (direct/indirect) reflecting the absence/presence of intervening islands. Results show a direct GAP-search—LIF cortex correlation that crucially excludes the LPST cortex. Notably, indirect GAP-search recruitment is confined to supplementary-motor and lower-parietal cortex indicating that GAP presence alone is not enough to engage predictive functions in the LIF cortex. Finally, GAP-completion shows recruitment implicating the dorsal pathway including: the supplementary motor cortex, left supramarginal cortex, precuneus, and anterior/dorsal cingulate. Altogether, the results are consistent with previous findings connecting GAP-search, as we define it, to the LIF cortex. They are not consistent with an involvement of the LPST cortex in any of the two mechanisms, and therefore support the view that the LPST cortex is not crucial to LDD implementation. Finally, results support neurocognitive architectures that involve the dorsal pathway in LDD resolution and that distinguish the memory commitments of the LIF cortex as sensitive to specific language-dependent constraints beyond phrase-structure building considerations.
Drosophila IKK-related kinase Ik2 and Katanin p60-like 1 regulate dendrite pruning of sensory neuron during metamorphosis

Pruning is a widely observed mechanism for developing nervous systems to refine their circuitry. During metamorphosis, certain Drosophila sensory neurons undergo large-scale dendrite pruning to remove their larval branches before regeneration of their adult dendrites. Dendrite pruning involves dendrite severing, followed with debris removal. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying dendrite severing. Here, we show that both the Ik2 kinase and Katanin p60-like 1 (Kat-60L1) of the Katanin family of microtubule severing proteins are required for dendrite severing. Mutant neurons with disrupted Ik2 function have diminished ability in severing their larval dendrites in pupae. Conversely, premature activation of Ik2 triggers precocious dendrite severing in larvae, revealing a critical role of Ik2 in initiating dendrite severing. We found a role for Kat-60L1 in facilitating dendrite severing by breaking microtubule in proximal dendrites, where the dendrites subsequently separate from the soma. Our study thus implicates Ik2 and Kat-60L1 in dendrite severing that involves local microtubule disassembly.
A geometric view of Krylov subspace methods on singular systems

We give a geometric framework for analysing iterative methods on singular linear systems Ax=b and apply them to Krylov subspace methods. The idea is to decompose the method into the ℛ(A) component and its orthogonal complement ℛ(A)⟂, where ℛ(A) is the range of A. We apply the framework to GMRES, GMRES(k) and GCR(k), and derive conditions for convergence without breakdown for inconsistent and consistent singular systems. The approach also gives a geometric interpretation and different proofs of the conditions obtained by Brown and Walker for GMRES. We also give examples arising in the finite difference discretization of two‐point boundary value problems of an ordinary differential equation. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modeling the precedence effect for binaural sound source localization in noisy and echoic environments

We present a new way of modelling the Precedence Effect to enable the robust measurement of localization cues (ITD and IID) in echoic environments. Based on this we developed a localization system which is inspired by the auditory system of mammals. It uses a Gammatone filter bank for preprocessing and extracts the ITD cue via zero crossings (IID calculation is straight forward). The mapping between the cue values and the different angles is learned offline which facilitates the adaptation to different head geometries. The performance of the system is demonstrated by localization results for two simultaneous speakers and the mixture of a speaker, music, and fan noise in a normal meeting room. A real-time demonstrator of the system is presented in [1].
Forensic risk assessment: a metareview, novel meta-analysis, and empirical study developing a violence screening tool for schizophrenia

Mental health professionals are routinely called upon to assess the violence risk of their patients. An increasingly common method for conducting such assessments is the use of structured risk assessment tools. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the utility of such instruments: to identify and explore current uncertainties concerning their applicability and to design a novel measure that could be used as part of a stepped strategy to risk assessment. Though a number of risk assessment tools have been developed and there is a considerable literature concerning their psychometric properties, uncertainty remains regarding their effective use. In order to identify key contemporary uncertainties, a metareview of the forensic assessment literature was conducted. The metareview found that previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the risk assessment literature have come to conflicting conclusions on a number of issues, including the comparative predictive validity of risk assessment tools, the efficacy of actuarial tools versus clinical judgement, and the influence of demographic factors and study design characteristics on predictive accuracy. These uncertainties were then investigated in a comprehensive meta-analysis of nine commonly used risk measures. The meta-analysis concluded that there were significant differences between the predictive validity of the risk assessment tools, with instruments designed for more specific purposes performing better than those designed for more general use. Tools performed best when administered to samples demographically similar to their calibration sample. Actuarial instruments and structured clinical judgement were found to perform comparably. The final study presented in this thesis explored the feasibility of a stepped approach to risk assessment in which individuals at very low risk of future violence are screened out prior to resource-intensive clinically based assessment. High-quality national registers were used to construct a simple tool to identify patients with schizophrenia at very low risk of violent conviction after being discharged from hospital. The tool was found to produce high rates of sensitivity as well as high negative predictive values at 1, 2, and 5 years follow.up. In light of the findings of these three studies, risk assessment procedures and guidelines by mental health services and criminal justice systems may need review.
Coping with abstraction in object orientation with a special focus on application errors

In this study we present and discuss various solution strategies used by students concerning error-handling. Our data is based on accumulated instruction experience gained during several years of advanced OOP course with Java. Analysis the provided solutions according to a set of categories based on constructive principles concerning software programming and on a classification of abstraction levels concerning error handling. The obtained results reveals that majority of students have difficulties in utilizing the advanced error-handling mechanism offered by modern programming languages (i.e., exception mechanism). The students have also difficulties in exhibiting high level of abstraction concerning a proper design of exceptions' hierarchy.
Does psychosocial intervention improve survival in cancer? A meta-analysis

Background: There is growing evidence that positive psychosocial intervention improves the wellbeing of cancer patients. Two meta-analyses conducted to date confirmed a significant small-to-moderate effect on quality of life. Previous randomized trials reported that psychosocial intervention also improved survival. However, more recent trials failed to detect a difference in survival. A systematic review of randomized trials that have examined the effectiveness of psychosocial intervention in cancer patients in terms of survival prolongation was conducted. Methods: Randomized trials published between 1966 and June 2002 were identified through the databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CancerLit, CINAHL, Cochrane Library and reference lists of relevant articles. Relevant data were abstracted. The results of randomized trials were pooled using meta-analyses to estimate the effect of treatment on overall survival at one and four years in all cancer patients and also in breast cancer patients with metastases. Results: Eight trials, which involved a total of 1062 patients (all cancer histologies), were identified. One-and four-year overall survival rates were obtained from eight trials and six trials, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the overall survival rates at one and four years [P=0.6; RR 0.94 (95% CI 0.72, 1.22)] and [P=0.5; RR 0.93 (95% CI 0.77, 1.13)], respectively. Four trials examined 511 metastatic breast cancer patients. Again, there was no statistically significant difference in the overall survival rates at one and four years [P=0.3; RR 0.87 (95% CI 0.67, 1.14)] and [P=0.3; RR 0.91 (95% CI 0.76, 1.10)], respectively. Conclusions: Psychosocial intervention does not prolong survival in cancer. This meta-analysis can not rule out small effect sizes because of the small number of trials and small trial sizes.
Design and Implementation of a Parallel Turbo-Decoder ASIC for 3GPP-LTE

Turbo-decoding for the 3GPP-LTE (Long Term Evolution) wireless communication standard is among the most challenging tasks in terms of computational complexity and power consumption of corresponding cellular devices. This paper addresses design and implementation aspects of parallel turbo-decoders that reach the 326.4 Mb/s LTE peak data-rate using multiple soft-input soft-output decoders that operate in parallel. To highlight the effectiveness of our design-approach, we realized a 3.57 mm2 radix-4based 8× parallel turbo-decoder ASIC in 0.13 μm CMOS technology achieving 390 Mb/s. At the more realistic 100 Mb/s LTE milestone targeted by industry today, the turbo-decoder consumes only 69 mW.
Morbidity, mortality and quality of life in the ageing haemodialysis population: results from the ELDERLY study

Abstract Background The physical–functional and social–emotional health as well as survival of the elderly (≥75 years of age) haemodialysis patient is commonly thought to be poor. In a prospective, multicentre, non-interventional, observational study, the morbidity, mortality and quality of life (QoL) in this patient group were examined and compared with a younger cohort. Methods In 92 German dialysis centres, 2507 prevalent patients 19–98 years of age on haemodialysis for a median of 19.2 months were included in a drug monitoring study of darbepoetin alfa. To examine outcome and QoL parameters, 24 months of follow-up data in the age cohorts <75 and ≥75 years were analysed. Treatment parameters, adverse and intercurrent events, hospitalizations, morbidity and mortality were assessed. QoL was evaluated by means of the 47-item Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Anaemia score (FACT-An, version 4). Results The 2-year mortality rate was 34.7% for the older cohort and 15.8% for the younger cohort. The mortality rate for the haemodialysed elderly patients was 6.2% higher in absolute value compared with the age-matched background population. A powerful predictor of survival was the baseline FACT-An score and a close correlation with the 20-item anaemia subscale (AnS) was demonstrated. While the social QoL in the elderly patients was more stable than in the younger cohort (leading to equivalent values at the end of the study period), a pronounced deterioration of physical and functional status was observed. The median number of all-cause hospital days per patient-year was 12.3 for the elderly cohort and 8.9 for the younger patient population. The overall 24-month hospitalization rate was only marginally higher in the elderly cohort (34.0 versus 33.3%). Conclusions In this observational study, the mortality rate of elderly haemodialysis patients was not exceedingly high compared with the age-matched background population. Furthermore, the hospitalization rate was only slightly higher compared with the younger age group and the median yearly hospitalization time trended lower compared with registry data. The social well-being of elderly haemodialysis patients showed a less pronounced decline over time and was equal to the score of the younger cohort at the end of the study period. The physical and functional status in the elderly patients was lower and showed a sharper decline over time. The baseline FACT-An score correlated closely with the 24-month survival probability.
Leukocyte depletion attenuates reperfusion injury in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy.

BACKGROUND Reperfusion injury can occur after a long period of aortic cross-clamping in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy during open-heart surgery, even with the most up-to-date techniques of myocardial protection. In the present study, we examined whether leukocyte depletion as an adjunct to terminal blood cardioplegia (LDTC) attenuates reperfusion injury in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LV mass, >300 g; left ventricular end-systolic volume index, >100 mL/m2) in a group of 30 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement. METHODS AND RESULTS We used basic cold potassium crystalloid cardioplegic solution. Terminal blood cardioplegic solution (TC) or LDTC was accomplished by mixing a cold potassium crystalloid cardioplegic solution with warm arterial blood obtained through cardiopulmonary bypass and administered to the aortic root for the first 10 minutes of reperfusion. During delivery of LDTC, warm arterial blood was passed through a leukocyte-removal filter. Patients were randomized into one of three groups for reperfusion: whole blood (WB) (n=10), TC (n=10), and LDTC (n=10). Left ventricular biopsies were obtained before ischemia, at the end of ischemia, and 15 minutes after reperfusion. Semiquantitative scoring for ultrastructural alterations indicated that the LDTC group achieved significantly better recoveries of both scores at reperfusion for myocyte damage and for endothelial cell damage of capillaries than did the WB and TC groups. The LDTC group had significantly fewer neutrophils adhering to endothelial cells at reperfusion and a lower level of malondialdehyde derived from myocardium than did the WB and TC groups. Regarding the clinical data, the LDTC group had a lower maximum creatine kinase-MB, a higher percentage of spontaneous defibrillation, a lower pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, and a lower requirement for dopamine that did the WB group, whereas the TC group failed to do better than the WB group. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that leukocyte-depleted reperfusion is potentially beneficial as an adjunct to terminal cardioplegia during cardiac surgery to attenuate reperfusion injury in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy.
Population Growth and Technological Change : A Re-examination

The long-term effects of population growth are of obvious importance. Previous studies, notably that of Kremer (1993), provide evidence of the positive effects of population growth on technological change. This paper reexamines the existing results, introduces previously untested predictions using Kremer’s model, and considers alternative global and regional data. The results show that conclusions based on samples that include modern data are typically reversed when recent observations are excluded. Inferences drawn from a natural experiment, the melting of the ice caps, are also reversed when appropriate controls are taken into account. JEL classification: J10, O40. Communications to: Javier A. Birchenall Department of Economics, 2127 North Hall University of California, Santa Barbara CA 93106 Phone/fax: (805) 893-5275 E-mail: jabirche@econ.ucsb. edu ∗Without implicating, I would like to thank Gary Becker, Michele Boldrin, David Carr, Robert Fogel, Kellie Forrester, Michael Gurven, Hyeok Jeong, Stephan Klasen, Gary Libecap, Peter Lindert, Bonnie Queen, Romain Wacziarg, Bruce Wyndick, as well as seminar participants from several different locations. I would especially like thank the late D. Gale Johnson for his many useful discussions on the role of population in the economy.
The relationship between nurses' limit-setting styles and anger in psychiatric inpatients.

OBJECTIVE Violence by patients in psychiatric settings is frequently associated with the quality of staff-patient interactions. Impulsivity has been identified as a high risk factor for anger and aggression. This study was designed to test the influence of nurses' limit-setting styles on anger among psychiatric inpatients grouped by high or low levels of impulsivity. METHODS Ninety-seven patients with various diagnoses and either high or low levels of impulsivity participated in role-play scenarios in which nurse actors played out six limit-setting styles, ranging from belittlement to explanations of rules to empathy linked with a presentation of an alternative course of action. Patients' level of anger in response to the acted scenario was assessed using the Spielberger State-Trait Anger Scale. RESULTS Patients' level of anger was highest in response to unempathic limit-setting styles, moderate for explanations, and lowest for empathic styles. Impulsive subjects were more likely to respond with anger than nonimpulsive patients, regardless of the limit-setting style. CONCLUSIONS Although many current intervention programs focus on reducing patients' anger after it occurs, the study results suggest that it may be possible to prevent some of patients' anger by improving nurses' limit-setting styles.
Recognition of Emotion in Facial Expressions by Children with Language Impairment

RECOGNITION OF EMOTION IN FACIAL EXPRESSIONS BY CHILDREN WITH LANGUAGE IMPAIRMENT Dorthy A. Stott Department of Communication Disorders Master of Science Recent research has shown that children with language impairment (LI) have increased social difficulties. This study examined the relationship between language skills and emotion understanding through recognition of facial expressions of emotion in children with LI and their typically developing peers. It is a replication of the research of Spackman, Fujiki, Brinton, Nelson, and Allen (2005) and Atwood (2006). Participants consisted of 22 children with LI and 22 ageand gender-matched peers with typically developing language, from the age range of 7:0 to 10:11 years. They were shown photographs of faces conveying one of the following emotions: happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, and disgust; they were then asked to indicate which emotion was being expressed. Group performance was then compared for each of the emotions in
Escritura y conciencia fonológica en niños hispano-parlantes Writing and phonological awareness in Spanish speaking children

ResumenLos objetivos del presente trabajo son: 1) explorar que tipo de segmentaciones orales producen los ninos de habla hispana en diferentes momentos de la adquisicion de la lengua escrita y 2) investigar si las segmentaciones producidas ante la presencia de palabras escritas difieren de aquellas producidas en una situacion oral con la ayuda de objetos (fichas). A 54 ninos mexicanos preescolares y 11 ninos de primer grado se les dio una tarea de escritura, una tarea de segmentacion oral de palabras con fichas y una tarea de segmentacion de palabras acompanada de las palabras escritas. Los resultados muestran que la conciencia fonologica tiene una evolucion estrechamente relacionada con el desarrollo del conocimiento de la escritura. Esta evolucion va del recorte silabico, a la segmentacion de la segunda silaba (o de la coda en monosilabos) hasta llegar a la segmentacion fonologica. En ningun momento parece haber preferencia por la segmentacion en ataques y rimas. Adicionalmente, la presencia de la escri.
Affinity analysis for biomolecular interactions based on magneto-optical relaxation measurements

Magneto-optical relaxation measurements of magnetically labelled biomolecules are a promising tool for immunometric analyses. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and its polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies (anti-CEA) were utilized as a model system for affinity analysis of the interaction between antibody and antigen. For this purpose antibodies were coupled with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). Aggregation of these antibody sensors due to interactions with the CEA was observed subsequently by measuring the relaxation time of the birefringence of a transmitted laser beam that occurs in a pulsed magnetic field. A kinetic model of chain-like aggregation developed for these purposes enables the rapid and simple calculation of the kinetic parameters of the underlying protein interaction. From the known antigen concentration and the increase in particle size during the interaction we are able to estimate the unknown parameters with standard methods for the statistical description of stepwise polymerization. This novel affinity analysis was successfully applied for the antigen–antibody interaction described herein and can be applied to other biomolecular interactions. First efforts have been made to establish magneto-optical relaxation measurements in body fluids.