Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reported Outcome Measures in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Systematic Review

Objective Degenerative cervical myelopathy [DCM] is a disabling and increasingly prevalent group of diseases. Heterogeneous reporting of trial outcomes limits effective inter-study comparison and optimisation of treatment. This is recognised in many fields of healthcare research. The present study aims to assess the heterogeneity of outcome reporting in DCM as the premise for the development of a standardised reporting set. Methods A systematic review of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases, registered with PROSPERO (CRD42015025497) was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Full text articles in English, with >50 patients (prospective) or >200 patients (retrospective), reporting outcomes of DCM were eligible. Results 108 studies, assessing 23,876 patients, conducted world-wide, were identified. Reported outcome themes included function (reported by 97, 90% of studies), complications (reported by 56, 52% of studies), quality of life (reported by 31, 29% of studies), pain (reported by 29, 27% of studies) and imaging (reported by 59, 55% of studies). Only 7 (6%) studies considered all of domains in a single publication. All domains showed variability in reporting. Conclusions Significant heterogeneity exists in the reporting of outcomes in DCM. The development of a consensus minimum dataset will facilitate future research synthesis.
Taxonomy of Visual Algorithm Simulation Exercises

This paper presents a taxonomy for algorithm simulation exercises that allow to build learning environments that not only portray a variety of algorithms and data structures, but also distribute tracing exercises to the student and then automatically evaluates his/her answer to the exercises. The taxonomy systematically classifies the exercises into 8 separate categories that have 8 subcategories each. Each category is characterized and demonstrated by describing an example exercise that falls in the category. The taxonomy provides a thinking tool to systematically diversify the set of possible simulation exercises. Thus, the taxonomy promotes new perspectives to come up with novel exercises of completely new genre. Moreover, we demonstrate a fully working web based learning environment that already includes implementations for such exercises.
Baseline and Strategic Effects behind Mindful Emotion Regulation: Behavioral and Physiological Investigation

One of the consequences of extensive mindfulness practice is a reduction of anxiety and depression, but also a capacity to regulate negative emotions. In this study, we explored four key questions concerning mindfulness training: (1) What are the processes by which mindfulness regulates our emotions? (2) Can mindfulness be applied to social emotions? (3) Does mindfulness training affect emotionally driven behavior towards others? (4) Does mindfulness alter physiological reactivity? To address these questions, we tested, in two experiments, the ability of mindfulness meditators to regulate interpersonal emotions (Experiment 1) and interactive behaviors (Experiment 2) as compared to naïve controls. To better understand the mechanisms by which mindfulness regulates emotions, we asked participants to apply two strategies: a cognitive strategy (mentalizing, a form of reappraisal focused on the intentions of others) and an experiential strategy derived from mindfulness principles (mindful detachment). Both groups were able to regulate interpersonal emotions by means of cognitive (mentalizing) and experiential (mindful detachment) strategies. In Experiment 1, a simple effect of meditation, independent from the implementation of the strategies, resulted in reduced emotional and physiological reactivity, as well as in increased pleasantness for meditators when compared to controls, providing evidence of baseline regulation. In Experiment 2, one visible effect of the strategy was that meditators outperformed controls in the experiential (mindful detachment) but not in the cognitive (mentalize) strategy, showing stronger modulation of their interactive behavior (less punishments) and providing evidence of a strategic behavioral regulation. Based on these results, we suggest that mindfulness can influence interpersonal emotional reactions through an experiential mechanism, both at a baseline level and a strategic level, thereby altering the subjective and physiological perception of emotions, but also biasing interactive social behavior.
The Effect of Attentional Cueing and Spatial Uncertainty in Visual Field Testing

Purpose To determine the effect of reducing spatial uncertainty by attentional cueing on contrast sensitivity at a range of spatial locations and with different stimulus sizes. Methods Six observers underwent perimetric testing with the Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer (HFA) full threshold paradigm, and the output thresholds were compared to conditions where stimulus location was verbally cued to the observer. We varied the number of points cued, the eccentric and spatial location, and stimulus size (Goldmann size I, III and V). Subsequently, four observers underwent laboratory-based psychophysical testing on a custom computer program using Method of Constant Stimuli to determine the frequency-of-seeing (FOS) curves with similar variables. Results We found that attentional cueing increased contrast sensitivity when measured using the HFA. We report a difference of approximately 2 dB with size I at peripheral and mid-peripheral testing locations. For size III, cueing had a greater effect for points presented in the periphery than in the mid-periphery. There was an exponential decay of the effect of cueing with increasing number of elements cued. Cueing a size V stimulus led to no change. FOS curves generated from laboratory-based psychophysical testing confirmed an increase in contrast detection sensitivity under the same conditions. We found that the FOS curve steepened when spatial uncertainty was reduced. Conclusion We show that attentional cueing increases contrast sensitivity when using a size I or size III test stimulus on the HFA when up to 8 points are cued but not when a size V stimulus is cued. We show that this cueing also alters the slope of the FOS curve. This suggests that at least 8 points should be used to minimise potential attentional factors that may affect measurement of contrast sensitivity in the visual field.
Managing Uncertainty in Time Expressions for Virtual Assistants

"Remind me to get milk later this afternoon. " In communications and planning, people often express uncertainty about time using imprecise temporal expressions (ITEs). Unfortunately, modern virtual assistants often lack system support to capture the intents behind these expressions. This can result in unnatural interactions and undesirable interruptions (e.g., having a work reminder delivered at 12pm when out at lunch, because the user said "this afternoon"). In this paper we explore existing practices, expectations, and preferences surrounding the use of ITEs. Our mixed methods approach employs surveys, interviews, and an analysis of a large corpus of written communications. We find that people frequently use a diverse set of ITEs in both communication and planning. These uses reflect a variety of motivations, such as conveying uncertainty or task priority. In addition, we find that people have a variety of expectations about time input and management when interacting with virtual assistants. We conclude with design implications for future virtual assistants.
Income-related patient cost-sharing: Simulation for prescription drugs under Medicare

This paper studies an application of income-related patient cost-sharing. Using data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, we find that varying patient costsharing rates with patient income in the Medicare prescription drug program can reduce the severity of two problems: high percent-of-income burdens, and unequal medication due to income. We estimate behavioral responses in the Medicare population and incorporate the estimates into a micro-simulation model which uses data that are representative of the actual Medicare population. We find that introducing incomerelated patient cost-sharing into a Medicare drug program can dramatically reduce the severity of the two problems.
Circadian Rhythms and Obesity in Mammals

Obesity has become a serious public health problem and a major risk factor for the development of illnesses, such as insulin resistance and hypertension. Attempts to understand the causes of obesity and develop new therapeutic strategies have mostly focused on caloric intake and energy expenditure. Recent studies have shown that the circadian clock controls energy homeostasis by regulating the circadian expression and/or activity of enzymes, hormones, and transport systems involved in metabolism. Moreover, disruption of circadian rhythms leads to obesity and metabolic disorders. Therefore, it is plausible that resetting of the circadian clock can be used as a new approach to attenuate obesity. Feeding regimens, such as restricted feeding (RF), calorie restriction (CR), and intermittent fasting (IF), provide a time cue and reset the circadian clock and lead to better health. In contrast, high-fat (HF) diet leads to disrupted circadian expression of metabolic factors and obesity. This paper focuses on circadian rhythms and their link to obesity.
Changes Over Time in Union Relative Wage Effects in Great Britain and the United States

This paper uses broadly comparable micro data at the level of the individual to examine the extent to which union relative wage effects vary across groups and through time. The main findings may be summarized as follows. a) The union wage gap averages 15% in the US and 10% in Great Britain. b) The gap is positively correlated with the (lagged) unemployment rate, and appears to be untrended in both countries. Union wages are sticky. c) The size of the wage gap varies across groups. In both the US and Great Britain the differential is relatively high in the private sector, in non-manufacturing, for manuals, the young and the least educated. d) In the US there are no differences by race or gender in the size of the differential. In Great Britain it is higher both for women and non-whites. The fact that the differential has remained more or less constant in both Great Britain and the US is a puzzle, particularly given the rapid declines in union membership in both countries. The evidence does not appear to be consistent with the widely held view that union power has been emasculated.
Does sleep restore the topology of functional brain networks?

Previous studies have shown that healthy anatomical as well as functional brain networks have small‐world properties and become less optimal with brain disease. During sleep, the functional brain network becomes more small‐world‐like. Here we test the hypothesis that the functional brain network during wakefulness becomes less optimal after sleep deprivation (SD). Electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded five times a day after a night of SD and after a night of normal sleep in eight young healthy subjects, both during eyes‐closed and eyes‐open resting state. Overall synchronization was determined with the synchronization likelihood (SL) and the phase lag index (PLI). From these coupling strength matrices the normalized clustering coefficient C (a measurement of local clustering) and path length L (a measurement of global integration) were computed. Both measures were normalized by dividing them by their corresponding C‐s and L‐s values of random control networks. SD reduced alpha band C/C‐s and L/L‐s and theta band C/C‐s during eyes‐closed resting state. In contrast, SD increased gamma‐band C/C‐s and L/L‐s during eyes‐open resting state. Functional relevance of these changes in network properties was suggested by their association with sleep deprivation‐induced performance deficits on a sustained attention simple reaction time task. The findings indicate that SD results in a more random network of alpha‐coupling and a more ordered network of gamma‐coupling. The present study shows that SD induces frequency‐specific changes in the functional network topology of the brain, supporting the idea that sleep plays a role in the maintenance of an optimal functional network. Hum Brain Mapp, 2013. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An Efficient Technique of Application Mapping and Scheduling on Real-Time Multiprocessor Systems for Throughput Optimization

Multiprocessor systems are becoming ubiquitous in today’s embedded systems design. In this article, we address the problem of mapping an application represented by a Homogeneous Synchronous Dataflow (HSDF) graph onto a real-time multiprocessor platform with the objective of maximizing total throughput. We propose that the optimal solution to the problem is composed of three components: actor-to-processor mapping, retiming, and actor ordering on each processor. The entire problem is systematically modeled into a Boolean Satisfiability (SAT) problem such that the optimal solution can be guaranteed theoretically. In order to explore the vast solution space more efficiently, we develop a specific HSDF theory solver based on the special characteristics of the timed HSDF, and integrate it into the general search framework of the SAT solver. Two alternative integration methods based on branch-and-bound are presented to achieve early branch pruning in the search space; thus, the scalability is greatly improved. Extensive performance evaluation on synthetic examples and a case study on the realistic H.264 Video Decoder show that our approach provides as much as 76.9% throughput improvement, and is scalable to industry-sized applications.
Assimilation and contrast effects of anchoring stimuli on judgments.

In complex social communication the introduction of reference points may produce two opposing effects. Under some conditions the introduction of a reference point or stand beyond S's current position tends to move him toward the new position. Thus, telling him that experts think it will be at least 10 yr. before peaceful use of atomic power is feasible, may cause an individual to increase his own estimate from one of 5 yr. to one of 6 or 7 yr. Under other conditions the introduction of communication results in a rejection of the new proposal and a stronger entrenchment in his original position. Here one has the frequently mentioned "boomerang effect" (2,3, 7, 9). To some extent at least, these phenomena may be the result of judgmental processes and may be conceptually closely akin to the phenomena of assimilation and contrast in the judgment of simple stimulus material. Before proceeding to a study of the complex factors involved in communication it was thought desirable to start with an analysis of these judgmental effects with simple stimulus materials in a manner applicable to the social area. The research of Rogers (11) suggested the feasibility of doing such
Product Market Competition and Executive Compensation: An Empirical Investigation

There is an ongoing theoretical debate about whether firm-owners would optimally use stronger or weaker incentive schemes for their managers as productmarket competition increases. Schmidt (1997) shows that the outside options of the managers play a crucial role: if the market for managers is soft, an increase in competition is more likely to result in stronger incentive schemes than if the market for managers is tough. In this paper, we for the first time analyze the effects of product market competition on the level and structure of executive compensation. With panel-data for firms in the the U.S. manufacturing industries (NAICS 32-33), we investigate (a) how an increase in product market competition affects the use of incentive contracts and (b) whether this relationship depends on the outside options of the managers as predicted by theory.
Age and Sex Differences in Mitotic Activity within the Zebra Finch Telencephalon

Brain regions associated with song learning in zebra finches are larger and contain more neurons in males than females. Differences in cell proliferation, migration, survival, and specification may all contribute to the divergent development of the song-control system in developing birds. This study quantified levels of cell proliferation within the telencephalic ventricular zone (VZ) of juvenile and adult birds to look for both age and sex differences in mitotic activity that might contribute to the construction of song-control circuits. A single pulse of [3H]thymidine was administered to juveniles and adults of both sexes, and animals were killed 2 hr later. Analysis of thymidine labeling within the telencephalic VZ at the levels of area X, the anterior commissure, and high vocal center (HVC) revealed two major findings: (1) levels of mitotic activity decreased as a function of age in both males and females because of a reduction in the number of dividing cells within the VZ, and (2) sex differences in thymidine labeling occurred in restricted, localized segments of the VZ at the levels of area X and the anterior commissure in juveniles but not adults. Thus, overall proliferative activity decreases as birds mature, and the incidence of cell division in all regions of the VZ becomes equivalent in both sexes, such that no regions of sexually dimorphic proliferation are evident by adulthood. These data suggest that regions of sexually dimorphic proliferation within the VZ may contain precursor cells that give rise to song-control neurons, such that higher rates of mitotic activity in juvenile males could contribute to the growth of song-control nuclei such as HVC and area X.
The effect of long-term supplementation with different dietary ω-6/ω-3 ratios on mineral content and ex vivo prostaglandin E2 release in bone of growing rabbits

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES The aim of this research was to study the different long term effects of consumption of dietary oil sources with varying omega-6/omega-3 (ω-6/ω-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) ratios on bone marrow fatty acid level, ex vivo prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release, and mineral content of bone in rabbits. MATERIALS/METHODS For this purpose, weaning and female New Zealand white rabbits were purchased and randomly divided into five groups and offered ad libitum diets containing 70 g/kg of added oil for 100 days. The dietary lipid treatments were formulated to provide the following ratios of ω-6/ω-3 fatty acids: 8.68 soy bean oil (SBO control), 21.75 sesame oil (SO), 0.39 fish oil (FO), 0.63 algae oil (DHA), and 0.68 algae oils (DHA/ARA). DHA and ARA are two types of marine microalgae of the genus Crypthecodinium cohnii. RESULTS The dietary treatments had significant effects on the bone marrow fatty acids of rabbits. Rabbits fed the FO diet, containing the highest ω-3 PUFA concentration, and those fed the SBO diet showed the highest ω-6 PUFA. On the other hand, a positive correlation was observed between Ex vivo PGE2 level and the ω-6/ω-3 dietary ratio. Significant effects of dietary treatment on femur Ca, P, Mg, and Zn contents were observed in both genders. CONCLUSIONS Findings of the current study clearly demonstrated that dietary PUFA, particularly ω-6/ω-3 and ARA/EPA ratios are important factors in determining bone marrow fatty acid profile, and this in turn determines the capacity of bone for synthesis of PGE2, thereby reducing bone resorption and improving bone mass during growth.
Antioxidant activity of peptides in postmortem aged duck meat as affected by cooking and in vitro digestion

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of cooking and in vitro digestion on antioxidant activity of peptides in duck meat after 7 days postmortem aging. The 1, 1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity and reducing power of the obtained peptides were evaluated. Results showed that the cooked sample possessed higher antioxidant activity than the raw sample and upon cooking at different temperatures, sample aged for 7 days had significantly higher antioxidant activity than that of unaged (day 0). The samples which showed higher antioxidant activity after cooking (65°C–30 min, 100°C–20 min, 121°C–10 min) were selected for in vitro digestion, and it is found that their DPPH radical scavenging activity decreased significantly but the reducing power increased significantly after gastrointestinal digestion. These results show the potential of aged duck meat as a good source of antioxidant peptides with high bioactivity after cooking and gastrointestinal digestion.
Development and Validation of an Integrated Assessment Instrument to Assess Students’ Analytical Thinking Skills in Chemical Literacy

The research focuses on the development and validation of an integrated assessment instrument to assess students’ analytical thinking skills and chemical literacy in chemical equilibrium. The research consists of 5 phases ie analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. The research participants were 174 students of grade 12th senior high schools in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The participants were selected using stratified random sampling. The Integrated assessment instrument to assess students’ analytical thinking skills and chemical literacy consists of 20 open-ended multiple-choice questions developed from 12 integrated indicators. Expert validation result shows that 20 questions are declared valid with Aiken's V value greater than 0.86. The result was collated and coded for analysis with Rasch model approach. 3 items (15%) were included in the very difficult category, 3 items (15%) were included in the difficult category, 8 items (40%) were included in the moderate category, 5 items (25%) were included in the easy category, and 1 question (5%) was included in the very easy category. It turns out that this instrument is capable to measure students’ analytical thinking skill and chemical literacy.
Designing Unimodular Sequence Sets With Good Correlations—Including an Application to MIMO Radar

A multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar system that transmits orthogonal waveforms via its antennas can achieve a greatly increased virtual aperture compared with its phased-array counterpart. This increased virtual aperture enables many of the MIMO radar advantages, including enhanced parameter identifiability and improved resolution. Practical radar requirements such as unit peak-to-average power ratio and range compression dictate that we use MIMO radar waveforms that have constant modulus and good auto- and cross-correlation properties. We present in this paper new computationally efficient cyclic algorithms for MIMO radar waveform synthesis. These algorithms can be used for the design of unimodular MIMO sequences that have very low auto- and cross-correlation sidelobes in a specified lag interval, and of very long sequences that could hardly be handled by other algorithms previously suggested in the literature. A number of examples are provided to demonstrate the performances of the new waveform synthesis algorithms.
Volume Weighted Measures of Eternal Inflation in the Bousso-Polchinski Landscape

We consider the cosmological dynamics associated with volume weighted measures of eternal inflation, in the Bousso-Polchinski model of the string theory landscape. We find that this measure predicts that observers are most likely to find themselves in low energy vacua with one flux considerably larger than the rest. Furthermore, it allows for a satisfactory anthropic explanation of the cosmological constant problem by producing a smooth, and approximately constant, distribution of potentially observable values of Lambda. The low energy vacua selected by this measure are often short lived. If we require anthropically acceptable vacua to have a minimum life-time of 10 billion years, then for reasonable parameters a typical observer should expect their vacuum to have a life-time of approximately 12 billion years. This prediction is model dependent, but may point toward a solution to the coincidence problem of cosmology.