Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neurocognitive and Neuroplastic Mechanisms of Novel Clinical Signs in CRPS

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic, debilitating pain condition that usually arises after trauma to a limb, but its precise etiology remains elusive. Novel clinical signs based on body perceptual disturbances have been reported, but their pathophysiological mechanisms remain poorly understood. Investigators have used functional neuroimaging techniques (including MEG, EEG, fMRI, and PET) to study changes mainly within the somatosensory and motor cortices. Here, we provide a focused review of the neuroimaging research findings that have generated insights into the potential neurocognitive and neuroplastic mechanisms underlying perceptual disturbances in CRPS. Neuroimaging findings, particularly with regard to somatosensory processing, have been promising but limited by a number of technique-specific factors (such as the complexity of neuroimaging investigations, poor spatial resolution of EEG/MEG, and use of modeling procedures that do not draw causal inferences) and more general factors including small samples sizes and poorly characterized patients. These factors have led to an underappreciation of the potential heterogeneity of pathophysiology that may underlie variable clinical presentation in CRPS. Also, until now, neurological deficits have been predominantly investigated separately from perceptual and cognitive disturbances. Here, we highlight the need to identify neurocognitive phenotypes of patients with CRPS that are underpinned by causal explanations for perceptual disturbances. We suggest that a combination of larger cohorts, patient phenotyping, the use of both high temporal, and spatial resolution neuroimaging methods, and the identification of simplified biomarkers is likely to be the most fruitful approach to identifying neurocognitive phenotypes in CRPS. Based on our review, we explain how such phenotypes could be characterized in terms of hierarchical models of perception and corresponding disturbances in recurrent processing involving the somatosensory, salience and executive brain networks. We also draw attention to complementary neurological factors that may explain some CRPS symptoms, including the possibility of central neuroinflammation and neuronal atrophy, and how these phenomena may overlap but be partially separable from neurocognitive deficits.
Influence of High Speed Parameters on the Quality of Machined Surface

The contribution is dealing with the influence of high speed parameters on the quality of machined surface. In general the principle of high speed cutting lies in achieving faster machine times with concurrent increase in accuracy and quality of the machined areas in largely irregular, mathematically hard to define shapes. High speed machining is a highly effective method of machining with the following goals: increasing of machining productivity, increasing of quality of the machined surface, improving of machining economy, improving of ecological aspects of machining. This article is based on an experiment performed by the Department of Machining and Assembly of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of VŠBTechnical University of Ostrava. Keywords—High speed cutting, measurement, surface integrity, surface roughness, residual stress/
Determinants of driver vs. second row occupant posture modelling

Digital human modeling (DHM), as a convenient and cost-effective tool, is increasingly incorporated into product and workplace design. In product design, it is predominantly used for the development of driver-vehicle systems. Most digital human modeling software tools, such as JACK, RAMSIS and DELMIA HUMANBUILDER provide functions to predict posture and positions for drivers with selected anthropometry according to SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Recommended Practices and other ergonomics guidelines. However, few studies have presented 2nd row passenger postural information, and digital human modeling of these passenger postures cannot be performed directly using the existing driver posture prediction functions. In this paper, the significant studies related to occupant posture and modeling were reviewed and a framework of determinants of driver vs. 2nd row occupant posture modeling was extracted. The determinants which are regarded as input factors for posture modeling include target population anthropometry, vehicle package geometry and seat design variables as well as task definitions. The differences between determinants of driver and 2nd row occupant posture models are significant, as driver posture modeling is primarily based on the position of the foot on the accelerator pedal (accelerator actuation point AAP, accelerator heel point AHP) and the hands on the steering wheel (steering wheel centre point A-Point). The objectives of this paper are aimed to investigate those differences between driver and passenger posture, and to supplement the existing parametric model for occupant posture prediction. With the guide of the framework, the associated input parameters of occupant digital human models of both driver and second row occupant will be identified. Beyond the existing occupant posture models, for example a driver posture model could be modified to predict second row occupant posture, by adjusting the associated input parameters introduced in this paper. This study combines results from a literature review and the theoretical modeling stage of a second row passenger posture prediction model project.
Multicolor Photometry of the Type II Cepheid Prototype W Virginis

We present the results of recent long-term BVRCIC photometric monitoring of the type II Cepheid prototype W Virginis. These new observations, made during the 2006 and 2007 observing season, represent the longest homogeneous, multicolor light curve of W Vir to date. The BVRCIC light and color curves show conclusively that W Vir exhibits modest but detectable cycle-to-cycle variations, the cause of which appears to be multiperiodicity rather than nonlinearity. We combined our V-band data with the five available years of ASAS-3 V-band photometry to obtain a 6.5 yr light curve that we then analyzed to obtain the pulsation spectrum of W Vir. We find a best-fit period P0 = 17.27134 days; along with this period and the integer-ratio harmonics P0/2 through P0/5 inclusive, we clearly detect two additional periods, P1 and Plow, that are close to but not exactly 2P0/3 and 2P0, respectively. The former, P1 = 11.52562 days, we interpret to be the first overtone mode; the latter, Plow = 34.59760 days, is close to the beat period of (P - P)-1, as well as to the value of 2P0. We interpret the previously reported but thus far unconfirmed descriptions of alternating minima as manifestations of this multiperiodicity. Finally, we use the period derived from the V-band light curve to define a new ephemeris: HJDmax = 2,452,758.172 + 17.27134E. We compiled an (O - C) diagram spanning 75 yr from 1932 to 2007 using a variety of published photometric data and visual observations from the American Association of Variable Star Observers and derived a period-change term for the ephemeris equal to -9.9 × 10-7E2, indicating a period decrease.
Commodity Market Capital Flow and Asset Return Predictability ∗

We establish several new findings on the relation between capital flow in commodity markets and asset returns. Capital flowing into commodity markets, as measured by high open-interest growth, predicts high commodity returns and low bond returns. Open-interest growth is a more powerful and robust predictor of commodity returns than other known predictors such as the short rate, the yield spread, the basis, and hedging pressure. It is positively correlated with commodity returns but has information for future returns beyond that contained in past commodity prices. Open-interest growth also predicts changes in inflation and inflation expectations. These findings suggest that open-interest growth contains information about future inflation that gets priced into commodity and bond markets with delay. Our findings are consistent with recent theories of gradual information diffusion and have implications for macroeconomic forecasting models. ∗This paper subsumes our earlier work titled “Digging into Commodities”. For comments and discussions, we thank Erkko Etula, Hong Liu, David Robinson, Nikolai Roussanov, Allan Timmermann, and seminar participants at Boston College, Centre de Recherche en Economie et Statistique, Dartmouth College, Fordham University, PanAgora Asset Management, Stockholm School of Economics, University of California San Diego, University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, Washington University in St. Louis, the 2008 Economic Research Initiatives at Duke Conference on Identification Issues in Economics, and the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Finance Association. We thank Jennifer Kwok, Hui Fang, Yupeng Liu, James Luo, Thien Nguyen, and Elizabeth So for research assistance. Hong acknowledges a grant from the National Science Foundation. Yogo acknowledges a grant from the Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research at the University of Pennsylvania. †Princeton University and NBER (e-mail: hhong@princeton.edu) ‡University of Pennsylvania and NBER (e-mail: yogo@wharton.upenn.edu)
A comparison of balloon and amplatz dilators in percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a retrospective evaluation.

OBJECTIVE In this study, we compared our experience using balloon and amplatz dilatation in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). We also evaluated peri- and postoperative variables, including success rates. MATERIAL AND METHODS Two hundred renal stone patients (123 men/77 women) underwent PCNL at the Urology Clinic of İzmir Atatürk Training and Research Hospital from September 2005 to May 2011. The nephrostomy tract was dilated using a balloon (128 patients) or amplatz (72 patients) dilator. The groups were compared by age, total operating time, treatment success rate, retreatment rate, pre- and postoperative hematocrit values, mean decrease in hematocrit values, blood transfusion rate, stone burden, tract dilatation failure, hospital stay and nephrostomy removal times, stone localization, previous stone operation and the cost of the dilatation system. RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference in the operative time (97.9±45.3 minutes in balloon group vs. 98.5±43.4 minutes in the amplatz group; p=0.43), preoperative hematocrit value (39.04±4.21 vs. 38.94±4.49; p=0.87), postoperative hematocrit value (32.74±4.86 vs. 32.48±5.43; p=0.73), decrease in hematocrit values (6.30±2.60 vs. 6.45±2.64; p=0.68), blood transfusion rate (15.6% vs. 16.7%; p=0.84) or treatment success rate (78.9% vs. 79.2%; p=0.96) between balloon and amplatz groups. Differences in other variables were also not observed between the two groups. CONCLUSION The balloon or amplatz dilatation methods have similar results with regard to efficacy, speed, and safety. However, the cost of the balloon dilator is higher than that of the amplatz dilator.
The Sharing Game: Fairness in resource allocation as a function of incentive, gender, and recipient types

Economic games involving allocation of resources have been a useful tool for the study of decision making for both psychologists and economists. In two experiments involving a repeated-trials game over twenty opportunities, undergraduates made choices to distribute resources between themselves and an unseen, passive other either optimally (for themselves) but non-competitively, equally but non-optimally, or least optimally but competitively. Surprisingly, whether participants were told that the anonymous other was another student or a computer did not matter. Using such terms as “game” and “player” in the course of the session was associated with an increased frequency of competitive behavior. Males were more optimal than females: a gender-by-incentive interaction was found in the first experiment. In agreement with prior research, participants whose resources were backed by monetary incentive acted the most optimally. Overall, equality was the modal strategy employed, although it is clear that motivational context affects the allocation of resources.
NEW CONSTRAINTS ON THE ESCAPE OF IONIZING PHOTONS FROM STARBURST GALAXIES USING IONIZATION-PARAMETER MAPPING

The fate of ionizing radiation in starburst galaxies is key to understanding cosmic reionization. However, the galactic parameters on which the escape fraction of ionizing radiation depend are not well understood. Ionization-parameter mapping provides a simple, yet effective, way to study the radiative transfer in starburst galaxies. We obtain emission-line ratio maps of [S iii]/[S ii] for six, nearby, dwarf starbursts: NGC 178, NGC 1482, NGC 1705, NGC 3125, NGC 7126, and He 2-10. The narrowband images are obtained with the Maryland-Magellan Tunable Filter at Las Campanas Observatory. Using these data, we previously reported the discovery of an optically thin ionization cone in NGC 5253, and here we also discover a similar ionization cone in NGC 3125. This latter cone has an opening angle of 40° ± 5° (0.4 sr), indicating that the passageways through which ionizing radiation may travel correspond to a small solid angle. Additionally, there are three sample galaxies that have winds and/or superbubble activity, which should be conducive to escaping radiation, yet they are optically thick. These results support the scenario that an orientation bias limits our ability to directly detect escaping Lyman continuum in many starburst galaxies. A comparison of the star formation properties and histories of the optically thin and thick galaxies is consistent with the model that high escape fractions are limited to galaxies that are old enough (≳3 Myr) for mechanical feedback to have cleared optically thin passageways in the interstellar medium, but young enough (≲5 Myr) that the ionizing stars are still present.
Teaching psychology students to write structured abstracts: An evaluation study

Considerable evidence suggests that structured abstracts in scientific journal articles are more informative than traditional ones, but no one (to our knowledge) has written about asking psychology undergraduates to write structured abstracts for their laboratory reports.Our aim was to assess whether or not the quality of such abstracts would be improved if such students were required to write structured abstracts rather than traditional ones.17 first–year psychology students at Keele wrote traditional abstracts for their laboratory reports during the academic session 1998–1999, and 122 wrote structured abstracts during the session 1999–2000. We compared 50 abstracts from each of these groups.We found that the structured abstracts were significantly longer (M = 217 vs 181 words, t = 3.23, p<0.005 one–tail) but that they did not contain significantly more key information than the traditional ones, as measured with an information checklist (M = 9.2 vs 8.6, t = 1.52). Nor was there any significant difference between them as measured with the Flesch Reading Ease formula (M = 40 vs 37, t = 1.36). However, independent raters, in two separate studies, rated the quality of the structured abstracts to be significantly higher than that of the traditional ones (M = 6.9 vs 6.1, t = 3.36, p<0.005 and 7.1 vs 6.0, t = 5.20, p<0.001 respectively). These results give only partial support to the notion that teaching students to write structured abstracts will lead to improved abstracts.
Modeling, control and power quality evaluation of a PEM fuel cell based power supply system for residential use

The use of fuel cell (FC) based power generation system is expected to become more widespread in the near future due to better power quality, reliability, portability and ecological constraints. The use of fuel cell technology for electricity and heat generation for residential-applications generated tremendous interest. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMPC) are attractive for residential use due to its low operating temperature and fast start up characteristics. This work focuses on the modeling, control (voltage and active power control) and simulation of PEMFC based power supply system for residential applications. A PI type voltage and real power controller is usually implemented by controlling the fuel input into fuel cell stack and adjusting the inverter modulation index. Furthermore, power quality issues are evaluated based on the transformer connection type and harmonic content of the load for household appliances. Detailed simulation software has been developed using the Matlab software package. The topology chosen for the simulation consists of a 5 kW PEMFC, a single stage voltage-sourced PWM inverter followed by an LC filter and a step up transformer. The simulation results illustrate that the voltage at the load point and active power demand versus load variations can be achieved using the PI controller. The control parameters used involves inverter modulation index and phase angle. The power quality evaluation confirms that the bus voltage harmonics meet the IEEE-519 requirements for all home appliances, which are modeled based on real measured values. However, system voltage and current harmonics can be affected either by the harmonic contents of load current or supply voltage overlap at resonance frequency.
Distortion products and the perceived pitch of harmonic complex tones

Combination tones (CTs) produced by acoustic stimuli have been studied by many authors as an efficient way to learn about the numerous physiological nonlinearities involved in auditory processing. As far as perception is concerned, CTs have been proposed as a basis for the perception of the pitch of the missing fundamental (Helmholtz, 1877). It has since been shown that the missing fundamental can still be perceived when CTs are cancelled (Schouten, 1938). However, this does not preclude a possible contribution of CTs to the pitch of the missing fundamental in normal listening conditions. To our knowledge, relatively few CT data are available which could shed direct light on the contribution of CTs to pitch perception. Most psychophysical distortion studies employed acoustic stimuli made of 2 tones and measured the different kinds of CTs produced (e.g. Goldstein, 1967). When a harmonic tone complex is used instead, one might predict that a complete distortion spectrum (DS) that reconstitutes the lower part of the harmonic series would be generated. Fletcher (1924) proposed the existence of such a DS but it is unclear how his data were collected and at which level (possibly more than 120 dB SPL). Greenwood (1972) showed that sounds with a continuous spectrum could produce noise distortion bands but generalisation of his results to harmonic sounds remains theoretical. In the current study, combination tones produced by harmonics 15 to 25 of a missing 100Hz fundamental were measured psychophysically at a moderate sound level.
Simulation of the Bearing Voltage in an Inverter-Fed Induction Motor by a Full Three Phase Multi Conductor Transmission Line Model

An accurate numerical model, based on multiconductor transmission lines (MTL) able to evaluate the voltage dynamics across the motor bearings and associated currents of an inverter-fed motor is presented. A full three phase stator winding of the wound type of a high power traction motor is considered in the proposed analysis. The difierent regions of the motor are modeled as suitable connections of lossy MTL which are then studied in the time domain. The per unit length characteristic matrices describing the MTL are accurately calculated by a FEM based software. The efiects of the rise time of the input voltage and the length of the feeder cables are discussed. The reliability of the numerical results achieved by means of the MTL model is checked by performing a comparison with those obtained by considering a lumped parameter equivalent circuit.
Intravitreal crystalline drug delivery for intraocular proliferation diseases.

PURPOSE A long-lasting, slow-release, crystalline antiviral drug delivery system was initially reported using ganciclovir and cyclic cidofovir as the prototype compounds. The present study was undertaken to investigate the feasibility of applying this system to antiproliferative small molecules. METHODS The crystalline lipid prodrugs of hexadecyloxypropyl-arabinofuranosylguanine 5'-monophosphate (HDP-P-AraG), hexadecyloxypropyl 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate (HDP-cP-5-F-2dUrd), and hexadecyloxypropyl 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-monophosphate (HDP-P-5-F-2dUrd) were synthesized from their parent compounds arabinofuranosylguanine (AraG) and 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (5-F-2dUrd). All three compounds were tested at escalating doses in rabbit eyes. Only one eye of each animal was injected with test compound, and the fellow eye was injected with 5% dextrose as the control. The injected eyes were monitored by slit lamp, a handheld tonometer, indirect ophthalmoscopy, electroretinography (ERG), and histology. The selected doses were used for efficacy study with the rat CNV model or the rabbit PVR model. RESULTS The highest nontoxic dose for HDP-P-AraG was 75 microg/eye, and was 70 and 210 microg/eye for HDP-P-5-F-2dUrd and HDP-cP-5-F-2dUrd, respectively. All compounds demonstrated a localized depot of crystalline aggregate in the vitreous with a clear view of vitreous and retina elsewhere. The drug depot of HDP-P-AraG was visible for 4 to 5 weeks; HDP-P-5-F-2dUrd, 8 to 10 weeks; and HDP-cP-5-F-2dUrd longer than 14 weeks. The treatment study showed HDP-P-AraG led to 33% reduction in CNV in the rat (P = 0.015), and HDP-cP-5-F-2dUrd provided 100% prevention of trauma-induced PVR in the rabbit (P = 0.046). The pretreatment study demonstrated a significant protection against intraocular proliferation compared with the 5-FU in a parallel study (P = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS The intravitreous injectable lipid prodrugs of AraG and 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine could be long-lasting, slow-release, antiproliferative compounds to treat unwanted intraocular proliferation.
Discrete item-based and continuous configural representations in visual short-term memory

ABSTRACT Both discrete item-based and global configural information can be stored in visual short-term memory (VSTM). To characterize their contribution, the present study developed a dual-trace signal detection (DTSD) model consisting of a high threshold (HT) component for discrete item information and a continuous signal detection theory (SDT) component for configural information. We used an orientation change-detection task in which observers attempted to retain several orientations over a 1-s retention interval and then reported whether a cued item in the test array had the old or new orientation on a 6-point confidence scale. The resulting Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curves were fit with the DTSD model, producing estimates of the two memory representations. In a series of experiments, we found that manipulations of configural encoding selectively affected the SDT component whereas the manipulation of item information selectively affected the HT component. Together these findings indicate that VSTM maintains a few discrete representations and continuous representation of configural information.