Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Flow and Meaningfulness as Mechanisms of Change in Self-Concept and Well-Being Following a Songwriting Intervention for People in the Early Phase of Neurorehabilitation

Anecdotal evidence suggests that songwriting assists people with spinal cord injury (SCI) or acquired brain injury (ABI) to explore threats to self-concept, yet studies that explore the mechanisms of change have not been reported. In a pilot study, we explored the correlations between changes in self-concept and well-being, with mechanisms of flow and meaningfulness of songwriting. Five people with ABI (all male) and 5 SCI (4 males, 1 female) (mean age 38.90 years, SD = 13.21), with an average 3 months post-injury, participated in a 12-session songwriting program that targeted examination of self-concept. Measures of self-concept, depression, anxiety, emotion regulation, affect, satisfaction with life, and flourishing were collected pre-, mid-, and post-intervention, and compared with repeated measures of flow and meaningfulness of songwriting. Medium effects were found for changes in self-concept (d = 0.557) and depression (d = 0.682) and approached a medium effect for negative affect (d = 0.491). Improvements in self-concept over time were associated with decreases in depression (rp = −0.874, n = 9, p < 0.01), anxiety (rp = −0.866, n = 9, p < 0.01), and negative affect (rp = −0.694, n = 10, p < 0.05), and an increase in flourishing (rp = +0.866, n = 9, p < 0.01) and positive affect (rp = + 0.731, n = 10, p < 0.05). Strong experiences of flow were not positively correlated with positive changes to self-concept and well-being, whereas deriving high levels of meaning were associated with increased negative affect (rp = +0.68 p < 0.05), increased anxiety (rp = +0.74, p < 0.05), and reduced emotional suppression (rp = −0.58, p < 0.05). These findings show that the targeted songwriting intervention appears to be positively associated with enhanced well-being outcomes. However, the findings also suggest that people who find the songwriting process has strong meaning for them might be more likely to start accepting their emotions and as a result experience an increase in anxiety and depression, although full, mediated regression analyses with larger sample sizes are required to explore this further. Acknowledging their changed circumstances may nonetheless assist people with SCI and ABI to grieve their losses and facilitate the building of a healthy post-injured self-concept. We propose that there may be other mechanisms more critical in facilitating the positive changes in self-concept and well-being than flow and meaning, such as the role of story-telling and the impact of music in facilitating the consolidation of self-concept explorations in memory.
Capacity-achieving ensembles for the binary erasure channel with bounded complexity

We present two sequences of ensembles of nonsystematic irregular repeat-accumulate (IRA) codes which asymptotically (as their block length tends to infinity) achieve capacity on the binary erasure channel (BEC) with bounded complexity per information bit. This is in contrast to all previous constructions of capacity-achieving sequences of ensembles whose complexity grows at least like the log of the inverse of the gap (in rate) to capacity. The new bounded complexity result is achieved by puncturing bits, and allowing in this way a sufficient number of state nodes in the Tanner graph representing the codes. We derive an information-theoretic lower bound on the decoding complexity of randomly punctured codes on graphs. The bound holds for every memoryless binary-input output-symmetric (MBIOS) channel and is refined for the binary erasure channel.
Point-defect properties of and sputtering events in the {001} surfaces of Ni3Al I. Surface and point-defect properties

Constant-area and fully relaxed molecular dynamics methods are employed to study the properties of the surface and point defects at and near {001} surfaces of bulk and thin-film Ni, Al and Ni3Al respectively. The surface tension is larger than the surface energy for all {001} surfaces considered in the sequence: Al (1005 mJ m−2)< Ni3Al (mixed Ni–Al plane outermost, 1725 mJ m−2)< Ni3Al (all-Ni-atoms plane outermost, 1969 mJ m−2)< Ni (1993 mJ m−2). For a surface of bulk Ni3Al crystal with a Ni–Al mixed plane outermost, Al atoms stand out by 0.0679 Å compared with the surface Ni atoms and, for the all-Ni-atoms surface, Al atoms in the second layer stand out by 0.0205 Å compared with Ni atoms in the same layer. Vacancy formation energies are about half the bulk values in the first layer and reach a maximum in the second layer where the atomic energy is close to the bulk value but the change in embedding energy of neighbouring atoms before and after vacancy formation is greater than that in the bulk. Both the vacancy formation energy and the surface tension suggest that the fourth layer is in a bulk state for all the surfaces. The formation energy of adatoms, antisite defects and point-defect pairs at and near {001} surfaces of Ni3Al are also given.
Exact solutions for the two- and all-terminal reliabilities of a simple ladder network

The exact calculation of network reliability in a probabilistic context has been a long-standing issue of practical importance, but a difficult one, even for planar graphs, with perfect nodes and with edges of identical reliability p. Many approaches (determination of bounds, sums of disjoint products algorithms, Monte Carlo evaluations, studies of the reliability polynomials, etc.) can only provide approximations when the network's size increases. We consider here a ladder graph of arbitrary size corresponding to real-life network configurations, and give the exact, analytical solutions for the all- and two-terminal reliabilities. These solutions use transfer matrices, in which individual reliabilities of edges and nodes are taken into account. The special case of identical edge and node reliabilities -- p and rho, respectively -- is solved. We show that the zeros of the two-terminal reliability polynomial exhibit structures which differ substantially for seemingly similar networks, and we compare the sensitivity of various edges. We discuss how the present work may be further extended to lead to a catalog of exactly solvable networks in terms of reliability, which could be useful as elementary bricks for a new and improved set of bounds or benchmarks in the general case.
Microstructural Evolution during Creep of the Mg-Al-Alloy AZ91hp

Research on the creep and fracture of engineering materials is presented in this text, with particular emphasis being placed on: mechanisms of high-temperature deformation and fracture, materials for high-temperature service, the behaviour of single and polycrystals, components and structures, grain boundaries and interfaces, and superelasticity. Special focus is placed on creep crack growth and fatigue; creep damage, rupture and life assessment; and plant conduct assessment. Materials covered include structural steels, nickel-based superalloys, nonferrous alloys, intermetallics and ceramics.
Hierarchical Multiobjective Routing Model in MPLS Networks with Two Service Classes - A Comparison Case Study

A two-level hierarchical multicriteria routing model for multiprotocol label switching networks with two service classes (QoS, i.e., with quality of service requirements, and best effort services) and alternative routing is reviewed in this paper. A heuristic resolution approach, where nondominated solutions are obtained throughout the heuristic run and kept in an archive for further analysis is also reviewed. In this paper, an extensive analysis of the application of this procedure to two reference test networks for various traffic matrices is presented. Also a comparison of the results of our method with a lexicographic optimization approach based on a multicommodity flow formulation using virtual networks is carried out. Finally, results of a stochastic discrete event simulation model developed for these networks will be shown to illustrate the effectiveness of the resolution approach and to assess the inaccuracies of the analytic results. Keywords—multiobjective optimization, routing models, simulation, telecommunication networks.
Unsafe to Play? Neighborhood Disorder and Lack of Safety Predict Reduced Physical Activity among Urban Children and Adolescents

Purpose. Lack of physical activity is associated with increased risk of overweight and cardiovascular disease, conditions associated with lower socioeconomic status (SES). Associations between activity levels of urban youth and limited access to safe recreation areas in their neighborhoods of residence were investigated. Design. Analyses of data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods, a multilevel longitudinal study of families and communities, are reported. Setting. Chicago, Illinois. Subjects. Individual-level data were obtained from 1378 youth 11 to 16 years old and caregivers living in 80 neighborhood clusters. Neighborhood-level data were collected from 8782 community residents and videotapes of 15,141 block faces. Measures. Parental estimates of hours youth spent in recreational programming were used to estimate physical activity. A scale of residents' assessment of neighborhood safety for children's play was created; disorder measures came from videotaped observations. Results. Physical activity averaged 2.7 hours/week (SD = 5.0), varying significantly across neighborhoods. Using hierarchical linear regression, SES, age, and male gender, but not body mass index, were independently associated with physical activity. Lower neighborhood safety and social disorder were significantly associated with less activity, controlling for demographics. Conclusions. One mechanism for reduced physical activity among youth may be the influence of unsafe neighborhoods. Neighborhood interventions to increase safety and reduce disorder may be efficacious in increasing physical activity, thereby reducing risk of overweight and cardiovascular disease.
Principal Components and Orthogonal Regression Based on Robust Scales

Both principal components analysis (PCA) and orthogonal regression deal with finding a p-dimensional linear manifold minimizing a scale of the orthogonal distances of the m-dimensional data points to the manifold. The main conceptual difference is that in PCA p is estimated from the data, to attain a small proportion of unexplained variability, whereas in orthogonal regression p equals m − 1. The two main approaches to robust PCA are using the eigenvectors of a robust covariance matrix and searching for the projections that maximize or minimize a robust (univariate) dispersion measure. This article is more akin to second approach. But rather than finding the components one by one, we directly undertake the problem of finding, for a given p, a p-dimensional linear manifold minimizing a robust scale of the orthogonal distances of the data points to the manifold. The scale may be either a smooth M-scale or a “trimmed” scale. An iterative algorithm is developed that is shown to converge to a local minimum. A strategy based on random search is used to approximate a global minimum. The procedure is shown to be faster than other high-breakdown-point competitors, especially for large m. The case whereas p = m − 1 yields orthogonal regression. For PCA, a computationally efficient method to choose p is given. Comparisons based on both simulated and real data show that the proposed procedure is more robust than its competitors.
THE EVOLUTION OF IMMUNE DEFENSE AND SONG COMPLEXITY IN BIRDS

Abstract There are three main hypotheses that explain how the evolution of parasite virulence could be linked to the evolution of secondary sexual traits, such as bird song. First, as Hamilton and Zuk proposed a role for parasites in sexual selection, female preference for healthy males in heavily parasitized species may result in extravagant trait expression. Second, a reverse causal mechanism may act, if sexual selection affects the coevolutionary dynamics of host-parasite interactions per se by selecting for increased virulence. Third, the immuno-suppressive effects of ornamentation by testosterone or limited resources may lead to increased susceptibility to parasites in species with elaborate songs. Assuming a coevolutionary relationship between parasite virulence and host investment in immune defense we used measures of immune function and song complexity to test these hypotheses in a comparative study of passerine birds. Under the first two hypotheses we predicted avian song complexity to be positively related to immune defense among species, whereas this relationship was expected to be negative if immuno-suppression was at work. We found that adult T-cell mediated immune response and the relative size of the bursa of Fabricius were independently positively correlated with a measure of song complexity, even when potentially confounding variables were held constant. Nestling T-cell response was not related to song complexity, probably reflecting age-dependent selective pressures on host immune defense. Our results are consistent with the hypotheses that predict a positive relationship between song complexity and immune function, thus indicating a role for parasites in sexual selection. Different components of the immune system may have been independently involved in this process.
Under Consideration for Publication in Theory and Practice of Logic Programming a Parameterised Hierarchy of Argumentation Semantics for Extended Logic Programming and Its Application to the Well-founded Semantics

Argumentation has proved a useful tool in defining formal semantics for assumption-based reasoning by viewing a proof as a process in which proponents and opponents attack each others arguments by undercuts (attack to an argument's premise) and rebuts (attack to an argument's conclusion). In this paper, we formulate a variety of notions of attack for extended logic programs from combinations of undercuts and rebuts and define a general hierarchy of argumentation semantics parameterised by the notions of attack chosen by proponent and opponent. We prove the equivalence and subset relationships between the semantics and examine some essential properties concerning consistency and the coherence principle, which relates default negation and explicit negation. Most significantly, we place existing semantics put forward in the literature in our hierarchy and identify a particular argu-mentation semantics for which we prove equivalence to the paraconsistent well-founded semantics with explicit negation, WFSXp. Finally, we present a general proof theory, based on dialogue trees, and show that it is sound and complete with respect to the argumentation semantics.
Chromanol 293B Binding in KCNQ1 (Kv7.1) Channels Involves Electrostatic Interactions with a Potassium Ion in the Selectivity Filter

The chromanol 293B (293B, trans-6-cyano-4-(N-ethylsulfonyl-N-methylamino)-3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-chroman) is a lead compound of potential class III antiarrhythmics that inhibit cardiac IKs potassium channels. These channels are formed by the coassembly of KCNQ1 (Kv7.1, KvLQT1) and KCNE1 subunits. Although homomeric KCNQ1 channels are the principal molecular targets, entry of KCNE1 to the channel complex enhances the chromanol block. Because closely related neuronal KCNQ2 potassium channels are insensitive to the drug, we used KCNQ1/KCNQ2 chimeras to identify the binding site of the inhibitor. We localized the putative drug receptor to the H5 selectivity filter and the S6 transmembrane segment. Single residues affecting 293B inhibition were subsequently identified through systematic exchange of amino acids that were either different in KCNQ1 and KCNQ2 or predicted by a docking model of 293B in the open and closed conformation of KCNQ1. Mutant channel proteins T312S, I337V, and F340Y displayed dramatically lowered sensitivity to chromanol block. The predicted drug binding receptor lies in the inner pore vestibule containing the lower part of the selectivity filter, and the S6 transmembrane domain also reported to be important for binding of benzodiazepines. We propose that the block of the ion permeation pathway involves hydrophobic interactions with the S6 transmembrane residues Ile337 and Phe340, and stabilization of chromanol 293B binding through electrostatic interactions of its oxygen atoms with the most internal potassium ion within the selectivity filter.
Geometric Description of Vakonomic and Nonholonomic Dynamics. Comparison of Solutions

We treat the vakonomic dynamics with general constraints within a new geometric framework, which can be useful in the study of optimal control problems. We compare our formulation with the one of Vershik and Gershkovich in the case of linear constraints. We show how nonholonomic mechanics also admits a new geometrical description which allows us to develop an algorithm of comparison between the solutions of both dynamics. Examples illustrating the theory are treated.
Crystallographic analysis for acicular ferrite formation in low carbon steel weld metals

Inclusions contributing to acicular ferrite nucleation were investigated from a crystallographic point of view in low carbon low alloy steelweld metals. The samples from electro slag welding (ESW) and submerged arc welding (SAW) deposits with various cooling rates were prepared in this study. In those samples, intragranular acicular ferrite formation was observed from inclusions. The inclusions contributing to acicular ferrite formation were of multi-phase type consisting of amorphous phase, spinel type and MnS. They were surrounded by a Ti-enriched layer. It was confirmed by selected area diffraction patterns and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer analyses that the Ti-enriched layer was TiO. The acicular ferrite had a Baker–Nutting orientation relationship with the TiO layer on the inclusion surface. The misfit was 3.0% at the interface between the acicular ferrite and TiO. Therefore, it is considered that TiO on the inclusion surface contributes to the heterogeneous nucleation of acicular ferrite by small lattice misfit. However, themorphologies of ferrite growth which nucleated from inclusions were different in both samples. Whereas the growth of ferrites nucleated from TiO was enough in ESW, the size of nucleated ferrite in SAW was a few hundred millimetres in size. In the early stage of nucleation from TiO, ferrite had small deviation from Kurdjumov–Sachs orientation relationship (K–S relationship) in both ESW and SAW. However, there was a difference in the growth stage of ferrite. The ferrite orientations were gradually changed to fit to the K–S relationship in ESW. On the other hand, the nucleated ferrite in SAW stopped growing and the newly nucleated ferrite which had K–S relationship prior to austenite was formed adjacently because of large super cooling due to small heat input.
Estimation of the cost of MS in Europe: Extrapolations from a multinational cost study

The present study aims at estimating the total cost of MS in Europe based on actual cost data from nine countries and published epidemiological evidence. The epidemiological data are reported as 12 months prevalence estimates and cost data calculated as annual cost per patient at given levels of disease severity. Cost data are extrapolated to the rest of Europe based on a model, using economic indexes adjusting for price level differences in different sectors between countries. The aggregated annual cost estimates are presented in Euro for 2005. In 28 European countries with a population of 466 million, an estimated 380 000 individuals are affected by MS. The total annual cost of MS in Europe is estimated at 12.5 billion in year 2005, corresponding to a cost of 27 per European inhabitant. Direct costs represent slightly more than half of the total cost (6.0 billion). Informal care is estimated at 3.2 billion, and indirect costs due to morbidity at 3.2 billion. Thus, the largest component of costs is found outside the formal health care sector. Although our model appears to predict costs reasonably well, when comparing to previous national studies not included in the estimates, there are considerable uncertainties when extrapolating cost data across countries even within Europe. These weaknesses can only be overcome by collecting primary data. Multiple Sclerosis 2007; 13: 1054—1064. http://msj.sagepub. com
Binder design of high RAP content hot and warm asphalt mixture wearing courses

Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) has shown great potential for being used in the construction or maintenance of roads. However, RAP is usually downgraded to lower pavement layers and the percentage of RAP used in wearing courses is still moderate (≤30%). The research and results contained in this paper focus on the definition of binder recipes aimed at increasing the percentage of RAP in hot and warm mix asphalt wearing courses. A review of current internationally used blend design methodologies is presented followed by case studies aimed at defining binder recipes for high RAP content asphalt mixture wearing courses to be further used for mix design and production in asphalt plants. Binder design has been carried out by means of rotational viscosity, Dynamic Shear Rheometer, Bending Beam Rheometer and conventional experimental tests with results showing that the amount of RAP used in a mix can be increased through the development of an accurate binder design and the selection of an appropriate rejuvenator. As a result, laboratory design showed that using up to 90% of RAP is a feasible option. However, the percentage of RAP to be used is highly dependent on the properties of the initial RAP binder, so every case has to be independently and carefully studied. The research presented is carried out as part of the CEDR Transnational Road research Programme Call 2012 (http://allback2pave.fehrl.org) and the Marie Curie Initial Training Network action, FP7-PEOPLE-2013-ITN (http://www.superitn.eu).
Solving multiclass support vector machines with LaRank

Optimization algorithms for large margin multiclass recognizers are often too costly to handle ambitious problems with structured outputs and exponential numbers of classes. Optimization algorithms that rely on the full gradient are not effective because, unlike the solution, the gradient is not sparse and is very large. The LaRank algorithm sidesteps this difficulty by relying on a randomized exploration inspired by the perceptron algorithm. We show that this approach is competitive with gradient based optimizers on simple multiclass problems. Furthermore, a single LaRank pass over the training examples delivers test error rates that are nearly as good as those of the final solution.