Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measurement without Theory: a Response to Bailey and Collins

Bailey and Collins (forth.) argue that Greenwood, Seshadri and Vandenbroucke (2005)'s hypothesis that the baby boom was partly due to a burst of productivity in the household sector is not supported by evidence. This conclusion is based upon regression results showing that appliance ownership is negatively correlated with fertility. They also argue that the Amish, who limit the use of modern technology, had a baby boom. First, it is demonstrated that a negative correlation between appliance ownership and fertility can arise naturally in Greenwood et al.'s model. Second, evidence is presented casting doubt upon the presumed technological phobia of the Amish.
Isolated Mediastinal Adenopathy: The Case for Mediastinoscopy

Background We report our experience with mediastinoscopy at Auckland city hospital, a tertiary referral centre. We wished to examine correlations between clinical diagnosis and that made by histological sampling of enlarged mediastinal nodes particularly in patients with isolated mediastinal adenopathy. Methods We retrospectively reviewed clinical records of all patients who underwent mediastinoscopy in a five year period, mediastinoscopy was performed in the presence of enlarged lymph nodes (short axis > 1cm) found at CT. Mediastinoscopy was indicated for diagnostic staging of mediastinal adenopathy related to a parenchymal lung mass, diagnosis of isolated mediastinal adenopathy and diagnosis of mediastinal adenopathy with other CT findings. Data relating to indication, pre-test diagnosis, node stations sampled, histology, and operative complications were collected. Results Mediastinoscopy was performed in 137 consecutive patients. Seventy five patients had a lung mass, 47 had isolated mediastinal adenopathy and 15 had other CT findings. One operative complication occurred. In those patients with isolated adenopathy the following diagnoses were reached; sarcoidosis 23, TB 15, lymphoma 4, carcinoma 4, no diagnosis 1. Final diagnosis was significantly associated with patient's ethnicity. There was high sensitivity and specificity on comparison of clinical and histological diagnosis for both TB and sarcoidosis cases. Conclusions Mediastinoscopy proved to be safe and effective in nodal assessment of the mediastinum. In carefully selected cases procedural morbidity and mortality may be avoided by application of features related to patient's ethnicity and radiological findings.
Habitable planet formation in extreme planetary systems: systems with multiple stars and/or multiple planets

Abstract Understanding the formation and dynamical evolution of habitable planets in extrasolar planetary systems is a challenging task. In this respect, systems with multiple giant planets and/or multiple stars present special complications. The formation of habitable planets in these environments is strongly affected by the dynamics of their giant planets and/or their stellar companions. These objects have profound effects on the structure of the disk of planetesimals and protoplanetary objects in which terrestrial-class planets are formed. To what extent the current theories of planet formation can be applied to such “extreme” planetary systems depends on the dynamical characteristics of their planets and/or their binary stars. In this paper, I present the results of a study of the possibility of the existence of Earth-like objects in systems with multiple giant planets (namely υ Andromedae, 47 UMa, GJ 876, and 55 Cnc) and discuss the dynamics of the newly discovered Neptune-sized object in 55 Cnc system. I will also review habitable planet formation in binary systems and present the results of a systematic search of the parameter-space for which Earth-like objects can form and maintain long-term stable orbits in the habitable zones of binary stars.
Randomized Structure Model of Credit Spreads

We propose to randomize the initial condition of a generalized structure model, where the solvency ratio instead of the asset value is modeled explicitly. This initial randomization assumption is motivated by the fact that market players cannot observe the solvency ratio accurately. We find that positive short spreads can be produced due to imperfect observation on the risk factor. The two models we have considered, the Randomized Merton II (RM-II) and the Randomized Black-Cox II (RBC-II), both have explicit expressions for Probability of Default (PD), Loss Given Default (LGD) and Credit Spreads (CS). In the RM-II model, both PD and LGD are found to be of order of √ T , as the maturity T approaches zero. It therefore provides an example that has no well-defined default intensity but still admits positive short spreads. In the RBC-II model, the positive short spread is generated through the positive default intensity of the model. Because explicit formulas are available, these two Randomized Structure (RS) models are easily implemented and calibrated to the market data. This is illustrated by a calibration exercise on Ford Motor Corp. Credit Default Swap (CDS) spread data. ∗PH.D candidate in Financial Math, McMaster University. Email: yichuang@math.mcmaster. ca †Director, Market Risk, Bank of Montreal. ‡Professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, McMaster University
Special features of RAD Sequencing data: implications for genotyping

Restriction site‐associated DNA Sequencing (RAD‐Seq) is an economical and efficient method for SNP discovery and genotyping. As with other sequencing‐by‐synthesis methods, RAD‐Seq produces stochastic count data and requires sensitive analysis to develop or genotype markers accurately. We show that there are several sources of bias specific to RAD‐Seq that are not explicitly addressed by current genotyping tools, namely restriction fragment bias, restriction site heterozygosity and PCR GC content bias. We explore the performance of existing analysis tools given these biases and discuss approaches to limiting or handling biases in RAD‐Seq data. While these biases need to be taken seriously, we believe RAD loci affected by them can be excluded or processed with relative ease in most cases and that most RAD loci will be accurately genotyped by existing tools.
Adaptive partial volume classification of MRI data

Tomographic biomedical images are commonly affected by an imaging artefact known as the partial volume (PV) effect. The PV effect produces voxels composed of a mixture of tissues in anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data resulting in a continuity of these tissue classes. Anatomical MRI data typically consist of a number of contiguous regions of tissues or even contiguous regions of PV voxels. Furthermore discontinuities exist between the boundaries of these contiguous image regions. The work presented here probabilistically models the PV effect using spatial regularization in the form of continuous Markov random fields (MRFs) to classify anatomical MRI brain data, simulated and real. A unique approach is used to adaptively control the amount of spatial regularization imposed by the MRF. Spatially derived image gradient magnitude is used to identify the discontinuities between image regions of contiguous tissue voxels and PV voxels, imposing variable amounts of regularization determined by simulation. Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) is used to simulate the posterior distribution of the probabilistic image model. Promising quantitative results are presented for PV classification of simulated and real MRI data of the human brain.
Are you coming on to me? Accuracy and bias in couples' perceptions of sexual advances

Three preregistered studies examined how romantic partners make sexual advances, and how accurately these behaviours are perceived. Study 1 generated a list of 29 sexual advance behaviours common in romantic relationships. Studies 2a and 2b tested whether partners were able to track the pattern of their partner’s advances, if they overor underestimated the extent to which their partner used those behaviours, whether this tracking accuracy and bias were moderated by individual differences, and whether tracking accuracy and bias predicted relational outcomes. Results revealed strong evidence for tracking accuracy, and mixed results for bias. In addition, there was strong evidence that gender and average frequency of sexual initiation and rejection moderate tracking accuracy and bias, and mixed evidence was found for the importance of attachment orientation. Finally, biased and accurate sexual advance perceptions were associated with love and sexual satisfaction. Implications for theory and relationship dynamics are discussed.
Over-the-Counter Sale of Emergency Contraception: A Survey of Pharmacists in Delhi

Introduction Pharmacists play a key role while dispensing over-the-counter emergency contraception (EC) to the client. Aims The study aims to evaluate the knowledge and over-the-counter services provided by the pharmacists in Delhi. Methods A prestructured questionnaire-based survey was conducted in Delhi, the capital city of India. Results Only 60 out of 85 pharmacies approached agreed to participate in the study. Number of packs sold in a month per pharmacy varied from 2 to 500 packs/month. Sixty-two percent of the pharmacists claimed that majority of the clients repeated use during the same month. Only 18% of the clients were referred by doctors while 82% directly approached the pharmacists. Nearly one third of the clients were adolescents. Sixty-seven percent of the pharmacists had adequate knowledge about EC. Only 3.3% asked about the last menstrual period or the time elapsed since the last unprotected intercourse. No pharmacist inquired whether there were one or multiple unprotected acts of intercourse, if any regular contraceptive method was being used, or explored the reason for EC intake. There were 91.7% who explained the dosage schedule to clients. Only half of them explained that the client may experience side effects. None of the pharmacists advised their clients for a sexually transmitted disease screening, and 35% counseled the clients regarding regular contraception. Conclusion Improving the quality of services provided by the pharmacists can clear misconceptions of the clients and promote subsequent regular contraception along with precautions to avoid sexually transmitted diseases. Mishra A and Saxena P. Over-the-counter sale of emergency contraception: A survey of pharmacists in Delhi. Sex Med 2013;1:16–20.
The role played by language in the interpretation of emotional facial expressions

This thesis examines the role played by language in the interpretation of emotional expression. Language labels may indirectly influence such tasks, organising and reactivating a useful repository of semantic knowledge (e.g. Barrett, Lindquist & Gendron, 2007). This proposal was explored using a series of semantic satiation experiments (Lindquist, Barrett, Bliss-Moreau & Russell, 2006). Participants repeated words 3 or 30 times before deciding whether two faces matched in emotional expression. Word type was manipulated across experiments (emotion labels, neutral labels and non-words); an indirect account would only predict reduced accuracy when participants experience semantic inaccessibility, achieved via massed repetition of an emotional label. However, reduced discrimination was found both after 30 (vs. 3) repetitions of any word, and two non-linguistic activities. Findings then suggest that the massed repetition decrement arises via a non-semantic mechanism, such as response uncertainty (e.g. Tian & Huber, 2010). However, an emotion-specific effect of language was also consistently observed. Participants showed facilitated performance after 3 and 30 repetitions of an emotion label, but only when it matched both expressions in the pair. This may suggest that language labels directly influence early emotion perception (Lupyan, 2007, 2012), or provide strategic support during paired discrimination (e.g. Roberson & Davidoff, 2000). A perceptual threshold procedure was used to test the direct assumption. Participants repeated an emotion or neutral label before deciding whether a briefly presented face did, or did not, display an emotional expression. In comparison to the neutral baseline, participants showed no facilitation in performance following exposure to emotion labels that were ‘weakly’ or ‘strongly’ congruent with the subsequently presented expression. Overall, findings inconsistently support the notion that language shapes the interpretation of emotional expression. This prompts discussion of how task demands may influence language-driven recruitment of conceptual knowledge, and the time-course across which these linked elements influence interpretation.
Defining and validating user interface design guidelines for professional mobile applications

This research is a literature study on three different subjects in the context of mobile application interface design. To scope our research we determined our target groups to be mobile field workers and law enforcers that use mobile devices during their jobs. Then, we identified several software, hardware and environmental problem areas that should be taken into account during the design process. The primary issue is the small size of the device in terms of keyboard and screen. In addition, several guidelines and other resources discussing how mobile application interfaces should be designed have been identified from literature. Guidelines are either high-level, describing application behavior, or low-level where implementation details of interfaces are discussed. The last part of our study concerns methods to validate the usefulness of mobile interfaces. We found that field studies are extremely valuable to evaluate mobile devices as they include external factors, but are more expensive. By evaluating the interface, the guidelines on which the interface is built are indirectly evaluated as well. In the end, a combination of methods is a good practice to evaluate mobile applications.
The influence of knowledgeable explanations on users' perception of a recommender system

Recommender Systems (RS) help online customers in identifying those items from a variety of choices that best match their presumed needs and preferences. In this context explanations summarize the reasons why a specific item is proposed and are capable of increasing the users' trust in the system's results. This paper presents results from an online experiment on a real-world platform indicating that explanations are an essential piece of functionality of a recommendation system, that significantly increases users' perception of the utility of a recommender system, the intention to use it repeatedly as well as the commitment to recommend it to others.
Application of the CESE Method to PDE Plume Dynamics Using a Beowulf Cluster

In the present paper, we report high-fidelity CFD simulation of plume dynamics of a pulse detonation engine (PDE) by using modern parallel computer architecture. The two-dimensional axisymmetric Euler equations for reacting flows are solved by the Space-Time CESE method. A one-step global reaction is employed to model chemical reactions of a propane/air mixture. Computational domain includes the interior of the detonation tube and the aft quadrants of the PDE up to 12 feet in the axial direction and 4.5 feet in the radial direction. Numerical results of averaged pressures oscillation and the wave speeds compare well with the experimental data. For the required numerical resolution, we used a Beowulf cluster with the channel bonding. Our experience in using the system is summarized in the present paper.
Effects of Coaching on Teachers’ Implementation of Tier 1 School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support Strategies

Fidelity of implementation of School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) procedures within schools is critical to the success of the program. Coaching has been suggested as one approach to helping ensure accuracy of implementation of SWPBIS plans. This study used a multiple baseline across participants design to examine the effects of coaching on elementary schools teachers’ implementation of Tier 1 SWPBIS with their general education students. After providing the coach with an initial training on the SWPBIS and coaching procedures, four elementary schoolteachers were provided with side-by-side coaching during whole-class group instruction. Results indicated that there was a functional relationship between coaching and improved SWPBIS fidelity scores. Implications for practice included the need to consider selecting an appropriate person to act as the coach, scheduling difficulties, and the inability to standardize the number of opportunities for teachers to demonstrate some of the skills based on variability in student performance. However, utilizing school personnel to act as SWPBIS coaches may be a viable option to build sustainability and integrity of SWPBIS procedures within schools.
Improving the efficiency of power simulators by input vector compaction

Accurate power estimation is essential for low power digital CMOS circuit design. Power dissipation is input pattern dependent. To obtain an accurate power estimate, a large input vector set must be used which leads to very long simulation time. One solution is to generate a compact vector set that is representative of the original input vector set and can be simulated in a reasonable time. We propose an input vector compaction technique that preserves the statistical properties of the original sequence. Experimental results show that a compaction ratio of 100X is achieved with less than 2% average error in the power estimates.
Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) Extensions Based on the Lattice Theory

A fuzzy inference system (FIS) typically implements a function f : ℝN → I, where the domain set R denotes the totally ordered set of real numbers, whereas the range set I may be either I = RM (i.e., FIS regressor) or T may be a set of labels (i.e., FIS classifier), etc. This study considers the complete lattice (F, ≤) of Type-1 Intervals' Numbers (INs), where an IN F can be interpreted as either a possibility distribution or a probability distribution. In particular, this study concerns the matching degree (or satisfaction degree, or firing degree) part of an FIS. Based on an inclusion measure function σ : F × F → [0, 1] we extend the traditional FIS design toward implementing a function f : FN → I with the following advantages: 1) accommodation of granular inputs; 2) employment of sparse rules; and 3) introduction of tunable (global, rather than solely local) nonlinearities as explained in the manuscript. New theorems establish that an inclusion measure σ is widely (though implicitly) used by traditional FISs typically with trivial (i.e., point) input vectors. A preliminary industrial application demonstrates the advantages of our proposed schemes. Far-reaching extensions of FISs are also discussed.
Astrologie, Yoga und Politik : New Age und politische Orientierungen bei StudentInnen

The increasing interest in esotericism has provoked controversial reactions and interpretations by social scientists: some hold that the boom of esotericism reflects the spread of an irrational, uncritical, and apolitical personality, while others see the New Age movement as counter-cultural and expressing attitudes critical of society. The results of a a survey of 350 Austrian university students support the second thesis rather than the first: students who are attracted to esoteric practices and New Age ideologies participate more frequently in activities of political protest than other students. The mutual correlations between critical attitudes towards society, affinity towards New Age, and subject studies by the student may offer an explanation of the finding that students of the social sciences are more attracted to esotericism than students of the technical sciences, economics, and law. The differences between different subjects of study with regard to New Age affinity seem to he due to the fact that persons tend to choose their subjects in correspondence with their personalities: woman and persons who judge themselves as emotional and intuitive are more attracted to esotericism and at the same time tend to choose subjects like arts or social sciences, while men and persons judging themselves as logical and rational are more distant to esotericism and prefer the exact sciences.
Attitudes of communication partners toward AAC users

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationship between the attitudes of communication partners of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) users and device voice output (specifically the Tango! and DV4). Also, the study examined the relationship between attitudes and age of the communication partner of the AAC user. Six children, twenty-five pre-service Speech-Language Pathologists, and four in-service Speech-Language Pathologists familiar with AAC watched videos of an interaction between a child using AAC to communication with an adult. Following the videos, each participant responded to an attitude scale questionnaire. No significant effect was found for the child participant attitudes toward the Tango! and DV4. However, significant results were found between the devices for pre-service adults, in-service adults, and adults as a whole. Recommendations and clinical implications are suggested.
Detection of Group 1 Trypanosoma brucei gambiense by Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification

ABSTRACT Trypanosoma brucei gambiense group 1 is the major causative agent of the Gambian human African trypanosomiasis (HAT). Accurate diagnosis of Gambian HAT is still challenged by lack of precise diagnostic methods, low and fluctuating parasitemia, and generally poor services in the areas of endemicity. In this study, we designed a rapid loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test for T. b. gambiense based on the 3′ end of the T. b. gambiense-specific glycoprotein (TgsGP) gene. The test is specific and amplifies DNA from T. b. gambiense isolates and clinical samples at 62°C within 40 min using a normal water bath. The analytical sensitivity of the TgsGP LAMP was equivalent to 10 trypanosomes/ml using purified DNA and ∼1 trypanosome/ml using supernatant prepared from boiled blood, while those of classical PCR tests ranged from 10 to 103 trypanosomes/ml. There was 100% agreement in the detection of the LAMP product by real-time gel electrophoresis and the DNA-intercalating dye SYBR green I. The LAMP amplicons were unequivocally confirmed through sequencing and analysis of melting curves. The assay was able to amplify parasite DNA from native cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and double-centrifuged supernatant prepared from boiled buffy coat and bone marrow aspirate. The robustness, superior sensitivity, and ability to inspect results visually through color change indicate the potential of TgsGP LAMP as a future point-of-care test.
Multiple-View 3-D Reconstruction using a Mirror

We propose a 3-D object reconstruction method using a stationary camera and a planar mirror. No calibration is required. The mirror provides the extra views needed for a multiple-view reconstruction. We examine the imaging geometry of the camera-mirror setup and prove a theorem that gives us the point correspondences to compute the orientation of the mirror. The correspondences are derived from the convex hull of the silhouettes of the images of the object and its mirror reflection. The distance between the mirror and the camera can be then obtained by a single object point and a pair of points on the mirror surface. After the pose of the mirror is determined, we have multiple calibrated views of the object. We show two reconstruction methods that utilize the special imaging geometry. The system setup is simple. The algorithm is fast and easy to implement.