Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tuning of Human Modulation Filters Is Carrier-Frequency Dependent

Recent studies employing speech stimuli to investigate ‘cocktail-party’ listening have focused on entrainment of cortical activity to modulations at syllabic (5 Hz) and phonemic (20 Hz) rates. The data suggest that cortical modulation filters (CMFs) are dependent on the sound-frequency channel in which modulations are conveyed, potentially underpinning a strategy for separating speech from background noise. Here, we characterize modulation filters in human listeners using a novel behavioral method. Within an ‘inverted’ adaptive forced-choice increment detection task, listening level was varied whilst contrast was held constant for ramped increments with effective modulation rates between 0.5 and 33 Hz. Our data suggest that modulation filters are tonotopically organized (i.e., vary along the primary, frequency-organized, dimension). This suggests that the human auditory system is optimized to track rapid (phonemic) modulations at high sound-frequencies and slow (prosodic/syllabic) modulations at low frequencies.
Analysis of relative sea level variations and trends in the Chesapeake Bay: Is there evidence for acceleration in sea level rise?

Over the past few decades the pace of relative sea level rise (SLR) in the Chesapeake Bay (CB) has been 2-3 times faster than that of the globally mean absolute sea level. Our study is part of ongoing research that tries to determine if this SLR trend is continuing at the same pace, slowing down (SLR deceleration) or speeding up (SLR acceleration). We introduce a new analysis method for sea level data that is based on Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) and Hilbert-Huang Transform (HHT); the analysis separates the SLR trend from other oscillating modes of different scales. Bootstrap calculations using thousands of iterations were used to test the robustness of the method and obtain confidence levels. The analysis shows that most sea level records in the CB have significant positive SLR acceleration, so the SLR rates today are about twice the SLR rates of 60 years ago. The acceleration rates of our calculations are larger than some past studies, but comparable to recent results [1] who show accelerated SLR “hotspots” in the coastal areas between Cape Hatteras and Cape Cod. The results have implications for projections of future SLR and the impact on flooding risks in the Hampton Roads area. The contributions to SLR from land subsidence and climate-related changes in ocean circulation need further research.
Neighborhood environmental factors are related to health-enhancing physical activity and walking among community dwelling older adults in Nigeria

ABSTRACT Introduction: Health promotion strategies grounded by evidence-based determinants of physical activity constitute an important focus of physiotherapy practice in the twenty-first century. This study investigated associations between neighborhood environmental factors and health-related moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and walking for transportation and recreation among community dwelling Nigerian older adults. Methods: A representative sample of 353 Nigerian older adults (age = 68.9 ± 9.13 years) in a cross-sectional survey provided self-reported min/week of MVPA and walking for transportation and recreation and perceived neighborhood environmental factors. Results: In multilevel linear regression analyses, proximity of destinations (β = 3.291; CI = 0.392, 6.191), access to services and places (β = 4.417; CI = 0.995, 7.838), esthetics (β = 3.603; CI = 0.617, 6.590), traffic safety (β = 5.685; CI = 3.334, 8.036), and safety from crime (β = 1.717; CI = 0.466, 2.968) were related to more MVPA. Also, proximity of destinations (β = 1.656; CI = 0.022, 3.291) and safety from crime (β = 2.205; CI = 0.018, 4.579) were related to more transport walking. Access to services and places (β = 2.086; CI = 0.713, 3.459) and walking infrastructure and safety (β = 1.741; CI = 0.199, 3.282) were related to more recreational walking. Conclusions: Six of eight supportive environmental factors were associated with more physical activity among community dwelling older Nigerian adults. Policy makers including physiotherapists in this role can use the evidence to inform community-based physical activity and health promotion programs for older adults in Nigeria.
Program Slicing‐Based Regression Testing Techniques

After changes are made to a previously tested program, a goal of regression testing is to perform retesting based on the modifications while maintaining the same testing coverage as completely retesting the program. This paper presents a novel approach to data flow based regression testing that uses slicing algorithms for the explicit detection of definition‐use associations that are affected by a program change. An important benefit of this slicing technique is that, unlike previous techniques, neither data flow history nor recomputation of data flow for the entire program is required to detect affected definition‐use associations. The program changes drive the recomputation of the required partial data flow through slicing. Another advantage is that the technique achieves the same testing coverage with respect to the affected definition‐use associations as a complete retest of the program, without maintaining a test suite. Thus, the overhead of maintaining and updating a test suite is eliminated.
The effect of R-CHOP dose reduction on overall survival of elderly patients with DLBCL – comparative study

Abstract R-CHOP is the standard therapy for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We evaluated the effect of reduced intensity R-CHOP on survival, and toxicity in patients 70 years or older with DLBCL. The retrospective analysis included 140 patients (median age 78 years). We showed that patients with a good performance status treated with reduced adriamycin dose had a statistically significant worse overall survival. In multivariable model, the HR with any 10% increase adriamycin-relative dose in the first cycle was, 0.81, 95% CI 0.70–0.94. Age, gender, albumin and IPI were also associated with overall survival. Hospitalizations of patients treated with reduced R-CHOP were longer; however, the rate of infection did not differ between the groups. Based on current data, the optimal treatment for elderly patients with DLBCL remains unclear, but it is apparent that the dose of chemotherapy should be tailored individually according to performance status.
High-resolution intracranial vessel wall imaging: imaging beyond the lumen

Accurate and timely diagnosis of intracranial vasculopathies is important due to significant risk of morbidity with delayed and/or incorrect diagnosis both from the disease process as well as inappropriate therapies. Conventional vascular imaging techniques for analysis of intracranial vascular disease provide limited information since they only identify changes to the vessel lumen. New advanced MR intracranial vessel wall imaging (IVW) techniques can allow direct characterisation of the vessel wall. These techniques can advance diagnostic accuracy and may potentially improve patient outcomes by better guided treatment decisions in comparison to previously available invasive and non-invasive techniques. While neuroradiological expertise is invaluable in accurate examination interpretation, clinician familiarity with the application and findings of the various vasculopathies on IVW can help guide diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making. This review article provides a brief overview of the technical aspects of IVW and discusses the IVW findings of various intracranial vasculopathies, differentiating characteristics and indications for when this technique can be beneficial in patient management.
Mutations in the DI-DII Linker of Human Parainfluenza Virus Type 3 Fusion Protein Result in Diminished Fusion Activity

Human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV3) can cause severe respiratory tract diseases in infants and young children, but no licensed vaccines or antiviral agents are currently available for treatment. Fusing the viral and target cell membranes is a prerequisite for its entry into host cells and is directly mediated by the fusion (F) protein. Although several domains of F are known to have important effects on regulating the membrane fusion activity, the roles of the DI-DII linker (residues 369–374) of the HPIV3 F protein in the fusogenicity still remains ill-defined. To facilitate our understanding of the role of this domain might play in F-induced cell-cell fusion, nine single mutations were engineered into this domain by site-directed mutagenesis. A vaccinia virus-T7 RNA polymerase transient expression system was employed to express the wild-type or mutated F proteins. These mutants were analyzed for membrane fusion activity, cell surface expression, and interaction between F and HN protein. Each of the mutated F proteins in this domain has a cell surface expression level similar to that of wild-type F. All of them resulted in a significant reduction in fusogenic activity in all steps of membrane fusion. Furthermore, all these fusion-deficient mutants reduced the amount of the HN-F complexes at the cell surface. Together, the results of our work suggest that this region has an important effect on the fusogenic activity of F.
Completeness of randomized kinodynamic planners with state-based steering

The panorama of probabilistic completeness results for kinodynamic planners is still confusing. Most existing completeness proofs require strong assumptions that are difficult, if not impossible, to verify in practice. To make completeness results more useful, it is thus sensible to establish a classification of the various types of constraints and planning methods, and then attack each class with specific proofs and hypotheses that can be verified in practice. We propose such a classification, and provide a proof of probabilistic completeness for an important class of planners, namely those whose steering method is based on the interpolation of system trajectories in the state space. We also provide design guidelines for the interpolation function and discuss two criteria arising from our analysis: local boundedness and acceleration compliance.
Detection and Enhancement of Ketocarotenoid Accumulation in the Newly Isolated Sarcinoid Green Microalga Chlorosarcinopsis PY02

The sarcinoid alga PY02 is a newly isolated soil alga native to western Thailand. In this study PY02 is described, the carotenoid profile of the green and red forms of the algal cells are compared, and the effect of nitrogen reduction and media volume on ketocarotenoid production are reported. Partial sequences of the genes from elongation factor Tu (tufA) and 18S rRNA reveal that the alga is from the Chlorosarcinopsis genus. Growth studies demonstrated that Chlorosarcinopsis PY02 is capable of photoautotrophic, heterotrophic and mixotrophic growth. A gradual change in colony colour from green to red was observed over a period of four weeks under mixotrophic conditions. Pigment analysis of lyophilized red cells using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) with Photo Diode Array Detection (PDA), showed for the first time that an alga from the genus Chlorosarcinopsis is capable of producing ketocarotenoids such as adonixanthin and 3-OH-echinenone, with canthaxanthin as the dominant pigment. Interestingly, a reduction of nitrogen in the medium exerts a positive effect on the rate of colour change from one month to less than seven days. Enhancements of the canthaxanthin content from 520 to 1504 or 1427 µg·gDW−1 were detected under 50% and 10% nitrogen content, respectively. An increase of 16% in biomass production of PY02 was unexpectedly detected from a 50% nitrogen reduction under mixotrophic culture. Notably, in liquid mixotrophic media with volumes of 15, 30 and 60 mL, the lowest volume produced a significantly higher biomass and canthaxanthin content.
Power factor correction and minimization THD in industrial grid via reversible medium voltage AC drives based on 3L-NPC AFE rectifiers

The main aim of this paper reviews the issue of an energy-efficiency improvement of an industrial grid via reversible medium voltage AC drives based on three level neutral point clamped (3L-NPC) active front-end (AFE) rectifiers. 18-pulse connection circuit of the reversible AC drive has been considered. 18-pulse circuit comprises three power transformers connecting in parallel with the secondary winding voltages phase shifts. Pulse width modulation selective harmonic elimination (PWMSHE) method was used for the 3L-NPC AFE rectifiers. Mathematical descriptions for a 3L-NPC converter, the PWMSHE method with eliminating of the 17th, 19th and 17th, 19th, 35th, 37th harmonics, and a system "Reversible medium voltage AC drives based on 3L-NPC AFE rectifiers - industrial grid" are provided. Twelvemegawatt AC main electric drive of a plate mill rolling stand was used as a study object. Mathematical research of the energy-efficiency improvement of the industrial grid by the electric drive have been simulated using Matlab/Simulink program. Experimental research of operating conditionals of the main electric drive were carried out at the difficult-to-form steel grade in the range of a roughing and a finish rolling. It has allowed us to calculate the magnitudes of active, reactive, and apparent power magnitudes and determine a possibility of power factor correction in industrial grid via at the roughing.
Transient scrotal hyperthermia affects human sperm DNA integrity, sperm apoptosis, and sperm protein expression

This prospective randomized clinical study is aimed to evidence the reproductive impairment of frequent scrotal heat exposure. A total of 20 normozoospermic subjects were randomly divided into two groups to undergo testicular warming in a 43 °C water bath 10 times, for 30 min each time; the subjects in group 1 underwent testicular warming for 10 consecutive days and those in group 2 once every 3 days. Sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), apoptosis, and seminal plasma‐soluble Fas (sFas) were analyzed before treatment and every 2 weeks after, for a total of 10 times. In group 1, some critical proteins involved in heat stress, hypoxia, structure, and function of sperm mitochondria and flagella were evaluated before hyperthermia and 2, 6, 10, and 16 weeks after hyperthermia. Both groups showed a reversible increase in the proportion of spermatozoa with a disrupted MMP (both p < 0.05 when the minimums were compared with baseline levels, the same below), sperm apoptosis (both p < 0.01) and high DNA stainability (both p < 0.05). The sFas concentration in both groups showed no obvious changes except one: the value at week 2 was significantly increased over baseline in group 1 (p = 0.036). The level of Bcl‐2 decreased significantly at weeks 6 and 10 (p = 0.017 and 0.05, respectively) and recovered to baseline at week 16. Proteins involved in heat stress and mitochondria functions were up‐regulated, whereas in flagella structure and function was down‐regulated (all p < 0.05). This study demonstrated that transient and frequent scrotal hyperthermia severely and reversibly damaged spermatogenesis, consecutive heat exposure had more serious effects than intermittent exposure, whereas intermittent exposure led to a later recovery of sperm damage.
Uncertainty of measurement and clinical value of semen analysis: has standardisation through professional guidelines helped or hindered progress?

This article suggests that diagnostic semen analysis has no more clinical value today than it had 25–30 years ago, and both the confusion surrounding its evidence base (in terms of relationship with conception) and the low level of confidence in the clinical setting is attributable to an associated high level of ‘uncertainty’. Consideration of the concept of measurement uncertainty is mandatory for medical laboratories applying for the ISO15189 standard. It is evident that the entire semen analysis process is prone to error every step from specimen collection to the reporting of results and serves to compound uncertainty associated with diagnosis or prognosis. Perceived adherence to published guidelines for the assessment of sperm concentration, motility and morphology does not guarantee a reliable and reproducible test result. Moreover, the high level of uncertainty associated with manual sperm motility and morphology can be attributed to subjectivity and lack a traceable standard. This article describes where and why uncertainty exists and suggests that semen analysis will continue to be of limited value until it is more adequately considered and addressed. Although professional guidelines for good practice have provided the foundations for testing procedures for many years, the risk in following rather prescriptive guidance to the letter is that unless they are based on an overwhelmingly firm evidence base, the quality of semen analysis will remain poor and the progress towards the development of more innovative methods for investigating male infertility will be slow.
Box Office Forecasting considering Competitive Environment and Word-of-Mouth in Social Networks: A Case Study of Korean Film Market

Accurate box office forecasting models are developed by considering competition and word-of-mouth (WOM) effects in addition to screening-related information. Nationality, genre, ratings, and distributors of motion pictures running concurrently with the target motion picture are used to describe the competition, whereas the numbers of informative, positive, and negative mentions posted on social network services (SNS) are used to gauge the atmosphere spread by WOM. Among these candidate variables, only significant variables are selected by genetic algorithm (GA), based on which machine learning algorithms are trained to build forecasting models. The forecasts are combined to improve forecasting performance. Experimental results on the Korean film market show that the forecasting accuracy in early screening periods can be significantly improved by considering competition. In addition, WOM has a stronger influence on total box office forecasting. Considering both competition and WOM improves forecasting performance to a larger extent than when only one of them is considered.
Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water: commentary on Kok, Peters, Kessels, ten Hoor, and Ruiter (2018)

Kok, Peters, Kessels, ten Hoor, and Ruiter (2018) make excellent points about the importance of selfefficacy, the possibility of reactance, and consideration of other methods to encourage smoking cessation. However, they incorrectly conclude that pictorial warning labels do ‘not support positive effects of fear appeals’. Instead, a strong base of converging evidence supports effectiveness of pictorial warning labels, with similar results shown for improving knowledge and encouraging smoking cessation (through either quit intentions or behaviour change) in controlled experiments including recent clinical trials and large international observational studies (e.g., Brewer et al., 2016; Evans et al., 2015; Noar, Francis, et al., 2016a; Noar, Hall, et al., 2016b; Romer et al., 2018).
Lpar2b Controls Lateral Line Tissue Size by Regulating Yap1 Activity in Zebrafish

LPA signaling plays important roles during cell migration and proliferation in normal and pathological conditions. However, its role during sensory organ development remains unknown. Here we show a LPA receptor Lpar2b is expressed in the posterior lateral line primordium (pLLP) and mechanosensory organs called neuromasts (NMs) in zebrafish embryos. Lpar2b loss-of-function significantly reduces the number of NMs and hair cells in the posterior lateral line (pLL). Further analysis reveals that Lpar2b regulates the patterning and tissue size of the pLLP. Interestingly, we show that knocking down a Hippo effector Yap1 phenocopies the result of Lpar2b depletion, and Lpar2b regulates the phosphorylation and activity of Yap1 in the pLLP. Importantly, a phosphorylation-resistant Yap1 rescues pLLP size and NM number in Lpar2b-depleted embryos. Our results indicate Lpar2b controls primordium size and NM number by regulating Yap1 activity in the lateral line system.
Reconfigurable Multipipelines for Vector Supercomputers

The problem of recovering multipipelines in the presence of faulty stages is addressed. The stages are assumed to be organized in rows and columns. The pipeline stages are alternated with reconfiguring circuitry which is used for bypassing the faulty stages. The pipelines are configured by programming the switches in a distributed manner using fault information available locally. The configuration algorithm is optimal in the sense that it recovers the maximum number of pipelines under any fault pattern. Probabilistic bounds on the delay (the number of bypassed faulty stages) and yield (the number of nonfaulty pipelines recovered) are derived. It is shown that the maximum signal delay in any of the pipelines is O(log m), where m is the initial number of pipelines. A constant fraction of these pipelines can be recovered with the scheme, as opposed to an exponentially decreasing number when no reconfiguration is used. The reconfiguration scheme can also be used to provide fault-tolerant buses on a wafer. >
Prevalence and Determinants of Job Stress in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background: Psychosocial factors have been shown to predict a poor disease course in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but whether this applies to job stress is currently unknown. We assessed the prevalence of job stress and its correlates in a large cohort of patients with IBD. Methods: We included all adult, professionally active patients enrolled between 2006 and 2015 in the Swiss IBD Cohort. Job stress was measured through the self-report effort–reward imbalance ratio and overcommitment (OC) to work questionnaires. We used multiple linear regressions to assess association with sociodemographic, lifestyle, psychosocial, and disease-related factors. Results: Altogether 1656 patients completed the questionnaires (905 Crohn's disease and 751 ulcerative colitis/IBD unclassified). Only 91 (5.7%) of patients had an effort–reward imbalance ratio >1. Effort–reward imbalance and OC scores were higher in full-time versus part-time employees (coef = 0.050, P = 0.002; coef = 0.906, P < 0.001) and among those absent from the workplace in the previous 3 months (coef = 0.049, P = 0.010; coef = 1.062, P < 0.001). Higher OC scores were associated with sex (women vs. men: coef = 0.568, P = 0.014), being in a relationship (coef = 0.805, P = 0.001), higher level of occupation (director vs. trainee: coef = 1.447, P < 0.001), and extraintestinal manifestations (coef = 0.623, P = 0.005). Patients hospitalized in the previous 12 months had lower OC scores (coef = 0.560, P = 0.038). Conclusions: The average level of job stress seems to be remarkably low in patients with IBD from Switzerland. The clinician should turn attention especially to women, full-time employees with a high level of education, and patients with extraintestinal manifestations to identify those with the most vulnerability to suffer from job stress.