Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A model of cognitive processes and conversational principles in survey interview interaction

SUMMARY In this paper we provide a model of interviewer–respondent interaction in survey interviews. Our model is primarily focused on the occurrence of problems within this interaction that seem likely to affect data quality. Both conversational principles and cognitive processes, especially where they do not match the requirements of the respondent’s task, are assumed to affect the course of interactions. The cognitive processes involved in answering a survey question are usually described by means of four steps: interpretation, retrieval, judgement and formatting. Each of these steps may be responsible for different overt problems, such as requests for clarification or inadequate answers. Such problems are likely to affect the course of the interaction through conversational principles which may cause, for example, suggestive behaviour on the part of the interviewer, which may in turn yield new problematic behaviours. However, the respondent may not be the only one who experiences cognitive problems; the interviewer may also have such problems, for example with respect to explaining question meaning to the respondent. Thus the model proposed here, unlike most of the other models which concentrate on the respondent, tries to incorporate cognitive processes and conversational principles with respect to both interviewer and respondent. In particular, the model looks at how cognitive processes and conversational principles affect both the interaction between interview participants and the quality of the eventual answers. Copyright # 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. In survey interviews the interviewer performs multiple tasks like asking questions, evaluating answers, probing, motivating respondents and recording the eventual answer. Respondents have only one task: answering the questions. The tasks of both interviewer and respondent can be described from a cognitive viewpoint, applying cognitive theories about information processing and memory. This cognitive approach has been primarily used to describe the respondent’s part of the question–answer process. It is assumed that answering a survey question involves several cognitive steps as described in the well known four-step model of survey response, that is interpreting the question, retrieving relevant information from memory, forming a judgement from the retrieved information and formatting the response (see Tourangeau, Rips, & Rasinski, 2000). A striking characteristic of this cognitive model of survey response, and most of the other models cited by Tourangeau et al. (2000), is that the interviewer is not included as a
Supporting visual exploration for multiple users in large display environments

We present a design space exploration of interaction techniques for supporting multiple collaborators exploring data on a shared large display. Our proposed solution is based on users controlling individual lenses using both explicit gestures as well as proxemics: the spatial relations between people and physical artifacts such as their distance, orientation, and movement. We discuss different design considerations for implicit and explicit interactions through the lens, and evaluate the user experience to find a balance between the implicit and explicit interaction styles. Our findings indicate that users favor implicit interaction through proxemics for navigation and collaboration, but prefer using explicit mid-air gestures to perform actions that are perceived to be direct, such as terminating a lens composition. Based on these results, we propose a hybrid technique utilizing both proxemics and mid-air gestures, along with examples applying this technique to other datasets. Finally, we performed a usability evaluation of the hybrid technique and observed user performance improvements in the presence of both implicit and explicit interaction styles.
A Photometrically Detected Forming Cluster of Galaxies at Redshift 1.6 in the GOODS Field

We report the discovery of a localized overdensity at z ∼ 1.6 in the GOODS-South field, presumably a poor cluster in the process of formation. The three-dimensional galaxy density has been estimated on the basis of well-calibrated photometric redshifts from the multiband photometric GOODS-MUSIC catalog using the (2+1)-dimensional technique. The density peak is embedded in the larger scale overdensity of galaxies known to exist at z = 1.61 in the area. The properties of the member galaxies are compared to those of the surrounding field, and we find that the two populations are significantly different, supporting the reality of the structure. The reddest galaxies, once evolved according to their best-fit models, have colors consistent with the red sequence of lower redshift clusters. The estimated M200 total mass of the cluster is in the range 1.3 × 1014–5.7 × 1014 M☉, depending on the assumed bias factor b. An upper limit for the 2-10 keV X-ray luminosity, based on the 1 Ms Chandra observations, is LX = 0.5 × 1043 erg s−1, suggesting that the cluster has not yet reached the virial equilibrium.
Adulthood Exposure to Lipopolysaccharide Exacerbates the Neurotoxic and Inflammatory Effects of Rotenone in the Substantia Nigra

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most neurodegenerative disorder with a regional decrease of dopamine (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). Despite intense exploration, the etiology of PD progressive process remains unclear. This study was to investigate the synergistic effects of systemic inflammation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and neurotoxicity of rotenone (ROT) on exacerbating DA neuron lesion. Male SD adulthood rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of LPS. Seven months later, rats were subcutaneously given ROT five times a week for consecutive 4 weeks. Rat behavior changes were assessed via rotarod and open-field tests. Brain SN was immunostained to evaluate DA neuronal loss and microglia activation. Striatum DA and its metabolites levels were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with electrochemistry. The protein levels of α-synuclein (α-Syn), inflammatory factors and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway activation were detected by western blotting analysis. Results indicated that no significant difference between the control and LPS alone groups was shown. Compared with ROT alone group, LPS combined with ROT significantly reduced motor activity and induced SN DA neurons loss accompanied by the decreased contents of striatum DA and its metabolites. Furthermore, LPS together with ROT enhanced microglia activation and the increased expressions of α-Syn and inflammatory factors and also MAPK signaling pathway activation. However, LPS alone had no significant effects on the above parameters. These findings suggest that adulthood exposure to LPS exacerbates the neurotoxic and inflammatory effects of ROT in the SN.
Integrating Fasciolosis Control in the Dry Cow Management: The Effect of Closantel Treatment on Milk Production

The liver fluke Fasciola hepatica is a parasite of ruminants with a worldwide distribution and an apparent increasing incidence in EU member states. Effective control in dairy cattle is hampered by the lack of flukicides with a zero-withdrawal time for milk, leaving the dry period as the only time that preventive treatment can be applied. Here, we present the results of a blinded, randomized and placebo-controlled trial on 11 dairy herds (402 animals) exposed to F. hepatica to 1) assess the effect of closantel treatment at dry-off (or 80–42 days before calving in first-calving heifers) on milk production parameters and 2) evaluate if a number of easy-to-use animal parameters is related to the milk production response after treatment. Closantel treatment resulted in a noticeable decrease of anti-F. hepatica antibody levels from 3–6 months after treatment onwards, a higher peak production (1.06 kg) and a slightly higher persistence (9%) of the lactation, resulting in a 305-day milk production increase of 303 kg. No effects of anthelmintic treatment were found on the average protein and fat content of the milk. Milk production responses after treatment were poor in meagre animals and clinically relevant higher milk production responses were observed in first-lactation animals and in cows with a high (0.3–0.5 optical density ratio (ODR)), but not a very high (≥0.5 ODR) F. hepatica ELISA result on a milk sample from the previous lactation. We conclude that in dairy herds exposed to F. hepatica, flukicide treatment at dry-off is a useful strategy to reduce levels of exposure and increase milk production in the subsequent lactation. Moreover, the results suggest that treatment approaches that only target selected animals within a herd can be developed based on easy-to-use parameters.
Overhead Compensation in Performance Profiling

Measurement-based profiling introduces intrusion in program execution. Intrusion effects can be mitigated by compensating for measurement overhead. Techniques for compensation analysis in performance profiling are presented and their implementation in the TAU performance system described. Experimental results on the NAS parallel benchmarks demonstrate that overhead compensation can be effective in improving the accuracy of performance profiling.
Promyelocytic leukemia nuclear bodies behave as DNA damage sensors whose response to DNA double-strand breaks is regulated by NBS1 and the kinases ATM, Chk2, and ATR

The promyelocytic leukemia (PML) nuclear body (NB) is a dynamic subnuclear compartment that is implicated in tumor suppression, as well as in the transcription, replication, and repair of DNA. PML NB number can change during the cell cycle, increasing in S phase and in response to cellular stress, including DNA damage. Although topological changes in chromatin after DNA damage may affect the integrity of PML NBs, the molecular or structural basis for an increase in PML NB number has not been elucidated. We demonstrate that after DNA double-strand break induction, the increase in PML NB number is based on a biophysical process, as well as ongoing cell cycle progression and DNA repair. PML NBs increase in number by a supramolecular fission mechanism similar to that observed in S-phase cells, and which is delayed or inhibited by the loss of function of NBS1, ATM, Chk2, and ATR kinase. Therefore, an increase in PML NB number is an intrinsic element of the cellular response to DNA damage.
A hierarchical analysis of the impact of methodological decisions on statistical downscaling of daily precipitation and air temperatures

Despite the widespread application of statistical downscaling tools, uncertainty remains regarding the role of model formulation in determining model skill for daily maximum and minimum temperature (Tmax and Tmin), and precipitation occurrence and intensity. Impacts of several key aspects of statistical transfer function form on model skill are evaluated using a framework resistant to model overspecification. We focus on: (a) model structure: simple (generalized linear models, GLMs) versus complex (artificial neural networks, ANNs) models. (b) Predictor selection: Fixed number of predictors chosen a priori versus stepwise selection of predictors and inclusion of grid point values versus predictors derived from application of principal components analysis (PCA) to spatial fields. We also examine the influence of domain size on model performance. For precipitation downscaling, we consider the role of the threshold used to characterize a wet day and apply three approaches (Poisson and Gamma distributions in GLM and ANN) to downscale wet‐day precipitation amounts. While no downscaling formulation is optimal for all predictands and at 10 locations representing diverse U.S. climates, and due to the exclusion of variance inflation all of the downscaling formulations fail to reproduce the range of observed variability, models with larger suites of prospective predictors generally have higher skill. For temperature downscaling, ANNs generally outperform GLM, with greater improvements for Tmin than Tmax. Use of PCA‐derived predictors does not systematically improve model skill, but does improve skill for temperature extremes. Model skill for precipitation occurrence generally increases as the wet‐day threshold increases and models using PCA‐derived predictors tend to outperform those based on grid cell predictors. Each model for wet‐day precipitation intensity overestimates annual total precipitation and underestimates the proportion derived from extreme precipitation events, but ANN‐based models and those with larger predictor suites tend to have the smallest bias.
Morning Breath Odor: Influence of Treatments on Sulfur Gases

We assessed the effects of several treatments on the concentrations of oral sulfur-containing gases, compounds thought to be responsible for morning breath. Upon awakening in the morning, healthy volunteers collected oral gas samples before and for eight hours after the following treatments: no treatment, brushing the teeth with toothpaste, brushing the tongue, rinsing with 5 mL of 3% hydrogen peroxide, breakfast ingestion, or swallowing two BreathAsureR capsules. The gas samples were analyzed for sulfur-containing volatiles via gas chromatography. Baseline collections usually contained three sulfur gases: hydrogen sulfide, methanethiol, and dimethylsulfide. The effectiveness of a treatment was determined via comparison of the areas under gas concentrations-time curves with and without treatment. Brushing the teeth or ingestion of BreathAsureR had no apparent influence on the sulfur gases. Ingestion of breakfast and tongue brushing resulted in strong trends toward decreased sulfur gases. Hydrogen peroxide significantly reduced the sulfur gas concentrations for eight hours.
AUTONOMIC CONTROL OF BRONCHIAL CIRCULATION IN AWAKE SHEEP DURING REST AND BEHAVIOUR

1. We tested the hypothesis that the pattern and the intensity of autonomic mechanisms causing vasoconstriction in the resting bronchial circulation of awake dogs also exists in awake sheep. It was also postulated that sighing behaviour and the associated bron‐chovascular dilatation induced by non‐adrenergic, non‐cholinergic (NANC) mechanisms observed in the dog exist in sheep.
Mitochondrial Proteomic Analysis of a Cell Line Model of Familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis*

Mutations in copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) have been linked to a subset of familial amytrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive motor neuron death. An increasing amount of evidence supports that mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis activation play a critical role in the fALS etiology, but little is known about the mechanisms by which SOD1 mutants cause the mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis. In this study, we use proteomic approaches to identify the mitochondrial proteins that are altered in the presence of a fALS-causing mutant G93A-SOD1. A comprehensive characterization of mitochondrial proteins from NSC34 cells, a motor neuron-like cell line, was achieved by two independent proteomic approaches. Four hundred seventy unique proteins were identified in the mitochondrial fraction collectively, 75 of which are newly discovered proteins that previously had only been reported at the cDNA level. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was subsequently used to analyze the differences between the mitochondrial proteomes of NSC34 cells expressing wild-type and G93A-SOD1. Nine and 36 protein spots displayed elevated and suppressed abundance respectively in G93A-SOD1-expressing cells. The 45 spots were identified by MS, and they include proteins involved in mitochondrial membrane transport, apoptosis, the respiratory chain, and molecular chaperones. In particular, alterations in the post-translational modifications of voltage-dependent anion channel 2 (VDAC2) were found, and its relevance to regulating mitochondrial membrane permeability and activation of apoptotic pathways is discussed. The potential role of other proteins in the mutant SOD1-mediated fALS is also discussed. This study has produced a short list of mitochondrial proteins that may hold the key to the mechanisms by which SOD1 mutants cause mitochondrial dysfunction and neuronal death. It has laid the foundation for further detailed functional studies to elucidate the role of particular mitochondrial proteins, such as VDAC2, in the pathogenesis of familial ALS.
Thermo-Economic Analysis of an Integrated Supercritical CO2 Brayton Cycle and Multiple Effect Desalination Systems

A thermo-economic analysis is carried for the current integrated supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) Brayton cycle with both multi-effect desalination coupled with mechanical vapor compression (MED-MVC) and conventional MED system. The conventional MED system uses hot water as the heat source by recuperating the waste heat from the sCO2 cycle. The MED-MVC system uses a vapor compressor to eliminate the need to condense the water vapor in the last effect of the MED system. The advantage of the MED-MVC is the ability to recuperate part of the waste heat of the sCO2 cycle through preheating the seawater feed directed to the first effect. Forward feed configuration is selected since high feed temperature can be accommodated for the MED-MVC. On the other hand, in the case of conventional MED, high feed temperature is limited to the last effect temperature. To satisfy the demand of approximately 2,500 families, the water production capacity is 1,250 m3/day, and 20 MW of electrical power is needed. The electrical power generated from the sCO2 cycle is also used to drive the MVC unit and operate the feed, brine and distillate pumps in the MED system. Results reveal that both MED and MVC systems are capable to achieve the selected production capacity. The specific power consumption, universal performance ratio, and total water price for MED systems are 1.22 kWh/m3, 56.51 and 0.69 $/m3, respectively; whereas the MED-MVC systems are 10.22 kWh/m3, 27.35 and 0.84 $/m3, respectively. The cost of electricity is 0.029 $/kWh.
MS Environmental Biology Capstone Project

11 Background, Rationale, and Significance . 12 Purpose and Specific Aims . 15 Methods. 16 External and Internal Anatomy . 16 Histology . 17 Work Plan . 17 References . 18 CHAPTER 3. JOURNAL MANUSCRIPT: DEMOGRAPHIC INFLUENCES ON VISITOR USE OF THE DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS . 20 Abstract . 20. 20 Introduction . 21 Methods. 24 Visitor Movement Data Collection . 24 Analysis of Visitor Movement Data . 26
Recurrent Prostate Cancer Genomic Alterations Predict Response to Brachytherapy Treatment

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the association of recurrent molecular alterations in prostate cancer, such as ERG rearrangements and phosphatase and tensin homolog gene (PTEN) deletions, with oncologic outcomes in patients with prostate cancer treated with brachytherapy. Methods: Ninety-two men underwent I-125 brachytherapy with a 145 Gy delivered dose between 2000 and 2008. Pretreatment prostate biopsies were analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and FISH for ERG rearrangement and overexpression, PTEN deletion, and expression loss. Univariable and multivariable Cox-regression analyses evaluated association of ERG and PTEN status with biochemical recurrence (BCR). Results: Within a median follow-up of 73 months, 11% of patients experienced BCR. Of 80 samples with both IHC and FISH performed for ERG, 46 (57.8%) demonstrated rearrangement by FISH and 45 (56.3%) by IHC. Of 77 samples with both IHC and FISH for PTEN, 14 (18.2%) had PTEN deletion by FISH and 22 (28.6%) by IHC. No significant associations were found between ERG, PTEN status, and clinicopathologic features. Patients with concurrent ERG rearrangement and PTEN deletion demonstrated significantly worse relapse-free survival rates compared with those with ERG or PTEN wild type (P < 0.01). In multivariable Cox regression analysis adjusted for the effects of standard clinicopathologic features, combined ERG rearranged and PTEN deletion was independently associated with BCR (HR = 2.6; P = 0.02). Conclusions: Concurrent ERG rearrangement and PTEN loss was independently associated with time to BCR in patients undergoing brachytherapy. Future studies are needed to validate prostate cancer molecular subtyping for risk stratification. Impact: Identifying patients in the ERG-rearranged/PTEN-deleted molecular subclass may improve treatment personalization. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(4); 594–600. ©2014 AACR.
Simple Homothetic Tube Model Predictive Control

This paper considers the robust model predic- tive control synthesis problem for constrained linear discrete time systems. The manuscript introduces a simple homothetic tube model predictive control synthesis method. The proposed method employs several novel features including: a more general parameterization of the state and control tubes based on homothety and invariance; a more flexible form of the terminal constraint set; and a relaxation of the dynamics of the sets that define the state and control tubes. Under rather mild assumptions it is demonstrated that the proposed method is computationally efficient while it induces strong system theoretic properties. I. INTRODUCTION Both classical and contemporary research have recognized the need for a mathematical framework that deals with control synthesis under constraints and uncertainty. The computational complexity normally associated with dynamic programming (1)-(3) is certainly an issue with the con- trol synthesis problem in the presence of constraints and uncertainty. Tube model predictive control (TMPC) (4)-(14) constitutes a sensible approximate solution methodology. The deployment of tubes in robust model predictive control is made possible through a parameterization of the control policy that allows for the direct handling of uncertainty and its interaction with the system dynamics, constraints and performance. In particular, in the case of linear systems with additive bounded uncertainty and convex constraint sets it is possible to use separable control policies. These, in turn, allow for the separation of the evolution of the nominal system (uncertainty free system) and the evolution of the local uncertain system. Then, the effect of the uncertainty can be accounted for by considering the exact reachable tubes centered around the trajectories of the nominal system and invoking suitably modified constraints on the nominal variables; at the same time it is possible to consider simpler and computationally more tractable performance objectives. Early proposals employing this construction include (15)- (17) and were followed with research investigations along similar lines (18)-(21) which adopt the same paradigm for the case of the parametric (multiplicative) uncertainty and for local robustification of nonlinear MPC. The approaches
Insecticidal activities of pomegranate peels and leave crude juices

The present study was conducted to envisage the insecticidal activities of pomegranate crude juices on cotton leaf worm, Spodoptera littorallis. Pomegranate peels and leave crude juices were obtained by hydraulic press and applied as a natural insecticide against cotton leaf worm during its whole life cycle. The data indicated that there was a direct relationship between the phenolic and flavonoid contents of pomegranate crude juices and the studied parameters relevant to cotton leaf worm life cycle. The studied parameters were larvae and pupae mortalities, adult emergence, hatchability and sterility. Furthermore, histopathological examinations were performed on the cuticle and mid gut of untreated and treated larvae with pomegranate crude juices. Generally speaking, pomegranate crude juices can be applying as a natural insecticide against cotton leaf worm since it is nearly priceless, safe agent, biodegradable, alternative to hazardous synthetic insecticides and harmless to the environment.