Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the Semantics of Graded Modalities

We enrich propositional modal logic with operators ◇ (n ∈ N) which are interpreted on Kripke structures as “there are more than n accessible worlds for which . ”, thus obtaining a basic graded modal logic GrK. We show how some familiar concepts (such as subframes, p-morphisms, disjoint unions and filtrations) and techniques from modal model theory can be used to obtain results about expressiveness (like graded modal equivalence, correspondence and definability) for this language. On the basis of the class of linear frames we demonstrate that the expressive power of the language is considerably stronger than that of classical modal logic. We give a class of formulas for which a first-order equivalent can be systematically obtained, but also show that the set of formulas for which such an equivalence exists is in some sense a proper subset of the set of so called Sahlqvist formulas, a syntactically defined set of modal formulas for which a corresponding formula is guaranteed to exist. Finally we show how, combining the technique of ‘filtration’ with a notion of ‘copying worlds’ — in view of the “more than n” interpretation, one cannot simply collapse worlds — for some graded modal logics (GrK, GrT, . . . ), the finite model property (and also decidability) is obtained.
ESD control in automated placement process

ESD control in automated placement process has been studied. New principles for placement equipment design, going beyond those given in ANSI/ESD S20.20 and ESD SP10.1, are suggested. In analogy to ESD packaging materials, three classes of parts, materials and surfaces in an AHE are defined: intimate, proximity, and secondary equipment parts, materials and surfaces. Methods for the evaluation of ESD safety are presented, and an example of ESD safety evaluation of placement process, applying the measurement of real discharge current waveforms of devices being processed, is given.
Information and communication technology use, work intensification and employee strain and distress

Recent scholarship on work suggests that information and communication technology (ICT) use may be significantly altering job conditions in ways that are indicative of work intensification, which, in turn, contributes to employee strain and distress. This article uses structural equation modelling and OLS regression techniques to analyse 2002 survey data drawn from a nationally representative sample of US employees in order to assess the pathways through which ICT use may influence levels of employee strain and distress. It is found that use is linked to higher levels of employee strain and distress via a work intensification process that is indicated by faster-paced work and greater levels of interruptions and multitasking. However, there is also evidence that both work and personal ICT use may mitigate these influences. While the findings do suggest that ICT use can have negative implications for contemporary workers, as a whole the results support a more nuanced view that points to both costs and benefits associated with ICT use.
Homogeneity and Heterogeneity in Schizophrenia

This study provides a description of replicated findings of limited heterogeneity in DSM-III schizophrenics. Based now on a sample of 145 schizophrenics in 1984 and 182 in 1991 it is suggested that the diagnosis is primarily given to chronic patients with poor prognoses, in turn restricting the utility of a process-reactive conceptualization of schizophrenia.
Exploring the perceptions of educational psychologists, additional learning needs co-ordinators and pupils involved in person centred reviews in one Welsh local authority.

The aim of the research was to explore the perceptions of educational psychologists (EPs), additional needs learning co-ordinators (ALNCo’s) and pupils of their involvement in person centred reviews (PCRs). The aim was to explore their role and preparation for the PCRs, advantages and disadvantages of the PCRs and the extent to which the PCRs were person-centred. Semi-structured interviews, a group interview and focus group were used to gather the perceptions of five EPs, eight ALNCo’s and four pupils in Authority A. Findings highlight that EPs and ALNCo’s both undertake co-ordinator and contributor roles within the PCRs, occasionally undertaking dual roles within the same review. ALNCo’s predominately undertake the preparation for PCRs with the majority of the EPs’ preparation falling within their regular practice. Advantages of PCRs included their equal, transparent and co-operative nature, their productivity and positivity. Disadvantages included logistical factors, e.g. length of reviews, difficulties bringing professionals together, and parental negativity. The PCRs were predominantly person-centred, with pupils enjoying making a contribution. However, the EPs, ALNCo’s and pupils highlighted that pupil participation could be further increased. Overall findings are potentially informative for fellow EPs and ALNCo’s and indicate the potential impact of engaging in PCRs on professionals’ workloads. The extent to which the PCRs were person-centred is encouraging. Despite the informative findings, they are not generalizable due to the constructivist nature. Previous research has not explicitly explored EPs perceptions of PCRs. Therefore the research addresses this gap in the literature.
PERCEIVING A PROBLEM-SOLVING TASK AS A THREAT AND SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR IN ADOLESCENTS

In this study, we examined the link between appraisals of problem tasks as a threat or challenge, suicidality and the extent to which this link is mediated by hopelessness and problem–solving performance. We also examined the possible role that cognitive rigidity and emotional regulation play in this link. Participants consisted of three adolescent groups: suicidal inpatients, nonsuicidal inpatients, and a nonclinical control group. Participants received a problem–solving task and scales measuring the above–indicated variables. The two inpatient groups differed significantly from the control group on almost all variables. Moreover, appraisals of problem tasks as a threat emerged as a distal factor of suicidality mediated by hopelessness and problem–solving performance even after controlling for cognitive rigidity and emotion regulation. The discussion focuses on the ways that appraisals of problem tasks can affect suicidal behavior.
Sex hormone levels correlate with the activity of cytokine‐secreting cells in vivo

This work examines the correlation between serum levels of oestrogen, progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA‐S) and the number of human peripheral blood cells actively secreting interleukin (IL)‐2, IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐10, tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) or interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) in vivo. Simultaneous assessment of serum hormone levels and cytokine‐secreting cell activity throughout the menstrual cycle showed that the number of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) able to secrete IL‐4 in response to stimulation correlated significantly (P < 0·0001) with oestrogen levels and fluctuated with the menstrual cycle in pre‐menopausal women. The activity of IFN‐γ‐secreting cells, on the other hand, varied as a function of serum DHEA‐S levels in pre‐menopausal women (P < 0·0001). Similarly, the number of cells secreting IFN‐γ in men correlated with serum DHEA‐S levels (P < 0·001). In contrast, post‐menopausal women had fewer cells actively secreting cytokines and the activity of these cells did not correlate with sex hormone levels. These results suggest that sex hormones may modulate cytokine production in vivo and contribute to gender‐related differences in normal and pathological immune responses.
Enforced dimerization of BAX results in its translocation, mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis

Expression of the pro‐apoptotic molecule BAX has been shown to induce cell death. While BAX forms both homo‐ and heterodimers, questions remain concerning its native conformation in vivo and which moiety is functionally active. Here we demonstrate that a physiologic death stimulus, the withdrawal of interleukin‐3 (IL‐3), resulted in the translocation of monomeric BAX from the cytosol to the mitochondria where it could be cross‐linked as a BAX homodimer. In contrast, cells protected by BCL‐2 demonstrated a block in this process in that BAX did not redistribute or homodimerize in response to a death signal. To test the functional consequence of BAX dimerization, we expressed a chimeric FKBP–BAX molecule. Enforced dimerization of FKBP–BAX by the bivalent ligand FK1012 resulted in its translocation to mitochondria and induced apoptosis. Caspases were activated yet caspase inhibitors did not block death; cytochrome c was not released detectably despite the induction of mitochondrial dysfunction. Moreover, enforced dimerization of BAX overrode the protection by BCL‐XL and IL‐3 to kill cells. These data support a model in which a death signal results in the activation of BAX. This conformational change in BAX manifests in its translocation, mitochondrial membrane insertion and homodimerization, and a program of mitochondrial dysfunction that results in cell death.
Designing Statistical Language Learners: Experiments on Noun Compounds

The goal of this thesis is to advance the exploration of the statistical language learning design space. In pursuit of that goal, the thesis makes two main theoretical contributions: (i) it identifies a new class of designs by specifying an architecture for natural language analysis in which probabilities are given to semantic forms rather than to more superficial linguistic elements; and (ii) it explores the development of a mathematical theory to predict the expected accuracy of statistical language learning systems in terms of the volume of data used to train them. The theoretical work is illustrated by applying statistical language learning designs to the analysis of noun compounds. Both syntactic and semantic analysis of noun compounds are attempted using the proposed architecture. Empirical comparisons demonstrate that the proposed syntactic model is significantly better than those previously suggested, approaching the performance of human judges on the same task, and that the proposed semantic model, the first statistical approach to this problem, exhibits significantly better accuracy than the baseline strategy. These results suggest that the new class of designs identified is a promising one. The experiments also serve to highlight the need for a widely applicable theory of data requirements.
Working-memory capacity predicts the executive control of visual search among distractors: The influences of sustained and selective attention

Variation in working-memory capacity (WMC) predicts individual differences in only some attention-control capabilities. Whereas higher WMC subjects outperform lower WMC subjects in tasks requiring the restraint of prepotent but inappropriate responses, and the constraint of attentional focus to target stimuli against distractors, they do not differ in prototypical visual-search tasks, even those that yield steep search slopes and engender top-down control. The present three experiments tested whether WMC, as measured by complex memory span tasks, would predict search latencies when the 1–8 target locations to be searched appeared alone, versus appearing among distractor locations to be ignored, with the latter requiring selective attentional focus. Subjects viewed target-location cues and then fixated on those locations over either long (1,500–1,550 ms) or short (300 ms) delays. Higher WMC subjects identified targets faster than did lower WMC subjects only in the presence of distractors and only over long fixation delays. WMC thus appears to affect subjects’ ability to maintain a constrained attentional focus over time.
Figural after-effects, retinal size and apparent size.

Previous work has established that figural after-effects are determined by the retinal size of the inspection figure, but Sutherland (1954) has argued that the methods used were based on the assumption that retinal and apparent sizes cannot both be determinants. He himself has provided evidence of the effects of apparent size. The present paper reports an experiment intended to confirm Sutherland's findings and to measure the magnitude of the after-effects, if any. Eleven subjects were required to equate two test-figures after prolonged fixation of prior inspection figures. One inspection figure was retinally equal, apparently larger, the other, retinally equal, apparently smaller than a test-figure. In the first case, the test-figure decreased significantly, in the second it decreased, but not significantly. It is held that these results can be explained by assuming both retinal and apparent sizes to be effective, in the first case acting together and in the second opposing one another.
Laser hazards: biomedical threshold level investigations.

Abstract : The review of current research data and areas requiring future investigation delineates project areas of prime interest. Through research, laser safety standards have been developed. Current studies are fulfilling the immediate requirements associated with the test, development, and deployment of new laser devices. The establishment of various biological and functional criteria, which accurately reflect the changes associated with laser irradiation of the eye and skin, continues to provide valuable information on current and proposed safety standards. (Author)
Angular correlations in multi-jet final states from k⊥-dependent parton showers

We investigate parton-branching methods based on transverse-momentum dependent (TMD) parton distributions and matrix elements for the Monte Carlo simulation of multi-particle final states at high-energy colliders. We observe that recently measured angular correlations in ep final states with multiple hadronic jets probe QCD coherence effects in the space-like branching, associated with finite-angle gluon radiation from partons carrying small longitudinal momenta, and not included in standard shower generators. We present Monte Carlo calculations for azimuthal two-jet and three-jet distributions, for jet multiplicities and for correlations in the transverse-momentum imbalance between the leading jets. We discuss comparisons with current experimental multi-jet data, and implications of corrections to collinear-ordered showers for LHC final states.
MicroRNAs in Oligodendrocyte and Schwann Cell Differentiation

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small (approx. 22 nt) noncoding RNAs that are capable of post-transcriptionally silencing mRNAs that contain sequences complementary to the miRNAs’ 7- to 8-bp ‘seed’ sequence. As single miRNAs are often predicted to target up to hundreds of individual transcripts, miRNAs are able to broadly affect the overall protein expression state of the cell. This can translate into global effects on cellular health and differentiation state. Recently, several reports have identified crucial roles for miRNAs in controlling the production, differentiation, and health of myelinating cells of the mammalian nervous system. In this review, we will discuss how individual miRNAs regulate these various processes, and also how miRNA production in general is required for several stages of myelin generation and maintenance.
Chloromethylisothiazolone/methylisothiazolone (CMI/MI) use test with a shampoo on patch‐test‐positive subjects Results of a multicentre double‐blind crossover trial

A randomized, multicentre, double‐blind, 2–period crossover study with 2 shampoos was performed on subjects patch‐test‐positive to 100 ppm CMI/MI. One shampoo was preserved with 15 ppm a.i. CMI/MI, the other with 0.3% imidazolidinyl urea (IU). 27 subjects from 5 European dermatology clinics participated. 1 subject discontinued use after severe adverse reactions to the CMI/MI‐preserved shampoo and did not evaluate the other shampoo. Another 2 subjects developed moderate symptoms with the CMI/MI‐preserved shampoo and discontinued its use, but tolerated the lU‐preserved shampoo for the full 2–week period. 2 subjects discontinued use after 1 or 2 washes after severe adverse reactions to the lU‐preserved shampoo. 1 of these subjects tolerated the CMI/MI‐preserved shampoo for 2 weeks without any untoward effects. However, the majority of subjects had negative findings on the scalp, face, neck, and hands for both shampoos. The physicians' global evaluation data indicated that shampoo with CMI/MI caused fewer skin problems than shampoo with IU (38% versus 27%, n.s.), with over 1/3 of the subjects (35%) having no skin problems with either preservative. The current study showed that most subjects previously sensitized to CMI/MI can successfully use shampoo preserved with CMI/MI. Since some subjects previously sensitized to CMI/MI, or possibly to IU, may develop clinical reactions, it would still be prudent for the clinician to advise alternative products to patients with sensitivity to a shampoo or cosmetic ingredient. Full ingredient labelling will ensure that this is possible. As the overall rate of adverse effects in sensitized individuals was low, studies of this nature should also be conducted for other allergens. This will be helpful in determining the relevance of patch test data.
Objective Micro-Facial Movement Detection Using FACS-Based Regions and Baseline Evaluation

Micro-facial expressions are regarded as an important human behavioural event that can highlight emotional deception. Spotting these movements is difficult for humans and machines, however research into using computer vision to detect subtle facial expressions is growing in popularity. This paper proposes an individualised baseline micro-movement detection method using 3D Histogram of Oriented Gradients (3D HOG) temporal difference method. We define a face template consisting of 26 regions based on the Facial Action Coding System (FACS). We extract the temporal features of each region using 3D HOG. Then, we use Chi-square distance to find subtle facial motion in the local regions. Finally, an automatic peak detector is used to detect micro-movements above the proposed adaptive baseline threshold. The performance is validated on two FACS coded datasets: SAMM and CASME II. This objective method focuses on the movement of the 26 face regions. When comparing with the ground truth, the best result was an AUC of 0.7512 and 0.7261 on SAMM and CASME II, respectively. The results show that 3D HOG outperformed for micro-movement detection, compared to state-of-the-art feature representations: Local Binary Patterns in Three Orthogonal Planes and Histograms of Oriented Optical Flow.
Network Archaeology: Uncovering Ancient Networks from Present-Day Interactions

What proteins interacted in a long-extinct ancestor of yeast? How have different members of a protein complex assembled together over time? Our ability to answer such questions has been limited by the unavailability of ancestral protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. To overcome this limitation, we propose several novel algorithms to reconstruct the growth history of a present-day network. Our likelihood-based method finds a probable previous state of the graph by applying an assumed growth model backwards in time. This approach retains node identities so that the history of individual nodes can be tracked. Using this methodology, we estimate protein ages in the yeast PPI network that are in good agreement with sequence-based estimates of age and with structural features of protein complexes. Further, by comparing the quality of the inferred histories for several different growth models (duplication-mutation with complementarity, forest fire, and preferential attachment), we provide additional evidence that a duplication-based model captures many features of PPI network growth better than models designed to mimic social network growth. From the reconstructed history, we model the arrival time of extant and ancestral interactions and predict that complexes have significantly re-wired over time and that new edges tend to form within existing complexes. We also hypothesize a distribution of per-protein duplication rates, track the change of the network's clustering coefficient, and predict paralogous relationships between extant proteins that are likely to be complementary to the relationships inferred using sequence alone. Finally, we infer plausible parameters for the model, thereby predicting the relative probability of various evolutionary events. The success of these algorithms indicates that parts of the history of the yeast PPI are encoded in its present-day form.
Invented Spelling

The literature on the acquisition of early literacy skills stresses the importance of invented spelling as a valid measure of phonological awareness in children and a good predictor of future reading skills. The present study provides clinicians with a practical tool for the assessment of invented spelling in kindergartners using the Invented Spelling subtest on the Early Reading Screening Instrument. Interpretations of assessment profiles are suggested, and guidelines for the development of intervention goals are presented.
Early developmental emergence of human amygdala–prefrontal connectivity after maternal deprivation

Significance Early adversity has profound and lasting effects on neurodevelopment and emotional behavior. Under typical environmental conditions, prefrontal cortex connections with the amygdala are immature during childhood and become adult-like during adolescence. Rodent models show that maternal deprivation accelerates this development as an ontogenetic adaptation to adversity. Here, we demonstrate that, as in the rodent, children who experienced early maternal deprivation exhibit early emergence of mature amygdala–prefrontal connectivity. Evidence suggests that the adult-like neural phenotype, which is mediated by cortisol levels, confers some degree of enhanced emotion regulation, as maternally deprived youths with adult-like phenotypes are less anxious than their counterparts with immature phenotypes. Accelerated amygdala–prefrontal development may serve as an ontogenetic adaptation in the human in response to early adversity. Under typical conditions, medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) connections with the amygdala are immature during childhood and become adult-like during adolescence. Rodent models show that maternal deprivation accelerates this development, prompting examination of human amygdala–mPFC phenotypes following maternal deprivation. Previously institutionalized youths, who experienced early maternal deprivation, exhibited atypical amygdala–mPFC connectivity. Specifically, unlike the immature connectivity (positive amygdala–mPFC coupling) of comparison children, children with a history of early adversity evidenced mature connectivity (negative amygdala–mPFC coupling) and thus, resembled the adolescent phenotype. This connectivity pattern was mediated by the hormone cortisol, suggesting that stress-induced modifications of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis shape amygdala–mPFC circuitry. Despite being age-atypical, negative amygdala–mPFC coupling conferred some degree of reduced anxiety, although anxiety was still significantly higher in the previously institutionalized group. These findings suggest that accelerated amygdala–mPFC development is an ontogenetic adaptation in response to early adversity.