Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ethical Considerations in the ENABLE Project

This article describes the ethical considerations and the framework that formed the basis for the design of the research methods, as well as the basis for choosing the devices to be tried out, in the ENABLE project. The principles of autonomy, beneficence and justice are defined and applied to an analysis of researchers’ experience. Some of the ethical difficulties arising from conducting an intervention study of this type with persons with dementia are outlined. The article needs to be read in conjunction with the other ENABLE articles published in this issue of Dementia.
Evolutionary Foundations of Rational Choice

We study the potential evolutionary appeal of rationality in a model in which different populations differ with respect to their experimentation over rules of behavior. We show that more risky experimentation in the sense of mean preserving spread dominates less risky experimentation. Experimentation over the set of (strictly) rational rules is shown to be universally more risky than, and therefore dominates, any other symmetric form of experimentation. This evolutionary advantage of strict rationality, furthermore, is quantified and shown to be substantial when learning takes place over a limited amount of time, or when the environment is stochastically changing, or when the complexity or the environment is moderately large.
Interplay of Inhibition and Excitation Shapes a Premotor Neural Sequence

In the zebra finch, singing behavior is driven by a sequence of bursts within premotor neurons located in the forebrain nucleus HVC (proper name). In addition to these excitatory projection neurons, HVC also contains inhibitory interneurons with a role in premotor patterning that is unclear. Here, we used a range of electrophysiological and behavioral observations to test previously described models suggesting discrete functional roles for inhibitory interneurons in song production. We show that single HVC premotor neuron bursts are sufficient to drive structured activity within the interneuron network because of pervasive and facilitating synaptic connections. We characterize interneuron activity during singing and describe reliable pauses in the firing of those neurons. We then demonstrate that these gaps in inhibition are likely to be necessary for driving normal bursting behavior in HVC premotor neurons and suggest that structured inhibition and excitation may be a general mechanism enabling sequence generation in other circuits.
Outside the outsiders: Media representations of drug use

This article is intended to highlight some key themes within the news media's reporting of drugs, drug users and drug-related crime.1 Its aim is to focus on how the news media represent illegal drugs and drug users and their causal links with further criminal behaviour. The article proposes that news media and governmental beliefs mirror each other and have both adopted a stance that serious or `problematic' drug use is dangerous and causes further criminality. It also asserts that both media coverage and policy direction are disproportionately aimed at specific stereotypes of drug users and drug-using offenders, to the point whereby simplistic notions have developed at the expense of a much wider and more complex discussion to the detriment of a holistic drugs discourse. The ramifications of such representations are that users of heroin and crack cocaine are thought of as risk-bearing `outsiders' and are actively excluded from society. The article will draw on a plethora of studies from across the globe through the belief that even in an era of media diversity and culturally diverse drug use, there are common globally identifiable themes within the news media's reporting of drugs and crime.
The Workplace Social Exchange Network

In this article, the authors present a framework (the Workplace Social Exchange Network) that draws from multiple streams of social exchange research. The authors attempt to provide an integrative, cross-level theory for understanding the diverse social exchanges that occur in the work-place. Within the workplace, there are a number of social exchanges that may take place between an individual and (a) the organization, (b) their supervisor, and (c) their work group. Surprisingly, researchers have overlooked the influence of social exchanges between employees and their work groups. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first article that collectively discusses the influences and interactions between the three predominate social exchange domains. In addition, the authors provide testable propositions that specify relationships between domains of exchange relationships, moderating organizational factors, and employee outcomes.
Toward a metasynthesis of qualitative findings on motherhood in HIV-positive women.

A qualitative metasynthesis of qualitative findings ought to be more than a mere summary of those findings. Yet the processes by which the interpretive innovation expected of qualitative metasynthesis projects can be achieved remain opaque. Several analytic devices for the metasynthesis of findings were clarified in the course of an ongoing methodological project involving 45 reports of qualitative studies of HIV-positive women. These devices include the creation of a taxonomy of findings, the explicit use of sustained comparisons, the translation of in vivo concepts, and the use of imported concepts. Any qualitative metasynthesis of findings constitutes an interpretation at least three times removed from the lives represented in them. Clarifying the analytic devices used to create such metasyntheses is essential to demonstrating that despite being far away from participants' lives, these interpretations remain close to them.
Feature Preserving Smoothing of 3 D Surface Scans by Thouis

With the increasing use of geometry scanners to create 3D models, there is a rising need for effective denoising of data captured with these devices. This thesis presents new methods for smoothing scanned data, based on extensions of the bilateral filter to 3D. The bilateral filter is a non-linear, edge-preserving image filter; its extension to 3D leads to an efficient, feature preserving filter for a wide class of surface representations, including points and "polygon soups. " Thesis Supervisor: Fredo Durand Title: Assistant Professor
de Travail du Centre d ’ Economie de la Sorbonne Welfare Cost of Fluctuations : when Labor Market Search Interacts with Financial Frictions

We provide a quantitative assessment of welfare costs of fluctuations in a search model with financial frictions. The matching process in the labor market leads positive shocks to reduce unemployment less than negative shocks increase it. We show that the magnitude of this nonlinearity is magnified by financial frictions. This asymmetric effect of the business cycle leads to sizable welfare costs. The model also accounts for the responsiveness of the job finding rate to the business cycle as financial frictions endogenously generate counter-cyclical opportunity costs of opening a vacancy and wage sluggishness. JEL Classification : E32, J64, G21
Vertical Loads Due to Wheat on Obstructions Located on the Floor of a Model Bin

Tests were conducted in a model grain bin to evaluate the vertical loads acting on differently shaped obstructions embedded in wheat during filling, detention, and discharge. The bin had corrugated galvanized steel walls with a 1.83 m diameter and a flat bottom. All tests were conducted in a bin that was centrically loaded and unloaded. Three differently shaped obstructions (disc, cone, and cylinder) were tested; each had a circular base equivalent to 6% of the bin floor area. The obstructions were supported in the bin using a three-legged support structure. Each leg of the support structure rested on a load cell attached to the bin floor. Tests were conducted with the obstructions located in the bin at three different eccentricity ratios (ratio of the centerline of the obstruction to the bin radius, ER = 0, 0.5, and 0.67) and at two different grain heights (height of grain depth to bin diameter ratio, H/D = 0.4 and 0.75). The radial distribution of vertical pressures in the bin varied, with the highest pressure in the center of the bin and the lowest at the bin wall. The largest vertical load on the disc and cone obstructions was measured at the end of filling. The largest load on the cylindrical obstruction was observed immediately after the initiation of bin discharge. At the end of filling and detention, the vertical loads on the disc, cone, and cylinder were 4.8, 3.7, and 4.9 kN, respectively, for obstructions located at ER = 0 and H/D = 0.4. At a location closest to the bin wall (ER = 0.67), the vertical loading on the disc, cone, and cylinder were 4.4, 3.4, and 4.4 kN, respectively. The greatest difference in vertical loading between the location and type of obstruction was on the order of 50%. Bending moments were also observed to act on these obstructions. Bending moments at ER = 0.67 were much larger than those determined at ER = 0.5. For the disc and cone, moments at ER = 0.67 were three times as large as those determined for tests conducted at ER = 0.0. At the onset of discharge, the vertical loading on both the disc and cone decreased significantly, while the vertical loading on the cylinder increased significantly. Recommendations based on Eurocode I were used to predict the vertical loading on the disc and cylinder embedded in grain. This technique did an adequate job of predicting the maximum loading on both obstructions within the bin; however, it did not take into account the effect of unloading on the obstruction forces.
Tattoos on 18-year-old male adolescents - Characteristics and associated factors*

BACKGROUND Prevalence of tattoos is around 10-26% in men and 10-22% in women, and can involve negative effects such as: regret, removal attempts, physical and biological changes of the skin and association with some viral diseases. OBJECTIVE to determine the prevalence, characteristics and factors associated with tattoos in recruiters joining the military. METHODS the recruiters were examined by dermatologists that documented the presence or absence of tattoos, as well as their sizes, colors, designs and patterns, and whether they needed a parent's consent to get a tattoo. RESULTS 1,968 recruiters were examined and the prevalence of tattoos was 10.82% (213), 141 (66.20%) had a single tattoo, 44 (20.66%) two tattoos, 15 (7.04%) three tattoos, 9 (4.23%) four tattoos, and 4 (1.88%) had more than four. Of the total sample, 168 (80.77%) reported getting the first tattoo before the age of 18. 158 (74.53%) were monochromatic. In relation to size, 108 (50.70%) had tattoos of up to 10 cm, 75 (35.21%) had tattoos measuring between 11-20cm, while 30 had ones over 21cm (14.09%). CONCLUSIONS The population studied had a high prevalence of tattoos for their age, the percentage of complex (large and polychromatic) tattoos was also high.
The Effectiveness of a Web-Based Personalized Feedback and Social Norms Alcohol Intervention on United Kingdom University Students: Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Alcohol consumption in the student population continues to be cause for concern. Building on the established evidence base for traditional brief interventions, interventions using the Internet as a mode of delivery are being developed. Published evidence of replication of initial findings and ongoing development and modification of Web-based personalized feedback interventions for student alcohol use is relatively rare. The current paper reports on the replication of the initial Unitcheck feasibility trial. Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of Unitcheck, a Web-based intervention that provides instant personalized feedback on alcohol consumption. It was hypothesized that use of Unitcheck would be associated with a reduction in alcohol consumption. Methods A randomized control trial with two arms (control=assessment only; intervention=fully automated personalized feedback delivered using a Web-based intervention). The intervention was available week 1 through to week 15. Students at a UK university who were completing a university-wide annual student union electronic survey were invited to participate in the current study. Participants (n=1618) were stratified by sex, age group, year of study, self-reported alcohol consumption, then randomly assigned to one of the two arms, and invited to participate in the current trial. Participants were not blind to allocation. In total, n=1478 (n=723 intervention, n=755 control) participants accepted the invitation. Of these, 70% were female, the age ranged from 17-50 years old, and 88% were white/white British. Data were collected electronically via two websites: one for each treatment arm. Participants completed assessments at weeks 1, 16, and 34. Assessment included CAGE, a 7-day retrospective drinking diary, and drinks consumed per drinking occasion. Results The regression model predicted a monitoring effect, with participants who completed assessments reducing alcohol consumption over the final week. Further reductions were predicted for those allocated to receive the intervention, and additional reductions were predicted as the number of visits to the intervention website increased. Conclusions Unitcheck can reduce the amount of alcohol consumed, and the reduction can be sustained in the medium term (ie, 19 weeks after intervention was withdrawn). The findings suggest self-monitoring is an active ingredient to Web-based personalized feedback.
A numerical algorithm for fully nonlinear HJB equations: An approach by control randomization

Abstract. We propose a probabilistic numerical algorithm to solve Backward Stochastic Differential Equations (BSDEs) with nonnegative jumps, a class of BSDEs introduced in [`Feynman–Kac representation for Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman IPDE', Ann. Probab. , to appear] for representing fully nonlinear HJB equations. This includes in particular numerical resolution for stochastic control problems with controlled volatility, possibly degenerate. Our backward scheme, based on least-squares regressions, takes advantage of high-dimensional properties of Monte Carlo methods, and also provides a parametric estimate in feedback form for the optimal control. A partial analysis of the algorithm error is presented, as well as numerical tests on the problem of option superreplication with uncertain volatilities and/or correlations, including a detailed comparison with the numerical results from the alternative scheme proposed in [J. Comput. Finance 14 (2011), 37–71].
An Equilibrium Model of Global Imbalances and Low Interest Rates

The sustained rise in US current account deficits, the stubborn decline in long- run real rates, and the rise in US assets in global portfolios appear as anoma - lies from the perspective of conventional models. This paper rationalizes these facts as an equilibrium outcome when different regions of the world differ in their capacity to generate financial assets from real investments. Extensions of the basic model generate exchange rate and foreign direct investment excess returns broadly consistent with the recent trends in these variables. The frame - work is flexible enough to shed light on a range of scenarios in a global equilib - rium environment. (JEL: E44, F21, F31, F32)
The Profile of Angiogenic Factors in Vitreous Humor of the Patients with Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

OBJECTIVE To explore the expression profile of angiogenic factors associated with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). METHODS Undiluted vitreous humor samples were obtained from 10 diabetic patients with PDR (10 eyes) and 9 non-diabtic patients (9 eyes). The concentrations of 60 angiogenic factors in the vitreous humor samples were measured by RayBio Angiogenic Cytokine Antibody Array. Some differentially expressed factors were further confirmed in vitreous humor by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS Compared with the non-diabetic controls, 20 differentially expressed factors with more than 1.50 fold changes were detected in patients with PDR. The median concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin 6 (IL-6), angiopoietin (ANG)-1, ANG-2, urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), Follistatin and matrix metalloproteinases 9 (MMP-9) was significantly increased in vitreous samples from PDR compared to controls (P < 0.05). However, (MCP)-1, Angiogenin and Leptin was significantly lower in PDR eyes compared to controls (P < 0.05). In the verification assay using ELISA, ANG-1, ANG-2, IL-6, VEGF, MMP-9, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and placenta growth factor (PIGF) concentration were increased in patients with PDR compared to controls (all P-values < 0.05). CONCLUSION This is the first report of a comprehensive multiplex analysis to identify angiogenic factors associated with PDR. These angiogenic factors may contribute to the pathogenesis of PDR and may be targets for therapeutic strategies of PDR.
Financial Capacity of Older African Americans With Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment

This study investigated financial abilities of 154 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (116 white, 38 African American) using the Financial Capacity Instrument (FCI). In a series of linear regression models, we examined the effect of race on FCI performance and identified preliminary predictor variables that mediated observed racial differences on the FCI. Prior/premorbid abilities were identified. Predictor variables examined in the models included race and other demographic factors (age, education, sex), performance on global cognitive measures (MMSE, DRS-2 Total Score), history of cardiovascular disease (hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia), and a measure of educational achievement (WRAT-3 Arithmetic). African American patients with MCI performed below white patients with MCI on 6 of the 7 FCI domains examined and on the FCI total score. WRAT-3 Arithmetic emerged as a partial mediator of group differences on the FCI, accounting for 54% of variance. In contrast, performance on global cognitive measures and history of cardiovascular disease only accounted for 14% and 2%, respectively, of the variance. Racial disparities in financial capacity seem to exist among patients with amnestic MCI. Basic academic math skills related to educational opportunity and quality of education account for a substantial proportion of the group difference in financial performance.
“I know you can hear me”: Neural correlates of feigned hearing loss

In the assessment of human hearing, it is often important to determine whether hearing loss is organic or nonorganic in nature. Nonorganic, or functional, hearing loss is often associated with deceptive intention on the part of the listener. Over the past decade, functional neuroimaging has been used to study the neural correlates of deception, and studies have consistently highlighted the contribution of the prefrontal cortex in such behaviors. Can patterns of brain activity be similarly used to detect when an individual is feigning a hearing loss? To answer this question, 15 adult participants were requested to respond to pure tones and simple words correctly, incorrectly, randomly, or with the intent to feign a hearing loss. As predicted, more activity was observed in the prefrontal cortices (as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging), and delayed behavioral reaction times were noted, when the participants feigned a hearing loss or responded randomly versus when they responded correctly or incorrectly. The results suggest that cortical imaging techniques could play a role in identifying individuals who are feigning hearing loss. Hum Brain Mapp, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
Quantitative Image Analysis and Modeling Indicate the Agrobacterium tumefaciens Type IV Secretion System Is Organized in a Periodic Pattern of Foci

The Gram negative plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens is uniquely capable of genetically transforming eukaryotic host cells during the infection process. DNA and protein substrates are transferred into plant cells via a type IV secretion system (T4SS), which forms large cell-envelope spanning complexes at multiple sites around the bacterial circumference. To gain a detailed understanding of T4SS positioning, the spatial distribution of fluorescently labeled T4SS components was quantitatively assessed to distinguish between random and structured localization processes. Through deconvolution microscopy followed by Fourier analysis and modeling, T4SS foci were found to localize in a non-random periodic pattern. These results indicate that T4SS complexes are dependent on an underlying scaffold or assembly process to obtain an organized distribution suitable for effective delivery of substrates into host cells.
Multi-Microphone Speech Dereverberation and Noise Reduction Using Relative Early Transfer Functions

In speech communication systems, the microphone signals are degraded by reverberation and ambient noise. The reverberant speech can be separated into two components, namely, an early speech component that includes the direct path and some early reflections, and a late reverberant component that includes all the late reflections. In this paper, a novel algorithm to simultaneously suppress early reflections, late reverberation and ambient noise is presented. A multi-microphone minimum mean square error estimator is used to obtain a spatially filtered version of the early speech component. The estimator constructed as a minimum variance distortionless response (MVDR) beamformer (BF) followed by a postfilter (PF). Three unique design features characterize the proposed method. First, the MVDR BF is implemented in a special structure, named the nonorthogonal generalized sidelobe canceller (NO-GSC). Compared with the more conventional orthogonal GSC structure, the new structure allows for a simpler implementation of the GSC blocks for various MVDR constraints. Second, In contrast to earlier works, RETFs are used in the MVDR criterion rather than either the entire RTFs or only the direct-path of the desired speech signal. An estimator of the RETFs is proposed as well. Third, the late reverberation and noise are processed by both the beamforming stage and the PF stage. Since the relative power of the noise and the late reverberation varies with the frame index, a computationally efficient method for the required matrix inversion is proposed to circumvent the cumbersome mathematical operation. The algorithm was evaluated and compared with two alternative multichannel algorithms and one single-channel algorithm using simulated data and data recorded in a room with a reverberation time of 0.5 s for various source-microphone array distances (1-4 m) and several signal-to-noise levels. The processed signals were tested using two commonly used objective measures, namely perceptual evaluation of speech quality and log-spectral distance. As an additional objective measure, the improvement in word accuracy percentage of an acoustic speech recognition system is also demonstrated.