Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Habituation of the Visually Evoked Potential and Its Vascular Response: Implications for Neurovascular Coupling in the Healthy Adult

In the human, visually evoked potentials (VEP) and cerebral oxygenation changes, as measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), are assessed to elucidate the relation between electrophysiological and vascular responses to a checkerboard stimulus reversing at 3 Hz. Habituation of either response is analysed on two time scales. Within the 1-min stimulation period we find a decrease in P100N135-component amplitude, closely coupled to a decrease in the amplitude of the oxygenation parameters (concentration changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin, [oxy-Hb] and [deoxy-Hb]). The N75P100-component amplitude exhibits a different behaviour along the 1-min stimulation period. An initial increase is overridden by an overall decrease, the latter not reaching statistical significance. The analysis across the 13 successive stimulation blocks separated by resting periods of equal duration yields a trend for an decrease in the VEP-components' amplitude, not reflected in the vascular response. When calculating a ratio between the amplitude of the P100N135-component and the concentration changes in the haemoglobins a "coupling index" of a 0.2 microM decrease in [deoxy-Hb] and an increase of 0.6 microM in [oxy-Hb] is found per 1 microV increase in VEP-component amplitude. The ratio is the same irrespective of its assessment from the difference stimulation/ rest or from the habituation effect, i.e., the difference between the amplitudes at the beginning and towards the end of the stimulation period. Although supporting the notion that the coupling between neuronal activation and the vascular response exhibits linear aspects, our findings cannot be taken as a proof of such a linearity across all brain regions and activation types. On the contrary, tentatively calculating a coupling index for the data assessed in the visual system, we intend to stress the necessity to assess both neuronal and vascular response to allow for a comparison between different systems and conditions in whom neurovascular coupling is expected to be altered (Miller et al, 2001; Mechelli et al, 2001).
A Simulation Study to Assess the Effect of the Number of Response Categories on the Power of Ordinal Logistic Regression for Differential Item Functioning Analysis in Rating Scales

Objective. The present study uses simulated data to find what the optimal number of response categories is to achieve adequate power in ordinal logistic regression (OLR) model for differential item functioning (DIF) analysis in psychometric research. Methods. A hypothetical ten-item quality of life scale with three, four, and five response categories was simulated. The power and type I error rates of OLR model for detecting uniform DIF were investigated under different combinations of ability distribution (θ), sample size, sample size ratio, and the magnitude of uniform DIF across reference and focal groups. Results. When θ was distributed identically in the reference and focal groups, increasing the number of response categories from 3 to 5 resulted in an increase of approximately 8% in power of OLR model for detecting uniform DIF. The power of OLR was less than 0.36 when ability distribution in the reference and focal groups was highly skewed to the left and right, respectively. Conclusions. The clearest conclusion from this research is that the minimum number of response categories for DIF analysis using OLR is five. However, the impact of the number of response categories in detecting DIF was lower than might be expected.
Inequality-Seeking Punishment

Inequality aversion is a key motive for punishment, with many prominent studies suggesting people use punishment to reduce or eliminate inequality. Punishment in laboratory games, however, is nearly always designed to promote equality (e.g., rejections in standard ultimatum games) and the marginal cost of punishment is typically non-trivially positive. As a consequence, individual preferences over punishment outcomes remain largely uninformed. We here report data from a laboratory experiment using dictator games. We find that when people are treated unfairly they systematically prefer to use punishment to create advantageous inequality. Our results shed new light on human preferences over punishment outcomes, and have important implications for the design of mechanisms to deter misconduct.
Performance comparison between fixed length switching and variable length switching

Fixed length switching (FLS) and variable length switching (VLS) are two main types of switching architecture in high‐speed input‐queued switches. FLS is based on a cell‐by‐cell scheduling algorithm, while VLS operates on the variable packet granularity. This paper aims to make a comprehensive comparison between these two switching modes to guide the industrial design and academic research. We use stochastic models, Petri net models, analysis and simulations to investigate various performance measures of interest. Average packet latency, bandwidth utilization, segmentation and reassembly overhead, as well as packet loss are the identified key parameters that influence the outcome of the comparison. The results achieved in this paper are twofold. On one hand, it is shown that FLS enables smaller packet loss and lower packet delay in case of a short packet. On the other hand, VLS favors better bandwidth utilization, reduced implementation complexity and lower average packet delay. We recommend VLS in the conclusion since its disadvantages can be compensated by some methods, while the problems in FLS are difficult to be solved. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sub-Tenon’s anaesthesia: an efficient and safe technique

AIM To evaluate sub-Tenon’ s anaesthesia as an alternative to peribulbar anaesthesia. METHODS 109 consecutive patients listed for various eye operations (including cataract, trabeculectomy, and vitrectomy) under peribulbar anaesthesia were operated on under sub-Tenon’s anaesthesia instead. After topical anaesthesia a buttonhole was fashioned through the conjunctiva and Tenon’s capsule 10 mm posterior to the limbus. 1.5 ml of lignocaine 2% was then delivered to the posterior sub-Tenon’s space using a blunt cannula. The surgical procedure was performed immediately after the completion of the anaesthetic procedure. Chemosis, conjunctival haemorrhage, degree of akinesia, and pain scoring were analysed. RESULTS There were no anaesthesia related complications. The administration of the block was painless for 99.1% of the patients. In all, 97.3% reported no pain during surgery. There was no akinesia when assessed just after the completion of the block and akinesia was limited when assessed after surgery. Chemosis and conjunctival haemorrhage were frequent but caused no intraoperative problems. CONCLUSION Sub-Tenon’s anaesthesia is an efficient and safe anaesthetic technique. It is a good alternative to peribulbar anaesthesia.
The endorsement of dysfunctional attitudes is associated with an impaired retrieval of specific autobiographical memories in response to matching cues

Two studies investigated a hypothesis of Dalgleish et al. (2003) that overgeneral memory may arise from matching between task cues and dysfunctional attitudes or schemas. In the first study, 111 euthymic patients with at least two previous major depressive episodes completed the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale: Form A (DAS-A) and the Autobiographical Memory Test (AMT). In the second study, 82 patients with a borderline personality disorder completed the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ) and the same version of the AMT. In both studies, patients retrieved less specific autobiographical memories in response to cue words that matched highly endorsed attitudes or schemas. These results suggest that an impaired retrieval of specific memories may be the result of certain cues activating generic, higher-order mental representations.
Mechanical Energy Recovery during Walking in Patients with Parkinson Disease

The mechanisms of mechanical energy recovery during gait have been thoroughly investigated in healthy subjects, but never described in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). The aim of this study was to investigate whether such mechanisms are preserved in PD patients despite an altered pattern of locomotion. We consecutively enrolled 23 PD patients (mean age 64±9 years) with bilateral symptoms (H&Y ≥II) if able to walk unassisted in medication-off condition (overnight suspension of all dopaminergic drugs). Ten healthy subjects (mean age 62±3 years) walked both at their ‘preferred’ and ‘slow’ speeds, to match the whole range of PD velocities. Kinematic data were recorded by means of an optoelectronic motion analyzer. For each stride we computed spatio-temporal parameters, time-course and range of motion (ROM) of hip, knee and ankle joint angles. We also measured kinetic (Wk), potential (Wp), total (WtotCM) energy variations and the energy recovery index (ER). Along with PD progression, we found a significant correlation of WtotCM and Wp with knee ROM and in particular with knee extension in terminal stance phase. Wk and ER were instead mainly related to gait velocity. In PD subjects, the reduction of knee ROM significantly diminished both Wp and WtotCM. Rehabilitation treatments should possibly integrate passive and active mobilization of knee to prevent a reduction of gait-related energetic components.
Cost models for view materialization in the cloud

In classical databases, query performance is casually achieved through physical data structures such as caches, indexes and materialized views. In this context, many cost models help select a "best set" of such data structures. However, this selection task becomes more complex in the cloud. The criterion to optimize is indeed at least two-dimensional, with the monetary cost of using the cloud balancing query response time. Thus, we define in this paper new cost models that fit into the pay-as-you-go paradigm of cloud computing. These cost models help achieve a multi-criteria optimization of the view materialization vs. CPU power consumption problem, under budget constraints. Finally, we present experimental results that provide a first validation of our contribution and show that cloud view materialization is always desirable.
Analyzing Embedded Systems Code for Mixed-Critical Systems Using Hybrid Memory Representations

This paper presents a low-level memory and hardware model suitable for analyzing embedded systems software written in high-level languages such as C. The key feature of this approach is that it combines information that can be discovered from the C code itself with information from the executable binary program. Further, it also integrates effects caused through hardware dependencies. We describe the benefits of this model by showing its applicability to thev erification of properties related to software partitioning, which is crucial for systems of mixed criticality. Furthermore, wede monstrate that our model can easily be integrated into abstract interpretation frameworks for high-level languages so as to increase analysis precision.
Four-quadrant investigation of job-related affects and behaviours

Emphasizing differences in activation as well as valence, six studies across a range of situations examined relations between types of job-related core affect and 13 self-reported work behaviours. A theory-based measure of affect was developed, and its four-quadrant structure was found to be supported across studies. Also consistent with hypotheses, high-activation pleasant affect was more strongly correlated with positive behaviours than were low-activation pleasant feelings, and those associations tended to be greatest for discretionary behaviours in contrast to routine task proficiency. Additionally as predicted, unpleasant job-related affects that had low rather than high activation were more strongly linked to the negative work behaviours examined. Theory and practice would benefit from greater differentiation between affects and between behaviours.
Helpful or Harmful? The Different Relationships Between Private Facebook Interactions and Adolescents’ Depressive Symptoms

ABSTRACT This study aims to provide greater insight into the role of 2 aspects of online peer interactions—perceived online social support and online corumination—in the short-term longitudinal relationship between private Facebook interactions and adolescents’ depressive symptoms. Special attention is given to gender differences. To test our hypotheses, a 2-wave panel study was set up (NTime1 = 1,840). Using structural equation modeling, results showed that private Facebook interactions were concurrently positively related to boys’ and girls’ online corumination and online corumination was positively associated with boys’ and girls’ depressive symptoms. In addition, results revealed that private Facebook interactions were predictive of relative increases in boys’ and girls’ perceptions of online social support over time (i.e., 6 months later). Perceptions of online social support in turn were predictive of relative decreases in girls’ depressive symptoms over time. The discussion focuses on the understanding and implications of these findings.
Frustratingly Easy Neural Domain Adaptation

Popular techniques for domain adaptation such as the feature augmentation method of Daumé III (2009) have mostly been considered for sparse binary-valued features, but not for dense real-valued features such as those used in neural networks. In this paper, we describe simple neural extensions of these techniques. First, we propose a natural generalization of the feature augmentation method that uses K + 1 LSTMs where one model captures global patterns across all K domains and the remaining K models capture domain-specific information. Second, we propose a novel application of the framework for learning shared structures by Ando and Zhang (2005) to domain adaptation, and also provide a neural extension of their approach. In experiments on slot tagging over 17 domains, our methods give clear performance improvement over Daumé III (2009) applied on feature-rich CRFs.
A fast private information retrieval protocol

A PIR scheme is a scheme that allows a user to get an element of a database without giving any information about what part of the database he is interested in. In this paper we present a lattice-based PIR scheme, based on problems close to coding theory problems known to be NP-complete [1], in which the computational cost is a few thousand bit-operations per bit in the database. This improves the protocol computational performance by two orders of magnitude when compared to existing approaches. Our scheme has not as good communication performance as other existing protocols, but we show that practical usability of PIR schemes is not as dependent on communication performance as the literature suggests, and that a trade-off between communication and computation leads to much more versatile schemes.
Evaluating mobile banking portals

Mobile banking (m-banking) is becoming widespread worldwide. Designing effective m-banking services is of vital importance. This article attempts to address this need by providing a comprehensive Mobile Banking Evaluation Framework (MoBEF). This framework consists of 164 criteria categorised into six categories: interface, navigation, content, offered services, reliability and technical aspects. MoBEF would be useful both for customers to evaluate the m-banking services of candidate banks, and for bank managers to improve their m-banking services. Furthermore, the article evaluates the m-banking portals of thirty (30) major banks from all over the world using MoBEF. Strengths and inefficiencies are identified. The major problem is the inadequacy of their offered services. Guidelines and proposals for improvement are given.
Belief in a just world and young adults' ways of coping with unemployment and the job search

The chapter presents an overview of the empirical findings and theoretical cinsiderations that are relevant to the relationship of the Belief in a Just World with the experience of unemployment. The study that is presented in the second part of the chapter was based on the observation that young people who have experienced long-term unemployment while looking for their first job have been almost completely ignored in previous research in this domain.
A wireless multiuser system using diversity

This paper quantifies how diversity and the number of users affect the performance of a wireless multiuser system. The system accommodates N users and one central base station. Only the reverse link is considered. The base station receives the signal at A different antennas. In addition to antenna diversity, bandwidth diversity is used by transmitting signals with larger than Nyquist bandwidth. The receiver consists of an optimum linear MMSE equalizer/combiner. The stationary, frequency selective radio channels between all users and the base station are assumed to be known at the receiver. MMSE expressions are given and numerically evaluated. A tight lower bound is derived for the case when the number of users is larger than the total degree of diversity, referred to as overpopulated. Otherwise, the system is well populated. It is shown that overpopulated systems are interference limited while well populated systems are noise limited.
Academic Middle Managers’ Perceptions of their Role in the Planning of Curriculum Change in Private Higher Education Institutions in Botswana

Abstract This study examined how academic middle managers perceived their role in the planning of curriculum change in private higher education institutions. The question the study sought to answer related to whether academic middle managers believed that they were effective in planning curriculum change. This study used a mixed methods approach that employed a structured questionnaire and a semi-structured interview for data collection. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics while qualitative data was analyzed using a thematic approach. Results of the study showed that academic middle managers believed that they were effective in their role in curriculum change especially regarding the use of tasks including articulating to department staff the benefits of curriculum change for students, seeking views of industry about the need to review curriculum, and assessing together with department staff, skills the department wants all learners to develop through curriculum change.
Ethnocide, science, ethnosuicide, and the historians of the vanishing: The extirpation of idolatries in the colonial Andes and a few contemporary variants

This article addresses the participation of Indians in cultural genocide or ethnocide. We call the participation in the destruction of one's culture ethnosuicide. This article pays particular attention to the contradictions “salvage anthropology” incurs in its aim to write histories of the vanishing while training research collaborators to objectify their own culture, thereby capturing them (not necessarily successfully) in forms of thought that lead to ethnosuicide. Whereas the intent of the evangelical practices such as the confession clearly calls forth the annihilation of one's culture, the practice of science might have unintended destructive effects. We imagine a hypothetical graduate seminar in which an indigenous student would face the requirement to make sense of his or her world according to categories and forms of interpretation and explanation favored by anthropology. The readings range from Malinowski's initial definition of anthropological salvaging to Vivieros de Castro recent call for an ontological turn. We close with a reading of the Huarochiri manuscript (Peru 1609) that exemplifies the use of native collaborators to produce knowledge for extirpation campaigns in the colonial Andes.
Investigation of the antecedents and consequences of gamer satisfaction: An individual perspective

New game technologies are changing the way people learn, play, socialize and participate in civic life. However, designing good games is challenging and expensive. While technologies have been improving swiftly, game design guidelines have evolved slowly. This article proposes a theoretical approach to study the key factors leading to successful online games. We first developed a theoretical model, Playability for Acceptance and Adoption Model (PAAM) for conciseness, linking the antecedents into the key factors using information acquired from an extended literature review. We then undertook a survey of 201 online gamers to investigate key factors affecting players' acceptance of online games. Through structural equation modeling, our findings showed that the “perceived benefits” construct is dependent on whether online games met gamers' goals for entertainment or leisure activities, in-game experiences, and out-game needs, while the “perceived ease of use” construct is determined by game design and facilitating conditions. We believe our theoretical model and results are useful to designers and developers of software companies when creating online games that will satisfy gamers' goals, in-game experiences, and out-game needs for playability.
The Epidemiological and Molecular Aspects of Influenza H5N1 Viruses at the Human-Animal Interface in Egypt

With 119 confirmed cases between March 2006 and December 2010, Egypt ranks second among countries reporting human H5N1 influenza virus infections. In 2009–2010, Egypt reported 68 new human cases and became the new epicenter for H5N1 infections. We conducted an epidemiological and molecular analysis in order to better understand the situation in Egypt. The onset of new cases peaked annually during the winter and spring months, with majority of cases reported in the Nile Delta region. Most cases were less than 18 years old (62%) and females (60%). The overall case-fatality rate was 34% and significantly increased by age. There was a significant difference between the case-fatality rates among females and males. We observed a significant drop (p = 0.004) in case fatality rate in 2009 (10%) as compared to higher rates (36%–56%) in other years. Hospitalization within 2 or 3 days after onset of symptoms significantly decreased mortality. Molecular analysis showed that variations do occur among viruses isolated from birds as well as from humans in Egypt, and these mutations were especially noted in 2009 viruses. As the epidemiological profile of Egyptian cases differs from other countries, there is an urgent need to conduct prospective studies to enhance our understanding of incidence, prevalence, and determinants of virulence of human infections with avian H5N1 influenza viruses.
Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors Family Is Involved in the Response to Treatment and Mild Clinical Course in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis

Background. PPARs play an important role in the regulation of intestinal inflammation. Methods. We included a total of 46 UC patients and 31 controls. The gene expression of PPARs was measured by RT-PCR and protein expression by immunohistochemistry. Results. PPARα gene expression was significantly decreased in patients with active UC compared with remission UC group (P = 0.001) and controls (P = 0.001). We found that low gene expression of PPARα in mucosa confers a higher risk of UC activity (P ≤ 0.0001, OR = 22.6). We observed an increase of PPARα expression in patients with UC who were treated with 5-aminosalicylates compared with those who received any other combined therapy (P = 0.03, OR = 0.08). PPARγ gene expression was decreased in the active UC group compared with UC in remission (P = 0.001) and control group (P = 0.001). An increased expression of PPARγ gene was associated with mild clinical course of the disease (P ≤ 0.001, OR = 0.05). No gene expression of PPARβ/δ was found in the colonic mucosa from UC patients and controls. Conclusion. Our results suggest that patients with high gene expression of PPARs have a better response to medical treatment and a mild clinical course of the disease.