Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transdiagnostic Cognitive Control Training for Emotion-Relevant Impulsivity

The tendency to respond impulsively to strong emotions is a surprisingly common trait across many forms of psychopathology. Emotion-relevant impulsivity is closely tied to problems with cognitive control, raising the possibility that strengthening underlying cognitive mechanisms might also reduce aspects of impulsivity. Cognitive control training programs have been used to improve emotion regulation skills in several studies (cf. Siegle, Price, Jones, Ghinassi, Painter, & Thase, 2014), but despite conceptual similarities, it is unknown whether cognitive control training might also reduce emotion-relevant impulsivity. The goal of the present study was to test whether training cognitive control through working memory and response inhibition tasks (two dimensions specifically implicated in emotion-relevant impulsivity) is efficacious in reducing emotion-relevant impulsivity transdiagnostically. Participants (N = 52) were recruited based on self-reported tendencies to experience difficulties with impulsivity in the face of strong emotion, using the Feelings Trigger Action scale (Carver, Johnson, Joormann, Kim, & Nam, 2011). Participants were randomly assigned to either a two-week waitlist condition or to immediately begin six in-lab training sessions (including the adaptive PASAT: a working memory task, and the Go/No-Go task: a response inhibition task in each session) over the course of two weeks. Results showed a significant reduction in emotion-relevant impulsivity from pre-training to post-training and during the two-week follow-up phase; these improvements were not observed in the waitlist control period. Participants also showed significant improvements on the working memory task, and non-significant improvements on transfer tasks of working memory and response inhibition. Results provide preliminary support for the efficacy of cognitive control training interventions that target emotion-driven impulsivity.
Event-based state estimation using an improved stochastic send-on-delta sampling scheme

Event-based sensing and communication holds the promise of lower resource utilization and/or better performance for remote state estimation applications found in e.g. networked control systems. Recently, stochastic event-triggering rules have been proposed as a means to avoid the complexity of the problem that normally arises in event-based estimator design. By using a scaled Gaussian function in the stochastic triggering scheme, the optimal remote state estimator becomes a linear Kalman filter with a case dependent measurement update. In this paper we propose a modified version of the stochastic send-on-delta triggering rule. The idea is to use a very simple predictor in the sensor, which allows the communication rate to be reduced while preserving estimation performance compared to regular stochastic send-on-delta sampling. We derive the optimal mean-square error estimator for the new scheme and present upper and lower bounds on the error covariance. The proposed scheme is evaluated in numerical examples, where it compares favorably to previous stochastic sampling approaches, and is shown to preserve estimation performance well even at large reductions in communication rate.
‘She has like 4000 followers!’: the celebrification of self within school social networks.

ABSTRACT Online social interaction has become integral to contemporary social life, adding new dimensions to how young people learn, interact, and perceive themselves and one another. This paper presents theoretical insights from a year-long ethnographic study within a Scottish secondary school, where participant observation and qualitative interviews were used to explain pupils’ informal social relationships. Here, pupils aged 11–18 constructed and negotiated a hyper-surveillanced social space within which many became (or strived to become) visible and ‘known’ amongst others and where online presentations of self were highly important. This facilitated a celebrity-esque culture amongst the pupil population whereby pupils learnt from and emulated macro celebrity culture and often framed social interactions as entertainment. Central to these practices, was a continual desire to ‘make gains in distinction’ by demonstrating high social status amongst peers. The paper explores the resulting implications for teaching, learning and pupil wellbeing within contemporary educational environments.
What Are Analysts Really Good At

Sell-side analysts employ different benchmarks when defining their stock recommendations. For example, a ‘buy’ for some brokers means the stock is expected to outperform its peers in the same sector (“industry benchmarkers”), while for other brokers it means the stock is expected to outperform the market (“market benchmarkers”), or just some absolute return (“total benchmarkers”). We use these benchmarks to analyze the role of stock picking, industry picking and market timing in contributing to the performance of stock recommendations. We are able to do so given that different benchmarks suggest the use of different sets of abilities. Analysis of the relation between analysts’ recommendations and their long-term growth and earnings forecasts suggests that analysts indeed abide by their benchmarks. We find strong evidence that the investment value of stock recommendations stems from analysts picking winners and losers within a particular industry (stock picking) regardless of the declared benchmark. We find no evidence of either industry picking or market timing even for analysts whose benchmarks suggest the existence of such skills. The research carries implications for the correct understanding and interpretation of sell-side research and its investment value.
Structure and dynamics of the deoxyguanosine-sensing riboswitch studied by NMR-spectroscopy

The mfl-riboswitch regulates expression of ribonucleotide reductase subunit in Mesoplasma florum by binding to 2′-deoxyguanosine and thereby promoting transcription termination. We characterized the structure of the ligand-bound aptamer domain by NMR spectroscopy and compared the mfl-aptamer to the aptamer domain of the closely related purine-sensing riboswitches. We show that the mfl-aptamer accommodates the extra 2′-deoxyribose unit of the ligand by forming a more relaxed binding pocket than these found in the purine-sensing riboswitches. Tertiary structures of the xpt-aptamer bound to guanine and of the mfl-aptamer bound to 2′-deoxyguanosine exhibit very similar features, although the sequence of the mfl-aptamer contains several alterations compared to the purine-aptamer consensus sequence. These alterations include the truncation of a hairpin loop which is crucial for complex formation in all purine-sensing riboswitches characterized to date. We further defined structural features and ligand binding requirements of the free mfl-aptamer and found that the presence of Mg2+ is not essential for complex formation, but facilitates ligand binding by promoting pre-organization of key structural motifs in the free aptamer.
Mis‐splicing yields circular RNA molecules

We previously identified novel human ets‐1 transcripts in which the normal order of exons is inverted, and demonstrated that although the order of exons is different than in the genomic DNA, splicing of these exons out of order occurs in pairs using genuine splice sites (1). Here we determine the structure of these novel transcripts, showing that they correspond to circular RNA molecules containing only exons in genomic order. These transcripts are stable molecules, localized in the cytoplasmic component of the cells. To our knowledge, this is the first case of circular transcripts being processed from nuclear pre‐mRNA in eukaryotes. This new type of transcript might represent a novel aspect of gene expression and hold some interesting clues about the splicing mechanism. — Cocquerelle, C. , Mascrez, B. , Hétuin, D. , Bailleul, B. Mis‐splicing yields circular RNA molecules. FASEB J. 7: 155‐160; 1993.
Personality type and learning environments: two case studies

Research by the author has been conducted previously that explores the similarities and differences in online and face-to-face environments, and the exploration of personality type and the learner’s experience of the online learning environment. This paper presents two case studies of learners who were categorised using the Myers Briggs Type Inventory according to their connection with the outer world (the Extraversion / Introversion dichotomy and the Judging / Perceiving dichotomy), describing their physical learning environments and the different needs that each environment presents and meets. It then explores possible ways that the online environment might complement the physical learning environment and meet the same needs, discussing the implications for the online environment.
Sleep deficits but no metabolic deficits in premanifest Huntington's disease

Huntington disease (HD) is a fatal autosomal dominant, neurodegenerative condition characterized by progressively worsening motor and nonmotor problems including cognitive and neuropsychiatric disturbances, along with sleep abnormalities and weight loss. However, it is not known whether sleep disturbances and metabolic abnormalities underlying the weight loss are present at a premanifest stage.
Secondary Plant Compounds in Seedling and Mature Aspen (Populus tremuloides) in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Abstract Widespread establishment of seedling aspen (Populus tremuloides) occurred in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) following the extensive1988 fires. Aspen stands occupy ∼2% of YNP and aspen stems are intensively browsed by native ungulates. Chemical composition, especially secondary compounds, may influence levels of herbivory and, hence, survival of aspen, but concentrations of such compounds in aspen in the northern Rocky Mountains are not known. Quantitative profiles of foliar nitrogen and secondary compounds (condensed tannins and the phenolic glycosides, salicortin and tremulacin) in aspen were assessed to address the following questions: (1) Do concentrations of secondary compounds differ between seedling and mature aspen stands? (2) Do concentrations of secondary compounds in seedling aspen differ between unbrowsed and artificially browsed seedlings? (3) Among mature aspen stands, do concentrations of secondary plant compounds differ among, (a) burned and browsed, (b) unburned and browsed and (c) unburned and unbrowsed stands? Concentrations of phenolic glycosides were significantly higher in seedlings than in mature stands, although condensed tannin concentrations and leaf nitrogen were higher in mature stands. Concentrations of leaf nitrogen and all secondary compounds were greater in unbrowsed seedlings than in seedlings subjected to simulated browsing. Concentrations of secondary compounds did not differ between mature aspen stands that were unburned regardless of whether they were browsed; however, burned stands (all of which were browsed) had significantly greater concentrations of secondary compounds and leaf nitrogen than the unburned stands. Results from this research suggest that foliar phenolic glycosides and tannins are not active defenses induced in response to browsing by large mammals. Rather, variation in levels between juvenile and mature ramets represents ontogenetic shifts in expression of defense, whereas variation between clipped and unclipped seedlings results from shifts in carbon/nutrient availability.
A Systematic Review of Scope and Quality of Health Economic Evaluation Studies in Vietnam

Introduction The application of health economic evaluation (HEE) evidence can play an important role in strategic planning and policy making. This study aimed to assess the scope and quality of existing research, with the goal of elucidating implications for improving the use of HEE evidence in Vietnam. Methods A comprehensive search strategy was developed to search medical online databases (Medline, Google Scholar, and Vietnam Medical Databases) to select all types of HEE studies except cost-only analyses. Two researchers assessed the quality of selected studies using the Quality of Health Economic Studies (QHES) instrument. Results We selected 26 studies, including 6 published in Vietnam. The majority of these studies focused on infectious diseases (14 studies), with HIV being the most common topic (5 studies). Most papers were cost-effectiveness studies that measured health outcomes using DALY units. Using QHES, we found that the overall quality of HEE studies published internationally was much higher (mean score 88.7+13.3) than that of those published in Vietnam (mean score 67.3+22.9). Lack of costing perspectives, reliable data sources and sensitivity analysis were the main shortcomings of the reviewed studies. Conclusion This review indicates that HEE studies published in Vietnam are limited in scope and number, as well as by several important technical errors or omissions. It is necessary to formalize the process of health economic research in Vietnam and to institutionalize the links between researchers and policy-makers. Additionally, the quality of HEE should be enhanced through education about research techniques, and the implementation of standard HEE guidelines.
Influences of Social Norms, Habit and Ambivalence on Park Visitors’ Dog Leash Compliance for Protecting Wildlife

Supervisory Committee Dr. Peter Keller, Department of Geography Supervisor Dr. Rick Rollins, Department of Geography Adjunct, Department of Recreation and Tourism Management, Vancouver Island University Co-Supervisor Dr. Robert Gifford, Department of Psychology and School of Environmental Studies Committee Member Non-compliance with visitor regulations in national parks can have an impact on park conservation and the experience of other park visitors. Park management in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve located on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada is challenged by visitors’ non-compliant behaviour concerning regulations to keep dogs on the leash in the park. Dogs that run free (off-leash) on the beaches of the park disturb migratory shorebirds, and have the potential to habituate wolves to regard dogs as objects of prey. This study investigates why many visitors opt for non-compliance with regulations aimed at conservation. The goal of the study is to contribute new insights that may help park management find workable solutions to deliver the ‘dual mandate’ of managing protected areas both, for conservation and for nature-based tourism. The study is grounded within the context of Lefebvre’s (1991) notions of the production of space, and recent work in animal geography that addresses the changing role of our canine companions in modern society. The methodology combines qualitative and quantitative research applying Fishbein & Ajzen’s (2010) theory of planned behaviour (TPB). The research is presented using a journal format, which unavoidably implies some repetition of information but allows for the different sections to be read as
P2P Traffic Identification using Cluster Analysis

In the last years, we have seen that the use of P2P applications has increased significantly and currently they represent a significant portion of the Internet traffic. In consequence of this growth, P2P traffic characterization and identification are becoming increasingly important for network administrators and designers. However, this identification is not simple. Nowadays, P2P applications explicitly try to camouflage the original traffic in an attempt to go undetected. This work presents a methodology and selection of five traffic discriminators and applies cluster analysis to identify P2P applications. Our results indicate that the accuracy is around 90% using this small number of discriminators.
External Trigger Factors for Violent Offending: Findings From the U.K. Prisoner Cohort Study

The role of “triggers” for violence is seldom considered when assessing risk of violence in prisoners and forensic patients. A sample of 494 cases from a two-phase study of violent prisoners in England and Wales were rated for presence of acute risk factors and “triggers” occurring before the index offense. Logistic regression was performed to test prediction of acute factors and triggers by preoffense static and stable dynamic factors. Regression models were then built to investigate associations between triggers and violent reoffending post release. Although stable dynamic risk factors were accurately predicted by static actuarial risk, neither were associated with specific violence triggers. An argument with a stranger resulting in violence was associated with future violent reoffending. Violence triggers are highly context-specific but cannot be predicted using existing risk factors. They have a complex relationship with preexisting dynamic factors resulting in future violence.
Local Polar DCT Features for Image Description

We present a novel feature descriptor, Local Polar DCT Features (LPDF), which is robust to a variety of image transformations. Specifically, the local patch is quantized in the designed polar geometric structure and the 2-D DCT features are then extracted and rearranged. A subset of the resulting DCT coefficients is selected as our compact LPDF descriptor. We perform a comprehensive performance evaluation with state-of-the-art methods, i.e., SIFT, DAISY, LIOP, and GLOH on the standard Oxford dataset and two additional test image pairs. Experimental results demonstrate the superiority of proposed descriptor under various image transformations, even with very low dimensions.
The Connection between a Mentor and a Mentee in Higher Education: A Case of a Primary Teachers’ Training College in Zimbabwe

This study sought to establish the nature of mentoring relationships that exist between a mentor and a mentee during teacher training. The main focus of this study was on the connections that existed during the teaching practice (TP) mentoring of trainee teachers from one primary school teacher training college of education in Zimbabwe. The study examined the experiences and perceptions on Teaching Practice mentoring by student teachers and classroom mentors as key stakeholders in process. A purposive sample of 17 student teachers and 10 mentor teachers from the schools that the teachers’ college collaborated with in training student teachers was selected. The study employed a qualitative case study research design in which one-on-one interviews, focus group discussions were used to collect data. Data were analysed for content and conclusions were drawn. The main conclusions of the study were that various kinds of relationships exist between mentor teachers and student teachers these are either positive or negative. The study concluded that good mentoring relationships benefit both the mentor and the mentee. The main recommendations are that mentor teachers and trainee teachers be made aware of the importance of mentoring relationship for a successful mentoring process. The roles of a mentor need to be clearly defined according to the job specification to avoid overloading mentees. Lastly the study concluded that mentor teachers should be equipped with skills of establishing mentoring relationships for positive results. Address for correspondence: Dr. S. Bhebhe University of Swaziland,
The Impact of Teen Magazines on Adolescent Girls in North Cyprus

To understand the impact of teen magazines on adolescent girls from their perspective, we undertook a study in North Cyprus with 82 adolescent girls aged 12–17 years who were readers of several Turkish teen magazines. We conducted focus group interviews to determine the impact of the teen magazines on these Turkish Cypriot adolescent girls’ perception of ideal beauty, consumption behavior, and body satisfaction, and to establish why they read the magazines. A narrative analysis showed that participants valued the teen magazines as a source of information and advice. They were influenced by the Western image of ideal beauty promoted by the magazines, were motivated to purchase and use fashion and beauty products advertised in them, and showed signs of body dissatisfaction. However, there was some evidence of valuing difference in defining beauty. Practical and theoretical implications of our findings are discussed.
Is More Always Better for Verbs? Semantic Richness Effects and Verb Meaning

We examined how several semantic richness variables contribute to verb meaning, across a number of tasks. Because verbs can vary in tense, and the manner in which tense is coded (i.e., regularity), we also examined how these factors moderated the effects of semantic richness. In Experiment 1 we found that age of acquisition (AoA), valence, arousal and embodiment predicted faster response times in LDT. In Experiment 2 we examined a particular semantic richness variable, verb embodiment, and found that it was moderated by tense and regularity. In Experiment 3a we found that AoA predicted faster response times in verb reading. Finally, in Experiment 3b, semantic diversity predicted response times in a past tense generation task, either facilitating or inhibiting responses for regular or irregular verbs, respectively. These results demonstrate that semantic richness variables contribute to verb meaning even when verbs are presented in isolation, and that these effects depend on several factors unique to verbs.
Existence of outsiders as a characteristic of online communication networks

Abstract Online social networking services involve communication activities between large number of individuals over the public Internet and their crawled records are often regarded as proxies of real (i.e., offline) interaction structure. However, structure observed in these records might differ from real counterparts because individuals may behave differently online and non-human accounts may even participate. To understand the difference between online and real social networks, we investigate an empirical communication network between users on Twitter, which is perhaps one of the largest social networking services. We define a network of user pairs that send reciprocal messages. Based on the correlation between degree of adjacent nodes observed in this network, we hypothesize that this network differs from conventional understandings in the sense that there is a small number of distinctive users that we call outsiders. Outsiders do not belong to any user groups but they are connected with different groups, while not being well connected with each other. We identify outsiders by maximizing the degree assortativity coefficient of the network via node removal, thereby confirming that local structural properties of outsiders identified are consistent with our hypothesis. Our findings suggest that the existence of outsiders should be considered when using Twitter communication networks for social network analysis.