Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sustained invisibility through crowding and continuous flash suppression: a comparative review

The study of non-conscious vision benefits from several alternative methods that allow the suppression of an image from awareness. Here, we present and compare two of them that are particularly well-suited for creating sustained periods of invisibility, namely visual crowding and continuous flash suppression (CFS). In visual crowding, a peripheral image surrounded by similar flankers becomes impossible to discriminate. In CFS, an image presented to one eye becomes impossible to detect when rapidly changing patterns are presented to the other eye. After discussing the experimental specificities of each method, we give a comparative overview of the main empirical results derived from them, from the mere analysis of low-level features to the extraction of semantic contents. We conclude by proposing practical guidelines and future directions to obtain more quantitative and systematic measures of non-conscious processes under prolonged stimulation.
Time Flies When We Intend to Act: Temporal Distortion in a Go/No-Go Task

Although many of our actions are triggered by sensory events, almost nothing is known about our perception of the timing of those sensory events. Here we show that, when people react to a sudden visual stimulus that triggers an action, that stimulus is perceived to occur later than an identical stimulus that does not trigger an action. In our experiments, participants fixated the center of a clock face with a rotating second hand. When the clock changed color, they were required to make a motor response and then to report the position of the second hand at the moment the clock changed color. In Experiment 1, in which participants made a target-directed saccade, the color change was perceived to occur 59 ms later than when they maintained fixation. In Experiment 2, in which we used a go/no-go paradigm, this temporal distortion was observed even when participants were required to cancel a prepared saccade. Finally, in Experiment 3, the same distortion in perceived time was observed for both go and no-go trials in a manual task in which no eye movements were required. These results suggest that, when a visual stimulus triggers an action, it is perceived to occur significantly later than an identical stimulus unrelated to action. Moreover, this temporal distortion appears to be related not to the execution of the action (or its effect) but rather to the programming of the action. In short, there seems to be a temporal binding between a triggering event and the triggered action.
The Affective Forecasting Bias in Depressed and Non-Depressed Groups

This study analyzed the influence of the affective forecasting bias on depressed and non-depressed groups. While the literatures on both affective forecasting and depression are robust, there are no studies to date which assess how the affective forecasting bias and the cognitive biases of depression might interact. The present study was able to replicate previous findings in the affective forecasting literature, where Forecasters predicted they would feel much worse after being rejected for a hypothetical date than did Experiencers who were actually rejected. The analyses of this bias in depressed groups failed, in part, due to insufficient group sizes. A preliminary potential moderator of the forecasting bias is reported and clinical applications are discussed.
Mechanisms of imitation and imitation in animals

Imitation is not the low-level, cognitively undemanding behavior it is often assumed to be, but rather--along with language and the ability to understand other minds--one of a trio of related capacities that are fundamental to human mentality. In these landmark volumes, leading researchers across a range of disciplines provide a state-of-the-art view of imitation, integrating the latest findings and theories with reviews of seminal work, and revealing why imitation is a topic of such intense current scientific interest. Perspectives are drawn from neuroscience and brain imaging, animal and developmental psychology, primatology, ethology, philosophy, anthropology, media studies, economics, sociology, education, and law. These volumes provide a resource that makes this research accessible across disciplines and clarifies its importance for the social sciences and philosophy as well as for the cognitive sciences. As a further aid to cross-fertilization, each volume includes extensive interdisciplinary commentary and discussion. The first volume considers possible mechanisms of imitation, including discussion of mirror systems, ideomotor and common coding theories, and the possibility of "shared circuits" for control, imitation, and simulation, and then takes up imitation in animals, with illuminating comparisons to human imitation. The second volume focuses first on the roles of imitation in human development and in learning to understand the minds of others, and then on the broader social and cultural roles and functions of imitation, including discussions of meme theory and cultural evolution, and of the pervasive imitative tendencies of normal adults and their relevance for understanding the effects of the media on human behavior.
Profile of tivozanib and its potential for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma

Tivozanib is a novel vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (VEGF TKI). Among other VEGF TKIs, tivozanib stands apart due to its selective kinase inhibitory properties as well as its high potency for inhibiting VEGF receptors 1 and 2. Tivozanib has been evaluated in several clinical trials including a Phase I and Phase II trial demonstrating safety and efficacy for patients with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC). A pivotal randomized Phase III trial comparing the front-line use of tivozanib to sorafenib in patients with metastatic clear cell RCC has been reported. The clinical development of tivozanib and results of these important studies will be reviewed. Also, the potential placement of tivozanib among currently US Food and Drug Administration approved agents for advanced RCC will be discussed.
Weak > Strong

When people seek support for a cause, they typically present the strongest case they can muster. The present research suggests that under some conditions, the opposite strategy may be superior—in particular, presenting weak rather than strong arguments might stimulate greater advocacy and action. Across four studies, we show that when individuals already agree with a cause (i.e., it is pro-attitudinal), receiving weak arguments in its favor can prompt them into advocating more on its behalf. Perceived argumentation efficacy mediates this effect such that people exposed to weak arguments are more likely to think they have something valuable to contribute. Moreover, consistent with the notion that it is driven by feelings of increased efficacy, the effect is more likely to emerge when initial argumentation efficacy and attitude certainty are moderate or low. Individuals with high argumentation efficacy and high certainty generally advocate more, regardless of the strength of arguments received.
Social presence and virtual collaborative learning processes in higher education / Presencia social y procesos de aprendizaje colaborativo virtual en educación superior

Abstract The concept of social presence proposed in studies on communities of inquiry has highlighted both the importance and the challenges of integrating aspects such as affective and relational expressions among team members while solving collaborative learning tasks, in order to advance in a global comprehension of learning processes. This paper presents a theoretical and methodological proposal for tackling this issue from a socio-cultural perspective by analysing the participants’ discourse in relation to expressions of self-competence (at an individual and group level) concerning the task and group cohesion (task cohesion and social cohesion). This proposal’s potential is illustrated by the empirical results of a case study that analyses social presence during a collaborative work task by university students using the Moodle learning platform.
Scalability of network-on-chip communication architecture for 3-D meshes

Design Constraints imposed by global interconnect delays as well as limitations in integration of disparate technologies make 3-D chip stacks an enticing technology solution for massively integrated electronic systems. The scarcity of vertical interconnects however imposes special constraints on the design of the communication architecture. This article examines the performance and scalability of different communication topologies for 3-D Network-on-Chips (NoC) using Through-Silicon-Vias (TSV) for inter-die connectivity. Cycle accurate RTL-level simulations are conducted for two communication schemes based on a 7-port switch and a centrally arbitrated vertical bus using different traffic patterns. The scalability of the 3-D NoC is examined under both communication architectures and compared to 2-D NoC structures in terms of throughput and latency in order to quantify the variation of network performance with the number of nodes and derive key design guidelines.
The effect of p53‐RNAi and p53 knockout on human 8‐oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (hOgg1) activity

Recent evidence indicates that in vitro p53 augments base excision repair (BER) activities in mammalian cells. To understand the role of p53 in BER, we analyzed the repair activity of hOgg1 in isogenic cell lines HCT116p53+/+ and HCT116p53−/−. We found that hOgg1 activity was significantly decreased in HCT116p53−/− cells as compared with HCT116p53+/+ cells, indicating a functional role for p53 in the regulation of hOGG1. Using gel‐shift assays, we showed that p53 binds to its putative cis‐elements within the hOGG1 promoter. In addition we demonstrated that supplementing p53 in HCT116p53−/− cells enhanced the transcription of hOGG1. To further strengthen our findings, we used p53‐RNAi to study the effects of decreased p53 levels on hOgg1 activity. We observed that p53‐RNAi resulted in decreased hOGG1 expression both at the mRNA and protein levels. This decrease in hOGG1 expression was associated with reduced cell viability upon oxidative damage and reduced hOgg1 activity as evidenced by the 8‐oxoG incision assay. Taken together, our results indicate that loss of p53 function can lead to decreased hOgg1 repair activity.
Do Venture Capital-Driven Top Management Changes Enhance Corporate Innovation in Private Firms?

The main study in my dissertation analyzes the effect of top management changes on corporate innovation in venture capital (VC)-backed private firms and the possible mechanism through which this occurs using a unique hand-collected dataset. I find that top management changes are associated with more and higher quality corporate innovation. Further, such management changes are primarily driven by VCs and the effect of management changes on innovation is stronger for firms where VCs have greater power. An instrumental variable analysis using an exogenous shock to the supply of outside managers available for hire implies that the above relationships are causal.
Quantitative Assessment of the Association between ABC Polymorphisms and Osteosarcoma Response: a Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND ABC proteins are one key type of transport superfamilies which undertake majority of drug transport, which affect the osteosarcoma response to chemotherapeutics. Previous studies have suggested the association between ABC polymorphisms and osteosarcoma response. However, the results of previous studies remain controversial. Therefore, we perform a meta-analysis to get a more precise estimation of this association. The association between ABC polymorphisms and osteosarcoma response was assessed by odds ratios (ORs) together with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Three polymorphisms of ABC including ABCB1 rs1128503, ABCC3 rs4148416 and ABCC2 rs717620 polymorphism were investigated. Overall, significant association was observed between ABCC3 rs4148416 polymorphism and osteosarcoma response under allele contrast (T vs. C: OR=1.73, 95%CI=1.09-2.74, P=0.019), homozygote comparison (TT vs. CC: OR=2.00, 95%CI=1.25-3.23, P=0.004), recessive genetic model (TT vs. TC/CC OR=1.80, 95%CI=1.14-2.84, P=0.011) and dominant genetic model (TT/TC vs. CC: OR=1.70, 95%CI=1.20-2.42, P=0.003). Moreover, significant association was also observed in Caucasian population rather than Asian population for ABCB1 rs1128503 polymorphism. We conclude that ABCC3 rs4148416 polymorphism was significantly associated with poor osteosarcoma response and ABCB1 rs1128503 polymorphism was significantly associated with good osteosarcoma response in Caucasian population rather than Asian population.
From ‘reckless’ to ‘mindful’ in the use of outcome data to inform service-level performance management: perspectives from child mental health

In the recent report on patient safety in the National Health Service (NHS) in England, Don Berwick calls on the NHS to align the necessity for increased ‘accountability’ with the necessity to ‘abandon blame as a tool’ in order to develop a ‘transparent learning culture’. 1 Sir Bruce Keogh, Medical Director NHS, and colleagues’ recent analysis of outlier hospitals based on mortality data marks a key step on this journey, but has led to high-profile debate about the risk of possible ‘reckless’ (Sir Bruce Keogh's term) use of data if appropriate parameters are not established.2 ,3 If these and other equivalent proxies for outcomes are to be used safely and effectively to support performance management and quality improvement in the ways envisioned by both Keogh and Berwick, it is crucial to establish clearly agreed operational procedures. Drawing on our experience of collecting and interpreting outcome data in the challenging context of child mental health across the UK, we suggest adoption of a MINDFUL framework involving consideration of m ultiple perspectives, i nterpreting differences in the light of current evidence base, focus on n egative differences when triangulated with other data, d irected discussions based on ‘what if this were a true difference’ (employing the 75–25% rule), use of f unnel plots as a starting point to consider outliers, appreciation of u ncertainty as a key contextual reality and the use of l earning collaborations to support appropriate implementation and action strategies. Any attempt to measure ‘impact’ of a service using a given ‘outcome’ is complex. The Keogh report acknowledges: “two different measures of mortality, HSMR [Hospital Standardised Mortality Ratio] and SHMI [Summary Hospital Level Mortality Indicator] generated two completely different lists of outlier trusts. ” This was ‘solved’ by using both lists, but with a suggestion to move to …
Nephronectin expression in nephrotoxic acute tubular necrosis.

BACKGROUND Acute tubular necrosis (ATN) is characterized by an initiation phase, followed by an extension phase, and a maintenance and recovery phase, the latter of which involves increased regeneration of tubular cells. Nephronectin (NPNT), a ligand for alpha8beta1 integrin, is expressed in the ureteric bud epithelium during kidney morphogenesis. However, little is known about the potential involvement of NPNT in the regeneration phase of ATN. METHODS cDNA microarray, real-time polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, immuno-electron microscopy and immunoassay (for urine) were used to identify the time-course NPNT expression in a murine model of ATN. RESULTS The gene transcript of NPNT was examined during a 14-day course of ATN by a cursory cDNA microarray analysis. Although NPNT was observed focally in normal renal tubular epithelium, it was greatly expressed in regenerating tubular cells during the maintenance and recovery phases of ATN. As early as day 1 following onset of ATN, NPNT was already present in the urine. Importantly, NPNT expression preceded proliferating cell nuclear antigen protein expression in regenerating renal tubular epithelial cells, as demonstrated by double immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSION The present study was the first to identify an enhanced expression of NPNT in regenerating tubular epithelium in an experimental model of ATN. NPNT may play a crucial role in the regenerating process of nephrotoxic ATN. Our data also suggest that NPNT may provide a useful tissue and urine biomarker for both the development and evolution of nephrotoxic acute renal injury.
An investigation of the attitudes, anxieties and self-efficacy beliefs towards mathematics lessons high school students’ in terms of gender, types of school, and students’ grades

The main objective of this study is to explore relationships between high school students’ attitudes towards mathematics lessons, anxieties towards mathematics lessons and self-efficacy beliefs in terms of gender, types of school and students’ grades. In this study, the data were gathered by “Attitudes Towards Mathematics Scale” (Askar, 1986) and by “Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale” which was adapted to Turkish by Akin, Kurbanoglu and Takunyaci (2009). Besides, in order to determine students’ self-efficacy beliefs were determined by self-efficacy, sub-scale of “Motivation Scale” which was adapted to Turkish by Buyukozturk, Akgun, Ozkahveci, & Demirel (2004). The sample of this study consisted of 418 students who attended from three different high schools. The study was conducted during the fall semester of academic year 2009-2010. ANOVA and t-Test were employed to analyze the hypotheses of research. It was observed in the findings of the study that there are no statistically significant differences between students’ gender and scores of attitudes towards mathematics lessons, anxieties towards mathematics lessons and self-efficacy beliefs. But there are statistically significant differences between students’ types of school and students’ grades and scores of attitudes towards mathematics lessons, anxieties towards mathematics lessons and self-efficacy beliefs.
A Comparative Study on Three Analytical Methods for the Determination of the Neurotoxin BMAA in Cyanobacteria

The cyanobacterial neurotoxin β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) has been considered a serious health threat because of its putative role in multiple neurodegenerative diseases. First reports on BMAA concentrations in cyanobacteria were alarming: nearly all cyanobacteria were assumed to contain high BMAA concentrations, implying ubiquitous exposure. Recent studies however question this presence of high BMAA concentrations in cyanobacteria. To assess the real risk of BMAA to human health, this discrepancy must be resolved. We therefore tested whether the differences found could be caused by the analytical methods used in different studies. Eight cyanobacterial samples and two control samples were analyzed by three commonly used methods: HPLC-FLD analysis and LC-MS/MS analysis of both derivatized and underivatized samples. In line with published results, HPLC-FLD detected relatively high BMAA concentrations in some cyanobacterial samples, while both LC-MS/MS methods only detected BMAA in the positive control (cycad seed sarcotesta). Because we could eliminate the use of different samples and treatments as causal factors, we demonstrate that the observed differences were caused by the analytical methods. We conclude that HPLC-FLD overestimated BMAA concentrations in some cyanobacterial samples due to its low selectivity and propose that BMAA might be present in (some) cyanobacteria, but in the low µg/g or ng/g range instead of the high µg/g range as sometimes reported before. We therefore recommend to use only selective and sensitive analytical methods like LC-MS/MS for BMAA analysis. Although possibly present in low concentrations in cyanobacteria, BMAA can still form a health risk. Recent evidence on BMAA accumulation in aquatic food chains suggests human exposure through consumption of fish and shellfish which expectedly exceeds exposure through cyanobacteria.
Large-Scale MIMO Versus Network MIMO for Multicell Interference Mitigation

This paper compares two important downlink multicell interference mitigation techniques, namely, large-scale (LS) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and network MIMO. We consider a cooperative wireless cellular system operating in time-division duplex (TDD) mode, wherein each cooperating cluster includes B base-stations (BSs), each equipped with multiple antennas and scheduling K single-antenna users. In an LS-MIMO system, each BS employs BM antennas not only to serve its scheduled users, but also to null out interference caused to the other users within the cooperating cluster using zero-forcing (ZF) beamforming. In a network MIMO system, each BS is equipped with only M antennas, but interference cancellation is realized by data and channel state information exchange over the backhaul links and joint downlink transmission using ZF beamforming. Both systems are able to completely eliminate intra-cluster interference and to provide the same number of spatial degrees of freedom per user. Assuming the uplink-downlink channel reciprocity provided by TDD, both systems are subject to identical channel acquisition overhead during the uplink pilot transmission stage. Further, the available sum power at each cluster is fixed and assumed to be equally distributed across the downlink beams in both systems. Building upon the channel distribution functions and using tools from stochastic ordering, this paper shows, however, that from a performance point of view, users experience better quality of service, averaged over small-scale fading, under an LS-MIMO system than a network MIMO system. Numerical simulations for a multicell network reveal that this conclusion also holds true with regularized ZF beamforming scheme. Hence, given the likely lower cost of adding excess number of antennas at each BS, LS-MIMO could be the preferred route toward interference mitigation in cellular networks .
Education and Community

This essay presents a dissenting view of prevailing concepts of education and approaches to educational reform. Reforms currently directed at American schools are grounded in conceptual and institutional frameworks that fail to confront the most fundamental problems of our age. The authors outline the nature of these problems, suggest ways in which education in America both reflects and exacerbates the problems, and finally sketch an educational model they feel is more appropriate to the challenges of modern America.