Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Attention selection and multitasking in everyday driving: A conceptual model

This chapter outlines a conceptual model of attention selection and multitasking in everyday driving. While existing theoretical and empirical work on attention in driving has mainly focused on dual-task interference in experimental settings, the present model aims to account for attention selection in natural driving situations. The model starts from the view of attention as a form of adaptive behaviour and emphasises the key role of expectancy, the dynamic interplay between top-down and bottom-up selection, the often habitual nature of attention selection in real driving and how attention selection is driven by perceived and expected value. However, the model also offers a novel characterisation of dual-task interference mechanisms and more precise definitions of key concepts such as driver inattention and driver distraction. Based on the model, a general conceptualisation of the relation between attention selection and crash causation is proposed and implications for the design of driver support systems and automotive human-machine interfaces are discussed.
Stimulating Multiple-Demand Cortex Enhances Vocabulary Learning

It is well established that networks within multiple-demand cortex (MDC) become active when diverse skills and behaviors are being learnt. However, their causal role in learning remains to be established. In the present study, we first performed functional magnetic resonance imaging on healthy female and male human participants to confirm that MDC was most active in the initial stages of learning a novel vocabulary, consisting of pronounceable nonwords (pseudowords), each associated with a picture of a real object. We then examined, in healthy female and male human participants, whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of a frontal midline node of the cingulo-opercular MDC affected learning rates specifically during the initial stages of learning. We report that stimulation of this node, but not a control brain region, substantially improved both accuracy and response times during the earliest stage of learning pseudoword–object associations. This stimulation had no effect on the processing of established vocabulary, tested by the accuracy and response times when participants decided whether a real word was accurately paired with a picture of an object. These results provide evidence that noninvasive stimulation to MDC nodes can enhance learning rates, thereby demonstrating their causal role in the learning process. We propose that this causal role makes MDC candidate target for experimental therapeutics; for example, in stroke patients with aphasia attempting to reacquire a vocabulary. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Learning a task involves the brain system within which that specific task becomes established. Therefore, successfully learning a new vocabulary establishes the novel words in the language system. However, there is evidence that in the early stages of learning, networks within multiple-demand cortex (MDC), which control higher cognitive functions, such as working memory, attention, and monitoring of performance, become active. This activity declines once the task is learnt. The present study demonstrated that a node within MDC, located in midline frontal cortex, becomes active during the early stage of learning a novel vocabulary. Importantly, noninvasive brain stimulation of this node improved performance during this stage of learning. This observation demonstrated that MDC activity is important for learning.
Changes of relaxation times (T1, T2) and apparent diffusion coefficient after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat: temporal evolution, regional extent, and comparison with histology

The quantitative NMR parameters T1, T2, p, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were determined during the 7 h after middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats. In the normal caudate‐putamen (CP), 869 ± 145 ms and 72 ± 2ms for T1 and for T2, respectively, were found; the corresponding values for cortex were 928 ± 117 ms and 73 ± 2 ms. The ADC showed significant dependence on gradient direction: diffusion along x resulted in 534 ± 53 μm2/s (CP) and 554 ± 62 μm2/s (cortex), and along y in 697 ± 58 μm2/s (CP) and 675 ± 53 μm2/s (cortex). In the ischemic territory, a continuous increase over time of both relaxation times was observed in the CP, leading to an increase of 29 ± 20% (T1) and 51 ± 41% (T2 above control level. ADC dropped to 63 ± 15% of control in the CP and to 74 ± 4% of control in the temporal cortex. No significant change was noted in proton density during the observation period. Strongest ADC reduction was in the center of the ischemic territory (≤ 60% of control) surrounded by a region of lesser reduction (≤ 80% of control). During the early part of the study, the area of reduced ADC was larger than that of elevated relaxation times. Toward the end of the experiment, the area of increased relaxation times approached that of decreased ADC at ≤ 80% of control. Good agreement of histological presentation of infarct with the total area of decreased ADC (≤ 80%) was demonstrated.
Usability of Hybrid, Physical and Virtual Objects for Basic Manipulation Tasks in Virtual Environments

Integrating physical and virtual environments has been shown to improve usability of virtual reality (VR) applications. Objects within these mixed realities (MR (Milgram and Kishino, 1994)) can be hybrid physical/virtual objects that are physically manipulatable and have flexible shape and texture. We compare usability of hybrid objects for basic manipulation tasks (rotation, positioning) to physical and virtual objects. The results suggest that hybrid objects are manipulated faster than virtual objects, but not more accurately. Physical objects outperform both hybrid and virtual objects in terms of speed and accuracy. On the other hand, users felt most stimulated by the virtual objects, followed by the hybrid and physical objects. The study shows that hybrid objects "work" in virtual environments, but further investigations regarding the factors influencing their usability are needed.
Survivable Routing of Unicast and Anycast Flows in MPLS Networks

Most of previous research in anycasting has been focused on best-effort networks and IP networks. In contrast, we propose a QoS-based routing of anycast demands in connection-oriented MPLS network. Since in real networks different kinds of flows are transmitted over the same links, we assume that both unicast and anycast requests must be served in the network. Survivability of the network is one of the most important elements of QoS parameters since network failures can lead to significant consequences. We examine performance of several constraint-based algorithms for anycast server selection and QoS unicast routing algorithms. As the performance metric we use the flow lost due to a single failure of the link. For network restoration of anycast flows we propose a new scheme called backup server. Simulations show that application of backup server approach can significantly improve the network survivability.
Earlier presentation and application of curative treatments in hepatocellular carcinoma

The purpose of the study was to assess the use of curative therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the population. HCC treatment patterns were examined in Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 18 registries (28% of U.S.). Joinpoint regression analyses were performed to assess 2000‐2010 incidence trends by tumor size, count, and receipt of potentially curative treatments (transplantation, resection, and ablation). SEER‐Medicare data enabled evaluation of treatment patterns including receipt of sorafenib or transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) by HCC‐associated comorbidities. Diagnoses of tumors ≤5.0 cm in diameter significantly increased during 2000‐2010, surpassing diagnosis of larger tumors. Overall, 23% of cases received potentially curative treatment. Joinpoint models indicated incidence rates of treatment with curative intent increased 17.6% per year during 2000‐2005, then declined by −2.9% per year during 2005‐2010 (P < 0.001). Among HCC cases with a single tumor ≤5.0 cm and no extension beyond the liver, use of ablative therapy significantly increased during 2000‐2010. Use of invasive surgery for single tumors, regardless of size, significantly increased during the initial years of the decade, then plateaued. The group most likely to receive curative treatment in the SEER‐Medicare cases was patients with one, small tumor confined to the liver (657 of 1,597 cases, 41%), with no difference in treatment by hepatic comorbidity status (P = 0.24). A higher proportion of cases with reported liver‐associated comorbidities were, however, diagnosed with tumors ≤5.0 cm in diameter (1,745 0f 2,464, 71%) compared to patients with no reported comorbidities (996 of 2,596, 38%, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Although more HCC patients were diagnosed with early disease over time, the use of curative treatments in this patient group has recently plateaued. Efforts to identify and treat more eligible candidates for curative therapy could be beneficial. (Hepatology 2014;60:1637–1644)
Written distractor words influence brain activity during overt picture naming

Language production requires multiple stages of processing (e.g., semantic retrieval, lexical selection), each of which may involve distinct brain regions. Distractor words can be combined with picture naming to examine factors that influence language production. Phonologically-related distractors have been found to speed picture naming (facilitation), while slower response times and decreased accuracy (interference) generally occur when a distractor is categorically related to the target image. However, other types of semantically-related distractors have been reported to produce a facilitative effect (e.g., associative, part-whole). The different pattern of results for different types of semantically-related distractors raises the question about how the nature of the semantic relation influences the effect of the distractor. To explore the nature of these semantic effects further, we used functional MRI to examine the influence of four types of written distractors on brain activation during overt picture naming. Distractors began with the same sound, were categorically-related, part of the object to be named, or were unrelated to the picture. Phonologically-related trials elicited greater activation than both semantic conditions (categorically-related and part-whole) in left insula and bilateral parietal cortex, regions that have been attributed to phonological aspects of production and encoding, respectively. Semantic conditions elicited greater activation than phonological trials in left posterior MTG, a region that has been linked to concept retrieval and semantic integration. Overall, the two semantic conditions did not differ substantially in their functional activation which suggests a similarity in the semantic demands and lexical competition across these two conditions.
Altered Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Immunoglobulin M (IgM)/IgG Optical Density Ratios Can Correctly Classify All Primary or Secondary Dengue Virus Infections 1 Day after the Onset of Symptoms, when All of the Viruses Can Be Isolated

ABSTRACT We compared dengue virus (DV) isolation rates and tested whether acute primary (P) and acute/probable acute secondary (S/PS) DV infections could be correctly classified serologically when the patients' first serum (S1) samples were obtained 1 to 3 days after the onset of symptoms (AOS). DV envelope/membrane protein-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) capture and IgG capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) titrations (1/log10 1.7 to 1 log10 6.6 dilutions) were performed on 100 paired S1 and S2 samples from suspected DV infections. The serologically confirmed S/PS infections were divided into six subgroups based on their different IgM and IgG responses. Because of their much greater dynamic ranges, IgG/IgM ELISA titer ratios were more accurate and reliable than IgM/IgG optical density (OD) ratios recorded at a single cutoff dilution for discriminating between P and S/PS infections. However, 62% of these patients' S1 samples were DV IgM and IgG titer negative (<ODmax/2 titer threshold), and in 35% of the S/PS infections, the patients' S1 and S2 samples were IgM titer negative. The IgM OD values were, however, much higher than those of IgG in the S1 samples of many of these, and the other, S/PS infections. This necessitated using higher (≥2.60 and <2.60) discriminatory IgM/IgG OD (DOD) ratios on these S1 samples than those published previously to correctly classify the highest percentage of these P and S/PS infections. The DV isolation rate was highest (12/12; 100%) using IgG and IgM titer-negative S1 samples collected 1 day AOS, when 100% of them were correctly classified as P or S/PS infections using these higher DOD ratios.
Corruption and Bureaucratic Structure in a Developing Economy

We address the impact of corruption in a developing economy in the context of an empirically relevant hold-up problem - when a foreign firm sinks an investment to provide infrastructure services. We focus on the structure of the economy’s bureaucracy, which can be centralized or decentralized, and characterize the ‘corruptibility’ of bureaucrats in each case. Results are explained in terms of the noninternalization, under decentralization, of the ‘bribe externality’ and the ‘price externality. ’ In welfare terms, decentralization is favoured, relatively speaking, if the tax system is less inefficient, funding is less tight, bureaucrats are less venal, or compensation for expropriation is ungenerous.
Electrically small supergain end‐fire arrays

The theory, computer simulations, and experimental measurements are presented for electrically small, two‐element supergain arrays with near‐optimal end‐fire gains of 7 dB. We show how the difficulties of narrow tolerances, large mismatches, low radiation efficiencies, and reduced scattering of electrically small parasitic elements are overcome by using electrically small resonant antennas as the elements in both separately driven and singly driven (parasitic), two‐element, electrically small supergain end‐fire arrays. Although rapidly increasing narrow tolerances prevent the practical realization of the maximum theoretically possible end‐fire gain of electrically small arrays with many elements, the theory and preliminary numerical simulations indicate that near‐maximum supergains are also achievable in practice for electrically small arrays with three (and possibly more) resonant elements if the decreasing bandwidth with increasing number of elements can be tolerated.
Condition monitoring of 3G cellular networks through competitive neural models

We develop an unsupervised approach to condition monitoring of cellular networks using competitive neural algorithms. Training is carried out with state vectors representing the normal functioning of a simulated CDMA2000 network. Once training is completed, global and local normality profiles (NPs) are built from the distribution of quantization errors of the training state vectors and their components, respectively. The global NP is used to evaluate the overall condition of the cellular system. If abnormal behavior is detected, local NPs are used in a component-wise fashion to find abnormal state variables. Anomaly detection tests are performed via percentile-based confidence intervals computed over the global and local NPs. We compared the performance of four competitive algorithms [winner-take-all (WTA), frequency-sensitive competitive learning (FSCL), self-organizing map (SOM), and neural-gas algorithm (NGA)] and the results suggest that the joint use of global and local NPs is more efficient and more robust than current single-threshold methods.
Habitat‐Dependent Variations in Berberine Content of Berberis asiatica Roxb. ex. DC. in Kumaon, Western Himalaya

The variation of the berberine content in roots and stem bark of Berberis asiatica with altitude and edaphic conditions in the western Himalaya was estimated by HPLC. The comparative assessment revealed a significantly higher berberine content in roots than in stem barks. Moreover, the berberine content varied significantly with altitude and edaphic conditions both in root and stem bark samples. The populations growing at low altitude contained significantly more berberine than the ones growing at high altitude. Also the moisture and potassium (K) percentage of the soil significantly influenced the berberine content.
Salvage surgery following irradiation with different fractionation regimes in the treatment of carcinoma of the laryngo pharynx: experience gained from a British Institute of Radiology Study

Abstract The 10-year follow-up of patients in a clinical trial involving the comparison of treatment by three fractions per week versus five fractions per week in radiotherapy of squamous carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx has now been completed. The trial involved an intake of 734 patients between 1966 and 1975. No statistically significant differences have been found between the two trial arms in terms of overall survival, age corrected survival, local recurrence, laryngectomy-free rates or effects on the normal tissues. Local recurrence was found in 320 of the 713 evaluable patients (45 per cent). Salvage laryngectomy was performed in 151 of the 320 patients with recurrence (47 per cent). Survival at 10 years for all node negative patients was 50 per cent in those patients without primary recurrence, compared with 40 per cent in those undergoing salvage laryngectomy.
Evidence of the development of vocal pitch matching ability in children 1

Introduction Research suggests that singing behaviours are subject to developmental processes in which individual neuropsychobiological potentiality is shaped (nurtured and/or hindered) by learning experiences within socio-cultural contexts (Welch, 2007; in press; Knight, 2009). Although singing is commonplace, it is also marked by cultural diversity, with development related to opportunity (e.g. Mang, 2007), the prosodic features of indigenous languages (Azechi, 2008) and also the dominant characteristics of the local musical soundscapes (Welch et al, 1997; Welch, 2006a; 2006b; in press). In many parts of the world, the ability to sing is seen as a mark of an individual’s underlying musicality (cf Sloboda et al, 2005). Consequently, those individuals whose singing development has been hindered in some way are often labelled (including selflabelled) in some absolutist sense under a bi-polar categorisation of ‘can’/’cannot’ sing, with variations in their ascribed musical identity as a ‘non-singer’, ‘tone-deaf’, or ‘tonedumb’ being found in virtually all cultures. Yet, as mentioned above, contrary evidence from developmental and neurological studies continues to emerge that singing and musical behaviours are context bound and susceptible to improvement with appropriate experience which can be informal as well as formal (e.g. Brown et al, 2004; Koelsch et al 2005; Mang, 2006; 2007; Dalla Bella et al, 2007; Kleber et al, 2007; Fuchs et al, 2007; Mithen & Parsons, 2008; Stewart & Williamon, 2008; Welch et al, 2008; see Welch, 2006a for review).
Myofilament-generated tension oscillations during partial calcium activation and activation dependence of the sarcomere length-tension relation of skinned cardiac cells

During partial Ca2+ activation, skinned cardiac cells with sarcoplasmic reticulum destroyed by detergent developed spontaneous tension oscillations consisting of cycles (0.1-1 Hz) of rapid decrease of tension corresponding to the yield of some sarcomeres and slow redevelopment of tension corresponding to the reshortening of these sarcomeres. Such myofilament-generated tension oscillations were never observed during the full activation induced by a saturating [free Ca2+] or during the rigor tension induced by decreasing [MgATP] in the absence of free Ca2+ or when the mean sarcomere length (SL) of the preparation was greater than 3.10 microm during partial Ca2+ activation. A stiff parallel elastic element borne by a structure that could be digested by elastase hindered the study of the SL--active tension diagram in 8-13-microm-wide skinned cells from the rat ventricle, but this study was possible in 2-7-microm-wide myofibril bundles from the frog or dog ventricle. During rigor the tension decreased linearly when SL was increased from 2.35 to 3.80 microm. During full Ca2+ activation the tension decreased by less than 20% when SL was increased from 2.35 to approximately 3.10 microm. During partial Ca2+ activation the tension increased when SL was increased from 2.35 to 3.00 microm. From this observation of an apparent increase in the sensitivity of the myofilaments to Ca2+ induced by increasing SL during partial Ca2+ activation, a model was proposed that describes the tension oscillations and permits the derivation of the maximal velocity of shortening (Vmax). Vmax was increased by increasing [free Ca2+] or decreasing [free Mg2+] but not by increasing SL.
Impact of immature platelets on platelet response to ticagrelor and prasugrel in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

AIMS The influence of reticulated platelets (RPs) on platelet inhibition by ticagrelor when compared with prasugrel is unknown. We aimed to determine the influence of RPs on adenosine diphosphate- (ADP-) induced platelet aggregation in patients with acute coronary syndrome who were randomly assigned to receive either ticagrelor or prasugrel for P2Y12 receptor inhibition. METHODS AND RESULTS One hundred and twenty-four patients were prospectively enrolled. The immature platelet fraction (IPF) was measured by an automated haematoanalyzer and platelet aggregation was assessed by multiple electrode aggregometry. In a subgroup of patients (n = 28) ADP-induced P-selectin expression was measured in dependence of the time point of study drug intake in RPs that were discriminated from mature platelets by thiazole-orange (TO) staining. The primary endpoint was the correlation of platelet aggregation and IPF in ticagrelor- vs. prasugrel-treated patients. Platelet aggregation significantly correlated with IPF in patients who received prasugrel (r = 0.41, P < 0.001). In contrast, no correlation between IPF and platelet aggregation was observed in ticagrelor-treated patients (r = 0.08, P = 0.51, P for difference of correlation coefficients P = 0.05). Within the TO-positive RP fraction, P-selectin expression was significantly higher in prasugrel when compared with ticagrelor-treated individuals (prasugrel 18.6 ± 16.0% vs. ticagrelor 11.5 ± 6.0%, P = 0.047). A time-dependent P-selectin expression was observed in prasugrel but not in ticagrelor-treated patients (prasugrel early 11.9 ± 9.4% vs. late 26.3 ± 19.0%, P = 0.031, ticagrelor early 9.6 ± 4.9% vs. late 13.5 ± 6.6%, P = 0.127). CONCLUSION Reticulated platelets show a greater impact on platelet reactivity in response to prasugrel when compared with ticagrelor.
Rapid identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

Twenty clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates recovered from patients admitted to The General Hospital in Ismailia Governorate (Egypt) were examined in this study. We analysed P. aeruginosa ATCC 9027 (as a control strain) and 19 of the isolates after digestion with SpeI restriction endonuclease. After this we conducted a pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and typed the obtained 10 unique patterns, designated as A, A1, B, B1, C, C1, D, D1, E and F. We evaluated the genetic relatedness between all strains, based on ≥87% band identity. As a result, the isolates were grouped in the 10 clusters as follows: patterns A, A1, B, B1, C contained two strains each and patterns C1, D, D1, E contained a single strain each; the five remaining strains were closely related (genomic pattern F). One isolate belonged to antibiotype ‘b’. The genotype patterns of the P. aeruginosa ATCC 9027 control strain and isolate no. 11 were closely related and had two different antibiotypes ‘d’ and ‘c’, respectively.