Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The psychological correlates of post traumatic stress disorder

This thesis extends existing and contributes new knowledge to current understandings of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and examines why some individuals experience more severe symptoms than others. The research comprises three studies and employed three cross-sectional samples of Australian residents who have experienced a trauma event. The first sample consists of individuals who were central to or the victim of a trauma, the second employed individuals who intervened to help another person in a trauma event, and the third consisted of individuals who, as part of their employment, intervened to aid others. Two primary hypotheses guided this research. The first predicted that individuals’ peritraumatic experience, posttraumatic responses, and endorsement of PTSD symptoms would vary according to the type of involvement in trauma. The second suggested that adult attachment style, as applied as a theory of individual difference, would be associated with PTSD symptom expression. More specifically, well established robust predictors of PTSD symptoms would mediate this association through pathways unique to each attachment style. Overall, the results supported the hypotheses. PTSD symptom expression, peritraumatic distress, posttraumatic coping, resilience, and perceptions of available support varied as a function of the individual’s type of involvement in the trauma. Models describing possible relationships between attachment styles and PTSD symptom expression were tested across all three samples. Within each sample, mediation and multiple mediation analyses further clarify the underlying mechanisms regarding PTSD symptom expression, and the direct and indirect effects of attachment style. Distinctive pathways were evident between PTSD symptoms and each attachment style. Overall, secure attachment appears to be a protective factor facilitating optimal peritraumatic responses, and posttraumatic behaviours during peritraumatic and posttraumatic stages of trauma exposure. In contrast, preoccupied, fearful and dismissing attachments were associated with increased PTSD symptom expression. In summary, attachment theory proved to be an exceptional theory of individual differences for understanding the underlying mechanisms associated with symptoms of PTSD.
Intrauterine Bacterial Inoculation Induces Labor in the Mouse by Mechanisms Other than Progesterone Withdrawal1

Abstract We tested the hypothesis that progesterone (P4) withdrawal is the primary mechanism by which intrauterine bacteria induce preterm labor in mice. CD-1 mice on Day 14.5 of a 19- to 20-day gestation were subjected to one of four treatments: 1) intrauterine injection of sterile medium, 2) intrauterine injection of 106 heat-killed Escherichia coli bacteria, 3) intrauterine injection of 109 heat-killed E. coli, or 4) ovariectomy. Mice were then killed at four time points from 0.75 to 11 h after surgery for serum collection. Separately, animals were pretreated either with s.c. P4 or with vehicle 2 h before ovariectomy or high-dose bacterial inoculation. Ovariectomy led to a rapid fall in serum P4 levels of 60% by 1 h and 81% by 8 h compared with levels in controls (P < 0.001). In contrast, intrauterine inoculation with 109 bacteria led to a more modest decline in P4 of only 28% by 8 h (P = 0.24, which was no different from that of 106 bacteria, an inoculum below the threshold for preterm delivery). Despite significantly lower levels of P4 in the ovariectomy group, time to delivery was significantly shorter with 109 bacteria intrauterine (24 ± 5.6 h vs. 19 ± 3.6 h, P = 0.03). Pretreatment with 1.5 mg P4 per mouse prolonged the interval to delivery following both ovariectomy and high-dose bacteria, in association with pharmacologically elevated serum P4 levels. In contrast, physiologic P4 supplementation (0.375 mg/mouse) prolonged gestation only in the ovariectomy group. We conclude that withdrawal of endogenous P4 is not the primary cause of labor following intrauterine bacterial inoculation in mice.
Fully convolutional networks for action recognition

Human action recognition is an important and challenging topic in computer vision. Recently, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have established impressive results for many image recognition tasks. The CNNs usually contain million parameters which prone to overfit when training on small datasets. Therefore, the CNNs do not produce superior performance over traditional methods for action recognition. In this study, the authors design a novel two-stream fully convolutional networks architecture for action recognition which can significantly reduce parameters while keeping performance. To utilise the advantage of spatial-temporal features, a linear weighted fusion method is used to fuse two-stream networks’ feature maps and a video pooling method is adopted to construct the video-level features. At the meantime, the authors also demonstrate that the improved dense trajectories has significant impact for action recognition. The authors’ method can achieve the state-of-the-art performance on two challenging datasets UCF101 (93.0%) and HMDB51 (70.2%).
Assessment of Energy-momentum and Symplectic Schemes for Stiff Dynamical Systems

It is shown that conventional symplectic algorithms do not, in general, retain their symplectic character when the symplectic two{form is non{constant. More importantly, it is shown that implicit symplectic schemes are not suitable for the numerical integration of stii systems possessing high frequency contents. The presence of multiple roots on the unit circle at innnite sampling frequencies leads, inevitably, to eventual blow-up of the scheme if the high frequencies are not resolved. In sharp contrast with symplectic integrators, algorithms designed to simultaneously preserve the total momentum and the energy of the system are shown to be free from these shortcomings. Speciically, for stii systems, the unresolved high-frequencies are shown to be controlled by property of exact energy conservation without resorting to high-frequency numerical dissipation. A general technique for the construction of exact energy{momentum algorithms is described within the context of the N-body problem.
Evaluation of the Errors Involved in Estimating Bacterial Numbers by the Plating Method

The plate count method for estimating bacterial populations is satisfactory for many comparative purposes if relative rather than absolute numbers of cells are wanted, although in some cases, because of clumping, plate counts may not bear a constant relation to total counts even during the logarithmic growth phase (Jennison, 1937). This lack of agreement may be overcome, at least with some organisms, by proper shaking to break up clumps of cells (Ziegler and Halvorson, 1935). 2 Considering the plating method per se, the total error of the mean plate count of a given dilution of cells is chiefly made up of two rather distinct sources of deviations: (a) the distribution or sampling error, sometimes inaccurately called the counting error, (i.e., variation in number of colonies, due to sampling, between replicate plates of the given dilution), and (b), the dilution error, (i.e., the errors of pipetting involved in reaching the given dilution). For purposes of discussion, it is assumed that optimum conditions are provided for the growth of the organisms. It is customary to measure the reliability of the plate count
Network processes involved in the mediation of short-term habituation in Aplysia: contribution of intrinsic regulation of excitability and synaptic augmentation

Short-term habituation (STH) is the decrease in behavioral responding observed during repeated stimulation at regular intervals. For siphon-elicited siphon withdrawal in Aplysia (S-SWR), we previously showed that the amplitude of responses measured in LFS-type siphon motor neurons (LFS MNs) during training is dependent on the stimulus interval used and is training-site specific. The major source of excitation from siphon stimulation onto the LFS MNs comes from the L29 interneurons. Here we examined the role of the L29s in STH by addressing two questions: (1) What are the relative contributions of intrinsic regulation of excitability and network inhibition on L29 activity during STH training? By activating L29s with intracellular current injection, we found that intrinsic changes in excitability occur, but only at short training intervals (1 s). We also demonstrated that network inhibition is not required for regulating L29 responses during training, indicating that any expression of inhibition is redundant to the excitability changes. (2) How does L29 synaptic plasticity contribute to the maintenance of training site-specificity exhibited in LFS MNs? When training stimuli are delivered 1 s apart [1 s, interstimulus interval (ISI)], L29 responses decrease in both stimulated (trained) and un-stimulated (untrained) pathways, yet site-specificity of training is maintained in the LFS MNs. Our results suggest that activity-dependent synaptic facilitation (augmentation; AUG) expressed by the L29s acts to compensate for the decreased activity in the untrained pathway. First, we demonstrated that the L29-LFS synapse exhibits significant AUG with L29 activation at a 1 s ISI. Second, we showed that the induction of AUG prevents the reduction in siphon-evoked LFS responses that is otherwise observed with decreased L29 activity. Collectively, our results support a role for the L29s in regulating network dynamics during STH training, but only at rapid (1 s ISI) training intervals.
New measures of masked text recognition in relation to speech-in-noise perception and their associations with age and cognitive abilities.

PURPOSE In this research, the authors aimed to increase the analogy between Text Reception Threshold (TRT; Zekveld, George, Kramer, Goverts, & Houtgast, 2007) and Speech Reception Threshold (SRT; Plomp & Mimpen, 1979) and to examine the TRT's value in estimating cognitive abilities that are important for speech comprehension in noise. METHOD The authors administered 5 TRT versions, SRT tests in stationary (SRT(STAT)) and modulated (SRT(MOD)) noise, and 2 cognitive tests: a reading span (RSpan) test for working memory capacity and a letter-digit substitution test for information-processing speed. Fifty-five adults with normal hearing (18-78 years, M = 44 years) participated. The authors examined mutual associations of the tests and their predictive value for the SRTs with correlation and linear regression analyses. RESULTS SRTs and TRTs were well associated, also when controlling for age. Correlations for the SRT(STAT) were generally lower than for the SRT(MOD.) The cognitive tests were correlated to the SRTs only when age was not controlled for. Age and the TRTs were the only significant predictors of SRT(MOD). SRT(STAT) was predicted by level of education and some of the TRT versions. CONCLUSIONS TRTs and SRTs are robustly associated, nearly independent of age. The association between SRTs and RSpan is largely age dependent. The TRT test and the RSpan test measure different nonauditory components of linguistic processing relevant for speech perception in noise.
EVOLVING NEURAL NETWORKS ENSEMBLES NNEs

A new method to design and evolve neural network ensembles NNEs based on speciation is presented in this paper. The main advantage of this method is that, it completely evolves NNEs by combining the evolution of neural networks and the configuration of the ensemble in one evolutionary phase. In every generation, population is evolved toward the best set of structure and weights. Then, the ensemble is configured and its performance is evaluated. Evolution is stopped if the best performance is reached or the maximum number of generations is reached. The main idea of this method is to generate NNE based on fitness sharing and genotype diversity measurement. The size of the ensemble depends on the number of species. The output of the ensemble is calculated by the weighted sum of the output of each member. The members’ weights are changed dynamically from generation to generation depending on the characteristics of species existing in the current population. Experiments with Iris data, breast cancer data, and diabetes data set from the UCI machine learning repository showed that the proposed method can produce NNEs with better performance as compared to other ensemble methods.
Posttraumatic stress disorder in children affected by sickle‐cell disease and their parents

Children affected with sickle‐cell disease experience painful crises that may be life threatening, or felt as if they were. We evaluated by semistructured interviews and questionnaires the presence of posttraumatic stress disorder in 11 children affected by sickle‐cell disease and having suffered at least one hospitalization for a painful crisis, and in their parents (10 mothers, 1 father). Three children (27%) and four parents (40%) were diagnosed with the disorder. It was not correlated to the disease severity but, in parents, to a feeling of powerlessness over the child's illness (P = 0.04). Am. J. Hematol. , 2006, © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Functioning and participation of students with ADHD in higher education according to the ICF-framework

Abstract Due to an increasing number of students with ADHD in higher education and the difficult course of their academic career, a comprehensive overview of participation and functioning of this group is needed. A comprehensive search was performed in MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, CINAHL and ERIC electronic databases in June 2014. This systematic literature review synthesises 22 articles. Most selected articles focused on body functions and structures (n = 16). If we want to support students with ADHD in higher education (e.g., by implementing effective accommodations), it is important to take into account characteristics of the individual student as well as the environment.
Role of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the macula densa.

BACKGROUND There is evidence that macula densa nitric oxide (NO) inhibits tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF). However, TGF response is not altered in mice deficient in neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) (-/-). Furthermore, nNOS expression in the macula densa is inversely related to salt intake, yet micropuncture studies have shown that NOS inhibition potentiates TGF in rats on high sodium intake but not in rats on a low-salt diet. These inconsistencies may be due to confounding systemic factors, such as changes in circulating renin. To further clarify the role of macula densa nNOS in TGF response, independent of systemic factors, we tested the hypothesis that (1) TGF response is inversely related to sodium intake, and (2) during low sodium intake, NO produced by macula densa nNOS tonically controls the basal diameter of the afferent arteriole (Af-Art). METHODS Af-Arts and attached macula densas were simultaneously microperfused in vitro. TGF response was determined by measuring Af-Art diameter before and after increasing NaCl in the macula densa perfusate. TGF response was studied in wild-type (+/+) and nNOS knockout mice (-/-), as well as in juxtaglomerular apparatuses (JGAs) from rabbits fed a low-, normal-, or high-NaCl diet. RESULTS TGF responses were similar in nNOS +/+ and -/- mice. However, in nNOS +/+ mice, 7-nitroindazole (7-NI) perfused into the macula densa significantly potentiated the TGF response (P = 0.001), while in nNOS -/- mice, this potentiation was absent. In rabbits on three different sodium diets, TGF responses were similar and were potentiated equally by 7-NI. However, in JGAs from rabbits on a low-NaCl diet, adding 7-NI to the macula densa while perfusing it with low-NaCl fluid caused Af-Art vasoconstriction, decreasing the diameter by 14% (from 21.7 +/- 1.3 to 18.6 +/- 1.5 microm; P < 0.001). This effect was not observed in JGAs from rabbits fed a normal- (19.0 +/- 0.5 vs. 19.3 +/- 0.8 microm after 7-NI) or high-NaCl diet (18.6 +/- 0.7 vs. 18.4 +/- 0.7 microm). CONCLUSIONS First, in this in vitro preparation, chronic changes in macula densa nNOS do not play a major role in the regulation of TGF. Compensatory mechanisms may develop during chronic alteration of nNOS that keep TGF relatively constant. Second, nNOS regulates TGF response acutely. Third, the results obtained in the +/+ and -/- mice also confirm that the effect of 7-NI is due to inhibition of macula densa nNOS. Finally, during low sodium intake (without induction of TGF), the regulation of basal Af-Art resistance by macula densa nNOS suggests that NO in the macula densa helps maintain renal blood flow during the high renin secretion caused by low sodium intake.
Active Pages: a computation model for intelligent memory

Microprocessors and memory systems suffer from a growing gap in performance. We introduce Active Pages, a computation model which addresses this gap by shifting data-intensive computations to the memory system. An Active Page consists of a page of data and a set of associated functions which can operate upon that data. We describe an implementation of Active Pages on RXDram (Reconfigurable Architecture DRAM), a memory system based upon the integration of DRAM and reconfigurable logic. Results from the SimpleScalar simulator demonstrate up to 1000X speedups on several applications using the RADram system versus conventional memory systems. We also explore the sensitivity of our results to implementations in other memory technologies.
SPECTROSCOPIC OBSERVATION OF Lyα EMITTERS AT z ∼ 7.7 AND IMPLICATIONS ON RE-IONIZATION

We present spectroscopic follow-up observations on two bright Lyα emitter (LAE) candidates originally found by Krug et al. at a redshift of z ∼ 7.7 using the Multi-Object Spectrometer for Infra-Red Exploration at Keck. We rule out any line emission at the >5σ level for both objects, putting on solid ground a previous null result for one of the objects. The limits inferred from the non-detections rule out the previous claim of no or even reversed evolution between 5.7 < z < 7.7 in the Lyα luminosity function (LF) and suggest a drop in the Lyα LF consistent with that seen in Lyman break galaxy (LBG) samples. We model the redshift evolution of the LAE LF using the LBG UV-continuum LF and the observed rest-frame equivalent width distribution. From the comparison of our empirical model with the observed LAE distribution, we estimate lower limits of the neutral hydrogen fraction to be 50%–70% at z ∼ 7.7. Together with this, we find a strong evolution in the Lyα optical depth characterized by (1 + z)2.2 ± 0.5 beyond z = 6, indicative of a strong evolution of the intergalactic medium. Finally, we extrapolate the LAE LF to z ∼ 9 using our model and show that it is unlikely that large area surveys, like UltraVISTA or Euclid, pick up LAEs at this redshift assuming the current depths and area.
Evaluation of intrastromal corneal ring segments for treatment of keratoconus with a mechanical implantation technique

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of intrastromal corneal ring segment (ICRS) implantation in patients with keratoconus using a mechanical implantation technique. Materials and Methods: Thirty eyes of 17 patients with keratoconus were enrolled. ICRSs (Keraring) were implanted after dissection of the tunnel using Tunc's specially designed dissector under suction. A complete ophthalmic examination was performed, including uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), spherical equivalent, keratometric readings, inferosuperior asymmetry index (ISAI), and ultrasound pachymetry. All 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups were completed, and statistical analysis was performed. Results: The mean preoperative UDVA for all eyes was 1.36 ± 0.64 logMAR. At 12 months, the mean UDVA was 0.51 ± 0.28 logMAR (P = 0.001), and the mean preoperative CDVA was 0.57 ± 0.29 logMAR, which improved to 0.23 ± 0.18 (P = 0.001) at 1 year. There was a significant reduction in spherical equivalent refractive error from –6.42 ± 4.69 diopters (D) preoperatively to –1.26 ± 1.45 D (P = 0.001) at 1 year. In the same period, the mean K-readings improved from 49.38 ± 3.72 D to 44.43 ± 3.13 D (P = 0.001), and the mean ISAI improved from 7.92 ± 3.12 to 4.21 ± 1.96 (P = 0.003). No significant changes in mean central corneal thickness were observed postoperatively. There were no major complications during and or after surgery. Conclusion: ICRS implantation using a unique mechanical dissection technique is a safe and effective treatment for keratoconus. All parameters improved by the 1-year follow-up.
On the Usability of Electroencephalographic Signals for Biometric Recognition: A Survey

Research on using electroencephalographic signals for biometric recognition has made considerable progress and is attracting growing attention in recent years. However, the usability aspects of the proposed biometric systems in the literatures have not received significant attention. In this paper, we present a comprehensive survey to examine the development and current status of various aspects of electroencephalography (EEG)-based biometric recognition. We first compare the characteristics of different stimuli that have been used for evoking biometric information bearing EEG signals. This is followed by a survey of the reported features and classifiers employed for EEG biometric recognition. To highlight the usability challenges of using EEG for biometric recognition in real-life scenarios, we propose a novel usability assessment framework which combines a number of user-related factors to evaluate the reported systems. The evaluation scores indicate a pattern of increasing usability, particularly in recent years, of EEG-based biometric systems as efforts have been made to improve the performance of such systems in realistic application scenarios. We also propose how this framework may be extended to take into account Aging effects as more performance data becomes available.
Dealing With Incomplete Household Panel Data in Inequality Research

In trying to capture complete within-household heterogeneity, household panel surveys typically try to interview all adult household members. Following from this, such surveys tend to suffer from partial unit nonresponse (PUNR), that is, the nonresponse of at least one member of an otherwise participating household, most likely yielding an underestimation of aggregate household income. Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), the authors evaluate four different strategies to deal with this phenomenon: (a) ignorance, that is, assuming the missing individual’s income to be zero; (b) adjustment of the equivalence scale to account for differences in household size and composition; (c) elimination of all households observed to suffer PUNR and reweighting of households observed to be at risk of but not affected by PUNR; and (d) longitudinal imputation of the missing income components. The aim of this article is to show how the choice of technique affects substantive results in inequality research. The authors find indications of substantial bias on income inequality and poverty as well as on income mobility.