Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using an International Gaming Tournament to Study Individual Differences in MOBA Expertise and Cognitive Skills

In this study we evaluated a novel approach for examining the link between gaming expertise and cognitive skills, and the value of recruiting and running participants at a MOBA gaming tournament. Participants completed a set of cognitive tasks that measured spatial working and long term (location) memory, basic cognitive processing, and gaming experience. Comparable reliability on the working memory task and results in line with previous research on the location memory task indicated the data collected was valid and reliable. We observed a significant relation between gaming experience and response time on the location memory task. We discuss that conducting gaming research at a tournament is a valid way of collecting data for a gaming expertise study while providing a range of gaming expertise that may not be available when recruiting at college campuses. Furthermore, our results extend previous gaming research that suggests that individual differences in gaming experience are correlated with the speed of recalling spatial information from long term memory.
Nonnative perception of allophonic cues to word boundaries: Lou spills versus loose pills for speakers of Polish

ABSTRACT Word segmentation in L2 is not as optimal as in L1 because many, though not all, cues to signal word boundaries appear to be largely language-specific. Native English listeners use short-lag versus long-lag VOTs in segmenting pairs such as Lou spills versus loose pills. Polish contrasts negative versus short-lag VOTs, so speakers of Polish are expected to be largely insensitive to this English word-boundary cue. Forty-three lower-proficiency and 26 higher-proficiency Polish learners of English segmented English words from VOT cues. Both accuracy and RT measures were analyzed. The results showed that the general accuracy was 59%, identical to Spanish (Altenberg 2005) and French speakers (Shoemaker 2014) and lower than that for Japanese speakers (Ito & Strange 2009). There was no difference between segmenting aspirated and unaspirated onsets in accuracy or RTs. Higher proficiency did not lead to more successful segmentation, but higher-proficiency listeners were faster in their decisions.
Impact of Plasma-Lyte pH 7.4 on acid-base status and hemodynamics in a model of controlled hemorrhagic shock

OBJECTIVE: Intravenous infusion of crystalloid solutions is a cornerstone of the treatment of hemorrhagic shock. However, crystalloid solutions can have variable metabolic acid-base effects, perpetuating or even aggravating shock-induced metabolic acidosis. The aim of this study was to compare, in a controlled volume–driven porcine model of hemorrhagic shock, the effects of three different crystalloid solutions on the hemodynamics and acid-base balance. METHODS: Controlled hemorrhagic shock (40% of the total blood volume was removed) was induced in 18 animals, which were then treated with normal saline (0.9% NaCl), Lactated Ringer's Solution or Plasma-Lyte pH 7.4, in a blinded fashion (n = 6 for each group). Using a predefined protocol, the animals received three times the volume of blood removed. RESULTS: The three different crystalloid infusions were equally capable of reversing the hemorrhage-induced low cardiac output and anuria. The Lactated Ringer's Solution and Plasma-Lyte pH 7.4 infusions resulted in an increased standard base excess and a decreased serum chloride level, whereas treatment with normal saline resulted in a decreased standard base excess and an increased serum chloride level. The Plasma-Lyte pH 7.4 infusions did not change the level of the unmeasured anions. CONCLUSION: Although the three tested crystalloid solutions were equally able to attenuate the hemodynamic and tissue perfusion disturbances, only the normal saline induced hyperchloremia and metabolic acidosis.
A Ubiquitous Publish/Subscribe Platform for Wireless Sensor Networks with Mobile Mules

Existing publish/subscribe architectures for wireless sensors networks only support stationary sensors interconnected with each other. They cannot handle mobile sensors or remote sensors that are sparsely deployed. In this paper, we propose a novel ubiquitous publish/subscribe system that supports data access from both mobile sensors and stationary sensors. Our system utilizes mobile phones as data mules to relay subscriptions and published data between broker and remote sensors. It provides content-based publish/subscribe services from sensors deployed anywhere without depending on any network infrastructure. We implement our publish/subscribe platform on real hardwares and test it in a hiking trail application. The application allows users to subscribe for sensing data from both stationary sensors and mobile sensors along hiking trails. Extensive experiments are conducted in an outdoor testbed to evaluate the system performances such data delay, number of data received and communication overhead.
Examining the Relationship Between NICU-Parent Anxieites, their Perceptions of Neonatal Pain and Desire for Participation in Pain Care

ix List of Abbreviations and Symbols Used . x Acknowledgements . xii Chapter One: Introduction . 1 Background of the Problem . 1 Statement of the Problem . 5 Purpose of the Study . 5 Research Questions . 5 Chapter Two: Literature Review . 7 Neonatal Pain . 7 Neonatal procedural pain . 8 Neonatal procedural pain management. 9 Pharmacological analgesia for procedural pain . 10 Non-Pharmacological analgesia for procedural pain . 11 Sucrose and non-nutritive sucking . 11 Facilitated tucking, containment or swaddling . 12 Breastfeeding and expressed breast milk . 12 Kangaroo care . 12 Undermanaged procedural pain . 13 Parental perception of pain. 14 Family Centered Care . 16 iii Family integrated care. 16 Family centered care in the NICU. 17 Family involvement in neonatal pain management. 18 Social Communication Model of Pain . 22 Anxiety . 24 State and trait anxiety. 24 Impact of anxiety on behaviour . 25 Anxiety and perceptions of pain . 25 NICU related anxiety. 26 NICU anxiety and responses to neonatal pain. 28 Pain Anxiety . 30 Pain anxiety and responses to pain. 30 Summary . 33 Chapter Three: Theoretical Framework . 35 Social Communication Model of Pain (SCMP) . 35 Chapter Four: Methods . 38 Research Setting . 38 Sample . 39 Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria . 39 Recruitment . 39 Ethical Considerations. 40 Instrumentation. 41 Demographic profile. 41
Psychological meaningfulness and availability mediate the high potential program–affective commitment relationship

The content and process of administering high potential (HiPo) programs have been found to contribute to employees’ attitudes toward the organizations that employ them. Drawing on social exchange theory, we examined the influence of consensus on the use of HiPo programs on employees’ affective commitment through the mediators of psychological meaningfulness and psychological availability. Using a 2-wave survey, we collected data from 186 full-time employees of Chinese enterprises. We found that both psychological meaningfulness and psychological availability partially mediated the relationship between consensus on the use of HiPo programs and followers’ affective commitment. These findings highlight the importance of managers reaching an agreement about how to use HiPo programs to promote employees’ emotional bond to their organization through the key psychological conditions of meaningfulness and availability.
CSR as a Source of Competitive Advantage: The Case Study of Polpharma Group

Purpose: The main purpose of this paper is to analyse the relations between CSR activities and competitive advantages. I t discusses how companies undertake CSR activities and what benefits can be gained because of these activities. Methodology/approach: The paper is based on the Polpharma’ s single case study. The narrative literature review was applied to build up the theoretical foundation for the empirical study. Findings: CSR activities undertaken by companies can be a source of many benefits, which may translate into gaining competitive advantages. The analysis of the case of Polpharma shows positive outcomes of undertaking CSR activities related to increase in customer trust to the company and its competitive position. Originality/value: CSR issues are a relatively popular topic of research in the field of management, but they are not often considered from the strategic point of view as presented in this article. Paper type: case study.
Exploring the perceptual effects of performers ’ interpretations

Background in performance analysis and perception. Empirical studies of performance attributes such as tempo variations, dynamics (Palmer, 1989; Repp, 1997, 1999) and even visual gestures (Vines et al., 2006) posit that structural emphases can be measured from these aural and visual streams. Recording continuous perceptual responses from audience judges on tasks such as shaping perceived phrasing and tension (Vines et al., 2006) provides insight into the communicative function of performance and allows the exploration of relationships between performance parameters and their “communicative” outcomes. Background in philosophy of musical performance. To perform a piece of music is to present and portray the patterns of that piece of music (Walton, 1988). The nature and extent to which performers may actually articulate patterns is unclear. Empirical studies in this field may help clarify questions such as the artistic value of the performer’s contribution in performing a musical work and the comparability of different performances (what Levinson calls “performative results”) of the same piece. Aims. This study examines whether a performer’s unique interpretation can be conveyed to the point where it changes how the listener “hears” a piece, extending the work of Spiro (2007). Main contribution: Musically-trained audience judges were presented with three performances each of Chopin’s B Flat Minor Sonata, final movement, and of Chopin’s Prelude in E minor and asked to indicate phrasing continuously using a slider. The effects across participants for the one performer and also across performances are examined, exploring how these relate to measured aural features such as tempo and dynamics. Results across all participants show a range of responses indicating that there is not an ‘agreed’ perceived interpretation for each performance. Collating the phrase boundary responses for each performance, the strength of responses at particular points in the score vary slightly across performances of the same piece, suggesting that performers can control the extent to which a structural boundary is emphasised. Conclusions: These preliminary results show that despite the fact that the act of listening to music can be personal and dependent on a number of a priori factors, different interpretations can have an effect on how we hear phrasing according to the emphasis or de-emphasis of certain structural features. Implications. These results imply that performers can have an influence on the audience perception of phrasing even in well-known pieces of repertoire. This may help in considering how audiences respond in comparing performances and could potentially redefine the role and artistic value of performers in music making.
Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 Enhances the Growth Hormone Receptor Expression in Tendon Fibroblasts

BPC 157, a pentadecapeptide derived from human gastric juice, has been demonstrated to promote the healing of different tissues, including skin, muscle, bone, ligament and tendon in many animal studies. However, the underlying mechanism has not been fully clarified. The present study aimed to explore the effect of BPC 157 on tendon fibroblasts isolated from Achilles tendon of male Sprague-Dawley rat. From the result of cDNA microarray analysis, growth hormone receptor was revealed as one of the most abundantly up-regulated genes in tendon fibroblasts by BPC 157. BPC 157 dose- and time-dependently increased the expression of growth hormone receptor in tendon fibroblasts at both the mRNA and protein levels as measured by RT/real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. The addition of growth hormone to BPC 157-treated tendon fibroblasts dose- and time-dependently increased the cell proliferation as determined by MTT assay and PCNA expression by RT/real-time PCR. Janus kinase 2, the downstream signal pathway of growth hormone receptor, was activated time-dependently by stimulating the BPC 157-treated tendon fibroblasts with growth hormone. In conclusion, the BPC 157-induced increase of growth hormone receptor in tendon fibroblasts may potentiate the proliferation-promoting effect of growth hormone and contribute to the healing of tendon.
Estimation of FARIMA Parameters in the Case of Negative Memory and Stable Noise

In this paper, we extend a method of estimation of parameters of the fractional autoregressive integrated moving average (FARIMA) process with stable noise to the case of negative memory parameter <formula formulatype="inline"> <tex Notation="TeX">$d$</tex></formula>. We construct an estimator that is a modification of that of Kokoszka and Taqqu and prove its consistency for <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$-1/2<d<0$</tex></formula>. We show that the estimator is accurate and possesses a low variance for FARIMA time series with both light- and heavy-tailed noises. It is illustrated by means of Monte Carlo simulations. Finally, we compare the introduced method of estimation of <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$d$</tex> </formula> with classical methods like the R/S, modified R/S and variance. The results show that the proposed estimator is vastly superior to them.
Lens Connexins α3Cx46 and α8Cx50 Interact with Zonula Occludens Protein-1 (ZO-1)

Connexin alpha1Cx43 has previously been shown to bind to the PDZ domain-containing protein ZO-1. The similarity of the carboxyl termini of this connexin and the lens fiber connexins alpha3Cx46 and alpha8Cx50 suggested that these connexins may also interact with ZO-1. ZO-1 was shown to be highly expressed in mouse lenses. Colocalization of ZO-1 with alpha3Cx46 and alpha8Cx50 connexins in fiber cells was demonstrated by immunofluorescence and by fracture-labeling electron microscopy but showed regional variations throughout the lens. ZO-1 was found to coimmunoprecipitate with alpha3Cx46 and alpha8Cx50, and pull-down experiments showed that the second PDZ domain of ZO-1 was involved in this interaction. Transiently expressed alpha3Cx46 and alpha8Cx50 connexins lacking the COOH-terminal residues did not bind to the second PDZ domain but still formed structures resembling gap junctions by immunofluorescence. These results indicate that ZO-1 interacts with lens fiber connexins alpha3Cx46 and alpha8Cx50 in a manner similar to that previously described for alpha1Cx43. The spatial variation in the interaction of ZO-1 with lens gap junctions is intriguing and is suggestive of multiple dynamic roles for this association.
Auditors ’ Ability to Detect Financial Deception : The Role of Auditor Experience and Management Cognitive Dissonance

We are grateful to the accounting professionals from various audit firms who participated in the study. We appreciate helpful comments from We examine how extensive audit experience and a prompt to attend to the CEO's cognitive dissonance individually and jointly influence auditors' detection of financial deception. We predict and find that experienced auditors outperform both chance and inexperienced auditors, especially when prompted to attend to managers' cognitive dissonance. This is encouraging, as meta-analyses from psychology find that experts generally outperform neither chance nor novices in detecting deception. Also as predicted but more worrisome, unprompted experienced auditors' performance edge over novices arises predominantly from fewer false positives. While false positives about fraud could strain an auditor's relationship with management, false negatives jeopardize audit effectiveness and increase the risk that financial statement users will suffer loss from fraud. In supplemental process analysis, we find that experience enables auditors to identify more, and more accurate, red flags in CEO's narratives. This red flag advantage, when experienced auditors are prompted to attend management's cognitive dissonance, translates into more accurate fraud detection. Finally, in exploring whether adding audio to written transcripts improves accuracy, we observe it does so only for inexperienced auditors.
MEG analysis in Alzheimer's disease computing approximate entropy for different frequency bands

The goal of this study was to analyze the magnetoencephalogram (MEG) background activity in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) using a regularity measure: approximate entropy (ApEn). This measure was computed for a broad band (0.5–40 Hz) as well as typical frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma). Five minutes of recording were acquired with a 148-channel whole-head magnetometer in 15 patients with probable AD and 15 elderly control subjects. Our results showed that AD patients' MEGs were more regular than controls' recordings at all frequency bands, with the exception of beta. Additionally, there were statistically significant differences (p < 0.01, Student's t-test) at the broad and delta bands. Using receiver operating characteristic curves, the highest accuracy (83.33%) was reached at delta band. These results suggest the usefulness of ApEn to gain a better understanding of dynamical processes underlying the MEG recording.
What is the Shape of the Risk-Return Relation?

Using a flexible econometric approach that avoids imposing restrictive modeling assumptions, we find evidence of a non-monotonic relation between conditional volatility and expected stock market returns: At low-to-medium levels of conditional volatility there is a positive trade-off between risk and expected returns, but this relationship gets inverted at high levels of volatility as observed during the recent financial crisis. We propose a new measure of risk based on the conditional covariance between daily observations of a broad economic activity index and stock returns. Using this covariance measure, we find clear evidence of a monotonically increasing risk-return trade-off. Our finding of a non-monotonic mean-volatility relation helps explain the absence of a consensus in the empirical literature on the sign of the risk-return trade-off. At the same time, our finding that the expected return is a monotonically rising function of the conditional covariance measure also suggests that a positive risk-return relation can be established once a better measure of risk is used.
Face and Speech Based Multi-Modal Biometric Authentication

Inthispaper,�theuseoffiniteGaussianmixturem odal�(GMM)�basedExpectation� Maximization�(EM)�estimatedalgorithmforscorelev eldatafusionisproposed. �Automated� biometricsystemsforhumanidentificationmeasurea� "signature"� ofthehumanbody,� comparetheresultingcharacteristictoadatabase, �andrenderanapplicationdependent� decision. �Thesebiometricsystemsforpersonalauth enticationandidentificationarebased� uponphysiologicalorbehavioralfeatureswhichare �typicallydistinctive,�Multi-biometric� systems,� whichconsolidateinformationfrommultipl ebiometricsources,� aregaining� popularitybecausetheyareabletoovercomelimita tionssuchasnon-universality,�noisy� sensordata,�largeintra-uservariationsandsuscep tibilitytospoofattacksthatarecommonly� encounteredinmonomodalbiometricsystems. �Simula tionshowthatfinitemixturemodal� (GMM)�isquiteeffectiveinmodellingthegenuinea ndimpostorscoredensities,�fusionbased� theresultingdensityestimatesachievesasignific antperformanceon��eNTERFACE�2005� multi-biometric��databasebasedonfaceandspeech� modalities.
Innate Immune Response of Human Alveolar Macrophages during Influenza A Infection

Alveolar macrophages (AM) are one of the key cell types for initiating inflammatory and immune responses to influenza virus in the lung. However, the genome-wide changes in response to influenza infection in AM have not been defined. We performed gene profiling of human AM in response to H1N1 influenza A virus PR/8 using Affymetrix HG-U133 Plus 2.0 chips and verified the changes at both mRNA and protein levels by real-time RT-PCR and ELISA. We confirmed the response with a contemporary H3N2 influenza virus A/New York/238/2005 (NY/238). To understand the local cellular response, we also evaluated the impact of paracrine factors on virus-induced chemokine and cytokine secretion. In addition, we investigated the changes in the expression of macrophage receptors and uptake of pathogens after PR/8 infection. Although macrophages fail to release a large amount of infectious virus, we observed a robust induction of type I and type III interferons and several cytokines and chemokines following influenza infection. CXCL9, 10, and 11 were the most highly induced chemokines by influenza infection. UV-inactivation abolished virus-induced cytokine and chemokine response, with the exception of CXCL10. The contemporary influenza virus NY/238 infection of AM induced a similar response as PR/8. Inhibition of TNF and/or IL-1β activity significantly decreased the secretion of the proinflammatory chemokines CCL5 and CXCL8 by over 50%. PR/8 infection also significantly decreased mRNA levels of macrophage receptors including C-type lectin domain family 7 member A (CLEC7A), macrophage scavenger receptor 1 (MSR1), and CD36, and reduced uptake of zymosan. In conclusion, influenza infection induced an extensive proinflammatory response in human AM. Targeting local components of innate immune response might provide a strategy for controlling influenza A infection-induced proinflammatory response in vivo.
Infrequent Portfolio Decisions: A Solution to the Forward Discount Puzzle

A major puzzle in international finance is that high interest rate currencies tend to appreciate (forward discount puzzle). Motivated by the fact that only a small fraction of foreign currency holdings is actively managed, we calibrate a two-country model in which agents make infrequent portfolio decisions. We show that the model can account for the forward discount puzzle. It can also account for several related empirical phenomena, including that of "delayed overshooting. " We also show that making infrequent portfolio decisions is optimal as the welfare gain from active currency management is smaller than the corresponding fees. (JEL F31, G11, G15)
Extensive Duplication and Reshuffling in the Arabidopsis Genome

Systematic analysis of the Arabidopsis genome provides a basis for detailed studies of genome structure and evolution. Members of multigene families were mapped, and random sequence alignment was used to identify regions of extended similarity in the Arabidopsis genome. Detailed analysis showed that the number, order, and orientation of genes were conserved over large regions of the genome, revealing extensive duplication covering the majority of the known genomic sequence. Fine mapping analysis showed much rearrangement, resulting in a patchwork of duplicated regions that indicated deletion, insertion, tandem duplication, inversion, and reciprocal translocation. The implications of these observations for evolution of the Arabidopsis genome as well as their usefulness for analysis and annotation of the genomic sequence and in comparative genomics are discussed.