Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reciprocal influences between body and brain in the perception and expression of affect: A polyvagal perspective

Introduction Emotions, affect regulation, and interpersonal social behavior are psychological processes that describe basic human experiences in response to events, environmental challenges and people. These processes shape our sense of self, contribute to our abilities to form relationships, and determine whether we feel safe in various contexts or with specific people. Although these processes can be objectively observed and subjectively described, they represent a complex interplay between our psychological experience and our physiological regulation. These psychological-physiological interactions are dependent on the dynamic bidirectional communication between peripheral organs and the central nervous system connecting the brain with these organs. For example, the neural circuits, providing a bidirectional communication between the brain and heart, can trigger either a rapid increase in heart rate to support protective fight/flight behaviors or a rapid decrease in heart rate to support social interactions. Peripheral physiological reactions can be initiated by the brain detecting features of danger in the environment and alternatively, changes in peripheral physiological state can feedback to the brain and alter our perceptions of the world. Thus, affect and interpersonal social behavior are more accurately described as biobehavioral than psychological processes, since our physiological state can profoundly influence the quality of these psychological processes and our feelings can, in turn, determine dynamic changes in our physiology.
Developing a View from Within: Researching Women's Mobilities in/out of Asia

Abstract There is dominance of Anglo-American knowledge production in women's/gender/feminist studies in setting research agendas for theoretical approaches, epistemology, methodologies, and even topics investigated. In this paper, I argue that scholars in non-Anglo-American contexts, such as Asia, need to engage more in international academic debates, so as to provide an Asian perspective in feminist studies in a significant and visible way. The paper acts as a call to Asian feminists to provide a view from within, instead of having the region studied and theorized primarily by scholars from without. It suggests some specific ways whereby scholars from Asia can and must enter international writing spaces and academic arenas, including the English writing spaces of international journals, undertake situated engagements with western concepts, and develop alternative—Asian—ways of thinking about the issues we study. As a first step towards an intervention in feminist global discourses, the paper supports the idea that a hybrid approach is a fruitful way of seeing the transformative potential that Asian contexts can have for western feminist theory. I offer some tentative steps towards this end by looking at the transnational mobilities of women in/out of Asia.
Music of the 7Ts: Predicting and Decoding Multivoxel fMRI Responses with Acoustic, Schematic, and Categorical Music Features

Underlying the experience of listening to music are parallel streams of auditory, categorical, and schematic qualia, whose representations and cortical organization remain largely unresolved. We collected high-field (7T) fMRI data in a music listening task, and analyzed the data using multivariate decoding and stimulus-encoding models. Twenty subjects participated in the experiment, which measured BOLD responses evoked by naturalistic listening to twenty-five music clips from five genres. Our first analysis applied machine classification to the multivoxel patterns that were evoked in temporal cortex. Results yielded above-chance levels for both stimulus identification and genre classification–cross-validated by holding out data from multiple of the stimuli during model training and then testing decoding performance on the held-out data. Genre model misclassifications were significantly correlated with those in a corresponding behavioral music categorization task, supporting the hypothesis that geometric properties of multivoxel pattern spaces underlie observed musical behavior. A second analysis employed a spherical searchlight regression analysis which predicted multivoxel pattern responses to music features representing melody and harmony across a large area of cortex. The resulting prediction-accuracy maps yielded significant clusters in the temporal, frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes, as well as in the parahippocampal gyrus and the cerebellum. These maps provide evidence in support of our hypothesis that geometric properties of music cognition are neurally encoded as multivoxel representational spaces. The maps also reveal a cortical topography that differentially encodes categorical and absolute-pitch information in distributed and overlapping networks, with smaller specialized regions that encode tonal music information in relative-pitch representations.
Designing Distributed Systems Using Approximate Synchrony in Data Center Networks

Distributed systems are traditionally designed independently from the underlying network, making worst-case assumptions (e.g., complete asynchrony) about its behavior. However, many of today's distributed applications are deployed in data centers, where the network is more reliable, predictable, and extensible. In these environments, it is possible to co-design distributed systems with their network layer, and doing so can offer substantial benefits. This paper explores network-level mechanisms for providing Mostly-Ordered Multicast (MOM): a best-effort ordering property for concurrent multicast operations. Using this primitive, we design Speculative Paxos, a state machine replication protocol that relies on the network to order requests in the normal case. This approach leads to substantial performance benefits: under realistic data center conditions, Speculative Paxos can provide 40% lower latency and 2.6× higher throughput than the standard Paxos protocol. It offers lower latency than a latency-optimized protocol (Fast Paxos) with the same throughput as a throughput-optimized protocol (batching).
Transitioning to Future Air Traffic Management: Effects of Imperfect Automation on Controller Attention and Performance

Objective: This study examined whether benefits of conflict probe automation would occur in a future air traffic scenario in which air traffic service providers (ATSPs) are not directly responsible for freely maneuvering aircraft but are controlling other nonequipped aircraft (mixed-equipage environment). The objective was to examine how the type of automation imperfection (miss vs. false alarm) affects ATSP performance and attention allocation. Background: Research has shown that the type of automation imperfection leads to differential human performance costs. Method: Participating in four 30-min scenarios were 12 full-performance-level ATSPs. Dependent variables included conflict detection and resolution performance, eye movements, and subjective ratings of trust and self confidence. Results: ATSPs detected conflicts faster and more accurately with reliable automation, as compared with manual performance. When the conflict probe automation was unreliable, conflict detection performance declined with both miss (25% conflicts detected) and false alarm automation (50% conflicts detected). Conclusion: When the primary task of conflict detection was automated, even highly reliable yet imperfect automation (miss or false alarm) resulted in serious negative effects on operator performance. Application: The further in advance that conflict probe automation predicts a conflict, the greater the uncertainty of prediction; thus, designers should provide users with feedback on the state of the automation or other tools that allow for inspection and analysis of the data underlying the conflict probe algorithm.
Influences and vulnerabilities in radicalised lone-actor terrorists

The threat to national security from terrorists acting on their own initiative is a challenge for law enforcement and intelligence agencies in the UK and elsewhere. The UK Parliament’s 2014 threat assessment noted ‘a trend towards ‘low signature’ terrorism by small, self-directed groups and lone actors’ [House of Commons Home Affairs Committee (2014) Counter-Terrorism – Seventeenth Report of Session 2013–14]. Lone actors have become a higher priority for counter-terrorism professionals (UK police, Prevent practitioners and security agencies), but there is a paucity of research into the views and awareness of these professionals. This qualitative study examined how Prevent practitioners perceived the radicalisation and motivations of lone-actor terrorists they had encountered. Participants were an opportunity sample of five Prevent practitioners; all had served as police officers with varying employment backgrounds and counter-terrorism experience. A thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews identified perceived general characteristics of lone-actor radicalisation. Three themes clustering around the concept of becoming a terrorist are discussed: mechanisms of radicalisation, vulnerability to radical discourse, and individual motivation. Participants construed radicalisation as a process over time, accelerated in the presence of generalised criminality or extensive Internet use. Vulnerability was seen as inherent, as well as a product of social context. Participants adopted folk-psychological explanations with mental health problems, social isolation and relative deprivation cited as prominent vulnerability factors. Lone actors were seen as motivated by grievances (e.g. deprivation), pressure from external sources (e.g. rational prospectors) or personal reward (e.g. sensation-seeking). Practitioners’ perceptions of the process over time had parallels with a diathesis–stress model, although there was some support for social movement theory.
Developmental Changes in Human Liver CYP2D6 Expression

Within the human cytochrome P450 family, specific forms show developmental expression patterns that can affect drug clearance, efficacy, and safety. The objective of this study was to use dextromethorphan O-demethylase activity and quantitative Western blotting to identify CYP2D6 developmental expression patterns in a large (n = 222) and developmentally diverse set of pediatric liver samples. Immunodetectable levels of CYP2D6 protein determined for selected samples across all age categories showed a significant correlation with the corresponding dextromethorphan O-demethylase activity. Of gender, ethnicity, postmortem interval, and genotype, only increasing gestational age was associated with CYP2D6 activity and protein content in prenatal samples. In contrast, both age and genotype were associated with CYP2D6 expression in postnatal samples. CYP2D6 expression in liver samples from neonates less than 7 days of age was higher than that observed in first and second trimester samples, but not significantly higher than third trimester fetal samples. In contrast, expression in postnatal samples greater than 7 days of age was substantially higher than that for any earlier age category. Higher CYP2D6 expression also was observed in liver samples from Caucasians versus African Americans. Finally, using phenotype categories inferred from genotype, CYP2D6 activity was higher in postnatal samples predicted to be extensive or intermediate metabolizers versus poor metabolizers. These results suggest that age and genetic determinants of CYP2D6 expression constitute significant determinants of interindividual variability in CYP2D6-dependent metabolism during ontogeny.
Creative consensus on interpretations of qualitative data: The Ward method

Abstract The Ward method (1987) offers an iterative approach to consensus building that encourages the development and consideration of each contributor's unique perspectives. Collaborators begin by orienting to the method and project-specific goals and then engage in an iterative process, cycling between individual creative work and group meetings. Meetings serve as opportunities to share ideas within a noncritical atmosphere. Paradoxically, much of the work of reaching consensus occurs while collaborators are working independently; across iterations, versions tend to converge as collaborators adapt and adopt what they like of one another's ideas. This article, which was itself written using the Ward method, describes the method, its strengths, and challenges associated with its use.
Identification of dietary patterns in urban population of Argentina: study on diet-obesity relation in population-based prevalence study

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES In Argentina, obesity prevalence rose from 14.6% in 2005 to 20.8% in 2013. Although the number of studies on noncommunicable diseases and dietary patterns as a unique dietary exposure measure has increased, information on this topic remains scarce in developing countries. This is the first population-based study investigating the association between diet and obesity using a dietary pattern approach in Argentina. We aimed (a) to identify current dietary patterns of the population of Córdoba city, (b) to investigate its association with obesity prevalence, and (c) to identify and describe dietary patterns from the subgroup of people with obesity. SUBJECTS/METHODS The Córdoba Obesity and Diet Study (CODIES) was conducted in Córdoba city by using a random sample of n = 4,327 subjects between 2005 and 2012. Empirically derived dietary patterns were identified through principal component factor analysis. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association of dietary patterns with obesity. RESULTS Four dietary patterns were identified, called “Starchy-Sugar”, “Prudent”, “Western”, and “Sugary drinks”. High scores for the “Western” pattern (with strongest factor loading on meats/eggs, processed meats, and alcohol) showed a positive association with obesity (OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.06-1.67, for third versus first tertile of factor score). “Meats/Cheeses” and “Snacks/Alcohol” patterns emerged in people with obesity. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that high adherence to the “Western” pattern promoted obesity in this urban population. In addition, people with obesity showed characteristic dietary patterns that differ from those identified in the overall population.
Use of ABR Threshold and OAEs in Detection of Noise Induced Hearing Loss

OBJECTIVE To determine which measure is the most sensitive to noise induced hearing loss (NIHL): auditory nerve brainstem response (ABR), distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) or transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE), and how to assess possible changes in these responses. SUBJECTS & METHODS Four groups of rats were exposed to various durations of 113 dB SPL broadband noise: 5 or 10 minutes (temporary changes in cochlear function), and 3 or 4 hours (permanent changes). Group means and data from individual animals were compared before and after exposure. RESULTS Mean group DPOAE amplitude reduction showed no clear advantage over mean ABR threshold elevation in detection of temporary and permanent NIHL. Data from individual rats, however, indicated a clinical advantage for DPOAEs in detecting slight temporary, but not permanent, changes. TEOAEs were more sensitive in detecting changes in individual rats than as a group measure. CONCLUSIONS TEOAE and DPOAE monitoring may improve detection of NIHL, though it should be used in conjunction with audiometric threshold monitoring.
Modeling and Control of a Quadrotor UAV with Aerodynamic Concepts

This paper presents preliminary results on modeling and control of a quadrotor UAV. With aerodynamic concepts, a mathematical model is firstly proposed to describe the dynamics of the quadrotor UAV. Parameters of this model are identified by experiments with Matlab Identify Toolbox. A group of PID controllers are then designed based on the developed model. To verify the developed model and controllers, simulations and experiments for altitude control, position control and trajectory tracking are carried out. The results show that the quadrotor UAV well follows the referenced commands, which clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Keywords—Quadrotor UAV, Modeling, Control, Aerodynamics, System Identification.
Use of the Rapid STREP system for identification of viridans streptococcal species

A commercially available streptococcal identification system, Rapid STREP (API System S.A., Montalieu-Vercieu, France), was used to identify 119 viridans strains at the species level. A total of 92% of the strains tested were identified correctly with the Rapid STREP system, and 81% of the correct identifications were made at percentages of identification of 90 or greater. From these data it appears that the Rapid STREP system is a fairly accurate and rapid (24-h incubation) method for identifying species of viridans streptococci.
Comparing different types of rural landowners: Implications for conservation practice adoption

Although there is a substantial body of research on the factors affecting farmers' adoption of conservation practices, there is little existing research comparing different types of rural landowners and their land management decisions. This study examines the differences in awareness, attitudes, constraints, and behaviors of agricultural, small agricultural, and rural residential landowners. We conducted a mail survey of a stratified random sample of rural landowners owning two acres or more in the Little Calumet-Galien Watershed in northwestern Indiana. Generally, small agricultural and rural residential landowners have more positive attitudes, but are less familiar with water quality issues and conservation organizations. We found that being a small agricultural or rural residential landowner is associated with greater willingness to try conservation practices. For all landowners, perceived cost was the greatest barrier to conservation practice adoption. Based on these results, we suggest that to be successful, conservation programs targeted at small agricultural and rural residential landowners should address nonpoint source pollution and conservation practice awareness, as well as the cost of practice implementation. By using an evidence based approach to targeting outreach, conservation programs will become more efficient and effective.
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Combination as a Holistic Application for Heritage Preservation in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Melaka

Issues relating to the importance and purpose of heritage preservation have been widely discussed in tourism research. Due to natural degradation, development activities, and the overcrowding effect, heritage preservation efforts are becoming more critical to ensure the sustainability of heritage sites. UNESCO's world heritage committee listed 38 heritage sites and properties as being in danger. In response to the problems, numerous advancement in digital technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) now offer useful applications in heritage preservation. The efforts in preserving heritage sites and objects through VR is not something new as more and more heritage sites and objects from around the world are rendered as 3D models and made virtually accessible. However, a combination of VR and AR may provide alternative form of access to threatened heritage sites and objects that lessen the impacts of visitors' overcrowding effect but at the same time heightens the overall experience. As such, this conceptual paper aims to propose a conceptual model of VR-AR technological combination as a holistic application for heritage tourism and preservation within the context of the UNESCO world heritage site in Melaka as well as the framework for determining the technology's potential.
Marine environmental awareness among university students in Taiwan: a potential signal for sustainability of the oceans

University students are regarded as future decision-makers in society and have a high likelihood of becoming opinion-shapers in terms of the environment. Their awareness of the marine environment will therefore have a significant effect upon sustainable marine development. This study examines Taiwanese university students’ marine environmental awareness, focusing on environmental attitudes, understanding of marine and coastal issues, and environmental behavior. A total of 825 valid samples in a questionnaire survey are used for the analysis. Overall, respondents possess a highly positive attitude towards the marine environment and a moderate self-reported level of marine knowledge, but are not actively engaged in environmental protection endeavors, particularly ones involving spending personal income and taking legal or political action. Experience in marine-related activities and marine knowledge are important in fostering marine environmental awareness, particularly in regard to environmental behavior. This study addresses the gap between widespread environmental concerns and low engagement in environmental actions by proposing a multimodal approach: improving marine knowledge and experience in marine-related activities, creating safe recreational spaces at seasides, and reinforcing legal education. This study concludes by highlighting the importance of marine environmental awareness in the development of ocean citizenship as well as the sustainability of the marine environment.
Undocumented Students’ Experiences with Microaggressions during Their College Choice Process

Background/Context Although millions of undocumented students are enrolled in and guaranteed free public K—12 education, their postsecondary education opportunities are stifled. Some of the barriers encountered by undocumented students include discriminatory public policies, limited availability of information and insensitive college choice processes, and fear of immigration status disclosure. Research Question The research question that guided this study was: How, if at all, do undocumented students experience microaggressions during their college choice process ? Research Participants A total of 15 undocumented immigrants were interviewed and consisted of 10 females and 5 males. Twelve identified as Latina/o and 3 as Asian. Two participants never enrolled in postsecondary education. Of the 13 participants who enrolled in postsecondary education, 12 enrolled in a New York State public institution (one attended a public out-of-state university). Nine of the interviewees initially attended a four-year college, and 4 originally enrolled in a two-year institution. Research Design This qualitative phenomenological study included in-depth semistructured interviews with 15 undocumented students who attended New York City high schools. Findings The findings identify nine themes in the area of microaggressions that research participants faced during their college choice process: discriminatory financial aid policies, restricted college choice information, constrained life opportunities, denial of college opportunities, insensitive behaviors, insensitive college choice processes, narrowed college expectations, fear of coming out, and undocumented immigrant blindness. Every respondent who participated in our study encountered multiple episodes of these microaggressions in their college choice process. We found that the participants faced cumulative and negative messages, behaviors, and environmental cues that pervaded their college choice process. Also, seemingly well-intentioned institutional agents often delivered many of the microaggressions encountered by students. Conclusions The authors conclude the need to eliminate discriminatory postsecondary education policies that shape the educational journeys of undocumented students. Also, they challenge education institutional agents to create environments and processes that better address undocumented students’ college access needs.