Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gaze stability of observers watching

It has been the matter of some debate why we can experience vivid dynamic illusions when looking at static pictures composed from simple black and white patterns. The impression of illusory motion is particularly strong when viewing some of the works of `Op Artists', such as Bridget Riley's painting Fall. Explanations of the illusory motion have ranged from retinal to cortical mechanisms, and an important role has been attributed to eye movements. To assess the possible contribution of eye movements to the illusory-motion percept we studied the strength of the illusion under different viewing conditions, and analysed the gaze stability of observers viewing the Riley painting and control patterns that do not produce the illusion. Whereas the illusion was reduced, but not abolished, when watching the painting through a pinhole, which reduces the effects of accommodation, it was not perceived in flash afterimages, suggesting an important role for eye movements in generating the illusion for this image. Recordings of eye movements revealed an abundance of small involuntary saccades when looking at the Riley pattern, despite the fact that gaze was kept within the dedicated fixation region. The frequency and particular characteristics of these rapid eye movements can vary considerably between different observers, but, although there was a tendency for gaze stability to deteriorate while viewing a Riley painting, there was no significant difference in saccade frequency between the stimulus and control patterns. Theoretical considerations indicate that such small image displacements can generate patterns of motion signals in a motion-detector network, which may serve as a simple and sufficient, but not necessarily exclusive, explanation for the illusion. Why such image displacements lead to perceptual results with a group of Op Art and similar patterns, but remain invisible for other stimuli, is discussed. DOI:10.1068/p5128
Efficient Virtual Machine Sizing for Hosting Containers as a Service (SERVICES 2015)

There has been a growing effort in decreasing energy consumption of large-scale cloud data centers via maximization of host-level utilization and load balancing techniques. However, with the recent introduction of Container as a Service (CaaS) by cloud providers, maximizing the utilization at virtual machine (VM) level becomes essential. To this end, this paper focuses on finding efficient virtual machine sizes for hosting containers in such a way that the workload is executed with minimum wastage of resources on VM level. Suitable VM sizes for containers are calculated, and application tasks are grouped and clustered based on their usage patterns obtained from historical data. Furthermore, tasks are mapped to containers and containers are hosted on their associated VM types. We analyzed clouds' trace logs from Google cluster and consider the cloud workload variances, which is crucial for testing and validating our proposed solutions. Experimental results showed up to 7.55% improvement in the average energy consumption compared to baseline scenarios where the virtual machine sizes are fixed. In addition, comparing to the baseline scenarios, the total number of VMs instantiated for hosting the containers is also improved by 68% on average.
Physical Activity and Risk of Male Breast Cancer

The association between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and male breast cancer risk is unclear. In the Male Breast Cancer Pooling Project, with 449 cases and 13,855 matched controls, we used logistic regression with study stratification to generate adjusted ORs and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for LTPA tertiles and male breast cancer risk. Compared with low LTPA, medium and high LTPA were not associated with male breast cancer risk (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.79–1.29; 0.90, 0.69–1.18, respectively). In joint-effects analyses, compared with the referent of high body mass index (BMI; ≥25 kg/m2)/low LTPA, neither medium nor high PA was associated with risk among high BMI men, but normal BMI men (<25 kg/m2) with low or medium LTPA were at a nonsignificant ∼16% reduced risk and those with high LTPA were at a 27% reduced risk (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.50–1.07). Physical activity alone may not confer protection against male breast cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 24(12); 1898–901. ©2015 AACR.
An Efficient Hybrid Algorithm for Mining Frequent Closures and Generators

The eective construction of many association rule bases re- quires the computation of both frequent closed and frequent generator itemsets (FCIs/FGs). However, these two tasks are rarely combined. Most of the existing solutions apply levelwise breadth-first traversal, though depth-first traversal, depending on data characteristics, is often superior. Hence, we address here a hybrid algorithm that combines the two dierent traversals. The proposed algorithm, Eclat-Z, extracts fre- quent itemsets (FIs) in a depth-first way. Then, the algorithm filters FCIs and FGs among FIs in a levelwise manner, and associates the generators to their closures. In Eclat-Z we present a generic technique for extend- ing an arbitrary FI-miner algorithm in order to support the generation of minimal non-redundant association rules too. Experimental results indicate that Eclat-Z outperforms pure levelwise methods in most cases.
Vocal Minority Versus Silent Majority: Discovering the Opionions of the Long Tail

Social networks such as Face book and Twitter have become the favorite places on the Web where people discuss real-time events. In fact, search engines such as Google and Bing have special agreements, which allow them to include into their search results public conversations happening in real-time in these social networks. However, for anyone who only reads these conversations occasionally, it is difficult to evaluate the (often) complex context in which these conversation bits are embedded. Who are the people carrying on the conversation? Are they random participants or people with a specific agenda? Making sense of real-time social streams often requires much more information than what is visible in the messages themselves. In this paper, we study this phenomenon in the context of one political event: a special election for the US Senate which took place in Massachusetts in January 2010, as observed in conversations on Twitter. We present results of data analysis that compares two groups of different users: the vocal minority (users who tweet very often) and the silent majority (users who tweeted only once). We discover that the content generated by these two groups is significantly different, therefore, researchers should take care in separating them when trying to create predictive models based on aggregated data.
N4-Fields: Neural Network Nearest Neighbor Fields for Image Transforms

We propose a new architecture for difficult image processing operations, such as natural edge detection or thin object segmentation. The architecture is based on a simple combination of convolutional neural networks with the nearest neighbor search. We focus our attention on the situations when the desired image transformation is too hard for a neural network to learn explicitly. We show that in such situations, the use of the nearest neighbor search on top of the network output allows to improve the results considerably and to account for the underfitting effect during the neural network training. The approach is validated on three challenging benchmarks, where the performance of the proposed architecture matches or exceeds the state-of-the-art.
Diagnosis and treatment of chronic constipation – a European perspective

Background Although constipation can be a chronic and severe problem, it is largely treated empirically. Evidence for the efficacy of some of the older laxatives from well‐designed trials is limited. Patients often report high levels of dissatisfaction with their treatment, which is attributed to a lack of efficacy or unpleasant side‐effects. Management guidelines and recommendations are limited and are not sufficiently current to include treatments that became available more recently, such as prokinetic agents in Europe.
What You See May Not Be What You Get: A Brief, Nontechnical Introduction to Overfitting in Regression-Type Models

Objective: Statistical models, such as linear or logistic regression or survival analysis, are frequently used as a means to answer scientific questions in psychosomatic research. Many who use these techniques, however, apparently fail to appreciate fully the problem of overfitting, ie, capitalizing on the idiosyncrasies of the sample at hand. Overfitted models will fail to replicate in future samples, thus creating considerable uncertainty about the scientific merit of the finding. The present article is a nontechnical discussion of the concept of overfitting and is intended to be accessible to readers with varying levels of statistical expertise. The notion of overfitting is presented in terms of asking too much from the available data. Given a certain number of observations in a data set, there is an upper limit to the complexity of the model that can be derived with any acceptable degree of uncertainty. Complexity arises as a function of the number of degrees of freedom expended (the number of predictors including complex terms such as interactions and nonlinear terms) against the same data set during any stage of the data analysis. Theoretical and empirical evidence—with a special focus on the results of computer simulation studies—is presented to demonstrate the practical consequences of overfitting with respect to scientific inference. Three common practices—automated variable selection, pretesting of candidate predictors, and dichotomization of continuous variables—are shown to pose a considerable risk for spurious findings in models. The dilemma between overfitting and exploring candidate confounders is also discussed. Alternative means of guarding against overfitting are discussed, including variable aggregation and the fixing of coefficients a priori. Techniques that account and correct for complexity, including shrinkage and penalization, also are introduced.
Multiple People Tracking by Lifted Multicut and Person Re-identification

Tracking multiple persons in a monocular video of a crowded scene is a challenging task. Humans can master it even if they loose track of a person locally by re-identifying the same person based on their appearance. Care must be taken across long distances, as similar-looking persons need not be identical. In this work, we propose a novel graph-based formulation that links and clusters person hypotheses over time by solving an instance of a minimum cost lifted multicut problem. Our model generalizes previous works by introducing a mechanism for adding long-range attractive connections between nodes in the graph without modifying the original set of feasible solutions. This allows us to reward tracks that assign detections of similar appearance to the same person in a way that does not introduce implausible solutions. To effectively match hypotheses over longer temporal gaps we develop new deep architectures for re-identification of people. They combine holistic representations extracted with deep networks and body pose layout obtained with a state-of-the-art pose estimation model. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our formulation by reporting a new state-of-the-art for the MOT16 benchmark. The code and pre-trained models are publicly available.
Long-term Survival After AVR Among High-risk Elderly Patients in the United States : Insights From the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database , 1991 – 2007

The following are highlights from the new series, Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes Topic Reviews. This series will summarize the most important manuscripts, as selected by the Editor, which have been published in the Circulation portfolio. The objective of this new series is to provide our readership with a timely, comprehensive selection of important papers that are relevant to the quality and outcomes as well as general cardiology audience. The studies included in this article represent the most significant research in the area of valvular heart disease. (Circ Cardiovasc Quality and Outcomes. 2012;5:e95-e103.)
School performance, type a behavior and adrenocortical activity in primary school children

The aim of the study was to assess the adrenocortical activity of first-graders as related to their school-related behavior in school as well as at home. The sample consisted of 20 6-year-olds (11 boys, 9 girls). Behavioral measures were assessed through questionnaires and interview provided by the mother and through the teachers' school reports. To assess the children's adrenocortical activity, salivary cortisol was determined in three consecutive days during school and three consecutive days during holidays, each time in the morning before school and at noon after school. There were no cortisol differences between school days and holidays. Whereas there were no contextual cortisol responses to school attendance, lower morning cortisol values were observed in type A children and, in addition, in children with non-optimal school performance. The findings indicate relations between behavioral organization and individual differences in adrenocortical activity in children.
Delinquency Prevention Using Family-Based Interventions.

This paper reviews 24 evaluations of prevention programmes including some kind of family-based intervention (usually parent training or parent education), an outcome measure of offending or disruptive child behaviour, a high quality experimental design and a minimum sample size of 100. Programmes are divided into seven categories according to the context of the intervention: home visiting, day care, pre-school, school, clinic, community or multi-systemic therapy. Most interventions were effective in reducing childhood antisocial behaviour and later delinquency, and in some cases their monetary benefits exceeded their monetary costs. General parent education and more formal parent training are both effective prevention techniques. Research is needed to identify the active ingredients of successful programmes, and to establish why some large-scale programmes were not successful. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Distribution and complications of native arteriovenous fistulas in maintenance hemodialysis patients: a single-center study.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the use of vascular access in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients and the complications of native arteriovenous fistulas (NAVFs) in a Chinese single center. METHODS Patients (n=376) were recruited in our descriptive cross-sectional study, 350 of them had wrist NAVFs (wrist group),and 18 of them had elbow NAVFs (elbow group). We evaluated the complications associated with NAVFs and the prevalence of high-output cardiac failure between these 2 groups. All statistical analyses were performed with the use of the SPSS software package, version 17.0. Data were expressed as means ± SD; a p value <0.05 was assumed to be statistically significant. RESULTS We found 97.87% of patients had NAVFs, among them 93.09% (350/376) of patients had wrist NAVFs, followed by elbow NAVFs 4.79% (18/376), while 1.33% (5/376) had graft AVFs and only 0.80% (3/376) of patients depended on a cuff catheter. The most frequent complications seen in our patients were thrombosis (13.86%), followed by aneurysm (12.23%), anastomotic stenosis (2.17%); arterial steal syndrome (1.63%); infection (0.54%); and venous hypertension (0.27%). Aneurysm was more common in the elbow group (66.67%) than in the wrist group (9.43%) (p<0.01). There were no differences in other complications, patency rate during 1-3 years or Kt/V between the 2 groups. We did not find high-output cardiac failure related to NAVFs in our patients. CONCLUSION The prevalence of complications of NAVFs is high, and greater attention should be paid to the prevention of these complications. Early diagnosis and management of complications related to AVFs is essential to prevent loss of the vascular access. We think the wrist radiocephalic NAVF is the first choice for MHD patients; an elbow NAVF is a reasonable alternative for MHD access when a radiocephalic NAVF is not possible.
Managing secondary PTSD among personnel deployed in post‐conflict countries

This paper investigates the nature of vicarious or secondary post‐traumatic stress disorder in relation to six Dutch organisations and their personnel working in Rwanda, a country heavily affected by genocide and war. Drawing from the literature and empirical research it is argued that a systematic approach can strongly contribute to a more coherent human resource management/human resource development cycle of environmental analysis; identification of job descriptions and person specifications; relationship of jobs, persons and teams; recruitment, selection and contracting; induction and training; deployment and management of individuals and teams; and finally, debriefing and counselling. In this way, there is greater potential for the organisation to achieve objectives and enable its expatriate workforce to handle the stressful conditions in which they may find themselves.
Pathologic Characterization of Brown Norway, Brown Norway × Fischer 344, and Fischer 344 × Brown Norway Rats With Relation to Age

Abstract The rat is a common laboratory animal utilized in a variety of investigations including experimental gerontology. Gerontologic investigations can be compromised when the differences observed when comparing young and old animals are actually differences between normal and disease states. It is of critical interest to know the pathology of the animals being studied and to understand the impact of these disease processes on the parameters being measured. The incidence and average age of occurrence for lesions have been characterized and are reported here for one inbred (Brown Norway) and two hybrid strains (Brown Norway × Fischer 344 and Fischer 344 × Brown Norway) of rat. Total lesion incidence functions as a biomarker of aging for all of the strains examined (p ≤ .00001). These three genotypes have significantly lower incidence of several major pathologic processes (including glomerulonephritis, retinal atrophy, and leukemia) than do the Fischer 344 and the Wistar rats, two commonly utilized strains. Additionally, the BN and F344 × BN F1 hybrid attain 50% mortality at 130 and 146 weeks of age, respectively, which is significantly greater than the 103 weeks for the F344 rat. It is hoped that access to basic information on these three rat genotypes will increase their utilization by the community of gerontologic scientists.
A Genome-Wide Landscape of Retrocopies in Primate Genomes

Gene duplication is a key factor contributing to phenotype diversity across and within species. Although the availability of complete genomes has led to the extensive study of genomic duplications, the dynamics and variability of gene duplications mediated by retrotransposition are not well understood. Here, we predict mRNA retrotransposition and use comparative genomics to investigate their origin and variability across primates. Analyzing seven anthropoid primate genomes, we found a similar number of mRNA retrotranspositions (∼7,500 retrocopies) in Catarrhini (Old Word Monkeys, including humans), but a surprising large number of retrocopies (∼10,000) in Platyrrhini (New World Monkeys), which may be a by-product of higher long interspersed nuclear element 1 activity in these genomes. By inferring retrocopy orthology, we dated most of the primate retrocopy origins, and estimated a decrease in the fixation rate in recent primate history, implying a smaller number of species-specific retrocopies. Moreover, using RNA-Seq data, we identified approximately 3,600 expressed retrocopies. As expected, most of these retrocopies are located near or within known genes, present tissue-specific and even species-specific expression patterns, and no expression correlation to their parental genes. Taken together, our results provide further evidence that mRNA retrotransposition is an active mechanism in primate evolution and suggest that retrocopies may not only introduce great genetic variability between lineages but also create a large reservoir of potentially functional new genomic loci in primate genomes.
Androgens and competitiveness in men

In this study, we investigate the association between a number of hormonal variables (circulating testosterone, facial masculinity, 2D:4D digit ratio, and cortisol) and competitiveness in a sample of 93 men aged 18-23. Competitiveness is measured by self-selection into a competitive setting versus a piece-rate scheme. We find no robust correlations between any of the hormonal variables and competiveness, though there are some suggestive patterns in the data which merit further exploration.
The demise of fieldwork as an integral part of science education in United Kingdom schools: a victim of cultural change and political pressure?

Abstract Science education in United Kingdom schools had usually included elements of fieldwork; over time it had become part of the traditions and culture of school science. The nature of this work had not only reflected the age and abilities of the student, but had also responded to the numerous changes to curriculum content, methods of teaching and examination procedures, which have taken place over several decades. This article will examine how fieldwork provision has been affected by fundamental changes to the education system of the United Kingdom during the last decade. The introduction of a Statutory Curriculum for England and Wales in 1988, along with new management structures within the education system, have caused attitudes to fieldwork to change radically. The dramatic decrease in the amount of fieldwork carried out as part of a normal science education is seen to have several possible root causes including an over prescriptive science curriculum, financial constraints, changing professional values and bureaucratic complexities. The article identifies and analyses some of the factors that are seen by practicing teachers as undermining the position of fieldwork in science education and goes on to comment on potential consequences of large-scale organizational change in schools.
The Benefits of Sales Force Automation: A Customer’s Perspective

This paper examines the benefits of sales force automation from the customer’s perspective within a framework based on theories from the sales and information systems literature relating to the benefits of the implementation of information technology. An in-depth study using qualitative research tools is conducted among managers occupying “buyer/logistic” positions within customer organizations to identify perceived benefits of the use of sales force automation (SFA) systems by their vendors. Three content analytical techniques (thematic, lexical, and cognitive mapping) are used to uncover the benefits most valued by management in customer organizations. Results demonstrate that customers perceive benefits on four main dimensions of their interaction with salespersons—salespeople’s professionalism, customer interaction frequency, salesperson responsiveness, and salesperson–customer relationship quality. This study is the first to examine aspects of SFA from the customer perspective.