Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adaptation Aftereffects in Vocal Emotion Perception Elicited by Expressive Faces and Voices

The perception of emotions is often suggested to be multimodal in nature, and bimodal as compared to unimodal (auditory or visual) presentation of emotional stimuli can lead to superior emotion recognition. In previous studies, contrastive aftereffects in emotion perception caused by perceptual adaptation have been shown for faces and for auditory affective vocalization, when adaptors were of the same modality. By contrast, crossmodal aftereffects in the perception of emotional vocalizations have not been demonstrated yet. In three experiments we investigated the influence of emotional voice as well as dynamic facial video adaptors on the perception of emotion-ambiguous voices morphed on an angry-to-happy continuum. Contrastive aftereffects were found for unimodal (voice) adaptation conditions, in that test voices were perceived as happier after adaptation to angry voices, and vice versa. Bimodal (voice + dynamic face) adaptors tended to elicit larger contrastive aftereffects. Importantly, crossmodal (dynamic face) adaptors also elicited substantial aftereffects in male, but not in female participants. Our results (1) support the idea of contrastive processing of emotions (2), show for the first time crossmodal adaptation effects under certain conditions, consistent with the idea that emotion processing is multimodal in nature, and (3) suggest gender differences in the sensory integration of facial and vocal emotional stimuli.
Can a self-management programme delivered by a community pharmacist improve asthma control? A randomised trial

Background: No randomised studies have addressed whether self-management for asthma can be successfully delivered by community pharmacists. Most randomised trials of asthma self-management have recruited participants from secondary care; there is uncertainty regarding its effectiveness in primary care. A randomised controlled study was undertaken to determine whether a community pharmacist could improve asthma control using self-management advice for individuals recruited during attendance at a community pharmacy. Methods: Twenty four adults attending a community pharmacy in Tower Hamlets, east London for routine asthma medication were randomised into two groups: the intervention group received self-management advice from the pharmacist with weekly telephone follow up for 3 months and the control group received no input from the pharmacist. Participants self-completed the North of England asthma symptom scale at baseline and 3 months later. Results: The groups were well matched at baseline for demographic characteristics and mean (SD) symptom scores (26.3 (4.8) and 27.8 (3.7) in the intervention and control groups, respectively). Symptom scores improved in the intervention group and marginally worsened in the control group to 20.3 (4.2) and 28.1 (3.5), respectively (p<0.001; difference adjusted for baseline scores = 7.0 (95% CI 4.4 to 9.5). Conclusions: A self-management programme delivered by a community pharmacist can improve asthma control in individuals recruited at a community pharmacy. Further studies should attempt to confirm these findings using larger samples and a wider range of outcome measures.
Update on Bioresorbable Plates in Maxillofacial Surgery

Biodegradable materials, mainly polymers and copolymers of polylactide and polyglycolide, are today routinely used as fixation materials in craniomaxillofacial surgery. Several research groups have shown that these materials can adequately fix osteotomies and fractures of the craniofacial skeleton. Although there are some differences between polymers, in general their biocompatibility is good. They gradually lose their strength, enabling the underlying bone to take up the stress. Secondary procedures for removal of the material causing discomfort and pain are not needed. An overview of the development of biodegradable materials, their characteristics, and illustrations of different applications in craniomaxillofacial surgery are presented. More than 200 patients have been treated successfully so far in our units, the longest follow-up time being now over 7 years. The good results indicate that the use of bioresorbable fixation can be considered routine and will be definitely state of art at the beginning of the new millennium.
Hyposalivation and xerostomia among Parkinson's disease patients and its impact on quality of life.

OBJECTIVE Parkinson's disease (PD) adversely affects oral health (OH). However, the informative value of xerostomia compared to objective parameters and its impact on quality of life (QoL) are still unclear. This study aimed to explore whether xerostomia correlates with hyposalivation and to define its impact on OH-related QoL. MATERIALS AND METHODS Whole stimulated saliva (WSS) was collected from 30 patients with PD and 30 matched healthy controls. Objective parameters (community periodontal index of treatment needs, plaque/gingivitis index, mucosa situation and cheilitis angularis) and questionnaires (German Oral Health Impact Profile [OHIPG]-14, visual analogue scale [VAS], xerostomia [yes/no] and the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale-II) were assessed. RESULTS Eighty-seven per cent of patients with PD showed hyposalivation vs 50% of controls (P = 0.001); 50% of patients with PD reported xerostomia, and none of controls (P < 0.001). The OHIPG-14 was impaired in patients with PD compared to controls (P < 0.001), PD patients with xerostomia reported mean VAS values of 4.1 (s.d.: 2.2). WSS did not correlate with VAS values. CONCLUSIONS Half of the patients with PD reported xerostomia and underestimated their xerostomic status, with higher probability than healthy controls. WSS did not reflect the grade of xerostomia. Patients with PD suffered from impaired OH-related QoL. Dental teams should not overlook these oral health risks.
On the Delay-Sensitivity of Gate Networks

In classical switching theory, asynchronous sequential circuits are operated in the fundamental mode. In this mode, a circuit is started in a stable state, and then the inputs are changed to cause a transition to another stable state. The inputs are not allowed to change again until the entire circuit has stabilized. In contrast to this, delay-insensitive circuits-the correctness of which is insensitive to delays in their components and wires-use the input-output mode. In this case, it is assumed that inputs may change again, in response to an output change, even before the entire circuit has stabilized. It is shown that such commonly used behaviors as those of the set-reset latch and Muller's C-ELEMENT do not have delay-insensitive realizations, if gates are used as the basic components. It is proved that no nontrivial sequential behavior with one binary input possesses a delay-insensitive realization using gates only. The proof makes use of the equivalence between ternary simulation and the general-multiple-winner model of circuit behavior. >
Write head with a micro coil for magneto-optical data storage

To increase storage capacity, an advanced magneto-optical recording technology using high numerical aperture (NA) optics (NA>0.8) in combination with a micro coil creating a local magnetizing field has been investigated. For data recording, a beam of blue laser light locally heats up the magneto-optical storage layer, which is then magnetized by the micro coil. The micro coil therefore needs to be located at a very small working distance (<50 /spl mu/m) from the disks, which requires the magnetic coil to be mounted between the lens and the disk. Furthermore, the substrate has to be transparent to allow the laser beam to pass through the center of the magnetizing coil. The microcoil that has been developed has proven capable of creating the magnetic field required for magneto-optical recording, could operate at the required recording frequencies, and promises sufficient heat dissipation.
Multi-stage classification of Gyrodactylus species using machine learning and feature selection techniques

This study explores the use of multi-stage machine learning based classifiers and feature selection techniques in the classification and identification of fish parasites. Accurate identification of pathogens is a key to their control and as a proof of concept, the monogenean worm genus Gyrodactylus, economically important pathogens of cultured fish species, an ideal test-bed for the selected techniques. Gyrodactylus salaris is a notifiable pathogen of salmonids and a semi-automated / automated method permitting its confident species discrimination from other non-pathogenic species is sought to assist disease diagnostics during periods of a suspected outbreak. This study will assist pathogen management in wild and cultured fish stocks, providing improvements in fish health and welfare and accompanying economic benefits. Multi-stage classification is proposed as a solution to this problem because use of a single classifier is not sufficient to ensure that all the species are accurately classified. The results show that Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) with 21 features is the best classifier for performing the initial classification of Gyrodactylus species. This first stage classification which allocates specimens to species-groups is then followed by a second or subsequent round of classification using additional classifiers to allocate species to their true class within the species-groups.
Active Stretching Improves Flexibility, Joint Torque, and Functional Mobility in Older Women

Batista LH, Vilar AC, Ferreira JJA, Rebelatto JR, Salvini TF: Active stretching improves flexibility, joint torque, and functional mobility in older women. Objective:To investigate the effect of an active stretching program on the knee flexors with regards to flexibility, torque, and functional mobility of older women. The hypothesis of this study was that a program of active knee-flexor stretching increases flexibility and muscle torque and improves functional mobility. Design:Twelve active older women aged 68.3 ± 6.2 yrs participated in this study, which lasted 12 wks. This study was divided into three phases (A1-B-A2), each lasting 4 wks. Phases A1 and A2 were control phases (without intervention), and phase B (stretch) consisted of seven repetitions of active knee-flexor stretching (1 min each, 30-sec rest, twice a week). Flexibility, functionality, and isokinetic torque (knee flexors and extensors) were assessed by measuring the knee-extension range of motion, the “Timed Up & Go” test, and by a dynamometry test at 60°/sec. Results:Stretching increased the flexibility of the knee flexors (41.5%; P = 0.0001), knee-flexor torque (11.4%), and extensor torque (10.1%) (P ≤ 0.01) but decreased Timed Up & Go test performance (14.3%; P = 0.0001). Conclusions:The results of this study showed that an active stretching program was effective in increasing the flexibility of knee flexors, extensor and flexor torque, and functional mobility in older women.
Determinant Factors of Untreated Dental Caries and Lesion Activity in Preschool Children Using ICDAS

The aim of the present study was to investigate determinant factors associated with the presence of dental caries and lesion activity in preschool children. A population-based, cross-sectional study was carried out with 843 children of aged three to five years enrolled at public and private preschools in the city of Campina Grande, Brazil. A questionnaire addressing socio-demographic data and oral health care was self-administered by parents/caregivers. Three dentists previously calibrated examined the children for the diagnosis of dental caries and lesion activity using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS). Nutritional status was evaluated based on the body mass index. Logistic regression analysis for complex samples was performed (α = 5%). The prevalence of dental caries was 66.3%. Among the children with caries, 88.0% had active lesions. Dental caries was more prevalent in girls (OR = 1.53, 95%CI: 1.05–2.23), in children from families with a monthly household income ≤US$312.50 (OR = 2.38, 95%CI: 1.65–3.43) and those whose mothers had up to eight years of schooling (OR = 1.55, 95%CI: 1.07–2.23). Lesion activity was significantly associated with mother’s schooling ≤ 8 years (OR = 2.15, 95%CI: 1.15–4.00). The prevalence rates of dental caries and lesion activity were high and mainly associated with a lower socioeconomic status and mother’s schooling.
MMSE Training Design for Filter Bank Multicarrier Systems with Per-Subcarrier Channel Estimation

Filter bank based multicarrier (FBMC) systems present an alternative solution to cyclic prefix based orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (CP-OFDM) in wireless environments with multipath propagation. In this contribution we propose a novel training sequences design method to be employed in a per-subcarrier maximum likelihood (ML) narrowband channel estimation scheme, recently developed by the authors. In the training design we take into account the knowledge of transmitter and receiver side prototype filters to calculate the pilot sequences. The method targets at the minimum mean squared error (MMSE) of the channel estimation and uses a gradient projection algorithm to find the optimum sequences. In the numerical results we show a gain of up to 4 dB for the same MMSE value in a low to medium Eb/N0 regime.
Introduction: concepts of development, learning, and acquisition

‘Learning’, in a very broad sense of cognitive psychology, is defined as ‘‘a relatively permanent change in an organism’s potential for responding that results from prior experience or practice’’ (Gordon 1989: 6). This special issue will deal with learning in a more narrow sense, with learning in human beings and, more specifically, with language learning. Due to its association with early behaviorism, ‘language learning’ has long been a frowned upon notion. It was substituted with the term ‘language acquisition’ by researchers with a generativist agenda. In opposition to the empiricist tradition, they established new notions along with a new linguistic paradigm — generative grammar. ‘Learning’ has not only been largely banned from the linguistic literature but it has also received less attention in cognitive psychology, due to the ‘‘cognitive revolution’’ (Baars 1986) instigated by Chomsky (1957, 1959). One of the consequences of this paradigmatic turn was that new information processing models emphasized knowledge representation and de-emphasized the learning process (Glaser 1990; Reber 1993: 4). In this special issue, we take a fresh look at the old controversy in the light of novel and challenging approaches which have arrived recently in the field — implicit modes of learning, bootstrapping, optimality theory, connectionism, usage-based and emergentist approaches, self-organizing and dynamic systems. In this introductory paper we will set the scene for the articles to come: In Section 1 we will start out with a clarification of basic terms like development, learning, and acquisition. 2 In Section 2 we will briefly recapitulate the various stages in the debate between rationalists and empiricists up to now. In Sections 3 and 4 more recent approaches will be characterized before, in Section 5, the outline of the special issue including the individual papers will be summarized.
Global transmission/disequilibrium tests based on haplotype sharing in multiple candidate genes

It is well recognized that multiple genes are likely contributing to the susceptibility of most common complex diseases. Studying one gene at a time might reduce our chance to identify disease susceptibility genes with relatively small effect sizes. Therefore, it is crucial to develop statistical methods that can assess the effect of multiple genes collectively. Motivated by the increasingly available high‐density markers across the whole human genome, we propose a class of TDT‐type methods that can jointly analyze haplotypes from multiple candidate genes (linked or unlinked). Our approach first uses a linear signed rank statistic to compare at an individual gene level the structural similarity among transmitted haplotypes against that among non‐transmitted haplotypes. The results of the ranked comparisons from all considered genes are subsequently combined into global statistics, which can simultaneously test the association of the set of genes with the disease. Using simulation studies, we find that the proposed tests yield correct type I error rates in stratified populations. Compared with the gene‐by‐gene test, the new global tests appear to be more powerful in situations where all candidate genes are associated with the disease. Genet. Epidemiol. 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Spread Spectrum Watermarking: Principles and Applications in Fading Channel

Spread spectrum (SS) modulation based watermarking methods are widely used and popular, satisfying two important characteristics, namely (i) it may help in achieving high document-towatermark ratio (DWR) leading to low distortion due to watermark insertion and (ii) it can also help to achieve robustness against forced removal of hidden data (Cox et al. 1997; Maity et al, 2007a). In SS watermarking, the bits composing the desired message are modulated using spreading code patterns and are added to the host (original) signal. The message may consist of a random number with zero mean and unit variance like an independent and identically distributed (i.i.d) Gaussian sequence, a string of binary data (binary signaling) or a group of symbols where each symbol consists of combination of binary data (M-ary signaling) (Malver & Florencio, 2003; Maity & Kundu, 2011). The associated problems in SS watermark system are the effect of host signal interference (HSI), poor payload due to spectrum spreading and poor detection performance for the widely used correlator in presence of non-stationary fading attack i.e. gain attack (Kundur & Hatzinakos, 2001).
Analysis of Yeast Flora Associated with Grape Sour Rot and of the Chemical Disease Markers

The frequency and the density of the species associated with grape sour rot in different cultivars were determined. The most frequent species in the rotten grapes, Candida krusei, Kloeckera apiculata, and Metschnikowia pulcherrima, and a less frequent species, Issatchenkia occidentalis, when inoculated with Saccharomycopsis crataegensis were able to induce in vitro the symptoms of the disease. The gas chromatographic determination of the volatile compounds in the headspace was used to evaluate the metabolic role of the different species associated with the disease. These analyses made it possible to presume that, whereas some species, such as Candida krusei and Hanseniaspora uvarum, can be considered responsible for these modifications and in particular for the ethyl acetate production, others, such as Saccharomycopsis crataegensis, can promote the development of the former species.
Folding Mechanism of Beta-Hairpin Trpzip2: Heterogeneity, Transition State and Folding Pathways

We review the studies on the folding mechanism of the β-hairpin tryptophan zipper 2 (trpzip2) and present some additional computational results to refine the picture of folding heterogeneity and pathways. We show that trpzip2 can have a two-state or a multi-state folding pattern, depending on whether it folds within the native basin or through local state basins on the high-dimensional free energy surface; Trpzip2 can fold along different pathways according to the packing order of tryptophan pairs. We also point out some important problems related to the folding mechanism of trpzip2 that still need clarification, e.g., a wide distribution of the computed conformations for the transition state ensemble.
Synergistic inhibition of head and neck tumor growth by green tea (−)‐epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate and EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor

One of the mechanisms of the antitumor activity of green tea (−)‐epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG) is associated with its effect on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)‐mediated signaling transduction pathways. We investigated whether combining EGCG with the EGFR‐tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR‐TKI) erlotinib may augment erlotinib‐induced cell growth inhibition of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) in a mouse xenograft model. In vitro studies with 5 head and neck cancer cell lines revealed that synergistic cell growth inhibition by the combination of EGCG and erlotinib was associated with significantly greater inhibition of pEGFR and pAKT, increased activation of caspases 9, 3 and PARP compared to the inhibition induced by EGCG or erlotinib alone. Erlotinib inhibited phosphorylation of EGFR, stabilizing EGFR at the plasma membrane, whereas EGCG induced EGFR internalization and ubiquitin‐degradation, ultimately undermining EGFR signaling. The efficacy of the combination treatment was investigated with nude mice (n = 25) orally gavaged with vehicle control, EGCG, erlotinib or the combination at the same doses for 7 days, followed by subcutaneous injection with Tu212 cells. Animals were continuously administered the agents 5 days weekly for 7 weeks. The combined treatment resulted in significantly greater inhibition of tumor growth and delayed tumor progression as a result of increased apoptosis, decreased cell proliferation and reduced pEGFR and pAKT compared to the single agent treatment groups. Our results suggest a synergistic antitumor effect of a combined treatment with EGCG and erlotinib, and provide a promising regimen for future chemoprevention and treatment of SCCHN. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Self-organizing maps and VolSurf approach to predict aldose reductase inhibition by fl avonoid compounds

Aldose Reductase (AR) is the polyol pathway key enzyme which converts glucose to sorbitol. High glucose availability in insulin resistant tissues in diabetes leads into an accumulation of sorbitol, which has been associated with typical chronic complications of this disease, such as neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy. In this study, 71 flavonoids AR inhibitors were subjected to two methods of SAR to verify crucial substituents. The first method used the PCA (Principal Component Analysis) to elucidate physical and chemical characteristics in the molecules that would be essential for the activity, employing VolSurf descriptors. The rate obtained explained 53% of the system total variance and revealed that a hydrophobic-hydrophilic balance in the molecules is required, since very polar or nonpolar substituents decrease the activity. Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) was also employed to determine key substituents by evaluating substitution patterns, using NMR data. This study had a high success rate (85% accuracy in the training set and 88% accuracy in the test set) and showed polihydroxilations are essential for high activity and methoxylations and glicosilations primarily at positions C7, C3' and C4' decrease the activity.