Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Training Enhances the Interference of Numerosity on Duration Judgement

The interference of magnitudes in different dimensions has been demonstrated previously, but the effect of training in one dimension on judgment of another has yet to be examined. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of training in numerosity judgment on judgment of duration. 32 participants took part in two sessions, 12 days apart, and had to judge which of two successive sets of items was presented longer. Half of the participants (training group) were additionally trained in 11 sessions to judge which one of the two successive sets of items was more numerous. It was found that the participants in the training group became more prone to the interference of numerosity on judging duration after training, when compared to the control group. Thus, being trained to more easily perceive the difference in number of items in the two sets affected the perception of duration. On the 3-month follow up session, no effect was found with 20 participants (n = 10 for each group). These findings indicate that the interference of magnitudes in different dimensions can be modulated by training. We discuss that this modulatory effect might be due to neural changes in shared brain regions between interfering magnitudes and/or is mediated by higher levels of perception.
Scene Construction, Visual Foraging, and Active Inference

This paper describes an active inference scheme for visual searches and the perceptual synthesis entailed by scene construction. Active inference assumes that perception and action minimize variational free energy, where actions are selected to minimize the free energy expected in the future. This assumption generalizes risk-sensitive control and expected utility theory to include epistemic value; namely, the value (or salience) of information inherent in resolving uncertainty about the causes of ambiguous cues or outcomes. Here, we apply active inference to saccadic searches of a visual scene. We consider the (difficult) problem of categorizing a scene, based on the spatial relationship among visual objects where, crucially, visual cues are sampled myopically through a sequence of saccadic eye movements. This means that evidence for competing hypotheses about the scene has to be accumulated sequentially, calling upon both prediction (planning) and postdiction (memory). Our aim is to highlight some simple but fundamental aspects of the requisite functional anatomy; namely, the link between approximate Bayesian inference under mean field assumptions and functional segregation in the visual cortex. This link rests upon the (neurobiologically plausible) process theory that accompanies the normative formulation of active inference for Markov decision processes. In future work, we hope to use this scheme to model empirical saccadic searches and identify the prior beliefs that underwrite intersubject variability in the way people forage for information in visual scenes (e.g., in schizophrenia).
The Association Of Her-2/Neu Overexpression In Relation With P53 Nuclear Accumulation, Hormonal Recceptor Status And Common Clinicopathological Prognostic Parameters In A Series Of Egyptian Women With Inasive Ductal Carcinoma

Aim: HER2/neu protein has garnered a great deal of interest in the popular media. However, it has long been known among pathologists and oncologists for its potential role as a tumor and prognostic marker. This protein exists on the surface of epithelial cells and functions in the normal cell as a receptor for a cellular growth factor. Aim of the study: is to determine the association of HER-2/neu and p53 as well as hormonal receptor status with common pathologic parameters in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. Methods: Expression of HER-2/neu and p53 was examined by immunohistochemistry in samples of breast tissue from 50 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma and their significance for prognosis was analyzed. Results: There was a significant association between HER-2 over-expression and the accumulation of nuclear p53 (p=0.0017), the increased size of tumor (p=0.0115) as well as the high grade tumors (p=0.0001). On the other hand HER-2 over-expression showed an inverse significant association with ER (p=0.0001) and PR status (p=0.0003). Meanwhile there wasn’t any significant association of HER-2 over-expression with the number of the invaded lymph nodes, grade of tumor necrosis or the menopausal status. Conclusion: The study had indicated that Her-2/neu may be a powerful predictor of poor prognosis as it’s over-expression was strongly directly correlated with p53 nuclear accumulation, tumor size and grade and inversely correlated with hormonal receptor status of breast carcinoma. Meanwhile; no significant associated for number of invaded lymph nodes and the menopausal status.
Application-aware buffer management: new metrics and techniques

An important issue for video transmission over IP networks is preservation of perceived video quality despite packet loss. Packet loss can be detrimental to compressed video. However, reducing packet loss to a very low level is difficult with current loss control techniques. Furthermore, even a very low objective loss probability can still seriously distort perceived video quality. This paper presents two buffer management schemes using video characteristics. They increase maximum loss tolerance for a desired level of video quality, providing better quality at equal loss ratios, when compared to a conventional buffer management scheme. Meanwhile, service fairness and network efficiency are also improved.
Ranking quantitative resistance to Septoria tritici blotch in elite wheat cultivars using automated image analysis

Quantitative resistance is likely to be more durable than major gene resistance for controlling Septoria tritici blotch (STB) on wheat. Earlier studies hypothesized that resistance affecting the degree of host damage, as measured by the percentage of leaf area covered by STB lesions, is distinct from resistance that affects pathogen reproduction, as measured by the density of pycnidia produced within lesions. We tested this hypothesis using a collection of 335 elite European winter wheat cultivars that was naturally infected by a diverse population of Zymoseptoria tritici in a replicated field experiment. We used automated image analysis (AIA) of 21420 scanned wheat leaves to obtain quantitative measures of conditional STB intensity that were precise, objective, and reproducible. These measures allowed us to explicitly separate resistance affecting host damage from resistance affecting pathogen reproduction, enabling us to confirm that these resistance traits are largely independent. The cultivar rankings based on host damage were different from the rankings based on pathogen reproduction, indicating that the two forms of resistance should be considered separately in breeding programs aiming to increase STB resistance. We hypothesize that these different forms of resistance are under separate genetic control, enabling them to be recombined to form new cultivars that are highly resistant to STB. We found a significant correlation between rankings based on automated image analysis and rankings based on traditional visual scoring, suggesting that image analysis can complement conventional measurements of STB resistance, based largely on host damage, while enabling a much more precise measure of pathogen reproduction. We showed that measures of pathogen reproduction early in the growing season were the best predictors of host damage late in the growing season, illustrating the importance of breeding for resistance that reduces pathogen reproduction in order to minimize yield losses caused by STB. These data can already be used by breeding programs to choose wheat cultivars that are broadly resistant to naturally diverse Z. tritici populations according to the different classes of resistance.
Learning Sparse SVM for Feature Selection on Very High Dimensional Datasets

A sparse representation of Support Vector Machines (SVMs) with respect to input features is desirable for many applications. In this paper, by introducing a 0-1 control variable to each input feature, l0-norm Sparse SVM (SSVM) is converted to a mixed integer programming (MIP) problem. Rather than directly solving this MIP, we propose an efficient cutting plane algorithm combining with multiple kernel learning to solve its convex relaxation. A global convergence proof for our method is also presented. Comprehensive experimental results on one synthetic and 10 real world datasets show that our proposed method can obtain better or competitive performance compared with existing SVM-based feature selection methods in term of sparsity and generalization performance. Moreover, our proposed method can effectively handle large-scale and extremely high dimensional problems.
FIVE-YEAR WILKINSON MICROWAVE ANISOTROPY PROBE OBSERVATIONS: LIKELIHOODS AND PARAMETERS FROM THE WMAP DATA

This paper focuses on cosmological constraints derived from analysis of WMAP data alone. A simple ΛCDM cosmological model fits the five-year WMAP temperature and polarization data. The basic parameters of the model are consistent with the three-year data and now better constrained: Ωbh2 = 0.02273 ± 0.00062, Ωch2 = 0.1099 ± 0.0062, ΩΛ = 0.742 ± 0.030, ns = 0.963+0.014−0.015, τ = 0.087 ± 0.017, and σ8 = 0.796 ± 0.036, with h = 0.719+0.026−0.027. With five years of polarization data, we have measured the optical depth to reionization, τ>0, at 5σ significance. The redshift of an instantaneous reionization is constrained to be zreion = 11.0 ± 1.4 with 68% confidence. The 2σ lower limit is zreion > 8.2, and the 3σ limit is zreion > 6.7. This excludes a sudden reionization of the universe at z = 6 at more than 3. 5σ significance, suggesting that reionization was an extended process. Using two methods for polarized foreground cleaning we get consistent estimates for the optical depth, indicating an error due to the foreground treatment of τ ∼ 0.01. This cosmological model also fits small-scale cosmic microwave background (CMB) data, and a range of astronomical data measuring the expansion rate and clustering of matter in the universe. We find evidence for the first time in the CMB power spectrum for a nonzero cosmic neutrino background, or a background of relativistic species, with the standard three light neutrino species preferred over the best-fit ΛCDM model with Neff = 0 at >99.5% confidence, and Neff > 2.3(95%confidence limit (CL)) when varied. The five-year WMAP data improve the upper limit on the tensor-to-scalar ratio, r < 0.43(95%CL), for power-law models, and halve the limit on r for models with a running index, r < 0.58(95%CL). With longer integration we find no evidence for a running spectral index, with dns/dln k = −0.037 ± 0.028, and find improved limits on isocurvature fluctuations. The current WMAP-only limit on the sum of the neutrino masses is ∑mν < 1.3 eV(95%CL), which is robust, to within 10%, to a varying tensor amplitude, running spectral index, or dark energy equation of state.
Effect of Diagnostic and Treatment Delay on the Risk of Tuberculosis Transmission in Shenzhen, China: An Observational Cohort Study, 1993–2010

Introduction To understand better the risk of tuberculosis transmission with increasing delay in tuberculosis treatment, we undertook a retrospective cohort study in Shenzhen, China. Methods All pulmonary tuberculosis cases in the Shenzhen tuberculosis surveillance database from 1993–2010 were included. Sputum smear positivity and presence of pulmonary cavity were used as proxies for risk of tuberculosis transmission. Results Among 48,441pulmonary tuberculosis cases, 70% presented with symptoms of pulmonary TB, 62% were sputum smear positive, and 21% had a pulmonary cavity on chest x-ray. 95.3% of patients self-presented for evaluation of illness after a median 58 days of delay after symptoms began. The proportion presenting sputum smear positive (p<0.001) and with a pulmonary cavity (p<0.001) increased significantly with increasing duration of delay. Conclusions Delayed diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis is associated with a significantly increased risk of pulmonary sputum smear positivity and pulmonary cavity. To decrease risk of transmission, treatment delay needs to be reduced further.
Characterization of Memory Effects in Power Amplifiers Using Digital Two-Tone Measurements

In this paper, a novel method to measure the amplitude and phase of two-tone third-order intermodulation products generated in a high-power amplifier is presented. The method is based on the sampled input and output signals of the amplifier. The presented measurement setup and the associated algorithms for the calculation of the amplitudes and phases are considerably faster and simpler than the current methods. By making use of the sampled input and output signals of the amplifier and the signal processing techniques, the need for a nonlinear reference, a tunable attenuator, and a phase shifter in the existing measurement setups is eliminated, which makes it simple and easy to use. Hence, this is a substantial simplification of the measurement setup compared to what has been reported earlier. The proposed measurement setup is also suitable for fast automated measurements, which is of interest for many applications that are both laboratory and production oriented. In addition, a method to increase the bandwidth of the measured signal is used to overcome the bandwidth limitation set by the Nyquist criteria for sampled systems. Measurements are done on two base-station high-power amplifiers and are found to be in agreement with theory and reference measurements.
“Markov at the Bat”: A Model of Cognitive Processing in Baseball Batters

Anecdotal evidence from players and coaches indicates that cognitive processing (e.g., expectations about the upcoming pitch) plays an important role in successful baseball batting, yet this aspect of hitting has not been investigated in detail. The present study provides experimental evidence that prior expectations significantly influence the timing of a baseball swing. A two-state Markov model was used to predict the effects of pitch sequence and pitch count on batting performance. The model is a hitting strategy of switching between expectancy states using a simple set of transition rules. In a simulated batting experiment, the model provided a good fit to the hitting performance of 6 experienced college baseball players, and the estimated model parameters were highly correlated with playing level.
Abnormal Error Monitoring in Math-Anxious Individuals: Evidence from Error-Related Brain Potentials

This study used event-related brain potentials to investigate whether math anxiety is related to abnormal error monitoring processing. Seventeen high math-anxious (HMA) and seventeen low math-anxious (LMA) individuals were presented with a numerical and a classical Stroop task. Groups did not differ in terms of trait or state anxiety. We found enhanced error-related negativity (ERN) in the HMA group when subjects committed an error on the numerical Stroop task, but not on the classical Stroop task. Groups did not differ in terms of the correct-related negativity component (CRN), the error positivity component (Pe), classical behavioral measures or post-error measures. The amplitude of the ERN was negatively related to participants’ math anxiety scores, showing a more negative amplitude as the score increased. Moreover, using standardized low resolution electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) we found greater activation of the insula in errors on a numerical task as compared to errors in a non-numerical task only for the HMA group. The results were interpreted according to the motivational significance theory of the ERN.
Rayleigh–Taylor instability of viscoelastic drops at high Weber numbers

Movies of the breakup of viscous and viscoelastic drops in the high-speed airstream behind a shock wave in a shock tube have been reported by Joseph, Belanger & Beavers (1999). They performed a Rayleigh–Taylor stability analysis for the initial breakup of a drop of Newtonian liquid and found that the most unstable Rayleigh–Taylor wave fits nearly perfectly with waves measured on enhanced images of drops from the movies, but the effects of viscosity cannot be neglected. Here we construct a Rayleigh–Taylor stability analysis for an Oldroyd-B fluid using measured data for acceleration, density, viscosity and relaxation time λ1. The most unstable wave is a sensitive function of the retardation time λ2 which fits experiments when λ2/λ1 = O(10-3). The growth rates for the most unstable wave are much larger than for the comparable viscous drop, which agrees with the surprising fact that the breakup times for viscoelastic drops are shorter. We construct an approximate analysis of Rayleigh–Taylor instability based on viscoelastic potential flow which gives rise to nearly the same dispersion relation as the unapproximated analysis.
Distributed energy-efficient power and subcarrier allocation for OFDMA-based small cells

In this work, we derive a distributed resource allocation scheme for the uplink of an OFDMA-based small-cell network. The mobile terminals are modeled as utility-driven rational agents that aim at maximizing the number of bits correctly delivered at destination per unit of energy consumed, under minimum-rate constraints. The theoretical analysis of the underlying game equilibrium is exploited to derive an iterative and distributed algorithm that allows each terminal to select its optimal power allocation over subcarriers. Extensive simulations show that the proposed technique is able to properly allocate the resources across the network in a scalable and adaptive manner, while improving the performance of each user in terms of energy efficiency compared to an iterative waterfilling criterion.
A Comparison of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) Virulence Traits in a Rat Model for Periodontal Disease

Our aim was to explore the effects of Cytolethal Distending toxin (Cdt) in a well established rat model of periodontal disease where leukotoxin (LtxA) was thought to have no known effect. In vitro studies, were used to assess CdtB activity using Aa Leukotoxin as a negative control. These studies showed that both CdtB and LtxA (unexpectedly) exerted significant effects on CD4+ T cells. As a result we decided to compare the effects of these two prominent Aa virulence factors on bone loss using our rat model of Aa-induced periodontitis. In this model, Aa strains, mutant in cdtB and ltxA, were compared to their parent non-mutant strains and evaluated for colonization, antibody response to Aa, bone loss and disease. We found that bone loss/disease caused by the ltxA mutant strain, in which cdtB was expressed, was significantly less (p<0.05) than that due to the wild type strain. On the other hand, the disease caused by cdtB mutant strain, in which ltxA was expressed, was not significantly different from the wild type strain. This data indicates that Aa LtxA exerts a greater effect on bone loss than Cdt in this rat model of periodontal disease and supports the utility of this model to dissect specific virulence factors as they relate to immunopathology in studies of Aa-induced disease.
Transcript Profiling of Poplar Leaves upon Infection with Compatible and Incompatible Strains of the Foliar Rust Melampsora larici-populina1[W]

To understand key processes governing defense mechanisms in poplar (Populus spp.) upon infection with the rust fungus Melampsora larici-populina, we used combined histological and molecular techniques to describe the infection of Populus trichocarpa × Populus deltoides ‘Beaupré’ leaves by compatible and incompatible fungal strains. Striking differences in host-tissue infection were observed after 48-h postinoculation (hpi) between compatible and incompatible interactions. No reactive oxygen species production could be detected at infection sites, while a strong accumulation of monolignols occurred in the incompatible interaction after 48 hpi, indicating a late plant response once the fungus already penetrated host cells to form haustorial infection structures. P. trichocarpa whole-genome expression oligoarrays and sequencing of cDNAs were used to determine changes in gene expression in both interactions at 48 hpi. Temporal expression profiling of infection-regulated transcripts was further compared by cDNA arrays and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Among 1,730 significantly differentially expressed transcripts in the incompatible interaction, 150 showed an increase in concentration ≥3-fold, whereas 62 were decreased by ≥3-fold. Regulated transcripts corresponded to known genes targeted by R genes in plant pathosystems, such as inositol-3-P synthase, glutathione S-transferases, and pathogenesis-related proteins. However, the transcript showing the highest rust-induced up-regulation encodes a putative secreted protein with no known function. In contrast, only a few transcripts showed an altered expression in the compatible interaction, suggesting a delay in defense response between incompatible and compatible interactions in poplar. This comprehensive analysis of early molecular responses of poplar to M. larici-populina infection identified key genes that likely contain the fungus proliferation in planta.
Enhanced cellular uptake of lactosomes using cell-penetrating peptides

Abstract Polymeric micelles that are composed of synthetic polymers are generally size controllable and can be easily modified for various applications. Lactosomes (A3B-type) are biodegradable polymeric micelles composed of an amphipathic polymer, including three poly(sarcosine) blocks and a poly(l-lactic acid) block. Lactosomes accumulate in tumors in vivo through the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, even on frequently administering them. However, lactosomes cannot be efficiently internalized by cells. To improve cellular uptake of lactosomes, cell-penetrating peptide (CPP)-modified lactosomes were prepared. Seven CPPs (including EB1 and Pep1) were used, and most of them improved the cellular uptake efficiency of lactosomes. In particular, EB1- and Pep1-modified lactosomes were efficiently internalized by cells. In addition, by using CPP-modified and photosensitizer-loaded lactosomes, we demonstrated the photoinduced killing of mammalian cells, including human cancer cells. Accumulation of the EB1-modified lactosomes in NCI-N87 tumors was shown by in vivo imaging. Thus, this study demonstrated that the CPP-modified lactosome is a promising drug carrier.
Total Energy Production and Phosphocreatine Hydrolysis in the Isotonic Twitch

Using frog's sartorius muscles we have found no correlation between phosphocreatine hydrolysis and shortening under conditions (iodoacetate poisoning and anoxia) where this reaction was the only expected source of energy. Phosphocreatine hydrolysis did, however, show a constant term corresponding to the activation heat of A.V. Hill, and a linear term with work. It was concluded that shortening heat comes from some other chemical reaction, or else Hill's equation (E = A + W + ax) fails to describe correctly the energy output in a complete cycle of contraction and relaxation. To decide between these possibilities direct measurements of heat and work during a complete cycle were made. Also, experiments were performed in which heat, work, and phosphocreatine breakdown were measured simultaneously on the same muscles. The total energy output in a complete twitch could be most simply represented by a fixed "activation" heat, plus the work. There was no term corresponding to the shortening heat. Hill's equation must, therefore, be held as invalid for the complete isotonic twitch. A value of 9.8 ± 0.5 (sE) kcal/mole was obtained for the in vivo heat of hydrolysis of phosphocreatine. This quantity showed no significant dependence on load, and it is in good agreement with the value obtained from thermochemical data. It is concluded that phosphocreatine hydrolysis and its associated buffer reactions can account quantitatively for the total energy output of isometric and isotonic twitches.