Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Décodage neuronal dans le système auditif central à l'aide d'un modèle bilinéaire généralisé et de représentations spectro-temporelles bio-inspirées

In this project, Bayesian neural decoding is performed on the neural activity recorded from the inferior colliculus of the guinea pig following the presentation of a vocalization. In particular, we study the impact of di erent encoding models on the accuracy of reconstruction of di erent spectro-temporal representations of the input stimulus. First voltages recorded from the inferior colliculus of the guinea pig are read and the spike trains are obtained. Then, we t an encoding model to the stimulus and associated spike trains. Finally, we do neural decoding on the pairs of stimuli and neural activities using the maximum a posteriori optimization method to obtain the reconstructed spectro-temporal representation of the signal. Two encoding models, a generalized linear model (GLM) and a generalized bilinear model (GBM), are compared along with three di erent spectro-temporal representations of the input stimuli: a spectrogram and two bio-inspired representations, i.e. a gammatone lter bank (GFB) and a spikegram. The parameters of the GLM and GBM including spectro-temporal receptive eld, post spike lter and input non linearity (only for the GBM) are tted using the maximum likelihood optimization (ML) algorithm. Signal to noise ratios between the reconstructed and original representations are used to evaluate the decoding, or reconstruction accuracy. We experimentally show that the reconstruction accuracy is better with the spikegram representation than with the spectrogram and GFB representation. Furthermore, using a GBM instead of a GLM signi cantly increases the reconstruction accuracy. In fact, our results show that the spikegram reconstruction accuracy with a GBM tting yields an SNR that is 3.3 dB better than when using the standard decoding approach of reconstructing a spectrogram with GLM tting.
Embedded coring in MPEG video compression

Coring is a well-known technique for removing noise from images. The mechanism of coring consists of transforming a noise-degraded image into a frequency-domain representation, followed by a reduction of the image transform coefficients by a (nonlinear) coring function. After inverse transforming the cored coefficients, the noise-reduced image is obtained. We show that coring can be embedded into MPEG encoders with relatively little additional complexity. We exploit the statistical properties of the DCT coefficients to find the optimal Bayesian coring function for each of the DCT coefficients. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the MPEG-embedded coring function on compressing noisy image sequences.
Independent-Mobility Rights and the State of Public Transport Accessibility for Disabled People

A total of 245 rural men and women with physical disabilities were interviewed to assess their access to road transport. The overall level of access was poor for both the men and women with physical disabilities. Poor environmental conditions and terminal facilities, unfriendly vehicles and behavior of transport staff, and travel safety and security threats were the barriers that prevented them to access routes. The findings indicate that without having a clear understanding of the transport-accessibility challenges at transport-planning levels and adopting equities in practice, the promotion of disability rights in local transport would be impossible in developing societies like Pakistan.
Bacterial contamination of platelet concentrates stored at 20°C

Qualitative and quantitative data on the bacterial contamination of 1000 platelet concentrates prepared and stored at 20°C are presented. Using cooked meat medium the incidence of contamination was 6·3%. However, nutrient agar platelet counts showed the concentration of bacteria to be low. The clinical significance of these results is discussed.
Temperature-stable high-energy-density capacitors using complex perovskite thin films

Chemical-solution-derived thin film synthesis and dielectric characterizations of (1 - x)BaTiO3-xBi(Mg,Ti)O3 complex perovskites with compositions x <; 0.15 have been explored for temperature-stable high-energy-density capacitor applications. Solution chemistry has been optimized to synthesize and stabilize the precursor solution. Solution-derived (1- x)BaTiO3-xBi(Mg,Ti)O3 thin film samples in thicknesses ranging from 250 to 500 nm were fabricated by repeated spinning and subsequent crystallization processes. These thin films showed nearly linear polarization response with high relative dielectric permittivity exceeding 900, which is beneficial for high-capacitance-density and high-energy-density capacitors. Average dielectric breakdown strengths of the dense films were as high as 2.08 MV/cm. The BaTiO3-Bi(Mg,Ti)O3 samples showed very low leakage current densities of the order of 10-8 A/cm2 even at temperatures of 200°C. Based on the structural stability at high temperatures of the pseudocubic perovskite, the high dielectric permittivity and the typical P-E behaviors of the BaTiO3-Bi(Mg,Ti)O3 thin films were also maintained at such high temperatures. Resulting energy density of the 500-nm-thick 0.88BaTiO3-0.12Bi(Mg,Ti)O3 thin film was as high as 37 J/cm3 at 1.9 MV/cm. The high energy density and excellent temperature stability of the BaTiO3-Bi(Mg,Ti)O3 complex perovskite show promise for use in high-temperature pulse power capacitor applications.
Suitability Screening During Basic Military Training

Results are presented for suitability screening conducted by the United States Air Force during basic military training. The Lackland Behavioral Questionnaire has been used operationally since 2007, and its use has led to an increase in predictive validity. For the prediction of outcomes during the first 4 years of service, one can identify trainees with a 49% likelihood of being separated for unsuitability and a 56% likelihood of being diagnosed with a mental disorder. A formal suitability screening program allows referrals and recommendations to be made using a combination of empirical evidence and clinical judgment.
Is word-order similarity necessary for cross-linguistic structural priming?

This article presents two experiments employing two structural priming paradigms that investigated whether cross-linguistic syntactic priming occurred in Chinese and English passive sentences that differ in word order (production-to-production priming in Experiment 1 and comprehension-to-production priming in Experiment 2). Results revealed that cross-linguistic syntactic priming occurred in Chinese and English passive sentences, regardless of production of primes or comprehension of primes and language direction (L1–L2 or L2–L1). Our findings indicate that word-order similarity between languages is not necessary for cross-linguistic structural priming, supporting the view of a two-stage model of language production.
Corneal endothelial changes after accelerated corneal collagen cross-linking in keratoconus and postLASIK ectasia

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of accelerated cross-linking (CXL) on corneal endothelium in keratoconus and postlaser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) ectasia. Design This study is a prospective nonrandomized controlled study. Setting This study was conducted in Mansoura Ophthalmic Center (Mansoura University) and Al-Mostakbal Ophthalmic Center, Mansoura, Egypt. Methods In total, 40 eyes with progressive keratoconus and 10 eyes with postLASIK ectasia were subjected to an accelerated CXL (10 mW/cm2 for 9 minutes). Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the corneal endothelial cells were conducted before CXL and 3, 6, and 12 months after CXL by using a specular microscope (Tomy EM-3000). Results There was a significant reduction in endothelial cell count particularly at 3 and 6 months postCXL. In addition, the coefficient of variance was also statistically significantly higher at 3 and 6 months postoperatively than the preCXL value. There was a slight change in the percentage of hexagonal cells. Conclusion The use of accelerated CXL (10 mW/cm2 for 9 minutes) has a transient negative impact on endothelial cell density and/or endothelial morphology.
Effect of education on racial disparities in access to kidney transplantation

Goldfarb‐Rumyantzev AS, Sandhu GS, Baird B, Barenbaum A, Yoon JH, Dimitri N, Koford JK, Shihab F. Effect of education on racial disparities in access to kidney transplantation. Clin Transplant 2012: 26: 74–81. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.
Mapping the two levels of digital divide: Internet access and social network site adoption among older adults in the USA

ABSTRACT Older adults have increasingly adopted Internet and social network sites (SNSs), but little communication scholarship has explored systematic differences in access within this population. Using a nationally representative sample of Americans over the age of 50 years from the 2012 Health and Retirement Study, we examine Internet access (N = 18,851) and SNS adoption patterns (N = 869) among this sample and explore how these patterns vary by age. Regarding Internet access, results suggest that while the gender divide has reversed in favor of women, older adults who are economically, socioculturally, or physically disadvantaged are less likely to have reliable Internet access. In addition, the view that the various divides in Internet access are less of a concern for those who are younger is only partially supported, as some access-related divides do not vary by age or even decrease with age. For SNS adoption, we found that access to technological resources (diversity of online activities) positively predicts SNS use. Moreover, SNS users are more likely to be younger, female, widowed, and homemakers, perhaps because these individuals are more motivated to use SNSs to complement or compensate for their existing social status. These findings reveal unique challenges and motivations in relation to Internet access and SNS adoption patterns across the later life span.
Molecular Epidemiology of CTX-M-Producing Escherichia coli in the Calgary Health Region: Emergence of CTX-M-15-Producing Isolates

ABSTRACT A study was designed to describe the molecular epidemiology of CTX-M-producing Escherichia coli over a 6-year period (2000 to 2005) in a large well-defined Canadian region with a centralized laboratory system. Molecular characterization was done by isoelectric focusing, PCR, and automated sequencing, while genetic relatedness was determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis with XbaI. Of the 552 viable extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing E. coli isolates isolated, 354 (64%) were positive for blaCTX-M genes associated with ISEcp1; 211 produced CTX-M-14, 128 produced CTX-M-15, 5 produced CTX-M-2, 4 produced CTX-M-3, 4 produced CTX-M-24, and 2 produced CTX-M-27. CTX-M-positive isolates were significantly more resistant to the fluoroquinolones than CTX-M-negative isolates, while CTX-M-15 producers were more likely to be resistant to gentamicin and tobramycin. There was a predominance of CTX-M-14 during the first 4 years of the study period, with community outbreaks associated with cluster 14A during 2000, 2001, and 2003. A substantial increase in CTX-M-15 producers occurred during the last 18 months and was due to clusters 15A and 15AR (where AR indicates related to A) in the hospital and nursing home sectors. Our results demonstrate that the persistence and dissemination of CTX-M genes among E. coli populations in larger geographic health care regions is dynamic, with the continuous emergence of clonally related CTX-M-15. This study illustrates the importance of molecular surveillance in tracking CTX-M-producing E. coli strains in the community and investigating their influx into hospitals.
Terrorism and behavioral medicine

The development of behavioral medicine, like that of psychiatry, psychology, and other biobehavioral disciplines, has been marked by a series of watershed events that stimulate research and clinical activity and irrevocably alter the growth of that discipline. The twentieth century saw two world wars, each of which posed new problems needing solutions and new reactions that demanded novel ways of thinking about human behavior and how to treat abnormal or troublesome syndromes. In the United States, the war in Vietnam challenged mental health experts and scientists as combat-related disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) emerged in dramatically greater numbers than had previously been experienced. The evolution of disease pro®les and patient activism have also changed healthcare over the past 100 years, and have left us with killing diseases of `lifestyle', caused or facilitated by behaviors such as smoking, unprotected sexual behavior, drug use, and diet, and exacerbated by stress, depression, and other mental health syndromes. More recently, the spread of terrorism, the threat of bioterrorism, and issues related to the psychosocial management of responses to terror and violence have become the latest important development that will contribute to the continuous transformation and growth of our ®eld. The present article considers what we already know and what we need to learn in the context of this rapidly evolving series of events.
A calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist prevents the development of tolerance to spinal morphine analgesia

Tolerance to morphine analgesia is believed to result from a neuronal adaptation produced by continuous drug administration, although the precise mechanisms involved have yet to be established. Recently, we reported selective alterations in rat spinal calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) markers in morphine-tolerant animals. In fact, increases in CGRP-like immunostaining and decrements in specific [125]hCGRP binding in the superficial laminae of the dorsal horn were correlated with the development of tolerance to the spinal antinociceptive action of morphine. Other spinally located peptides such as substance P, galanin, and neuropeptide Y were unaffected. Thus, the major goal of the present study was to investigate whether the development of tolerance to spinally infused morphine could be modulated by the blockade of dorsal horn CGRP receptors using the potent CGRP antagonist hCGRP(8–37). Indeed, cotreatments with hCGRP(8–37) prevented, in a dose- dependent manner, the development of tolerance to morphine-induced analgesia in both the rat tail-flick/tail-immersion and paw-pressure tests. Moreover, alterations in spinal CGRP markers seen in morphine- tolerant animals were not observed after a coadministration of morphine and hCGRP(8–37). These results demonstrate the existence of specific interaction between CGRP and the development of tolerance to the spinal antinociceptive effects of morphine. They also suggest that CGRP receptor antagonists could become useful adjuncts in the treatment of pain and tolerance to the antinociceptive effects of morphine.
Effective force and economy of triathletes and cyclists

The effective force applied on the crank, the index of pedalling effectiveness, and the economy of movement at 60, 75, 90, and 105 rev/min cadences were examined in nine cyclists and eight triathletes. Tests were performed on two days. Maximal oxygen uptake was measured and the second ventilatory threshold was estimated on day 1 using a stationary bicycle. On day 2, the four different cadences were tested at about 5% below the second ventilatory threshold. A strain gauge instrumented clip-less pedal mounted on the bicycle enabled us to measure the normal and tangential forces exerted on the pedal, while the pedal and crank angles were monitored with the aid of a video system. Based on this information, the effective force and the index of pedalling effectiveness were calculated. Cyclists produced significantly more effective force and a higher index of pedalling effectiveness at 60 and 75 rev/min and were significantly more economic at all cadences than triathletes. The significant and positive correlation between effective force and economy at all cadences suggests that improvement of the effective force would reflect on economy.
Hepatitis E Virus Quasispecies and the Outcome of Acute Hepatitis E in Solid-Organ Transplant Patients

ABSTRACT Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections are responsible for chronic hepatitis in immunocompromised patients, and this can evolve to cirrhosis. Like all RNA viruses, HEV exists as a mixture of heterogeneous viruses defining quasispecies. The relationship between the genetic heterogeneity described as a quasispecies, cytokine secretion, and the outcome of acute hepatitis in immunocompromised patients remains to be elucidated. We cloned and sequenced the region encoding the M and P capsid domains of HEV from eight solid-organ transplant (SOT) patients with acute HEV infection who subsequently cleared the virus and from eight SOT patients whose infection became chronic. We analyzed the cytokines and chemokines in the sera of these SOT patients by multianalyte profiling. The nucleotide sequence entropy and genetic distances were greater in patients whose infections became chronic. A lower Ka /Ks ratio was associated with the persistence of HEV. The patients who developed chronic infection had lower serum concentrations of interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor antagonist and soluble IL-2 receptor. Increased concentrations of the chemokines implicated in leukocyte recruitment to the liver were associated with persistent infection. Those patients with chronic HEV infection and progressing liver fibrosis had less quasispecies diversification during the first year than patients without liver fibrosis progression. Great quasispecies heterogeneity, a weak inflammatory response, and high serum concentrations of the chemokines involved in leukocyte recruitment to the liver in the acute phase were associated with persistent HEV infection. Slow quasispecies diversification during the first year was associated with rapidly developing liver fibrosis.
Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization Procrastination, Academic Success and the Effectiveness of a Remedial Program

Procrastination produces harmful effects on human capital investments and study activities. Using data from a large sample of Italian undergraduates, we measure procrastination with the actual behavior of students, considering their delays in finalizing their university enrolment procedure. We firstly show that procrastination is a strong predictor of stu-dents' educational achievements. This result holds true when controlling for quite reliable measures of cognitive abilities, a number of background characteristics, family income and indicators of students' motivation. Secondly, using a Regression Discontinuity Design, we investigate the effects of a remedial program in helping students with different propensities to procrastinate. We show that the policy especially helps students who tend to procras-tinate. Even though we are not able to identify the specific mechanism driving this effect, our results suggest that policies that are not directly aimed at handling procrastination can also help to solve self-control problems.
The Challenges of Staying Together While Moving Fast: An Exploratory Study

We report on the results of an empirical study conducted with 35 experienced software developers from 22 high-tech companies, including Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Intel, and others. The goal of the study was to elicit challenges that these developers face, potential solutions that they envision to these challenges, and research initiatives that they think would deliver useful results.Challenges identified by the majority of the study participants relate to the collaborative nature of the work: the availability and discoverability of information, communication, collaborative planning and integration with work of others. Almost all participants also addressed the advantages and disadvantages of the current “fast to the market” trend, and the toll it takes on the quality of the software that they are able to deliver and on their professional and personal satisfaction as software engineers.We describe in depth the identified challenges, supporting our findings with explicit quotes from the study participants. We also put these findings in context of work done by the software engineering community and outline a roadmap for possible future research initiatives.
The transcription factor Foxg1 regulates the competence of telencephalic cells to adopt subpallial fates in mice

Foxg1 is required for development of the ventral telencephalon in the embryonic mammalian forebrain. Although one existing hypothesis suggests that failed ventral telencephalic development in the absence of Foxg1 is due to reduced production of the morphogens sonic hedgehog (Shh) and fibroblast growth factor 8 (Fgf8), the possibility that telencephalic cells lacking Foxg1 are intrinsically incompetent to generate the ventral telencephalon has remained untested. We examined the ability of Foxg1−/− telencephalic cells to respond to Shh and Fgf8 by examining the expression of genes whose activation requires Shh or Fgf8 in vivo and by testing their responses to Shh and Fgf8 in culture. We found that many elements of the Shh and Fgf8 signalling pathways continue to function in the absence of Foxg1 but, nevertheless, we were unable to elicit normal responses of key ventral telencephalic marker genes in Foxg1−/− telencephalic tissue following a range of in vivo and in vitro manipulations. We explored the development of Foxg1−/− cells in Foxg1−/− Foxg1+/+ chimeric embryos that contained ventral telencephalon created by normally patterned wild-type cells. We found that Foxg1−/− cells contributed to the chimeric ventral telencephalon, but that they retained abnormal specification, expressing dorsal rather than ventral telencephalic markers. These findings indicate that, in addition to regulating the production of ventralising signals, Foxg1 acts cell-autonomously in the telencephalon to ensure that cells develop the competence to adopt ventral identities.
Persistence Is Cultural: Professional Socialization and the Reproduction of Sex Segregation

Why does sex segregation in professional occupations persist? Arguing that the cultures and practices of professional socialization serve to perpetuate this segregation, the authors examine the case of engineering. Using interview and diary entry data following students from college entry to graduation, the authors show how socialization leads women to develop less confidence that they will “fit” into the culture of engineering. The authors identify three processes that produce these cultural mismatches: orientation to engineering at college entry, initiation rituals in coursework and team projects, and anticipatory socialization during internships and summer jobs. Informal interactions with peers and everyday sexism in teams and internships are particularly salient building blocks of segregation.