Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Frequency Band Analysis of Electrocardiogram (ECG) Signals for Human Emotional State Classification Using Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT)

[Purpose] Intelligent emotion assessment systems have been highly successful in a variety of applications, such as e-learning, psychology, and psycho-physiology. This study aimed to assess five different human emotions (happiness, disgust, fear, sadness, and neutral) using heart rate variability (HRV) signals derived from an electrocardiogram (ECG). [Subjects] Twenty healthy university students (10 males and 10 females) with a mean age of 23 years participated in this experiment. [Methods] All five emotions were induced by audio-visual stimuli (video clips). ECG signals were acquired using 3 electrodes and were preprocessed using a Butterworth 3rd order filter to remove noise and baseline wander. The Pan-Tompkins algorithm was used to derive the HRV signals from ECG. Discrete wavelet transform (DWT) was used to extract statistical features from the HRV signals using four wavelet functions: Daubechies6 (db6), Daubechies7 (db7), Symmlet8 (sym8), and Coiflet5 (coif5). The k-nearest neighbor (KNN) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were used to map the statistical features into corresponding emotions. [Results] KNN provided the maximum average emotion classification rate compared to LDA for five emotions (sadness − 50.28%; happiness − 79.03%; fear − 77.78%; disgust − 88.69%; and neutral − 78.34%). [Conclusion] The results of this study indicate that HRV may be a reliable indicator of changes in the emotional state of subjects and provides an approach to the development of a real-time emotion assessment system with a higher reliability than other systems.
Molecular phylogeny of trigonostomine turbellarians (Platyhelminthes: Rhabdocoela: Trigonostomidae), including four new species from the Northeast Pacific Ocean

Rhabdocoels comprise a species-rich group of microturbellarians in marine habitats around the globe. Knowledge of their species diversity in the Northeast Pacific Ocean is limited to a few studies. Here we present nine species within Trigonostominae and one species within Brinkmanniellinae associated with intertidal algae, sandy beaches and mudflats from the coast of British Columbia and Washington. Four species, Trigonostomum tillicum sp. nov., Ceratopera cascadiensis sp. nov., Ceratopera complicata sp. nov. and Ptychopera unicornis sp. nov., are new to science and are established based on molecular data and distinctive traits associated with the stylet and bursal appendage. Furthermore, we report on the occurrence of Trigonostomum tori, Ceratopera axi, Ceratopera pilifera, Ceratopera pacifica comb. nov., Ptychopera japonica and Tvaerminnea karlingi and provide new data on their morphology. A molecular phylogenetic analysis of Trigonostominae and other Thalassotyphloplanida using 18S rRNA and partial 28S rRNA sequences from 42 species demonstrates the phylogenetic positions of the four new species in addition to other interand intrageneric relationships within Trigonostominae (e.g. Messoplana is embedded within Ceratopera). This molecular phylogenetic context enables us to reassess homology statements about stylet morphology and the organization of the afferent system within Trigonostominae.
fNIRS measures of prefrontal cortex lateralization during stuttered and fluency-enhanced speech in adults who stutter

The present study compared lateralization of cortical activation patterns in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of adults who stutter (AWS) and typical speakers (TS) as measured with functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in habitual and fluencyenhanced speaking conditions. Participants were AWS (n = 11) and genderand age-matched TS (n = 11) who completed speaking tasks in three condition blocks: (1) habitual speech using no speaking strategy (2) prolonged speech after receiving short-term training in fluency-shaping strategy-use (3) syllable-timed speech after being trained to speak in rhythm with a metronome at 92 beats per minute. The three primary dependent variables were mean change in HbO (oxygenation) relative to resting baseline in the right and left PFC hemispheres and a Laterality Index (L-R)/(L+R) calculated from these values. Two primary hypotheses were tested: (1) AWS will present with greater right-hemisphere PFC oxygenation relative to TS in a habitual or everyday speaking task (2) AWS will present with reduced right-hemisphere PFC activation (leftward shift in laterality more similar to TS) during fluency-enhanced speech strategy tasks relative to a habitual speech task. Real-time stuttered speech measures using fNIRS indicated greater effortfulness of speech production in AWS when speaking fluently and disfluently as measured by greater bilateral change in PFC HbO relative to TS. AWS laterality did not differ from TS during everyday conversation and did not significantly change when using fluencyenhancing strategies, which was counter to the hypotheses. The TS group presented with significantly greater leftward PFC HbO in the metronome condition compared to AWS. Prolonged speech and metronome-timed speech seem to be associated with different activation patterns in the PFC for AWS and for TS. Results suggest an alternative explanation for compensatory activation in AWS during speech production, such that AWS present with greater overall activation in both PFC hemispheres relative to TS which results in greater right-sided laterality than TS. Future long-term studies on adults receiving prolonged speech treatment and examination of similar measures in young children who stutter may reveal more about the compensatory versus causal nature of stuttering.
Effects of the BS power and soft handoff on the outage and capacity in the forward link of an SIR-based power-controlled CDMA system

In the forward link of a signal-to-interference ratio (SIR)-based fast power-controlled CDMA system, the fraction of base station (BS) power allocated to a mobile station (MS) is considered as a key factor affecting the system performance. By using our proposed macrodiversity non-orthogonality factor, we establish a unified analytical model to characterize the distribution of the fraction of BS power allocated to an MS in either the non-soft handoff mode or the soft handoff mode. By using that distribution and limiting the maximum fraction of BS power available to an MS, a closed-form expression of the capacity at a certain outage probability is obtained. The effects of system parameters, such as the available Rake fingers, the soft handoff threshold, the unbalance of the BS power, and the power control error, on the capacity are investigated from the viewpoint of the limitation on the fraction of BS power allocated to an MS. Simulation results show that soft handoff does not always improve capacity and the capacity gain may result depending on the choice of the system parameters
Primary Care, Males, Masculinity, and Suicide : a Grounded Theory Study

Suicide completion in the United States is a public health problem that claims over 30,000 lives annually (Center for Disease Control, 2004). Males in the U.S. complete suicide approximately four times more often than females, yet the prevalence rate of major depressive disorder for women is roughly twice the rate for men (Ohayon, 2000; et al.). It has been found that the vast majority of suicides occur among individuals experiencing episodes of major depression (Coryell and Young, 2005), while some studies suggest that as many as 70% of suicide deaths are linked to cases of untreated depression (Lewis, 2001), with more than 65% of initial attempts resulting in completions (Rihmer, 2007). Other studies estimate that 90% of suicide victims have diagnoses of depression and/or alcohol abuse or dependence at the time of the suicide (Gaynes, et al., 2004).
Characterization of Arabidopsis sterol glycosyltransferase TTG15/UGT80B1 role during freeze and heat stress

Sterol glycosyltransferases regulate the properties of sterols by catalyzing the transfer of carbohydrate molecules to the sterol moiety for the synthesis of steryl glycosides and acyl steryl glycosides. We have analyzed the functional role of TTG15/UGT80B1 gene of Arabidopsis thaliana in freeze/thaw and heat shock stress using T-DNA insertional sgt knockout mutants. Quantitative study of spatial as well as temporal gene expression showed tissue-specific and dynamic expression patterns throughout the growth stages. Comparative responses of Col-0, TTG15/UGT80B1 knockout mutant and p35S:TTG15/UGT80B1 restored lines were analyzed under heat and freeze stress conditions. Heat tolerance was determined by survival of plants at 42°C for 3 h, MDA analysis and chlorophyll fluorescence image (CFI) analysis. Freezing tolerance was determined by survival of the plants at -1°C temperature in non-acclimatized (NA) and cold acclimatized (CA) conditions and also by CFI analysis, which revealed that, p35S:TTG15/UGT80B1 restored plants were more adapted to freeze stress than TTG15/UGT80B1 knockout mutant under CA condition. HPLC analysis of the plants showed reduced sterol glycoside in mutant seedlings as compared to other genotypes. Following CA condition, both β-sitosterol and sitosterol glycoside quantity was more in Col-0 and p35S:TTG15/UGT80B1 restored lines, whereas it was significantly less in TTG15/UGT80B1 knockout mutants. From these results, it may be concluded that due to low content of free sterols and sterol glycosides, the physiology of mutant plants was more affected during both, the chilling and heat stress.
Personalizing Dialogue Agents: I have a dog, do you have pets too?

Chit-chat models are known to have several problems: they lack specificity, do not display a consistent personality and are often not very captivating. In this work we present the task of making chit-chat more engaging by conditioning on profile information. We collect data and train models to (i)condition on their given profile information; and (ii) information about the person they are talking to, resulting in improved dialogues, as measured by next utterance prediction. Since (ii) is initially unknown our model is trained to engage its partner with personal topics, and we show the resulting dialogue can be used to predict profile information about the interlocutors.
MOTHER OF FT AND TFL1 Regulates Seed Germination through a Negative Feedback Loop Modulating ABA Signaling in Arabidopsis[C][W]

This work examines the interactions among MOTHER OF FT AND TFL1 (MFT) and the genes of the abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathways in the initiation of germination, finding that MFT expression is regulated by key ABA- and gibberellin-responsive factors and MFT in turn also regulates ABA signaling, providing a feedback loop. Abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellin (GA) are two antagonistic phytohormones that regulate seed germination in response to biotic and abiotic environmental stresses. We demonstrate here that MOTHER OF FT AND TFL1 (MFT), which encodes a phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein, regulates seed germination via the ABA and GA signaling pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana. MFT is specifically induced in the radical-hypocotyl transition zone of the embryo in response to ABA, and mft loss-of-function mutants show hypersensitivity to ABA in seed germination. In germinating seeds, MFT expression is directly regulated by ABA-INSENSITIVE3 (ABI3) and ABI5, two key transcription factors in ABA signaling pathway. MFT is also upregulated by DELLA proteins in the GA signaling pathway. MFT in turn provides negative feedback regulation of ABA signaling by directly repressing ABI5. We conclude that during seed germination, MFT promotes embryo growth by constituting a negative feedback loop in the ABA signaling pathway.
Beta-carotene supplementation and incidence of cancer and cardiovascular disease: the Women's Health Study.

BACKGROUND In observational studies, individuals with high intakes of fruits and vegetables containing beta-carotene experience lower risks of developing cancer. However, the few randomized trials of beta-carotene supplementation show no overall benefits; some even suggest harm. This trial was designed to test the effects of beta-carotene supplementation in women. METHODS The Women's Health Study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial originally testing aspirin, vitamin E, and beta-carotene in the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease among 39 876 women aged 45 years or older. The beta-carotene component was terminated early after a median treatment duration of 2.1 years (range = 0.00-2. 72 years). Statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS Among women randomly assigned to receive beta-carotene (50 mg on alternate days; n = 19 939) or placebo (n =19 937), there were no statistically significant differences in incidence of cancer, cardiovascular disease, or total mortality after a median of 4.1 years (2.1 years' treatment plus another 2.0 years' follow-up). There were 378 cancers in the beta-carotene group and 369 cancers in the placebo group (relative risk [RR] = 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.89-1. 18). There were no statistically significant differences for any site-specific cancer or during years 1 and 2 combined and years 3 and up combined. For cardiovascular disease, there were no statistically significant differences for myocardial infarction (42 in the beta-carotene group versus 50 in the placebo group), stroke (61 versus 43), deaths from cardiovascular causes (14 versus 12), or the combined end point of these three events (116 versus 102; among women with more than one event, only the first was counted). Deaths from any cause were similar in the two groups (59 versus 55). Among smokers at baseline (13% of all women), there were no statistically significant differences in overall incidence of cancer (RR = 1.11; 95% CI = 0.78-1.58) or cardiovascular disease (RR = 1.01; 95% CI = 0. 62-1.63). CONCLUSION Among apparently healthy women, there was no benefit or harm from beta-carotene supplementation for a limited period on the incidence of cancer and of cardiovascular disease.
Black Power in the Caribbean

Black Power rage, drama, and style, as revolutionary jargon, offers something to everybody: to the unemployed, the idealistic, the dropout, the communist, the politically frustrated, the anarchist, the angry student returning from humiliations abroad, the racialist, the old-fashioned black preacher who has for years said at street corners that after Israel it was to be the turn of Africa. Black Power means Cuba and China; it also means clearing the Chinese and the Jews and the tourists out of Jamaica.
Promise of vitamin D analogues in the treatment of hyperproliferative conditions

1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1α,25-(OH)2D3; calcitriol] is best known as a hormone involved in calcium homeostasis but is also a potent antiproliferative agent in many cell types, particularly epithelial cells. 1α,25(OH)2D3 mediates its actions through a classic steroid hormone-like transcriptional mechanism by influencing the expression of hundreds of genes. Effects of 1α,25(OH)2D3 have been observed on expression of cell cycle regulators, growth factors and their receptors, apoptotic machinery, metastatic potential, and angiogenesis; all of which have some effect on hyperproliferative conditions. This minireview focuses on the anticancer potential of 1α,25(OH)2D3 and its analogues by summarizing the promising data from animal and human trials of 1α,25(OH)2D3 and some of the more interesting synthetic vitamin D analogues in the treatment of a variety of different animal cancer models and in human patients with advanced cancer. Optimal administration of vitamin D analogues is only just being achieved with high-dose intermittent administration overcoming bioavailability and hypercalcemia problems and combination therapy with cytotoxic agents (taxols and cisplatins), antiresorptive agents (bisphosphonates), or cytochrome P450 inhibitors being attempted. Although the potential of vitamin D as an antiproliferative drug has been realized in the treatment of psoriasis and in parathyroid cell hyperplasia associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism, the search for an anticancer treatment incorporating a vitamin D analogue remains elusive. [Mol Cancer Ther 2006;5(4):797–808]
A Joint Model for Quotation Attribution and Coreference Resolution

We address the problem of automatically attributing quotations to speakers, which has great relevance in text mining and media monitoring applications. While current systems report high accuracies for this task, they either work at mentionlevel (getting credit for detecting uninformative mentions such as pronouns), or assume the coreferent mentions have been detected beforehand; the inaccuracies in this preprocessing step may lead to error propagation. In this paper, we introduce a joint model for entity-level quotation attribution and coreference resolution, exploiting correlations between the two tasks. We design an evaluation metric for attribution that captures all speakers’ mentions. We present results showing that both tasks benefit from being treated jointly.
Computational Knee Ligament Modeling Using Experimentally Determined Zero-Load Lengths

This study presents a subject-specific method of determining the zero-load lengths of the cruciate and collateral ligaments in computational knee modeling. Three cadaver knees were tested in a dynamic knee simulator. The cadaver knees also underwent manual envelope of motion testing to find their passive range of motion in order to determine the zero-load lengths for each ligament bundle. Computational multibody knee models were created for each knee and model kinematics were compared to experimental kinematics for a simulated walk cycle. One-dimensional non-linear spring damper elements were used to represent cruciate and collateral ligament bundles in the knee models. This study found that knee kinematics were highly sensitive to altering of the zero-load length. The results also suggest optimal methods for defining each of the ligament bundle zero-load lengths, regardless of the subject. These results verify the importance of the zero-load length when modeling the knee joint and verify that manual envelope of motion measurements can be used to determine the passive range of motion of the knee joint. It is also believed that the method described here for determining zero-load length can be used for in vitro or in vivo subject-specific computational models.
Aspect-Oriented Linearizability Proofs

Linearizability of concurrent data structures is usually proved by monolithic simulation arguments relying on the identification of the so-called linearization points. Regrettably, such proofs, whether manual or automatic, are often complicated and scale poorly to advanced non-blocking concurrency patterns, such as helping and optimistic updates. In response, we propose a more modular way of checking linearizability of concurrent queue algorithms that does not involve identifying linearization points. We reduce the task of proving linearizability with respect to the queue specification to establishing four basic properties, each of which can be proved independently by simpler arguments. As a demonstration of our approach, we verify the Herlihy and Wing queue, an algorithm that is challenging to verify by a simulation proof.
Neurofilament proteins in avian auditory hair cells

The distribution of middle‐weight neurofilament protein (NF‐M), an intermediate filament of neurons, was examined in the developing and mature avian inner ear by using immunocytochemical techniques. NF‐M was detected in auditory hair cells and VIIIth cranial nerve neurons. NF‐M‐positive hair cells are first detected at embryonic day 11 (E11) in superior hair cells in the midproximal (midfrequency) region of the chicken basilar papilla. With time, increasing numbers of hair cells express NF‐M. Two developmental gradients occur: 1) a radial gradient, in which superior hair cells are labeled first, and progressively more inferiorly located hair cells are labeled during ontogeny, and 2) a longitudinal gradient, in which hair cells in the midproximal region are labeled first, and then progressively more distal (low‐frequency) hair cells are labeled. There is also a small proximally directed progression of NF‐M expression. By E19, NF‐M‐positive hair cells are found throughout the distal and midproximal regions, and this expression is maintained through 3 weeks posthatching. By 22 weeks posthatching, NF‐M staining in hair cells is markedly diminished; staining is seen in only a few tall hair cells in the distal one‐fourth of the papilla and in short hair cells in the distal one‐half of the papilla. NF‐M is never expressed by hair cells at the proximal (high‐frequency) end of the papilla at any time examined. These findings suggest that some cell types that have traditionally been classified as nonneural may express neurofilament and that the basilar papilla of the neonatal chicken is not morphologically mature. J. Comp. Neurol. 379:603–616, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Why do girls get excluded from school? : a small-scale qualitative investigation of the educational experiences of Key Stage 3 and 4 girls who are 'at risk of exclusion'

Title: Why do girls get ‘excluded’ from school? A small scale qualitative investigation of the educational experiences of KS3 and KS4 girls who are ‘at risk of exclusion’. Background: Levels of both fixed term and permanent exclusion from school, have caused widespread concern over the past 20 years. Most recent figures record permanent exclusion at approximately 6,500 pupils in England in the year 2008/2009 (DCSF, 2010). However, in comparison to research interest received by their male counterparts, the needs of girls appear to have been largely overlooked. Rationale/aims: In response to a lack of research nationally, and priorities within my Local Authority, I have carried out an exploratory study, which investigates the phenomenon of KS3/KS4 girls who are judged to be ‘at risk’ of permanent exclusion. Methodology: The substantive element of the current research used semistructured interviews with a small number girls (n=2), their parents (n=2), associated school staff professionals (n=2) and external professionals involved in this area (n=4). Analysis of interview data was carried out using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis framework (i.e. Smith et al 2009). Findings: Following a macro-analysis of interview data, findings are discussed from a Bio-ecological Systems Theory (Process-Person-Context-Time model) perspective of development (Bronfenbrenner, 2005). Conclusions: The research concludes with a discussion of findings in the context of my employing Local Authority, offering implications for practice and future research in the area of girls and school exclusion.