Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictors of successful communication with interactive voice response systems in older people.

OBJECTIVES Interactive voice response (IVR) systems are computer programs that can interact with people to provide a number of services from business to health care. However, surveys examining people's attitudes toward these systems have consistently found that people in general and older people in particular strongly dislike these systems. We wanted to determine the memory and cognitive abilities that predict successful IVR interactions for older people. METHOD We compared the performance of 185 older adults (aged 65 and older) on normed cognitive tests (the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale fourth edition and the Wechsler Memory Scale fourth edition) with their performance on 4 real-life IVR systems that included fact-finding at governmental agencies and plane ticket reservation. RESULTS The results indicated that adults aged 65 and older experience significant difficulties in interacting with IVR systems. A significant number of people (20.5%) could not complete any of the tasks. Participants who could not complete any task were older and had the lowest full-scale IQ. However, there was little difference between the age of participants who completed 1, 2, 3, or 4 tasks. Rather, auditory memory and working memory were the best overall predictors for success in IVR tasks. DISCUSSION The impact of poorer auditory memory and working memory is compounded by programming practices that increase the demand on these abilities and create unnecessary difficulties. Successful use of IVR systems could eventually complement in person health services.
The Entropy Rate Principle as a Predictor of Processing Effort: An Evaluation against Eye-tracking Data

This paper provides evidence for Genzel and Charniak’s (2002) entropy rate principle, which predicts that the entropy of a sentence increases with its position in the text. We show that this principle holds for individual sentences (not just for averages), but we also find that the entropy rate effect is partly an artifact of sentence length, which also correlates with sentence position. Secondly, we evaluate a set of predictions that the entropy rate principle makes for human language processing; using a corpus of eye-tracking data, we show that entropy and processing effort are correlated, and that processing effort is constant throughout a text.
The Hα Galaxy survey - V. The star formation history of late-type galaxies

Aims. This study of 117 low-redshift Im and Sm galaxies investigates the star formation rates of late-type galaxies, to determine whether they are quasi-continuous or dominated by bursts with quiescent interludes. Methods. We analyse the distribution of star formation timescales (stellar masses/star formation rates) for the entire sample, and of gas depletion timescales for those galaxies with gas mass measurements. Results. We find that, on average, the late-type galaxies studied could have produced their total stellar masses by an extrapolation of their current star formation activity over a period of just under a Hubble time. This is not the case for a comparison sample of earlier-type galaxies, even those with disk-dominated morphologies and similar total stellar masses to the late-type galaxies. The earlier-type galaxies are on average forming their stars more slowly at present than the average rate over their past histories. No totally quiescent Im or Sm galaxies are found, and although some evidence of intrinsic variation in the star formation rate with time is found, this is typically less than a factor of 2 increase or decrease relative to the mean level. The Im and Sm galaxies have extensive gas reservoirs and can maintain star formation at the current rate for more than another Hubble time. The average spatial distribution of star formation in the Im galaxies, and to a lesser extent the Sm galaxies, is very similar to that of the older stellar population traced by the red light. Conclusions. Late type, bulge-free galaxies have a predominantly continuous mode of star formation, and could have assembled their stellar masses through continued star formation over a Hubble time with the currently-observed rate and spatial distribution. There is little evidence in this sample of predominantly isolated field galaxies of significant star formation through brief but intense starburst phases.
Iron deficiency with or without anemia impairs prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex

Iron deficiency (ID) during early life causes long‐lasting detrimental cognitive sequelae, many of which are linked to alterations in hippocampus function, dopamine synthesis, and the modulation of dopaminergic circuitry by the hippocampus. These same features have been implicated in the origins of schizophrenia, a neuropsychiatric disorder with significant cognitive impairments. Deficits in sensorimotor gating represent a reliable endophenotype of schizophrenia that can be measured by prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle reflex. Using two rodent model systems, we investigated the influence of early‐life ID on PPI in adulthood. To isolate the role of hippocampal iron in PPI, our mouse model utilized a timed (embryonic day 18.5), hippocampus‐specific knockout of Slc11a2, a gene coding an important regulator of cellular iron uptake, the divalent metal transport type 1 protein (DMT‐1). Our second model used a classic rat dietary‐based global ID during gestation, a condition that closely mimics human gestational ID anemia (IDA). Both models exhibited impaired PPI in adulthood. Furthermore, our DMT‐1 knockout model displayed reduced long‐term potentiation (LTP) and elevated paired‐pulse facilitation (PPF), electrophysiological results consistent with previous findings in the IDA rat model. These results, in combination with previous findings demonstrating impaired hippocampus functioning and altered dopaminergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission, suggest that iron availability within the hippocampus is critical for the neurodevelopmental processes underlying sensorimotor gating. Ultimately, evidence of reduced PPI in both of our models may offer insights into the roles of fetal ID and the hippocampus in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Safety Assessment Using Behavior Trees and Model Checking

This paper demonstrates the use of Behavior Trees and model checking to assess system safety requirements for a system containing substantial redundancy. The case study concerns the hydraulics systems for the Airbus A320 aircraft, which are critical for aircraft control. The system design is supposed to be able to handle up to 3 different components failing individually, without loss of all hydraulic power. Verifying the logic of such designs is difficult for humans because of the sheer amount of detail and number of different cases that need to be considered. The paper demonstrates how model checking can yield insights into what combinations of component failures can lead to system failure.
Video co-summarization: Video summarization by visual co-occurrence

We present video co-summarization, a novel perspective to video summarization that exploits visual co-occurrence across multiple videos. Motivated by the observation that important visual concepts tend to appear repeatedly across videos of the same topic, we propose to summarize a video by finding shots that co-occur most frequently across videos collected using a topic keyword. The main technical challenge is dealing with the sparsity of co-occurring patterns, out of hundreds to possibly thousands of irrelevant shots in videos being considered. To deal with this challenge, we developed a Maximal Biclique Finding (MBF) algorithm that is optimized to find sparsely co-occurring patterns, discarding less co-occurring patterns even if they are dominant in one video. Our algorithm is parallelizable with closed-form updates, thus can easily scale up to handle a large number of videos simultaneously. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach on motion capture and self-compiled YouTube datasets. Our results suggest that summaries generated by visual co-occurrence tend to match more closely with human generated summaries, when compared to several popular unsupervised techniques.
Efficacy, safety and tolerability of combination therapy with timolol and dorzolamide in glaucoma and ocular hypertension

Combination pharmacotherapy has simplified and improved glaucoma medication regimens. This update focuses on the previous and recent studies on efficacy and tolerability profile of dorzolamide–timolol in adult ocular hypertension and open angle glaucoma patients. Dorzolamide–timolol has been shown to be efficacious and well tolerated in clinical trials and the adverse effects reflect those of the individual components.
The INTERSPEECH 2015 computational paralinguistics challenge: nativeness, parkinson's & eating condition

The INTERSPEECH 2015 Computational Paralinguistics Challenge addresses three different problems for the first time in research competition under well-defined conditions: the estimation of the degree of nativeness, the neurological state of patients with Parkinson’s condition, and the eating conditions of speakers, i. e. , whether and which food type they are eating in a seven-class problem. In this paper, we describe these sub-challenges, their conditions, and the baseline feature extraction and classifiers, as provided to the participants. Index Terms: Computational Paralinguistics, Challenge, Degree of Nativeness, Parkinson’s Condition, Eating Condition
Architecture and statistical model of a pulse-mode digital multilayer neural network

A new architecture and a statistical model for a pulse-mode digital multilayer neural network (DMNN) are presented. Algebraic neural operations are replaced by stochastic processes using pseudo-random pulse sequences. Synaptic weights and neuron states are represented as probabilities and estimated as average rates of pulse occurrences in corresponding pulse sequences. A statistical model of error (or noise) is developed to estimate relative accuracy associated with stochastic computing in terms of mean and variance. The stochastic computing technique is implemented with simple logic gates as basic computing elements leading to a high neuron-density on a chip. Furthermore, the use of simple logic gates for neural operations, the pulse-mode signal representation, and the modular design techniques lead to a massively parallel yet compact and flexible network architecture, well suited for VLSI implementation. Any size of a feedforward network can be configured where processing speed is independent of the network size. Multilayer feedforward networks are modeled and applied to pattern classification problems such as encoding and character recognition.
Femtosecond laser-assisted deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty for keratoconus and keratectasia.

AIM To describe the initial outcomes and safety of femtosecond laser-assisted deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) for keratoconus and post-LASIK keratectasia. METHODS In this non-comparative case series, 10 eyes of 9 patients underwent DALK procedures with a femtosecond laser (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena, Germany). Of the 9 patients, 7 had keratoconus and 2 had post-LASIK keratectasia. A 500 kHz VisuMax femtosecond laser was used to perform corneal cuts on both donor and recipient corneas. The outcome measures were the uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), corneal thickness, astigmatism, endothelial density count (EDC), and corneal power. RESULTS All eyes were successfully treated. Early postoperative evaluation showed a clear graft in all cases. Intraoperative complications included one case of a small Descemet's membrane perforation. Postoperatively, there was one case of stromal rejection, one of loosened sutures, and one of wound dehiscence. A normal corneal pattern topography and transparency were restored, UCVA and BCVA improved significantly, and astigmatism improved slightly. There was no statistically significant decrease in EDC. CONCLUSION Our early results indicate that femtosecond laser-assisted deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty could improve UCVA and BCVA in patients with anterior corneal pathology. This approach shows promise as a safe and effective surgical choice in the treatment of keratoconus and post-LASIK keratectasia.
A new mutation delivery system for genome‐scale approaches in Bacillus subtilis

In Bacillus subtilis, although many genetic tools have been developed, gene replacement remains labour‐intensive and not compatible with large‐scale appro‐aches. We have developed a new one‐step gene replacement procedure that allows rapid alteration of any gene sequence or multiple gene sequences in B. subtilis without altering the chromosome in any other way. This novel approach relies on the use of upp, which encodes uracil phosphoribosyl‐transferase, as a counter‐selectable marker. We fused the upp gene to an antibiotic‐resistance gene to create an ‘upp‐cassette’. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐generated fragment, consisting of the target gene with the desired mutation joined to the upp‐cassette, was integrated into the chromosome by homologous recombination, using positive selection for antibiotic resistance. Then, the eviction of the upp‐cassette from the chromosome by recombination between short repeated chromosomal sequences, included in the design of the transforming DNA molecule, was achieved by counter‐selection of upp. This procedure was successfully used to deliver a point mutation, to generate in‐frame deletions with reduced polar effects, and to combine deletions in three paralogous genes encoding two‐component sensor kinases. Also, two chromosome regions carrying previously unrecognized essential functions were identified, and large deletions in two dispensable regions were combined. This work outlines a strategy for identifying essential functions that could be used at genome scale.
Nanoparticles That Sense Thrombin Activity As Synthetic Urinary Biomarkers of Thrombosis

Thrombin is a serine protease and regulator of hemostasis that plays a critical role in the formation of obstructive blood clots, or thrombosis, that is a life-threatening condition associated with numerous diseases such as atherosclerosis and stroke. To detect thrombi in living animals, we design and conjugate thrombin-sensitive peptide substrates to the surface of nanoparticles. Following intravenous infusion, these “synthetic biomarkers” survey the host vasculature for coagulation and, in response to substrate cleavage by thrombin, release ligand-encoded reporters into the host urine. To detect the urinary reporters, we develop a companion 96-well immunoassay that utilizes antibodies to bind specifically to the ligands, thus capturing the reporters for quantification. Using a thromboplastin-induced mouse model of pulmonary embolism, we show that urinary biomarker levels differentiate between healthy and thrombotic states and correlate closely with the aggregate burden of clots formed in the lungs. Our results demonstrate that synthetic biomarkers can be engineered to sense vascular diseases remotely from the urine and may allow applications in point-of-care diagnostics.
Participation in the Chronic Phase of Stroke

Abstract Background: Participation is a multidimensional concept, consisting of an objective and a subjective dimension. Many studies have focused on determinants of only 1 dimension of participation post stroke. Objective: To describe participation (both objective and subjective) and to determine how physical and cognitive independence and subjective complaints (pain, fatigue, and mood) influence participation in community-dwelling stroke survivors in the Netherlands. Methods: The Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation (USER) measures physical and cognitive independence and subjective complaints. USER-Participation measures 3 dimensions of participation: frequency (objective perspective), restrictions (subjective perspective), and satisfaction (subjective perspective). Spearman correlations and backward linear regression analyses were used to analyze associations between the 3 USER-Participation scores with demographics, stroke characteristics, physical and cognitive independence, and subjective complaints. Results: Of the 111 participants, 48.5% returned to work post stroke, but mostly for only 1 to 16 hours a week. Experienced participation restrictions were most prevalent in physical exercise, chores in/around the house, housekeeping, and outdoor activities. On average, participants were relatively satisfied with their participation, but dissatisfaction occurred in cognition, activities outdoors, and work/housekeeping. Regression analysis revealed that objective participation was determined by physical and cognitive independence, age, and education, whereas subjective participation was determined by physical and cognitive independence, fatigue, and mood. Conclusions: Most participants experienced participation problems, despite relatively good physical recovery. In addition to physical and cognitive factors, subjective complaints of persons with stroke should be addressed in the rehabilitation program.
Non-adhesive lotus and other hydrophobic materials

Superhydrophobic materials recently attracted a lot of attention, owing to the potential practical applications of such surfaces—they literally repel water, which hardly sticks to them, bounces off after an impact and slips on them. In this short review, we describe how water repellency arises from the presence of hydrophobic microstructures at the solid surface. A drop deposited on such a substrate can float above the textures, mimicking at room temperature what happens on very hot plates; then, a vapour layer comes between the solid and the volatile liquid, as described long ago by Leidenfrost. We present several examples of superhydrophobic materials (either natural or synthetic), and stress more particularly the stability of the air cushion—the liquid could also penetrate the textures, inducing a very different wetting state, much more sticky, due to the possibility of pinning on the numerous defects. This description allows us to discuss (in quite a preliminary way) the optimal design to be given to a solid surface to make it robustly water repellent.
Sequential allocation of sampling budgets in unknown environments

This paper presents an algorithm based on ecological models of foraging and that uses uncertainty in scientific observations made by the robot to value future actions. It is the hypothesis of this work that the foraging strategy will be an improvement over strategies based on principles from the design of experiments literature for small budget sizes. The experiment in this paper shows that for small budget sizes the new algorithm performs at least as well as other methods. However the new algorithm does not exhaust its sampling budget by default and thus needs to be modified to outperform other approaches for large sample budgets, which provides opportunity for future work in this area.
TCR binding differs for a bacterial superantigen (SEE) and a viral superantigen (Mtv-9)

Both superantigens (SAG) and many anti-TCR monoclonal antibodies (mAb) have specificity for the V beta region of the TCR encoded by TCRBV genes. For instance the bacterial SAG staphylococcal enterotoxin E (SEE), the retroviral SAG MTV-9 and the mAb OT145 each react with human T cells expressing BV6S7. This BV gene encodes two common alleles. We found that SEE and the mAb preferentially activate T cells expressing BV6S7*1 as opposed to BV6S7*2, but Mtv-9 activates T cells expressing either allele. Thus binding to the TCR differs between the two SAGs. A mutation in the TCR HVR-4 region of BV6S7*1 (G72E), where the two BV6S7 alleles differ, indicated that HVR-4 is a component of the binding site for SEE and for the mAb OT145. BV6S7*2 has a charged E72 which may result in electrostatic repulsion of SEE, as SEE contains a similarly acidic aspartic acid residue at a TCR interaction site (204D).
Rate allocation for layered multicast streaming with inter-layer network coding

Multi-layer video streaming allows to provide different video qualities to a group of multicast receivers with heterogeneous receive rates. The number of layers received determines the quality of the decoded video stream. For such layered multicast streaming, network coding provides higher capacity than multicast routing. Network coding can be performed within a layer (intra-layer) or across layers (inter-layer), and in general inter-layer coding outperforms intra-layer coding. An optimal solution to a network coded layered multicast problem may require decoding of the network code at interior nodes to extract information to be forwarded. However, decoding consumes resources and introduces delay, which is particularly undesirable at interior nodes (the routers) of the network. In this paper, we thus focus on the inter-layer network coding problem without decoding at interior nodes. We propose a heuristic algorithm for rate allocation and code assignment based on the Edmonds-Karp maximum flow algorithm and perform simulations that show that our algorithm may even outperform other heuristics that do require decoding at interior nodes.
Service Quality in Higher Education Case study: Measuring service quality of Islamic Azad University, Firoozkooh branch

The aim of this article measuring service quality in education is increasingly important for attracting and retaining tuition-based revenues. The objectives of this paper are two folds: first, to identify the service quality factors. Second, describe research undertaken to assess the quality of service provided by a university in Iran. In this research we used two Questionnaires with 22 questions with seven-point Likert scale was used to measure the perceptions and expectations of perceived quality were distributed. Factor analysis used for validity of the constructs for the subsequent analyses. Scale items were retained for testing reliability and construct validity. These findings were then tested using a survey study The results show that gap between
Identification of a Serine Proteinase Homolog (Sp-SPH) Involved in Immune Defense in the Mud Crab Scylla paramamosain

Clip domain serine proteinase homologs are involved in many biological processes including immune response. To identify the immune function of a serine proteinase homolog (Sp-SPH), originally isolated from hemocytes of the mud crab, Scylla paramamosain, the Sp-SPH was expressed recombinantly and purified for further studies. It was found that the Sp-SPH protein could bind to a number of bacteria (including Aeromonas hydrophila, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio fluvialis, Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio parahemolyticus), bacterial cell wall components such as lipopolysaccharide or peptidoglycan (PGN), and β-1, 3-glucan of fungus. But no direct antibacterial activity of Sp-SPH protein was shown by using minimum inhibitory concentration or minimum bactericidal concentration assays. Nevertheless, the Sp-SPH protein was found to significantly enhance the crab hemocyte adhesion activity (paired t-test, P<0.05), and increase phenoloxidase activity if triggered by PGN in vitro (paired t-test, P<0.05). Importantly, the Sp-SPH protein was demonstrated to promote the survival rate of the animals after challenge with A. hydrophila or V. parahemolyticus which were both recognized by Sp-SPH protein, if pre-incubated with Sp-SPH protein, respectively. Whereas, the crabs died much faster when challenged with Vibrio alginolyiicus, a pathogenic bacterium not recognized by Sp-SPH protein, compared to those of crabs challenged with A. hydrophila or V. parahemolyticus when pre-coated with Sp-SPH protein. Taken together, these data suggested that Sp-SPH molecule might play an important role in immune defense against bacterial infection in the mud crab S. paramamosain.