Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SPICE: A Sparse Covariance-Based Estimation Method for Array Processing

This paper presents a novel SParse Iterative Covariance-based Estimation approach, abbreviated as SPICE, to array processing. The proposed approach is obtained by the minimization of a covariance matrix fitting criterion and is particularly useful in many-snapshot cases but can be used even in single-snapshot situations. SPICE has several unique features not shared by other sparse estimation methods: it has a simple and sound statistical foundation, it takes account of the noise in the data in a natural manner, it does not require the user to make any difficult selection of hyperparameters, and yet it has global convergence properties.
Three Wishes and Psychological Functioning in Boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

ABSTRACT. This study examined Three Wishes (a projective technique commonly used with children) in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a fatal, progressive illness (n = 74). A reliable and parsimonious scoring system was developed to code wish type. Probands’ responses were compared with unaffected siblings (n = 32) and a male comparison group (n = 43). Contrary to what was expected, the DMD group did not make significantly more health-related wishes than their siblings or the comparison group. Further, no association between health-related wishes and problem behaviors was observed in the DMD group. These findings indicate that, despite increased stressors, boys with DMD present wishes similar to those of their healthy peers.
Protein kinase C in heart failure: a therapeutic target?

Heart failure (HF) afflicts about 5 million people and causes 300 000 deaths a year in the United States alone. An integral part of the pathogenesis of HF is cardiac remodelling, and the signalling events that regulate it are a subject of intense research. Cardiac remodelling is the sum of responses of the heart to causes of HF, such as ischaemia, myocardial infarction, volume and pressure overload, infection, inflammation, and mechanical injury. These responses, including cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, myocardial fibrosis, and inflammation, involve numerous cellular and structural changes and ultimately result in a progressive decline in cardiac performance. Pharmacological and genetic manipulation of cultured heart cells and animal models of HF and the analysis of cardiac samples from patients with HF are all used to identify the molecular and cellular mechanisms leading to the disease. Protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes, a family of serine–threonine protein kinase enzymes, were found to regulate a number of cardiac responses, including those associated with HF. In this review, we describe the PKC isozymes that play critical roles in specific aspects of cardiac remodelling and dysfunction in HF.
The Role of Technology in Enabling Sales Support

The purpose of this research is to develop a framework explaining how technology can enable sales support. Sales support technology is often used to assist salespeople with a variety of transaction activities, such as prospecting, communicating, scheduling appointments, and processing orders. Sales support technology can be categorized as automation and facilitative technology. Our framework explains when a technology is appropriate for a particular sales activity based on workload and customization. It also proposes who should use a technology based on orientation towards sales revenue or cost control goals. Then, we develop managerial recommendations and propose directions for future research.
Promoting learning and innovation in organizations through complexity leadership theory

Purpose Current organizations face a complex competitive landscape driven by globalization and technology that puts them in the course of a new economic age. This complexity stresses learning and innovation as fundamental mechanisms for organizational survival. This paper aims to propose that how learning and innovation emerge and affect organizational performance can be better understood through the complexity leadership theory. Design/methodology/approach The authors review literature on complexity leadership theory, learning and innovation in complex bureaucratic environments and then present reflections regarding how learning and innovation can be achieved through the interaction of three complexity leadership functions: adaptive, administrative and enabling. This conceptual framework suggests that individuals are in constant interaction, exchange information, influence each other and collectively produce emergent properties that promote effective learning and innovation. Findings We propose that learning and innovation can be better achieved in organizations if the complexity leadership theory is applied as an alternative to centralized forms of influence and control. Originality/value This paper presents a reflection on the benefits of the complexity leadership theory as an alternative framework to understand organizational leadership. Furthermore, this paper proposes that the complexity leadership theory is more adequate to generate learning and innovation in complex, fast-changing work environments.
Comparing expert systems for identifying chest x-ray reports that support pneumonia

We compare the performance of four computerized methods in identifying chest x-ray reports that support acute bacterial pneumonia. Two of the computerized techniques are constructed from expert knowledge, and two learn rules and structure from data. The two machine learning systems perform as well as the expert constructed systems. All of the computerized techniques perform better than a baseline keyword search and a lay person, and perform as well as a physician. We conclude that machine learning can be used to identify chest x-ray reports that support pneumonia.
Exploiting random walks for learning

In this paper we consider an approach to passive learning. In contrast to the classical PAC model we do not assume that the examples are independently drawn according to an underlying distribution, but that they are generated by a time-driven process. We define deterministic and probabilistic learning models of this sort and investigate the relationships between them and with other models. The fact that successive examples are related can often be used to gain additional information similar to the information gained by membership queries. We show that this can be used to design on-line prediction algorithms. In particular, we present efficient algorithms for exactly identifying Boolean threshold functions, 2-term RSE, and 2-term-DNF, when the examples are generated by a random walk on {0,1}n.
17β-Estradiol inhibits matrix metalloproteinase-2 transcription via MAP kinase in fibroblasts

Aims Female sex and sex hormones contribute to cardiac remodelling. 17β-estradiol (E2) is involved in the modulation of extracellular matrix composition and function. Here, we analysed the effect of E2 on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 gene expression and studied the underlying molecular mechanisms in rat cardiac fibroblasts and in a human fibroblast cell line. Methods and results In adult rat cardiac fibroblasts, E2 significantly decreased MMP-2 gene expression in an estrogen receptor (ER)-dependent manner. Transient transfection experiments of human MMP-2 (hMMP-2) promoter deletion constructs in a human fibroblast cell line revealed a regulatory region between −324 and −260 bp that is involved in E2/ERα-mediated repression of hMMP-2 gene transcription. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) and supershift analysis demonstrated the binding of transcription factor Elk-1 within this promoter region. Elk-1 was phosphorylated by E2 via the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway as shown by western blotting. Treatment of cells with the MAPK inhibitor PD98059 blocked the E2-dependent repression of hMMP-2 promoter activity as well as the endogenous MMP-2 mRNA levels in both human fibroblast cells and rat cardiac fibroblasts. Conclusion E2 inhibits MMP-2 expression via the ER and the MAPK pathway in rat cardiac fibroblasts and in a human fibroblast cell line. These mechanisms may contribute to sex-specific differences in fibrotic processes that are observed in human heart and other diseases.
Striatal Information Signaling and Integration in Globus Pallidus: Timing Matters

Advances in research on globus pallidus (GP) suggest that this ‘long thought to be’ relay in the ‘indirect pathway’ plays a unique and critical role in basal ganglia function. The traditional idea of parallel processing within the basal ganglia is also challenged by recent findings. It is now clear that axons of GP neurons form large, perisomatic baskets around target neurons in all major basal ganglia nuclei, thereby exerting a profound influence on the output of the entire basal ganglia. GP neurons are autonomously active both in vivo and in vitro. It is believed that temporal information carried along the corticostriatopallidal pathway is critical for proper motor execution. The importance of appropriately controlled discharge of GP neurons is highlighted by psychomotor disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, in which alterations in the pattern and synchrony of discharge in GP neurons are thought to contribute to motor symptoms. Several lines of evidence suggest that the aberrant activity of GP neurons following dopamine depletion is caused by alteration in the synaptic input from both striatum and subthalamic nucleus. In normal subjects, the capability of striatal input in translating cortical input into precisely timed responses in GP neurons is mediated by (1) the expression of postsynaptic GABAA receptor composed of subunits with fast kinetic properties; (2) an effective GABA reuptake system in terminating the action of synaptically released GABA, and (3) the existence of dendritic HCN channels that actively abbreviate the time course of the inhibitory postsynaptic potentials and reset rhythmic discharge. Despite the rapid pace in uncovering the elements that shape the activity along the striatopallidosubthalamic pathway, the origin of rhythmic, synchronized bursting of GP neurons seen in parkinsonism has not been fully established experimentally. Further elucidation of the factors that control the information transfer in the striatopallidal synapses is thus critical to our understanding of basal ganglia function and establishing treatment for Parkinson’s disease and other basal ganglia disorders.
Robotic agents capable of natural and safe physical interaction with human co-workers

Many future application scenarios of robotics envision robotic agents to be in close physical interaction with humans: On the factory floor, robotic agents shall support their human co-workers with the dull and health threatening parts of their jobs. In their homes, robotic agents shall enable people to stay independent, even if they have disabilities that require physical help in their daily life - a pressing need for our aging societies. A key requirement for such robotic agents is that they are safety-aware, that is, that they know when actions may hurt or threaten humans and actively refrain from performing them. Safe robot control systems are a current research focus in control theory. The control system designs, however, are a bit paranoid: programmers build “software fences” around people, effectively preventing physical interactions. To physically interact in a competent manner robotic agents have to reason about the task context, the human, and her intentions. In this paper, we propose to extend cognition-enabled robot control by introducing humans, physical interaction events, and safe movements as first class objects into the plan language. We show the power of the safety-aware control approach in a real-world scenario with a leading-edge autonomous manipulation platform. Finally, we share our experimental recordings through an online knowledge processing system, and invite the reader to explore the data with queries based on the concepts discussed in this paper.
DISPOSITIONAL DIFFERENCES IN COGNITIVE MOTIVATION : THE LIFE AND TIMES OF INDIVIDUALS VARYING IN NEED FOR COGNITION

Need for cognition in contemporary literature refers to an individual's tendency to engage in and enjoy effortful cognitive endeavors. Individual differences in need for cognition have been the focus of investigation in over 100 empirical studies. This literature is reviewed, covering the theory and history of this variable, measures of interindividual variations in it, and empirical relationships between it and personality variables, as well as individuals' tendencies to seek andengage in effortful cognitive activity and enjoy cognitively effortful circumstances. The article cotacludes with discussions of an elaborated theory of the variable, including antecedent conditions; interindividual variations in it related to the manner information is acquired or processed to guide perceptions, judgments, and behavior; and the relationship between it and the 5-factor model of personality structure.
The viability of students ‘Self-regulated learning in Iranian EFL context

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of persuasion on self-regulation in Iranian EFL context. To this end, 112 male and female intermediate level Iranian EFL learners were selected to participate in this study. In the first session, learners were asked to fill out the Self-Regulation Trait Questionnaire, but they were given no specific explanation about each section of the questionnaire. In other sessions, the researcher exposed the participants to about ten minutes of positive persuasive talk about one of the components of the self-regulated trait questionnaire, and administered the questionnaire again. One-way repeated-measures ANOVA procedures were used to analyze the obtained data. Results indicated that persuasion has a positive effect on learners’ planning self-regulation, self-checking, effort self-regulation and self-efficacy self-regulation. These findings can have implication for second language learners, teachers, and materials developers.
The Query Set Specification Language (QSSL)

Applications require access to multiple information sources and the data of other applications. WSDLbased web services are becoming a popular way of making information sources available on the web and, hence, to applications that need to consume them – often via data integration systems that combine the data of multiple sources. We argue that the function signature paradigm that is used today by web services cannot capture the query capabilities provided by structurally rich and functionally powerful information sources, such as relational databases. We propose the Query Set Specification Language (QSSL) that allows the concise description of sets of parameterized XPath queries. A QSS is embedded in a WSDL specification to form a specialized type of web services, called Data Services. Data Services connect the calls that the source accepts with the underlying schema. QSSL will be enhanced to describe subsets of XQuery expressions beyond XPath ones.
The cavernous body of the human efferent tear ducts: function in tear outflow mechanism.

PURPOSE To determine the structure and function of a system of large blood vessels integrated in the bony canal between the orbit and the inferior nasal duct. METHODS Thirty-one dissected lacrimal systems of adults were analyzed by using gross anatomy, histology, and electron microscopy as well as corrosion vascular casts. RESULTS More than two thirds of the bony canal between orbit and inferior nasal duct is filled by a plexus of wide-lumened veins and arteries. The vascular system is embedded in the wall of the lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct and is connected to the cavernous tissue of the inferior turbinate. Three types of blood vessels can be distinguished inside the vascular tissue that surrounds the lumen of the lacrimal passage: barrier arteries, capacitance veins, and throttle veins. CONCLUSIONS The surrounding vascular plexus of the lacrimal sac and nasolacrimal duct is comparable to a cavernous body. While regulating the blood flow, the specialized blood vessels permit opening and closing of the lumen of the lacrimal passage, effected by the bulging and subsiding of the cavernous body, and at the same time regulate tear outflow. Other functions such as drainage of absorbed tear fluid components and a role in immunologic response are under discussion as well. Malfunctions in the cavernous body may lead to disturbances in the tear outflow cycle, ocular congestion, or total occlusion of the lacrimal passages. Variations in the conditions for swelling of the cavernous tissue may have led to the (mistaken) description of valves in the lacrimal passage.
NICE: Non-linear Independent Components Estimation

We propose a deep learning framework for modeling complex high-dimensional densities called Non-linear Independent Component Estimation (NICE). It is based on the idea that a good representation is one in which the data has a distribution that is easy to model. For this purpose, a non-linear deterministic transformation of the data is learned that maps it to a latent space so as to make the transformed data conform to a factorized distribution, i.e., resulting in independent latent variables. We parametrize this transformation so that computing the Jacobian determinant and inverse transform is trivial, yet we maintain the ability to learn complex non-linear transformations, via a composition of simple building blocks, each based on a deep neural network. The training criterion is simply the exact log-likelihood, which is tractable. Unbiased ancestral sampling is also easy. We show that this approach yields good generative models on four image datasets and can be used for inpainting.
Impacts of ocean acidification on marine organisms: quantifying sensitivities and interaction with warming

Ocean acidification represents a threat to marine species worldwide, and forecasting the ecological impacts of acidification is a high priority for science, management, and policy. As research on the topic expands at an exponential rate, a comprehensive understanding of the variability in organisms' responses and corresponding levels of certainty is necessary to forecast the ecological effects. Here, we perform the most comprehensive meta‐analysis to date by synthesizing the results of 228 studies examining biological responses to ocean acidification. The results reveal decreased survival, calcification, growth, development and abundance in response to acidification when the broad range of marine organisms is pooled together. However, the magnitude of these responses varies among taxonomic groups, suggesting there is some predictable trait‐based variation in sensitivity, despite the investigation of approximately 100 new species in recent research. The results also reveal an enhanced sensitivity of mollusk larvae, but suggest that an enhanced sensitivity of early life history stages is not universal across all taxonomic groups. In addition, the variability in species' responses is enhanced when they are exposed to acidification in multi‐species assemblages, suggesting that it is important to consider indirect effects and exercise caution when forecasting abundance patterns from single‐species laboratory experiments. Furthermore, the results suggest that other factors, such as nutritional status or source population, could cause substantial variation in organisms' responses. Last, the results highlight a trend towards enhanced sensitivity to acidification when taxa are concurrently exposed to elevated seawater temperature.
A classification scheme for applications with ambiguous data

We propose a scheme for pattern classifications in applications which include ambiguous data, that is, where pattern occupy overlapping areas in the feature space. Such situations frequently occur with noisy data and/or where some features are unknown. We demonstrate that it is advantageous to first detect those ambiguous areas with the help of training data and then to re-classify those data in these areas as ambiguous before making class predictions on test sets. This scheme is demonstrated with a simple example and benchmarked on two real world applications.
A cognitive approach to opposites: The case of Swedish levande 'alive' and död 'dead'

In the present paper, opposites are examined and discussed, and a way of describing them from a cognitive perspective is suggested. Related research disagrees upon whether opposites are symmetrical, and whether concepts should be integrated in the relation of opposites. The Swedish opposites levande 'alive' and dod 'dead' have been studied thoroughly in order to provide empirical data. Arguments are presented in favour of an analysis in which opposites show semantic symmetry to some extent. When it comes to distribution and domains, however, opposites do not show symmetry. Further, it is argued that concepts should be included in the relation of opposites. The asymmetries found are related to markedness, information value, Aktionsart and the prototype of the word connected to referent of the subject/NP that one of the opposites describes.
Matrix Refinement Equations: Existence and Uniqueness

Matrix reenement equations are functional equations of the form f(x) = P N k=0 c k f(2x ? k), where the coeecients c k are matrices and f is a vector-valued function. Reenement equations play key roles in wavelet theory and approximation theory. Existence and uniqueness properties of scalar reenement equations (where the coeecients c k are scalars) are known. This paper considers analogous questions for matrix reenement equations. Conditions for existence and uniqueness of compactly supported distributional solutions are given in terms of the convergence properties of an innnite product of the matrix = 1 2 P c k with itself. Fundamental diierences between solutions of matrix equations and scalar reenement equations are examined. In particular, it is shown that \constrained" solutions of the matrix reenement equation can exist even when the innnite product diverges. The existence of constrained solutions is related to the eigenvalue structure of ; solutions are obtained from the convergence of on its 1-eigenspace.
Anthropologizing and indigenizing heritage: The origins of the UNESCO Global Strategy for a representative, balanced and credible World Heritage List

This article analyzes the origins of the 1994 Global Strategy for a Representative, Balanced and Credible World Heritage List as a lens through which to view the process of constructing and re-elaborating a global heritage discourse. Using untapped archival records, it shows that the Global Strategy crystallized after lengthy prior discussions reaching to the early 1980s. Most important, it demonstrates that the novel element in 1994 was the influence of new actors, although not from the Global South that was intended to be the beneficiary of change. The contributors to the Global Strategy were rather from regions (Australia) or disciplines (anthropology) that had hitherto failed to claim their share of influence in shaping international cultural heritage concepts despite being firmly situated within the North. By highlighting such influences, this article resonates with the efforts of anthropologists and other scholars to eschew a reductive center-periphery framework in conceptualizing global cultural flows.