Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Background Noise on Native and Non-native Spoken-word Recognition: A Computational Modelling Approach

How does the presence of background noise affect the cognitive processes underlying spoken-word recognition? And how do these effects differ in native and non-native language listeners? We addressed these questions using artificial neural-network modelling. We trained a deep auto-encoder architecture on binary phonological and semantic representations of 121 English and Dutch translation equivalents. We also varied exposure to the two languages to generate ‘native English’ and ‘non-native English’ trained networks. These networks captured key effects in the performance (accuracy rates and the number of erroneous responses per word stimulus) of English and Dutch listeners in an offline English spoken-word identification experiment (Scharenborg et al., 2017), which considered clean and noisy listening conditions and three intensities of speech-shaped noise, applied word-initially or word-finally. Our simulations suggested that the effects of noise on native and non-native listening are comparable and can be accounted for within the same cognitive architecture for spoken-word recognition.
Detection and analysis of PM 2 . 5 microbial aerosol in Chicken Houses in Shandong Province , China

To evaluate the environmental quality of different poultry houses, the concentrations and compositions of microbial aerosols and PM2.5 were measured. Results showed that the concentrations of airborne bacteria, airborne fungi and airborne Escherichia coli in poultry houses were 0.167-4.484 × 10 CFU/m, 0.236-4.735 × 10 CFU/m, and 0-33.0 CFU/m, respectively. Distributions of bacteria and fungi at levels 5 and 6 of the Andersen sampler were 11.4%-34.3% and 16.8%-37.5%, respectively. Conditional pathogenic bacteria including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus and Aerococcus viridans, were detected at the aforementioned level, in particle sizes similar to PM2.5 and with PM2.5 concentrations in poultry houses of 114-230 μg/m 3 . In PM2.5, the chief bacteria genera were Faecalibacterium, Bacteroides, and Escherichia, whereas the dominant genus of fungus was Aspergillus. Importantly, the relative abundances of Escherichia and Corynebacterium in broiler houses were 3.1% and 1.94%, respectively, which were greater than those in layer houses. However, the percentages of Aspergillus and Penicillium were 13.5% and 0.56%, with a relatively high level in layer houses . Altogether, results revealed that the ambient air quality in poultry houses had a relatively high abundance of conditional pathogenic bacteria and concentration of PM2.5, which could threaten the health of animals and workers.
Triagem auditiva neonatal com potencial evocado auditivo de tronco encefálico automático: a utilização de diferentes tecnologias

Objetivo : Analisar os resultados da Triagem Auditiva Neonatal com Potencial Evocado Auditivo de Tronco Encefalico Automatico, com diferentes tecnologias, estudando a sensibilidade, a especificidade e o tempo de exame. Metodos : Foram avaliados 200 neonatos, por meio do Potencial Evocado Auditivo de Tronco Encefalico Automatico utilizando metodo de deteccao no dominio da frequencia e taxa de repeticao do estimulo a 93 Hz. Todos os neonatos foram submetidos ao Potencial Evocado Auditivo de Tronco Encefalico como padrao ouro, para garantir os resultados encontrados. Durante a realizacao da triagem, os neonatos foram classificados de acordo com a Escala Neonatal de Avaliacao Comportamental, conhecida como Escala de Brazelton, como variavel para analise do tempo de exame. Resultados : Dois dos 200 neonatos triados falharam no Potencial Evocado Auditivo de Tronco Encefalico Automatico e no Potencial Evocado Auditivo de Tronco Encefalico Diagnostico e 198 passaram nos dois exames realizados. A sensibilidade encontrada foi de 100% e a especificidade, de 100%. O tempo medio de exame foi de 32,9 segundos. Os neonatos foram dividido em tres grupos, de acordo com o estado de consciencia, segundo a Escala de Brazelton. O Grupo 1 apresentou media de exame de 18,94 segundos, o Grupo 2, de 33,43 segundos e o Grupo 3, de 49,24 segundos. Conclusao : O Potencial Evocado Auditivo de Tronco Encefalico Automatico com diferentes tecnologias apresenta alta sensibilidade e especificidade, com tempo consideravelmente curto para a determinacao da presenca ou ausencia de resposta e o estado de consciencia do neonato influencia no tempo de deteccao da resposta auditiva.
The SAGE Handbook of Innovation in Social Research Methods

PART ONE: THE SOCIAL CONTEXT OF RESEARCH Introduction - Malcolm Williams and W Paul Vogt Objectivity: A Reconceptualization - Martyn Hammersley Setting Up Sociological Research - Geoff Payne Feminist Methodology - Gayle Letherby What Is an Effect? Coming at Causality Backwards - David Byrne PART TWO: DESIGN AND DATA COLLECTION Introduction - Malcolm Williams and W Paul Vogt Narratives of the Future: Complexity, Time and Temporality - Emma Uprichard Mapping Pathways - Wendy Dyer Correspondence Analysis: A Case for Methodological Pluralism? - Ian Rees-Jones Case-Oriented Theory-Building and Theory-Testing - Charles C Ragin and Garrett Andrew Schneider Investigating Human Communication and Language from Traces Left on the Web - Mike Thelwall Innovative Qualitative Data-Collection Techniques for Conducting Literature Reviews/Research Syntheses - Anthony J Onwuegbuzie, Nancy L Leech and Kathleen M T Collins Grounded Theory - Antony Bryant and Kathy Charmaz Back to Likert: Towards the Conversational Survey - Giampietro Gobo Mixed Methods for Construct Validation - John H Hitchcock and Bonnie K Nastasi Researching with Peer/Community Researchers: Ambivalences and Tensions - Rosalind Edwards and Claire Alexander Innovations in Program Evaluation: Comparative Case Studies as an Alternative to RCTs - W Paul Vogt et al PART THREE: INTEGRATING THE ANALYSIS OF NEW DATA TYPES Introduction - W. Paul Vogt and Malcolm Williams Advances in Combining Regression Results in Meta-Analysis - Ariel M Aloe and Betsy Jane Becker Toward a New Era for Conducting Mixed Analyses: The Role of Quantitative Dominant and Qualitative Dominant Cross-Over Mixed Analyses - Anthony J Onwuegbuzie, Nancy L Leech and Kathleen M T Collins Optimal Matching Analysis - Peter Martin and Richard D Wiggins Quantitative Narrative Analysis - Roberto Franzosi Lexicographic Index: A New Measurement of Resemblance among Sequences - Ivano Bison Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Spatial Analysis - Elizabeth Griffiths PART FOUR: SAMPLING, INFERENCE AND MEASUREMENT Introduction - W Paul Vogt and Malcolm Williams Respondent-Driven Sampling: Operational Procedures, Evolution of Estimators and Topics for Future Research - Cyprian Wejnert and Douglas Heckathorn Analyzing Longitudinal Studies with Non-Response: Issues and Statistical Methods - James Carpenter and Ian Plewis Statistical Inference for Causal Effects, with Emphasis on Applications in Psychometrics and Education - Donald B Rubin Automatic Item Generation: An Innovation for Developing Complex Cognitive Tests - Susan E Embretson and Heather H. McIntyre Convergence of Structural Equation Modeling and Multilevel Modeling - Rex B Kline Hierarchical Linear and Structural Equation Modeling Approaches to Mediation Analysis in Randomized Field Experiments - Keenan Pituch and Laura Stapleton
A geometric model for linear‐array‐based terrestrial panoramic cameras

Digital panoramic cameras represent a powerful tool for generating high resolution images of scenes. They generate images of up to 100 000 × 10 000 pixels and are especially suited for 360° recording of objects such as indoor scenes or city squares. The paper describes the development of a strict geometric model for rotating linear array panoramic cameras and the extension of the model by additional parameters adapting the camera model to the physical reality. The camera model has been implemented in a spatial resection and a bundle solution. The bundle solution also allows for the combined handling of panoramic and central perspective images. In several practical tests a potential accuracy of around ¼ pixel was demonstrated.
Interview or Interrogation: a Critical Review of the Efficacy and Ethicality of Post-Conviction Sex Offender Polygraph Testing

Recently the polygraph, despite its scientific dubiousness, has gained popularity across the globe within post-conviction sex offender management programs, even at times being mandated via judicial decree or legislation. Consequently, the application of this controversial device in sex offender rehabilitation has caused much heated, and at times muddled, debate amongst psychologists as to whether the polygraph is effective, or even ethical. This review surveys the current pool of literature concerning the efficacy and ethicality of the practice of post-conviction sex offender polygraph testing in order to give a clearer overview of the published literature, and to point at future directions and gaps in the research. While the psychological literature, as it stands, does offer up some promise in the polygraph’s ability to aid rehabilitation (increasing honest responding, positive outlook from offenders, etc.), little in the way of definitive proof exists concerning the polygraph’s ability to reduce recidivistic behavior. Additionally, a lack of consensus amongst psychologists, methodological weaknesses and severe gaps in the literature lead to a conclusion that post-conviction sex offender polygraph testing should be limited to a research capacity only, despite increased legislative support.
Seven-year retrospective analysis of the myopic control effect of orthokeratology in children: a pilot study

Correspondence: Alan Kwok-hei Mok eye’ni G/F 63 Lee Garden road, Causeway Bay, hong Kong, People’s republic of China Fax +852 2882 2959 email mokkwokhei@gmail.com Objectives: To investigate retrospectively the difference in myopia progression, over about 7 years, between two groups of Hong Kong Chinese myopic children who wore overnight orthokeratology lenses or single-vision spectacles. Methods: A total of 238 records of children wearing overnight orthokeratology lenses or single-vision spectacles from Eye’ni optical shop (Hong Kong) between January 1999 and December 2009 were reviewed. Refractive and central corneal curvature data with 6-year or a longer follow-up period of 70 patients were retrieved: 34 children (15 boys and 19 girls, aged 9.2 ± 1.8 years) wore orthokeratology lenses and 36 (20 boys and 16 girls, aged 10.2 ± 2.0 years) wore spectacles. Myopic progression was determined as the change of myopia from the baseline to the final visit. Results: No statistically significant differences (P . 0.05) in age, central flat corneal curvatures, baseline refractive error, or follow-up period were observed between the two groups. Average myopic progression of the overnight orthokeratology contact lens cohort (−0.37 ± 0.49 D) was significantly less (P , 0.001) than of the single-vision spectacle group (−2.06 ± 0.81 D) over about 7 years. Conclusion: Our preliminary 7-year data support the claim that overnight orthokeratology contact lenses may be a feasible clinical method for myopic progression control. Prospective and randomized investigations are warranted to overcome the limitations of this retrospective study.
Oral Health Related Quality of Life and Dental Status of Adult Patients

Summary Background: The aim of this study was to assess the oral health-related quality of life in adult patients who visit the Dental Clinic of the Faculty of Stomatology, Pancevo, using a Serbian version of 14-items Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP14) Questionnaire. Material and Methods: A total of 89 respondents (42 women and 47 men, mean age 52.83 ± 13.74 years) filled in the questionnaire themselves. Three calibrated dentists recorded the oral health status of the respondents (number of healthy, decayed, filled and missing teeth), the type and time of wearing prosthodontic replacements, if they existed, and assessed the need for prosthodontic treatment. The total OHIP-14 score was calculated by adding scores for all fourteen items; OHIP-14 subscale scores were calculated by adding the scores for the two items in each of the seven subscales. Results: Mean total OHIP score was 10.25 ± 8.89. Patients with less than eight extracted teeth, wearers of fixed prosthodontic appliances and patients without replacements who did not need prosthodontic treatment reported better oral health-related quality of life. The most severe oral impacts assessed by the subscale OHIP14 scores were recorded in psychological discomfort (2.44 ± 2.18), physical pain (1.87 ± 1.73) and psychological disability subscale (1.83 ± 1.88). Women more often than men were dissatisfied with their diet and had been irritable in contact with other people. Conclusion: Further studies using the OHIP14 questionnaire in a larger sample will permit identification of key factors related to poor oral health and planning of treatment protocols and preventive programs for the adult population in Serbia.
The geometry of maximal representations of surface groups into SO0(2,n)

In this paper, we study the geometric and dynamical properties of maximal representations of surface groups into Hermitian Lie groups of rank 2. Combining tools from Higgs bundle theory, the theory of Anosov representations, and pseudo-Riemannian geometry, we obtain various results of interest. We prove that these representations are holonomies of certain geometric structures, recovering results of Guichard and Wienhard. We also prove that their length spectrum is uniformly bigger than that of a suitably chosen Fuchsian representation, extending a previous work of the second author. Finally, we show that these representations preserve a unique minimal surface in the symmetric space, extending a theorem of Labourie for Hitchin representations in rank 2.
RUMINAL BIOHYDROGENATION PATTERN OF POLY- UNSATURATED FATTY ACID AS INFLUENCED BY DIETARY TANNIN

Abstract Large amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids undergo transformation processes in the rumen through microbial biohydrogenation to form fatty acids with higher saturation degree. The respective process explains the high content of saturated fatty acids in products of ruminants and the potential risk of consumers’ health by consuming such products. Various nutritional approaches have been attempted to modulate biohydrogenation process in order to obtain healthier fatty acid profile from consumers’ perspective. The present paper is aimed to review the influence of dietary tannin, a naturally produced plant secondary compound, on the pattern of polyunsaturated fatty acids biohydrogenation occurring in the rumen. The effect of tannin on some key fatty acids involved in biohydrogenation process is presented together with the underlying mechanisms, particularly from up-to-date research results. Accordingly, different form of tannin as well as different level of the application are also discussed. Key words: Tannin, biohydrogenation, fatty acid, ruminant
An Active Pulse Transmission Line Simulating Nerve Axon

To electronically simulate an animal nerve axon, the authors made an active pulse transmission line using tunnel diodes. The equation of propagation for this line is the same as that for a simplified model of nerve membrane treated elsewhere. This line shapes the signal waveform during transmission, that is, there being a specific pulse-like waveform peculiar to this line, smaller signals are amplified, larger ones are attenuated, narrower ones are widened and those which are wider are shrunk, all approaching the abovementioned specific waveform. In addition, this line has a certain threshold value in respect to the signal height, and signals smaller than the threshold or noise are eliminated in the course of transmission. Because of the above-mentioned shaping action and the existence of a threshold, this line makes possible highly reliable pulse transmission, and will be useful for various kinds of informationprocessing systems.
Sieve Semiparametric Two-Step GMM Under Weak Dependence

This paper considers semiparametric two-step GMM estimation and inference with weakly dependent data, where unknown nuisance functions are estimated via sieve extremum estimation in the first step. We show that although the asymptotic variance of the second-step GMM estimator may not have a closed form expression, it can be well approximated by sieve variances that have simple closed form expressions. We present consistent or robust variance estimation, Wald tests and Hansen’s (1982) over-identification tests for the second step GMM that properly reflect the first-step estimated functions and the weak dependence of the data. Our sieve semiparametric two-step GMM inference procedures are shown to be numerically equivalent to the ones computed as if the first step were parametric. A new consistent random-perturbation estimator of the derivative of the expectation of the non-smooth moment function is also provided.
A NEW EQUATION FOR THE SUCTION INDUCED SHRINKAGE OF CLAYEY SOILS

An increase of the suction applied to a deformable soil may induce shrinkage and desaturation. This makes the determination of the water retention curve (WRC) of such soils more complex, as one needs to follow simultaneously the volumetric shrinkage curve (VSC) and the water content. Descriptive and predictive models can be useful to assess the behaviour of compressible soils. After reviewing typical results obtained on relatively soft and initially saturated clayey soils, the authors introduce new equations to describe the VSC. A simplified tree linear segment representation, inspired by the consolidation theory, is first used. It is then generalised using a curvilinear equation. The proposed models describe the VSC in terms of the change of void ratio e with an increase in suction ψ. Experimental data are used to validate the descriptive capabilities of the VSC models. For predictive purposes, empirical relationships are proposed to estimate the model parameters from the liquid and plastic limits, solid grain density, and initial void ratio. The typical results shown here indicate a good agreement between measured and calculated VSC. RÉSUMÉ Une augmentation de la succion appliquée à un sol déformable induit un retrait et une désaturation. La détermination de la courbe de rétention d'eau (CRE) de tels sols devient complexe car il faut en même temps connaître la courbe de retrait volumique (CRV). Des modèles descriptifs et prédictifs peuvent utiles pour évaluer le comportement de sols compressibles. Suite à une analyse de résultats typiques obtenus sur des sols argileux relativement mous, initialement saturés, les auteurs présentent des équations descriptives de la CRV. Une description simplifiée de la CRV par trois segments linéaires inspirée de la théorie de consolidation est d’abord utilisée. Elle est ensuite généralisée en utilisant une représentation curvilinéaire. Les modèles proposés décrivent la CRV en termes de réduction de l'indice des vides e avec l'augmentation de la succion ψ. Des données expérimentales sont utilisées pour valider la capacité de ces modèles à décrire la CRV. Pour des fins de prédiction, des relations empiriques sont proposées pour estimer les paramètres des modèles à partir des limites de liquidité et de plasticité, de la densité des particules solides et de l'indice des vides initial. Les résultats types montrés ici indiquent une bonne concordance entre les CRV mesurées et calculées.
Impact of Southeast Asian smoke on aerosol properties in Southwest China: First comparison of model simulations with satellite and ground observations

Smoke aerosols have been observed in Southwest China as a result of long‐range transport from surrounding areas in March and April. The processes driving this transport and the resultant impact on regional aerosol optical properties are studied here through a combined use of the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS)‐Chem chemistry transport model in conjunction with satellite and the first‐ever ground‐based observations in the Southwest China. The potential biomass burning source regions as well as their respective contributions to aerosol loading in Southwest China are quantified. Compared to Sun photometer observations of aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 550 nm at eight stations in the study region (10–28°N, 90–115°E, comprising Northeast India, Indo‐China Peninsula, and Southwest and South China), the AOD simulated by GEOS‐Chem (nested grid with 0.5° × 0.667° resolution) by using the Fire Inventory from National Center for Atmospheric Research shows an average bias of −0.17 during January 2012 to May 2013. However, during the biomass burning months (March–April), the simulated AOD is much improved with a bias of −0.04. Model sensitivity experiments show that biomass burning in Burma and Northeast India is the largest contributor to smoke AOD (~88%) and total AOD (~57%) over Kunming, an urban site in Southwest China. Case studies on 21–23 March 2013 show that the smoke layer in Northeast India and North Burma can extend from the surface to 4 km and then be transported to Southwest China by prevailing westerly airflow. Model‐simulated AOD and vertical distribution of aerosols are respectively in good agreement with satellite measurements from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer and Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization.
Onboard Detection of Thermal Anomalies for Europa Clipper

The Europa Clipper mission seeks to assess the habitability of Jupiter’s moon Europa [6, 1]. Europa Clipper’s payload comprises nine instruments, including the Europa Thermal Emission Imaging System (ETHEMIS) for detecting thermal anomalies (e.g., hot spots) and the Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa (MISE) for assessing composition. E-THEMIS can detect melting ice and other surface anomalies from 40,000 km above the surface. MISE covers the range 0.8–5. 0μm and can distinguish between water ice phases, organics, salts, etc. [2]. Europa Clipper will conduct ∼45 flybys of Europa. The large Earth–Jupiter distance severely constrains the amount of data that can be downlinked from the spacecraft. To help maximize the scientifically valuable data returned by the mission, we are investigating approaches to perform basic data analysis onboard the spacecraft to identify the most relevant and valuable data to downlink with a higher priority. Onboard science data analysis has been employed for Earth orbiters such as EO-1 to detect and prioritize biosignatures in Europa-analogue settings, such as biomediated sulfur deposits on glaciers [5]. The Mars Science Laboratory rover analyzes images as they are collected, then commands the ChemCam laser spectrometer to collect spectra of the most interesting rock
Model Development of p-i-n Germanium Devices for Infrared Detection

Germanium offers many benefits over groups III-V materials when used for infrared detection. Most importantly, germanium is compatible with Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) manufacturing which allows for a low-cost, high-throughput device, and it does not require cooling, which many III-V devices do. With the deposition of germanium directly on silicon, there will be a thermally induced strain due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficients between the two materials. When a biaxial tensile strain is present, the direct bandgap of germanium is lowered to ~0.77 eV and is capable of absorbing longer wavelengths. We have used a two-step deposition process to create a strained germanium film in order to fabricate a photodetector device. Our device has a dark current of 1.35 nA and a photocurrent of 22.5 nA at 1570 nm wavelength. Next, we developed a model in order to compare theoretical results with experimental results. The results indicate that the model is in close agreement with our measured data, and we are therefore able to use it to model future devices.