Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Externalization Sensation in Binaural Listening : A Behavioral and ERP Study

Binaural listening is an immersive audio technique that aims at recreating a realistic sound scene to the listener through headphones. The externalization sensation is the fact for the listener to feel like the sound sources come from outside his head and a good externalization sensation is paramount for the binaural listening to be convincing. An efficient way of improving externalization is to pair the binaural listening with a head tracking device, capable of modifying the audio content according to the head movements of the listener. The aim of this study was to find neurophysiological correlates of the external-ization sensation by performing both an auditory evoked response potential (aERP) analysis and a behavioral analysis. The EEG of subjects listening to binaural stimuli was recorded, then, the subjects had to evaluate their ex-ternalization sensation. Depending on the conditions, the subjects were asked to perform head motion or to remain static and the head-tracking device was either active or inactive. In the condition with head movement and with head tracking active, the subjects reported a better exter-nalization sensation than for other conditions. Performing a head movement, whether the head-tracking was active or not, enhanced the amplitude of ERP components after 100ms.
Critical Care Explorations

Objectives: To determine whether time-series analysis and Shannon information entropy of facial expressions predict acute clinical deterioration in patients on general hospital wards. Design: Post hoc analysis of a prospective observational feasibility study (Visual Early Warning Score study). Setting: General ward patients in a community hospital. Patients: Thirty-four patients at risk of clinical deterioration. Interventions: A 3-minute video (153,000 frames) for each of the patients enrolled into the Visual Early Warning Score study database was analyzed by a trained psychologist for facial expressions measured as action units using the Facial Action Coding System. Measurements and Main Results: Three-thousand six-hundred eighty-eight action unit were analyzed over the 34 3-minute study periods. The action unit time variables considered were onset, apex, offset, and total time duration. A generalized linear regression model and time-series analyses were performed. Shannon information entropy (Hn) and diversity (Dn) were calculated from the frequency and repertoire of facial expressions. Patients subsequently admitted to critical care displayed a reduced frequency rate (95% CI moving average of the mean: 9.5–10.9 vs 26.1–28.9 in those not admitted), a higher Shannon information entropy (0.30 ± 0.06 vs 0.26 ± 0.05; p = 0.019) and diversity index (1.36 ± 0.08 vs 1.30 ± 0.07; p = 0.020) and a prolonged action unit reaction time (23.5 vs 9.4 s) compared with patients not admitted to ICU. The number of action unit identified per window within the time-series analysis predicted admission to critical care with an area under the curve of 0.88. The area under the curve for National Early Warning Score alone, Hn alone, National Early Warning Score plus Hn, and National Early Warning Score plus Hn plus Dn were 0.53, 0.75, 0.76, and 0.81, respectively. Conclusions: Patients who will be admitted to intensive care have a decrease in the number of facial expressions per unit of time and an increase in their diversity.
Validity of the Engagement to Academic Tasks Questionnaire in Peruvian college students

Students’ interest and involvement of students in their e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a little-studied reality. The manifestation of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral involvement has been particularly different in recent years, so having instruments that allow it to be done is necessary for educational research. Therefore, it was sought to adapt and validate an engagement instrument that allows measuring the involvement of students during the pandemic. For this, an engagement questionnaire was applied to 297 university students. The results indicate that the original factorial structure of the model is maintained when adapting to education in a virtual context. Likewise, it was possible to identify that there were no differences in the model according to the gender of the participant, which corroborates a factorial invariance of the model. That is, it has been possible to adapt and validate a psychometric instrument that measures the engagement of students online.
Simulating brittle fault growth from linkage of preexisting structures

Many researchers have proposed conceptual models of fault development that are based on the linkage of preexisting structures such as isolated faults, joints or veins. To date, such models largely use theoretical mechanics to explain the detailed damage zone geometries observed in linkage structures. In this paper, we present the first numerical simulations of the temporal and spatial development of geometrically complex fault linkage structures using the finite element model for fault damage zone evolution, MOPEDZ. Simulations show spatial and temporal fault zone evolution for a range of preexisting joint (or fault) geometries and stress conditions. Simulations show that linkage geometries are governed by three key factors: the stress ratio; the original joint geometry, such as contractional or dilational configurations; and the orientation of the principal stress. Simulated linkage structures display close correspondence to field observations of fault zone geometry, with all secondary and tertiary damage features being reproduced. The research also demonstrates that given information on the regional stress conditions, numerical modeling can be used to predict fault zone geometries, and hence, identify the most (and least) likely structures for promoting fluid flow.
Non-contrast MRI of Brain White Matter in Young Male Patients with Childhood-onset Adult Growth Hormone De�ciency: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study

BACKGROUND The brain structure and function of adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) have not been fully investigated so far. No previous studies have evaluated alterations in brain white matter degree and integrity in AGHD. PURPOSE To evaluate alterations in brain white matter degree and integrity in AGHD compared to age and gender-matched healthy controls and further explore the correlation between endocrine hormone and brain white matter . METHODS 17 young AGHD patients and 17 healthy controls were assessed by 3D volumetric T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) . Whole brain and white matter volume were compared between two groups. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) of brain white matter were calculated for group comparison based on DTI. Effect of disease status and hormone levels on FA and MD of brain white matter were evaluated. RESULTS AGHD had significantly lower serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) ， free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxine (FT4) levels compared with control (p<0.001). AGHD presents no significant change compared with control neither on the whole brain volume (p =0.2) nor the white matter volume (p =0.78). Comparing with controls, brain regions mainly including Middle cerebellar peduncle were decreased on FA and Middle cerebellar peduncle were increased on MD in AGHD. MD of the Left superior longitudinal fasciculus was prominently only associated with serum levels of FT4 in control adjusting for IGF-1 levels. CONCLUSIONS Young adult male AGHD patients presented alteration of brain white matter on MD and FA in some brain regions.
ScholarWorks ScholarWorks

[ 1 ] Soil depth is an important input parameter in hydrological and ecological modeling. Presently, the soil depth data available in national soil databases (STATSGO and SSURGO) from the Natural Resources Conservation Service are provided as averages within generalized land units (map units). Spatial uncertainty within these units limits their applicability for distributed modeling in complex terrain. This work reports statistical models for prediction of soil depth in a semiarid mountainous watershed that are based upon the relationship between soil depth and topographic and land cover attributes. Soil depth was surveyed by driving a rod into the ground until refusal at locations selected to represent the topographic and land cover variation in the Dry Creek Experimental Watershed near Boise, Idaho. The soil depth survey consisted of a model calibration set, measured at 819 locations over 8 subwatersheds representing topographic and land cover variability and a model testing set, measured at 130 more broadly distributed locations in the watershed. Many model input variables were developed for regression to the field data. Topographic attributes were derived from a digital elevation model. Land cover attributes were derived from Landsat remote sensing images and high-resolution aerial photographs. Generalized additive and random forests models were developed to predict soil depth over the watershed. They were able to explain about 50% of the soil depth spatial variation, which is an important improvement over the soil depth extracted from the SSURGO national soil database.
Effect of feno�brate and gem�brozil on kynurenic acid production in rat kidney in vitro: old drugs, new possibilities

Kidney dysfunction signi�cantly increases cardiovascular risk, even in the setting of minor function decline. Hypertriglyceridemia is the most common �nding among lipid abnormalities in patients with kidney disorders. PPAR α (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α ) agonists called �brates are main agents used to lower triglycerides level. Kynurenic acid (KYNA) is one of tryptophan (Trp) metabolites, directly formed from L-kynurenine (L-KYN) by kynurenine aminotransferases (KATs). KAT I and KAT II are the best studied KAT isoenzymes. KYNA is classi�ed as a uremic toxin, which level correlates with kidney function decline. High fat diet, known as ketogenic diet, was previously shown to increase KYNA concentration. Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of most commonly used �brates, feno�brate and gem�brozil, on KYNA production and KATs activity in rat kidney in vitro. Methods: The in�uence of feno�brate and gem�brozil on KYNA synthesis, as well as both KATs activity, was tested in rat kidney homogenates in vitro after 2 hours incubation in the presence of KYNA precursor and selected drug. Each drug was examined at increasing concentrations up to 1 mM. KYNA formation was analyzed through high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: Feno�brate and gem�brozil signi�cantly decreased KYNA synthesis and both KATs activity in rat kidney in vitro. Conclusion: Feno�brate and gem�brozil decrease KYNA production in rat kidney in vitro through inhibition of KAT I and KAT II isoenzymes. Presented results show novel mechanism of �brates action in the kidney, indicating potential role of examined drugs in kidney function regulation.
mas-Methylome-wide analysis of milk somatic cells upon subclinical mastitis in dairy cattle

Better understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind bovine mastitis is fundamental for improving the management of this disease, which continues to be of major concern for the dairy industry, especially in its subclinical form. Disease severity and progression depend on numerous aspects, such as livestock genetics, and the interaction between the causative agent, the host, and the environment. In this context, epigenetic mechanisms have proven to have a role in controlling the response of the animal to inflammation. Therefore, in this study we aimed to explore genome wide DNA methylation of milk somatic cells (SC) in healthy cows (n = 15) and cows affected by naturally occurring subclinical mastitis by Streptococcus (Strep.) agalactiae (n = 12) and Prototheca spp. (n = 11), to better understand the role of somatic cells methylome in the host response to disease. Differentially methylated regions (DMR) were evaluated comparing: i) Strep. agalactiae -infected vs. healthy; ii) Prototheca - infected vs. healthy, and iii) mastitis vs. healthy and iv) Strep. agalactiae -infected vs. Prototheca -infected. The functional analysis was performed at 2 levels. To begin with, we extracted differentially methylated genes (DMG) from promoter - DMR, which were analyzed using the Cytoscape ClueGO plug-in. Coupled with this DMG-driven approach, all the genes associated with promoter - methylated regions were fed to the Pathifier algorithm. From the DMR analysis, we identified 1,081 hypermethylated and 361 hypomethylated promoter regions in Strep. agalactiae infected animals, while 1,514 hypermethylated and 358 hypomethylated promoter regions were identified in Prototheca infected animals, when compared with the healthy controls. When considering infected animals as a whole group (regardless of the pathogen), we found 1,576 hypermethylated and 460 hypomethylated promoter regions. Both pathogens were associated with methylation differences in genes involved in pathways related to meiosis, reproduction and tissue remodeling. Exploring the whole methylome, in subclinically infected cows we observed a strong de-regulation of immune related pathways, such as nuclear factor kB and toll-like receptors signaling pathways, and of energy-related pathways such as the tricarboxylic acid cycle and unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis. In conclusion, no evident pathogen-specific SC methylome signature was detected in the present study. Overall, we observed a clear regulation of host immune response driven by DNA methylation upon subclinical mastitis. Further studies on a larger cohort of animals are needed to validate our results and to possibly identify a unique SC methylome that signifies pathogen-specific alterations.
How Politics and Institutions Affect Pension Reform in Three Postcommunist Countries

The author examines the political and institutional processes that produced fundamental pension reform in three post-communist countries: Hungary, Kazakhstan, and Poland. He tests various hypothesis about the relationship between deliberative process and outcomes through detailed case studies of pension reform. The outcomes of reform were similar: each country implemented a mandatory funded pension system as part of reform, but the extent, and configuration of changes, greatly differed. Countries with more"veto actors"- social and institutional actors with an effective veto over reform - engaged in less radical reform, astheory predicted. Poland and Hungary generated less radical change than Kazakhstan, partly because they have more representative political systems, to which more associations, interest groups, and"proposal actors"have access. Proposal actors shape the reform agenda and influence the positions of key veto actors. Pension reform takes longer in countries with more veto and proposal actors, such as Poland and Hungary. Legacies of policy, the development of civil society, and international organizations, also profoundly affect the shape and progress of reform. The author sees pension reform as happening in three phases: commitment-building, coalition-building, and implementation. He presents hypothesis about tradeoffs among inclusiveness (of process), radicalism (of reform), and participation in, and compliance with, the new system. The hypothesis: including more, and more various, veto and proposal actors early in the deliberative process, increases buy-in and compliance when reform is implemented, but at the expense of faster and greater change. Early challenges in implementation in all three countries, nut especially in Kazakhstan, suggest the importance of improving buy-in through inclusive deliberative processes, where possible.
Tropical Forest Ecology: Sterile or Virgin for Theoreticians?

Trees interact primarily with near neighbors, so mathematical theory of forest ecology should be an interactive dynamics of spatial arrangements of trees of different species. No such dynamics yet exists. Nonetheless, crude theory of forest structure suggests: 1 Trees’ competition for light causes wildly unequal distribution of light among leaves, greatly reducing forest productivity. 2 Competition for nutrients favors fine-root investment far beyond that which maximizes forest production. 3 Over a wide range of soil quality, total productivity of lowland tropical forest changes far less than aboveversus below-ground allocation. 4 Trees adapted to poorer soils live longer, have denser wood, and have longer-lived leaves. 5 Long-lasting leaves avoid being eaten by being tough, and avoid drying out by limiting stomatal conductance, thus reducing photosynthetic capacity. Testing Hubbell’s neutral theory prediction of how fast initially rare species can spread shows that two tree clades invading South America 20 million years ago spread non-randomly quickly. They did not replace other clades, implying that differences between tropical tree species allow them to coexist. Finally, to understand tropical forest one must consider animals and pathogens. Lotka–Volterra theory predicts: 1 Trees can reduce herbivory by more effective defense (which reduces growth) or by being rare. 2 Many tree species coexist if specialist pests keep each rare enough, as appears true in most tropical forests. 3 In more productive forests, predators limit herbivory. Therefore, employing animals as pollinators and seed dispersers allowed diverse, productive flowering forest to replace slower-growing, better-defended gymnosperm forest.
The isolated effect of age on the risk of COVID-19 severe outcomes: a systematic review with meta- 1 analysis 2

Our results show a best-possible quantification of the increase in COVID-19 disease severity due to 42 age. Rather than implementing age thresholds, prevention programs should consider the continuous increase in risk. There is a need for continuous, high-quality research and “living” reviews to evaluate the evidence throughout the pandemic, as results may change due to varying circumstances.
Working Paper Series China’s footprint in global financial markets

Using daily data since 2017, we disentangle China-specific structural shocks driving Chinese financial markets and examine spillovers across global markets. The nov-elty of this paper consists of simultaneously identifying China shocks with shocks emanating from the United States and shocks to global risk sentiment – two major forces driving global financial markets – to ensure that China spillover estimates do not reflect common factors. Our results show that shocks originating in China have material impacts on global equity markets, although spillovers are much smaller than those following shocks in the United States, or those triggered by shifts in global risk sentiment. By contrast, shocks from China account for a significant proportion of variation in global commodity prices, more on a par with those of the United States. Nevertheless, spillovers from China can be significantly amplified in an environment of heightened global volatility, or when the shocks are large.
Effectiveness of a nursing intervention protocol concerning patients' knowledge, medications adherence, health beliefs and glycosylated hemoglobin (HBA1c) toward type 2 diabetes mellitus

: Diabetic patients often have inadequate knowledge about nature, risk factors and associated complications of diabetes and this negatively affect their attitudes and practices towards its care. Aim: examine the effectiveness of a nursing intervention protocol concerning patients' knowledge, medications adherence, health beliefs and glycosylated hemoglobin toward type 2 diabetes mellitus. Subjects and Methods: A convenient sample of 100 patients. This study was carried out in the diabetic out-patient clinics at Port Said general hospitals affiliated to the ministry of health, Egypt. Tools: four tools were utilized for data collection. Tool I: Interviewing questionnaire. Tool II: Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. Tool III: Health Belief Model Scale. Tool IV: glycosylated hemoglobin sheet. Results: most of the studied patients were female, less than half of them were at age group 40 to less than 50 years old, three fifths of them were unemployed, and one third of them were smokers. Highly statistically significant difference between pre and post intervention in all items of knowledge and in the total score after implementing the interventional nursing protocol, and negative correlation with statistical and highly statistical significant differences between the patients' total adherence score levels and their total glycosylated hemoglobin score in the pre-test and post-test. Conclusion: the interventional nursing protocol is an effective tool that implicated a significant change in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients' knowledge, medication adherence, health beliefs and glycosylated hemoglobin post implementing the protocol than pre protocol. Recommendation: continuous educational programs for diabetic patients for improving awareness.
Gender and Religiosity towards Tax Evasion

Purpose – This research aims to examine the influence of gender differences and religiosity on tax evasion. The large number of cases of tax evasion that still occur today, causing huge losses to the state, has made researchers interested in researching more deeply and developing previous research. This research is different from previous research in that previous research tended to focus on economic and legal aspects
S IEVE is Simpler than LRU: an Efficient Turn-Key Eviction Algorithm for Web Caches

Caching is an indispensable technique for low-cost and fast data serving. The eviction algorithm, at the heart of a cache, has been primarily designed to maximize efficiency— reducing the cache miss ratio. Many eviction algorithms have been designed in the past decades. However, they all trade off throughput, simplicity, or both for higher efficiency. Such a compromise often hinders adoption in production systems. This work presents S IEVE , an algorithm that is simpler than LRU and provides better than state-of-the-art efficiency and scalability for web cache workloads. We implemented S IEVE in five production cache libraries, requiring fewer than 20 lines of code changes on average. Our evaluation on 1559 cache traces from 7 sources shows that S IEVE achieves up to 63.2% lower miss ratio than ARC. Moreover, S IEVE has a lower miss ratio than 9 state-of-the-art algorithms on more than 45% of the 1559 traces, while the next best algorithm only has a lower miss ratio on 15%. S IEVE ’s simplicity comes with superior scalability as cache hits require no locking. Our prototype achieves twice the throughput of an optimized 16-thread LRU implementation. S IEVE is more than an eviction algorithm; it can be used as a cache primitive to build advanced eviction algorithms just like FIFO and LRU.
The Effect of Acupuncture and Diet on Serum Leptin and Nesfatin-1 Levels in Overweight/Obese Individuals Aşırı Kilolu/Obez Bireylerde Akupunktur Ve Diyetin Serum Leptin Ve Nesfatin -1 Düzeylerine Etkisi

Acupuncture applications and diet are frequently used in obesity treatment. We aimed to investigate the changes in serum leptin and nesfatin-1 levels measured before and after acupuncture and diet in overweight/obese individuals in the presented study. This interventional study was carried out on 90 overweight/obese patients. Participants were divided into three groups: Group 1 (Acupuncture), Group 2 (Diet), and Group 3 (Those who did not take any attempts to lose weight-control group). Serum leptin and nesfatin-1 levels were measured before and after the intervention. The 30th days leptin values were significantly decreased in the acupuncture group ( p=0.040 ) while they were significantly increased in the control group ( p=0.039 ). It was detected that the nesfatin-1 values were significantly increased in both acupuncture (p=0.032) and diet groups (p=0.017). Also, body weights significantly decreased both in acupuncture (p=0.032) and diet groups (p<0.001 ) . Our results support the effects of acupuncture treatment on appetite hormones. Further research on the mechanisms of endogenous and exogenous actions of the recently discovered hormones, leptin and nesfatin-1, are needed.