Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Training Novices to Discriminate Retinal Diseases Using Perceptual Learning

Perceptual learning refers to the enhanced ability of users to pick up information from a class of stimuli and is achieved through rapid, repeated stimulus exposure with feedback. Classifying optical coherence tomography images of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) scans as either the wet or dry subtype is an extremely difficult perceptual task that typically requires years of training. The purpose of this study was to develop techniques to quickly train users to classify AMD retinal scan images as wet or dry. To determine whether gamification techniques might aid perceptual learning, half of the participants received a gamified feedback during training while the other half received informational feedback only. Results demonstrated significant improvement in AMD image classification for both the gamified and non-gamified groups, even on retinal scans never encountered during training. Participants in the gamified group, however, had higher levels of intrinsic motivation for the task.
Preparation and electrochemical characterization of sulfonated polysulfone cation‐exchange membranes: Effects of the solvents on the degree of sulfonation

Sulfonated polysulfone cation-exchange membranes with various degrees of sulfonation were prepared by a treatment with chlorosulfonic acid in different solvents of various polarities, and the effect of the solvent polarity on the degree of sulfonation was explored. These membranes were characterized by their ion-exchange capacity, volume fraction of water, and electrochemical properties. The counterion transport numbers, permselectivity, and fixed charge densities of these membranes were estimated from membrane potential data and varied with the degree of sulfonation, concentration, and external salt concentration. The counterion mobility in the membrane phase was also estimated from membrane conductance measurements. These membrane were found to have good electrochemical properties and are suitable for various types of electromembrane processes. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 2344–2351, 2005
Rail Safety: Examining the Effect of Driving Experience and Type of Crossing on Safety Concerns

Vehicle-train collisions at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings continue to be a safety concern and despite improvements in warnings, many of these incidents are attributed to human error. In some cases, distractions other than railroad traffic, such as nearby highway intersections, may create additional burdens for drivers’ decision making. In this study, we systematically examined safety concerns across two types of Highway-Rail Grade Crossings: non-short storage and short-storage. In a controlled experiment, 48 college-aged drivers viewed a series of driving scene images and identified, rated, and explained up to five safety concerns in each image. Participants reported more safety concerns and higher average severity of those concerns for short-storage rail crossings than non-short storage, but these findings did not depend on rural vs. urban driving experience. Content analysis of the 1,230 safety concerns using chi-squared analysis revealed differences in attention to dynamic safety concerns by rail crossing type, but not to static concerns.
Physical capability limits for right-angle power tool operation

Abstract Automotive assembly operations require power tools to secure fasteners and these operations have been linked to increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders. This work was designed to develop physical capability limits for direct current right-angle power tool (RAPT) operations using psychophysics. Forty females fastened joints of different hardness’s using three fastening strategies, at three fastening frequencies. Participants chose to fasten, independent of orientation, joints up to 89 (10.6) Nm using Atlas Copco’s TurboTight®, compared to 51.8 (8.1) Nm using Atlas Copco’s Quickstep and 48.6 (10.2) Nm using Stanley’s Automatic Tightening Control. The differences between fastening strategies were not as large when fastening soft joints; 59.2 (16.2), 52.3 (14.6), and 53.5 (11.3) Nm, respectively. As fastening frequency increased, participants chose lower target torque magnitudes to fasten. Based on this work, RAPT manufactures can adjust fastening strategies to improve their tool’s ergonomics performance. Practitioner summary: Fastening tasks was identified as posing an injury risk to workers performing automotive assembly, yet presently there are no published physical capability limits for direct current right-angle power tool operation. Using a psychophysical methodology, physical capability limits for RAPT fastenings were established for different joint hardness, fastening frequencies and RAPT position/orientation.
Personality assessment as a measure of nonhuman mental capacities: A study in anthropomorphism

Humans often attribute a humanlike mind to a nonhuman to better understand its behavior in a process known as anthropomorphism. This paper seeks to use personality assessment as a measure of perceived humanlike mental capacities of computers. The relationship was further examined by comparing to assessments of a living counterpart, in this case pets. Participants were given a Big Five Personality inventory and asked to rate each item’s suitability to describe a person, a computer, or a pet. Results indicate that computers are seen for their intellectual similarity to humans while pets have a social and emotional similarity to humans. This research shows that measures of human mental characteristics, such as personality, can also be used to describe nonhumans. Researchers can now better understand the relationship between humans and the various nonhumans in their lives and use this to design more effective interactions.
How Long Can a Driver (Safely) Glance at an Augmented-Reality Head-Up Display?

Augmented-Reality (AR) head-up display (HUD) is one of the promising solutions to reduce distraction potential while driving and performing secondary visual tasks; however, we currently don’t know how to effectively evaluate interfaces in this area. In this study, we show that current visual distraction standards for evaluating in-vehicle displays may not be applicable for AR HUDs. We provide evidence that AR HUDs can afford longer glances with no decrement in driving performance. We propose that the selection of measurement methods for driver distraction research should be guided not only by the nature of the task under evaluation but also by the properties of the method itself.
Effects of Comments and Profile Pictures on Impression Formation: An Empirical Study on Online Healthcare Peer-Support Portals

Supporting the health and wellbeing of an informal caregiver of patients with Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias (ADRD), a family member providing ongoing support with activities of daily living, is considered to be one of the most common, yet least addressed problems in informal caregiving (Pleasant et al., 2017). Online peer-support portals designed to support caregiver wellbeing, offer caregivers an opportunity to exchange information and advice with peers. These portals are also known to support caregivers to build relationships and provide a sense of camaraderie (Barak, Boniel-Nissim, & Suler, 2008; Madathil, Greenstein, Juang, Neyens, & Gramopadhye, 2013; Scharett et al., 2018). In the development of relations, an important uncertainty reduction process known as impression formation affects information exchange and trust (Johri, 2012). Impression formation, a process of using information to form an overall representation of someone, which occurs online with the help of profile cues such as profile picture, message history or comments, all of which have been studied on online social networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn. (Hancock & Dunham, 2001; Tong, Van Der Heide, Langwell, & Walther, 2008). A review of existing literature related to online peersupport portals indicated that very little research has covered impression formation despite its role in supporting communication and relationship development. To bridge this gap in research, this study explores impression formation with the following research questions – RQ: What factors do informal caregivers rely on to form impressions of the profile owner on online healthcare peersupport portals?
Feedback Modalities in Brain–Computer Interfaces: A Systematic Review

This systematic review addresses the plausibility of using novel feedback modalities for brain–computer interface (BCI) and attempts to identify the best feedback modality on the basis of the effectiveness or learning rate. Out of the chosen studies, it was found that 100% of studies tested visual feedback, 31.6% tested auditory feedback, 57.9% tested tactile feedback, and 21.1% tested proprioceptive feedback. Visual feedback was included in every study design because it was intrinsic to the response of the task (e.g. seeing a cursor move). However, when used alone, it was not very effective at improving accuracy or learning. Proprioceptive feedback was most successful at increasing the effectiveness of motor imagery BCI tasks involving neuroprosthetics. The use of auditory and tactile feedback resulted in mixed results. The limitations of this current study and further study recommendations are discussed.
Does crossing the road in a group influence pedestrians’ gaze behavior?

So far, research on pedestrians’ gaze behavior while crossing roads has mainly focused on individual pedestrians rather than groups. However, pedestrians often travel in groups especially in downtown areas. This observational study investigated how group characteristics (group size and movement of the group), situational factors (presence of traffic), and demographic variables (age and gender) influence pedestrians’ gaze behavior towards traffic during road crossing. A total of N = 197 pedestrians were observed of whom n = 24 traveled alone, n = 128 traveled in groups of two or three, and n = 45 traveled in groups of four or more. Results indicated that with increasing group size, the odds to observe traffic decreased. Diffusion of responsibility among group members might explain this effect. Finally, pedestrians’ group characteristics should be considered when developing automated vehicles that interact with vulnerable road users.
Estimating Cognitive Diagnosis Models in Small Samples: Bayes Modal Estimation and Monotonic Constraints

Despite the increasing popularity, cognitive diagnosis models have been criticized for limited utility for small samples. In this study, the authors proposed to use Bayes modal (BM) estimation and monotonic constraints to stabilize item parameter estimation and facilitate person classification in small samples based on the generalized deterministic input noisy “and” gate (G-DINA) model. Both simulation study and real data analysis were used to assess the utility of the BM estimation and monotonic constraints. Results showed that in small samples, (a) the G-DINA model with BM estimation is more likely to converge successfully, (b) when prior distributions are specified reasonably, and monotonicity is not violated, the BM estimation with monotonicity tends to produce more stable item parameter estimates and more accurate person classification, and (c) the G-DINA model using the BM estimation with monotonicity is less likely to overfit the data and shows higher predictive power.
Social support, well-being and involvement of fathers in transnational families in the Philippines

This study investigated left-behind Filipino fathers and their involvement as child caregivers. It hypothesized that social support and well-being predict paternal involvement, with well-being as the mediator. Results showed that familial and peer support predicted involvement, with well-being as mediator. Spousal support did not predict involvement or well-being. Findings highlight the importance of familial and peer support to left-behind fathers. Interactions between significant predictors of involvement present novel pathways to childcare. The non-significant role of spousal support is discussed in the context of transnational migration. Several interventions involving families and peers are suggested.
The Effect of Effort on the Allocation of Visual Attention During the Induction of General Anesthesia: A SEEV Model Analysis

Anesthesiologists work in complex work environments where optimal scanning of information is critical for patient safety. The Salience, Effort, Expectancy, Value (SEEV) model can be used to model attention distributions of individuals. We used an existing data set of eye tracking data of anesthesiologists inducing general anesthesia to (1) develop a method for considering the effort parameter in the model in such an environment and (2) investigate the explanatory power of an EEV model compared to an EV model. To operationalize effort, we created a 3D model using Unreal Engine 4. We used Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulations to obtain EV and EEV model predictions. The inclusion of effort did not yield an advantage over the model which did not include effort. We discuss methodological considerations for future research and suggest to simultaneously consider salience and effort to be able to assess the role of effort more accurately.
Digital Home Assistants and Aging: Initial Perspectives from Novice Older Adult Users

Digital home assistants like the Amazon Echo are increasing in popularity each year among the general population and provide assistance across a wide array of daily activities. Despite their general utility, they may be most useful for supporting older adults with the various challenges of aging. However, little is known about older adults’ opinions regarding these devices, which is necessary to encourage their adoption of these devices. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 18 older adult novice users to learn about their initial opinions regarding two digital home assistants, the Amazon Echo smart speaker and Echo Show smart display. Results revealed an overall trend of positive attitudes toward them and their capabilities, with a preference toward the Echo Show. These findings provided insights into older adults’ first impressions of digital home assistants, plus the foundation for investigating their potential in supporting older adults in maintaining functional independence.
Factors influencing users’ perceived value of Electronic Health Record Patient Portals

Patient portals are websites or apps where patients can access their health information from their Electronic Health Records (EHR). This study was conducted via an online survey to identify what factors influence an EHR patient portal user to believe that the portal is a valuable part of their health care. In total 395 survey responses were included in a logistic regression model. Our results suggest that only 24.1% of our survey responders consider their EHR portals as a valuable part of their health care. Participants who are more likely to consider EHR portals as valuable were those who found EHR portals useful for information, trusted their portal; believed their portals were important in managing health, those who believed their portals were easy to use, and those who developed a habit of using their portals. This study contributes to the understanding of what factors support the perceived value of EHR portals.
Human vs computer: What effect does the source of information have on cognitive performance and achievement goal orientation?

Abstract The increasing presence of computers in society calls for the need to better understand how differently the sociocognitive mechanisms involved in natural human relationships operate in human–robot interactions. In the present study, we investigated one fundamental aspect often neglected in the literatures on psychology and educational sciences: how the source of information, either human or computer, influences its perceived reliability and modulates cognitive and motivational processes. In Experiment 1, participants performed a reasoning task that presented cues following participants’ errors, helping them to succeed in the task. Using two levels of task difficulty, we manipulated the source of the cues as either a human or a computer. In addition to task accuracy, Experiment 2 assessed the impact of the information source on socially and nonsocially related dimensions of achievement goals. In Experiment 1, participants who believed that they received cues from a human teacher performed better on difficult trials compared to those who believed that they received cues from a computer. In Experiment 2, we replicated these findings by additionally showing that the nature of the source only had an impact on the socially related dimension of achievement goals, which in turn mediated the source’s effect on reasoning performance. For the first time, the present study showed modulations of cognitive and motivational processes resulting from the manipulation of the type of information source aimed at providing assistance with a reasoning task. The findings highlight the importance of considering the social and motivational aspects involved in human–computer interactions.
Microbial Community Dynamics of Soybean (Glycine max) Is Affected by Cropping Sequence

The microbial composition of the rhizosphere soil could be an important determinant of crop yield, pathogen resistance, and other beneficial attributes in plants. However, little is known about the impact of cropping sequences on microbial community dynamics, especially in economically important species like soybean. Using 2-year crop sequences of corn-soybean, canola-soybean, and soybean-soybean, we investigated how crops from the previous growing season influenced the structure of the microbiome in both the bulk soil and soybean rhizosphere. A combination of marker-based Illumina sequencing and bioinformatics analyses was used to show that bacterial species richness and evenness in the soybean rhizosphere soil were similar following canola and soybean compared to a previous corn sequence. However, fungal species richness and evenness remained unaffected by crop sequence. In addition, bacterial and fungal species diversity in both the bulk and soybean rhizosphere soil were not influenced by crop sequence. Lastly, the corn-soybean sequence significantly differed in the relative abundance of certain bacterial and fungal classes in both the soybean rhizosphere and bulk soil. While canola-soybean and a continuous soybean sequence did not, suggesting that a preceding corn sequence may reduce the occurrence of overall bacterial and fungal community members. For the present study, crop sequence impacts bacterial diversity and richness in both the bulk soil and soybean rhizosphere soil whereas fungal diversity and richness are resilient to crop sequence practices. Together, these findings could help drive decision making for annual crop and soil management practices.
7T MRI and Computational Modeling Supports a Critical Role of Lead Location in Determining Outcomes for Deep Brain Stimulation: A Case Report

Subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established therapy for Parkinson’s disease motor symptoms. The ideal site for implantation within STN, however, remains controversial. While many argue that placement of a DBS lead within the sensorimotor territory of the STN yields better motor outcomes, others report similar effects with leads placed in the associative or motor territory of the STN, while still others assert that placing a DBS lead “anywhere within a 6-mm-diameter cylinder centered at the presumed middle of the STN (based on stereotactic atlas coordinates) produces similar clinical efficacy. ” These discrepancies likely result from methodological differences including targeting preferences, imaging acquisition and the use of brain atlases that do not account for patient-specific anatomic variability. We present a first-in-kind within-patient demonstration of severe mood side effects and minimal motor improvement in a Parkinson’s disease patient following placement of a DBS lead in the limbic/associative territory of the STN who experienced marked improvement in motor benefit and resolution of mood side effects following repositioning the lead within the STN sensorimotor territory. 7 Tesla (7 T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were used to generate a patient-specific anatomical model of the STN with parcellation into distinct functional territories and computational modeling to assess the relative degree of activation of motor, associative and limbic territories.
Complement Receptors and Their Role in Leukocyte Recruitment and Phagocytosis

The complement system is deeply embedded in our physiology and immunity. Complement activation generates a multitude of molecules that converge simultaneously on the opsonization of a target for phagocytosis and activation of the immune system via soluble anaphylatoxins. This response is used to control microorganisms and to remove dead cells, but also plays a major role in stimulating the adaptive immune response and the regeneration of injured tissues. Many of these effects inherently depend on complement receptors expressed on leukocytes and parenchymal cells, which, by recognizing complement-derived molecules, promote leukocyte recruitment, phagocytosis of microorganisms and clearance of immune complexes. Here, the plethora of information on the role of complement receptors will be reviewed, including an analysis of how this functionally and structurally diverse group of molecules acts jointly to exert the full extent of complement regulation of homeostasis.
Facilitative Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Semantic Memory Examined by Text-Mining Analysis in Patients With Schizophrenia

Background: Beneficial effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) are relevant to cognition and functional capacity, in addition to psychiatric symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. However, whether tDCS would improve higher-order cognition, e.g., semantic memory organization, has remained unclear. Recently, text-mining analyses have been shown to reveal semantic memory. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether tDCS would improve semantic memory, as evaluated by text-mining analyses of category fluency data, in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: Twenty-eight patients entered the study. Cognitive assessment including the category fluency task was conducted at baseline (before tDCS treatment) and 1 month after t administration of tDCS (2 mA × 20 min, twice per day) for 5 days, according to our previous study. The category fluency data were also obtained from 335 healthy control subjects. The verbal outputs (i.e., animal names) from the category fluency task were submitted to singular valued decomposition (SVD) analysis. Semantic memory structures were estimated by calculating inter-item cosines (i.e., similarities) among animal names frequently produced in the category fluency task. Data were analyzed longitudinally and cross-sectionally to compare the semantic structure within the patient group (i.e., baseline vs. follow-up) and between groups (patients vs. healthy controls). In the former, semantic associations for frequent items were compared in the form of cosine profiles, while in the latter, the difference in the magnitude of the correlations for inter-item cosines between healthy controls and patients (baseline, follow-up) was examined. Results: Cosine profiles in the patient group became more cluster-based (i.e., pet, carnivores, and herbivores) at follow-up compared to those at baseline, yielding higher cosines within subcategories. The correlational coefficient of inter-item cosines between healthy controls and patients was significantly greater at follow-up compared to baseline; semantic associations in patients approached the normality status after multi-session tDCS. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the facilitative effect of tDCS on semantic memory organization in patients with schizophrenia. Text-mining analysis was indicated to effectively evaluate semantic memory structures in patients with psychiatric disorders.