Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Short- and long-term experience-dependent neuroplasticity interact during the perceptual learning of concurrent speech

Plasticity from auditory experiences shapes brain encoding and perception of sound. However, whether such long-term plasticity alters the trajectory of short-term plasticity during speech processing has yet to be investigated. Here, we explored the neural mechanisms and interplay between short- and long-term neuroplasticity for rapid auditory perceptual learning of concurrent speech sounds in young, normal-hearing musicians and nonmusicians. Participants learned to identify double-vowel mixtures during ∼45 minute training sessions recorded simultaneously with high-density EEG. We analyzed frequency-following responses (FFRs) and event-related potentials (ERPs) to investigate neural correlates of learning at subcortical and cortical levels, respectively. While both groups showed rapid perceptual learning, musicians showed faster behavioral decisions than nonmusicians overall. Learning-related changes were not apparent in brainstem FFRs. However, plasticity was highly evident in cortex, where ERPs revealed unique hemispheric asymmetries between groups suggestive of different neural strategies (musicians: right hemisphere bias; nonmusicians: left hemisphere). Source reconstruction and the early (150-200 ms) time course of these effects localized learning-induced cortical plasticity to auditory-sensory brain areas. Our findings confirm domain-general benefits for musicianship but reveal successful speech sound learning is driven by a critical interplay between long- and short-term mechanisms of auditory plasticity that first emerge at a cortical level.
Influence of Thymus serpyllum essential oil on Aspergillus parasiticus morphology and aflatoxins production

Antifungal activities of the Thymus serpyllum L. oil was studied with special reference to inhibition zones diameter, Minimal inhibitory (MIC) and Minimal fungicidal (MFC) concentrations of the oil. The antifungal efficacy of this essential oil was evaluated in vitro upon Aspergillus parasiticus growth and mycotoxin production. The essential oil from T. serpyllum obtained by hydro distillation was analyzed by GC/MS. The major components of T. serpyllum oil was thymol ( 64.2 % ) , β – phellandrene ( 13.5 % ) , cis-sabinene hydroxide ( 8.09 % ) 1,8 – cineole ( 1.9% ), and β – pinene ( 1.3% ) . Static growth effects of the above oil against A.parasiticus were at 250 ppm and lethal effects of T. serpyllum was 500 ppm of the oil. Aflatoxin production was inhibited at 250 ppm. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of A. parasitcus exposed to 250 ppm of the oil showed irreversible damage to cell wall, cell membrane , and in the cellular organelles. It is concluded that essential oil could be safely used as preservative materials on some kinds of foods at low concentrations to protect them from fungal infections.
FORAMINIFERAL ASSEMBLAGE FORMATION IN DEPOSITIONAL SINKS ON THE CONTINENTAL SHELF WEST OF SCOTLAND

The continental shelf west of Scotland has a veneer of medium to coarse sands and bioclastic gravels resting on basement, but in enclosed depressions (called deeps) the sediments are muddy. Sediment cores from two deeps have been studied: Muck Deep (170 and 218 m) and Stanton Deep (167 m). The live and dead foraminiferal assemblages from these shelf deeps differ in several ways. The live forms are mainly free-living taxa concentrated in the surface 0.0 to 0.5 or 1.0 cm sediment layer. The standing crop has a positive correlation with % Total organic carbon (TOC) and wt. % sediment in situ forms derived from the live assemblages plus around 50% of allochthonous taxa (without living representatives), mainly having an attached or clinging mode of life, and considered to be transported in from the surrounding shallower, higher energy shelf. The transported forms are mainly −3 for Muck and Stanton deeps, respectively) and show a logarithmic increase with increasing proportion of the 63–125 μm sediment fraction. These observations confirm that the shelf deeps form depositional sinks for finer terrigenous and biogenic material. This study demonstrates the complexity of assemblage formation in low energy depressions on a moderate to high energy continental shelf. It also demonstrates the importance of determining the in situ and transported components in order to make a reliable environmental interpretation of the preserved assemblages. The high abundance of dead tests indicates very slow accumulation rates which are typical of a maximum flooding surface starved of detrital sediment.
Adaptive Chameleon or Stubborn Sloth: Revealing the Behavior of Large Language Models in Knowledge Conflicts

By providing external information to large language models (LLMs), tool augmentation (including retrieval augmentation) has emerged as a promising solution for addressing the limitations of LLMs' static parametric memory. However, how receptive are LLMs to such external evidence, especially when the evidence conflicts with their parametric memory? We present the first comprehensive and controlled investigation into the behavior of LLMs when encountering knowledge conflicts. We propose a systematic framework to elicit high-quality parametric memory from LLMs and construct the corresponding counter-memory, which enables us to conduct a series of controlled experiments. Our investigation reveals seemingly contradicting behaviors of LLMs. On the one hand, different from prior wisdom, we find that LLMs can be highly receptive to external evidence even when that conflicts with their parametric memory, given that the external evidence is coherent and convincing. On the other hand, LLMs also demonstrate a strong confirmation bias when the external evidence contains some information that is consistent with their parametric memory, despite being presented with conflicting evidence at the same time. These results pose important implications that are worth careful consideration for the further development and deployment of tool- and retrieval-augmented LLMs. Resources are available at https://github.com/OSU-NLP-Group/LLM-Knowledge-Conflict.
High‐resolution UK 37 temperature reconstructions in the South China Sea over the past 220 kyr

Past sea surface temperatures (SST) in the northern and southern areas of the South China Sea have been reconstructed for the past 220 kyr using the UK37 alkenone index. The SST profiles follow the glacial/interglacial pattern exhibiting differences between Last Glacial Maximum and Holocene that are 1°–3°C larger than those observed at the same latitudes in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In Termination I both planktonic foraminiferal δ18O and SST exhibit well-defined Bolling-Allerod and Younger Dryas events with temperature differences between both periods of 0.8° and 0.4°C in north and south, respectively. SSTs record a constant north-south difference of 1°C in the interglacials and nearly 2.5°C in the glacial stages. These differences define two distinct climatic and water circulation patterns that correspond with glacial/interglacial sea level oscillations which opened and closed water exchange with the tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean through the present Sunda Shelf.
& (2010). Evaluation of a human factors analysis and classification system as used by trained raters. Evaluation of a Human Factors Analysis and Classification System Used by Trained Raters

Background: The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has utilized DoD Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (DoD-HFACS) to help identify and classify human factors that may have caused or contributed to aircraft mishaps since 2005. Method : In this study 22 military officers used DOD-HFACS to classify information obtained from an interview with an individual who had been involved in an aviation incident in which the potential for serious injury had been high. Results: It was found that although the overall inter-rater reliability was generally acceptable (as reflected by a mean Fleiss’ kappa of 0.76), and there were high levels of agreement regarding the factors that did not contribute to the incident (there was agreement of 50% or greater between raters for 84.4% of unselected nanocodes), the level of agreement on the factors that did cause the incident as classified using DOD-HFACS were lower than desirable (agreement of 50% or greater between raters that a particular nanocode was causal was found only for a mean of 22.5% of selected nanocodes). Discussion: The findings from this study are consistent with the small number of other studies reporting an evaluation of the reliability of DOD-HFACS. It is recommended that organizations must evaluate the reliability and validity of mishap coding systems, as applied by the proposed end-users, prior to the widespread adoption of a system. It is only through the accurate identification of mishap causal factors that informed decisions can be made to prevent future mishaps.
Transnational Media Consumption and Cultural Negotiations:Taiwanese Youth Look at Japanese and South Korean Television Dramas

The viewing of Japanese and South Korean TV dramas in Taiwan represents an opportunity to explore foreign media popularity as a cultural phenomenon. In addition, we can also examine the relationship between youth audiences and their construction of a sense of collective social identity in relation to their cultural ‘others’. This thesis examines how Japanese and South Korean TV dramas are incorporated into the lives and cultural practices of young people in Taiwan by looking at the varying degrees and levels of acceptance they enjoy, as well as the different purposes these dramas are used for. In addition, this thesis investigates the process of modern nation-building and the (re)construction of ‘local’ Taiwanese cultures in the context of transnational cultural flows. It focuses on how Taiwanese youth construct their own interpretations of national identity in the space which lies between the traditional Chinese national/cultural identity imposed in the pre-1987 period, and the new world of free media which heralds different models of identity emerging from the regional flows of cultural goods. Methods of data collection include: distribution of a questionnaire (278 in total) which was designed to give a general understanding of the consumption of both Japanese and Korean TV dramas. This was then followed by four group discussions with secondary school students and ten one-to-one interviews with university students. In this fashion the research investigates at a concrete level the cultural consumption of Japanese and Korean ‘trendy dramas’ (television dramas) and examines the ways in which young Taiwanese audiences utilise their new transnational cultural resources in order to construct a Taiwanese cultural identity that is orientated towards a specifically East Asian context. Although this work attempts to understand the ideas young Taiwanese have about national and cultural identity within the context of regional popular culture flows – focusing on the reception of Japanese and Korean popular TV dramas during late 1990s and early 2000s – it also demonstrates the way in which local, regional and global cultural flows contribute toward the production of a critical transcultural identity.
Physiological responses and time–motion characteristics of various small-sided soccer games in youth players

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine acute physiological responses and time–motion characteristics associated with three different small-sided soccer game formats in youth players. Sixteen male soccer players aged 16.3 ± 0.6 years (mean ± s) completed three variations of a small-sided game (i.e. 2 vs. 2, 4 vs. 4, and 6 vs. 6 players) in which heart rate, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), blood lactate concentration, and time–motion characteristics were recorded. The pitch size was altered to keep the relative pitch area per player consistent for each game format. The 2 vs. 2 games exhibited greater blood lactate, heart rate, and RPE responses compared with 4 vs. 4 and 6 vs. 6 games (P < 0.05). The players travelled less (P < 0.05) distance at speeds of 0–7 km · h−1 in the 4 vs. 4 compared with the 2 vs. 2 games (1128 ± 10 m and 1176 ± 8 m, respectively). Average maximal sprint distances above 18 km · h−1 were lower (P < 0.05) in 2 vs. 2 than in 4 vs. 4 and 6 vs. 6 games (11.5 ± 3.9 m, 15.3 ± 5.5 m, and 19.4 ± 5.9 m, respectively), and in 4 vs. 4 compared with 6 vs. 6 games. The results show that as small-sided game formats decrease in size and relative pitch area remains constant, overall physiological and perceptual workload increases.
Pengaruh Inflasi Terhadap Pertumbuhan Ekonomi Indonesia

Abstrak Negara yang sedang berkembang cenderung akan mengalami inflasi, negara dengan inflasi di bawah 3% masih diambang batas normal bagi suatu negara, tapi sebaliknya negara dengn inflasi yang tinggi dan tidak stabil merupakan cerminan dari ketidakstabilan perekonomian yang berakibat pada naiknya tingkat harga barang dan jasa secara umum dan terus menerus di suatu negara dan berakibat pada makin tingginya tingkat kemiskinan di dan pengganguran. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kuantitatif dengan menggunakan data time series yang diambil dalam periode 2016 – 2020 dengan perhitungan statistika menggunakan SPSS. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa inflasi mempunyai nilai thitung 3,532 > ttabel 2,306 dengan tingkat signifikan 0,039 < 0,05, yang artinya Inflasi berpengaruh terhadap Pertumbuhan Ekonomi Indonesia/Produk Domestik Bruto (PDB).
A Study of Consumer Behaviour on Purchase Intention Toward McDonald’s in Malaysia

McDonald's has more than 36,000 restaurants worldwide and is the world's leading quick-service restaurant chain. McDonald's has a strong vision of providing the finest fast-service eating experience in the international fast-food business. This study aims to survey determinants affecting consumer behavior on purchase intention toward McDonald’s in Malaysia. We investigated whether service quality, pricing, product quality, and location preference affect consumer purchase intention toward McDonald’s. Various sources, including an online survey, were used to obtain this investigation's primary and secondary data. A total of 150 loyal customers of McDonald's participated in the online survey via Google Forms. We tested the hypothesis using SPSS software. This study indicated that service quality, pricing, product quality, and location preferences are significant determinants affecting purchase intention toward McDonald’s. This study provides new insights, and recommendations are presented.
Cap-assisted forward-viewing endoscopy to visualize the ampulla of Vater and the duodenum in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis

Abstract Background and study aims Guidelines recommend surveillance endoscopy with both forward- and side-viewing endoscopes to identify duodenal and ampullary adenomas in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). We hypothesized that both the duodenum and the ampulla of Vater can be completely visualized during cap-assisted forward-viewing endoscopy. Patients and methods A total of 40 patients with FAP underwent forward-viewing endoscopy with a short cap attached to the tip of the gastroscope, with the aim of visualizing both the duodenum and the ampulla of Vater. If unsuccessful, the procedure was followed by a side-viewing endoscopy. Adverse events were reported. Results The duodenum, including the ampulla of Vater, was completely visualized using the cap in 38/40 patients (95.0 %). The ampulla could not be visualized using the cap in two patients, both of whom underwent additional side-viewing endoscopy, which was successful. No adverse events occurred. Conclusions This study showed that cap-assisted endoscopy can be used effectively and safely to visualize both the duodenum and the ampulla of Vater in patients with FAP. This practice might reduce burden, time, and costs of an additional side-viewing endoscopy.
Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs

Call graphs depict the static, caller-callee relation between "functions " in a program. With most source/target languages supporting functions as the primitive unit of composition, call graphs naturally form the fundamental control flow representation available to understand/develop software. They are also the substrate on which various inter- procedural analyses are performed and are integral part of program comprehension/testing. Given their universality and usefulness, it is imperative to ask if call graphs exhibit any intrinsic graph theoretic features - across versions, program domains and source languages. This work is an attempt to answer these questions: we present and investigate a set of meaningful graph measures that help us understand call graphs better; we establish how these measures correlate, if any, across different languages and program domains; we also assess the overall, language independent software quality by suitably interpreting these measures.
Coupled response of the late glacial climatic shifts of northwest Europe reflected in Greenland ice cores: Evidence from the northern North Sea

The climatic regimes of the land areas adjacent to the North Sea are controlled by the influx of Atlantic water north of the British Isles and into the North Sea. A high-resolution record from the Norwegian Channel off western Norway covering the past 15 ka ( 14 C) shows that prior to the Younger Dryas, there were three periods of sea-surface conditions there similar to those of the present, interspersed with arctic conditions. These changes, corresponding to an increase of (Approx.)5 °C in summer sea-surface temperatures, took place on the scale of
Factors Influencing Consumer Behavior Intention to Purchase Fast Food: A Study of McDonald’s in Malaysia

McDonald’s, as the largest worldwide retailer of foodservice are spread across more than 100 countries. The company's mission is to quickly adapt to generate profitable growth and to improve upon McDonald's to serve superior and high-quality meals to many people around the world. The study was conducted to identify and analyze the factors influencing consumer behaviors intention to purchase in the fast-food sector (McDonald's). We investigate whether product and service quality, pricing, promotion,
Atmospheric PCDD/Fs in Southeastern China

Air samples were collected simultaneously at Guiyu (an electronic waste recycling site), three urban sites in Hong Kong and two urban sites in Guangzhou, southeast China on August 20, 2004 and January 24, 2005, respectively. Seventeen congeners of PCDD/Fs (polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins dibenzofurans) were measured. The results showed that the concentration of PCDD/Fs in Guiyu was 6,721 fg/m, which was 1.5 times of Guangzhou and 3.1 times of Hong Kong sites. TEQ (total toxic equivalent) of Guiyu, Guangzhou and Hong Kong air samples were 598, 202 and 137 fg I-TEQ/m, respectively. A clear seasonal variation of PCDD/Fs in the air was found in both Guangzhou and Hong Kong sites. The concentration of 2,3,7,8-TCDD (2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin) in Guiyu was 54 fg/m, higher than the whole year standard of 30 fg/m imposed by USA (Indiana, Kansas and Washington). This was primarily due to the incomplete combustion of e-wastes (e.g., plastic chips, wire insulations, PVC (polyvinyl chloride polymer) materials and metal scraps).
GEOLOGY OF THE REYDARFJÖRDUR AREA, EASTERN ICELAND

A succession of nearly 15,000 feet of volcanic rocks, mostly plateau-basalt lavas, is described from the Reydarfjördur area. This area is in the middle of the large Tertiary outcrop of eastern Iceland, and the rocks described constitute the lower parts of the exposed succession there. They dip uniformly west-south-west at 3–7 degrees. Tholeiites, olivine-basalts, and porphyritic basalts rich in phenocrysts of basic plagioclase make up the bulk of the lava pile, and there is little sign of any systematic distribution of these types. Lavas of a particular type tend to form groups of flows, and these can be readily mapped in the field and clearly have a wide horizontal extension. Two long periods of acid volcanism are distinguished, both having given rise to a considerable bulk of acid and intermediate lavas and pyroclastic rocks. Two more acid volcanic episodes are represented in the mapped ground by acid tuffs, and a fifth is represented by the copious outpourings of acid and intermediate lavas and pyroclasts of the Thingmuli central volcano which was later built on the platform of plateau lavas described in this paper. The bulk of the lavas are regarded as the product of fissure eruption, and two examples have been found of a lava connected to its dyke feeder. The dyke swarm in the area is estimated to contain over 500 dykes, mostly basic, with a general northerly trend.
An assessment of the diurnal variation of upper tropospheric humidity in reanalysis data sets

Diurnal variations of upper tropospheric humidity (UTH) in five different reanalysis data sets are compared over convective land and ocean regions and evaluated using multiple satellite observations as a reference. All reanalysis data sets reproduce the day‐night contrast of upper tropospheric humidity and the land‐ocean contrast in the diurnal amplitude. The infrared satellite measurements indicate a slightly later diurnal minimum over land relative to most reanalyses and the microwave satellite measurements, suggesting that cloud masking of the infrared radiances may introduce a small (∼3 h) bias in the phase. One reanalysis exhibits a substantially different diurnal cycle over land which is inconsistent with both infrared and microwave satellite measurements and other reanalysis products. This product also exhibits a different covariance between vertical velocity, cloud water, and humidity than other reanalyses, suggesting that the phase bias is related to deficiencies in the parameterization of moist convective processes.
Warming of permafrost in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska

Permafrost borehole temperatures were measured in 1985, 1998, and 2004 on Barter Island near the village of Kaktovik and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (Arctic NWR) north of the Brooks Range. These measurements indicate that the century‐long warming documented for the central and western Arctic has also occurred in the region near Barter Island and in the northern Arctic NWR. At Kaktovik, the warming occurred during the second quarter of the 20th century or earlier and its magnitude exceeded 0.8°C. A more recent warming (since the mid to late 1980s) similar to that in the central and western Arctic is also occurring on Barter Island and in the northern Arctic NWR. Near Kaktovik, the permafrost warmed about 2 to 3°C from 1985 to 2004. In the northern Arctic NWR, on a line extending southward from Tapkaurak Point, it warmed about 1.5 to 2°C from 1985 to 1998. If air temperatures warm 5°C over the next century, as predicted, some of the permafrost in the northern Arctic NWR would be expected to thaw. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.