Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The influence of visual feedback on closed-set word test performance over time

Closed-set word tests can be implemented with or without trial-by-trial visual feedback. Feedback is considered to increase subject motivation yet its influence on performance is unknown. The aim of this study was to compare performance on the Four Alternative Auditory Feature (FAAF) test with and without visual feedback over a 24-week period following fitting of a hearing aid. A total of 32 elderly subjects were recruited as new users and fitted monaurally with the same model of linear, programmable hearing aid that provided in excess of 20 dB insertion gain at 2–4 kHz. Half of the subjects were provided with visual feedback. In these subjects, mean performance increased by 5% across the study period. The improvement in performance over time was statistically significant on analysis of variance (p < 0.05). Mean performance did not increase in the remaining subjects who were not provided with feedback. If closed-set word tests are to be used with visual feedback to measure changes over time, the potentially confounding effects of practice must be controlled carefully. Alternatively, omitting feedback leads to simpler experimental designs. Sumario Las pruebas de palabras de contexto cerrado pueden ser implementadas una por una, con o sin retroalimentación visual. Se considera que la retroalimentación aumenta la motivación del sujeto, y sin embargo, su influencia en el desempeño es desconocida. El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar el desempeño de la Prueba de los Cuatros Rasgos Alternativos (FAAF), con y sin retroalimentación visual, durante un período de 24 semanas posteriores a la adaptación de un auxiliar auditivo. Se reclutó un total de 32 ancianos como usuarios recientes y se les adaptó monoauralmente el mismo modelo de auxiliar, lineal y programable, que aportaba una ganancia de inserción de 20 dB en 2–4 kHz. La mitad de los sujetos recibieron retroalimentación visual. En estos sujetos el desempeño medio se incrementó en un 5% durante el período de estudio. La mejoría del desempeño en el tiempo fue estadísticamente significativa en el análisis de varianza (p<.05). El desempeño medio no mejoró en los otros sujetos que no recibieron retroalimentación visual. Si se decide utilizar pruebas de palabras de contexto cerrado con retroalimentación visual, para medir los cambios en el tiempo, los efectos potenciales de confusión de la habituación deben ser cuidadosamente controlados. Alternativamente, omitir la retroalimentación lleva a diseños experimentales más simples.
Evaluating expertise and sample bias effects for privilege classification in e-discovery

In civil litigation, documents that are found to be relevant to a production request are usually subjected to an exhaustive manual review for privilege (e.g, for attorney-client privilege, attorney-work product doctrine) in order to be sure that materials that could be withheld is not inadvertently revealed. Usually, the majority of the cost associated in such review process is due to the procedure of having human annotators linearly review documents (for privilege) that the classifier predicts as responsive. This paper investigates the extent to which such privilege judgments obtained by the annotators are useful for training privilege classifiers. The judgments utilized in this paper are derived from the privilege test collection that was created during the 2010 TREC Legal Track. The collection consists of two classes of annotators: "expert" judges, who are topic originators called the Topic Authority (TA) and "non-expert" judges called assessors. The questions asked in this paper are; (1) Are cheaper, non-expert annotations from assessors sufficient for classifier training? (2) Does the process of selecting special (adjudicated) documents for training affect the classifier results? The paper studies the effect of training classifiers on multiple annotators (with different expertise) and training sets (with and without selection bias). The findings in this paper show that automated privilege classifiers trained on the unbiased set of annotations yield the best results. The usefulness of the biased annotations (from experts and non-experts) for classifier training are comparable.
Relative and cardinal directions for privacy-aware personal navigation services: A comparison towards navigation efficiency

Traditionally, individual location has been difficult to utilize, due to a lack of precise positioning technologies. Now, with location-aware technologies integrated into lightweight mobile devices such as sensor nodes, location-based services are becoming a phenomenon in mobile services. These nodes, however, can potentially reveal sensitive and private information about individuals. In most location-aware applications such as personal navigations, location privacy is an issue. In this paper, new finding about generating efficient navigation instruction for imprecise location known as imprecise navigation is discussed. An algorithm called privacy-aware personal navigation algorithm is introduced and two types of navigational directions (relative and cardinal direction) are used for comparison. The efficiency of the algorithms has been analyzed based on its navigational performance and privacy protection. Hence, this research has the potential to support both protecting location privacy and generating better navigational instruction for imprecise navigation.
Intrastriatal Mesencephalic Grafts Affect Neuronal Activity in Basal Ganglia Nuclei and Their Target Structures in a Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease

Nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) lesions lead to changes of neuronal activity in basal ganglia nuclei such as the globus pallidus (GP, the rodent homolog of lateral globus pallidus), entopeduncular nucleus (EP, the rodent homolog of medial globus pallidus), substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNR), and subthalamic nucleus (STN). We investigated in rats whether embryonic mesencephalic DA neurons grafted in the striatum may affect the lesion-induced alterations of neuronal activity in these structures. Regional neuronal activity was determined by use of quantitative cytochrome oxidase histochemistry. It was also examined in lesioned rats whether the grafts may regulate the expression of c-Fos after systemic administration of apomorphine in the basal ganglia nuclei as well as their target structures, including the ventromedial thalamic nucleus (VM), superior colliculus (SC), and pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN). Lesioned rats exhibited an increased activity of CO in the GP, EP, SNR, and STN ipsilateral to the lesion. Intrastriatal nigral grafts reversed the increases in the CO activity in the EP and SNR, whereas the grafts failed to affect the enzyme activity in the GP or STN. Apomorphine induced an increased expression of c-Fos in the GP, STN, VM, SC, and PPN on the lesioned side. The enhanced expression of this protein in all the structures except for the STN was attenuated by nigral grafts. The present results indicate that intrastriatal DA neuron grafts can normalize the lesion-induced changes of neuronal activity in the output nuclei of the basal ganglia as well as their target structures.
Determining the Orders of Feature and Hidden Unit Prunings of Artificial Neural Networks

There is a great deal of research undertaken for pruning away features and hidden units in order to reduce the size of artificial neural networks (ANNs). However, none of these methods mentions about the relationship between the pruned unit and the number of epochs needed for retraining when the unit is pruned away from the network. In this paper, we present two heuristics for determining the pruning orders, which lead to the near smallest number of retraining epochs. The heuristics are based on the employment of the modified information gain calculated from all features in training data. Then, we test our proposed heuristics on an exclusive-or data set. The experimental results show the success of using information gain as a criterion for determining the pruning orders
Road Network Extraction from VHR Satellite Images Using Context Aware Object Feature Integration and Tensor Voting

Road networks are very important features in geospatial databases. Even though high-resolution optical satellite images have already been acquired for more than a decade, tools for automated extraction of road networks from these images are still rare. One consequence of this is the need for manual interaction which, in turn, is time and cost intensive. In this paper, a multi-stage approach is proposed which integrates structural, spectral, textural, as well as contextual information of objects to extract road networks from very high resolution satellite images. Highlights of the approach are a novel linearity index employed for the discrimination of elongated road segments from other objects and customized tensor voting which is utilized to fill missing parts of the network. Experiments are carried out with different datasets. Comparison of the achieved results with the results of seven state-of-the-art methods demonstrated the efficiency of the proposed approach.
Pex17p of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Is a Novel Peroxin and Component of the Peroxisomal Protein Translocation Machinery

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae pex17-1 mutant was isolated from a screen to identify mutants defective in peroxisome biogenesis. pex17-1 and pex17 null mutants fail to import matrix proteins into peroxisomes via both PTS1- and PTS2-dependent pathways. The PEX17 gene (formerly PAS9; Albertini, M., P. Rehling, R. Erdmann, W. Girzalsky, J.A.K.W. Kiel, M. Veenhuis, and W.-H Kunau. 1997. Cell. 89:83–92) encodes a polypeptide of 199 amino acids with one predicted membrane spanning region and two putative coiled-coil structures. However, localization studies demonstrate that Pex17p is a peripheral membrane protein located at the surface of peroxisomes. Particulate structures containing the peroxisomal integral membrane proteins Pex3p and Pex11p are evident in pex17 mutant cells, indicating the existence of peroxisomal remnants (“ghosts”). This finding suggests that pex17 null mutant cells are not impaired in peroxisomal membrane biogenesis. Two-hybrid studies showed that Pex17p directly binds to Pex14p, the recently proposed point of convergence for the two peroxisomal targeting signal (PTS)-dependent import pathways, and indirectly to Pex5p, the PTS1 receptor. The latter interaction requires Pex14p, indicating the potential of these three peroxins to form a trimeric complex. This conclusion is supported by immunoprecipitation experiments showing that Pex14p and Pex17p coprecipitate with both PTS receptors in the absence of Pex13p. From these and other studies we conclude that Pex17p, in addition to Pex13p and Pex14p, is the third identified component of the peroxisomal translocation machinery.
Associations Between Depressive Symptoms and Inflammatory/Hemostatic Markers in Women During the Menopausal Transition

Objective: To test whether depressive symptoms are related to inflammatory and hemostatic markers in women approaching menopause. Methods: A total of 3292 women enrolled in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) were followed for five years and had measures of Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression and high sensitivity C-reactive protein, Factor VIIc, fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor Type 1(PAI-1), and tissue-type plasminogen activator antigen (tPA-ag) up to four times during the follow-up period. Women were pre- or early perimenopausal status at study entry and were of Caucasian, African American, Hispanic, Japanese, or Chinese race/ethnicity. Results: Unadjusted longitudinal mixed regression models showed that over a 5-year period, higher depressive symptoms were related to higher fibrinogen, PAI-1, and tPA-ag levels, all p < . 0001. Taking into account health history, medication use, ethnicity, aging, and menopausal status, the depressive symptoms were related to fibrinogen, p < . 01, and PAI-1, p < . 05. Depressive symptoms were related only to fibrinogen in models that also included body mass index, p < . 05. Conclusions: Depressive symptoms may be associated with cardiovascular risk in perimenopausal women in part through hypercoagulability. This is the first study to test the association of depressive symptoms and hemostatic and inflammatory markers across time. CHD = coronary heart disease; PAI-1 = plasminogen activator inhibitor Type 1; hs-CRP = high sensitivity C-reactive protein; BMI = body mass index; SWAN = Study of Women's Health Across the Nation; CES-D = Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression; tPA-ag = tissue-type plasminogen activator antigen; IL = interleukin.
Bioremediation of contaminated soils from mine sites using native plants in Northwestern Ontario

Practical and scientific importance can be found in this research topic since the results directly apply to remediation of industrial and mined lands in the boreal forest region. Plants suitable for phytostabilization of As, Mo and Sb are identified as well as two hyperaccumulators of Zn. Using phytostabilization practices, metals are immobilized by the below ground components of the plants therefore restricting the flow into the ecosystem and lessening the impacts of metal pollution to the surrounding area. As long as there is little disturbance of the soil physically or chemically, the plants will continue to stabilize the metal in the organic portion of the deceased plants. The ease of replanting a site could incorporate successional ecosystem in the region by focusing on trees and shrubs that are earlier in the revegetation process after a disturbance. The addition of woodbark to the reestablishment of the top soil increases potential nutrients, organic matter, water holding potential as well as diluting potential harmful metal content of the soil and providing a mulching effect. Some concerns exist by using agronomic plant species as the sole part of revegetation as they have the potential to impact the wildlife in the region through excess Mo. Results from this thesis could be helpful for future mine closure plans and in the rehabilitation of other industrial sites.
Predicting gas migration through existing oil and gas wells

The ability to accurately predict the probability of fluid migration from depth through existing wells based on known well properties, such as age and depth, would be enormously helpful in understanding how migration pathways develop and the identification of potential migration without extensive field tests. The presence of fluid pathways is an important environmental issue because such pathways allow gas, either naturally occurring methane or sequestered CO2, to move into the atmosphere. In this paper, we explore the ability of various predictive models to forecast gas migration at existing wells in Alberta, Canada, based upon the characteristics of existing deep wells. Alberta was selected as a case study because of the availability of data in an area that has required wells to be tested for pathway development after rig release since 1995. Wells that do not demonstrate pathway development require no further testing until the well is abandoned. We show that accurately predicting fluid migration requires detailed information on well construction, production, and fluid properties, and even then, the models considered in this study misclassify a large number of wells. This suggests other factors may contribute to pathway formation. Of the models investigated, random forests provide the best results on this data set, correctly identifying 78% of the wells used.
Fabrication and Validation of an Organ-on-chip System with Integrated Electrodes to Directly Quantify Transendothelial Electrical Resistance

Organs-on-chips, in vitro models involving the culture of (human) tissues inside microfluidic devices, are rapidly emerging and promise to provide useful research tools for studying human health and disease. To characterize the barrier function of cell layers cultured inside organ-on-chip devices, often transendothelial or transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) is measured. To this end, electrodes are usually integrated into the chip by micromachining methods to provide more stable measurements than is achieved with manual insertion of electrodes into the inlets of the chip. However, these electrodes frequently hamper visual inspection of the studied cell layer or require expensive cleanroom processes for fabrication. To overcome these limitations, the device described here contains four easily integrated electrodes that are placed and fixed outside of the culture area, making visual inspection possible. Using these four electrodes the resistance of six measurement paths can be quantified, from which the TEER can be directly isolated, independent of the resistance of culture medium-filled microchannels. The blood-brain barrier was replicated in this device and its TEER was monitored to show the device applicability. This chip, the integrated electrodes and the TEER determination method are generally applicable in organs-on-chips, both to mimic other organs or to be incorporated into existing organ-on-chip systems.
Bandwidth Constraints Models for Differentiated Services (Diffserv)-aware MPLS Traffic Engineering: Performance Evaluation

"Differentiated Services (Diffserv)-aware MPLS Traffic Engineering Requirements", RFC 3564, specifies the requirements and selection criteria for Bandwidth Constraints Models. Two such models, the Maximum Allocation and the Russian Dolls, are described therein. This document complements RFC 3564 by presenting the results of a performance evaluation of these two models under various operational conditions: normal load, overload, preemption fully or partially enabled, pure blocking, or complete sharing. This memo provides information for the Internet community.
A Formalism for Graph Databases and its Model of Computation

Graph databases are directed graphs in which the edges are labeled with symbols from a finite alphabet. In this paper we introduce a logic for such graphs in which the domain is the set of edges. We compare its expressiveness with the standard logic in which the domain the set of vertices. Furthermore, we introduce a robust model of computation for such logic, the so called graph pebble automata.
High frequency (139.5 GHz) electron paramagnetic resonance characterization of Mn(II)-H2(17)O interactions in GDP and GTP forms of p21 ras.

As a molecular switch, the ras protein p21 undergoes structural changes that couple recognition sites on the protein surface to the guanine nucleotide-divalent metal ion binding site. X-ray crystallographic studies of p21 suggest that coordination between threonine-35 and the divalent metal ion plays an important role in these conformational changes. Recent ESEEM studies of p21 in solution, however, place threonine-35 more distant from the metal and were interpreted as weak or indirect coordination of this residue. We report high frequency (139.5 GHz) EPR spectroscopy of p21.Mn(II) complexes of two guanine nucleotides that probes the link between threonine-35 and the divalent metal ion. By analysis of high-frequency EPR spectra, we determine the number of water molecules in the first coordination sphere of the manganous ion to be four in p21.Mn(II). GDP, consistent with prior low-frequency EPR and X-ray crystallographic studies. In the complex of p21 with a GTP analog, p21.Mn(II). GMPPNP, we determine the hydration number to be 2, also consistent with crystal structures. This result rules out indirect coordination of threonine-35 in the solution structure of p21.Mn(II). GMPPNP, and implicates direct, weak coordination of this residue as suggested by Halkides et al. [(1994) Biochemistry 33,4019]. The 17O hyperfine coupling constant of H2(17)O is determined as 0.25 mT in the GDP from and 0.28 mT in the GTP form. These values are similar to reported values for 17O-enriched aquo ligands and some phosphato ligands in Mn(II) complexes. The high magnetic field strength (4.9 T) employed in these 139.5 GHz EPR measurements leads to a narrowing of the Mn(II) EPR lines that facilitates the determination of 17O hyperfine interactions.
Biology of epithelial ovarian cancer: implications for screening women at high genetic risk.

PURPOSE Our aim was to analyze the clinicopathologic features of screen-detected ovarian cancers identified in women, either at general population risk or high genetic risk of ovarian cancer, who have participated in screening studies. METHODS Studies published between 1988 and April 2003 were categorized by the population screened and the primary screening modalities used. Each report was examined with reference to the histologic type, stage, and grade of screen-detected cancers. Reports of studies of prophylactically removed ovaries from women at high risk of ovarian cancer were also reviewed. RESULTS Of the stage I tumors detected by screening women at population risk, almost half were borderline ovarian tumors, granulosa-cell tumors, or germ-cell tumors, which is disproportionate to their frequency. Furthermore, of the stage I invasive epithelial cancers diagnosed in women at population risk, the majority were endometrioid, clear-cell, and mucinous histologic subtypes. Most ovarian cancers that occur in women at high genetic risk are high-grade serous cancers, and these are infrequently screen detected at an early stage. CONCLUSION The clinicopathologic features of screen-detected ovarian cancers suggest that screening may not reduce mortality in women at increased genetic risk. Prospective screening studies are required in genetically high-risk populations to answer this important question. Women electing surveillance should be aware of the lack of proven benefit and the low likelihood of detecting early stage serous cancers. Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy appears to be the most effective approach to decrease the risk of ovarian cancer and thereby reduce mortality in high-risk women.
Antilipolytic Activity of a Novel Partial A1 Adenosine Receptor Agonist Devoid of Cardiovascular Effects: Comparison with Nicotinic Acid

Elevated lipolysis and circulating free fatty acid (FFA) levels have been linked to the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. A1 adenosine receptor agonists are potent inhibitors of lipolysis. Several A1 agonists have been tested as potential antilipolytic agents; however, their effect on the cardiovascular system remains a potential problem for development of these agents as drugs. In the present study, we report that CVT-3619 [(2-{6-[((1R,2R)-2-hydroxycyclopentyl) amino] purin9-yl} (4S,5 S,2R,3R)5-[(2fluorophenylthio) methyl] oxolane-3,4-diol)], a novel partial A1 receptor agonist, significantly reduces circulating FFA levels without any effect on heart rate and blood pressure in awake rats. Rats were implanted with indwelling arterial and venous cannulas to obtain serial blood samples, record arterial pressure, and administer drug. CVT-3619 decreased FFA levels in a dose-dependent manner at doses from 1 up to 10 mg/kg. The FFA-lowering effect was blocked by the A1 receptor antagonist, 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine. Triglyceride (TG) levels were also significantly reduced by CVT-3619 treatment in the absence and presence of Triton. Tachyphylaxis of the antilipolytic effect of CVT-3619 (1 mg/kg i.v. bolus) was not observed with three consecutive treatments. An acute reduction of FFA by CVT-3619 was not followed by a rebound increase of FFA as seen with nicotinic acid. The potency of insulin to decrease lipolysis was increased 4-fold (p < 0.01) in the presence of CVT-3619 (0.5 mg/kg). In summary, CVT-3619 is an orally bioavailable A1 agonist that lowers circulating FFA and TG levels by inhibiting lipolysis. CVT-3619 has antilipolytic effects at doses that do not elicit cardiovascular effects.