Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the contributions of task expectancy in the testing and guessing benefits on recognition memory

ABSTRACT Recently, we have shown that two types of initial testing (recall of a list or guessing of critical items repeated over 12 study/test cycles) improved final recognition of related and unrelated word lists relative to restudy. These benefits were eliminated, however, when test instructions were manipulated within subjects and presented after study of each list, procedures designed to minimise expectancy of a specific type of upcoming test [Huff, Balota, & Hutchison, 2016. The costs and benefits of testing and guessing on recognition memory. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 42, 1559–1572. doi:10.1037/xlm0000269], suggesting that testing and guessing effects may be influenced by encoding strategies specific for the type of upcoming task. We follow-up these experiments by examining test-expectancy processes in guessing and testing. Testing and guessing benefits over restudy were not found when test instructions were presented either after (Experiment 1) or before (Experiment 2) a single study/task cycle was completed, nor were benefits found when instructions were presented before study/task cycles and the task was repeated three times (Experiment 3). Testing and guessing benefits emerged only when instructions were presented before a study/task cycle and the task was repeated six times (Experiments 4A and 4B). These experiments demonstrate that initial testing and guessing can produce memory benefits in recognition, but only following substantial task repetitions which likely promote task-expectancy processes.
Corporate Social Responsibility and the Rentier Nigerian State: Rethinking the Role of Government and the Possibility of Corporate Social Development in the Niger Delta

Abstract This paper contributes to the emerging discussion on the role of government in corporate social responsibility (CSR) from a developing country perspective. Drawing on a preliminary conceptual framework, the paper critically examines the extent to which the Nigerian government has facilitated or inhibited CSR practices, and the ramifications for corporate social development. It demonstrates that the nature of the Nigerian state, the country's rentier economy, and the contested nature of CSR have prevented the Nigerian government from providing an enabling environment for CSR, which, together with oil companies' failures, undermine the possibility of corporate social development in the Niger Delta.
A wideband plus shaped split dielectric resonator antenna for wireless applications

In this work, a plus shaped splitted dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) is introduced for wideband applications. The designed antenna structure is excited by using a simple co-axial probe feed. The input impedance bandwidth of proposed antenna below −10 dB is 95.7% (3.05 GHz–8.65 GHz) with a center frequency 5.85 GHz. This antenna provides average gain and approximate radiation efficiency of 5.18 dBi and 78% respectively in the working frequency range of 3.05 GHz to 8.65 GHz. Wideband operation is obtained due to the combination of fundamental mode TEδ11 with higher order mode TEδ21 at 3.6 GHz and 6.1 GHz respectively. Parametric analysis was performed to get the optimum values to design proposed antenna. The proposed antenna could be used for Wi-Max and WLAN application.
The causal relationship between exports and economic growth in the nine provinces of South Africa: evidence from panel-granger causality test

This paper examines the causal relationship between exports and growth in nine provinces of South Africa for the period 1995–2011, using panel causality analysis, which accounts for cross-section dependency and heterogeneity across regions. Our empirical results support unidirectional causality running from economic growth to exports for Mpumalanga only; a bi-directional causality between exports and economic growth for Gauteng; and no causality in any direction between economic growth and exports for the rest of provinces. This suggests that export expansion might not be an efficient strategy to improve provincial economic performance in South Africa as neither exports nor economic growth is sensitive to each other in almost all provinces.
TArgeted Motion Estimation and Reduction (TAMER): Data Consistency Based Motion Mitigation for MRI Using a Reduced Model Joint Optimization

We introduce a data consistency based retrospective motion correction method, TArgeted Motion Estimation and Reduction (TAMER), to correct for patient motion in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Specifically, a motion free image and motion trajectory are jointly estimated by minimizing the data consistency error of a SENSE forward model including rigid-body subject motion. In order to efficiently solve this large non-linear optimization problem, we employ reduced modeling in the parallel imaging formulation by assessing only a subset of target voxels at each step of the motion search. With this strategy we are able to effectively capture the tight coupling between the image voxel values and motion parameters. We demonstrate in simulations TAMER’s ability to find similar search directions compared to a full model, with an average error of 22%, vs. 73% error when using previously proposed alternating methods. The reduced model decreased the computation time $17{\times}$ fold compared to a full image volume evaluation. In phantom experiments, our method successfully mitigates both translation and rotation artifacts, reducing image RMSE compared to a motion-free gold standard from 21% to 14% in a translating phantom, and from 17% to 10% in a rotating phantom. Qualitative image improvements are seen in human imaging of moving subjects compared to conventional reconstruction. Finally, we compare in vivo image results of our method to the state-of-the-art.
A novel approach for sensitivity enhancement in atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry of chlorophylls.

Differences in the ionisation efficiency of chlorophylls and their phaeophytin counterparts result in lower sensitivity for atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation mass spectrometric detection of the former. Improvement in the sensitivity of detection of chlorophyll of around an order of magnitude at a concentration of 1 x 10(-6)mol L(-1) has been achieved using post-column addition of methanoic acid during analysis by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). The method gives linear response and is a simple strategy to improve sensitivity both for LC/MS and LC/MS/MS without loss of information relating to the precise nature of the tetrapyrrole distributions. Detection levels achieved exceed those obtained by absorbance detection.
Characterization of Plasmablasts in the Blood of HIV-Infected Viremic Individuals: Evidence for Nonspecific Immune Activation

ABSTRACT Terminal differentiation of B cells and hypergammaglobulinemia are hallmarks of B-cell hyperactivity in HIV disease. Plasmablasts are terminally differentiating B cells that circulate transiently in the blood following infection or vaccination; however, in HIV infection, they arise early and are maintained at abnormally high levels in viremic individuals. Here we show that only a small fraction of plasmablasts in the blood of viremic individuals is HIV specific. Assessment of plasmablast immunoglobulin isotype distribution revealed increased IgG+ plasmablasts in early and most prominently during chronic HIV viremia, contrasting with a predominantly IgA+ plasmablast profile in HIV-negative individuals or in aviremic HIV-infected individuals on treatment. Of note, IgG is the predominant immunoglobulin isotype of plasmablasts that arise transiently in the blood following parenteral immunization. Serum immunoglobulin levels were also elevated in HIV-infected viremic individuals, especially IgG, and correlated with levels of IgG+ plasmablasts. Several soluble factors associated with immune activation were also increased in the sera of HIV-infected individuals, especially in viremic individuals, and correlated with serum immunoglobulin levels, particularly IgG. Thus, our data suggest that while plasmablasts in the blood may contribute to the HIV-specific immune response, the majority of these cells are not HIV specific and arise early, likely from indirect immune-activating effects of HIV replication, and reflect over time the effects of chronic antigenic stimulation. Such B-cell dysregulation may help explain why the antibody response is inadequate in HIV-infected individuals, even during early infection.
Nutrition Communication for a Latino Community: Formative Research Foundations

Formative research techniques were used to develop a tailored health communication nutrition intervention for Latinas and their families. Members of the target community were recruited to participate in focus groups, depth interviews, and participant observations. Women, in particular, were observed preparing meals in their homes and purchasing groceries. The objective was to identify variables that could be used for targeting, segmenting, and tailoring the intervention. Results from these efforts were used to develop a theory-based intervention, which is described at the conclusion of the article.
Income diversification, wealth, education and well-being in rural south-western Madagascar: Results from the Mahafaly region

Rural households in the Mahafaly region of south-western Madagascar have to contend with low economic development and a risky natural environment. A survey of 665 households in the region was designed to address three research questions: what is the relationship between diversification of income sources and household wealth; how does education influence access to non-farm income sources and diversification; and how does household wealth and diversification affect well-being? The results show that the overwhelming majority of households follow a diversification strategy. Household wealth is associated with larger fields, greater crop diversity and higher diversification of income source categories. Education enhances access to high-return, non-farm income sources. Self-reported well-being is positively affected by both wealth and diversification. Better education and measures to improve inhabitants’ existing strategies for compensation of yield losses in farming are crucial for securing local livelihoods in the face of decreasing precipitation due to climate change.
Assessing the Multidimensionality of Coastal Erosion Risks: Public Participation and Multicriteria Analysis in a Mediterranean Coastal System

The complex and multidimensional nature of coastal erosion risks makes it necessary to move away from single‐perspective assessment and management methods that have conventionally predominated in coastal management. This article explores the suitability of participatory multicriteria analysis (MCA) for improving the integration of diverse expertises and values and enhancing the social‐ecological robustness of the processes that lead to the definition of relevant policy options to deal with those risks. We test this approach in the Mediterranean coastal locality of Lido de Sète in France. Results show that the more adaptive alternatives such as “retreating the shoreline” were preferred by our selected stakeholders to those corresponding to “protecting the shoreline” and the business as usual proposals traditionally put forward by experts and policymakers on these matters. Participative MCA contributed to represent coastal multidimensionality, elicit and integrate different views and preferences, facilitated knowledge exchange, and allowed highlighting existing uncertainties.
A Custom MPSoC Architecture With Integrated Power Management for Real-Time Neural Signal Decoding

Bioengineering research is posing hard challenges to digital embedded system designers. Tight real-time constraints, miniaturization, and low power are critical issues exacerbated by applications requiring the implant of electronic devices in the patient's body. Among them, neurocontrolled motor prostheses are on the cutting edge of the research in the field, requiring the real-time neural signal decoding to extract the patient's movement intention in order to control the mechatronic device. Despite the literature in the field, how to implement a highly-portable and reliable integrated platform is still an open question. In this paper, we propose a field-programmable gate array-based prototype of an multi-processor system-on-chip embedded architecture that implements an online neural signal decoding algorithm. The prototype is capable of respecting the real-time constraints posed by the application when clocked at less than 50 MHz. Considering that the application workload is extremely data dependent and unpredictable, the architecture has to be dimensioned taking into account critical worst-case operating conditions to ensure robustness. To compensate the resulting over-provisioning of the system architecture, a software-controllable power management has been integrated. Experimental results demonstrate the real-time behavior and allow evaluating the usefulness of the proposed power management technique on public databases.
A genome wide linkage scan of metacarpal size and geometry in the Framingham Study

Bone geometry is a significant component of bone strength, and has a clinical utility in predicting fractures and quantifying bone loss. Bone geometry is known to have a substantial genetic component. We performed linkage analysis to identify chromosomal regions governing metacarpal bone geometry. A genome‐wide scan (with a set of 615 markers with spacing of ∼5.7 cM) was performed on 1,702 individuals from 330 extended families of the Framingham Study. Midshaft width was measured and several indices calculated, namely Metacarpal Cortical Thickness (MCT), Cortical Index (MCI), and Section Modulus (MZ), using digitized X‐rays of 1,380 participants (men, n = 666, mean age 55.2 yr, women, n = 714, 55.5 yr). Metacarpals 2, 3, and 4 were averaged. Heritability was significant for all indices, ranging from 0.51 to 0.72. Linkage analysis of indices adjusted for age, age2, and estrogen status in women, identified chromosomal regions 6p21, 9p21, 11q21‐q22, and Xq26‐Xq27, with LOD scores >2.0. Additional adjustment for smoking, height, and BMI, generally reduced the LOD scores. Finally, bivariate linkage analysis confirmed that a QTL on chr. 6 (51 cM) was shared by midshaft width and MZ (LOD = 2.40, adjusted for all covariates). Neither MCT nor MCI shared linkage loci with width or MZ. In conclusion, we have identified chromosomal regions potentially linked to bone geometry. Genes in these regions may regulate bone geometry via effects on body size. Identification and subsequent characterization of loci for bone geometry can further elucidate the genetic contributions to bone's resistance to stress. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Development of Validated Bioanalytical HPLC-UV Method for Simultaneous Estimation of Amlodipine and Atorvastatin in Rat Plasma

A simple, economical and robust analytical high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet method was developed and validated for simultaneous chromatographic elution of two cardiovascular drugs viz. amlodipine and atorvastatin in biological fluid for the first time. Only two liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry methods are available in literature for quantitation of selected pair of analytes. The bioanalytical method was developed in rat plasma by using Thermo beta-basic C18 (100×4.6 mm, 5 μm) and mobile phase was composed of dibasic phosphate buffer (pH 3.0):acetonitrile in the ratio of 55:45 at a flow rate of 1 ml/min with ultraviolet detection monitored at 240 nm. The selected chromatographic conditions were found to effectively separate amlodipine (5.1 min) and atorvastatin (12.1 min). The parametric statistics,i.e. correlation coefficient of 0.999, was assessed for both the drugs having linearity over the tested concentration range (0.05 to 10.0 μg/ml) in rat plasma using an unweighted calibration curve. The mean recovery (%) was more than 92.8% for both the drugs using protein precipitation method. The accuracy of samples for six replicate measurements at lower limit of quantitation level was within limit. The method was validated and was successfully applied to the nonclinical pharmacokinetic study of combination tablets containing amlodipine and atorvastatin in six Sprague Dawley rats.
HEREDITARY AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ON ARTERIAL FUNCTION

1 With the ageing population and increasing heart failure, arterial function has been shown to contribute to cardiovascular risk because of its adverse effects on ventriculovascular coupling. Population studies have confirmed independent prognostic information of arterial stiffening on cardiovascular survival. 2 The term ‘arterial function’ encompasses a range of phenotypes, including measures of arterial structure/remodelling, measures of arterial wall mechanics, surrogate measures of stiffness and of wave reflection. There exists significant interaction between these measures and none is truly independent of the others. Added to this complexity is the recognition that, although arterial function has a strong genetic component, quantification requires a range of techniques from twin to family and population studies. 3 The contribution of heritability is often derived from statistical models with input from genomic scanning and candidate gene studies. Studies to date confirm a significant heritable component for the majority of phenotypes examined. However, it has also been recognized that the factors involved in blood pressure maintenance are likely to be separate to those in arterial structural degeneration with ageing. Candidate genes for arterial function go beyond those of the sympathetic and renin–angiotensin systems and include genes involved in signalling pathways and extracellular matrix modulation. 4 The present review examines the evidence for heritability of the major arterial function phenotypes with environmental and ageing modulation. A brief overview of the impact of atherosclerotic risk factors on arterial function is included.
Ankycorbin: a novel actin cytoskeleton‐associated protein

Actin cytoskeleton structures are essential for a wide variety of cell functions, including cell shape change, cell motility, cell adhesion, cell polarity and cytokinesis. Many actin filament (F‐actin)‐binding proteins have been isolated and implicated in the maintenance and reorganization of actin cytoskeleton structures.
Monoclonal antibodies to human cytomegalovirus: three surface membrane proteins with unique immunological and electrophoretic properties specify cross-reactive determinants

Seventy-seven clones of hybridomas selected for reactivity by immunofluorescence with human cytomegalovirus (CMV)-infected cells were produced by fusing mouse myeloma cells with the spleen cells of mice immunized with CMV strain AD169. The clones were classified into seven groups on the basis of the electrophoretic properties of the polypeptides immune precipitated from extracts of CMV-infected cells. Studies on the three groups of monoclonal antibodies directed against CMV surface membrane antigens showed the following. Clones in each group were differentiated by immunoglobulin subclass, neutralizing activity, and reactivity with the antigenic domains of proteins exposed on the surface membranes of intact CMV-infected cells. Monoclonal antibodies in each group precipitated one slowly migrating protein and multiple faster migrating forms which shared antigenic determinants. The first group of monoclonal antibodies precipitated four glycosylated polypeptides with apparent molecular weights of 130,000, 110,000, 100,000, and 60,000. Monoclonal antibody CH51 of this group neutralized infectious virus but failed to react with antigenic domains on the surfaces of infected cells. The second group of monoclonal antibodies precipitated four polypeptides with apparent molecular weights of approximately 66,000, 55,000, 50,000, and 46,000. Monoclonal antibodies CH65 and CH134 in this group had neutralizing activity and reacted with antigenic domains of proteins exposed on the surface of CMV-infected cells. The third group of monoclonal antibodies precipitated four polypeptides with apparent molecular weights of 49,000, 48,000, 34,000, and 25,000. Serological analysis of 15 naturally occurring CMV strains with a panel of monoclonal antibodies to surface membrane proteins showed that the antigenic determinants reactive with the antibodies tested were conserved in all of the strains. Monoclonal antibodies to surface membrane proteins on CMV-infected cells may prove to be valuable reagents for identification of virus isolates.
Camera Selection for Broadcasting Soccer Games

When broadcasting events such as soccer games, human operators constantly select the camera with the best viewpoint to cover the whole event. Modeling the prediction of which camera should be on air will assist automatic sports broadcasts and influence millions of viewers. In this paper, we propose a proof-of-concept method to automatically select cameras for broadcasting soccer games. First, a random forest based regressor smoothly predicts the visual importance of short video clips using deep convolutional features. Then, the predictions from multiple candidate cameras are regularized by a novel camera duration cumulative distribution function (CDF), naturally guiding the camera selection. We apply our approach to real soccer broadcasts with a professional human operator's result as a reference. The quantitative experiments demonstrate that our method outperforms two alternatives in terms of prediction accuracy. Moreover, the video generated by our method is preferred in the user study experiment, exhibiting its practicality.
Cdc25A Regulates Matrix Metalloprotease 1 through Foxo1 and Mediates Metastasis of Breast Cancer Cells

ABSTRACT Cdc25A is a cell cycle-activating phosphatase, and its overexpression in breast cancers has been shown to correlate with poor prognosis. Most recent studies related to Cdc25A and tumor progression have focused on its role in regulating cell cycle progression. However, less is known about how Cdc25A modulates the metastasis of breast cancer cells. In this study, we revealed that Cdc25A enhances Foxo1 stability by dephosphorylating Cdk2, and Foxo1 was shown to directly regulate transcription of the metastatic factor MMP1. Further studies have shown that overexpression of Cdc25A in breast cancer cells enhances metastasis, whereas its downmodulation inhibits metastasis in mouse models, and the effects of Cdc25A on breast cancer cell metastasis are independent of cell proliferation and apoptosis. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that aberrant Cdc25A in breast cancer patient samples directly correlates with the metastatic phenotype. Further insights into this critical role of Cdc25A in the metastasis of breast cancer cells and the trial of an anti-Cdc25A strategy in mouse models may reveal its therapeutic potential in prevention and treatment of breast cancer cell dissemination.