Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extending Situated Language Comprehension (Accounts) with Speaker and Comprehender Characteristics: Toward Socially Situated Interpretation

More and more findings suggest a tight temporal coupling between (non-linguistic) socially interpreted context and language processing. Still, real-time language processing accounts remain largely elusive with respect to the influence of biological (e.g., age) and experiential (e.g., world and moral knowledge) comprehender characteristics and the influence of the ‘socially interpreted’ context, as for instance provided by the speaker. This context could include actions, facial expressions, a speaker’s voice or gaze, and gestures among others. We review findings from social psychology, sociolinguistics and psycholinguistics to highlight the relevance of (the interplay between) the socially interpreted context and comprehender characteristics for language processing. The review informs the extension of an extant real-time processing account (already featuring a coordinated interplay between language comprehension and the non-linguistic visual context) with a variable (‘ProCom’) that captures characteristics of the language user and with a first approximation of the comprehender’s speaker representation. Extending the CIA to the sCIA (social Coordinated Interplay Account) is the first step toward a real-time language comprehension account which might eventually accommodate the socially situated communicative interplay between comprehenders and speakers.
The refolding of cis- and trans-peptidylprolyl isomers of barstar.

Barstar, a small globular protein which undergoes reversible unfolding, is a good candidate for studies on protein folding. It possesses two cysteine residues that complicate folding studies by forming a variable mixture of disulfide-bridged forms. We have constructed and analyzed, therefore, a double mutant Cys40-->Ala,Cys82-->Ala. Equilibrium unfolding with urea follows a simple two-step mechanism. The midpoint for unfolding ([U]1/2) is 3.87 +/- 0.03 M urea, with m(delta delta G/delta [urea]) = 1.25 +/- 0.04 kcal/mol2. The free energy of unfolding, delta GU-FH2O, is 4.84 +/- 0.18 kcal/mol. Identical results were found on monitoring the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence or the circular dichroism signal at 221 nm, showing that the transition is due to the global denaturation of the protein. Barstar contains two proline residues, one of which (Pro48) has a cis N-aminoacyl bond conformation in the folded state. A transiently generated form of the unfolded protein, which contains the proline residues in their native conformations, has a rate constant for refolding (31 s-1) similar to that for refolding of the equilibrium-unfolded protein, which results in a "misfolded" form of the protein (32 s-1). The two refolded states are different: the free energies of unfolding measured from kinetic constants for the native and misfolded variants are 5.4 +/- 0.3 and 2.85 +/- 0.1 kcal/mol, respectively. The rate constant for the unfolding in water of the misfolded protein is 0.87 s-1, compared with 0.068 s-1 for the unfolding of the native protein. This difference can be explained by a nonnative trans peptidyl-proline bond at position 48 in the misfolded protein. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Clinical Evaluation of the FilmArray Blood Culture Identification Panel in Identification of Bacteria and Yeasts from Positive Blood Culture Bottles

ABSTRACT The FilmArray platform (FA; BioFire, Salt Lake City, UT) is a closed diagnostic system allowing high-order multiplex PCR analysis with automated readout of results directly from positive blood cultures in 1 h. In the present study, we evaluated the clinical performance of the FilmArray blood culture identification (BCID) panel, which includes 19 bacteria, five yeasts, and three antibiotic resistance genes. In total, 206 blood culture bottles were included in the study. The FilmArray could identify microorganisms in 153/167 (91.6%) samples with monomicrobial growth. Thirteen of the 167 (7.8%) microorganisms were not covered by the FilmArray BCID panel. In 6/167 (3.6%) samples, the FilmArray detected an additional microorganism compared to blood culture. When polymicrobial growth was analyzed, the FilmArray could detect all target microorganisms in 17/24 (71%) samples. Twelve blood culture bottles that yielded a positive signal but showed no growth were also negative by FilmArray. In 3/206 (1.5%) bottles, the FilmArray results were invalid. The results of the FilmArray were reproducible, as demonstrated by the testing and retesting of five bottles in the same day and a longitudinal follow-up of five other blood cultures up to 4 weeks. The present study shows that the FilmArray is a rapid identification method with high performance in direct identification of bacteria and yeasts from positive blood culture bottles.
Associations Between the Phosphatidylethanol Alcohol Biomarker and Self-Reported Alcohol Use in a Sample of HIV-Infected Outpatient Drinkers in Western Kenya.

BACKGROUND To counteract the syndemics of HIV and alcohol in Sub-Saharan Africa, international collaborations have developed interventions to reduce alcohol consumption. Reliable and accurate methods are needed to estimate alcohol use outcomes. A direct alcohol biomarker called phosphatidylethanol (PEth) has been shown to validate heavy, daily drinking, but the literature indicates mixed results for moderate and nondaily drinkers, including among HIV-infected populations. This study examined the associations of the PEth biomarker with self-report alcohol use at 2 time points in 127 HIV-infected outpatient drinkers in western Kenya. METHODS Participants were consecutively enrolled in a randomized clinical trial to test the efficacy of a behavioral intervention to reduce alcohol use in Eldoret, Kenya. They endorsed current alcohol use, and a minimum score of 3 on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption or consuming ≥6 drinks per occasion at least monthly in the past year. Study interviews and blood draws were conducted at baseline and at 3 months post treatment from July 2012 through September 2013. Alcohol use was assessed using the Timeline Followback questionnaire. Blood samples were analyzed for the presence of the PEth biomarker and were compared to self-reported alcohol use. We also conducted semistructured interviews with 14 study completers in February through March 2014. RESULTS Baseline data indicated an average of moderate-heavy alcohol use: 50% drinking days and a median of 4.5 drinks per drinking day. At baseline, 46% of women (31 of 67) and 8% of men (5 of 60) tested negative for PEth (p < 0.001). At the 3-month follow-up, 93% of women (25 of 27) and 97% of men (30 of 31) who reported drinking tested positive, while 70% of women (28 of 40) and 35% of men (10 of 29) who denied drinking tested negative for PEth. Interviews were consistent with self-reported alcohol use among 13 individuals with negative baseline results. CONCLUSIONS These results add to the growing literature showing lack of agreement between self-report and PEth results among unhealthy and nondaily drinkers, particularly women. More research is needed to determine at what level of consumption over what period of time PEth becomes a reliable and accurate indicator of alcohol use.
$In Situ$  Measurement of Charging Process in Electret-Based Comb-Drive Actuator and High-Voltage Charging

We report in situ measurements of the charging process for an electret-based comb-drive actuator and an experiment on high-voltage charging. The ac current flowing between the comb-drive electrodes, which is proportional to the displacement, is monitored during the application of a dc bias voltage at an elevated temperature. As the charge voltage increases, it opposes the applied voltage, causing the current to decrease and become a minimum, which indicates the completion of the charging process. The proposed electret-based method allows voltage-controlled charging in silicon microelectromechanical systems (MEMSs) devices, which offers advantages for commercial MEMS device fabrication. This paper also discusses the importance of high-voltage charging for improving the efficiency of the actuator as an electrostatic vibration-energy harvesting device. A charging mechanism is proposed to explain the experimental results, and the stability of the movable comb-drive electrode against the pull-in effect is discussed. Using the proposed method, a large force factor is obtained, and charging to a voltage of up to 380 V is demonstrated.
Análisis científico de la velocidad de anticipación, el test m.i.v.a""

El objetivo de esta Tesis es resolver el problema de la escasa fiabilidad de las medidas de la velocidad de anticipacion. El antecedente inmediato del trabajo realizado es el test K.C. C. Del Dr. Gonzalez Calleja, que mide la velocidad de anticipacion utilizando una trayectoria horizontal de izquierda a derecha. Nuestra investigacion demostro que esta medida es incompleta por faltarle trayectorias y por no tener suficiente numero de items que "estabilicen" la medida. La propuesta que hacemos del nuevo test M.I. V.A es una generalizacion del test K.C. C. Que incluye dieciseis trayectorias: dos horizontales, dos verticales, cuatro oblicuas y ocho curvas. En una muestra de 269 sujetos, se han investigado las siguientes variables: 1) Velocidad de anticipacion medida con el test K.C. C. 2) Velocidad de anticipacion medida con el test M.I. V.A. 3) Adelanto-retraso y 4) Orden de presentacion de los dieciseis subtests del M.I. V.A. Los resultados mas relevantes son: A) El test M.I. V.A mide la velocidad de anticipacion, integrando en sus medidas todos los aspectos conocidos sobre dicho constructo. B) La fiabilidad del test M.I. V.A. (0,95) es la mas alta que se ha conseguido para medir velocidad de anticipacion. C) Podemos senalar los siguientes factores en la velocidad de anticipacion: lineal, curvo, novedad-monotonia y velocidad.
Query-limited Black-box Attacks to Classifiers

We study black-box attacks on machine learning classifiers where each query to the model incurs some cost or risk of detection to the adversary. We focus explicitly on minimizing the number of queries as a major objective. Specifically, we consider the problem of attacking machine learning classifiers subject to a budget of feature modification cost while minimizing the number of queries, where each query returns only a class and confidence score. We describe an approach that uses Bayesian optimization to minimize the number of queries, and find that the number of queries can be reduced to approximately one tenth of the number needed through a random strategy for scenarios where the feature modification cost budget is low.
From Clinical Symptoms to MR Imaging: Diagnostic Steps in Adenomyosis

Adenomyosis or endometriosis genitalis interna is a frequent benign disease of women in fertile age. It causes symptoms like bleeding disorders and dysmenorrhea and seems to have a negative effect on fertility. Adenomyosis can be part of a complex genital and extragenital endometriosis but also can be found as a solitary uterine disease. While peritoneal endometriosis can be easily diagnosed by laparoscopy with subsequent biopsy, the determination of adenomyosis is difficult. In the following literature review, the diagnostic methods clinical history and symptoms, gynecological examination, 2D and 3D transvaginal ultrasound, MRI, hysteroscopy, and laparoscopy will be discussed step by step in order to evaluate their predictive value in the diagnosis of adenomyosis.
Analytical Expressions for DG Allocation in Primary Distribution Networks

This paper proposes analytical expressions for finding optimal size and power factor of four types of distributed generation (DG) units. DG units are sized to achieve the highest loss reduction in distribution networks. The proposed analytical expressions are based on an improvement to the method that was limited to DG type, which is capable of delivering real power only. Three other types, e.g., DG capable of delivering both real and reactive power, DG capable of delivering real power and absorbing reactive power, and DG capable of delivering reactive power only, can also be identified with their optimal size and location using the proposed method. The method has been tested in three test distribution systems with varying size and complexity and validated using exhaustive method. Results show that the proposed method requires less computation, but can lead optimal solution as verified by the exhaustive load flow method.
Name Length as a Factor in Mate Selection: Age Controlled

A recent article ~ o i n t e d out that length of surname apparently has negligible importance as a factor in mate selection (Cabe, 1 9 6 7 ) , although length has been found to be a factor in dissatisfaction with a surname, particularly among women (Arthaud, Hohneck, Ramsey, & Pratt, 1948; Broom, Beem, & Harris, 1955) . Since women take rheir husbands' surname at marriage, Cabe (1967) tested the hypothesis that there would be more engaged couples in which the male partner's name was shorter than that of the female partner, but found no significant difference. However, since it may be seen that nearly all individuals eventually marry, if name length is a factor in mate selection it probably operates only at lower ages, there being a relatively small pool of eligible individuals to choose from at higher ages. The hypothesis set forth by Cabe ( 1 9 6 7 ) , then, was retested with age-grouped couples. A sample of 271 pairs of names was collected from lists of marriage license applicants published in a daily newspaper. The entire sample was broken down into approximate quactile groupings by age: Q,, 15-18 yr. ( n = 57) ; Q? , 19-20 yr. (n = 8 3 ) ; Q:,, 21-25 yr. ( n = 6 8 ) ; and Q,, over 25 yr. ( , a = 6 3 ) . For each grouping, the lengths of the male and female names in each pair were compared, with pairs of names of equal length dropped from the sample. For statistical analysis, sample sizes used were: Q1, 48 ( 2 8 in which the male name was shorter); Q-, 6 4 ( 2 4 shorter); Q 3 , 58 ( 3 6 shorter); and Q,, 40 (22 shorter). Sign tests calculated for each grouping gave the following one-tail probability values: Q,, p = . I 6 (n.s.); Q? , p = . 03 (significant but opposite to the predicted direction); Q3, p = . 04 (significant at the .05 level); and Q,, p = . 27 ( a s . ) . A second sample of 235 pairs of names was drawn and analyzed in the same manner as the first in an attempt to replicate the significant differences found for the 19-20and 21-25-yr. -age groupings. When this second sample was classified in the same age ranges as used with the first sample, the following one-tail probabilities were observed: QI, p . 42 ( n = 39; 16 with male name shorter, 1 1 longer, 12 even); Q? , p = . O8 ( n = 73; 36 shorter, 24 longer, 1 3 even); Q3, p = . 08 ( n = 77; 36 shorter, 24 longer, 17 even); and Q,, @ = . 16 ( n = 46; 21 shorter, 14 longer, 11 even). All the differences were in the direction predicted originally (more shorter male names) but none was significant. Apparently, then, the results reported by Cabe (1967) may be considered valid: there is no name-length effect in mate selection, even wirh age controlled. The significant results found were probably the result of chance since the differences did not hold u p on replication with a second sample.
When 3D-Aided 2D Face Recognition Meets Deep Learning: An extended UR2D for Pose-Invariant Face Recognition

Most of the face recognition works focus on specific modules or demonstrate a research idea. This paper presents a pose-invariant 3D-aided 2D face recognition system (UR2D) that is robust to pose variations as large as 90? by leveraging deep learning technology. The architecture and the interface of UR2D are described, and each module is introduced in detail. Extensive experiments are conducted on the UHDB31 and IJB-A, demonstrating that UR2D outperforms existing 2D face recognition systems such as VGG-Face, FaceNet, and a commercial off-the-shelf software (COTS) by at least 9% on the UHDB31 dataset and 3% on the IJB-A dataset on average in face identification tasks. UR2D also achieves state-of-the-art performance of 85% on the IJB-A dataset by comparing the Rank-1 accuracy score from template matching. It fills a gap by providing a 3D-aided 2D face recognition system that has compatible results with 2D face recognition systems using deep learning techniques.
Val66Met polymorphism and serum brain‐derived neurotrophic factor in bipolar disorder: an open‐label trial

Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is consistently associated with acute mood episodes in bipolar disorder, but there is a lack of longitudinal data to support this hypothesis. In this 16‐week open‐label clinical trial, we tested the predictive role of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on serum BDNF levels and the relationship of serum BDNF and clinical response in people with bipolar disorder during an acute illness episode.
Neuronal activity regulates phosphorylation-dependent surface delivery of G protein-activated inwardly rectifying potassium channels

G protein-activated inwardly rectifying K+ (GIRK) channels regulate neuronal excitability by mediating inhibitory effects of G protein-coupled receptors for neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. Notwithstanding many studies reporting modulation of GIRK channel function, whether neuronal activity regulates GIRK channel trafficking remains an open question. Here we report that NMDA receptor activation in cultured dissociated hippocampal neurons elevates surface expression of the GIRK channel subunits GIRK1 and GIRK2 in the soma, dendrites, and dendritic spines within 15 min. This activity-induced increase in GIRK surface expression requires protein phosphatase-1-mediated dephosphorylation of a serine residue (Ser-9) preceding the GIRK2 Val-13/Leu-14 (VL) internalization motif, thereby promoting channel recycling. Because activation of GIRK channels hyperpolarizes neuronal membranes, the NMDA receptor-induced regulation of GIRK channel trafficking may represent a dynamic adjustment of neuronal excitability in response to inhibitory neurotransmitters and/or neuromodulators.
Solid Surface Chemical and Physical Effects on the Adsorption of Recombinant Factor VIII

The adsorption of a recombinant Factor VIII to silica surfaces coated to present different hydrophilic/hydrophobic, electrostatic and steric characteristics was monitored in situ, with ellipsometry. rFVIII adsorption affinity was high for hydrophobic surfaces and hydrophilic, charged surfaces. A lower affinity was recorded between rFVIII and a neutral hydrophilic surface, with substantial reduction in rFVIII adsorption to electronically neutral surfaces presenting pendant poly[ethylene oxide] chains. We conclude that steric repulsion is a requirement for minimizing rFVIII adsorption at solid surfaces.
Design and evaluation of shifted-companion-form active filters

Two techniques for designing a class of low-sensitivity, follow-the-leader, feedback-type active filters have been introduced by Hurtig and Laker-Ghausi. The FLF configuration consists of a cascade of second-and/or first-order sections, with feedback from each section back to the first. This paper presents an approach for designing FLF-type realization for all classes of filter functions. The technique is based on a shifted-companion form of the associated-state equations. Some salient features of Hurtig's primary resonator block, Laker-Ghausi's follow-the-leader feedback, and the shifted-companion-form techniques are presented below. (i) Hurtig's PRB realizes any all-pole (no finite transmission zeros) filter function. This includes the low-pass, high-pass, and symmetrical bandpass filters without finite zeros. Explicit design equations are available, and the individual sections in the array are identical. (ii) Laker-Ghausi's FLF realizes any symmetrical (including finite transmission zeros) bandpass filter function. The sections are not constrained to be identical, which allows optimization using this degree of freedom. Finite zeros are realized by a summation technique. (iii) The SCF realizes all types of filter functions, i.e., low-pass, high-pass, bandpass, all-pass, or band-reject filters. Explicit design equations are available. The first section can differ from the rest, thus allowing some optimization with standardization. Feed-forward as well as summation techniques can be used to realise the finite zeros. Two bandpass design examples using SCF, PRB, and/or Laker-Ghausi FLF techniques are given and compared with the low-sensitivity coupled (leapfrog) biquad, the conventional cascade biquad, and the passive ladder filter designs. The comparison shows that the passive filter gives
An Ant Colony Algorithm for Both Robust and Global Optimizations of Inverse Problems

To address the computational inefficiencies of available robust oriented optimizers, a fast optimal algorithm based on ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm for both robust and global optimizations of inverse problems is proposed. In the proposed algorithm, the structures of the algorithm are redesigned, and methodologies for efficient computations of the robust performance parameters are proposed. Numerical results are reported to positively showcase the merits of the proposed algorithm.
Mechanisms affecting the evolution of evolvability

This paper describes a series of simulation experiments based on a model by John W. Pepper [1] on two mechanisms, mutation rate and culling, and their effect on evolvability. The findings suggest that while culling may positively affect the performance of the population, increased culling negatively affects the evolution of the evolvability of the lineage. Similarly, decreasing the mutation rate positively affects performance of the population whereas it negatively affects aspects of evolvability. It suggests that mechanisms affecting evolvability are similar to mechanisms affecting evolution in complex spaces.
GO4SOA: Goal-Oriented Modeling for SOA

The service-oriented architecture (SOA) has become a standard in business integration. In software engineering, several authors propose requirements elicitation from business goals. However, SOA application modeling does not address these goals, causing a gap that can hinder the application design. The work outlined in this paper proposes an approach to modeling SOA applications based on business goals. The goals are incorporated as semantic information to the application’s architecture and are preserved until its implementation. Thus, the components that perform a particular business goal can be identified from its architecture model, through detailed design, and implementation. Case study “Purchase Order” was selected to verify the proposed approach. The major contribution of this research is the application of business knowledge to improve the service’s descriptions in the application design. The case study indicated that business goals are preserved on models and implementation, making it easy to verify, through tracing its features, if the organization’s goals were addressed as completely as possible.
Design of a Flexible Multifingered Robotics Hand with 12 D. O. F and Its Control Applications

The focus of this paper is to design a flexible three fingered hand system with 12 D.O. F for dynamic manipulation with an intelligent controller, and to build a useful database for dynamic manipulation based on the experimental results. The weight of the hand module is only 0.6 kg, but flexible motion and powerful grasping are possible. To achieve such a dynamic motion in a robotic hand, we have developed a flexible fingered hand with a control system incorporating image recognition system in which we deal with the problems of not only accuracy and range of motion but also the flexibility of hand