Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Onset-Duration Matching of Acoustic Stimuli Revisited: Conventional Arithmetic vs. Proposed Geometric Measures of Accuracy and Precision

Onsets of acoustic stimuli are salient transients and are relevant in humans for the perception of music and speech. Previous studies of onset-duration discrimination and matching focused on whether onsets are perceived categorically. In this study, we address two issues. First, we revisit onset-duration matching and measure, for 79 conditions, how accurately and precisely human listeners can adjust the onset duration of a comparison stimulus to subjectively match that of a standard stimulus. Second, we explore measures for quantifying performance in this and other matching tasks. The conventional measures of accuracy and precision are defined by arithmetic descriptive statistics and the Euclidean distance function on the real numbers. We propose novel measures based on geometric descriptive statistics and the log-ratio distance function, the Euclidean distance function on the positive-real numbers. Only these properly account for the fact that the magnitude of onset durations, like the magnitudes of most physical quantities, can attain only positive real values. The conventional (arithmetic) measures possess a convexity bias that yields errors that grow with the width of the distribution of matches. This convexity bias leads to misrepresentations of the constant error and could even imply the existence of perceptual illusions where none exist. This is not so for the proposed (geometric) measures. We collected up to 68 matches from a given listener for each condition (about 34,000 matches in total) and examined inter-listener variability and the effects of onset duration, plateau duration, sound level, carrier, and restriction of the range of adjustable comparison stimuli on measures of accuracy and precision. Results obtained with the conventional measures generally agree with those reported in the literature. The variance across listeners is highly heterogeneous for the conventional measures but is homogeneous for the proposed measures. Furthermore, the proposed measures show that listeners tend to under- rather than to overestimate the onset duration of the comparison stimuli. They further reveal effects of the stimulus carrier on accuracy and precision which are missed by the conventional measures. Our results have broad implications for psychophysical studies that use arithmetic measures to quantify performance when geometric measures should instead be used.
Chlorogenic Acid Profiles and Antioxidant Potentials of 17 Sweet Potato Varieties Cultivated in Korea: Impact of Extraction Condition and Classification by Hierarchical Clustering Analysis

A high resolution LC-ESI-QTOF-MS, LC-MS/MS, and HPLC-DAD analysis were conducted to isolate, identify and quantify the chlorogenic acids in 17 sweet potato varieties cultivated in Korea. The impacts of extracting solvent mixture system on the quantity and composition chlorogenic acids of the extracts were studied. It was found that extracting solvent mixture system greatly affected the quantity and quality of chlorogenic acids in the extracts of sweet potato. The optimum extracting solvent system was selected for extracting the chlorogenic acids from sweet potatoes. The profiles and quantities of chlorogenic acids in sweet potatoes were greatly different with variety, showing about 30-fold variation in quantity. Juhwangmi contained the highest quantity of chlorogenic acid (2393.65 μg/g dry weight), while Matnami contained the least quantity of chlorogenic acid (68.62 μg/g dry weight). High correlations (>0.97) were observed between chlorogenic acid contents and antioxidant potential data from DPPH, ABTS, FARP, and total phenolic assays. Sweet potatoes were statistically classified in 4 well defined groups in terms of their similarity in chlorogenic acid profile and quantity. This represents the first report on the profiles and quantity of chlorogenic acids as well as antioxidative potentials of several unreported sweet potato varieties.
Applied Optimal Control: Optimization, Estimation, and Control

This best-selling text focuses on the analysis and design of complicated dynamics systems. CHOICE called it "a high-level, concise book that could well be used as a reference by engineers, applied mathematicians, and undergraduates. The format is good, the presentation clear, the diagrams instructive, the examples and problems helpful.References and a multiple-choice examination are included. "
A frequency weighted approach to robust fault reconstruction

A new method for the design of robust fault reconstruction filters is introduced in this paper. The method is based on shaping the map from disturbance inputs to the fault estimation error through frequency weighting functions and formulating the problem as a robust observer design where the input-output error map is minimized by solving a set of matrix inequalities. A numerical example consisting of seven states, two input disturbances, four measured outputs and one fault is considered. Through this example, it is shown that the frequency shaping renders far superior performance than existing conventional methods when properly incorporated in the observer design problem.
AMSC 664 Final Report : Collaborative Image Triage with Humans and Computer Vision Addison Bohannon May

We introduce an image triage system which facilitates the collaboration of human analysts, augmented human analysts, and automated technology to efficiently and accurately classify a two-class database of images. The system iteratively allocates images for binary classification among heterogeneous agents according to the Generalized Assignment Problem (GAP) and combines the classification results using the Spectral Meta-Learner (SML). In simulation, we demonstrate that the proposed system achieves significant speed-up over a naive parallel assignment strategy without sacrificing accuracy.
Effects of cochlear drilling with Piezosurgery Medical device in rats 1

Drilling on the otic capsule for cochleostomy should be less traumatic to the cochlea with the Piezosurgery Medical device (PZ) than with a standard diamond drill (DD). “Soft” cochleostomy is used for preservation of residual hearing in cochlear implant patients. PZ drilling can be used for accurate cochleostomy placement with minimal soft‐tissue damage and may be superior for atraumatic drilling on the cochlea, as compared with a DD. This study compared inner ear effects after drilling the rat otic capsule with the PZ versus the DD.
Collagen membrane alleviates peritendinous adhesion in the rat Achilles tendon injury model.

BACKGROUND Tendon adhesion is one of the most common causes of disability following tendon surgery. Therefore, prevention of peritendinous adhesion after surgical repair of tendon is a major challenge. The aim of this study was to explore the possible application of a collagen membrane for the prevention or attenuation of peritendinous adhesions. METHODS Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat Achilles tendon was cut and sutured by a modified Kessler's technique with or without the collagen membrane wrapped. Macroscopic, morphological and biomechanical evaluations were applied to examine the recovery of the injured tendon at 4 and 8 weeks after surgery. RESULTS The surgery group wrapped by collagen membranes had a better outcome than the group with surgery repair only. In the collagen membrane-treated group, less adhesion appeared, stronger tensile strength was detected, and more tendon fibers and collagen I expression were observed morphologically. CONCLUSION Wrapping the tendon with a collagen membrane may be an efficient approach for tendon repair and preventing tendon adhesion after its ruptures.
Global ocean vertical velocity from a dynamically consistent ocean state estimate

Estimates of the global ocean vertical velocities (Eulerian, eddy-induced and residual) from a dynamically consistent and data-constrained ocean state estimate are presented and analyzed. Conventional patterns of vertical velocity, Ekman pumping, appear in the upper ocean, with topographic dominance at depth. Intense and vertically coherent upwelling and downwelling occur in the Southern Ocean, which are likely due to the interaction of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and large-scale topographic features and are generally canceled out in the conventional zonally averaged results. These “elevators” at high latitudes connect the upper to the deep and abyssal oceans and working together with isopycnal mixing are likely a mechanism, in addition to the formation of deep and abyssal waters, for fast responses of the deep and abyssal oceans to the changing climate. Also, Eulerian and parameterized eddy-induced components are of opposite signs in numerous regions around the global ocean, particularly in the ocean interior away from surface and bottom. Nevertheless, residual vertical velocity is primarily determined by the Eulerian component, and related to winds and large-scale topographic features. The current estimates of vertical velocities can serve as a useful reference for investigating the vertical exchange of ocean properties and tracers, and its complex spatial structure ultimately permits regional tests of basic oceanographic concepts such as Sverdrup balance and coastal upwelling/downwelling.
Detection of MUC 1-expressing Mammary Carcinoma Cells in the Peripheral Blood of Breast Cancer Patients by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction 1

We have prospectively analyzed blood samples of 122 patients with breast disease for the presence of circulating expressingMUC1 cells before and after treatment. Among them, 28 patients had histologically confirmed benign breast disease (group 1), 34 patients had operable breast cancer (group 2), and 60 patients had advanced breast cancer (group 3). Circulating epithelial cells were isolated with BerEP4-coated immunomagnetic beads. Total RNA was extracted and reverse transcribed before analysis by real-time PCR of a MUC1-specific cDNA sequence. The sensitivity of the reverse transcription-PCR tested with blood spiked with MCF7 cells was one cell in 5 ml of blood. The immunomagnetic separation step was mandatory to obtain the maximum specificity. Control samples from healthy donors never displayed cycle threshold (Ct) values for MUC1 lower than 38. Circulating cells (Ct, <38) were detected in 3 of 28 (11%) cases in group 1, in 8 of 34 (24%) cases in group 2, and in 27 of 60 cases (45%) in group 3. A semiquantitative estimate of blood-borne cells could be derived from the Ct value when below 32 (the lowest was 28) or by the number of positive aliquots of the same blood sample. Thus, immunomagnetic separation, followed by MUC1-specific RT-PCR, allows the semiquantitative detection of circulating mammary cells. A significant correlation between the presence of MUC1-positive cells and the group of breast tumors was observed. The clinical significance of blood-borne cells in breast cancer, especially at the operable stage, may be investigated by following these patients.
Which Language Declines More? Longitudinal versus Cross-sectional Decline of Picture Naming in Bilinguals with Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract In this study, we investigated dual-language decline in non-balanced bilinguals with probable Alzheimer’s disease (AD) both longitudinally and cross-sectionally. We examined patients’ naming accuracy on the Boston Naming Test (BNT: Kaplan et al., 1983) over three testing sessions (longitudinal analysis) and compared their performance to that of matched controls (cross-sectional analysis). We found different longitudinal and cross-sectional patterns of decline: Longitudinally, the non-dominant language seemed to decline more steeply than the dominant language, but, cross-sectionally, differences between patients and controls were larger for the dominant than for the non-dominant language, especially at the initial testing session. This differential pattern of results for cross-sectional versus longitudinal decline was supported by correlations between decline measures and BNT item characteristics. Further studies will be needed to better characterize the nature of linguistic decline in bilinguals with AD; however, these results suggest that representational robustness of individual lexical representations, rather than language membership, might determine the time course of decline for naming in bilinguals with AD. (JINS, 2014, 20, 1–13)
Coordination between formal providers and informal caregivers.

BACKGROUND The increased "outsourcing" of care-related tasks to patients and their informal caregivers is part of a broader trend in service industries toward engaging customers as "coproducers" of service outcomes. As both quasi-patients and quasi-providers, caregivers may play a critical role in successful coproduction, but they require coordination with care providers to play this role effectively. When tasks are highly interdependent, uncertain, and time constrained, as they often are in health care, relational forms of coordination are expected to be most effective. PURPOSES This study explores the effects of coordination between formal providers and informal caregivers on caregiver preparation to provide care at home and the effect of caregiver preparation on patient outcomes. Gittell's theory of relational coordination posits that effective coordination occurs through frequent, high-quality communication that is supported by relationships of shared goals, shared knowledge, and mutual respect. We extend the relational coordination model, previously used to examine coordination between formal providers, to encompass coordination of care between formal providers and informal caregivers. METHODOLOGY We surveyed patients before and 12 weeks after knee replacement surgery to assess outcomes. At 6 weeks postsurgery, we surveyed their caregivers regarding coordination with providers and preparation to provide care. FINDINGS We found that relational coordination between formal providers and caregivers improves caregiver preparation to provide care, which, in turn, is positively associated with patients' freedom from pain, functional status, and mental health. IMPLICATIONS Providers should be encouraged to attend to the interpersonal aspects of their interactions with caregivers to promote relational coordination, which may ultimately benefit the patient's health. It is not enough, however, to urge providers to build shared goals, shared knowledge, and mutual respect with patients and caregivers. Dedicated resources and support are needed, given the context of constrained resources and brief encounters in which providers deliver care.
Advanced High Vacuum Techniques for ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Esters Concentration

PETRICA IANCU1, NICOLETA-GABRIELA STEFAN1, VALENTIN PLESU1*, AURELIAN TOMA1, EMIL STEPAN2 1 Centre for Technology Transfer for the Process Industries, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 1, Gh. Polizu Str. , 011061 Bucharest, Roamnia 2 The National Institute for Research & Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry ICECHIM, 202 Spl. Independentei, 060021, Bucharest, Romania
Topologies for three element resonant converters

A procedure for an orderly examination of multielement resonant topologies has been demonstrated. With this procedure a large number of new three-element topologies have been exposed. Many of the new topologies have interesting and potentially useful properties. Because of the improved filter roll-off characteristic is is often possible to operate three-element topologies with a Q different from that of two-element circuits. This can actually allow a reduction in component currents. A large variety of three-element circuits has been built, and, in practice, efficiency has not proven to be a serious issue. <<ETX>>
Herpes vector–mediated expression of proenkephalin reduces bone cancer pain

We examined whether a herpes simplex virus vector that expresses human proenkephalin could be used to attenuate nociception in a model of bone cancer pain in mice. Osteolytic sarcoma cells were implanted into the medullary space of the right femur, followed by a subcutaneous inoculation of a replication‐defective herpes simplex virus vector expressing human proenkephalin (vector SHPE) or a lacZ‐expressing control vector (vector SHZ). SHPE‐inoculated mice demonstrated a significant, naltrexone‐reversible decrease in pain‐related behavior assessed during open‐field motor activity. These results suggest that gene transfer with an enkephalin‐expressing vector may be used to treat pain resulting from cancer in bone.
A Nurse-Coaching Intervention for Women With Type 2 Diabetes

PURPOSE The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the efficacy of a 6-month nurse-coaching intervention that was provided after diabetes education for women with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this pilot study, 53 women were randomized to the nurse-coaching intervention or a standard care control condition. The nurse-coaching intervention consisted of 5 individualized sessions and 2 follow-up phone calls over 6 months. The nurse-coaching sessions included educational, behavioral, and affective strategies. Data were collected on physiologic adaptation (hemoglobin A1c [A1C] and body mass index [BMI]), self-management (dietary and exercise), psychosocial adaptation (diabetes-related distress and integration), and treatment satisfaction at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. RESULTS Women in the treatment group demonstrated better diet self-management, less diabetes-related distress, better integration, and more satisfaction with care, and had trends of better exercise self-management and BMI. The A1C levels improved in both groups at 3 months, yet the difference between the groups was not significant. Attendance at nurse-coaching sessions was 96%. CONCLUSIONS This nurse-coaching intervention demonstrates promise as a means of improving self-management and psychosocial outcomes in women with type 2 diabetes.
RELAÇÕES TEÓRICAS E CONCEITUAIS EM TOMADA DE DECISÃO ESTRATÉGICA

O objetivo deste artigo foi compreender as relacoes teoricas e conceituais entre os estudos sobre tomada de decisao estrategica. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida com dados de 2590 artigos publicados na Web of Science , sendo analisados por meio de tecnicas quantitativas. Foram identificadas quatro diferentes dimensoes teoricas que envolvem as pesquisas neste campo. A primeira relacionada com as caracteristicas perceptiveis e nao perceptiveis dos gestores; a segunda ligada com os processos, modelos e estrutura; a terceira baseada nas teorias empregadas; e a quarta formada pela Teoria do Alto Escalao, resultados que contribuem para a melhor compreensao deste campo de investigacao.
An integrated genomic-transcriptomic approach supports a role for the proto-oncogene BCL3 in atherosclerosis

Summary association studies of coronary artery disease (CAD), could include functionally relevant associations. We propose an integrated genomic and transcriptomic approach for unravelling new potential genetic signatures of atherosclerosis. Fifteen among 91 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were first selected for association in a sex- and age-adjusted model by examining 510 patients with CAD and myocardial infarction and 388 subjects with normal coronary arteries (CAD-free) in the replication stages of a genome-wide association study. We investigated the expression of 71 genes proximal to the 15 tag-SNPs by two subsequent steps of microarray-based Mrna profiling, the former in vascular smooth muscle cell populations, isolated from non-atherosclerotic and atherosclerotic human carotid portions, and the latter in whole carotid specimens. BCL3 and PVRL2, contiguously located on chromosome 19, and ABCA1, extensively investigated before, were found to be differentially expressed. BCL3 and PVRL2 SNPs were genotyped within a second population of CAD patients (n=442) and compared with CAD-free subjects (n=393). The carriership of the BCL3 rs2965169 G allele was more represented among CAD patients and remained independently associated with CAD after adjustment for all the traditional cardiovascular risk factors (odds ratio=1.70 with 95% confidence interval 1.07–2.71), while the BCL3 rs8100239 A allele correlated with metabolic abnormalities. The upregulation of BCL3 mRNA levels in atherosclerotic tissue samples was consistent with BCL3 protein expression, which was detected by immunostaining in the intima-media of atherosclerotic specimens, but not within non-atherosclerotic ones. Our integrated approach suggests a role for BCL3 in cardiovascular diseases.
Three-Dimensional Shape Capture Sheet Using Distributed Triaxial Accelerometers

In this paper, we propose a novel sensing device named "3-dimensional capture sheet (3DCS)". The cloth-like sheet measures its own 3D configuration. It consists of a lattice structure inside of the sheet, and each link of the structure has a triaxial accelerometer. The roll and pitch angles of the link are calculated from the gravity vector measured with the accelerometer. Furthermore, the relative yaw angle is also determined by using constraints originating from the lattice structure. The whole shape of the sheet is reconstructed by combining the obtained postures of all the links.
Performance Analysis for a Multistage Radio Resource Allocation Scheme in MIMO-OFDMA Multihop System with Fairness Consideration

In this paper, we investigate a radio resource allocation scheme for orthogonal frequency-division multiple- access (OFDMA)-based multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) multihop networks. The half-duplex orthogonal relay channel construction method and related multihop transmission mechanism are designed to avoid the inter-hop interference. We propose a multistage resource allocation scheme for throughput maximization. And, the fairness consideration on sharing subcarriers among relay nodes is also discussed. Simulation results show that the spatial diversity gain offered by relay antenna array can effectively balance the tradeoff between the fairness performance and the system throughput. Results also show the proposed scheme is efficient with channel impairment when relay nodes are subject to severe shadowing effects.
Bimodal Human Emotion Classification in the Speaker-Dependent Scenario

This paper investigates the recognition of expressed emotion from speech and facial expressions for the speaker-dependent task. The experiments were performed to develop a baseline system for the audio-visual emotion classification, and to investigate different ways of combining the audio and visual information to achieve better emotion classification. The extracted features were composed of 106 audio and 240 visual features. The audio features consisted of pitch, energy, duration and MFCC features, whereas the visual features were related to positions of the 2D marker coordinates. The Plus l-Take Away r algorithm was used for feature selection based on the Mahalanobis distance, Bhattacharyya distance, and KL-divergence as selection criteria. The feature selection was followed by feature reduction using the PCA and LDA, and classification using the Gaussian classifier. Both unimodal and bimodal approaches were used for emotion classification. The audio-visual fusion was investigated at two different levels: featurelevel and decision-level. The emotion classification results comparable to human performance were achieved on the SAVEE database.