Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Methodological Issues in the Neuropsychological Effects of Cannabis

Despite it's long history of human use, cannabis use remains in controversy for both recreational and therapeutic uses. _ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol is the principal psychoactive chemical, which activates cannabinoid receptors and mimics endogenous cannabinoid neurotransmitters. The subjective and physiological effects of cannabis are well characterized. Cognitive effects are most pronounced in the areas of attention and memory, which can be characterized as mild in magnitude but dose-dependent. Like all mood-altering drugs, cannabis carries some risk for dependence. Evidence for neurotoxicity is limited except perhaps for heavy chronic use. Multiple potential therapeutic uses exist for cannabinoids, including treatment of pain, nausea, appetite loss, glaucoma, agitation, and movement disorders. Several methodological issues prominently affect the outcome of cannabis studies. These include experimental variables (e.g. drug variables, task variables, and research design) and subject variables (e.g. prior experience, other drug use, and expectations). Methodological recommendations are made to reconcile inconsistent findings and aid rational decision-making.
A Comparison of Superficial and Deep Bacterial Presence in Open Fractures of the Lower Extremities

This open prospective study compared the bacterial flora of superficial and deep-wound biopsies and swabs over a 2-year period in 4 different samples cultured from open fracture wounds at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Samples were taken from 47 patients with factures graded according to Gustilo and Anderson’s classification as grade 1 (2.1%), grade II (29.8%), grade IIIA (36.2%), and grade IIIB (31%). A total of 248 samples were cultured using standard techniques. The incidence of open fracture wounds was 78.7% in male patients and 21.3% in female patients. Tibia fractures constituted 66.1%. A total of 203 bacterial isolates were cultured from 248 samples. Gram-negative bacteria constituted 53.2% of isolates, with Escherichia coli being predominant (12.8%). Staphylococcus aureus were the predominant Gram-positive cocci (15.3%), and Staphylococcus epidermidis (13.3%) may be considered to be the major source of open fracture wound contamination. The bacterial species cultured from superficial and deep-wound swabs and biopsies were similar. Resistance to antimicrobials was high for penicillins (amoxicillin and cloxacillin), with values of 68.6% and 58.3%, respectively, for superficial bacterial species and 58.2% and 31.9%, respectively, for deep-wound biopsies.
Measuring Visual Discomfort

A two-parameter Rasch Rating Scale model was developed to measure visual discomfort. Initially it was found that participants reporting frequent severe headache, reading difficulties of a visual nature, and short effective reading times experienced more severe visual discomfort. The validity of this measurement instrument was tested in four experiments. In Experiments 1 and 2 reports of unpleasant somatic and perceptual side-effects or ratings of unpleasantness were obtained for low, moderate, and high scorers on the Visual Discomfort Scale. It was found that those with higher scores reported a greater number of unpleasant side-effects and rated square-wave patterns across the spatial frequency range, and a letter pattern as more unpleasant and distorted to view than those with low scores on the scale. In Experiments 3 and 4 these subjective findings were extended to performance. Efficiency was measured using a copying and reading task. It was found that those obtaining high scores on the Visual Discomfor.
Efficient distributed query processing for autonomous RDF databases

The inherent flexibility of the RDF data model has led to its notable adoption in many domains, especially in the area of life-sciences. Some of these domains have an emerging need to access data integrated from various distributed sources of information. It is not always possible to implement this by simply loading all data into one central RDF store. For example, in the context of inter-institutional collaboration for drug development and clinical research participants often want to maintain control over their local databases. Alternatively, distributed query processing techniques can be utilized to evaluate queries by accessing the remote data sources only on demand and in conformance with local authorization models. In this paper we present an efficient approach to distributed query processing for large autonomous RDF databases. The groundwork is laid by a comprehensive RDF-specific schema- and instance-level synopsis. We present an optimizer that is able to utilize this synopsis to generate compact execution plans by precisely determining, at compile-time, those sources that are relevant to a query. Furthermore we present a tightly integrated query engine that is able to further reduce the volume of intermediate results at run-time. An extensive evaluation shows that our approach improves query execution times by up to two and transferred data volumes by up to three orders of magnitude compared to a naïve implementation.
THE ROLE OF POLICE BEHAVIOR IN PREDICTING CITIZENS' ATTITIDES TOWARD THE POLICE

The purpose of this research article is to determine the extent to which police behavior affects citizens’ attitudes toward the police. additionally, this study attempts to determine whether or not citizen interaction with the police and citizens’ demographic characteristics have a significant effect on attitudes toward the police – after introducing police behavior into the model. The findings of this research study are based on the analyses of the data collected through a self-administered survey questionnaire distributed to 304 undergraduate students as part of a larger study on crime-reporting behavior. The ordinary least square regression analyses suggest that police behavior is the strongest determinant of citizens’ attitudes toward the police, followed by citizens’ demographic characteristics. how are the police doing? Generally, little is known about the spectrum of factors
Clustering of capnogram features to track state transitions during procedural sedation

Procedural sedation has allowed many painful interventions to be conducted outside the operating room. During such procedures, it is important to maintain an appropriate level of sedation to minimize the risk of respiratory depression if patients are over-sedated and added pain or anxiety if under-sedated. However, there is currently no objective way to measure the patient's evolving level of sedation during a procedure. We investigated the use of capnography-derived features as an objective measure of sedation level. Time-based capnograms were recorded from 30 patients during sedation for cardioversion. Through causal k-means clustering of selected features, we sequentially assigned each exhalation to one of three distinct clusters, or states. Transitions between these states correlated to events during sedation (drug administration, procedure start and end, and clinical interventions). Similar clustering of capnogram recordings from 26 healthy, non-sedated subjects did not reveal distinctly separated states.
Multiscale Edge Detection and Fiber Enhancement Using Differences of Oriented Means

We present an algorithm for edge detection suitable for both natural as well as noisy images. Our method is based on efficient multiscale utilization of elongated filters measuring the difference of oriented means of various lengths and orientations, along with a theoretical estimation of the effect of noise on the response of such filters. We use a scale adaptive threshold along with a recursive decision process to reveal the significant edges of all lengths and orientations and to localize them accurately even in low-contrast and very noisy images. We further use this algorithm for fiber detection and enhancement by utilizing stochastic completion-like process from both sides of a fiber. Our algorithm relies on an efficient multiscale algorithm for computing all "significantly different" oriented means in an image in O(N log rho), where N is the number of pixels, and p is the length of the longest structure of interest. Experimental results on both natural and noisy images are presented.
Faculty Mentors in Teacher Induction: Developing a Cross-institutional Identity

ABSTRACT Though the knowledge base on mentoring new teachers has grown exponentially in the past 30 years, researchers know less about university involvement in induction, and even less about the role that faculty mentors may play in induction. Drawing on interview, e-mail, and observational data from a yearlong mentoring relationship between a faculty mentor and 7 new teachers, the author examined a faculty mentor's role in supporting beginning teachers. Findings highlight the importance of identity development in assuming a cross-institutional role as a faculty mentor. The transition from teacher educator to teacher mentor requires the development of a mentor identity that is recognized and valued in the community of practice inhabited by classroom teachers.
Papillomavirus Infectious Pathways: A Comparison of Systems

The HPV viral lifecycle is tightly linked to the host cell differentiation, causing difficulty in growing virions in culture. A system that bypasses the need for differentiating epithelium has allowed for generation of recombinant particles, such as virus-like particles (VLPs), pseudovirions (PsV), and quasivirions (QV). Much of the research looking at the HPV life cycle, infectivity, and structure has been generated utilizing recombinant particles. While recombinant particles have proven to be invaluable, allowing for a rapid progression of the HPV field, there are some significant differences between recombinant particles and native virions and very few comparative studies using native virions to confirm results are done. This review serves to address the conflicting data in the HPV field regarding native virions and recombinant particles.
FPGA-realization of a novel sliding mode observer for a sensorless PMSM drive

Based on the FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), this paper presents an implementation of a sensorless PMSM speed control system which the rotor speed and rotor position are estimated by novel SMO method. The estimated rotor position can be sent back to the current loop for vector control and the estimated rotor speed can be fed back to the speed loop for closed-loop speed control. In realization, the digital hardware IP (Intellectual Property) regarding as the speed controller, the current vector controller and novel SMO algorithm are described by VHDL. Finally, to confirm the correctness and effectiveness of the proposed sensorless speed control IP (Intellectual Property), a design procedure from ModelSim/Simulink co-simulation to FPGA realization is applied and an experimental PMSM drive system is demonstrated.
Quality Control of the Traditional Patent Medicine Yimu Wan Based on SMRT Sequencing and DNA Barcoding

Substandard traditional patent medicines may lead to global safety-related issues. Protecting consumers from the health risks associated with the integrity and authenticity of herbal preparations is of great concern. Of particular concern is quality control for traditional patent medicines. Here, we establish an effective approach for verifying the biological composition of traditional patent medicines based on single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing and DNA barcoding. Yimu Wan (YMW), a classical herbal prescription recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, was chosen to test the method. Two reference YMW samples were used to establish a standard method for analysis, which was then applied to three different batches of commercial YMW samples. A total of 3703 and 4810 circular-consensus sequencing (CCS) reads from two reference and three commercial YMW samples were mapped to the ITS2 and psbA-trnH regions, respectively. Moreover, comparison of intraspecific genetic distances based on SMRT sequencing data with reference data from Sanger sequencing revealed an ITS2 and psbA-trnH intergenic spacer that exhibited high intraspecific divergence, with the sites of variation showing significant differences within species. Using the CCS strategy for SMRT sequencing analysis was adequate to guarantee the accuracy of identification. This study demonstrates the application of SMRT sequencing to detect the biological ingredients of herbal preparations. SMRT sequencing provides an affordable way to monitor the legality and safety of traditional patent medicines.
SH-STF: A novel adaptive filter and its application in SINS/GPS/DVS integrated navigation

This paper is concerned with adaptive filter and its application in SINS/GPS/DVS integrated navigation. A novel adaptive filter, namely, SH-STF, is presented by combining the Sage-Husa (SH) adaptive filter with the strong tracking filter (STF). For multirate sampling dynamic system and in consideration of observations randomly missing, SH-STF is applied to data fusion and SINS/GPS/DVS integrated navigation. Simulation results show the feasibility and effectiveness of the presented algorithm.
Multi-rate State-dependent Primitives Underlie The Motor Adaptation and Unlearning to Motion-Depedent Force Perturbations

MULTI-RATE STATE-DEPENDENT PRIMITIVES UNDERLIE THE MOTOR ADAPTATION AND UNLEARNING TO MOTION-DEPEDENT FORCE PERTURBATIONS Eghbal Hosseini Asl George Mason University, 2014 Thesis Director: Dr. Wilsaan M. Joiner The motor system can compensate for perturbations to the body and within the environment through experience. Motor adaptation studies have suggested that this compensation takes place by developing and updating of an internal model of the body and environment. Previous research has examined the time-scales, learning primitives, and stability of the motor memory following adaptation to forces dependent on motion kinematics. However, computational models that simultaneously capture these aspects of motor adaptation are lacking. In this thesis, we propose a model that encompasses different features of adaptation to motion-dependent force-fields. We first trained human subjects in different force-field environments and measured the adaptation and subsequent unlearning. We then formulated a motor-adaptation model that takes into account both the motion-dependency and time-scales of motor memory, and investigated its ability to explain several characteristics of experimental finding, including the hysteresis between adaptation and unlearning, and motion-dependent adaptation asymmetries. We finally use the new model to predict the motor adaptation behavior under gradual introduction of the perturbation, as well as savings upon re-exposure to perturbation after a period of inactivity.
Effects of Criminal Punishment on Perceived Threat of Punishment: Toward an Understanding of Specific Deterrence

This study examines the relationship between the experience of punishment for crime and the perceived threat of punishment. The study uses data from a survey of criminal offenders to test whether punishment is associated with levels of perceived threat. Punishment is found to be weakly associated with perceived threat for most offenders. Other factors, including educational attainment, beliefs about immunity from punishment, and persons' offense histories are strongly associated with threat perceptions. The implications of these findings for the study of deterrence and criminal recidivism are discussed.
A Culturally Relevant Pedagogical Approach to Computer Science Education to Increase Participation of Underrepresented Populations

This paper presents a theoretical discussion of a culturally relevant pedagogical approach to computer science education. The paper builds a framework of strategies that computer science educators can use to empower diverse learner populations, especially those from underrepresented minority groups, to participate in computer science as well as other STEM fields. This framework draws from education theories on sociocultural learning, critical pedagogy, and culturally relevant pedagogy.
Balancing energy, latency and accuracy for mobile sensor data classification

Sensor convergence on the mobile phone is spawning a broad base of new and interesting mobile applications. As applications grow in sophistication, raw sensor readings often require classification into more useful application-specific high-level data. For example, GPS readings can be classified as running, walking or biking. Unfortunately, traditional classifiers are not built for the challenges of mobile systems: energy, latency, and the dynamics of mobile. Kobe is a tool that aids mobile classifier development. With the help of a SQL-like programming interface, Kobe performs profiling and optimization of classifiers to achieve an optimal energy-latency-accuracy tradeoff. We show through experimentation on five real scenarios, classifiers on Kobe exhibit tight utilization of available resources. For comparable levels of accuracy traditional classifiers, which do not account for resources, suffer between 66% and 176% longer latencies and use between 31% and 330% more energy. From the experience of using Kobe to prototype two new applications, we observe that Kobe enables easier development of mobile sensing and classification apps.
High-Speed Electro-Optical Measurement of Pre-Breakdown Current in Dielectric Liquids

The electrical prebreakdown currents in dielectric liquids have been investigated using photo-optical measuring techniques and ns pulses applied to a pointto-plane gap. The measured relation between breakdown time lag and gap spacing has been used to deduce the streamer propagation velocities in the fluids studied. Discharges from positive points generally were more intense and faster than those from negative points. The streamer transit times were found to be proportional to gap spacing, indicating a constant velocity. This velocity was unaffected by point radius and gap spacing for a fixed magnitude of the applied voltage, Temperature effects were determined for the case of positive points. CC14 with a positive point exhibited different current waveform shapes and very fast streamer velocities.
HEXOTRAC: A highly under-actuated hand exoskeleton for finger tracking and force feedback

Exoskeletons offer an intuitive method for actuating multiple DOF of the body; this makes them attractive for applications where generation and coupling of artificial forces to the limbs is needed. Force feedback hand exoskeletons have been continuously considered for whole hand haptic interaction in virtual reality simulators, in teleoperation setups and for rehabilitation. In hand exoskeletons finger tracking, actuation and transmission systems must be embedded in confined spaces, matching at the same time the profound dexterity of the hand transparently and without causing a burden. Most of the design approaches for such systems have remained largely experimental due to hardware limitations, impacting heavily on important functional and ergonomic factors. This paper presents the design of a novel 3-digit hand exoskeleton, which addresses the issues of finger tracking and force feedback. It proposes a new approach for the application of the feedback force with a single attachment at the fingertip through a 6DoF kinematic chain. This kinematic linkage allows for unconstrained reach of the fingers within their full workspace and facilitates a sensor system for high resolution 6DOF tracking of the fingertips. At the same time the highly under-actuated mechanism permits application of a bidirectional feedback force at the fingertips. The hand exoskeleton fits an large range of hand sizes and requires no mechanical alignment between the linkage and the fingers, whatsoever. Preliminary results show the efficacy of this system as a tracking and force feedback device for the hand.
Dynamic modeling and simulation of manipulating deformable linear objects

Deformable linear objects (DLOs) such as cables, hoses and wires are widely used in the real life, electric industries and medical operations. In this paper, we propose a new approach to simulate manipulating DLOs in the robotic assembly. The dynamic 2D deformation of an inextensible linear object is formulated using FEM approach. Based on the model, simulation can be efficiently implemented by matrix computation and numerical solvers for differential equations. The proposed method provides faster computation speed than methods based on differential geometry coordinate systems. Some simulation examples are illustrated to confirm the effectiveness of our methods.
Atividade Inovativa Nas Empresas Paulistas: Um Estudo A Partir Da Paep-2001

This paper studies the relationship between inputs and outcomes from technological innovation activities. The object of study are the industrial firms which innovated in new products, according to the Sao Paulo Economic Activity Research from 1999 to 2001 (PAEP-2001). For the distinction between firms that innovated only for the firm itself and those that innovated for the market, some variables were used like work productivity, foreign capital ownership and sectoral effects. It was observed that, besides the the firms' specific characteristics, the interaction between information sources and results is the main indicator of the technological and competitive strategy aimed by the firm, and that the innovative effort depends not only from the strategy adopted, but also from the competitive environment of the firm.
Constructing Consumer Responsibility: Exploring the Role of Corporate Communications

This article examines the role of corporations in constructing the nature, meaning and implications of `consumer responsibility'. It draws on a theoretical framework that elaborates how objects, subjects and concepts are configured in organizational discourse. Using critical discourse analysis, it reveals how consumer responsibility is organized into meaningful cultural knowledge through corporate communications. The findings suggest that such communications rely on strategic juxtapositions that offer a morally unconflicting concept of consumer responsibility that is facilitative of market choice.