Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Human emotions track changes in the acoustic environment

Significance Emotions function to optimize adaptive responses to biologically significant events. In the auditory channel, humans are highly attuned to emotional signals in speech and music that arise from shifts in the frequency spectrum, intensity, and rate of acoustic information. We found that changes in acoustic attributes that evoke emotional responses in speech and music also trigger emotions when perceived in environmental sounds, including sounds arising from human actions, animal calls, machinery, or natural phenomena, such as wind and rain. The findings align with Darwin’s hypothesis that speech and music originated from a common emotional signal system based on the imitation and modification of sounds in the environment. Emotional responses to biologically significant events are essential for human survival. Do human emotions lawfully track changes in the acoustic environment? Here we report that changes in acoustic attributes that are well known to interact with human emotions in speech and music also trigger systematic emotional responses when they occur in environmental sounds, including sounds of human actions, animal calls, machinery, or natural phenomena, such as wind and rain. Three changes in acoustic attributes known to signal emotional states in speech and music were imposed upon 24 environmental sounds. Evaluations of stimuli indicated that human emotions track such changes in environmental sounds just as they do for speech and music. Such changes not only influenced evaluations of the sounds themselves, they also affected the way accompanying facial expressions were interpreted emotionally. The findings illustrate that human emotions are highly attuned to changes in the acoustic environment, and reignite a discussion of Charles Darwin’s hypothesis that speech and music originated from a common emotional signal system based on the imitation and modification of environmental sounds.
When a Seawall Is Visible: Infrastructure and Obstruction in Post-tsunami Reconstruction in Japan

The triple disaster of March 11, 2011 posed a formidable challenge for Japanese society in general, and for affected coastal communities in particular. In the immediate aftermath of the catastrophe, there was widespread support for the construction of high seawalls to protect communities. However, many communities began questioning this approach. In Maehama, the question of land reconstruction and protection gave rise to a set of complex responses. The government aimed to put in place even higher seawalls; however, the local community proposed instead to mark the boundary of high water with trees and stakes. These solutions instantiate different ways of infrastructuring the post-tsunami environment for safety; they carry different assumptions about infrastructure itself. Whereas the seawall solution was technical and quantitative, centering on the question of height, the boundary markers embedded qualitatively different assumptions about what makes a workable infrastructure. In particular, this difference centered on issue of visibility. On the one hand, the seawall was meant to slowly become unremarkable, whereas the boundary markers were specifically intended to maintain community memory. On the other hand, the seawall would make the sea itself invisible, whereas keeping the sea in sight is very important to villagers. However, the opposition between these forms of infrastructuring the environment was not total. A solution was gradually negotiated in which the sea wall and the boundary markers could complement each another. This situation highlights the intricate, transformable relation between visible and invisible forms of infrastructure.
The learning styles and achievement of students in science using visual, auditory and kinesthetic (VAK) modality

Learning Style is one of the main factors that influence student‘s academic achievement. The purpose of this study was to identify the style of learning among Form 3 students of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Taman Johor Jaya 2, Johor Bahru and evaluate whether there is a correlation between the learning styles of Form 3 students with their Science achievement. Besides investigating the relationship between learning styles and achievement, the difference in learning style, race and gender are also investigated. The instrument used in the research was modified from ? Learning Style Questionnaire? by Diane Johnson (2004) and translated to Bahasa Melayu. This instrument consists of 30 items that can be categorized into 3 modalities as visual, auditory and kinesthetic. The survey was carried out by distributing questionnaire to 50 Form 3 students from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Taman Johor Jaya 2, Johor Bahru. Data was analyzed statistically by using Package SPSS Version 12.0. The outcome of the study indicates that the pupils of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Taman Johor Jaya 2, Johor Bahru have certain difference in their learning style based on race and gender. They prefer to learn using a combination of three modalities. Besides that, it is also found that this students practise learning style base on a single modality that is visual, auditory or kinesthetic, a combination of two modalities and combination of three modalities. A positive and significant correlation had been found between the Science achievement with the single modality or a combination of two modalities. This research failed to reject that there is any significant correlation between the pupils practising combination of three modalities with Science achievement
Emergency carotid artery stenting in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to occlusion or stenosis of the proximal internal carotid artery: a single-center experience

Background The feasibility, safety and effectiveness of emergency carotid artery stenting (eCAS) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to proximal internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis or occlusion are still controversial. In this study we analyzed our experience with eCAS in patients with AIS. Methods Twenty-two eCAS procedures for proximal ICA stenosis or occlusion were performed in 22 patients at our institution between January 2011 and November 2013. The mean time from stroke symptom onset to presentation was 204 min (range 50–630 min) and the mean initial score on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was 12.55 (range 5–23). Ten patients had total occlusion of the proximal ICA and the remaining 12 patients had near total occlusion or severe stenosis (mean degree 90.7%, range 80–100%). Eleven patients also had tandem occlusion on the more distal intracranial arteries. Results Successful stent insertion was achieved in all patients and additional thrombectomy using a Solitaire stent or Penumbra aspiration catheter achieved a Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction grade of more than 2a in all patients with distal tandem occlusion. Procedure-related complications occurred in one patient (cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome) who recovered successfully. The mean NIHSS score at discharge was 3.55 (range 0–18). The mean modified Rankin Scale score at 3 months was 1±1.67 (range 0–6). Conclusions eCAS in patients with AIS due to proximal ICA stenosis or occlusion appears to be a technically feasible and effective method for achieving good clinical outcomes.
On the cognitive and neuronal effects and mechanisms of working memory training

Working memory (WM) is a cognitive function that is engaged in several everyday tasks. WM performance predicts performance in diverse other cognitive functions. Additionally, WM decline at old age is associated with age-related impairments in others cognitive functions, thus affecting autonomous performance of everyday tasks. It has been shown that WM can be improved with training interventions, and evidence has accumulated showing that also other cognitive functions can profit from WM training. The transfer findings indicate that WM training might enclose a mechanism to improve cognitive functions in general. Even though there exists a growing body of evidence on the possibilities to improve cognitive functions with WM training in different populations, the exact mechanisms of training and transfer have remained unclear. In the current dissertation I examine the prospects and precise mechanisms of WM training with four studies using the bi-modal dual n-back paradigm. I showed that dual n-back training improved performance in various tests tapping executive functions. I could also demonstrate that the mechanisms underlying transfer result from an improvement in a specific process tapped by the training task rather than in the boosting of a general cognitive ability. Consequently, transfer can occur to tasks if they engage the same specific process. Additionally, I provided primary evidence that only 16 sessions of WM training produces microstructural changes in white matter pathways connecting brain regions that support WM functions. I also showed for the first time that age-related differences in WM performance between young and older adults can be compensated for after only 16 training sessions. The findings of the present dissertation are discussed in relation to the flexibility of cognitive functions and the plasticity of the underlying neuronal substrate; additionally, new conceptions to models of training and transfer mechanisms are presented.
A Measurement Study of Oculus 360 Degree Video Streaming

360 degree video is anew generation of video streaming technology that promises greater immersiveness than standard video streams. This level of immersiveness is similar to that produced by virtual reality devices -- users can control the field of view using head movements rather than needing to manipulate external devices. Although 360 degree video could revolutionize streaming technology, large scale adoption is hindered by a number of factors. 360 degree video streams have larger bandwidth requirements, require faster responsiveness to user inputs, and users may be more sensitive to lower quality streams. ; AB@In this paper, we review standard approaches toward 360 degree video encoding and compare these to a new, as yet unpublished, approach by Oculus which we refer to as the offset cubic projection. Compared to the standard cubic encoding, the offset cube encodes a distorted version of the spherical surface, devoting more information (i.e., pixels) to the view in a chosen direction. We estimate that the offset cube representation can produce better or similar visual quality while using less than 50% pixels under reasonable assumptions about user behavior, resulting in 5.6% to 16.4% average savings in video bitrate. During 360 degree video streaming, Oculus uses a combination of quality level adaptation and view orientation adaptation. We estimate that this combination of streaming adaptation in two dimensions can cause over 57% extra segments to be downloaded compared to an ideal downloading strategy, wasting 20% of the total downloading bandwidth.
Limitations of DSM-IV Operationalizations of Alcohol Abuse and Dependence in a Sample of Australian Twins

Abstract Alcohol abuse and dependence are among the most common psychiatric conditions identified in epidemiological surveys of the general population. The aim of this article is to examine the psychometric properties of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (4th ed.; DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) criteria for alcohol abuse and dependence using latent class analysis (LCA). Six thousand two hundred and sixty-five young Australian twins (median age 30 years) were interviewed by telephone between 1996 and 2000 using a modified version of the Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism (SSAGA). DSM-IV symptoms of alcohol abuse and dependence were collected by structured diagnostic interview and analyzed using methods of LCA. LCA revealed a 4-class solution for women that classified individuals according to the severity of their alcohol- related problems: no/few problems (66.5%), heavy drinking (23.9%), moderate dependence (7.6%) and severe dependence (2.0%). Among men the preferred solution included 5 classes corresponding to no/few problems (46.4%), heavy drinking (34.3%), moderate dependence (12.2%), severe dependence (3.0%) and abuse (4.0%). Evidence of a male-specific class of alcohol-related problems corresponding to abuse partially supports the DSM conceptualization of alcohol use disorders but suggests that this conceptualization — and measurement — may need to be refined for women. Identification of a male- specific abuse class also has important implications for interventions and treatment as these individuals experienced significant alcohol-related problems and comprised approximately 21% of all men classified with an alcohol use disorder.
Cardiovascular risk and diabetes. Are the methods of risk prediction satisfactory?

Background Methods available to predict cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk include the Joint British Societies Risk Chart (JBSRC), the CardioRisk Manager (CRM) calculator, the PROCAM calculation and specific to diabetes, the UKPDS risk engine. Our aim was to examine their efficacy in a clinic-based population of diabetic patients. Design Patients were identified who attended clinic at baseline (1990–1991) and categorised by the presence/absence of CHD/CVD at follow-up (2000–2001). Ten-year risk was calculated using JBSRC, CRM, PROCAM and the UKPDS risk engine. Methods A total of 798 patients were identified under follow-up (2000–2001), with sufficient data for risk prediction. Risk prediction methods were assessed by: (1) the Hosmer-Lemeshow test (calibration test); (2) the C-index, derived from the ROC curve [a discriminatory measure ranging from 0.5 (no discrimination) to 1.0 (perfect discrimination)]; and (3) Spearman correlation of the observed and predicted risk. Results All tests (except PROCAM) demonstrated acceptable discrimination with respect to CHD/CVD, however, all underestimated the risk of future events. With respect to CVD, the JBSRC had a C-index of 0.80, CRM: 0.76, UKPDS: 0.74 and PROCAM: 0.67. With respect to CHD the C-indexes were 0.77, 0.73, 0.65 and 0.76 respectively. Risk prediction by CRM had a stronger relationship with observed events than UKPDS and PROCAM (r = 0.97, 0.86, 0.81 respectively). Conclusions All scores have reasonable discrimination, but underestimate future events. The CRM showed the strongest correlation between observed and predicted risk with the least amount of scatter from the line of best fit. The CRM, when adjusted by the calibration factor, provides the most accurate method of risk prediction.
Mirror mode waves in Venus's magnetosheath: solar minimum vs. solar maximum

The observational rate of mirror mode waves in Venus's magnetosheath for solar maximum conditions is studied and compared with previous results for solar minimum conditions. It is found that the number of mirror mode events is approximately 14 % higher for solar maximum than for solar minimum. A possible cause is the increase in solar UV radiation, ionizing more neutrals from Venus's exosphere and the outward displacement of the bow shock during solar maximum. Also, the solar wind properties (speed, density) differ for solar minimum and maximum. The maximum observational rate, however, over Venus's magnetosheath remains almost the same, with only differences in the distribution along the flow line. This may be caused by the interplay of a decreasing solar wind density and a slightly higher solar wind velocity for this solar maximum. The distribution of strengths of the mirror mode waves is shown to be exponentially falling off, with (almost) the same coefficient for solar maximum and minimum. The plasma conditions in Venus's magnetosheath are different for solar minimum as compared to solar maximum. For solar minimum, mirror mode waves are created directly behind where the bow shock will decay, whereas for solar maximum all created mirror modes can grow.
Applying Routine Activity Theory to Cybercrime: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis

ABSTRACT The central question of this article is whether routine activity theory (RAT) can be used as an analytical framework to study cybercrimes. Both a theoretical analysis and an analysis of empirical studies have thus far failed to provide a clear answer. The multivariate analysis presented in this article tries to avoid some of the limitations of other RAT-based studies. Based on a large sample (N = 9,161), the effects of value, visibility, accessibility, and guardianship on victimization of six cybercrimes have been studied. Analysis shows some RAT elements are more applicable than others. Visibility clearly plays a role within cybercrime victimization. Accessibility and personal capable guardianship show varying results. Value and technical capable guardianship show almost no effects on cybercrime victimization.
Recalibration of Auditory Space following Milliseconds of Cross-Modal Discrepancy

Basic features of objects and events in the environment such as timing and spatial location are encoded by multiple sensory modalities. This redundancy in sensory coding allows recalibration of one sense by other senses if there is a conflict between the sensory maps (Radeau and Bertelson, 1974; Zwiers et al., 2003; Navarra et al., 2009). In contrast to motor or sensorimotor adaptation, which can be relatively rapid, cross-sensory recalibration (the change in an isolated sensory representation after exposure to conflicting cross-modal information) has been reported only as a result of an extensive amount of exposure to sensory discrepancy (e.g., hundreds or thousands of trials, or prolonged durations). Therefore, sensory recalibration has traditionally been associated with compensation for permanent changes that would occur during development or after traumatic injuries or stroke. Nonetheless, the dynamics of sensory recalibration is unknown, and it is unclear whether prolonged inconsistency is required to trigger recalibration or whether such mechanisms are continuously engaged in self-maintenance. We show that in humans recalibration of perceived auditory space by vision can occur after a single exposure to discrepant auditory–visual stimuli lasting only a few milliseconds. These findings suggest an impressive degree of plasticity in a basic perceptual map induced by a cross-modal error signal. Therefore, it appears that modification of sensory maps does not necessarily require accumulation of a substantial amount of evidence of error to be triggered, and is continuously operational. This scheme of sensory recalibration has many advantages. It only requires a small working memory capacity, and allows rapid adaptation to transient changes in the environment as well as the body.
PURIFIED PROTEIN DERIVATIVE OF TUBERCULIN INDUCES IMMUNOGLOBULIN PRODUCTION IN NORMAL MOUSE SPLEEN CELLS

Purified protein derivative (PPD) tuberculin induced immunoglobulin production in cultures of nonimmune mouse spleen cells, as measured by plaque-forming cells (PFC) against sheep erythrocytes (SRBC), horse erythrocytes, and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dinitrophenacetyl-SRBC. The increase started between 15 and 20 h of culture and reached a peak at 48–72 h. Higher PPD concentrations resulted in earlier peak responses than low concentrations. The Ig produced was mainly 19S and of very low avidity. The response elicited by PPD was of the same type as that caused by lipopolysaccharide of bacterial origin. Mitomycin treatment of cells before culture did not change the numbers of PFC/106 recovered cells but the cell recovery was considerably lower. Also injection of PPD in vivo resulted in increased numbers of PFC. On the basis of these results it is suggested that PPD nonspecifically activates a majority of the B cell population to proliferation and immunoglobulin synthesis.
State Dependence in a Multi-State Model of Employment Dynamics

A multinomial choice framework is used to investigate the nature of women's transitions between full-time employment, part-time employment and non-employment. The stochastic framework allows time varying and time invariant unobserved preferences, and also controls for the possible endogenity of education, fertility and non-labor income. Significant positive true state dependence is found in both full-time and part-time employment. This finding is robust to the specification of unobserved preferences. The results are used the assess the dynamic effects of three temporary wage subsidies. All three policies have substantial effects on employment behavior for up to 6 years. However, obtaining a permanent increase in employment requires sustained or repeated interventions.
Differential Expression in Phanerochaete chrysosporium of Membrane-Associated Proteins Relevant to Lignin Degradation

ABSTRACT Fungal lignin-degrading systems likely include membrane-associated proteins that participate in diverse processes such as uptake and oxidation of lignin fragments, production of ligninolytic secondary metabolites, and defense of the mycelium against ligninolytic oxidants. Little is known about the nature or regulation of these membrane-associated components. We grew the white rot basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium on cellulose or glucose as the carbon source and monitored the mineralization of a 14C-labeled synthetic lignin by these cultures to assess their ligninolytic competence. The results showed that the cellulose-grown cultures were ligninolytic, whereas the glucose-grown ones were not. We isolated microsomal membrane fractions from both types of culture and analyzed tryptic digests of their proteins by shotgun liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Comparison of the results against the predicted P. chrysosporium proteome showed that a catalase (Joint Genome Institute P. chrysosporium protein identification number [I.D.] 124398), an alcohol oxidase (126879), two transporters (137220 and 132234), and two cytochrome P450s (5011 and 8912) were upregulated under ligninolytic conditions. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR assays showed that RNA transcripts encoding all of these proteins were also more abundant in ligninolytic cultures. Catalase 124398, alcohol oxidase 126879, and transporter 137220 were found in a proteomic analysis of partially purified plasma membranes from ligninolytic P. chrysosporium and are therefore most likely associated with the outer envelope of the fungus.
Interpreting keyword queries over web knowledge bases

Many keyword queries issued to Web search engines target information about real world entities, and interpreting these queries over Web knowledge bases can often enable the search system to provide exact answers to queries. Equally important is the problem of detecting when the reference knowledge base is not capable of answering the keyword query, due to lack of domain coverage. In this work we present an approach to computing structured representations of keyword queries over a reference knowledge base. We mine frequent query structures from a Web query log and map these structures into a reference knowledge base. Our approach exploits coarse linguistic structure in keyword queries, and combines it with rich structured query representations of information needs.
Convergence and regularization results for optimal control problems with sparsity functional

Optimization problems with convex but non-smooth cost functional subject to an elliptic partial differential equation are considered. The non-smoothness arises from a L 1 -norm in the objective functional. The problem is regularized to permit the use of the semi-smooth Newton method. Error estimates with respect to the regularization parameter are provided. Moreover, finite element approximations are studied. A-priori as well as a-posteriori error estimates are developed and confirmed by numerical experiments.