Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phonological working memory in adults who do and do not stutter

Dedication This thesis is dedicated to my family and to my fellow classmates who have become my family over the last two years. To my family, thank you for your unconditional support and encouragement throughout my academic journey. Your love has motivated me to achieve things that I thought were beyond my potential. To my peers who have become my pseudo-family, thank you for making these last two years bearable, and at times, even fun! This thesis is also dedicated to the faculty and staff at The University of Texas at Austin who have pushed me, challenged me and supported me in academic, professional, and personal domains. I am blessed to have such an amazing support system, many thanks to you all. v Acknowledgements I would like to thank a number of individuals who made this research project possible including Kirsten Moriarty for her help in testing participants and collecting data, Angela Espinosa and Elissa Judd for checking the reliability of the orthographic transcriptions, and to all of the participants who gave of their time to help with this research. Thanks also to Kelsey Roberts, without you my thesis would be an unformatted mess. I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to Courtney Byrd and Harvey Sussman who were a constant source of knowledge, guidance and encouragement. Their enthusiasm and passion towards this research fueled my curiosity and pursuit of knowledge, and for that I am eternally thankful. Abstract Phonological Working Memory in Adults who do and do not Stutter The purpose of the present study was to explore whether the phonological encoding difficulties that have been demonstrated in children who stutter persist in adults whose stuttering persists. This hypothesis was investigated by comparing the phonological working memory of adults who stutter (AWS) and adults who do not stutter (AWNS) using non-word repetition and phoneme elision tasks. Twenty-four adults (age range = 17;9 to 46;11 mean age = 28;2): 12 AWS and 12 AWNS matched on gender and age participated in this study. A total of 48 non-words consisting of an equal number (N = 12 per syllable length category) of two-syllable, three-syllable, four-syllable and seven-syllable non-words were selected for use in the non-word repetition and phoneme elision tasks. In the non-word repetition task, results showed a significant interaction between fluency group and syllable length for the 7-syllable length category only, indicating that AWS require a significantly higher …
PRESCHOOLERS' WORD LEARNING DURING SHARED STORYBOOK READING INTERACTIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR EARLY INTERVENTION

Title of Document: PRESCHOOLERS’ WORD LEARNING DURING SHARED STORYBOOK READING INTERACTIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR EARLY INTERVENTION Maura Kathleen O'Fallon, Master of Arts, 2014 Directed By: Dr. Rochelle Newman, Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences Previous research shows that shared storybook reading interactions can function as effective speech and language interventions for young children, helping to improve a variety of skills—including word learning. This study sought to investigate the potential benefits of elaboration of new words during a single storybook reading with preschoolers. Children were read a storybook containing novel words that were either elaborated with a definition, repeated twice, or only said once. Their word learning for these novel words was then evaluated, and compared across levels of elaboration. Results showed that preschoolers could successfully learn new words during a single storybook reading interaction with an adult. Further analyses found that their learning was most robust when words were repeated twice, rather than elaborated or only said once. These results support the use of storybook reading with children during language interventions, and highlight the importance of repeated exposure to novel
Analysis of the Virus-Specific and Nonspecific B Cell Response to a Persistent B-Lymphotropic Gammaherpesvirus1

Respiratory challenge of mice with murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (γHV68) results in acute replication in respiratory epithelial cells and persistent, latent infection of B cells and macrophages. γHV68 elicits virus-specific Ab, and also nonspecifically activates B cells to Ab production through a CD4+ T cell-dependent process. The current analysis characterizes virus-specific and nonspecific Ab production at the single cell level and investigates the requirements and nature of the nonspecific response. Virus-specific Ab-forming cell (AFC) numbers were dwarfed by the increase in total AFC in all sites examined, indicating substantial nonspecific Ab production. Clear increases and decreases in specific and total AFC numbers occurred in the lymph nodes draining the respiratory tract and the spleen, but AFC numbers in the bone marrow (BM) increased to a plateau and remained constant. The longevity of the BM response was reflected in a sustained increase in virus-specific and total serum Ab levels. Generally, the IgG2a and IgG2b isotypes predominated. Analysis of cytokine-deficient mice, CD40 ligand-deficient mice, and radiation BM chimeras lacking MHC class II expression specifically on B cells indicated that nonspecific Ab production is independent of IL-6 or IFN-γ, and dependent on cognate CD4+ T cell help. Several observations were consistent with polyclonal B cell activation by γHV68, including the induction of durable serum levels of IgG reactive with mammalian dsDNA and murine type II collagen. Our findings indicate new directions for studies of this valuable model of γ-herpesvirus pathogenesis.
A Distributed Sensor Selection Mechanism for Cooperative Spectrum Sensing

In a cognitive sensor network (CSN), selfish sensors can choose to conduct cooperative spectrum sensing (CSS) or local spectrum sensing (LSS). CSS usually improves sensing performance at the price of delay and energy consumption. A selfish sensor only decides to conduct CSS if it is more profitable than performing LSS. A key issue is how to achieve a desired decision outcome that maximizes spectrum utilization under the requirement of self-interest maximization and primary user (PU) protection. To address this problem, we formulate the interactive deciding of sensors as a noncooperative game, and Nash equilibrium (NE) corresponds to a stable decision outcome that no sensor has an incentive to resist unilaterally. It is shown that the desired decision outcome can be obtained by solving a constrained nonlinear 0-1 programming problem. We derive the desired decision outcome for homogenous sensors, and then develop a sensor selection mechanism for heterogeneous sensors to achieve the desired decision outcome in a distributed fashion. The proposed mechanism is shown to have a relatively low complexity. Computer simulations are carried out to validate the effectiveness of the proposed approaches.
Hybrid LP / SDP Bounding Procedure

The principal idea of this paper is to exploit Semidefinite Programming (SDP) relaxation within the framework provided by Mixed Integer Nonlinear Programming (MINLP) solvers when tackling Binary Quadratic Problems (BQP). SDP relaxation is well-known to provide strong bounds for BQP in practice. However, the method is not typically implemented in many state-of-the-art MINLP solvers based on Linear Programming (LP) relaxation. This paper demonstrates that this idea could be computationally useful. The Quadratic Stable Set Problem (QSSP) is adopted as the case study. The tests indicate that the Hybrid LP/SDP Bounding Procedure allows a noticeable reduction of computing time and a cut of almost one order of magnitude for the branching nodes. Furthermore, we propose and test a new linearization technique which outperforms the standard one for many classes of QSSP instances.
Response and determinants of sensitivity to paclitaxel in human non-small cell lung cancer tumors heterotransplanted in nude mice.

The lack of tumor models that can reliably predict for response to anticancer agents remains a major deficiency in the field of experimental cancer therapy. Although heterotransplants of certain human solid tumors can be successfully grown in nude mice, they have never been appropriately explored for prediction of in vivo chemosensitivity to anticancer agents. We determined the tumor response rate and studied the influence of several biological and molecular tumor parameters on the in vivo sensitivity to paclitaxel in a series of heterotransplanted human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumors. One hundred consecutive resected NSCLC tumors were heterotransplanted s.c. in nude mice. The in vivo sensitivity to i.v. paclitaxel (60 mg/kg every 3 weeks) was studied in 34 successfully grown heterotransplants. Treatment started when the tumors reached a size of 5 mm in diameter, and strict standard clinical criteria (>50% shrinkage in tumor weight or cross-sectional surface) were used to define tumor response. Baseline multidrug resistance protein (MRP), Her-2/neu, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression, and pre- and posttherapy bax and bcl-2 expression were determined by Western blot analysis. p53 status was determined by sequencing. The overall take rate was 46% (95% confidence interval, 36-56%) and was significantly higher (P < 0.05) for squamous carcinoma tumors (75%) than for adenocarcinoma tumors (30%) and bronchoalveolar tumors (23%). The heterotransplants were morphologically very similar to the original tumors. The response rate to paclitaxel was 21% (95% confidence interval, 9-38%). Baseline tumor parameters associated with response were no Her-2/neu expression (none of the responding tumors expressed Her-2/neu versus 48% of the nonresponding tumors, P = 0.05) and baseline bcl-2 expression (all responding tumors expressed bcl-2 versus only 43% of the nonresponding tumors, P = 0.02). There was a trend toward a higher response rate in bax-positive tumors, and MRP- and EGFR-negative tumors, but it was not statistically significant. The response was independent of baseline p53 status and baseline mitotic index. Responding tumors had a higher bax/bcl-2 ratio 24 h after therapy, but the difference was only marginally significant (2.8 for responding tumors versus 1.1 for nonresponding tumors, P = 0.07). The extent of mitotic arrest at 24 h after therapy was not associated with response. Human NSCLC heterotransplants are morphologically identical to the original tumors and have a response rate to paclitaxel that is equivalent to that reported in Phase II studies in patients with advanced NSCLC treated with single-agent paclitaxel. NSCLC heterotransplants deserve to be explored to evaluate new agents for lung cancer and to predict clinical response on an individual basis in selected groups of patients.
Kallikrein-related peptidases: proteolysis and signaling in cancer, the new frontier

Abstract The exact mechanism(s) by which kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs) function, their levels of activity and their potential endogenous targets in vivo have only recently begun to be revealed. Our group and others have shown that KLKs can have hormonal properties by signaling via proteinase-activated receptors (PARs), a family of G-protein-coupled receptors. Signals by PAR1, PAR2, and PAR4 can regulate calcium release or mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and lead to platelet aggregation, vascular relaxation, cell proliferation, cytokine release, and inflammation. We have further documented the presence of active KLK6 and 10 (by activity-based ELISA or proteomics) and the presence of proteinase inhibitors, such as α1-antitrypsin, in cancer-derived fluids. We suggest that tumors and inflamed tissues can release active KLKs, which are under tight regulation by proteinase inhibitors. These enzymes can potentially control cell/tissue behavior by regulating PAR activation in specific settings and disease stages.
On the difficulty of software-based attestation of embedded devices

Device attestation is an essential feature in many security protocols and applications. The lack of dedicated hardware and the impossibility to physically access devices to be attested, makes attestation of embedded devices, in applications such as Wireless Sensor Networks, a prominent challenge. Several software-based attestation techniques have been proposed that either rely on tight time constraints or on the lack of free space to store malicious code. This paper investigates the shortcomings of existing software-based attestation techniques. We first present two generic attacks, one based on a return-oriented rootkit} and the other on code compression. We further describe specific attacks on two existing proposals, namely SWATT and ICE-based schemes, and argue about the difficulty of fixing them. All attacks presented in this paper were implemented and validated on commodity sensors.
Interobserver and intraobserver variability in radiographic assessment of osteolysis.

This study quantified the variability associated with diagnosing periprosthetic osteolysis from the radiographs of total hip arthroplasty patients. Four joint arthroplasty surgeons independently assessed radiographs of 60 patients for evidence of osteolysis in different zones. The surgeons agreed on the presence of lesions in at most 57% of the zones. kappa coefficients, used to quantify the extent of agreement among the surgeons, denoted poor interobserver reproducibility (kappa =.28 to.44). Intraobserver reliability-determined by comparing 2 reviews of the same radiographs done by 1 surgeon 2 weeks apart-was moderate to excellent (kappa =.48 to.84). We also compared the results from the most recent radiograph with those from a time series. Agreement improved when a series was reviewed. Reliable comparisons cannot be made with osteolysis rates reported by different observers. In the research setting, osteolysis rates are more reliable if they are determined by a single reviewer whose intraobserver variability has been reported. In assessing a patient for osteolysis, it is more accurate to analyze a series of radiographs than the most recent radiograph.
The Needs and Rights of Victims of Crime

The "victims' movement" can claim considerable success in putting the interests of crime victims on the political agenda in North America and Europe. Pioneering groups of volunteers and activists laid the groundwork for financial, practical, and psychological support services that are now funded by government on a significant scale. In the United States, legislation creates rights for victims to participate in the criminal justice process. It has not been firmly established how many (and what kinds of) victims are seriously in need of assistance, or what form this should take: research findings are contradictory and confusing, plagued by methodological and definitional problems. Service delivery also presents difficult dilemmas because many victims will not ask for help; high take-up rates emerge only when a personal approach is made. Although there is evidence of high levels of client satisfaction with victim services, research has not established that service provision greatly affects recovery from the effects of crime.
Sex Differences in Psychological Adjustment to Unemployment and Reemployment: A Question of Commitment, Alternatives or Finance?

Previous research has found a weaker relationship between employment status and psychological well-being among women than among men. I examine three alternative explanations for sex differences in reactions to unemployment: (1) Women have a lower commitment to the work role. (2) Women are more likely to perform family roles which substitute for employment. (3) Women are less affected financially by unemployment. I use survey data on unemployed and reemployed men and women in Israel to assess hypotheses derived from these explanations. The results confirm that employment status has stronger effects on depressive affect, anxiety, and morale for men than for women. At least in this highly educated sample, the differing financial implications of unemployment for married men and women best explain sex differences in psychological well-being.
Rapid unsupervised adaptation to children's speech on a connected-digit task

We are exploring ways in which to rapidly adapt our neural network classifiers to new speakers and conditions using very small amounts of speech, say, one or a few words. Our approach is to perform a speaker-dependent warping of the frequency scale by selecting a Bark offset for each speaker. We choose the offset for a speaker to be the one that maximizes our recognizer output score on the adaptation utterance. We then use the speaker's offset during evaluation of all other utterances by the speaker. To test our approach, we evaluate an adult-speech trained recognizer on children's speech from the same task both before and after adaptation to each child's voice. Using only a single digit for adaptation, we have reduced the word error rate for children's speech from 9.6% to 4.2%. Using a seven-digit utterance further reduced the error rate to 3.5%.
A Thesis for the Degree of Master Empirical Study on the Adoption of Mobile Learning : Based on Extended Technology Acceptance Model

Mobile telecommunication technology is opening an era that enables access to many information services, including advanced educational techniques and wireless Internet connections. As the use of wireless Internet increases, many traditional industries are attempting to develop new ways of conducting business using a wireless service delivery channel. The education industry is no exception. Mobile learning (m-learning) is an advanced method of learning that has evolved from web-oriented learning; it emphasizes portability and mobility in learning and easy access to knowledge databases and educational service providers regardless of time and place. The perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness are widely recognized as the principal factors determining the uptake of m-learning. This paper discusses other factors that affect the adoption of mobile learning, using the
Functional Analysis of Leishmania Cyclopropane Fatty Acid Synthetase

The single gene encoding cyclopropane fatty acid synthetase (CFAS) is present in Leishmania infantum, L. mexicana and L. braziliensis but absent from L. major, a causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis. In L. infantum, usually causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis, the CFAS gene is transcribed in both insect (extracellular) and host (intracellular) stages of the parasite life cycle. Tagged CFAS protein is stably detected in intracellular L. infantum but only during the early log phase of extracellular growth, when it shows partial localisation to the endoplasmic reticulum. Lipid analyses of L. infantum wild type, CFAS null and complemented parasites detect a low abundance CFAS-dependent C19Δ fatty acid, characteristic of a cyclopropanated species, in wild type and add-back cells. Sub-cellular fractionation studies locate the C19Δ fatty acid to both ER and plasma membrane-enriched fractions. This fatty acid is not detectable in wild type L. major, although expression of the L. infantum CFAS gene in L. major generates cyclopropanated fatty acids, indicating that the substrate for this modification is present in L. major, despite the absence of the modifying enzyme. Loss of the L. infantum CFAS gene does not affect extracellular parasite growth, phagocytosis or early survival in macrophages. However, while endocytosis is also unaffected in the extracellular CFAS nulls, membrane transporter activity is defective and the null parasites are more resistant to oxidative stress. Following infection in vivo, L. infantum CFAS nulls exhibit lower parasite burdens in both the liver and spleen of susceptible hosts but it has not been possible to complement this phenotype, suggesting that loss of C19Δ fatty acid may lead to irreversible changes in cell physiology that cannot be rescued by re-expression. Aberrant cyclopropanation in L. major decreases parasite virulence but does not influence parasite tissue tropism.
Analgesic and diuretic properties of α‐santalone from Polygonum flaccidum

Polygonum flaccidum Meissn. is an annual herb, native to Bangladesh, and well known for its analgesic, anti‐inflammatory, diuretic, purgative and insecticidal properties, and also for its use against snake‐bites. The analgesic and the diuretic properties of α‐santalone (1), isolated from the aerial parts of Polygonum flaccidum, were assessed by the acetic‐acid‐induced writhing method and the Lipschitz test, respectively. Complete 1H and 13C NMR data of 1 are also presented. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Dynamic Logic Framework for Abstract Argumentation

We provide a logical analysis of abstract argumentation frameworks and their dynamics. Following previous work, we express attack relation and argument status by means of propositional variables and define acceptability criteria by formulas of propositional logic. We here study the dynamics of argumentation frameworks in terms of basic operations on these propositional variables, viz. change of their truth values. We describe these operations in a uniform way within a well-known variant of Propositional Dynamic Logic PDL: the Dynamic Logic of Propositional Assignments, DL-PA. The atomic programs of DL-PA are assignments of propositional variables to truth values, and complex programs can be built by means of the connectives of sequential and nondeterministic composition and test. We start by showing that in DL-PA, the construction of extensions can be performed by a DL-PA program that is parametrized by the definition of acceptance. We then mainly focus on how the acceptance of one or more arguments can be enforced and show that this can be achieved by changing the truth values of the propositional variables describing the attack relation in a minimal way.
Setting Alert and Action Limits in the Presence of Significant Amount of Censoring in Data

In manufacturing settings, control limits are often set using a three-sigma rule (i.e., three estimated standard deviations above and below the estimated mean). More sophisticated statistical methods might include the use of confidence, prediction, or tolerance intervals. However, in environmental monitoring of microbial excursions in aseptic manufacturing operations, most of the assayed measurements fall below the limit of quantitation. In such circumstances, it is inappropriate to directly calculate control limits with a mean plus two or three standard deviations to represent the center and spread of the data. The system under consideration assumes that microbial assayed values stem from a log-normal distribution with two sources of variability to account for testing occasions and measurements made within a testing occasion. Bayesian statistical methods and a Tobit likelihood are used to model the observed and left-censored data in order to predict the distribution of new data. Control limits are generated from quantiles of the posterior predictive distribution. LAY ABSTRACT: In manufacturing settings, control limits are used to ensure either the manufacturing process or environment is in a state of control. These limits can be set using a three-sigma rule (i.e., three estimated standard deviations above and below the estimated mean) or via more sophisticated statistical methods. In this paper, we consider setting the control limits for a clean room setting in which microbial excursions are rare. Under such circumstance, the measurements of microbial counts are often below the limit of quantification. We develop methods based on Bayesian analysis and a Tobit regression to more accurately estimate control limits.