Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spoken verb processing in Spanish: An analysis using a new online resource

ABSTRACT Verbs are one of the basic building blocks of grammar, yet few studies have examined the grammatical, morphological, and phonological factors contributing to lexical access and production of Spanish verb inflection. This report describes an online data set that incorporates psycholinguistic dimensions for 50 of the most common early-acquired Spanish verbs. Using this data set, predictors of response time (RT) from stimulus onset and mean differences at offset are examined. Native Spanish speakers, randomly assigned to one of two tasks, listened to prerecorded verbs and either repeated the verb (single word shadowing) or produced its corresponding pronoun. Factors such as stimulus duration, number of syllables, syllable stress position, and specific levels of initial phoneme facilitated both shadowing of a verb and production of its pronoun. Higher frequency verbs facilitated faster verb repetition, whereas verbs with alternative pronouns increased RT to pronoun production. Mean differences at offset (stimulus duration is removed) indicated that listeners begin speaking earlier when the verb is longer and multisyllabic compared to shorter, monosyllabic words. These results highlight the association between psycholinguistic factors and RT measures of verb processing, in particular, features unique to languages like Spanish, such as alternative pronoun and tense.
FLN29 Deficiency Reveals Its Negative Regulatory Role in the Toll-like Receptor (TLR) and Retinoic Acid-inducible Gene I (RIG-I)-like Helicase Signaling Pathway*

FLN29 was identified as an interferon (IFN)-inducible gene, and it has been shown to suppress Toll-like receptor 4-mediated NF-κB activation by binding to TRAF6. To elucidate the physiological roles of FLN29, we generated FLN29-deficient mice. FLN29 deficiency resulted in hyper-response to LPS both in vivo and in vitro, demonstrating the negative regulatory role of FLN29 in TLR4 signaling. Furthermore, we found that FLN29–/– mice exhibited increased susceptibility to poly(I:C)-induced septic shock compared with WT mice. FLN29–/– fibroblasts were highly resistant to vesicular stomatitis virus infection, and these cells produced more IFN-β than WT cells did in response to not only intracellular poly(I:C) but also overexpression of IPS-1. Forced expression of FLN29 inhibited the IPS-1-dependent activation of both NF-κB and IRF3. We also found that FLN29 could interact with TRIF, IPS-1, TRAF3, and TRAF6. Together, these results suggest that FLN29, in addition to playing a negative regulatory role in the TLR4 signaling pathway, negatively regulates the RIG-I-like helicase signaling pathway at the level of IPS-1/TRAF6 and IPS-1/TRAF3 complexes.
Cannabidiol as a new treatment for drug‐resistant epilepsy in tuberous sclerosis complex

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal‐dominant genetic disorder with highly variable expression. The most common neurologic manifestation of TSC is epilepsy, which affects approximately 85% of patients, 63% of whom develop treatment‐resistant epilepsy. Herein, we evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of cannabidiol (CBD), a nonpsychoactive compound derived from the marijuana plant, as an adjunct to current antiepileptic drugs in patients with refractory seizures in the setting of TSC.
The application of scid mouse technology to questions in reproductive biology.

Mice expressing the scid gene have been used to study major questions in the field of reproductive immunology. Transfer of Mus caroli embryos to the uteri of pseudopregnant scid/scid mice disproved the hypothesis that antigen-specific immune rejection of fetuses was occurring in this model of midgestational pregnancy failure. The results of breeding studies of mice having the scid/scid.bg/bg genotype suggested that uterine lymphocytes have little or no role in promoting embryonic survival under pathogen-free conditions. Further, the results of in vitro studies using uterine lymphocytes from these immunodeficient mice suggested that the cytokines important for pregnancy success were not lymphocyte-derived. Xenogeneic engraftment of embryonic and uterine tissues into scid/scid and scid/scid.bg/bg mice is also successful and has the potential for facilitating studies of the fetomaternal interface in domestic animal species, such as cows and horses, as well as in humans.
The Effect of Cadence on Cycling Efficiency and Local Tissue Oxygenation

Abstract Jacobs, RD, Berg, KE, Slivka, DR, and Noble, JM. The effect of cadence on cycling efficiency and local tissue oxygenation. J Strength Cond Res 27(3): 637–642, 2013—The purpose of this study was to compare 3 cycling cadences in efficiency/economy, local tissue oxygen saturation, heart rate, blood lactate, and global and local rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Subjects were 14 trained cyclists/triathletes (mean age 30.1 ± 5.3 years; V[Combining Dot Above]O2 peak 60.2 ± 5.0 ml·kg−1·min−1) who performed three 8-minute cadence trials (60, 80, and 100 rpm) at 75% of previously measured peak power. Oxygen consumption and respiratory exchange ratio were used to calculate efficiency and economy. Results indicated that both efficiency and economy were higher at the lower cadences. Tissue oxygen saturation was greater at 80 rpm than at 60 or 100 rpm at minute 4, but at minute 8, tissue oxygen saturation at 80 rpm (57 ± 9%) was higher than 100 rpm (54 ± 9%, p = 0.017) but not at 60 rpm (55 ± 11%, p = 0.255). Heart rate and lactate significantly increased from minute 4 and minute 8 (p < 0.05) of submaximal cycling. Local RPE at 80 rpm was lower than at 60 or 100 rpm (p < 0.05). It was concluded that (a) Trained cyclists and triathletes are more efficient and economical when cycling at 60 rpm than 80 or 100 rpm. (b); Local tissue oxygen saturation levels are higher at 80 rpm than 60 and 100 rpm; (c). Heart rate and blood lactate levels are higher with cadences of 80 and 100 than 60 rpm; and (d). Local and global RPE is lower when cycling at 80 rpm than at 60 rpm and 100 rpm. A practical application of these findings is that a cadence of 60 rpm may be advantageous for performance in moderately trained athletes in contrast to higher cadences currently popular among elite cyclists.
Early-season Vineyard Shoot and Leaf Estimation Using Computer Vision Techniques

Abstract. This paper describes computer vision techniques for early-season measurement of vine canopy parameters; leaf count, leaf area and shoot count. Accurate and high-resolution estimation of these key vineyard performance components are important for effective precision management. We use a high-resolution stereo camera with strobe lighting mounted on a ground-vehicle that captures high-quality proximal images of the vines. For shoot image segmentation, we apply the Frangi vessel filter (originally developed for medical imaging processing) in conjunction with custom filtering to extract shoot counts. We also present an incremental leaf count estimation algorithm, that proposes leaf candidates for incremental leaf sizes and then removes the repeating candidates to accurately assess leaf count. The specified algorithms are robust to partial occlusion and varying lighting conditions. For shoot count measurement we observe an F1 score of 0.85 for image shoot count and R correlation of 0.88 for ground-truth shoot counts. The R correlation for leaf count estimation between ground truth sample images and algorithm output is 0.798. Whereas the R correlation between the data collected by a PAR sensor and leaf area estimation algorithm is 0.69
Actinoplanes atraurantiacus sp. nov., isolated from soil.

A Gram-positive-staining bacterium, designated Y16(T), was isolated from a soil sample from Yunnan Province, China. The isolate grew optimally at 25-30 °C, grew at pH 6.0-9.0 and could grow with 3 % NaCl. Strain Y16(T) had cell-wall peptidoglycan based on meso-diaminopimelic acid. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H(4)) and MK-9(H(2)). The major fatty acid methyl esters were anteiso-C(15 : 0), iso-C(15 : 0), anteiso-C(17 : 0) and C(16 : 0). These chemotaxonomic characteristics suggested that the organism belonged to the genus Actinoplanes. Strain Y16(T) shared 98.7, 98.3 and 97.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Actinoplanes deccanensis IFO 13994(T), A. abujensis A4029(T) and A. brasiliensis DSM 43805(T), respectively. The DNA G+C content of the isolate was 70.8 mol%. DNA-DNA relatedness between the novel isolate and the type strains of A. deccanensis, A. abujensis and A. brasiliensis was 35.2, 32.0 and 22.3 %, respectively. In addition, the pattern of phenotypic properties distinguished strain Y16(T) from its closest phylogenetic neighbours. It is therefore concluded that strain Y16(T) ( = CGMCC 4.6857(T) = JCM 17700(T)) represents a novel species of the genus Actinoplanes, for which the name Actinoplanes atraurantiacus sp. nov. is proposed.
Zwischenräume - A Case Study in the Evaluation of Interactive Sound Installations

This paper presents a collaborative project revolving around the conception, the realisation, and the qualitative evaluation of the interactive sound installation zwischenr¨ aume. In the installation interaction is considered in a particular way, in that both the installation and the visitor are regarded as being part of an evolving dynamical system. First, we will frame the addressed question in the relevant research context. Then the installation and the ideas guiding its realisation will be described. Next, the evaluation methods used in this case study will be presented as well as the first results arising from their application. We finally point out how evaluation results could inform the subsequent refinement of the sound installation and directions for future research. The aspects investigated here are part of broader research project that looks into how evaluation strategies could be integrated in the development lifecycle of interactive sound installations.
Synthesis of digital circuits from object oriented specifications

Die Dissertation beschreibt die Erzeugung statischer digitaler Schaltungsstrukturen fur anwendungsspezifische integrierte Schaltungen aus objektorientierten Modellen. Die dafur entwickelten Synthesekonzepte unterstutzen Klassen mit Attributen und Methoden, Vererbung von Klassen, Nachrichtenaustausch zwischen Objekten sowie Polymorphie. Durch die Nutzbarkeit der objektorientierten Konstrukte fur Entwurf, Implementierung und automatische Synthese wird ein methodischer Bruch zur objektorientierten Spezifikation vermieden. Neben der allgemeinen, auf einem Metamodell objektorientierter Systembeschreibungen basierenden Formulierung von Synthesekonzepten und Optimierungsverfahren ist auch deren Umsetzung fur Objective VHDL, eine objektorientierte Variante der Hardwarebeschreibungssprache VHDL, Gegenstand der Arbeit. Mit Hilfe eines Ubersetzungswerkzeugs kann aus einem in Objective VHDL formulierten Synthesemodell VHDL-Quelltext zur Weiterverarbeitung mit gangigen Synthesewerkzeugen erzeugt werden.
Nanotechnologies and controlled release systems for the delivery of antisense oligonucleotides and small interfering RNA

Antisense oligonucleotides and small interfering RNA have enormous potential for the treatment of a number of diseases, including cancer. However, several impediments to their widespread use as drugs still have to be overcome: in particular their lack of stability in physiological fluids and their poor penetration into cells. Association with or encapsulation within nano‐ and microsized drug delivery systems could help to solve these problems. In this review, we describe the progress that has been made using delivery systems composed of natural or synthetic polymers in the form of complexes, nanoparticles or microparticles.
NOAA / ETL STUDIES IN CONDITIONS RELATED TO THE PROPOSED ROSS ISLAND METEOROLOGY EXPERIMENT ( RIME )

The Ross Island Meteorology Experiment (RIME) plans to study the synoptic and mesoscale phenomena along a high-latitude, steep and complex coastline (RIME Workshop Guideline, http://www-bprc.mps.ohio-state.edu/). A key component of RIME is model validation and improvement of physical parameterizations. The Ross Island region is impacted by vigorous storms approaching from the northwest, air-sea interaction over the Ross Sea, air-ice interactions over the Ross Ice shelf, topographic forcing near the coastline, and katabatic flow and other influences from the Antarctic interior. In short, the meteorology of the region is complex and affected by a large variety of physical processes ranging from the continent-scale, to the local scale. Some of the phenomena that will be encountered near Ross Island are likely similar to those measured and documented elsewhere in polar or coastal environments. NOAA's Environmental Technology Laboratory (ETL) has made atmospheric measurements at the South Pole and during several Arctic research programs. The Arctic programs include the Lead Experiment (LeadEx92) in the Beaufort Sea (March –April 1992), the Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic Ocean (SHEBA) project in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas (Oct. 1997-Oct. 1998; Perovich et al. 1999), and the Arctic Ocean Expedition near the North Pole (July Aug, 2001). Wintertime coastal studies of landfalling storms have been done along the U.S. West Coast in the California Landfalling Jets Experiment (CALJET, 11/97-3/98) and the Pacific Landfalling Jets Experiment (PACJET, Jan-Feb, 2001) (Ralph, et al 2001). Some of the significant physical processes and phenomena observed during these field programs and likely relevant to RIME will be presented in this paper. Lessons learned from the measurement methodology, data analysis, and numerical modeling of the processes and ________________________________________ *Corresponding author address: Dr. Ola Persson, R/ET7, NOAA/ETL, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305; ola.persson@noaa.gov phenomena will be discussed, including measurement omissions in these programs. The capabilities of various surface-based remote sensors for deployment in polar regions was reviewed by Neff and Gottas (Cassano and Everett 2000).
Human vision and electronic imaging

Abstract. The ﬁeld of electronic imaging has made incrediblestrides over the past decade producing systems with higher signalquality, complex data formats, sophisticated operations for analyz-ing and visualizing information, advanced interfaces, and richer im-age environments. Since electronic imaging systems and applica-tions are designed for human users, the success of these systemsdepends on the degree to which they match the features of humanvision and cognition. This paper reviews the interplay between hu-man vision and electronic imaging, describing how the methods,models and experiments in human vision have inﬂuenced the devel-opment of imaging systems, and how imaging technologies and ap-plications have raised new research questions for the vision com-munity. Using the past decade of papers from the IS&T/SPIEConference on Human Vision and Electronic Imaging as a lens, wetrace a path up the ‘‘perceptual food chain,’’ showing how researchin low-level vision has inﬂuenced image quality metrics, image com-pression algorithms, rendering techniques and display design, howresearch in attention and pattern recognition have inﬂuenced thedevelopment of image analysis, visualization, and digital librariessystems, and how research in higher-level functions is involved inthe design of emotional, aesthetic, and virtual systems.
A Four-Dimensional Registration Algorithm With Application to Joint Correction of Motion and Slice Timing in fMRI

Existing groupwise image registration algorithms for longitudinal data generally ignore continuous movements and signal changes that occur throughout image acquisition. We emphasize the case of functional magnetic resonance images, which present spatio-temporal distortion due to the combination of head motion during scanning and staggered slice acquisition. While there exist techniques to correct for motion and slice timing separately, a common dilemma is to determine which correction should be applied first. This paper proposes a four-dimensional realignment algorithm to perform both tasks simultaneously. Experiments conducted on simulated datasets with known movements suggest that the proposed algorithm provides more accurate image reconstruction than the classical two-step realignment procedure (temporal then spatial) as implemented, for instance, in the statistical parametric mapping software.
Role of striatal l‐DOPA in the production of dyskinesia in 6‐hydroxydopamine lesioned rats

We explored possible differences in the peripheral and central pharmacokinetics of l‐DOPA as a basis for individual variation in the liability to dyskinesia. Unilaterally, 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA) lesioned rats were treated chronically with l‐DOPA for an induction and monitoring of abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs). Comparisons between dyskinetic and non‐dyskinetic cases were then carried out with regard to plasma and striatal l‐DOPA concentrations, tissue levels of dopamine (DA), DA metabolites, and serotonin. After a single intraperitoneal injection of l‐DOPA, plasma l‐DOPA concentrations did not differ between dyskinetic and non‐dyskinetic animals, whereas peak levels of l‐DOPA in the striatal extracellular fluid were about fivefold larger in the former compared with the latter group. Interestingly, the time course of the AIMs paralleled the surge in striatal l‐DOPA levels. Intrastriatal infusion of l‐DOPA by reverse dialysis concentration dependently induced AIMs in all 6‐OHDA lesioned rats, regardless of a previous priming for dyskinesia. Steady‐state levels of DA and its metabolites in striatal and cortical tissue did not differ between dyskinetic and non‐dyskinetic animals, indicating that the observed difference in motor response to l‐DOPA did not depend on the extent of lesion‐induced DA depletion. These results show that an elevation of l‐DOPA levels in the striatal extracellular fluid is necessary and sufficient for the occurrence of dyskinesia. Individual differences in the central bioavailability of l‐DOPA may provide a clue to the varying susceptibility to dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease.
DNA fingerprinting by pulsed field gel electrophoresis and ribotyping to distinguish Pseudomonas cepacia isolates from a nosocomial outbreak

We typed 40 isolates of Pseudomonas cepacia obtained from patients involved in a single outbreak using pulsed field gel electrophoresis and ribotyping. All isolates from the majority of the patients, 16 of 18 (89%), were included in a single group. These typing methods should aid in the clarification of the epidemiology of infection with P. cepacia.
Outcomes of Adolescents With a Short Electrode Cochlear Implant With Preserved Residual Hearing

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if adolescents with preserved residual low-frequency hearing can develop improved speech perception and maintain localization abilities by combining their acoustic hearing with electrical processing from a short electrode cochlear implant. Study Design: Repeated-measure, single-subject experiment. Setting: Research hospital. Patients: Adolescents with sensorineural hearing loss with a pure-tone average (PTA) between 60 and 90 dB HL between 125 and 1500 Hz and profound loss at higher frequencies. Intervention(s): rehabilitative. Main Outcome Measure(s): Five adolescents received a short electrode cochlear implant in their poorer ear. Audiometric, speech perception in quiet (CNC words), localization, speech production, and language outcomes were collected pre- and postoperatively at 4, 8, 12, and 24 months. Results: Functional hearing preservation was accomplished in all subjects at initial activation and was maintained through 24 months. In the Combined and Hybrid conditions, all subjects showed significant improvements by 4 months postimplantation, with exception of Subject 2 in the Combined condition, who showed a significant improvement by 8 months postimplantation. Results also indicated that all subjects continue to have localization abilities postimplantation. Conclusions: All of the subjects have benefitted from the combined electric and acoustic processing for speech perception abilities. The results from this study suggest that it could be worthwhile to consider acoustic and electric hearing in the adolescent population that have some low-frequency residual hearing and are struggling with hearing aids.
Simulation of the air-oil mixture flow in the scavenge pipe of an aero engine using generalized interphase momentum exchange models

Understanding the flow in aero-engine lubrication systems forms an essential part of future designs for aero-engines. This especially applies to scavenge pipes which contain a complex two-phase flow formed by the interaction of sealing airflow and lubrication oil. In the last decade, two phase flows in pipes are increasingly modelled and simulated with 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) codes. One of the major challenges is to approximate the different flow morphologies developed (bubbly, stratified, annular, slug, e.t.c.) using a unified CFD model without increasing prohibitively the computational cost. This paper presents a methodology for modelling and simulation of the two phase flow of air and oil in the scavenge pipe of an aeroengine. Simulation results are presented and discussed for an experimental study performed at MTU Aero Engines facilities. This work is part of the European Union funded research programme ELUBSYS (Engine LUBrication System TechnologieS) within the 7th EU Frame Programme for Aeronautics and Transport. Key-Words: Two phase flow; multiple local models; aero-engine; scavenge pipe;
Design concept and experimental results of the autonomous underwater vehicle AQUA EXPLORER 2 for the inspection of underwater cables

AQUA EXPLORER 2 (AE2) is the first and only autonomous underwater vehicle in the world which can autonomously track underwater cables and measure their burial depth. Its weight in air is about 260 kg, and its dimensions are 3 m in length, 1.3 m in width and 0.9 m in height. It can swim freely up to 500 m in depth for 24 h continuously. Although the vehicle can communicate with a mother vessel with an acoustic link, only high-level commands are sent to the vehicle and most of the control is done by a built-in computer. When tracking underwater cables, low-frequency current is supplied to the underwater cables. The vehicle can locate and track cables by detecting the magnetic field generated by the current. Since it was first launched in 1997, AE2 has carried out three sea trials and five cable-inspection missions. The total length of inspected cable exceeds 400 km. In 1999, in a real inspection of an underwater telecommunication cable crossing the Taiwan Straight, it was proved that AE2 was robust against current and sand-waves. This paper presents the basic design concept, cable-tracking performance, acoustic links, sea trials and operating results.