Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Stimulus-Response Account of Stroop and Reverse Stroop Effects

I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. This is a true copy of the thesis, including any required final revisions, as accepted by my examiners. I understand that my thesis may be made electronically available to the public. Abstract This thesis concerns selective attention in the context of the Stroop task (identify the colour) and Reverse Stroop task (identify the word). When a person is asked to select and identify one dimension of a bidimensional stimulus (e.g., the word RED printed in green) the typical finding is that the word influences colour identification (i.e., the Stroop effect) but the colour does not influence word identification (i.e., no Reverse Stroop effect). A major account of performance in these tasks posits that one dimension interferes with the other only when a translation occurs The first part of this thesis completely undermines the translation assumption. In a series of four experiments (two unique paradigms), I demonstrate that interference from the colour in a Reverse Stroop task occurs in the absence of a translation. The second part of this thesis contains two additional experiments designed to discriminate between translation effects and response conflict effects. The results of these experiments confirm that a translation was not required because no stimulus conflict effect, the most likely locus of a translation effect, was observed. However, response conflict effects were observed. The third part of this thesis implements a computational model based on the principle that the strength of association (Cohen, Dunbar, & McClelland, iv Psychological Review, 1990) between a specific stimulus and its response (Logan, Psychological Review, 1988) is important in determining the influence of the irrelevant dimension. This model has no translation mechanism. A final experiment was conducted to test this model; the model accounted for over 98% of the variance in RTs and 92% of the variance in interference and facilitation scores in both the Stroop and Reverse Stroop tasks independent of whether a translation was required.
Two-Sided Learning with Applications to Labor Turnover and Worker Displacement

Summary We make several extensions to the recent literature on job loss while modernizing the very early job-displacement literature. After constructing a dynamic model of two-sided learning between a firm and its workers, we estimate it using personnel data from Fokker Aircraft that cover the path of layoffs and quits through its bankruptcy in March 1996. We find that the firm learns about workers' loyalty (demonstrating the role of information in repeated cooperative principal- agent relationships), while workers do not learn (consistent with earlier empirical results on American workers). The type of data that we use also generates information on the value of learning and on whether and how the characteristics of workers who remain until the firm's death differ from those of all affected workers. It thus allows us to measure the increases in the firm's value from learning about its workers' behavior and to infer the extent of biases in estimating losses from displacement from samples restricted to displaced workers.
Deriving a test collection for clinical information retrieval from systematic reviews

In this paper, we describe the construction of a test collection for evaluating clinical information retrieval. The purpose of this test collection is to provide a basis for researchers to experiment with PECO-structured queries. Systematic reviews are used as a starting point for generating queries and relevance judgments. We give some details on the difficulties encountered in building this resource and report the results achieved by current state-of-the-art approaches.
Railway passenger ticket pricing policy portfolio

Through summarizing the previous research about railway passenger fares, this paper proposed a new idea of fare policy portfolio. Considering the various characteristics of fare policy, this paper combined the traditional fare policies to form a pricing policy portfolio, established some mathematic models and also proved the existence of equilibrium price. Combination of market segmentation, market competition and dynamic pricing policy is a suitable railway fare policy portfolio which applies to China railway passenger transport development situation.
Sensing X Chromosome Pairs Before X Inactivation via a Novel X-Pairing Region of the Xic

Mammalian dosage compensation involves silencing of one of the two X chromosomes in females and is controlled by the X-inactivation center (Xic). The Xic, which includes Xist and its antisense transcription unit Tsix/Xite, somehow senses the number of X chromosomes and triggers Xist up-regulation from one of the two X chromosomes in females. We found that a segment of the mouse Xic lying several hundred kilobases upstream of Xist brings the two Xics together before the onset of X inactivation. This region can autonomously drive Xic trans-interactions even as an ectopic single-copy transgene. Its introduction into male embryonic stem cells is strongly selected against, consistent with a possible role in trans-activating Xist. We propose that homologous associations driven by this novel X-pairing region (Xpr) of the Xic enable a cell to sense that more than one X chromosome is present and coordinate reciprocal Xist/Tsix expression.
ComFlux: External Composition and Adaptation of Pervasive Applications

Technology is becoming increasingly pervasive. At present, the system components working together to provide functionality, be they purely software or with a physical element, tend to operate within silos, bound to a particular application or usage. This is counter to the wider vision of pervasive computing, where a potentially limitless number of applications can be realised through the dynamic and seamless interactions of system components. We believe this application composition should be externally controlled, driven by policy and subject to access control. We present ComFlux, our open source middleware, and show through a number of designs and implementations, how it supports this functionality with acceptable overhead.
Mean Shift Spectral Clustering using Kernel Entropy Component Analysis

We present a promising clustering algorithm which combines mean shift (MS) clustering and spectral clustering (SC). A novel feature of the method is the use of two bandwidths, one for the mean shift algorithm in the first stage and another for the spectral clustering in the second. The first bandwidth should describe the local details, while the second captures the global structure of the dataset. Compared to traditional spectral clustering, our method may handle larger data sets, and the proposed MSSC procedure is shown to provide good clustering results in general when following some basic principles for selecting parameters.
An assessment of high risk sexual behaviour and HIV transmission among migrant oil workers in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria.

BACKGROUND A cross--sectional behavioural survey undertaken amongst migrant oil-workers of an oil exploration outfit operating in the Niger-Delta of Nigeria with the aim of assessing the interplay of migrancy, high-risk sexual behaviour and HIV transmission. METHOD A total of 300 randomly selected migrant oil workers were assessed using structured questionnaires to evaluate key high - risk sexual behavioral parameters such as multiplicity of sexual partners, bisexuality (closet homosexuality), high grade sexual behaviour and lesbianism. Sampling period was two months with a control cohort of 200. RESULT The prevalence of high risk sexual behaviour (HRSB) amongst the migrant oil workers was found to be 7.7% while low-risk sexual behaviour (LRSB) was 92.3%. There was no record of HRSB in the control group. We did not also encounter any lesbian sexual orientation in this study. The distribution of HRSB amongst the migrant oil workers showed that the commonest variety was bisexuality (closet homosexuality) with 10(43.5%) followed by high-risk sexual behaviour 7(30.4%), while the least common was multiplicity of sexual partners with 6 (26.1%). Furthermore, majority of these individuals 19 (82.6%) were above the age of 35 years. The index of condom-use and acceptance was high. Here 14 (60.9%) found condom-use convenient while 13 (56.5%) regularly used the condom. CONCLUSION This study confirms the existence of HRSB among migrant oil workers in the Niger delta. It is therefore advisable to focus interventionist and prevention programmes on this group which appear to be pivotal in the transmission and spread of HIV/AIDS in this environment.
An efficient 3D-IC on-chip test framework to embed TSV testing in memory BIST

TSV-based 3D-IC design can reduce the connection length of stacked ICs and enhance I/O bandwidth of heterogeneous integrated circuits. However the testing of 3D ICs is more complicated than that of 2D ICs. This paper presents an efficient on-chip 3D-IC test framework that can embed the test procedure of TSVs into the memory BIST process. By using the same test patterns generated from the memory BIST mechanism, the faults in both memories and TSVs can be detected simultaneously without extra time to test TSVs. The area overhead for on-chip testing can also be reduced significantly. Experimental results show that the proposed test framework can gain a good performance in test time reduction with very low area overhead penalty for a memory-logic stacked IC.
Gene Classification Using Codon Usage and Support Vector Machines

A novel approach for gene classification, which adopts codon usage bias as input feature vector for classification by support vector machines (SVM) is proposed. The DNA sequence is first converted to a 59-dimensional feature vector where each element corresponds to the relative synonymous usage frequency of a codon. As the input to the classifier is independent of sequence length and variance, our approach is useful when the sequences to be classified are of different lengths, a condition that homology-based methods tend to fail. The method is demonstrated by using 1,841 Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) sequences which are classified into two major classes: HLA-I and HLA-II; each major class is further subdivided into sub-groups of HLA-I and HLA-II molecules. Using codon usage frequencies, binary SVM achieved accuracy rate of 99.3% for HLA major class classification and multi-class SVM achieved accuracy rates of 99.73% and 98.38% for sub-class classification of HLA-I and HLA-II molecules, respectively. The results show that gene classification based on codon usage bias is consistent with the molecular structures and biological functions of HLA molecules.
Time-Dimension Models of Spectrum Usage for the Analysis, Design, and Simulation of Cognitive Radio Networks

This paper addresses the problem of accurately modeling the spectrum occupancy patterns of real radio communication systems, which is an essential aspect in the study of cognitive radio (CR) networks. The main drawbacks and limitations of previous works are identified, and the methodological procedures on which they rely are improved and extended. Two sophisticated measurement platforms, providing low and high time resolutions, are used to obtain extensive real-world data from a multiband spectrum measurement campaign, embracing a wide variety of spectrum bands of practical interest for CR applications. A comprehensive, systematical, and rigorous analysis of the statistical properties observed in the measurement data is then performed to find accurate models capable of capturing and reproducing, within reasonable complexity limits, the statistical properties of temporal patterns, at both short and long timescales, in real wireless systems. Innovative modeling approaches capable of simultaneously describing statistical properties at both timescales are developed as well. In summary, this paper contributes realistic and accurate time-dimension spectrum usage models for their application to the study and development of CR.
An approach to machine translation via the rule-to-rule hypothesis

The rule-to-rule hypothesis says that every syntax rule has its counterpart in se- mantics. If we replace semantics with translation, we get a basic concept a machine transla- tion system can rely on. Syntax-translation pairs are represented by pairs of patterns where pattern can stand for both rules and lexical items. Combining the advantages of example- based and rule-based machine translation, a new paradigm, pattern-based translation is in- troduced. The system called MetaMorpho based on these principles has been tested for English-Hungarian translation, and showed very promising results both in translation qual- ity and speed.
“Brother, Can You Spare Some Time, or a Dime?”

This study investigates the role that culture plays in the effect of intimacy, relationship type, and resources on obligations. Participants (n = 144 U.S. undergraduates and n = 122 Chinese undergraduate and graduate students) were asked about their obligations to another person. Chinese, as compared to Americans, reported greater obligation and greater likelihood to expend money to help another. Americans reported greater intimacy with others and greater likelihood of expending time talking. Chinese are willing to “spare a dime” (i.e., help with money), whereas Americans are willing to “spare some time” (i.e., help with time). Americans exhibited a greater degree of transitivity, as assessed by the extent to which obligations to a person known directly are transferred to the person known indirectly.
Adapting and validating the Strengths Use and Deficit Improvement Questionnaire for educators in Gauteng

Orientation: No scale specifically applicable to educators within the South African context is available to measure their perceptions of how they or their school utilise strengths and improve deficits. Research Purpose: To determine whether an adapted version of the newly developed Strengths Use and Deficit Improvement Questionnaire (SUDIQ) is valid and reliable. Motivation for the Study: Valuable insights regarding strengths use and deficit improvement for both the educator and educational institutions could be gained from an adapted and validated SUDIQ. Research Design, Approach and Method: A cross-sectional research approach was used. A convenient sample (N = 502) of educators in Gauteng was used. Confirmatory factor analysis, convergent, discriminant and empirical validity were used to determine the validity and reliability of the SUDIQ. Main Findings: A four-factor structure was established for the adapted SUDIQ. Relationships between the SUDIQ dimensions and similar theoretical constructs were positive and significant. Perceived organisational support for strengths use, proactive behaviour towards strengths use and proactive behaviour towards deficit improvement significantly predicted engagement, whilst only proactive behaviour towards strengths use predicted burnout. Practical Implications: Educational institutions can benefit from gaining insight into how individuals perceive strengths use and deficit improvement from a personal and organisational perspective. Contribution/Value-add: This study adds value to the limited research on using strengths and improving deficits from both an organisational and individual perspective and possible outcomes, specifically amongst educators, within the South African context. Key terms: Strengths Use and Deficit Improvement Questionnaire, perceived organisational support for strengths use, perceived organisational support for deficit improvement, proactive behaviour towards strengths use, proactive behaviour towards deficit improvement, validation, Gauteng educators, positive
Efficient Delay Calculation in Presence of Crosstalk

Efficient and accurate delay calculation is very important in physical design, optimization and fast verification. In this paper we consider explicit delay calculation for RC interconnects with coupling capacitance. The formulae are derived using a simplified transfer function which offers enough accuracy. We have expressed coefficients of two pole transfer function in terms of circuit parameters. Moment matching methods do not yield such explicit expressions. Our simplified delay calculation method is most suitable in physical design and fast timing verification where the dependency of delay on circuit parameters is essential.
Twin and Sibling Studies Using Health Insurance Data: The Example of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Background and Aims Twin studies are used to assess the contribution of genetic factors to the aetiology of diseases. To show the feasibility of such research on the basis of health insurance data, we analysed twin and sibling data on the attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD). Methods The GePaRD consists of data from four statutory health insurances, including around 17% of the total population of Germany. Among those insured in 2005, we identified 286,653 non-twin sibling pairs and 12,486 twin pairs. Each pair consisted of an index child (6 to 12 years old) and a co-sibling of equal age or up to five years older. ADHD cases were identified by hospital or ambulatory ICD-10 diagnoses (F90.0 or F90.1) and prescriptions. We estimated tetrachoric correlations, percentage of concordant pairs, concordance rates, and heritability. Weighted estimates for the indirect assessment of mono- and dizygotic pairs were derived. Results Tetrachoric correlations were highest for twin pairs of the same sex (males: 0.85, 95% CI 0.81–0.89; females: 0.81, 95% CI 0.73–0.88) and lowest for opposite-sex non-twin sibling pairs (0.43, 95% CI 0.41–0.45). Heritability estimates were 0.88 (95% CI: 0.79–0.97) for males and 0.77 (95% CI: 0.60–0.95) for females. Conclusions The study clearly reproduced the well-known strong genetic component in the aetiology of ADHD. This approach could be used for further assessments of genetic components in other diseases.
Effect of hyperthermia on uterine and umbilical blood flows in pregnant sheep

Uterine and umbilical blood flows were measured in pregnant sheep (125‐142 days gestation) under normothermic and hyperthermic conditions using the Fick principle with [14C]antipyrine as the indicator. Exposure of the sheep to an ambient temperature of 43 +/− 1 degrees C (25‐30% relative humidity) for 8 h increased maternal and fetal core temperatures 1.19 +/− 0.15 and 1.39 +/− 0.12 degrees C respectively. Maternal hyperventilation caused a significant decrease of both maternal and fetal arterial partial pressure of CO2 (Pa,CO2) and increase of arterial pH. Uterine blood flow increased significantly during the hyperthermia (+54.2 +/− 14.1%), the increase being correlated with the magnitude of the decrease of maternal Pa,CO2 (r = ‐0.84, P < 0.05) but not with the increase of maternal core temperature. The increase of uterine blood flow was not associated with a concomitant increase in the placental clearance of [14C]antipyrine, a result which could arise if the increase of blood flow was non‐placental (i.e. did not occur within the cotyledons), or occurred through uterine arteriovenous shunts during the period of heat stress. Hyperthermia was not associated with a significant change of umbilical blood flow, placental transfer of glucose, or fetal glucose uptake. Since the loss of heat from the fetus occurs mainly across the placenta, we speculate that the apparent increase of uterine blood flow during maternal hyperthermia has an adaptive significance by maintaining conductive heat flux in a fetomaternal direction, even though cotyledonary (placental) blood flows did not increase.
Functional blood volume and distribution of specific blood flow in the kidney of man.

A method has been devised to determine the distribution of blood flow through the kidney in man and animals. The studies reported here have been accomplished in humans by using catheterization of renal artery and vein so as to administer a dye indicator at the entrance of the system and measure its behavior at the exit. Through a transformation of the equation of the dye curve the distribution of specific blood flow is inferred. The distribution function seems to be superimposable from one individual to another. The ratio of the half width to the first moment of the distribution function remains nearly constant under widely variable physiological conditions. Renal blood volume and renal capillary surface area are also measured. specific renal blood flow; functional renal blood volume; renal blood volume; capillary blood volume; renal capillary surface area Submitted on October 9, 1964
Analysis of myofibrillar structure and assembly using fluorescently labeled contractile proteins

To study how contractile proteins become organized into sarcomeric units in striated muscle, we have exposed glycerinated myofibrils to fluorescently labeled actin, alpha-actinin, and tropomyosin. In this in vitro system, alpha-actinin bound to the Z-bands and the binding could not be saturated by prior addition of excess unlabeled alpha-actinin. Conditions known to prevent self-association of alpha-actinin, however, blocked the binding of fluorescently labeled alpha-actinin to Z-bands. When tropomyosin was removed from the myofibrils, alpha-actinin then added to the thin filaments as well as the Z-bands. Actin bound in a doublet pattern to the regions of the myosin filaments where there were free cross-bridges i.e., in that part of the A-band free of interdigitating native thin filaments but not in the center of the A- band which lacks cross-bridges. In the presence of 0.1-0.2 mM ATP, no actin binding occurred. When unlabeled alpha-actinin was added first to myofibrils and then labeled actin was added fluorescence occurred not in a doublet pattern but along the entire length of the myofibril. Tropomyosin did not bind to myofibrils unless the existing tropomyosin was first removed, in which case it added to the thin filaments in the l-band. Tropomyosin did bind, however, to the exogenously added tropomyosin-free actin that localizes as a doublet in the A-band. These results indicate that the alpha-actinin present in Z-bands of myofibrils is fully complexed with actin, but can bind exogenous alpha- actinin and, if actin is added subsequently, the exogenous alpha- actinin in the Z-band will bind the newly formed fluorescent actin filaments. Myofibrillar actin filaments did not increase in length when G-actin was present under polymerizing conditions, nor did they bind any added tropomyosin. These observations are discussed in terms of the structure and in vivo assembly of myofibrils.