Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nicotine dependence, abuse and craving: dimensionality in an Israeli sample.

AIMS Evidence-based changes planned for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5th edition (DSM-5) substance use disorders (SUDs) include combining dependence and three of the abuse criteria into one disorder and adding a criterion indicating craving. Because DSM-IV did not include a category for nicotine abuse, little empirical support is available for aligning the nicotine use disorder criteria with the DSM-5 criteria for other SUDs. DESIGN Latent variable analyses, bootstrap tests and likelihood ratio tests were used to explore the unidimensionality, psychometric properties and information of the nicotine criteria. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS A sample of household residents selected from the Israeli population register yielded 727 life-time cigarette smokers. MEASUREMENTS DSM-IV nicotine dependence criteria and proposed abuse and craving criteria, assessed with a structured interview. FINDINGS Three abuse criteria (hazardous use, social/interpersonal problems and neglect roles) were prevalent among smokers, formed a unidimensional latent trait with nicotine dependence criteria, were intermixed with dependence criteria across the severity spectrum and significantly increased the diagnostic information over the dependence-only model. A craving criterion was shown to fit well with the other criteria. CONCLUSION Similar to findings from research on other substances, nicotine dependence, abuse and craving criteria appear to derive from a common underlying dimension. The results support alignment of nicotine criteria with those for alcohol and drug use disorders in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5th edition.
Nonmedical Use of Antihistaminergic Anxiolytics and Other Prescription Drugs among Persons with Opioid Dependence

Background. Nonmedical prescription drug use (NMPDU) is an increasing problem, insufficiently studied among people in opioid maintenance treatment (OMT). This study investigates the prevalence of and factors associated with NMPDU for drug classes insufficiently described in opioid-dependent populations, including antihistaminergic anxiolytics and central stimulants. Methods. Study participants were recruited at two OMT clinics in Malmo, Sweden, between October 2014 and December 2015 (N = 73) and interviewed about their use, motivations for use, and acquisition and administration of prescription drugs. Results. The majority of the sample reported lifetime NMPDU: 60% for benzodiazepine-like hypnotics (z-drugs), 21% for pregabalin, 19% for stimulants, and 12%–15% for antihistaminergic anxiolytics. Lower age was associated with nonmedical benzodiazepine use (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 0.89; 95% Confidence Interval = 0.82–0.97). Illicit acquisition was reported by 61% of people using z-drugs, 46% of people using pregabalin, and 38% of people using prescription stimulants, but only by 6–10% of people using antihistaminergic anxiolytics. Conclusions. The substantial nonmedical use of pregabalin, z-drugs, and prescription stimulants found in this study suggests that clinicians should prescribe these drugs with great caution. Nonmedical use of antihistaminergic anxiolytics does not seem to be a clinical issue among people in OMT in a Swedish setting, but we propose future studies to monitor their use.
Language Assessment Literacy as Professional Competence: The Case of Canadian Admissions Decision Makers

Abstract This language assessment literacy project involves the collaboration of assessment professionals and admissions officers at higher education institutions across Canada. Following a survey with 20 institutions (Baker, Tsushima, & Wang, 2014), workshops were held at eight institutions across the country dealing with the use of language test scores in university admissions decision making. Recordings of these workshops were analyzed within the typology of workplace knowledge developed by Eraut and his colleagues (Eraut 1994, 2000, 2004a, 2004b; McKee & Eraut, 2012). In addition, participants commented on the usefulness of the workshop materials for their work responsibilities. Results provided insights into a) the language assessment literacy (LAL) base needed for these specific users, including both propositional and procedural components, and b) the possibilities of conceptualizing LAL for these score users as a type of professional workplace competence. Resume Ce projet de sensibilisation en evaluation linguistique a ete effectue avec la collaboration de professionnels de l’evaluation et de responsables des admissions dans les etablissements d’enseignement superieur a travers le Canada. Suite a un sondage effectue aupres de 20 institutions (Baker, Tsushima et Wang, 2014), des ateliers ont ete organises dans huit etablissements a travers le pays traitant de l’utilisation des resultats des tests de langue dans la prise des decisions d’admission. Les enregistrements de ces ateliers ont ete analyses dans la typologie des connaissances en milieu de travail developpe par Eraut et ses collegues (Eraut, 1994, 2000, 2004a, 2004b ; McKee et Eraut, 2012). Les participants ont formule des observations sur l’utilite du materiel d’atelier pour leurs responsabilites professionnelles. Les resultats nous aident a mieux comprendre a) les notions en evaluation de langues les plus pertinentes pour ces utilisateurs specifiques et b) le potentiel de concevoir la « litteratie en evaluation » comme etant un type de competence professionnelle en milieu de travail.
Tobacco Smoke–Related Health Effects Induced by 1,3-Butadiene and Strategies for Risk Reduction

1,3-Butadiene (BD) is a smoke component selected by the World Health Organization (WHO) study group on Tobacco Product Regulation (TobReg) for mandated lowering. We examined the tobacco smoke–related health effects induced by BD and possible health impacts of risk reduction strategies. BD levels in mainstream smoke (MSS) from international and Canadian cigarettes and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) were derived from scientific journals and international government reports. Dose-response analyses from toxicity studies from government reports were evaluated and the most sensitive cancer and noncancer endpoints were selected. The risks were evaluated by taking the ratio (margin of exposure, MOE) from the most sensitive toxicity endpoint and appropriate exposure estimates for BD in MSS and ETS. BD is a good choice for lowering given that MSS and ETS were at levels for cancer (leukemia) and noncancer (ovarian atrophy) risks, and the risks can be significantly lowered when lowering the BD concentrations in smoke. Several risk reduction strategies were analyzed including a maximum level of 125% of the median BD value per milligram nicotine obtained from international brands as recommended by the WHO TobReg, tobacco substitute sheets, dual and triple carbon filters, and polymer-derived carbon. The use of tobacco substitute sheet with a polymer-derived carbon filter resulted in the most significant change in risk for cancer and noncancer effects. Our results demonstrate that MOE analysis might be a practical way to assess the impact of risk reduction strategies on human health in the future.
Exendin-4 Pretreated Adipose Derived Stem Cells Are Resistant to Oxidative Stress and Improve Cardiac Performance via Enhanced Adhesion in the Infarcted Heart

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), which were largely generated after myocardial ischemia, severely impaired the adhesion and survival of transplanted stem cells. In this study, we aimed to determine whether Exendin-4 pretreatment could improve the adhesion and therapeutic efficacy of transplanted adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) in ischemic myocardium. In vitro, H2O2 was used to provide ROS environments, in which ADSCs pretreated with Exendin-4 were incubated. ADSCs without pretreatment were used as control. Then, cell adhesion and viability were analyzed with time. Compared with control ADSCs, Exendin-4 treatment significantly increased the adhesion of ADSCs in ROS environment, while reduced intracellular ROS and cell injury as determined by dihydroethidium (DHE) staining live/Dead staining, lactate dehydrogenase-release assay and MTT assay. Western Blotting demonstrated that ROS significantly decreased the expression of adhesion-related integrins and integrin-related focal adhesion proteins, which were significantly reversed by Exendin-4 pretreatment and followed by decreases in caspase-3, indicating that Exendin-4 may facilitate cell survival through enhanced adhesion. In vivo, myocardial infarction (MI) was induced by the left anterior descending artery ligation in SD rats. Autologous ADSCs with or without Exendin-4 pretreatment were injected into the border area of infarcted hearts, respectively. Multi-techniques were used to assess the beneficial effects after transplantation. Longitudinal bioluminescence imaging and histological staining revealed that Exendin-4 pretreatment enhanced the survival and differentiation of engrafted ADSCs in ischemic myocardium, accompanied with significant benefits in cardiac function, matrix remodeling, and angiogenesis compared with non-pretreated ADSCs 4 weeks post-transplantation. In conclusion, transplantation of Exendin-4 pretreated ADSCs significantly improved cardiac performance and can be an innovative approach in the clinical perspective.
Current sharing in multiphase boost ZVS active-clamping converters

Power stages can be connected in parallel to increase the output power. Whenever, it requires current sharing among phases, to optimize the design. A method to achieve the desired current sharing is with equalizing resistors, what it means power losses, or connecting converters with high impedance. In this work has been studied that input impedance of active clamp boost converters can work as a lossless equalizing resistor to achieve current sharing and benefits of soft switching can be added to the benefits of parallel association.
Social Skills Training for Abused Girls: Interpersonal Skills Training for Sexually Abused Girls

Four sexually abused girls participated in a 12-session group training program focused on improving interpersonal problems identified by the girls' teachers. Prior to and following the intervention, the girls underwent role-play assessment of their behaviour in relevant social situations with peers and teachers, and completed a self-report measures of perceived self-concept. For two of the girls, teachers completed checklists of their behavioural functioning before and after the intervention. On the role-play measure, the girls showed improvement on all of the trained behaviours (with peers and teachers), and evidenced behavioural improvements on untrained (generalisation) scenes. In addition, the girls reported improvements in perceived academic competence, peer functioning, appearance, and global self-concept following the training program. The study provides an example of a behavioural skills-training approach to address interpersonal deficits that may be shown by sexually abused children.
Conditional Modeling in an Equation-Based Environment

We identify the modeling capabilities needed for the efficient representation of conditional models in an equation-based environment and describe modeling tools for the performance of each of these tasks: conditional configuration of a model structure, conditional compilation and conditional execution of procedural statements. We also describe the details of the computer implementation of these tools and show how the expressiveness of an equation-based modeling language increases with their incorporation. Several chemical engineering examples are presented to demonstrate the scope of application of the proposed extensions.
Nonlinear dynamics analysis in patients with coronary heart disease in Chinese

The article emphasizes clinical significance of exercise electrocardiograph (ECG) test with nonlinear analysis applied on patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). The synchronous 12-lead ECG signals of sixty old patients with CHD have been studied by the methods of correlation dimension. The patients with CHD had lower correlation dimension in each exercise test program. The results also showed that correlation dimensions are different in each lead of ECG signal even in the same patient. The study shows that the correlation dimension is a valuable parameter in analyzing nonlinear dynamical characteristics of the ECG signal and may complement differential diagnosis in CHD.
Dimeric chlorite dismutase from the nitrogen‐fixing cyanobacterium C yanothece sp. PCC7425

It is demonstrated that cyanobacteria (both azotrophic and non‐azotrophic) contain heme b oxidoreductases that can convert chlorite to chloride and molecular oxygen (incorrectly denominated chlorite ‘dismutase’, Cld). Beside the water‐splitting manganese complex of photosystem II, this metalloenzyme is the second known enzyme that catalyses the formation of a covalent oxygen–oxygen bond. All cyanobacterial Clds have a truncated N‐terminus and are dimeric (i.e. clade 2) proteins. As model protein, Cld from Cyanothece sp. PCC7425 (CCld) was recombinantly produced in Escherichia coli and shown to efficiently degrade chlorite with an activity optimum at pH 5.0 [kcat 1144 ± 23.8 s−1, KM 162 ± 10.0 μM, catalytic efficiency (7.1 ± 0.6) × 106 M−1 s−1]. The resting ferric high‐spin axially symmetric heme enzyme has a standard reduction potential of the Fe(III)/Fe(II) couple of −126 ± 1.9 mV at pH 7.0. Cyanide mediates the formation of a low‐spin complex with kon = (1.6 ± 0.1) × 105 M−1 s−1 and koff = 1.4 ± 2.9 s−1 (KD ∼ 8.6 μM). Both, thermal and chemical unfolding follows a non‐two‐state unfolding pathway with the first transition being related to the release of the prosthetic group. The obtained data are discussed with respect to known structure–function relationships of Clds. We ask for the physiological substrate and putative function of these O2‐producing proteins in (nitrogen‐fixing) cyanobacteria.
H2 performance analysis of reset control systems

To overcome fundamental limitations of linear controllers, reset controllers were proposed in literature. Since the closed loop system including such a reset controller is of a hybrid nature, it is difficult to determine its performance. The focus in this paper is to determine the performance of a SISO reset control system in H2 sense. The method is generally applicable in the sense that it is valid for any proper LTI plant and linear-based reset controller. We derive convex optimization problems in terms of LMIs to compute an upperbound on the H2 norm, using dissipativity theory with piecewise quadratic Lyapunov functions. Finally, by means of a simple multiobjective tracking example, we show that reset control can outperform a linear controller obtained via a standard multiobjective control design method.
Effectiveness of Temporal Snippets

We introduce the notion of time-centered snippets, called TSnippet, as document surrogates for document retrieval and exploration. We propose an alternative document snippet based on temporal information that can be useful for supporting exploratory search. The idea of using sentences that contain the most frequent chronons (units of time) can be used for constructing document surrogates. We conducted a series of experiments to evaluate this new approach using a crowdsourcing approach. The evaluation against two Web search engines shows that our technique produces good snippets and users like to see time-sensitive information in search results.
A Delay-Sensitive Connected Target Coverage Algorithm in Wireless Sensor Networks

The issue of guaranteeing the network QoS (target coverage, network connectivity, etc.) to maximize the lifetime in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) has been widely studied in recent years. In some delay- sensitive sensor networks (fires, gas leaks, explosions, etc.), sensor nodes must transmit their data to sink within a limited period to monitor the critical physical environment. In order to study connected target coverage in such delay-sensitive sensor networks, we are the first one to propose the Delay-Constraint Connected Target Coverage (DCCTC) problem and study the following works specifically: 1) we model DCCTC problem as a Height Limited Maximum Cover Tree (HLMCT) problem, and then give an upper bound on the network lifetime for HLMCT problem; 2) we develop a fast heuristic algorithm, named HLCWGC; 3) we study the performance of HLCWGC algorithm by comparing it with other existing algorithms improved to solve HLMCT problem. Simulation results show that HLCWGC algorithm can achieve a better performance than other improved algorithms in the delay-sensitive sensor networks. Copyright © 2014 IFSA Publishing, S. L.
DOA estimation for the near-field correlated sources with interpolated array technique

The problem of estimating the directions of arrival (DOAs) of perfectly correlated signals in the near-field (the Fresnel region of the array aperture) is considered. A new estimation algorithm which combines the ideas of spatial smoothing and array interpolation in the near-field is derived. The proposed technique can be applied to uniform linear array geometries in the near-field when the ranges of the sources are similar. Making use of interpolated array technique, we can place the ‘virtual elements’ of the interpolated array as a uniform linear array approximated in the far field, and estimate the bearing of correlated signals using the virtual array geometries. The performance of this new algorithm was evaluated by extensive simulations.
Noisy Speech Recognition using Wavelets and FCM

Speech recognition rate decreases, as the background noise increases. Robustness of the system declines in the presence of background noise and it varies for different types of noises. This paper presents the application of wavelet technique in the pre-emphasis phase to increase the robustness of the recognition system in the presence of the noise. It also highlights the importance of applying wavelets and Fuzzy Clustering technique in improving the performance of the speech recognition system. Recognition accuracies are compared and tabulated for various combinations of feature extraction techniques and clustering algorithms for both additive and convolution noises. Performance of all these systems are discussed in terms of recognition accuracies.
The effect of stimuli and angles on the perception of echo thresholds

The effect of stimuli and angles on the perception of echo thresholds Original Citation Davis, Lee (2016) The effect of stimuli and angles on the perception of echo thresholds. Masters thesis, University of Huddersfield. Users may access full items free of charge; copies of full text items generally can be reproduced, displayed or performed and given to third parties in any format or medium for personal research or study, educational or not­for­profit purposes without prior permission or charge, provided: • The authors, title and full bibliographic details is credited in any copy; • A hyperlink and/or URL is included for the original metadata page; and • The content is not changed in any way. i. The author of this thesis (including any appendices and/or schedules to this thesis) owns any copyright in it (the " Copyright ") and s/he has given The University of Huddersfield the right to use such copyright for any administrative, promotional, educational and/or teaching purposes. ii. Copies of this thesis, either in full or in extracts, may be made only in accordance with the regulations of the University Library. Details of these regulations may be obtained from the Librarian. This page must form part of any such copies made. iii. The ownership of any patents, designs, trademarks and any and all other intellectual property rights except for the Copyright (the " Intellectual Property Rights ") and any reproductions of copyright works, for example graphs and tables (" Reproductions "), which may be described in this thesis, may not be owned by the author and may be owned by third parties. Such Intellectual Property Rights and Reproductions cannot and must not be made available for use without the prior written permission of the owner(s) of the relevant Intellectual Property Rights and/or Reproductions. Abstract This paper looks into comparisons of time differences recorded for echo thresholds under differing stimuli, angles and listener instructions. Previous research has fo-cused on echo thresholds primarily with regards to level difference or a limited combination of these variables. Contrasting listener instructions between research such as " echo barely audible " and " echo clearly audible " has been shown to produce different thresholds. The former instruction resulted in summing localisation being considered and lower thresholds. Listeners manipulated sliders on a GUI to reduce the time difference between two randomly selected loudspeakers. Two tests were undertaken to grade the beginning of separation with fusion …
Gateway to the Cloud - Case Study: A Privacy-Aware Environment for Electronic Health Records Research

We describe a study in the domain of health informatics which includes some novel requirements for patient confidentiality in the context of medical health research. We present a prototype which takes health records from a commercial data provider, anonymises them in an innovative way and makes them available within a secure cloud-based Virtual Research Environment (VRE). Data anonymity is tailored as required for individual researchers' needs and ethics committee approval. VREs are dynamically configured to model each researcher's personal research environment while maintaining data integrity, provenance generation and patient confidentiality.
Classification of Sensitive Web Documents

Web document classification is the process of grouping web documents into one or more predefined categories based on their content. It is an important component of web monitor system that can assist people to reduce the dissemination of harmful information. This paper proposes a combined approach for building a decision tree with the multilayer neural network as its categorically value function, and presented a complete approach for automated news categorization. The experimental evaluation demonstrates that this approach provides better classification accuracy than single traditional text categorization methods.
Reals which Compute Little

We investigate combinatorial lowness properties of sets of natural numbers (reals). The real A is super-low if A′ ≤tt ∅′, and A is jump-traceable if the values of {e}A(e) can be effectively approximated in a sense to be specified. We investigate those properties, in particular showing that super-lowness and jump-traceability coincide within the r.e. sets but none of the properties implies the other within the ω-r.e. sets. Finally we prove that, for any low r.e. set B, there is is a K-trivial set A 6≤T B.