Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Psychoacoustic Tinnitus Loudness and Tinnitus-Related Distress Show Different Associations with Oscillatory Brain Activity

Background The phantom auditory perception of subjective tinnitus is associated with aberrant brain activity as evidenced by magneto- and electroencephalographic studies. We tested the hypotheses (1) that psychoacoustically measured tinnitus loudness is related to gamma oscillatory band power, and (2) that tinnitus loudness and tinnitus-related distress are related to distinct brain activity patterns as suggested by the distinction between loudness and distress experienced by tinnitus patients. Furthermore, we explored (3) how hearing impairment, minimum masking level, and (4) psychological comorbidities are related to spontaneous oscillatory brain activity in tinnitus patients. Methods and Findings Resting state oscillatory brain activity recorded electroencephalographically from 46 male tinnitus patients showed a positive correlation between gamma band oscillations and psychoacoustic tinnitus loudness determined with the reconstructed tinnitus sound, but not with the other psychoacoustic loudness measures that were used. Tinnitus-related distress did also correlate with delta band activity, but at electrode positions different from those associated with tinnitus loudness. Furthermore, highly distressed tinnitus patients exhibited a higher level of theta band activity. Moreover, mean hearing loss between 0.125 kHz and 16 kHz was associated with a decrease in gamma activity, whereas minimum masking levels correlated positively with delta band power. In contrast, psychological comorbidities did not express significant correlations with oscillatory brain activity. Conclusion Different clinically relevant tinnitus characteristics show distinctive associations with spontaneous brain oscillatory power. Results support hypothesis (1), but exclusively for the tinnitus loudness derived from matching to the reconstructed tinnitus sound. This suggests to preferably use the reconstructed tinnitus spectrum to determine psychoacoustic tinnitus loudness. Results also support hypothesis (2). Moreover, hearing loss and minimum masking level correlate with oscillatory power in distinctive frequency bands. The lack of an association between psychological comorbidities and oscillatory power may be attributed to the overall low level of mental health problems in the present sample.
Decrease in eccentric quadriceps and hamstring strength in recreational alpine skiers after prolonged skiing

Background To effectively prevent injury in recreational alpine skiing, it is important to identify modifiable risk factors that can be targeted through exercise and training. Fatigue is a potential risk factor in recreational skiing, but no investigations have evaluated concentric/eccentric quadriceps and hamstring fatigue in recreational skiers. We tested the hypothesis that recreational skiing is associated with more pronounced eccentric as compared with concentric muscle fatigue. Methods Twenty-four healthy and fit recreational skiers (14 male and 10 female) performed an isokinetic muscle test 1 day before, 1 h after, and 24 h after a 4 h skiing session. The testing protocol consisted of concentric and eccentric quadriceps and hamstring contractions for both legs. Results Eccentric peak hamstring torque (both thighs) and eccentric peak quadriceps torque (left thigh) were reduced in male and female participants (p<0.05). Reduced peak torques were still present 24 h after the skiing session. There were no other significant findings. Summary Recreational skiing is associated with prolonged (at least 24 h) eccentric quadriceps (left thigh) and hamstring (both thighs) fatigue in men and women. Eccentric quadriceps and hamstring fatigue may be a potential injury risk factor in male and female recreational skiers. This provides some justification for judicious use of additional eccentric training modalities for alpine skiing.
Ontogeny of Intestinal Epithelial Innate Immune Responses

Emerging evidence indicates that processes during postnatal development might significantly influence the establishment of mucosal host-microbial homeostasis. Developmental and adaptive immunological processes but also environmental and microbial exposure early after birth might thus affect disease susceptibility and health during adult life. The present review aims at summarizing the current understanding of the intestinal epithelial innate immune system and its developmental and adaptive changes after birth.
Oxidative Stress and Endothelin-1 in Atherosclerotic Renal Artery Stenosis and Effects of Renal Angioplasty

Aims: To examine biomarkers of oxidative stress (oxs), and endothelin (ET)-1, in hypertensive patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) and to evaluate the effect of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA). Methods: Baseline measurements were made immediately before renal angiography in patients with suspected ARAS (significant ARAS, n = 83, and non-RAS, n = 59) and in 20 healthy, matched controls. In patients with ARAS, analyses were repeated 4 weeks after PTRA. All patients were treated with statins and acetylsalicylic acid throughout. Results: At baseline there were no significant differences between groups in biomarkers of oxs, whereas high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and blood leukocytes were significantly elevated in group ARAS versus both healthy controls and group non-RAS. Plasma levels of ET-1 and uric acid were significantly increased in group ARAS versus healthy controls prior to angiography and were significantly reduced compared to baseline 4 weeks after PTRA. PTRA had no significant effects on biomarkers of oxs, inflammation or serum creatinine concentrations. Conclusions: ARAS patients on treatment with antihypertensive agents, acetylsalicylic acid and statins showed elevated inflammatory indices but no increase in oxs. PTRA had no significant effects on inflammatory indices 4 weeks after intervention but reduced plasma ET-1 and uric acid.
Extending Consensus Clustering to Explore Multiple Clustering Views

Consensus clustering has emerged as an important extension of the classical clustering problem. Given a set of input clusterings of a given dataset, consensus clustering aims to find a single final clustering which is a better fit in some sense than the existing clusterings. There is a significant drawback in generating a single consensus clustering since different input clusterings could differ significantly. In this paper, we develop a new framework, called Multiple Consensus Clustering (MCC), to explore multiple clustering views of a given dataset from a set of input clusterings. Instead of generating a single consensus, MCC organizes the different input clusterings into a hierarchical tree structure and allows for interactive exploration of multiple clustering solutions. A dynamic programming algorithm is proposed to obtain a flat partition from the hierarchical tree using the modularity measure. Multiple consensuses are finally obtained by applying consensus clustering algorithms to each cluster of the partition. Extensive experimental results on 11 real world data sets and a case study on a Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) data set demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method.
Upward Altitudinal Shifts in Habitat Suitability of Mountain Vipers since the Last Glacial Maximum

We determined the effects of past and future climate changes on the distribution of the Montivipera raddei species complex (MRC) that contains rare and endangered viper species limited to Iran, Turkey and Armenia. We also investigated the current distribution of MRC to locate unidentified isolated populations as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of the current network of protected areas for their conservation. Present distribution of MRC was modeled based on ecological variables and model performance was evaluated by field visits. Some individuals at the newly identified populations showed uncommon morphological characteristics. The distribution map of MRC derived through modeling was then compared with the distribution of protected areas in the region. We estimated the effectiveness of the current protected area network to be 10%, which would be sufficient for conserving this group of species, provided adequate management policies and practices are employed. We further modeled the distribution of MRC in the past (21,000 years ago) and under two scenarios in the future (to 2070). These models indicated that climatic changes probably have been responsible for an upward shift in suitable habitats of MRC since the Last Glacial Maximum, leading to isolation of allopatric populations. Distribution will probably become much more restricted in the future as a result of the current rate of global warming. We conclude that climate change most likely played a major role in determining the distribution pattern of MRC, restricting allopatric populations to mountaintops due to habitat alterations. This long-term isolation has facilitated unique local adaptations among MRC populations, which requires further investigation. The suitable habitat patches identified through modeling constitute optimized solutions for inclusion in the network of protected areas in the region.
Are the URLs really popular in microblog messages?

Microblogging services are attracting people and companies to share their ideas and interests. Since the texts of microblog messages are limited, people post URLs to link to other websites for detailed information. Hence, URLs with higher attentions are spread widely and represent popular information. However, not all these URLs are useful. Many of them are spam URLs which are posted by automated agents or by pushing services from other websites automatically. Based on the features of the popular URLs, we divide them into four categories and propose a clustering and classification algorithm to distinguish spam URLs from the really popular ones. Comparative experiments are conducted on English (Twitter) and Chinese (Sina Weibo) messages. We conclude that more than half of the popular URLs are spam. Most of them are pushed from other websites; even the really popular ones gain much attention from the pushing services. Although the proportions of URLs in Twitter and Sina Weibo messages are different, the characteristics of the spam URLs are similar. Our method is efficient for detecting spam URLs and their authors without annotations, and is helpful for both research and business on microblog.
Hard-Detours: A new technique for dynamic code analysis

Dynamic code analysis for malware detection has become the heart of modern security tools. Some researchers target Microsoft Detours system to perform the dynamic analysis in window environment. This paper reveals some weakness in Microsoft Detours system. It introduces a mechanism (Anti-Detours) to escape from the code analysis trap. The paper proposes a new technique (Hard-Detours) to perform the dynamic code analysis. It intercepts the communication between the application and the system. The interception mechanism depends on the nature of each system call, to avoid detection, removal and bypassing techniques. The proposed technique is implemented for windows 32 Bit Portable Executables. Both analysis techniques are tested over a set of executables with and without the breaking mechanism.
Can hydrocarbons in coastal sediments be related to terrestrial flux? A case study of Godavari river discharge (Bay of Bengal)

A sediment core aged ~250 years and deposition rate of ~2.4 mm yr -1 raised from the coastal region receiving inputs from the Godavari river was examined for n-alkanes. The carbon preference index (CPI) of shortchain hydrocarbons (SHC) indicated intense bacterial activity. The long-chain hydrocarbons (LHC) were major and their CPI (CPI LHC ) indicated that the terrestrial source was more dominant compared to the in situ input. CPI LHC is significantly linearly correlated and appears to be a proxy for the historical discharge of the river.
Aging Alters the Rhythmic Expression of Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide mRNA But Not Arginine Vasopressin mRNA in the Suprachiasmatic Nuclei of Female Rats

Our laboratory has shown that the ability of the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) to regulate a number of rhythmic processes may be compromised by the time females reach middle age. Therefore, we examined the effects of aging on the rhythmic expression of two neuropeptides synthesized in the SCN, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and arginine vasopressin (AVP), using in situhybridization. Because both VIP and AVP are outputs of the SCN, we hypothesized that age-related changes in rhythmicity are associated with alterations in the patterns of expression of these peptides. We found that VIP mRNA levels exhibited a 24 hr rhythm in young females, but by the time animals were middle-aged, this rhythm was gone. The attenuation of rhythmicity was associated with a decline in the level of mRNA per cell and in the number of cells in the SCN producing detectable VIP mRNA. AVP mRNA also showed a robust 24 hr rhythm in young females. However, in contrast to VIP, the AVP rhythm was not altered in the aging animals. The amount of mRNA per cell and the number of cells expressing AVP mRNA also was not affected with age. Based on these results we conclude that (1) various components of the SCN are differentially affected by aging; and (2) age-related changes in various rhythms may be attributable to changes in the ability of the SCN to transmit timing information to target sites. This may explain why the deterioration of various rhythmic processes occurs at different rates and at different times during the aging process.
Adrenomedullin mediates adipose tissue-derived stem cell-induced restoration of erectile function in diabetic rats.

INTRODUCTION Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a major health problem. It is known that diabetic patients are more refractory to common treatments for ED. AIM To explore the better treatment for ED, we examined the effects of adipose-derived stem cells (ASC) on ED using a diabetic rat model. We also analyzed the cytokines produced by ASC and implicated in ASC-induced restoration of erectile function. METHODS Male Wistar rats were injected with streptozotocin (STZ) to induce diabetes. ASC or adenoviruses were injected into the penis 6 weeks after STZ administration. Erectile function, penile histology and protein expression were analyzed 4 weeks after the injection of ASC or adenoviruses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Intracavernous pressure and mean arterial pressure were measured to evaluate erectile function. The morphology of the penis was analyzed by Elastica van Gieson stain and immunohistochemistry. The expression of proteins specific for vascular endothelial cells (VEC) was assessed by Western blot analysis. RESULTS ASC restored erectile function especially when they were cultured in medium containing growth factors for VEC. This restoration was associated with improvement in the histology of the cavernous body, and increased expression of VEC markers such as VE-cadherin and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). When the expression of adrenomedullin (AM), a vasoactive peptide originally isolated from human pheochromocytoma tissue, was knocked down, the effect of ASC on ED was significantly diminished. Knockdown of AM was associated with decreased expressions of VE-cadherin and eNOS. Furthermore, overexpression of AM induced by adenovirus infection significantly improved erectile function in these diabetic rats. Overexpression of AM was associated with increased expressions of VE-cadherin and eNOS. CONCLUSIONS These results suggested that ASC have the potentials to restore erectile function and that AM produced by ASC plays a major role in the restoration of erectile function.
Scholarship at UWindsor Scholarship at UWindsor Towards Visual Analytics for Teachers’ Dynamic Diagnostic Towards Visual Analytics for Teachers’ Dynamic Diagnostic Pedagogical Decision-Making Pedagogical Decision-Making

The focus of this paper is to delineate and discuss design considerations for supporting teachers’ dynamic diagnostic decision-making in classrooms of the 21st century. Based on the Next Generation Teaching Education and Learning for Life (NEXT-TELL) European Commission integrated project, we envision classrooms of the 21st century to (a) incorporate 1:1 computing, (b) provide computational as well as methodological support for teachers to design, deploy and assess learning activities and (c) immerse students in rich, personalized and varied learning activities in information ecologies resulting in high-performance, high-density, high-bandwidth, and data-rich classrooms. In contrast to existing research in educational data mining and learning analytics, our vision is to employ visual analytics techniques and tools to support teachers dynamic diagnostic pedagogical decision-making in real-time and in actual classrooms. The primary benefits of our vision is that learning analytics becomes an integral part of the teaching profession so that teachers can provide timely, meaningful, and actionable formative assessments to on-going learning activities in-situ. Integrating emerging developments in visual analytics and the established methodological approach of design-based research (DBR) in the learning sciences, we introduce a new method called “Teaching Analytics” and explore a triadic model of teaching analytics (TMTA). TMTA adapts and extends the Pair Analytics method in visual analytics which in turn was inspired by the pair programming model of the extreme programming paradigm. Our preliminary vision of TMTA consists of a collocated collaborative triad of a Teaching Expert (TE), a Visual Analytics Expert (VAE), and a Design-Based Research Expert (DBRE) analyzing, interpreting and acting upon real-time data being generated by students’ learning activities by using a range of visual analytics tools. We propose an implementation of TMTA using open learner models (OLM) and conclude with an outline
Customer Satisfaction, Profitability, and Firm Value in the Hospitality and Tourism

Customer satisfaction has been considered one of the most prominent factors in the measurement of marketing strategies and performances. On the other hand, profitability and value of firm are important indicators of companies’ financial performance. Considering the unique differences from other industries (e.g., intangibility, variability, etc.), this study assumes that the hospitality industry will be more vulnerable to customer satisfaction than any other industry in terms of the firm’s profitability and value. Based upon this presumption, this study empirically examines whether the customer satisfaction index (CSI) influences the companies’ financial performance in the hospitality and tourism industry (i.e., hotels, restaurants, and airlines). Findings suggest that the impact of customer satisfaction is only reflected in the return on equity (ROE) which is proxy of a firm’s profitability. This result indicates that marketing strategy for customer satisfaction affects a firm’s short-term profitability in the hospitality and tourism industry. Possible further implications are also
NAPTune: fine tuning graphical authentication

Graphical passwords are considered to be a secure and memorable alternative to text passwords. Users of such systems, authenticate themselves by identifying a subset of images from the set of displayed images. However, despite the impressive results of user studies on experimental graphical passwords schemes, their overall commercial adaptations have been relatively low. In this paper, we investigate the reasons behind the low commercial acceptance of graphical passwords and present recommendations to overcome the same. Based on these recommendations, we design a simple graphical password scheme, which we call as NAPTune. NAPTune is aimed to work as a cued recognition based graphical authentication scheme that allows users to choose both text as well as images as their password with the same underlying design and interaction. In doing so, we blend the strengths of Numbers, Alphabets and Pictures (NAP) together to effectively defeat prevalent forms of social hacking. We conducted a user study with 35 participants to evaluate the viability of our proposed design. Results of the study are encouraging which indicates that our proposed design is potentially secure and usable method of authentication.
Intralocus sexual conflict, adaptive sex allocation, and the heritability of fitness

Intralocus sexual conflict arises when selection favours alternative fitness optima in males and females. Unresolved conflict can create negative between‐sex genetic correlations for fitness, such that high‐fitness parents produce high‐fitness progeny of their same sex, but low‐fitness progeny of the opposite sex. This cost of sexual conflict could be mitigated if high‐fitness parents bias sex allocation to produce more offspring of their same sex. Previous studies of the brown anole lizard (Anolis sagrei) show that viability selection on body size is sexually antagonistic, favouring large males and smaller females. However, sexual conflict over body size may be partially mitigated by adaptive sex allocation: large males sire more sons than daughters, whereas small males sire more daughters than sons. We explored the evolutionary implications of these phenomena by assessing the additive genetic (co)variance of fitness within and between sexes in a wild population. We measured two components of fitness: viability of adults over the breeding season, and the number of their progeny that survived to sexual maturity, which includes components of parental reproductive success and offspring viability (RSV). Viability of parents was not correlated with adult viability of their sons or daughters. RSV was positively correlated between sires and their offspring, but not between dams and their offspring. Neither component of fitness was significantly heritable, and neither exhibited negative between‐sex genetic correlations that would indicate unresolved sexual conflict. Rather, our results are more consistent with predictions regarding adaptive sex allocation in that, as the number of sons produced by a sire increased, the adult viability of his male progeny increased.
On automatic analysis of geometrically proximate nets in VLSI layout

We address the problem of automatic analysis of geometrically proximate nets in VLSI layout by presenting a framework (named FASCL) which supports pairwise analysis of nets based on a geometric kernel. The exact form of the analysis function can be specified to the kernel, which assumes a coupling function based on pairwise interaction between geometrically proximate nets. The user can also attach these functions to conditions and FASCL will automatically apply the function to all pairs of nets which satisfy a condition. Our method runs with sub-quadratic time complexity, O(N/sup 1+k/), where N is the number of nets and we have proved that k<1. We have successfully used the program to analyze circuits for bridging faults, coupling capacitance extraction, crosstalk analysis, signal integrity analysis and delay fault testing.
Transitions, Decisions, and Regret: Order in Chaos After a Cancer Diagnosis

Receiving a cancer diagnosis marks a life transition that evokes feelings of chaos. Additional transitions occur when patients with relapsed cancer must decide to pursue conventional care or participate in experimental clinical trials. Individuals with hematologic malignancies (n = 25) and their caregivers (n = 20) were interviewed about their decisions to have an experimental stem cell transplant. Noting that they had “no other choice,” participants expressed no regret posttransplant. “Doing something” perhaps helped address the chaos of cancer. This aggressive response to advanced cancer also represented a social imperative that negated the options of living with the cancer or entering palliative care.