Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The grammar of topic transition in American English conversation. Topic transition design and management in typical and atypical conversations (schizophrenia)

The research presented in this dissertation analyzes topic transition in American English interaction, focusing on audio recordings of spontaneous conversations between friends and relatives. The main object of inquiry is the interactional action of transitioning to a new discourse topic, as well as the different linguistic strategies that participants have at their disposal. Three main types of cues are investigated: questions, discourse markers, and pitch register. Each type of cue is analyzed for its individual contribution to topic transition design, as well as for the way it can combine with, supplement, or contradict other cues. Analyzing different types of cues – verbal and prosodic – creates a composite picture of the various ways in which the topic trajectory of a conversation shapes its grammar – including its prosody. This study uses a mixed-methods approach which draws on the qualitative-oriented theoretical frameworks of Conversation Analysis and Interactional Linguistics, combining them with quantitative methods used in Corpus Linguistics, such as systematic coding and statistics. This multi-domain account is completed by elaborating a comparison between typical and atypical interactions. Persons suffering from schizophrenia can experience difficulties in managing the topics of a conversation, and they can produce non-canonical transitions. Comparing their data with that of typical participants thus sheds light on some of the expectations, preferences and standard formats which can otherwise remain hidden when topic transition goes smoothly.
The use of wavelet packets for event detection

In this paper, we propose a best basis selection method to choose a set of packets from a wavelet packet tree. Our goal is to obtain packets that show changes in both energy and frequency. The criterion adapted to choose the best basis is the Kullback-Leibler Distance (KLD). When there is no event to be detected, the estimated KLD follows roughly an exponential distribution depending on only one parameter: the length of the windows partitioning the signal. When events are detected in a packet, the distribution of the estimated KLD deviates from the exponential distribution. The statistics Kolmogorov-Smirnov are used to measure the separation between experimental and theoretical cumulative distributions in order to highlight the presence of ruptures, then to select the most relevant packets.
Classical and quantum decay of one-dimensional finite wells with oscillating walls

To study the time decay laws (TDL) of quasibounded Hamiltonian systems we have considered two finite potential wells with oscillating walls filled with noninteracting particles. We show that the TDL can be qualitatively different for different movement of the oscillating wall at the classical level according to the characteristic of trapped periodic orbits. However, quantum dynamics do not show such differences. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Credal Classification based on AODE and compression coefficients

Bayesian model averaging (BMA) is an approach to average over alternative models; yet, it usually gets excessively concentrated around the single most probable model, therefore achieving only sub-optimal classification performance. The compression-based approach (Boulle, 2007) overcomes this problem, averaging over the different models by applying a logarithmic smoothing over the models' posterior probabilities. This approach has shown excellent performances when applied to ensembles of naive Bayes classifiers. AODE is another ensemble of models with high performance (Webb, 2005), based on a collection of non-naive classifiers (called SPODE) whose probabilistic predictions are aggregated by simple arithmetic mean. Aggregating the SPODEs via BMA rather than by arithmetic mean deteriorates the performance; instead, we aggregate the SPODEs via the compression coefficients and we show that the resulting classifier obtains a slight but consistent improvement over AODE. However, an important issue in any Bayesian ensemble of models is the arbitrariness in the choice of the prior over the models. We address this problem by the paradigm of credal classification, namely by substituting the unique prior with a set of priors. Credal classifier automatically recognize the prior-dependent instances, namely the instances whose most probable class varies, when different priors are considered; in these cases, credal classifiers remain reliable by returning a set of classes rather than a single class. We thus develop the credal version of both the BMA-based and the compression-based ensemble of SPODEs, substituting the single prior over the models by a set of priors. Experiments show that both credal classifiers provide higher classification reliability than their determinate counterparts; moreover the compression-based credal classifier compares favorably to previous credal classifiers.
Embryology of the Conduction System for the Electrophysiologist

It is critical for interventional electrophysiologists to thoroughly appreciate the topographic and developmental anatomy of the heart and its conduction system. Not only is understanding cardiac anatomy important to prevent complications from collateral damage and to help guide catheter placement, but developmental anatomy allows a deeper appreciation of the arrhythmogenic substrate. In this article, we briefly review the relevant stages of cardiac development for electrophysiologists. The potential location of normal and abnormal conduction patterns resulting from heterogeneous developmental origin is discussed.
Fetal akinesia deformation sequence due to a congenital disorder of glycosylation

Congenital disorders of Glycosylation (CDG) are increasingly emerging as a major underlying etiology for patients with complex neurogenetic malformations and dysmorphic features. We describe a newborn female with arthrogryposis multiplex due to fetal akinesia secondary to CDG‐DPAGT1. Pregnancy was complicated by reduced fetal movements. At birth, the patient was evaluated for intrauterine growth restriction, bilateral cataracts, and multiple joint contractures. She had markedly reduced spontaneous movements, hypotonia, weak cry, and poor suck. She had ventilator‐dependent central respiratory depression. Brain MRI showed delayed myelination and an incomplete cerebellar vermis. Transferrin isoelectric focusing was suggestive of a type I congenital disorder of glycosylation. Sequencing revealed a homozygous missense mutation in dolichyl‐phosphate N‐acetylglucosaminephosphotransferase (DPAGT1), exon 3, p.Leu118Val, consistent with DPAGT1‐CDG. There have been seventeen previously reported cases of DPAGT1‐CDG, including two similar cases with multiple contractures. This case highlights the importance of considering congenital disorders of glycosylation in the differential diagnosis for arthrogryposis. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Recurrent 17 bp duplication in PITX3 is primarily associated with posterior polar cataract (CPP4)

The human lens is a unique tissue continually evolving and ever increasing in size primarily formulated by placement of newly differentiated fibre cells in concentric lamellae. This is analogous to an onion skin arrangement. This differentiation triggers loss of both nucleus and other cell organelles. Furthermore, the main factors for maintaining lens clarity are the tight and ordered mutual binding of the fibre cells and the packing of their intracellular building blocks termed crystallins. It is known that lens transparency is a crucial trade-off between the concentration of these macromolecules and their hydration. Disruption of normal levels of hydration can lead to opacity. Cataract, opacification of the eye lens, is the commonest cause of blindness in the world. During infancy and early childhood it frequently results in visual impairment or blindness. In children, it can cause an irreversible amblyopia. Nearly half of all congenital cataracts are normally characterised as familial and they are perceived to be a key feature if not the predominant feature of about 200 genetic diseases.1–3 Recent research has paved the way for a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of inherited forms of cataract. Inherited cataract is clinically heterogeneous, and, thus far, more than 14 distinct loci in humans have been identified, for 11 phenotypically distinct forms of autosomal dominant congenital cataracts (ADCC). 4,5 Progress has been made in elucidating cataract causing mutations in human genes encoding the transparent intracellular lens proteins (crystallins), membrane gap junction proteins (connexins), water channel proteins (aquaporins), developmental transcription factors FOXE3 ,6 EYA1,7 PAX6 ,8 MAF ,9 and PITX3. 10 Based on this insight, it can be deduced that cataracts exhibit marked phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity. Here we report a number of interesting findings about the PITX3 gene: (1) we have found mutations in …
Self-Medication Practices Among Health Care Professional Students in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Pune

Results: A total of 318 students participated in the survey; among them106 were medical, 106 were nurses and 106 were Pharmacy students. Out of the total participants, 52.5% were females. Among them, 280 (87.5%) were practicing selfmedication. Most drugs for selfmedication were obtained from the pharmacy or drug shops, and the most commonly used drugs were non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs(81.2%) and antipyretics (67.6%) and antibiotics (35.0%). However, 112 (35.0%) of health care professional students had received antibiotics without medical prescription in the past few months. Common reported illnesses were fever and chills (62.5%) followed by headache (40.0%) and common cold(35.0%). The main reasons for selfmedication was that their knowledge about drugs and diseases helped them (67%) and their health problem was not serious(65%). 40 (12.0%) were against self -medication practice and their reasons were fear of misdiagnosis of illness and adverse effect of drugs.
Smart Wave – Intelligent meal preparation system to help older people live independently

As we age, simple everyday tasks become difficult to perform. Simply enjoying a hot nutritious meal may be difficult because of the natural impairments and declines in health conditions. The numerous steps required in preparing a meal and operating a microwave oven can become overwhelming due to visual, hearing, cognitive and/or neuro-motor declines. In this paper we discuss the SmartWave system, a pervasive microwave based cooking system which makes it easier for elderly people to enjoy a hot meal without having to read cooking instructions or interact with the microwave buttons. Additionally, SmartWave provides memory and coordination assistance to aid elderly with minor cognitive impairment. We describe the design and implementation of SmartWave, and discuss its integration with a smart home environment. We also describe a sample usage scenario and present the results of a study that we conducted to explore the elders’ views on the usability of SmartWave.
GROUNDED THEORY: CASE STUDIES AND METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES

During my research I have come to realize that effective system design and implementation requires more than understanding what the user is doing (tasks etc.) or even what their cognitive processes might be. There is a need for a holistic approach to the users’ perceptual context and the social and organizational context for the design, development and implementation of systems. The holistic definition I refer to here is that of ‘emphasizing the importance of the whole and the interdependence of its parts’. This means identifying the users’ emotional and social drives and perspectives; their motivations, expectations, trust, identity, social norms etc. It also means relating these concepts to work practices, communities and organizational social structures as well as organizational, economic and political drivers. This holistic approach has led me towards social theory with grounded theory as a methodology. However, issues of bias and validity are interesting points raised by naturalistic approaches as is the role of literature in the research process.
Partitioning of ocean and land uptake of CO2 as inferred by δ13C measurements from the NOAA Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory Global Air Sampling Network

Using •13C measurements in atmospheric CO 2 from a cooperative global air sampling network, we determined the partitioning of the net uptake of CO2 between ocean and land as a function of latitude and time. The majority of •13C measurements were made at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) of the University of Colorado. The network included 40 sites in 1992 and constitutes the most extensive data set available. We perform an inverse deconvolution of both CO2 and •13C observations, using a two-dimensional model of atmospheric transport. New features of the method include a detailed calculation of the isotopic disequilibrium of the terrestrial biosphere from global runs of the CENTURY soil model. Also, the discrimination against •3C by plant photosynthesis, as a function of latitude and time, is calculated from global runs of the SiB biosphere model. Uncertainty due to the longitudinal structure of the data, which is not represented by the model, is studied through a bootstrap analysis by adding and omitting measurement sites. The resulting error estimates for our inferred sources and sinks are of the order of 1 GTC (1 GTC = 10 •5 gC). Such error bars do not reflect potential systematic errors arising from our estimates of the isotopic disequilibria between the atmosphere and the oceans and biosphere, which are estimated in a separate sensitivity analysis. With respect to global totals for 1992 we found that 3.1 GTC of carbon dissolved into the ocean and that 1.5 GTC were sequestered by land ecosystems. Northern hemisphere ocean gyres north of 15oN absorbed 2.7 GTC. The equatorial oceans between 10oS and 10oN were a net source to the atmosphere of 0.9 GTC. We obtained a sink of 1.6 GTC in southern ocean gyres south of 20oS, although the deconvolution is poorly constrained by sparse data coverage at high southern latitudes. The seasonal uptake of CO2 in northern gyres appears to be correlated with a bloom of phytoplankton in surface waters. On land, northern temperate and boreal ecosystems between 35oN and 65oN were found to be a major sink of CO2 in 1992, as large as 3.5 GTC. Northern tropical ecosystems (equator-30oN) appear to be a net source to the atmosphere of 2 GTC which could reflect biomass burning. A small sink, 0.3 GTC, was inferred for southern tropical ecosystems (30oS-equator).
Treatment of problem cocaine use – a short update

A number of agents with different actions on the dopaminergic system have shown positive preliminary results. However, due to the limited number of trials, it is difficult to determine which one yields the most promising therapeutic outlook. Some appear to stand out (e.g. modafinil, disulfiram or the cocaine vaccine), although larger clinical trials are necessary to assess the effectiveness of these potential treatments.
Dislocation following total hip replacement.

BACKGROUND Hip replacement ranks among the more successful operations on the musculoskeletal system, but it can have serious complications. A common one is dislocation of the total hip endoprosthesis, an event that arises in about 2% of patients within 1 year of the operation. Physicians should be aware of how this problem can be prevented and, if necessary, treated, so that the degree of trauma due to hip dislocation after hip replacement surgery can be kept to a minimum. METHODS The authors searched Medline selectively for pertinent publications and analyzed the annual reports of international endoprosthesis registries. RESULTS The rate of dislocation of primary hip replacements ranges from 0.2% to 10% per year, while that of artificial hip joints that have already been surgically revised can be as high as 28%, depending on the patient population, the follow-up interval, and the type of prosthesis. Patient-specific risk factors for displacement of a hip endoprosthesis include advanced age, accompanying neurologic disease, and impaired compliance. Patients should scrupulously avoid hip movements such as bending far forward from a standing position, or internal rotation of the flexed hip. Operation-specific risk factors include suboptimal implant position, insufficient soft-tissue tension, and inadequate experience of the surgeon. Conservative treatment is justified the first time dislocation occurs without any identifiable cause. If a mechanical cause of instability is found, then operative revision should be performed as recommended in a standardized treatment algorithm, because, otherwise, dislocation is likely to recur. CONCLUSION The dislocation of a total hip endoprosthesis is an emotionally traumatizing event that should be prevented if possible. Preoperative risk assessment should be performed and the operation should be performed with optimal technique, including the best possible physical configuration of implant components, soft-tissue balance, and an adequately experienced orthopedic surgeon.
Dusting for science: motivation and participation of digital citizen science volunteers

Digital citizen science offers a low-cost way to strengthen the scientific infrastructure, and engage members of the public in science. It is based on two pillars:(1)a technological pillar, which involves developing computer systems to manage large amounts of distributed resources, and (2) a motivational pillar, which involves attracting and retaining volunteers who would contribute their skills, time, and effort to a scientific cause. While the technological dimension has been widely studied, the motivational dimension received little attention to date. To address this gap, we surveyed volunteers at Stardust@home a digital citizen science project, in which volunteers classify online images from NASA's Stardust spacecraft. We found that collective and intrinsic motivations are the most salient motivational factors, whereas reward motives seem to be less relevant. We also found that intrinsic and norm-oriented motives are most strongly associated with participation intentions, which were, in turn, found to be associated with participation effort. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Patient‐reported outcomes, body composition, and nutrition status in patients with head and neck cancer: Results from an exploratory randomized controlled exercise trial

Patients with head and neck cancer experience loss of weight and muscle mass, decreased functioning, malnutrition, depression, and declines in quality of life during and after treatment. The purpose of this exploratory randomized study was to determine the optimal timing for the initiation of a lifestyle and progressive resistance exercise training intervention (during or after radiation therapy), as determined by intervention adherence and by comparing between‐group outcomes across 24 weeks.
Creating Teacher Leadership Roles

A comparative case study revealed divergent emerging judgments of a teacher career ladder in two schools. Educators in the two sites strongly disagreed over the relative salutary impact of the new tasks and responsibilities on instruction and student learning. In an earlier analysis, the use of work structure and group-level frameworks fell short in providing a full explanation for site-specific differences in teachers' individual perceptions of the career ladder reform. Therefore, a deductive analysis of the cases was conducted applying role theory constructs. It revealed individual-group dynamics embedded in group conceptions of role. Conclusions support the assertionis that interpretations drawn from the immediate environment have profound impacts on "objective" tasks associated with work characteristics and their outcomes and emphasize the ambiguity of innovation in established organizations.
Dronedarone: A New Antiarrhythmic Agent

Dronedarone is an antiarrhythmic agent recently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the reduction of cardiovascular‐related hospitalizations in patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. The drug is a derivative of amiodarone and has been modified to reduce the organ toxicities frequently encountered with amiodarone. Dronedarone exerts its antiarrhythmic effects through multichannel blockade of the sodium, potassium, and calcium channels and also possesses antiadrenergic activity, thereby exhibiting pharmacologic effects of all four Vaughan Williams classes of antiarrhythmics. The efficacy of dronedarone for the maintenance of sinus rhythm, ventricular rate control, and reduction in cardiovascular‐related hospitalizations has been demonstrated in several randomized, placebo‐controlled trials. Although a high rate of gastrointestinal events (e.g., nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea) has been associated with dronedarone, more serious adverse events such as thyroid, liver, or pulmonary toxicities have not been observed. Because of a possible increase in mortality, dronedarone should be avoided in patients with New York Heart Association class IV or II‐III heart failure with a recent decompensation. Given the efficacy and safety data currently available, dronedarone represents a reasonable alternative for maintenance of sinus rhythm in appropriately selected patients.
Prediction of mRNA polyadenylation sites by support vector machine

mRNA polyadenylation is responsible for the 3' end formation of most mRNAs in eukaryotic cells and is linked to termination of transcription. Prediction of mRNA polyadenylation sites [poly(A) sites] can help identify genes, define gene boundaries, and elucidate regulatory mechanisms. Current methods for poly(A) site prediction achieve moderate sensitivity and specificity. Here, we present a method using support vector machine for poly(A) site prediction. Using 15 cis-regulatory elements that are over-represented in various regions surrounding poly(A) sites, this method achieves higher sensitivity and similar specificity when compared with polyadq, a common tool for poly(A) site prediction. In addition, we found that while the polyadenylation signal AAUAAA and U-rich elements are primary determinants for poly(A) site prediction, other elements contribute to both sensitivity and specificity of the prediction, indicating a combinatorial mechanism involving multiple elements when choosing poly(A) sites in human cells.
Transcriptional Regulation of the Membrane-associated Prostaglandin E2 Synthase Gene

Membrane-associated prostaglandin (PG) E2 synthase (mPGES) is an inducible terminal enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway for prostaglandin E2, which participates in many biological processes. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism controlling the inducible expression of mPGES. The mouse mPGES gene consisted of three exons, and its 5′-proximal promoter contained consensus motifs for the binding of several transcription factors. Transgenic expression in mice of the mouse mPGES promoter flanked by a reporter gene resulted in stimulus-dependent induction of the reporter in tissues where mPGES was intrinsically induced. Deletion and site-specific mutation analyses of the 5′-flanking region demonstrated that stimulus-inducible expression of mouse and human mPGES required tandem GC boxes adjacent to the initiation site. The stimulus-induced GC box binding activity was present in nuclear extracts of cells, in which the proximal GC box was essential for binding. An 80-kDa stimulus-inducible nuclear protein that bound to this GC box was identified as the transcription factor Egr-1 (for earlygrowth response-1). These results suggest that Egr-1 is a key transcription factor in regulating the inducible expression of mPGES.