Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effects of fixation target size and luminance on microsaccades and square-wave jerks

A large amount of classic and contemporary vision studies require subjects to fixate a target. Target fixation serves as a normalizing factor across studies, promoting the field’s ability to compare and contrast experiments. Yet, fixation target parameters, including luminance, contrast, size, shape and color, vary across studies, potentially affecting the interpretation of results. Previous research on the effects of fixation target size and luminance on the control of fixation position rendered conflicting results, and no study has examined the effects of fixation target characteristics on square-wave jerks, the most common type of saccadic intrusion. Here we set out to determine the effects of fixation target size and luminance on the characteristics of microsaccades and square-wave jerks, over a large range of stimulus parameters. Human subjects fixated a circular target with varying luminance and size while we recorded their eye movements with an infrared video tracker (EyeLink 1000, SR Research). We detected microsaccades and SWJs automatically with objective algorithms developed previously. Microsaccade rates decreased linearly and microsaccade magnitudes increased linearly with target size. The percent of microsaccades forming part of SWJs decreased, and the time from the end of the initial SWJ saccade to the beginning of the second SWJ saccade (SWJ inter-saccadic interval; ISI) increased with target size. The microsaccadic preference for horizontal direction also decreased moderately with target size . Target luminance did not affect significantly microsaccades or SWJs, however. In the absence of a fixation target, microsaccades became scarcer and larger, while SWJ prevalence decreased and SWJ ISIs increased. Thus, the choice of fixation target can affect experimental outcomes, especially in human factors and in visual and oculomotor studies. These results have implications for previous and future research conducted under fixation conditions, and should encourage forthcoming studies to report the size of fixation targets to aid the interpretation and replication of their results.
WORKING PAPER SERIES 10-2012 UNSTABLE MONETARY UNIONS

The requirement that a country with a current account surplus should have an expanding money supply, while a country with a current account deficit a contracting money supply (the “rules of the game”) is an important element for the stability of a currency area. We argue in this paper, that decentralized behavior of member countries does not guarantee that the “rules of the game” are respected, and this may lead the currency area to equilibria, however, with systemic distortions. These inefficient outcomes may be removed if the member countries agree to coordinate their policies so that the “rules of the game” are respected. The conditions under which such an agreement is possible depends on the structure of the effective preferences of the member countries, and are discussed in the context of the theory of cooperative games.
Holographic 3D photography under ambient light

We achieve three-dimensional photography of continuous objects and scenery under ambient (sunlight) illumination based on self-interference of two beam-split copies of the object's optical field with differential curvatures. The apparatus consists of a beam-splitter, a few mirrors and lenses, a piezo-actuator, and a CCD camera. No lasers or other special illumination is used for recording or reconstruction. Holographic images of daylight-illuminated outdoor scenes are obtained using a telephoto lens configuration. From the recorded hologram, images are reconstructed and numerically propagated to desired focal planes for viewing.
First Broadcast News Transcription System for Khmer Language

In this paper we present an overview on the development of a large vocabulary continuous speech recognition (LVCSR) system for Khmer, the official language of Cambodia, spoken by more than 15 million people. As an under-resourced language, develop a LVCSR system for Khmer is a challenging task. We describe our methodologies for quick language data collection and processing for language modeling and acoustic modeling. For language modeling, we investigate the use of word and sub-word as basic modeling unit in order to see the potential of sub-word units in the case of unsegmented language like Khmer. Grapheme-based acoustic modeling is used to quickly build our Khmer language acoustic model. Furthermore, the approaches and tools used for the development of our system are documented and made publicly available on the web. We hope this will contribute to accelerate the development of LVCSR system for a new language, especially for under-resource languages of developing countries where resources and expertise are limited.
Protocol for a randomised clinical study comparing the effect of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy on reactive hypoglycaemia in morbidly obese subjects

Introduction Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is the most performed bariatric operation. Reactive hypoglycaemia is a frequent late complication occurring in about 72% of RYGB patients, which can present with various intensities up to the serious form of neuroglycopaenia. However, it seems to occur also after sleeve gastrectomy (SG) although much more rarely. Methods and analysis A single centre, open, 1-year randomised trial to compare the incidence of hypoglycaemia after RYGB or SG. A secondary objective is the assessment of the comparative ability of the two surgical procedures in determining the improvement or normalisation of insulin sensitivity, given the established relevance of insulin resistance in the cardiometabolic syndrome of obesity. Ethics and dissemination The study will be published and presented to international meetings and, due to the safety issue, it will represent a relevant information for national healthcare systems. The protocol was approved by the Catholic University Ethical Committee (A1534/CE/2012). Clinicaltrials.gov Registration n. NCT01581801.
Residual Eddy Current Field Characterisation : Applied to Diffusion Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Clinical use of the Stejskal–Tanner diffusion weighted images is hampered by the geometric distortions that result from the large residual 3-D eddy current field induced. In this work, we aimed to predict, using linear response theory, the residual 3-D eddy current field required for geometric distortion correction based on phantom eddy current field measurements. The predicted 3-D eddy current field induced by the diffusion-weighting gradients was able to reduce the root mean square error of the residual eddy current field to ~1 Hz. The model’s performance was tested on diffusion weighted images of four normal volunteers, following distortion correction, the quality of the Stejskal–Tanner diffusion-weighted images was found to have comparable quality to image registration based corrections (FSL) at low b-values. Unlike registration techniques the correction was not hindered by low SNR at high b-values, and results in improved image quality relative to FSL. Characterization of the 3-D eddy current field with linear response theory enables the prediction of the 3-D eddy current field required to correct eddy current induced geometric distortions for a wide range of clinical and high b-value protocols.
Planes de igualdad en las universidades españolas. Análisis de contenido desde las ciencias sociales

In this article, from the vision of the social sciences, there is evaluated the scientific aptitude of the plans of equality written in the Spanish universities to expire with the laws of equality of women and men, with special attention to the professorship. The used methodology is the qualitative analysis of the plans by means of the identification of units of record defined in the theoretical review of the object of study. As principal results there is demonstrated a low commitment of the Spanish university by the equality and, at the moment of elaborates the plan, lacks of knowledge in social sciences and theory feminist, that they are the disciplines in whose core has developed the concepts of kind and the equality.
D=5 SU(2)xU(1) Gauged Supergravity from D=11 Supergravity

We consider the most general class of supersymmetric solutions of D=11 supergravity consisting of a warped product of AdS_5 with a six-dimensional internal manifold N_6, which are dual to N=2 super conformal field theories in d=4. For any such N_6 we construct the full non-linear Kaluza-Klein ansatz for the reduction of D=11 supergravity on N_6 down to D=5 SU(2)xU(1) gauged supergravity, at the level of the bosonic fields. This allows one to uplift any solution of the D=5 supergravity to obtain a solution of D=11 supergravity for any given N_6. Using an explicit N_6, corresponding to M5-branes wrapping holomorphic curves in a Calabi-Yau two-fold, we uplift some solutions and comment upon their interpretation.
Querying graph patterns

Graph data appears in a variety of application domains, and many uses of it, such as querying, matching, and transforming data, naturally result in incompletely specified graph data, i.e., graph patterns. While queries need to be posed against such data, techniques for querying patterns are generally lacking, and properties of such queries are not well understood. Our goal is to study the basics of querying graph patterns. We first identify key features of patterns, such as node and label variables and edges specified by regular expressions, and define a classification of patterns based on them. We then study standard graph queries on graph patterns, and give precise characterizations of both data and combined complexity for each class of patterns. If complexity is high, we do further analysis of features that lead to intractability, as well as lower complexity restrictions. We introduce a new automata model for query answering with two modes of acceptance: one captures queries returning nodes, and the other queries returning paths. We study properties of such automata, and the key computational tasks associated with them. Finally, we provide additional restrictions for tractability, and show that some intractable cases can be naturally cast as instances of constraint satisfaction problem.
Expression of genes encoding extracellular matrix proteins: A macroarray study

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common gynecological malignancies in Poland, with well-established risk factors. Genetic instability and molecular alterations responsible for endometrial carcinogenesis have been systematically investigated. The aim of the present study was to investigate, by means of cDNA macroarrays, the expression profiles of genes encoding extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in ECs. Tissue specimens were collected during surgical procedures from 40 patients with EC, and control tissue was collected from 9 patients with uterine leiomyomas. RNA was isolated and RT-PCR with radioisotope-labeled cDNA was performed. The levels of ECM protein gene expression in normal endometrial tissues were compared to the expression of these genes in EC specimens. Statistically significant differences in gene expression, stratified by clinical stage of the ECs, were detected for aggrecan, vitronectin, tenascin R, nidogen and two collagen proteins: type VIII chain α1 and type XI chain α2. All of these proteins were overexpressed in stage III endometrial carcinomas compared to levels in stage I and II uterine neoplasms. In conclusion, increased expression of genes encoding ECM proteins may play an important role in facilitating accelerated disease progression of human ECs.
Production of human tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10 is induced by lactic acid bacteria

To investigate the role of cytokines in interactions between lactic acid bacteria and the immune system, we measured production of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-10 from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells after stimulation with live or glutaraldehyde-fixed bacteria. Production of tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-6, and, in some cases, IL-10 was induced in amounts even greater than those obtained with lipopolysaccharide as a stimulant. Our results suggest that lactic acid bacteria can stimulate nonspecific immunity.
Improving the preliminary stages of the criminal justice system to accommodate people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

This thesis presents a series of studies that explore the creation of an autism friendly environment within the Criminal Justice System. The first study explored the perception and understanding of police officers regarding autism. It was found that although police officers have some knowledge of the traits of Autism Spectrum Disorder, they fail to accommodate for these when planning a witness or a suspect interview. Appropriate Adults support vulnerable suspects in custody and the second study found that Appropriate Adults also failed to apply what they know about autism to their work. However, the study revealed instances where the characteristics of autism can damage the progress of an interview. Hence, the study concluded that to be effective, Appropriate Adults must monitor behaviours which may arise as a result of internal characteristics. Study 3 examined how people from the higher end of the autism spectrum understand the current caution. It was found that people with autism performed comparably to those from the general population. Overall both populations where not very good at explaining the caution in full, and performed poorly when explaining its function. An alternative version of the caution was devised for study 4, however this had mixed results. It was useful to participants when they explained the caution one sentence at a time, and helped in the understanding of its function. However, there were damaging effects. People with autism performed poorly when explaining the sentence which informs that what is said can used as evidence. Study 5 attended to people from the higher end of the autism spectrum as witnesses. Results showed that the Mental Reinstatement of Context and Sketch plan Mental Reinstatement of Context both had a positive impact on the recall of information. Additionally the use of memory jogs, a colour search and an alphabet search helped people with autism to provide additional pieces of information, particularly relating to person descriptors.
Exploiting Nodes Symmetries to Control Synchronization and Consensus Patterns in Multiagent Systems

We present new conditions to obtain synchronization and consensus patterns in complex network systems. The key idea is to exploit symmetries of the nodes’ vector fields to induce a desired synchronization/consensus pattern, where nodes are clustered in different groups each converging toward a different synchronized evolution. We show that the new conditions we present offer a systematic methodology to design a distributed network controller able to drive a network of interest toward a desired synchronization/consensus pattern.
Distinguishing and Distinguishing Chromatic Numbers of Generalized Petersen Graphs

Albertson and Collins defined the distinguishing number of a graph to be the smallest number of colors needed to color its vertices so that the coloring is preserved only by the identity automorphism. Collins and Trenk followed by defining the distinguishing chromatic number of a graph to be the smallest size of a coloring that is both proper and distinguishing. We show that, with two exceptions, generalized Petersen graphs are 2-distinguishable and properly 3-distinguishable.
An Analytical Framework of Language Integration in L2 Content-based Courses: The European Dimension

This paper looks into the Content and Language-Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach as one gaining new ground for L2 teaching in compulsory education. It briefly discusses its operationalisation in a seemingly monolingual region–Andalusia, southern Spain–where content-based instruction, drawing on European recommendations, has been adopted in primary and secondary education for L2 teaching. This leads to an examination of the challenges faced in putting together an official integrated content and language curriculum in such a context, and reviews the dangers of content and language integration, particularly the potential for complications in one of its components–namely the linguistic side of the curriculum. The article includes clear guidelines on how to identify, make salient and work through linguistic items of the L2 based on task-based principles. Such a framework, split into three different stages, allows for academic language exploration, identification of primary and secondary linguistic items and selected language practice.
Expansion of MT Neurons Excitatory Receptive Fields during Covert Attentive Tracking

Primates can attentively track moving objects while keeping gaze stationary. The neural mechanisms underlying this ability are poorly understood. We investigated this issue by recording responses of neurons in area MT of two rhesus monkeys while they performed two different tasks. During the Attend-Fixation task, two moving random dot patterns (RDPs) translated across a screen at the same speed and in the same direction while the animals directed gaze to a fixation spot and detected a change in its luminance. During the Tracking task, the animals kept gaze on the fixation spot and attentively tracked the two RDPs to report a change in the local speed of one of the patterns' dots. In both conditions, neuronal responses progressively increased as the RDPs entered the neurons' receptive field (RF), peaked when they reached its center, and decreased as they translated away. This response profile was well described by a Gaussian function with its center of gravity indicating the RF center and its flanks the RF excitatory borders. During Tracking, responses were increased relative to Attend-Fixation, causing the Gaussian profiles to expand. Such increases were proportionally larger in the RF periphery than at its center, and were accompanied by a decrease in the trial-to-trial response variability (Fano factor) relative to Attend-Fixation. These changes resulted in an increase in the neurons' performance at detecting targets at longer distances from the RF center. Our results show that attentive tracking dynamically changes MT neurons' RF profiles, ultimately improving the neurons' ability to encode the tracked stimulus features.
Real-Life Vehicle Routing with Non-Standard Constraints

– Real-life vehicle routing problems comprise of a number of complexities that are not considered by the classical models found in vehicle routing literature. I present, in this paper, a two-stage sweep-based heuristic to find good solutions to a real-life Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP). The problem I shall consider, will deal with some non-standard constraints beyond those normally associated with the classical VRP. Other than considering the capacity constraints for vehicles and the time windows for deliveries, I shall introduce four additional non-standard constraints: merging of customer orders, controlling the maximum number of drop points, matching orders to vehicle types, and controlling mixed-load permutations between goods. My algorithm has been successfully implemented in a Third-Party Logistics (3PL) managed distribution operations of dairy products with reasonably good results and response time.
Controlled analysis of neurocontrollers with informational lesioning

How does one aim to understand neural information processing? One of the difficult first challenges is to identify the roles of the network's elements. To this end a functional contribution analysis (FCA) method has been developed and applied for studying the neurocontrollers of evolutionary autonomous agents (EAAs). The FCA processes data composed of multiple lesion experiments and the corresponding performance levels that the agent obtains under these lesions. It calculates the ;contribution values; (CVs) of the network's elements such that the ability to predict the agent's performance under new, unseen lesions is maximized. Previous analysis has found a strong dependence of the CVs and the prediction error on the specific type of lesioning method used, i.e. on the way in which the activity of lesioned neurons is disrupted. We present a new, ;informational lesioning method; (ILM), which views a lesion as a noisy channel and applies a ;controlled lesion; to the network by varying the ;lesioning level; from large to arbitrarily small magnitudes. Studying the ILM within the FCA framework, our main results are threefold: first, that lower lesioning levels permit more accurate FCA predictions; second, that the usage of minute ILM lesioning levels can uncover the long–term effects of elements on the network's functioning; and third, that as the lesioning level decreases, the CVs tend to approach limit values, reflecting the importance of these elements in the intact, normal–functioning neurocontroller.
Categorical perception of facial gender information: Behavioural evidence and the face-space metaphor

Categorization is a fundamental property of the human brain. We used an imagemorphing procedure to investigate the categorical perception of facial gender information. Three experiments, an identification and two matching tasks, were reported. First, we showed that, even when facial image information changes linearly across unfamiliar male and female faces, gender is perceived categorically. This holds only when faces are presented in an upright orientation. Second, subjects discriminated more easily two unknown morphed faces presenting a gender change as compared to two unknown morphed faces belonging to the same gender, even when the physical distance between the pairs was identical. We discuss the results in terms of how representations of faces are encoded and stored in long-term memory.
Maintaining Consistency of Spatial Information in the Hippocampal Network: A Combinatorial Geometry Model

Abstract Place cells in the rat hippocampus play a key role in creating the animal’s internal representation of the world. During active navigation, these cells spike only in discrete locations, together encoding a map of the environment. Electrophysiological recordings have shown that the animal can revisit this map mentally during both sleep and awake states, reactivating the place cells that fired during its exploration in the same sequence in which they were originally activated. Although consistency of place cell activity during active navigation is arguably enforced by sensory and proprioceptive inputs, it remains unclear how a consistent representation of space can be maintained during spontaneous replay. We propose a model that can account for this phenomenon and suggest that a spatially consistent replay requires a number of constraints on the hippocampal network that affect its synaptic architecture and the statistics of synaptic connection strengths.