Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Are Reading and Spelling Phonologically Mediated? Evidence from a Patient with a Speech Production Impairment

In this paper, we report the case of a patient, PS, who shows excellent comprehension of the meaning of words despite making a large number of phonemic paraphasias on tests of oral reading, picturenaming, auditory repetition and in spontaneous speech. In a series of experiments, we attemptto demonstrate that his preserved reading comprehension could not reasonably be explained in terms of the theory of phonological mediation during reading (cf. Van Orden, 1987). Although he is good at comprehending the meaning of written homophones, the critical finding is that PS is unable to produce both meanings of a homophone when presented with the written form of one version of the homophone. Thatis,heis unable tomakea responsesuch as "inherits" inresponse to the written word "air" (heir). Although phonological mediation may play some role in the way in which meaning is accessed from print by normal readers, the results of this study suggest that it is not obligatory (cf. Coltheart, Patterson, & Leahy, 1994). A simi.
Improving Monte Carlo randomized approximation schemes

Consider a central problem in randomized approximation schemes that use a Monte Carlo approach. Given a sequence of independent, identically distributed random variables $X_1,X_2,\ldots$ with mean $\mu$ and standard deviation at most $c \mu$, where $c$ is a known constant, and $\epsilon,\delta > 0$, create an estimate $\hat \mu$ for $\mu$ such that $\text{P}(|\hat \mu - \mu| > \epsilon \mu) \leq \delta$. This technique has been used for building randomized approximation schemes for the volume of a convex body, the permanent of a nonnegative matrix, the number of linear extensions of a poset, the partition function of the Ising model and many other problems. Existing methods use (to the leading order) $19.35 (c/\epsilon)^2 \ln(\delta^{-1})$ samples. This is the best possible number up to the constant factor, and it is an open question as to what is the best constant possible. This work gives an easy to apply estimate that only uses $6.96 (c/\epsilon)^2 \ln(\delta^{-1})$ samples in the leading order.
Guided Multi-dimensional Reconstruction from Cross-sections Advanced Topics in Multivariate Approximation 1

Given parallel (n? 1)-dimensional cross-sections of an n-dimensional body, one would like to reconstruct the body. The method based upon distance eld interpolation gives a robust solution to this problem in its ability to deal with any topology in any dimension. Still this method may give undesired solutions to the problem if the changes from one cross-section to the next are big relative to the size of the details in the cross-sections. In the present work we suggest a way to improve the distance eld interpolation method. For this we rst assume that the data to the problem are the cross-sections and some speciied points on them, prescribing geometric links between the diierent cross-sections. These links may be manually user-deened, or automatically deened by matching features in the cross-sections. The distance eld interpolation method is modiied so that the interpolation is guided by those links. We describe some rules for deening a smooth least-distorting mapping which realizes the desired links, and present the corresponding guided interpolation. x1. Introduction The problem of reconstructing an n-dimensional body from its cross-sections appears in many applications, from biomedical imaging to 2D and 3D animation. In 3D animation the problem can also be viewed as a surface blending problem. Namely, the continuous evolution of a surface from a source surface, through intermediate surfaces, into a target surface. This is an object-space problem of generating intermediate 3D models 5], to be distinguished from image-space transformations 10]. This paper describes a method that allows the user to create a series of models which form a smooth transition of a given set of general keyframe models. The method deals explicitly with surfaces and its principles are naturally extended from 2D space (contours) to 3D (surfaces) and to hyper-surfaces in higher dimensions.
2015 Ieee International Conference on Big Data (big Data) Benchmarking Key-value Stores on High-performance Storage and Interconnects for Web-scale Workloads*

—Leveraging a distributed key-value based caching layer has proven to be invaluable for scalable data-intensive web applications. With the emergence of high-performance storage (e.g. SSD) and interconnects (e.g. InfiniBand) on modern clusters, several efforts are being made to design high-performance key-value stores that can operate well with 'RAM+SSD' hybrid storage architecture. This has made it essential for us to design micro-benchmarks that are tailored to evaluate these upcoming, hybrid designs. In this paper, we study popular web-scale and cloud serving workloads, to identify different application-specific aspects, including commonly occurring data request distributions, update patterns, and environmental factors, that affect the performance of hybrid key-value stores. Based on these characterization studies, we propose a micro-benchmark suite that can be used to study high-performance, hybrid key-value stores on modern clusters, from the perspectives of both the application and the key-value store. We demonstrate its ease-of-use using database-integrated and stand-alone execution modes. Performance evaluations with different Memcached distributions, such as SSD-Assisted RDMA-Memcached, fatcache, and twemcache, over different networks/protocols, show that 'SSD+RDMA' can significantly enhance the performance of Memcached for various read-only and read-heavy workloads, that are representative of several common web-scale workloads.
Invariant chain trimers are sequestered in the rough endoplasmic reticulum in the absence of association with HLA class II antigens

HLA class II antigens are heterodimeric cell surface glycoproteins that interact with antigenic peptides to form complexes recognizable by CD4- positive T cells. During their biosynthesis, class II antigens are retained in a post-Golgi compartment in association with the invariant chain, which dissociates before class II cell surface expression. To address whether the invariant chain mediates this post-Golgi retention, its transport and assembly were examined in cells that do not express HLA class II antigens. Pulse-chase analysis and endoglycosidase digestions showed that very little invariant chain proceeded as far as the trans-Golgi in class II-negative cell lines. Immunofluorescence studies suggested that in these cells the invariant chain is sequestered in the RER. Gel filtration and cross-linking data showed that RER-localized invariant chain is present as trimers or aggregated trimers. Multimerization is mediated by lumenal interactions; a proteolytic fragment of the invariant chain corresponding to the lumenal domain remained trimeric as determined by cross-linking analysis. Similar transport and structural characteristics were observed for a pool of excess invariant chain in class II-positive cells, suggesting that an excess of invariant chain in the ER may be important for class II antigen function. These results have important implications for the transport of cellular proteins in general and for the role of the invariant chain in class II antigen biosynthesis.
On Explaining the Differences in Economic Growth Rates in OECD Countries

In this study, we examine the role played by fiscal policy in explaining the differences in economic growth rates of the nineteen OECD countries over the 1971-1999 period. We model the impact of government spending variables (which can be taken as indicators of the size of government) on economic growth via their impact on total factor productivity, and estimate the model using the random coefficients approach. Our results indicate that total factor productivity growth is impacted adversely by the size of government, when total government outlays (relative to GDP) are used to measure government size. On the other hand, if we measure government size in terms of the growth of government consumption, the impact is unambiguously positive. The difference is likely due to the fact that government transfers were the reason behind the sharp upward trend in fiscal deficits over this period, resulting in high taxation levels. In both cases, the evidence is not strong enough to suggest a monotonic relationship between the magnitude of this impact and government size.
The Metadata Architecture for Data Management in Web-based Choropleth Maps

Metadata is used increasingly to improve both the availability and the quality of the information delivered. Professionals primarily view metadata as a way to analyze and structure the underlying data. However, the use of metadata has additional potential benefits. Metadata has tight connection with “upper data”, data viewed and used by end users. While metadata tailors the user interface of our project, user requirements play an important role in the effectiveness of constructing our metadata. This paper proposes a metadata architecture based on both information integration and user needs, since existing metadata theories and tools do not provide an efficient implementation support. Adopting a common user interface for browsing and querying georeferential data on the Web and building a package of metadata standards for Mapping Information (mapping between information meaningful to users and the raw data), will not only lower the implementation cost, but also enhance the quality of metadata and its architecture. This article offers guidelines and anticipates the future of metadata development.
‘Green cities’ going greener? Local environmental policy-making and place branding in the ‘Greenest City in Europe’

ABSTRACT A growing number of cities around the world have taken advantage of their green image of the purpose of place branding. In the research literature, it is suggested that these practices are motivated by place-based competition over financial and social capital, combined with more holistic motives of sustainable urban development. However, although an increasing number of green cities are engaged in place branding, few studies have researched the impact of place branding on environmental policy-making in a city, building up to the question: how is local environmental policy-making affected by green place branding? Addressing this issue, this paper critically investigates how the continuity of local environmental policy-making is affected by place-branding practices. To tackle this task, the paper firstly develops an analytical framework aiming to understand how green cities emerge and become famous based on their policy-making. Secondly, using that framework, this paper present an in-depth case study of a city branding itself as the ‘Greenest City in Europe’. Drawing on the growing body of work on green cities, this paper investigates the ‘understudied’ practice of using policy for the purpose of place branding as well as the impact of place branding ‘on the environment’.
Almost-linear inclusion for XML regular expression types

Type inclusion is a fundamental operation in every type-checking compiler, but it is quite expensive for XML manipulation languages. A polynomial inclusion checking algorithm for an expressive family of XML type languages is known, but it runs in quadratic time both in the best and in the worst cases. We present here an algorithm that has a linear-time backbone, and resorts to the quadratic approach for some specific parts of the compared types. Our experiments show that the new algorithm is much faster than the quadratic one, and that it typically runs in linear time, hence it can be used as a building block for a practical type-checking compiler.
Follow The Money Trail: ?Civil? Forfeiture of ?Criminal? Assets in Ireland

This paper sets out the political context preceeding the enactment of proceeds of crime legislation in Ireland. It explains why Ireland offers many lessons for other jurisdictions. As well as outlining relevant forfeiture provisions in the Proceeds of Crime Act, this paper analyses the multi-agency Criminal Assets Bureau. The paper then engages with due process concerns, before examining information access and powers as well as issues of accountability.
Stackelberg Equilibria in a Multiperiod Vertical Contracting Model with Uncertain and Price-Dependent Demand

In this paper, we consider Stackelberg games in a multiperiod vertical contracting model with uncertain demand. Demand has a distribution with a mean and variance that depend on the current retail price, and this dependence may vary from period to period. We focus on a class of problems in which the market has a memory-based scaling of demand, and the mean scaling is a function of previous retail prices. This leads to a strategic game in which the parties must balance high immediate profits with reduced future earnings. We propose a complete solution to this multiperiod Stackelberg game, covering cases with finite and infinite horizons. The theory is illustrated by using a Cobb-Douglas demand function with an additive, normally distributed random term, but the theory applies to more general settings.
The role of the nuclear hormone receptor RORγt in the development of lymph nodes and Peyer's patches

Summary: The nuclear hormone receptor retinoic acid‐related orphan receptor (ROR)γt is required for the development of lymph nodes (LNs) and Peyer's patches (PPs), as these organs are absent in RORγt‐deficient mice. During fetal life, RORγt is expressed exclusively in lymphoid tissue‐inducer (LTi) cells, a cell type that localizes in developing LNs and PPs. LTi cells express surface lymphotoxin α1β2 that activates specialized mesenchymal cells to produce chemokines, upregulate adhesion molecules and induce further maturation of lymphoid organs. RORγt inhibits nuclear factor of activated T‐cell (NFAT) function in cell lines and induces the expression of Bcl‐xL and p27kip1 in the adult thymus, suggesting that RORγt prevents cell activation, cell‐cycle progression, and apoptosis. We propose that RORγt, together with the inhibitor of basic helix‐loop‐helix transcription factor Id2, ensures generation and survival of fetal LTi cells necessary for the development of LNs and PPs.
Effectiveness of attachment based STEEP™ intervention in a German high-risk sample

ABSTRACT STEEPTM was one of the first attachment-based early intervention programs. The program applied findings from the Minnesota Longitudinal Study on Risk and Adaptation to the development of a supportive program for young high-risk mothers and their infants. STEEP’s effectiveness was evaluated first in a randomized controlled study launched in 1987. The study showed effects of the one-year intervention on important individual and parenting variables, but not on quality of mother–infant attachment. In the current German study with young mothers at risk for abuse and neglect, a two-year adaptation of STEEP was evaluated within a quasi-experimental design. STEEP mother–infant pairs (N = 78) were compared with pairs who received standard services of the German Child Welfare System (GCWS, N = 29). Compared with GCWS pairs, significantly more mother–infant pairs in the intervention group showed secure attachment patterns in Ainsworth´s Strange Situation when the infants were 12 months of age. At the end of the intervention (infant age = 24 month), attachment security scores derived from Waters’ Attachment Q-Sort were in the predicted direction and showed a medium effect size, but did not reach criteria of statistical significance. At both time points, the STEEP group showed significantly fewer signs of attachment disorganization than the comparison group.
NON-ABELIAN NONCOMMUTATIVE GAUGE FIELDS AND SEIBERG–WITTEN MAP

Noncommutative gauge fields (similar to the type that arises in string theory with background B-fields) are constructed for arbitrary nonabelian gauge groups with the help of a map that relates ordinary nonabelian and noncommutative gauge theories (Seiberg-Witten map). As in our previous work we employ Kontsevich's formality and the concept of equivalent star products. As a byproduct we obtain a ``Mini Seiberg-Witten map'' that explicitly relates ordinary abelian and nonabelian gauge fields.
Genus refinement of a manifold surface reconstructed by sculpting the 3d-Delaunay triangulation of Structure-from-Motion points

The automatic surface reconstruction from an image sequence is still an active research topic. Recently, a method was designed to reconstruct a 2-manifold surface from the sparse cloud of points generated by Structure-from-Motion (SfM). This method reconstructs outdoor scenes from hundreds of catadioptric images. It is based on sculpting the 3d Delaunay triangulation of the points by ray-tracing. Our paper improves the resulting surface by removing spurious handles, which occur frequently.
A semi-automated approach to validate ontology mappings

Companies are increasingly adopting ontologies in their information systems. To tackle with this growth trend ontology mappings are increasing as well. Tools constructed to support ontology mappings modeling and definitions are becoming common, however tools that validate these mappings are rare and limited. This paper proposes a semi-automatic tool to validate ontology mapping, adapting approaches already used in software validation field, such as model based tests and model checking
Flashlight as a Process Tracing Method

INTRODUCTION Process tracing, i.e., collecting multiple data points instead of just looking at one response from a participant, is a data collection approach that includes a diverse set of different methods like thinking aloud protocols, eye-tracking or mouse-tracking (Schulte-Mecklenbeck, Kühberger, & Ranyard, 2011). A bundle of methods is available today, ranging from collecting verbal utterances of participants in thinking aloud protocols to the recording of eye or mouse movements in information board studies. When developing Flashlight, an online attention tracking software, we had in mind that 1) eye-tracking is cost intensive, 2) information boards (matrix setup of information as ABSTRACT Flashlight is an open source process-tracing tool that records mouse movements in real time during an information search task (Schulte-Mecklenbeck, Murphy & Hutzler, 2011). Using this tool, acquisition behavior and visual attention can be recorded in an unobtrusive way with a wide variety of different stimuli. Because of the structure of the stimuli in Flashlight, information acquisition behavior can be measured similarly to how eye tracking works, but unlike eye tracking systems, Flashlight can be implemented without any special equipment. The motivation for developing a new process-tracing tool comes from experience with existing process tracing methods and their limitations. Other existing process tracing tools restrict the structure of information (often in a rigid matrix similar to an information board); require a fixed and confided laboratory setup; and need specialized hardware and software that is both expensive to purchase and operate. Flashlight solves these issues by providing a free open source adaptable software package that can work via a Web browser on any Internet connected personal computer. Moreover, the researcher has great flexibility in how stimuli are constructed and presented, and Flashlight also enables easy access to a large number of participants through Internet based experiments. can be found on comparison websites) offer only limited means of presenting information and 3) researchers should be able to adapt the code to their specific needs at any time. With our software it is possible to overcome the above mentioned issues.
Thermodynamics of Skeletal Muscle During Cardiocirculatory Assist

Traditional muscle physiology undergoes radical changes in the setting of continuously electrostimulated skeletal muscle utilization for biomechanical circulatory assist. Healthy "transformed" working skeletal muscle never loses the characteristics germane to striated muscle fibers. It only undergoes a multiplicity of changes which are always dynamic in nature. Thermodynamic parameters applied to the study of biologic phenomena have long provided a unique approach for analyzing the physiology of the skeletal muscle cells. The laws of thermodynamics, with their concepts of negentropy, entropy, and enthalpy, traditionally are applied to the non-living world. However, after forty years of fundamental ground work by Archibald Vivian Hill, other scientists have made it possible to utilize these concepts to study the performance of complex living systems. This essay aims to shed some light and to add a new perspective to the use of striated muscle so it may perform myocardial-1 ike
Biogeographic characterisation of blue whale song worldwide: using song to identify populations

Blue whale songs provide a measure for characterising worldwide blue whale population structure. These songs are divided into nine regional types, which maintain a stable character. Five of the nine song types have been recorded over time spans greater than 30 years showing no significant change in character. The nine song types can be divided into those containing only simple tonal components (high latitude North Pacific, North Atlantic and Southern Ocean song types), those comprised of complex pulsed units in addition to the tonal components (Pacific Ocean margin song types from California, Chile and New Zealand), and those which have the greatest complexity of all and the longest cycling times (Indian Ocean song types from Sri Lanka, Fremantle and Diego Garcia). We suggest that temporally stable differences in song provide another characteristic for comparison with genetic and morphological data when defining blue whale populations. Furthermore, as Mellinger and Barlow (2003) recommend, when there is a lack of other data or lack of clarity in other data sets, evidence of distinct differences in songs between areas should be used as a provisional hypothesis about population structure when making management decisions. Worldwide study is needed to better understand the various populations and subspecies within species like the blue whale that have large geographic distributions and have both migrating and resident populations.
Nitrogen and water addition reduce leaf longevity of steppe species.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Changes in supplies of resources will modify plant functional traits. However, few experimental studies have addressed the effects of nitrogen and water variations, either singly or in combination, on functional traits. METHODS A 2-year field experiment was conducted to test the effects of nitrogen and water addition on leaf longevity and other functional traits of the two dominant (Agropyron cristatum and Stipa krylovii) and three most common species (Cleistogenes squarrosa, Melilotoides ruthenica and Potentilla tanacetifolia) in a temperate steppe in northern China. KEY RESULTS Additional nitrogen and water increased leaf nitrogen content and net photosynthetic rate, and changed other measured functional traits. Leaf longevity decreased significantly with both nitrogen addition (-6 days in 2007 and -5·4 days in 2008; both P < 0·001) and watering (-13 days in 2007 and -9·9 days in 2008; both P < 0·001), and significant differences in leaf longevity were also found among species. Nitrogen and water interacted to affect leaf longevity and other functional traits. Soil water content explained approx. 70 % of the shifts in leaf longevity. Biomass at both species and community level increased under water and nitrogen addition because of the increase in leaf biomass production per individual plant. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that additional nitrogen and water supplies reduce plant leaf longevity. Soil water availability might play a fundamental role in determining leaf longevity and other leaf functional traits, and its effects can be modified by soil nitrogen availability in semi-arid areas. The different responses of species to resource alterations may cause different global change ramifications under future climate change scenarios.