Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of depth-of-processing and ageing on word-stem and word-fragment implicit memory tasks: Test of the lexical-processing hypothesis

The joint effects of depth-of-processing and age on repetition priming in implicit memory tests of word-fragment completion (WFC) and word-stem completion (WSC) were investigated. The experiment consisted of three study tasks (perceptual, lexical, and semantic) and four memory conditions: implicit (WSC and WFC) and explicit (WS cued recall and WF cued recall). In the WSC condition, semantic and lexical study processing produced equal priming, both superior to the perceptual study processing, whereas the WFC test showed equal priming for these three study conditions. This finding provides clear evidence, consistent with the lexical-processing hypothesis, that depth-of-processing in WSC priming reflects a lexical rather than a semantic process. It also provides support for the view that WSC and WFC involve different processes. However, there was no evidence of an age effect on either of these two implicit tasks. The data also revealed an overall significant effect of age and depth-of-processing, and an interaction between these variables on explicit cued recall tasks, indicating that older adults benefited less than younger ones from a deep encoding condition.
The relationship between subjective sleep disturbance and complexity of 24-hour activity utilizing fractal theory in psychiatric inpatients

Human activity is very complex, so the assumptions employed when analyzing models do not give fully satisfactory results. Fractal theory made possible the quantification of the complexity of objects in terms of fractal dimension (FD). We revealed a correlation between the pattern of 24-h activity and subjective sleep disturbance using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Seven men and 13 women who are inpatients suffering from psychiatric disorders participated in this study. Wrist activity was monitored with an actigraph for 24 h. The data sampling period was 1 min and the data were transferred to a PC for fractal analysis. Statistically fractal features were observed in the data pattern of each subject. The FD (mean ± SD) of the actigraph data curve in total was 1.92 ± 0.0419. There was a significant correlation between PSQI and FD. The FD of a 24-h period of activity sharply reflected subjective sleep disturbance. The complex regulatory systems basically should be robust and error tolerant to general physiological alteration. We suggest that regulatory systems may collapse in patients who have psychiatric disorders with sleep disturbances. We also indicate that our method allowed us to assess sleep disturbance not only subjectively, but also objectively.
Predictors of resource use after acute hospitalization

Objective: To determine demographic and clinical predictors of discharge destinations following acute care hospitalization for stroke in the community of northern Manhattan. Methods: A group of 893 patients (mean age, 70 ± 12 years; 56% women; 51% Hispanic, 30% African-American, 19% white) who survived acute care hospitalization for a first ischemic stroke were followed prospectively. Stroke severity was assessed by the NIH Stroke Scale and categorized as mild (≤5), moderate (6 to 13), and severe (≥14). Polytomous logistic regression was used to determine predictors for rehabilitation and nursing home placement versus returning home. Results: Among the survivors of acute stroke care hospitalization, 611 (68%) patients were discharged to their homes, 168 (19%) to rehabilitation, and 114 (13%) to nursing homes. Patients with moderate and severe neurologic deficits had more than a threefold increased risk of being sent to a nursing home and more than an eightfold increased risk of being sent to rehabilitation. Age over 65 and cognitive impairment were associated with placement to a nursing home (age over 65: OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.0 to 5.6; cognitive impairment: OR, 2.9; 95%, CI 1.4 to 5.7), and rehabilitation (age over 65: OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.9; cognitive impairment: OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.4 to 5.7). Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that one-third of patients with acute stroke from the community of northern Manhattan required placement in a temporary or a long-term disability care institution following acute care hospitalization. Severity of stroke is an important factor that influences discharge planning following acute care hospitalization and its reduction can improve health care resource usage.
The quest for evidence-based practice: A view from the United States

• Summary: This article describes how a reliance upon social and behavioral science research is the feature distinguishing modern professional social work from prior non-professional efforts at providing social care. A number of formal efforts that attempted to more closely link science and practice are described, including the empirical clinical practice movement, the empirically supported treatments initiative, and, most recently, evidence-based practice (EBP). • Findings: EBP is correctly seen as a process of inquiry intended to help practitioners and their clients make important decisions about the services the clients receive. EBP is a process, a verb, not a noun. There is no such thing as evidence-based practices, since in EBP one decides what services to provide by taking into account not only research evidence but also client preferences and values, situational circumstances, professional ethics, the practitioner’s existing skills, and available resources. • Applications: From this perspective it is a misuse of the term EBP to refer to specific interventions or assessment methods as evidence-based. At best, interventions or techniques may be labeled as empirically supported or research-supported. The current status of EBP within American social work is seen as healthy and growing, although misconceptions regarding this process are common.
Constant factor approximation of vertex-cuts in planar graphs

We devise the first constant factor approximation algorithm for minimum quotient vertex-cuts in planar graphs. Our algorithm achieves approximation ratio <i>1+4/3(1+ε)</i> with running time <i>O(W• n<sup>3+2/ε</sup>)</i>, where <i>W</i> is the total weight of the vertices. The approximation ratio improves to <i>4/3(1+ε+o(1))</i> if there is an optimal quotient vertex-cut <i>(A<sup>*</sup>,B<sup>*</sup>,C<sup>*</sup>)</i> where the weight of <i>C<sup>*</sup></i> is of low order compared to those of <i>A<sup>*</sup></i> and <i>B<sup>*</sup></i>; this holds, for example, when the input graph has uniform weights and costs. The ratio further improves to <i>1+ε+o(1)</i> if, in addition, <i>min[w(A<sup>*</sup>),w(B<sup>*</sup>)] ≤ 1/3 W</i>. We use our algorithm for quotient vertex-cuts to achieve the first constant-factor pseudo-approximation for vertex separators in planar graphs.Our technical contribution is two-fold. First, we prove a structural theorem for planar graphs, showing the existence of a near-optimal quotient vertex-cut whose high-level structure is that of a bounded-depth tree. Second, we develop an algorithm that optimizes over such complex structures in running time that depends (exponentially) not on the size of the structure, but rather only on its depth. These techniques may be applicable in other problems.
A new look at the relationship between perceptual and motor responses

A visual stimulus may affect a motor response although its visibility is prevented by a mask. This implies that the sensorimotor system is more susceptible to stimulation than the perceptual system. We report data that are contrary to this intuition. Experiments where both the observer's perceptual state related to the presence/absence of a masked stimulus and the motor behaviour elicited by the same stimulus were jointly assessed on a trial-by-trial basis show that masked visual stimulation at constant visibility (d′) has two types of effect on the motor system. When the physical energy of the masked stimulus is weak, it affects the motor response only if it exceeds the observer's perceptual response criterion. It is only when the physical energy of the masked stimulus is relatively strong that its impact on the motor response is independent of the state of the perceptual system. This indicates that reflex, “nonconscious” behaviour has a high energy threshold.
An Integrated, Directed Mass Spectrometric Approach for In-depth Characterization of Complex Peptide Mixtures *S

LC-MS/MS has emerged as the method of choice for the identification and quantification of protein sample mixtures. For very complex samples such as complete proteomes, the most commonly used LC-MS/MS method, data-dependent acquisition (DDA) precursor selection, is of limited utility. The limited scan speed of current mass spectrometers along with the highly redundant selection of the most intense precursor ions generates a bias in the pool of identified proteins toward those of higher abundance. A directed LC-MS/MS approach that alleviates the limitations of DDA precursor ion selection by decoupling peak detection and sequencing of selected precursor ions is presented. In the first stage of the strategy, all detectable peptide ion signals are extracted from high resolution LC-MS feature maps or aligned sets of feature maps. The selected features or a subset thereof are subsequently sequenced in sequential, non-redundant directed LC-MS/MS experiments, and the MS/MS data are mapped back to the original LC-MS feature map in a fully automated manner. The strategy, implemented on an LTQ-FT MS platform, allowed the specific sequencing of 2,000 features per analysis and enabled the identification of more than 1,600 phosphorylation sites using a single reversed phase separation dimension without the need for time-consuming prefractionation steps. Compared with conventional DDA LC-MS/MS experiments, a substantially higher number of peptides could be identified from a sample, and this increase was more pronounced for low intensity precursor ions.
Lateral and feedback schemes for the inhibition of false-positive responses in edge orientation channels

Object recognition is one of the most important applications of robotics. For object recognition, edge orientation is widely used as a primitive visual feature. However, a classical filter-based approach passes not only edges inside target orientation band but also edges outside. This can thus cause problem in the estimation of the true orientation of edge. This study proposes a filtering scheme to reduce the false-positive responses, i.e. edges outside target orientation band, and investigate a solution inspired by biological vision. Motivated by several psychophysical and neuro-physiological findings, we present a computational framework based on the basic mechanisms of cortical processing, i.e. feed-forward, lateral and feedback stages. In the feed-forward stage, our model uses a classical filter-based method to allow as many true orientation edges to pass through as possible. False responses in orientation channels are then inhibited by lateral interaction. The remaining undesired responses are suppressed through the feedback stage. We evaluated the performance of our model against classical filter-based methods such as Gabor and Neumann filtering using several artificial and natural images. The results validated the effectiveness of our approach.
Receptors for chorionic gonadotropin in the corpus luteum of the rhesus monkey during simulated early pregnancy: lack of down-regulation.

Stimulation of the primate corpus luteum (CL) by endogenous CG in early pregnancy or by exogenous hCG in simulated early pregnancy is transient, possibly due to a drop in the number of available gonadotropin receptors in the CL. The objective of the current study was to determine if this reduction in available CG receptors in the CL is due to down-regulation of the total receptor population or occupation of receptors by CG. CL were removed from rhesus monkeys (n = 27) during prolonged CG exposure in simulated early pregnancy. Luteal tissue was homogenized, and a particulate preparation (20,000 g) was formed. Bound gonadotropin was eluted from half of each tissue preparation with 0.05 M Na acetate-HCl in 0.1% gelatin (pH 3.3); the other half was treated with control buffer (0.05 M Tris-HCl, pH7.4). The hCG in the eluate was quantified by RIA and used to estimate the number of occupied receptors. Numbers and affinities of receptors were estimated by Scatchard analyses of specific [125I]hCG binding. Serum concentrations of progesterone increased within 9 h of hCG treatment and declined between 3 and 10 days of treatment. Whereas the number of available receptors declined from 0 h to 10 days of hCG treatment, the number of receptors occupied by hCG increased throughout treatment from 0.19 +/- 0.01 fmol/mg tissue (mean +/- SE) after 2 h of treatment to 7.76 +/- 1.73 fmol/mg after 10 days of treatment (P less than 0.05). The total number of receptors (available plus occupied) did not change throughout the 10-day treatment period (11.93 +/- 2.11 fmol/mg at 0 h vs. 9.64 +/- 1.86 at 10 days; P greater than 0.10). The dissociation constants (Kd) for CG binding were greater (P less than 0.05) after 6 days (4.10 +/- 0.57 X 10(-10) M) and 10 days (5.24 +/- 0.54 X 10(-10) M) of treatment than after 0-3 days (0.95 +/- 0.06 X 10(-10) M) of treatment. Notably, the percentage of total receptors able to rebind hCG after elution declined from 0 h (79.0 +/- 5.4%) to 10 days (23.0 +/- 3.2%; P less than 0.05). Rebindability was highly correlated with the number of available (r = 0.906; P less than 0.05) and occupied (r = -0.999; P less than 0.01) CG receptors. Thus, the reduction in available gonadotropin-binding sites in the CL during simulated early pregnancy is largely due to occupancy rather than down-regulation of receptors. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Extracting Student Models for Intelligent Tutoring Systems

Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITSs) that adapt to an individual student’s needs have been shown to be extremely effective, showing significant improvement in achievement over non-adaptive instruction (Murray 1999). The most successful of these systems require the construction of complex cognitive models that are applicable only to a specific tutorial in a specific field, requiring the time of experts to create and test these models on students. In order to achieve the benefits that ITSs provide, we must find a way to simplify their creation. Therefore, we are creating a framework to automate the generation of ITS student models. The goal is to provide a simple way to allow developers of computer-based training (CBT) to add adaptive capabilities with minimal work while still maintaining the effectiveness of a true ITS.
Endogenous Monetary Policy Shifts and the Term Structure: Evidence from Japanese Government Bond Yields

I construct a no-arbitrage term structure model with endogenous regime shifts and apply it to Japanese government bond (JGB) yields. This model subjects the short-term interest rate to monetary regime shifts, specifically a zero interest rate policy (ZIRP) and normal regimes, which depend on macroeconomic variables. The estimates show that under the ZIRP regime, the effect of deflation (inflation) on lowering (raising) bond yields amplifies on the long end of yield curves, compared with a case with positive interest rates under the normal regime. On the other hand, output gaps’ ability to raise bond yields weakens for all maturities.
Vagus nerve stimulation therapy in depression and epilepsy: therapeutic parameter settings

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy is an effective adjunctive treatment for chronic or recurrent treatment‐resistant depression in adults, and for pharmacoresistant epilepsy in adults and adolescents. VNS therapy is administered through an implanted pulse generator that delivers programmed electrical pulses through an implanted lead to the left vagus nerve. Programmable pulse parameters include output current, frequency, pulse width, and ON/OFF times. Within a range of typical values, individual patients respond best to different combinations of parameter settings. The physician must identify the optimum settings for each patient while balancing the goals of maximizing efficacy, minimizing side effects, and preserving battery life. Output current is gradually increased from 0.25 mA to the maximum tolerable level (maximum, 3.5 mA); typical therapeutic settings range from 1.0 to 1.5 mA. Greater output current is associated with increased side effects, including voice alteration, cough, a feeling of throat tightening, and dyspnea. Frequency is typically programmed at 20 Hz in depression and 30 Hz in epilepsy. Pulse width is typically 250 or 500 μs. The recommended initial ON time is 30 s, followed by 5 min OFF; OFF time > ON time is recommended. As with pharmacotherapy, VNS therapy must be adjusted in a gradual, systematic fashion to individualize therapy for each patient.
Speculations on the links between feelings, emotions and sexual behaviour: Are vasopressin and oxytocin involved?

This paper addresses the links between subjective experiences and physiological responses during sexual activity, by exploring the neurobiology of the feelings and emotions that are associated with peripheral bodily changes. Although women and men differ in the brain structures and chemical pathways that govern sexuality, human sexual behaviour is part of interpersonal relationships and is cognitively mediated. Nevertheless comparisons can be made with other mammals whose subcortical systems are similar. Research into the neurophysiology of attachment, love and sexual bonding in rodents is reviewed, indicating that the neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin, which are secreted from the pituitary gland, have a vital role in partner preference and copulation. Laboratory investigations into hormonal release during human sexual activity show that oxytocin is necessary for subjective pleasure during arousal and orgasm in both sexes, while vasopressin is released only during male arousal. Vasopressin is suggested to have the opposite effect on female sexuality, and to impair women's interest in sexual contact. As oxytocin and vasopressin are regulated by oestrogen and testosterone respectively, and are sensitive to developmental hormonal experiences, they could provide a link between biology and culture. It is also postulated that neuropeptide secretion in the human brain could account for some of the observed gender differences, such as the impact of puberty; aggressive and protective feelings; and consistency of sexual interest in committed relationships. Psychological approaches for relationships where negative emotional states inhibit responding, are considered more appropriate than pharmacological interventions at this stage, in view of the uniquely human need to regulate relationships and sex through awareness of mood states and feelings.
A voice recognition system for speech impaired people

We show how MATLAB can be used to realize voice recognition for people with cerebral paralysis. The first part of this paper is about what cerebral paralysis is, and its consequences on the way people with this illness talk. We then mention the mathematical background needed to realize this project. We explain the first stage of the system in which some phonemes are recognized. Next, we describe the functioning of the second stage of the project in which words are recognized. Finally, we give some results and we discuss them.
Fixation of the Cemented Stem: Clinical Relevance of the Porosity and Thickness of the Cement Mantle

The aim of this review paper is to define the fixation of the cemented stem. Polymethyl methacrylate, otherwise known as “bone cement”, has been used in the fixation of hip implants since the early 1960s. Sir John Charnley, the pioneer of modern hip replacement, incorporated the use of cement in the development of low frictional torque hip arthroplasty. In this paper, the concepts of femoral stem design and fixation, clinical results, and advances in understanding of the optimal use of cement are reviewed. The purpose of this paper is to help understanding and discussions on the thickness and the porosity of the cement mantle in total hip arthroplasty. Cement does not act as an adhesive, as sometimes thought, but relies on an interlocking fit to provide mechanical stability at the cement–bone interface, while at the prosthesis– cement interface it achieves stability by optimizing the fit of the implant in the cement mantle, such as in a tapered femoral stem.
Robust Feature Detection for Facial Expression Recognition

This paper presents a robust and adaptable facial feature extraction system used for facial expression recognition in human-computer interaction (HCI) environments. Such environments are usually uncontrolled in terms of lighting and color quality, as well as human expressivity and movement; as a result, using a single feature extraction technique may fail in some parts of a video sequence, while performing well in others. The proposed system is based on a multicue feature extraction and fusion technique, which provides MPEG-4-compatible features assorted with a confidence measure. This confidence measure is used to pinpoint cases where detection of individual features may be wrong and reduce their contribution to the training phase or their importance in deducing the observed facial expression, while the fusion process ensures that the final result regarding the features will be based on the extraction technique that performed better given the particular lighting or color conditions. Real data and results are presented, involving both extreme and intermediate expression/emotional states, obtained within the sensitive artificial listener HCI environment that was generated in the framework of related European projects.
A comprehensive flow-cytometric analysis of graft infiltrating lymphocytes, draining lymph nodes and serum during the rejection phase in a fully allogeneic rat cornea transplant model

Purpose To establish a cornea transplant model in a pigmented rat strain and to define the immunologic reaction toward corneal allografts, by studying the cellular and humoral immune response after keratoplasty. Methods Full thickness penetrating keratoplasty was performed on Brown Norway (RT1n) recipients using fully major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-mismatched Piebald-Viral-Glaxo (PVG; RT1c) donors. Using multicolor flow cytometry (FACS) we quantified and compared the cellular composition of draining versus non-draining lymph nodes (LN). Furthermore, we developed an isolation method to release viable graft infiltrating lymphocytes (GIL) and subjected them to phenotypic analysis and screened serum from transplanted animals for allo-antibodies. Results Assessing ipsi-lateral submandibular LN we find ample evidence for post surgical inflammation such as elevated absolute numbers of cluster of differentiation (CD)4+, CD8+, B-cells, and differential expression of CD134. However, we could not unequivocally identify an allo-antigen-specific immune response. FACS analysis of lymphocytes isolated from collagenase digested rejected corneas revealed the following six distinct subpopulations: MHC-2+ cells, CD4+ T-cells, CD8+ T-cells, CD161dull large granular lymphocytes, CD3+ CD8+ CD161dull natural killer (NK)-T-cells and CD161high CD3- NK cells. At post-operation day (POD)-07 only CD161dull MHC-2neg large granular lymphocytes (LGLs) were detected in syngeneic and allo-grafts. In concordance with an increase in B-cell numbers we often detected copious amounts of allo-antibodies in serum of rejecting animals, in particular immunoglobulin (Ig) M (IgM), immunoglobulin (Ig) G1 (IgG1), and IgG2a. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that despite its immune privileged status and low-responder characteristics of the strain combination, allogeneic corneal grafts mount a full fledged T helper1 (Th1) and Th2 response. The presence of NK-T-cells and NK-cells in rejecting corneas shows the synergy between innate and adaptive immunity during allograft destruction.