Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The importance of music for people with dementia: the perspectives of people with dementia, family carers, staff and music therapists

Objectives: Despite the popularity of music-based interventions in dementia care, there is a limited knowledge of how and why people with dementia find music beneficial for their well-being. A qualitative study was conducted to develop further insights into the musical experiences of people with dementia and explore the meaning of music in their lives.Method: Separate focus groups and interviews with (1) care home residents with dementia and their families, (2) day hospital clients with dementia, (3) care home staff, and (4) music therapists, were conducted. The findings of the thematic analysis were investigated further in the light of psychosocial factors with the aim of developing a theoretical model on music in dementia.Results: Six key themes were identified. The accessibility of music for people at all stages of dementia, close links between music, personal identity and life events, the importance of relationship-building through music making were particularly highlighted as valuable. The psychosocial model of music in dementia was developed. The model revealed the importance of music to support the personal psychology of people with dementia and the social psychology of the care home environment.Conclusion: The effects of music go beyond the reduction of behavioural and psychological symptoms. Individual preference of music is preserved throughout the process of dementia. Sustaining musical and interpersonal connectedness would help value who the person is and maintain the quality of their life.
Interaatianal Capital Mobility and Exchange Rate Valatility

Three post-1980 developments have instilled in many observers a feeling that all is not quite right with the world financial system: the international debt problem of many developing countries, the large U.S. current account deficit and the corresponding cumulation of foreign indebtedness, and the heightened volatility of exchange rates and other asset prices in world financial markets. To what extent are the large swings in prices and quantities on international financial markets attributable to a higher degree of international capital mobility in the 1980s? This paper examines, first, various ways of quantifying the degree of international capital mobility, and, second, implications of high capital mobility for the possibility that exchange rates are "excessively volatile. "
Looks good to me

Our primary goal was to assess users' reactions to web sites and to better understand why they respond more favorably to some web sites than to others. In the present study, we replicated earlier research1 in which participants performed tasks on 12 different web sites and subsequently rated each of the sites along 14 dimensions. As occurred in the earlier research, reliable differences were observed in the ratings of the web sites. However, in contrast to the earlier study where organization was the primary predictor of overall ratings, attractiveness was the strongest predictor of their overall impression of the sites. It may be that the differing results were due either to different stimulus sets or to different subject populations.
Bi-station OTH radar locating and tracking using only range and Doppler measurements

Azimuthal measurements of the high frequency ground wave over-the-horizon (OTH) radar are either coarse or unavailable in an actual environment. It is very hard for a single station OTH radar to performance effective tracking under that condition. A bi-station OTH radar system is proposed to triangulate target tracks using range and Doppler measurements only. Multi-sensor data association and combining positioning are key issues of this system. This paper focuses on positioning and tracking filter algorithm. The locating and tracking model is established and the extended Kalman filter (EKF) is used to solve the bi-station nonlinear tracking problem. Simulation result shows that EKF can handle this well, and the bi-station OTH radar system can meet or slightly better than the accuracy of the conventional single station OTH radar tracking system with poor bearing resolution.
Addressing Annotation Complexity: The Case of Annotating Ideological Perspective in Egyptian Social Media

Automatically detecting the stance of people toward political and ideological topics –namely their “Ideological Perspective”– from social media is a rapidly growing research area with a wide range of applications. Research in such a ﬁeld faces several challenges among which is the lack of annotated corpora and associated guidelines for collecting annotations. The problem is even more pronounced in situations where there is no clear taxonomy for the common community perspectives and ideologies. The challenges are exacerbated when the communities where we need to gather these annotations are in a state of turmoil causing subjectivity and intimidation to be factors in the annotation process. Accordingly, we present the process for creating a robust and succinct set of guidelines for annotating “Egyp-tian Ideological Perspectives”. We collect social media data discussing Egyptian politics and develop an iterative feedback annotation framework reﬁning the annotation task and associated guidelines at-tempting to circumvent both weaknesses. Our efforts lead to a signiﬁcant increase in inter-annotator agreement measures from 75.7% to 92% overall agreement.
Utility-Directed Allocation

This paper considers the problem of allocating discrete res ources according to utility functions reported by potential recip ients and relates this abstract problem to resource allocation in a Ut ility Data Center (UDC). A simple integer program formulation, which g eneralizes well-known knapsack problems, permits a remarkab le breadth of expression while retaining clarity and analytic tractab ility. In the UDC context, this formulation allows us to incorporate fact ors such as resource scarcity, user demand, and operating costs in a u nified framework. It is equally applicable to longand short-term allocation. If applied to short-term dynamic re-allocation it all ows SLA violation penalties to be enforced or relaxed, thereby perm itting principled preemption of resources. Retrospective analys is of past allocator inputs can guide economically-optimal capacity expansion. The proposed problem formulation is suitable both for UDCs that operate exclusively within an enterprise and for those that sell access to computational resources to external customers. T he latter case involves multiple divergent interests contending for scarce resources, and this paper surveys the economic issues that a rise in such situations and relevant literature, e.g., on mechanis m design and auction theory. This paper describes the expressive power of the proposed pr oblem formulation, considers the computational requirement s of solution methods, outlines connections with economics liter ature, and compares the proposed formulation with other UDC allocatio n schemes. It also presents preliminary computational results showin g that a commercial integer-program solver can quickly find near-op timal solutions to random problem instances of reasonable size.
Modular Reuse of Ontologies: Theory and Practice

In this paper, we propose a set of tasks that are relevant for the modular reuse of ontologies. In order to formalize these tasks as reasoning problems, we introduce the notions of conservative extension, safety and module for a very general class of logic-based ontology languages. We investigate the general properties of and relationships between these notions and study the relationships between the relevant reasoning problems we have previously identified. To study the computability of these problems, we consider, in particular, Description Logics (DLs), which provide the formal underpinning of the W3C Web Ontology Language (OWL), and show that all the problems we consider are undecidable or algorithmically unsolvable for the description logic underlying OWL DL. In order to achieve a practical solution, we identify conditions sufficient for an ontology to reuse a set of symbols "safely"--that is, without changing their meaning. We provide the notion of a safety class, which characterizes any sufficient condition for safety, and identify a family of safety classes-called locality--which enjoys a collection of desirable properties. We use the notion of a safety class to extract modules from ontologies, and we provide various modularization algorithms that are appropriate to the properties of the particular safety class in use. Finally, we show practical benefits of our safety checking and module extraction algorithms.
Value Veracity Estimation for Multi-Truth Objects via a Graph-Based Approach

A fundamental issue with current truth discovery methods is that they generally assume only one true value for each object, while in reality objects may have multiple true values. In this work, we propose a graph-based approach, called SmartMTD, to relax this assumption in truth discovery. SmartMTD models two types of source relations with additional quantification to precisely estimate source reliability and to detect malicious agreement among sources for multi-truth discovery. In particular, two graphs are constructed based on the modeled source relations, which are further used to derive two aspects of source reliability via random walk computation.
Warning Signal Brightness Variation: Sexual Selection May Work under the Radar of Natural Selection in Populations of a Polytypic Poison Frog

Though theory predicts consistency of warning signals in aposematic species to facilitate predator learning, variation in these signals often occurs in nature. The strawberry poison frog Dendrobates pumilio is an exceptionally polytypic (populations are phenotypically distinct) aposematic frog exhibiting variation in warning color and brightness. In the Solarte population, males and females both respond differentially to male brightness variation. Here, we demonstrate through spectrophotometry and visual modeling that aposematic brightness variation within this population is likely visible to two putative predators (crabs, snakes) and conspecifics but not to the presumed major predator (birds). This study thus suggests that signal brightness within D. pumilio populations can be shaped by sexual selection, with limited opportunity for natural selection to influence this trait due to predator sensory constraints. Because signal brightness changes can ultimately lead to changes in hue, our findings at the within-population level can provide insights into understanding this polytypism at across-population scales.
Perivascular Adipose Tissue Inhibits Endothelial Function of Rat Aortas via Caveolin-1

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT)-derived factors have been proposed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Caveolin-1 (Cav-1), occupying the calcium/calmodulin binding site of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and then inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) production, is also involved in the development of atherosclerosis. Thus, we investigated whether PVAT regulated vascular tone via Cav-1 and/or endothelial NO pathways. Isometric tension studies were carried out in isolated thoracic aortas from Wistar rats in the presence and absence of PVAT. Concentration-response curves of phenylephrine, acetylcholine, and sodium nitroprusside were illustrated to examine the vascular reactivity and endothelial function. The protein expressions of eNOS and Cav-1 were also examined in aortic homogenates. Our results demonstrated that PVAT significantly enhanced vasoconstriction and inhibited vasodilatation via endothelium-dependent mechanism. The aortic NO production was diminished after PVAT treatment, whereas protein expression and activity of eNOS were not significantly affected. In addition, Cav-1 protein expression was significantly increased in aortas with PVAT transfer. Furthermore, a caveolae depleter methyl-β-cyclodextrin abolished the effect of PVAT on the enhancement of vasoconstriction, and reversed the impairment of aortic NO production. In conclusion, unknown factor(s) released from PVAT may inhibit endothelial NO production and induce vasocontraction via an increase of Cav-1 protein expression.
A REDUCED RANK REGRESSION MIXTURE MODEL FOR CHANGE VALIDATION IN AERIAL IMAGES

Change detection is an important part of image interpretation and automated geographical data collection. In this paper we show a reduced rank regression mixture model for the verification of image changes detected by a human operator. Maximum likelihood estimators are used to learn the operator behaviour. Then, the operator uses the trained system to validate the image changes found. Computational results are given with real image data that show the performance of the system.
Some remarks on quantum and braided group gauge theory

We clarify some aspects of quantum group gauge theory and its recent generalisations (by T. Brzezinski and the author) to braided group gauge theory and coalgebra gauge theory. We outline the diagrammatic version of the braided case. We study the bosonisation of any braided group provides as a trivial principal bundle in three ways.
How Anthropomorphism Affects Human Perception of Color-Gender-Labeled Pet Robots

The aim of this study is to examine whether six color-gender-labeled pet robots draw repulsive responses from participants based on the measurement of five key concepts in human-robot interaction: anthropomorphism, animacy, likeability, perceived intelligence, and perceived safety. In total, 60 male and 69 female undergraduate and graduate students aged 18 to 37 years participated in the experiment. The results show that anthropomorphism and animacy can be conceptualized as a composite and extended concept. In a plot of results, all visual targets were positioned at the top of the upward curve, and not plotted in the valley. Another finding of this study is that, when confronted with a pet robot PLEO with manipulated gender-related social cues, participants responded automatically to the robots, applying human-human social attraction rules to them.
Cinacalcet does not affect longitudinal growth but increases body weight gain in experimental uraemia.

BACKGROUND Cinacalcet (CIN) efficiently suppresses parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion by the activation of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaR). Epiphyseal chondrocytes also express the CaR and its activation promotes cell proliferation and differentiation in vitro. Hence, the impact of CIN on the growth plate function requires assessment before routine administration in children. METHODS We treated subtotally nephrectomized (SNX) and sham-operated, ad lib and pair-fed Sprague-Dawley rats with CIN (15 mg/kg day) or solvent (S) for 14 days p.o. and assessed whole body and tibia length gain, growth plate morphology, osseous front advance (OFA) (calcein staining) and chondrocyte proliferation rate [5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) staining]. RESULTS Total body length gain did not differ after 7 and 14 days (SNX + CIN 2.9 +/- 0.6, SNX + S 3.0 +/- 0.7; sham + CIN 4.2 +/- 0.4, sham + S 4.5 +/- 0.4; sham pair-fed + CIN 3.3 +/- 0.5, sham pair-fed + S 3.5 +/- 0.6 cm/14 days; P = n.s.). Tibia length, the height of the total growth plate and the hypertrophic zone, OFA and chondrocyte proliferation rate were similar with CIN and S. Serum Ca(2+) declined with CIN treatment; PTH was 61% lower in CIN- compared to S-treated SNX (P < 0.05). Food intake was similar, whereas body weight gain (21.6 +/- 8.7 versus 12.7 +/- 11.2 g) and body weight gain per food intake (141 +/- 50 versus 77 +/- 70 g/kg) improved in CIN- versus S-treated SNX animals (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION CIN treatment does not impact on growth plate chondrocyte function in uraemic rats, but improves food efficiency and body weight gain.
Citation Counts and More Citation Counts: Useful? Interesting? or Counterproductive?

In their focal article, Aguinis et al. (2017) categorized the 6,654 unique citations, summed across the six introductory industrial and organizational (I-O) psychology texts, in various ways. They then suggested how such data could be used to (a) infer the “state” of the scientist–practitioner divide; (b) document the extent of the movement of I-O psychologists to management schools; (c) evaluate the future prospects of I-O psychology as a field; and (d) provide guidance in how to define, measure, and reward “scholarly impact” (quotation marks added). This crosses the line from interesting to very counterproductive.
How Much Can Diptera-Borne Viruses Persist over Unfavourable Seasons?

Diptera are vectors of major human and animal pathogens worldwide, such as dengue, West-Nile or bluetongue viruses. In seasonal environments, vector-borne disease occurrence varies with the seasonal variations of vector abundance. We aimed at understanding how diptera-borne viruses can persist for years under seasonal climates while vectors overwinter, which should stop pathogen transmission during winter. Modeling is a relevant integrative approach for investigating the large panel of persistence mechanisms evidenced through experimental and observational studies on specific biological systems. Inter-seasonal persistence of virus may occur in hosts due to viremia duration, chronic infection, or vertical transmission, in vector resistance stages, and due to a low continuous transmission in winter. Using a generic stochastic modeling framework, we determine the parameter ranges under which virus persistence could occur via these different mechanisms. The parameter ranges vary according to the host demographic regime: for a high host population turnover, persistence increases with the mechanism parameter, whereas for a low turnover, persistence is maximal for an optimal range of parameter. Persistence in hosts due to long viremia duration in a few hosts or due to vertical transmission is an effective strategy for the virus to overwinter. Unexpectedly, a low continuous transmission during winter does not give rise to certain persistence, persistence barely occurring for a low turnover of the susceptible population. We propose a generic framework adaptable to most diptera-borne diseases. This framework allows ones to assess the plausibility of each persistence mechanism in real epidemiological situations and to compare the range of parameter values theoretically allowing persistence with the range of values determined experimentally.
Review of rearing-related factors affecting the welfare of laying hens

Laying hens may face a number of welfare problems including: acute and chronic pain caused by beak trimming; exaggerated fearfulness that may cause stress and suffocation; difficulties in locating resources, resulting potentially in emaciation and dehydration; frustration and boredom, caused by an environment that is barren; feather pecking; cannibalism; foot lesions; and bone fractures. In Europe, a greater proportion of laying hens are housed in non-cage systems compared to the rest of the world. The extent of the different welfare problems may therefore vary between countries as the type of housing system influences the risk of suffering. More generally, many of these welfare problems are influenced by the rearing environment of the pullets. This article therefore focuses on welfare problems in laying hens that can be traced back to rearing. Factors that have been studied in relation to their effects on bird welfare include beak trimming, housing type, furnishing, enrichment, feeding, stocking density, flock size, sound and light levels, concentration of gasses, age at transfer from rearing to production facilities, similarity between rearing and production facilities, competence of staff, and interactions between bird strain and environment. The present review aims to summarize rearing-related risk factors of poor welfare in adult laying hens housed according to European Union legislation. It aims to identify gaps in current knowledge, and suggests strategies for improving bird welfare by improving rearing conditions. Two main conclusions of this work are that attempts should be made to use appropriate genetic material and that beak trimming should be limited where possible. In addition to this, the rearing system should provide constant access to appropriate substrates, perches, and mashed feed, and should be as similar as possible to the housing system used for the adult birds. Finally, young birds (pullets) should be moved to the production facilities before 16 weeks of age. The measures outlined in this review may be useful for improving the welfare of pullets and adult laying hens.
Do arm postures vary with the speed of reaching?

Do arm postures vary with the speed of reaching? For reaching movements in one plane, the hand has been observed to follow a similar path regardless of speed. Recent work on the control of more complex reaching movements raises the question of whether a similar "speed invariance" also holds for the additional degrees of freedom. Therefore we examined human arm movements involving initial and final hand locations distributed throughout the three-dimensional (3D) workspace of the arm. Despite this added complexity, arm kinematics (summarized by the spatial orientation of the "plane of the arm" and the 3D curvature of the hand path) changed very little for movements performed over a wide range of speeds. If the total force (dynamic + quasistatic) had been optimized by the control system (e.g., as in a minimization of the change in joint torques or the change in muscular forces), the optimal solution would change with speed; slow movements would reflect the minimal antigravity torques, whereas fast movements would be more strongly influenced by dynamic factors. The speed-invariant postures observed in this study are instead consistent with a hypothesized optimization of only the dynamic forces.
Agile development with software process mining

Modern companies continue investing more and more in the creation, maintenance and change of software systems, but the proper specification and design of such systems continues to be a challenge. The majority of current approaches either ignore real user and system runtime behavior or consider it only informally. This leads to a rather prescriptive top-down approach to software development. In this paper, we propose a bottom-up approach, which takes event logs (e.g., trace data) of a software system for the analysis of the user and system runtime behavior and for improving the software. We use well-established methods from the area of process mining for this analysis. Moreover, we suggest embedding process mining into the agile development lifecycle. The goal of this position paper is to motivate the need for foundational research in the area of software process mining (applying process mining to software analysis) by showing the relevance and listing open challenges. Our proposal is based on our experiences with analyzing a big productive touristic system. This system was developed using agile methods and process mining could be effectively integrated into the development lifecycle.