Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gender Brain Structural Differences and Interoception

Interoception, the ability to perceive inner body sensations, has been demonstrated to be different among genders, with a stronger female attention toward interoceptive information. No study correlated this capability with brain differences between males and females. This study aims to detect behavioral variances and structural neuroimaging interoception correlates in a sample of healthy volunteers matched for age. Seventy-three participants (37 females, mean age 43.5; 36 males, mean age 37.4) completed the Self-Awareness Questionnaire (SAQ) for interoceptive sensibility and underwent a structural MRI session. A t test corrected for Bonferroni multiple comparisons was performed to compare brain morphological parameters (cortical thickness and parcel volume) in both groups. A multivariate analysis of variance was performed to assess the effect of gender on scores obtained on the SAQ. A moderation model through multiple linear regression analysis was performed between gray matter volumes or parcels, cortical thickness, and the interoception score. Group analysis showed significant differences in morphometric brain data between males and females, both for cortical and subcortical volumes, but not for cortical thickness analyses. MANOVA underlined a significant difference in SAQ scores between males and females with higher values for the second ones. Moreover, a significant correlation between the interoception scores and gray matter volumes of the two groups has been detected, with a sharp prevalence for the female gender in the left insula with F1, F2, and SAQ interoception scores (R2 = 0.41, p < 0.001). Our results demonstrated that in the female group, a stronger predisposition was found toward interoceptive sensations, and that multiple brain areas were correlated with interoceptive measure. These data sustain a female advantage in the attention toward this process and support the idea that interoception in females is a process more shared across several regions that participate in creating the sense of self.
Classification of Stereo-EEG Contacts in White Matter vs. Gray Matter Using Recorded Activity

For epileptic patients requiring resective surgery, a modality called stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG) may be used to monitor the patient's brain signals to help identify epileptogenic regions that generate and propagate seizures. SEEG involves the insertion of multiple depth electrodes into the patient's brain, each with 10 or more recording contacts along its length. However, a significant fraction (≈ 30% or more) of the contacts typically reside in white matter or other areas of the brain which can not be epileptogenic themselves. Thus, an important step in the analysis of SEEG recordings is distinguishing between electrode contacts which reside in gray matter vs. those that do not. MRI images overlaid with CT scans are currently used for this task, but they take significant amounts of time to manually annotate, and even then it may be difficult to determine the status of some contacts. In this paper we present a fast, automated method for classifying contacts in gray vs. white matter based only on the recorded signal and relative contact depth. We observe that bipolar referenced contacts in white matter have less power in all frequencies below 150 Hz than contacts in gray matter, which we use in a Bayesian classifier to attain an average area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.85 ± 0.079 (SD) across 29 patients. Because our method gives a probability for each contact rather than a hard labeling, and uses a feature of the recorded signal that has direct clinical relevance, it can be useful to supplement decision-making on difficult to classify contacts or as a rapid, first-pass filter when choosing subsets of contacts from which to save recordings.
Neuromotor Speech Recovery Across Different Behavioral Speech Modifications in Individuals Following Facial Transplantation

Despite signs of facial nerve recovery within a few months following face transplantation, speech deficits persist for years. Behavioral speech modifications (e.g., slower-than-normal speaking rate and increased loudness) have shown promising potential to enhance speech intelligibility in populations with dysarthric speech. However, such evidence-based practice approach is lacking in clinical management of speech in individuals with facial transplantation. Because facial transplantation involves complex craniofacial reconstruction and facial nerve coaptation, it is unknown to what extent individuals with face transplant are capable of adapting their motor system to task-specific articulatory demands. The purpose of this study was to identify the underlying articulatory mechanisms employed by individuals with face transplantation in response to speech modification cues at early and late stages of neuromotor recovery. In addition, we aimed to identify speech modifications that conferred improved speech clarity. Participants were seven individuals who underwent full or partial facial vascularized composite allografts that included lips and muscles of facial animation and were in early (~2 months) or late (~42 months) stages of recovery. Participants produced repetitions of the sentence “Buy Bobby a puppy” in normal, fast, loud, and slow speech modifications. Articulatory movement traces were recorded using a 3D optical motion capture system. Kinematic measures of average speed (mm/s) and range of movement (mm3) were extracted from the lower lip (± jaw) marker. Two speech language pathologists rated speech clarity for each speaker using a visual analog scale (VAS) approach. Results demonstrated that facial motor capacity increased from early to late stages of recovery. While individuals in the early group exhibited restricted capabilities to adjust their motor system based on the articulatory demands of each speech modification, individuals in the late group demonstrated faster speed and larger-than-normal range of movement for loud speech, and slower speed and larger-than-normal range of movement for slow speech. In addition, subjects in both groups showed overreliance on jaw rather than lip articulatory function across all speech modifications, perhaps as a compensatory strategy to optimize articulatory stability and maximize speech function. Finally, improved speech clarity was associated with loud speech in both stages of recovery.
Matrix Inequalities Based Robust Model Predictive Control for Vehicle Considering Model Uncertainties, External Disturbances, and Time-Varying Delay

In this paper, we design a robust model predictive control (MPC) controller for vehicle subjected to bounded model uncertainties, norm-bounded external disturbances and bounded time-varying delay. A Lyapunov-Razumikhin function (LRF) is adopted to ensure that the vehicle system state enters in a robust positively invariant (RPI) set under the control law. A quadratic cost function is selected as the stage cost function, which yields the upper bound of the infinite horizon cost function. A Lyapunov-Krasovskii function (LKF) candidate related to time-varying delay is designed to obtain the upper bound of the infinite horizon cost function and minimize it at each step by using matrix inequalities technology. Then the robust MPC state feedback control law is obtained at each step. Simulation results show that the proposed vehicle dynamic controller can steer vehicle states into a very small region near the reference tracking signal even in the presence of external disturbances, model uncertainties and time-varying delay. The source code can be downloaded on https://github.com/wenjunliu999.
Short-term Blood Pressure Variability After Successful Re-canalization Is Associated with Discharge Outcomes in Large Vessel Occlusion Strokes (918)

Objective: Our objective was to assess the role of blood pressure (BP) variability in predicting discharge outcomes in successfully re-canalized (TICI 2b-3) large vessel occlusion strokes (LVOs) strokes. Background: Blood pressure variability affects early neurological deterioration and clinical outcomes in acute ischemic stroke. Evidence to guide post re-canalization blood pressure changes is currently lacking. Design/Methods: The study includes retrospective analysis of 182 LVO stroke patients between the years 2015–19. Anterior circulation LVO stroke patients, who were successfully re-canalized (TICI 2b-3) within 6 hours of time since last seen normal were included in this retrospective analysis (n=87). BP measurements were collected hourly for the first 24 hours post re-canalization. Squared average real BP variability (ARV2) was calculated for systolic (SBP) and mean blood pressures (MAP). We compared four quartiles of ARV2 (Q1 the least and Q4 highest variability) using dichotomous outcome variables - modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 5. The outcomes were adjusted for potential confounders including age, tPA, use of General Anesthesia (GA) and hemorrhagic events. Results: All four ARV2 quartiles had similar baseline characteristics. Favorable outcomes (mRS ≤ 2) were significantly higher (aOR: 0.17 [0.03 – 0.80], p=0.034) in Q1 of the ARV2 MAP (45%) compared to the Q4 patients (18%). While 50% of patients in SBP ARV2 Q1 had favorable outcomes (i.e., mRS ≤ 2), only 23% of Q4 patients experienced such outcomes. (0.32 [0.08 – 1.20], p= 0.100) SBP ARV2 result was not statistically significant, though followed expected direction. Conclusions: Less blood pressure variability (ARV2) for MAP- in the first 24 hours after TICI 2b-3 re-canalization of LVOs is associated with a discharge mRS ≤ 2. Impact of blood pressure variability (ARV2) on long-term functionality outcomes in successfully re-canalized LVO stroke patients needs further detailed exploration. Disclosure: Dr. Das has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chandler has nothing to disclose. Dr. Elliott has nothing to disclose. Dr. Furmanek has nothing to disclose. Dr. Liu has nothing to disclose. Dr. Remmel has nothing to disclose. Dr. Akca has nothing to disclose.
Understanding How Fuel Treatments Interact With Climate and Biophysical Setting to Affect Fire, Water, and Forest Health: A Process-Based Modeling Approach

Fuel treatments are a key forest management practice used to reduce fire severity, increase water yield, and mitigate drought vulnerability. Climate change exacerbates the need for fuel treatments, with larger and more frequent wildfires, increasing water demand, and more severe drought. The effects of fuel treatments can be inconsistent and uncertain and can be altered by a variety of factors including the type of treatment, the biophysical features of the landscape, and climate. Variation in fuel treatment effects can occur even within forest stands and small watershed management units. Quantifying the likely magnitude of variation in treatment effects and identifying the dominant controls on those effects is needed to support fuel treatment planning directed at achieving specific fire, water, and forest health goals. This research aims to quantify and better understand how local differences in treatment, landscape features, and climate alter those fuel treatment effects. We address these questions using a mechanistic coupled ecohydrologic model—the Regional Hydro-Ecological Simulation System (RHESSys). We ran 13,500 scenarios covering a range of fuel treatment, biophysical, and climate conditions, for the Southern Sierra Nevada of California. Across fuel treatment type, biophysical, and climate parameters, we find nontrivial variation in fuel treatment effects on stand carbon, net primary productivity, evapotranspiration, and fire-related canopy structure variables. Response variable estimates range substantially, from increases (1–48%) to decreases (−13 to −175%) compared to untreated scenarios. The relative importance of parameters differs by response variable; however, fuel treatment method and intensity, plant accessible water storage capacity (PAWSC), and vegetation type consistently demonstrate a large influence across response variables. These parameters interact to produce non-linear effects. Results show that projections of fuel treatment effects based on singular mean parameter values (such as mean PAWSC) provide a limited picture of potential responses. Our findings emphasize the need for a more complete perspective when assessing expected fuel treatment outcomes, both in their effects and in the interacting biophysical and climatic parameters that drive them. This research also serves as a demonstration of methodology to assess the likely variation in potential effects of fuel treatments for a given planning unit.
Contemporary Models of Access to Customers in Serbian Banking Sector

Globalization and increasingly intense competition have led to a new concept of access to bank customers. The new approach involves increasing the sales of banking products and services, maintaining existing customers, attracting new customers, and at the same time maintaining a high level of competitiveness. The new approach to bank customers is using contemporary Customer Relationship Management models, which support cross-selling processes. In the banking sector in Serbia, different forms of promotion are used in sales strategies: advertising, sales promotion, public relations, directs sales, direct marketing, sponsorship, and other forms. In the constant search for new clients, emphasis is placed on the predictive CRM environment. The predictive environment, by collecting and analyzing data from the media, from social networks, various services and other sources, better defines needs, and creates personalized offers for bank customers. The aim of this paper is to analyze the application of contemporary models of access to customers in the banking sector of Serbia, primarily the â€œBanking CRM modelâ€ . The paper will make a significant contribution in terms of understanding the CRM concept in Serbian banking sector, and the possibilities of its application in contemporary banking practice, in order to improve that the bank's sales message reaches the customer in the form of integrated personalized campaigns.
Paragraphe sur les modifications thérapeutiques dans les comptes rendus d’hospitalisation : intérêt dans la pratique quotidienne en médecine de ville

Le transfert ville-hopital-ville donne lieu a de nombreuses modifications therapeutiques, sources d’erreurs medicales. Le compte-rendu d’hospitalisation est le principal mode de communication entre les medecins hospitaliers et les medecins generalistes, d’ou l’importance de son contenu. L’objectif de notre etude etait d’evaluer l’interet pour les MG de justifier les modifications therapeutiques dans un paragraphe distinct et d’en analyser l’impact sur le maintien des modifications en ambulatoire. Il s’agit d’une etude descriptive prospective incluant 108 patients hospitalises en geriatrie aigue dans un hopital parisien. Les medecins generalistes etaient contactes 6 semaines apres la sortie. 80,7% d’entre eux ont confirme l’interet du paragraphe etudie. Sur les 398 modifications enregistrees en intra hospitalier, 384 ont ete maintenues en ville (96,5%). Notre etude montre qu’un paragraphe justifiant les modifications therapeutiques dans les comptes rendus d’hospitalisation est un element essentiel pour les medecins generalistes, et qu’il permettrait probablement une meilleure continuite therapeutique a l’interface entre l’hopital et la medecine ambulatoire.
THE USE OF DISCOURSES MARKERS IN A WRITTEN TEXT OF PRESIDENT JOKO WIDODO’S SPEECH

This article describes the types and frequenciey of discourse markers found in a written text of President Joko Widodo’s speech. The data of this study are the discourse markers which are found in a written text of President Joko Widodo's speech. The data source of this study is a written text of President Joko Widodo's speech at the World Economic Forum on the ASEAN National Convention Center in Hanoi of Vietnam on September 12, 2018. A model of analysis consisting of three concurrent flows of activities: data reduction, data display and conclusion drawing/verification was used to analyze the data. The analysis of the data discovered that the types of discourse markers used in the written text of President Joko Widodo’s speech are: discourse markers of connectives, discourse markers of cause and result, discourse markers of temporal, and (d) discourse markers of information and participant. Frequencies of discourse markers used in the speech of president are 51. Those markers dealing with markers of connective and (32 clauses), marker of connective but (2 clauses), markers of cause and result that contains marker cause/because (4 clauses), and marker of so (6 clauses), markers of temporal then are 2 clauses and markers of temporal adverbs now were 3 clauses, and, markers of information and participation you know are 2 clauses Keywords : discourse, discourse markers, speech
Probabilistic Models for Spatially Aggregated Data

Location data have played an important role in improving the life quality of people in various aspects such as socio-economics, epidemiology, public health, public security, urban planning, navigation systems, and location-based marketing. Due to practical reasons (e.g., privacy concerns), location data at the individual-level are often aggregated over spatial regions. Data aggregation is an essential process; however, it makes it difficult to apply existing methods for spatial data analysis, most of which assume that individuallevel data are available. One thus requires a framework for handling spatially aggregated data, which sheds light on the more effective utilization of aggregated data to solve the problems involved in human life and city environments. In this thesis, we describe novel computational tools that support prediction and knowledge discovery from aggregated data. Our solution is a model that integrates an aggregation process, a critical functionality for handling data aggregated over regions; this allows for effective model learning based on aggregated data. We specifically propose probabilistic models and their inference algorithms that address the following two problems: 1) refining coarse-grained aggregated data; 2) inferring latent people flow from aggregated population data. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed models by extensive experiments on real-world data sets.
Men and loneliness in the ‘west’: A critical interpretive synthesis

BackgroundLoneliness has received considerable attention in recent years, but has seldom been investigated through a gendered lens. This review aims to critically summarise research substantively related to men and loneliness.MethodA critical interpretive synthesis, incorporating a pre-defined search strategy, was employed to analyse a broad variety of data. The searches were conducted in July 2019, across seven databases: MEDLINE; PsycINFO; Scopus, ASSIA, SSCI; Sociological Abstracts; and Social Policy and Practice. Included studies were written in English, conducted in high income nations in Western Europe, North America, and Australasia, with no date limitations. Qualitative studies required a substantive focus on sex/men or gender/masculinities and loneliness, and quantitative studies either an explicit focus on sex differences in loneliness, or data substantially relevant to loneliness and men. Seventy-nine studies met the inclusion criteria.ResultsSeven ‘synthetic constructs’ were built: i) men’s loneliness appears more associated with their social network; ii) men may be less emotionally forthright, thus both less inclined to discuss loneliness and less likely to form meaningful relationships; iii) romantic relationships may be more important for preventing loneliness in men; iv) different measurements of loneliness do not show the same sex differences in the prevalence of loneliness; v) lonely men may be more likely to engage in risky/unhealthy behaviour; vi) feeling/being ‘insufficiently masculine’ can result in loneliness; and vii) intersections of identity facilitate different gendered results.ConclusionThese constructs offer a framework that can help inform interventions aimed at preventing/alleviating loneliness in men, and a foundation for future research. Overcoming men’s emotional reticence, and facilitating better quality social networks, appeared critical goals for interventions. Men’s emotional reticence may constitute both a barrier to discussing loneliness, and to forming loneliness preventing relationships. It also appeared to be characterised either by the construction of a masculine persona, or a fear of the repercussions for initiating intimate conversation. When attempting to ascertain whether a man is lonely, acknowledging gendered variation in survey responses is required. However, it is unclear how generalisable these ‘synthetic constructs’ are, and their potential inter-relatedness requires further research.
Evaluation of the implementation of a contextual safeguarding system in the London Borough of Hackney

This report presents the evaluation of the design and implementation of a pilot Contextual Safeguarding system in the London Borough of Hackney. The project was funded by the second round of the Department for Education’s (DfE’s) Innovation Programme. The project was led by Hackney Children and Families Service, working with an Academic Development Team at the University of Bedfordshire, led by Dr Carlene Firmin. The evaluation was conducted by the University of Sussex and Research in Practice. The setup and implementation phase of the project was April 2017 to March 2019, followed by an embedding phase April 2019 to March 2020.
What are the limits of state coercion when it comes to regulating social media

In the context of social media, the question, 'to what extent can the State exercise legitimate authority in regards to the imposition of regulation? ' is concerned with understanding the limits of State control and law-making capacity in regards to what is considered a legitimate use of regulating the use of social media. In this context, this question represents a contribution to the age-old debate of State control versus personal freedoms and liberty. This investigation is situated within the epistemology that has developed over a long period of time looking at the question of State versus individual freedoms, but differentiates itself by addressing a very contemporary phenomenon which is social media.