Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Attentive Task-Agnostic Meta-Learning for Few-Shot Text Classification

Current deep learning based text classiﬁcation methods are limited by their ability to achieve fast learning and generalization when the data is scarce. We address this problem by integrating a meta-learning procedure that uses the knowledge learned across many tasks as an inductive bias towards better natural language understanding. Inspired by the Model-Agnostic Meta-Learning framework (MAML), we introduce the Attentive Task-Agnostic Meta-Learning (ATAML) algorithm for text classiﬁcation. The proposed ATAML is designed to encourage task-agnostic representation learning by way of task-agnostic parameterization and facilitate task-speciﬁc adaptation via attention mechanisms. In comparisons with models trained from random initialization, pretrained models and meta trained MAML, our proposed ATAML method generalizes better on single-label and multi-label classiﬁcation tasks in miniRCV1 and miniReuters-21578 datasets.
Measuring Empathy in Future Preschool Teachers : Implications for Study Program Modification

High empathic abilities in teachers who work with preschool children are more than desirable, since they have positive influence on teachers-child relationship and they encourage development of empathy in children. The present research was made in order to examine empathy as a multidimensional construct that consists of four dimensions: fantasy, perspective taking, empathic concern and personal distress among future kindergarten teachers and their relationship with students’ age and academic year. For the purpose of this study the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Davis, 1980) was used on a sample of 100 students of Early and Preschool Care and Education at Faculty of Teacher Education in Rijeka. The results showed higher levels of all empathy dimensions among future preschool teachers in comparison to other students. Besides, statistically significant negative correlations between year of studying and empathic concern (r = -0.22, p = 0.01) and fantasy (r = -0.28, p = 0.01) have been determined. These last findings were not expected, and they were discussed within the frame of possible study program modifications.
The clinical diagnosis and risk factors of posterior malleolar fracture in tibial spiral fractures

The tibial spiral fracture is a common fracture associated with occult posterior malleolar fractures (PMFs). Although several previous studies had described the high rates of PMFs, the ignorance of PMF in clinic was still common. The diagnosis of the spiral fracture may affect the treatment strategy and prognosis. The research aims to figure out the differences in spiral fracture with or without PMF, and find risk factors which may help to identify the occurrence of PMF in spiral fractures. Data were collected and compared in terms of sex, age, BMI, mechanism of injury, injured time and season of injury, comorbidities which may increase the risk for fracture such as diabetes, smoking, chronic alcoholism. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine risk factors for PMF in the spiral fractures. 71 (47.3%) of the patients tibial spiral fractures were associated with PMF, and other 79 were spiral fractures without PMF. Sex and BMI were identified as risk factors for the PMF, and age and night-time were identified as protective factors. Shorter people were easier to get injured with PMF in spiral fracture. There was not statistical difference in terms of body weight. We concluded young female patients with obesity (high BMI) are more inclined to have PMF in spiral fractures. Patients injured in day time should be checked carefully to detect PMF in spiral fractures. Shorter people who get the spiral fracture should be more alert to have PMF.
Detecting Early Stage Lung Cancer using a Neural Network Trained with Patches from Synthetically Generated X-Rays

The aim of this research is to train a neural network to detect early stage lung cancer with high accuracy. Since X-rays are a relatively cheap and quick procedure that provide a preliminary look into a patient’s lungs and because real X-rays are often difficult to obtain due to privacy concerns, a neural network can be trained using patches from synthetically generated frontal chest X-rays using Beer’s Law on chest X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) scans with and without randomly inserted lung nodules. This provides a large, diverse training dataset that can be used to train a neural network to classify each patch of a given X-ray based on whether or not it contains a nodule. This research project involves bone removal to obtain soft-tissue dual-energy X-rays, lung segmentation to separate lungs within CT scans and randomize nodule placement, nodule generation to grow nodules of various shapes, sizes, and radiodensities, X-ray generation using Beer’s Law, image processing to produce realistic and effective X-rays, preliminary neural network exploration to study the feasibility of detecting nodules, sliding windows to create heatmap visualizations of X-rays to highlight areas of high nodule probability, and analyzing these various methods and the results of the neural network to improve accuracy while reducing space and time complexity. This research may be helpful in detecting lung cancer at a very early stage. This report is an extension of our previous report, "Creation of Synthetic X-Rays to Train a Neural Network to Detect Lung Cancer" [1].
Implications of Privacy & Security Research for the Upcoming Battlefield of Things

This article presents the results of a trend-scouting study on the applicability of contemporary information privacy and information security research in future defence scenarios in a 25-year-horizon. The authors sketch the expected digital warfare and defence environment as a ‘Battlefield of Things’ in which connected objects, connected soldiers, and automated and autonomous sensing and acting systems are core elements. Based on this scenario, the authors discuss current research in information security and information privacy and their relevance and applicability for the future scenario.
Subliminal exposure to positive auditory stimuli effective in improving mental health wellbeing

This article presents the results of a retrospective analysis of 118 patients with symptoms of depression and anxiety who were treated with eight 30-minute sessions of subliminal, subthreshold verbal affirmation messages, both with and without music overlay. We found that seven sessions of the 30-minute treatment protocol significantly reduced self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients both in the short term (immediately following the seventh session) and long term (in follow-up sessions), as detailed in an 87-item questionnaire before and after treatment. Positive results were measured as early as after just one session. We compared the findings from this technique (termed Quantum Neuro Recoding QNR) with the results from conventional mental health therapies from published meta-analyses of a variety of mental health treatments, including medication and/or counselling, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and alternative therapies. Our results show that QNR was at least as effective as CBT and counselling, with and without medication. The results presented in this article provide evidence for the potential efficacy of using repeated subliminal auditory stimuli to treat patients with symptoms of anxiety and depression and improve mental wellbeing.
Beliefs and Adherence to Glaucoma Treatment: A Comparison of Patients From Diverse Cultures

Purpose:To determine adherence rates and beliefs about glaucoma and its treatment in white Americans, African Americans, white Australians, and Singaporeans of Chinese descent. Patients and Methods:Cross-sectional study of 475 glaucoma patients using topical eye drops for at least 6 months. The sample consisted of white Americans (n=133), African Americans (n=58), white Australians (n=107), and Singaporeans of Chinese descent (n=117). Self-reported adherence and beliefs about glaucoma and its treatment were assessed using the Reported Adherence to Medication scale, the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, and the Beliefs about Medicines–Specific Questionnaire. Results:Accounting for sociodemographic differences, significant differences in self-reported adherence rates were identified (P<0.001). White Americans and Australians reported significantly higher adherence (65.4%, 67.7% reported complete adherence) than African Americans or Singaporeans (56.9%, 47.5%, respectively; P<0.05). Beliefs about glaucoma treatment were predictive of adherence only in the Australian and white American samples (P<0.05). Conclusions:In western cultures, attempts to improve adherence may benefit from greater examination of individual’s concerns about, and perceived need, for glaucoma treatment. Further studies are needed to identify the critical predictors of adherence in nonwestern cultures and to validate measures in these populations.
Identification and characterization of the herpes simplex virus type 1 UL 51 gene product

IP: 54.70. 40.11 On: Sat, 11 May 2019 01:22:13 Journal of General Virology (1998), 79, 3027–3031. Printed in Great Britain . SHORT COMMUNICATION
Mechanisms of cholinesterase inhibition by inorganic mercury

The poorly known mechanism of inhibition of cholinesterases by inorganic mercury (HgCl2) has been studied with a view to using these enzymes as biomarkers or as biological components of biosensors to survey polluted areas. The inhibition of a variety of cholinesterases by HgCl2 was investigated by kinetic studies, X‐ray crystallography, and dynamic light scattering. Our results show that when a free sensitive sulfhydryl group is present in the enzyme, as in Torpedo californica acetylcholinesterase, inhibition is irreversible and follows pseudo‐first‐order kinetics that are completed within 1 h in the micromolar range. When the free sulfhydryl group is not sensitive to mercury (Drosophila melanogaster acetylcholinesterase and human butyrylcholinesterase) or is otherwise absent (Electrophorus electricus acetylcholinesterase), then inhibition occurs in the millimolar range. Inhibition follows a slow binding model, with successive binding of two mercury ions to the enzyme surface. Binding of mercury ions has several consequences: reversible inhibition, enzyme denaturation, and protein aggregation, protecting the enzyme from denaturation. Mercury‐induced inactivation of cholinesterases is thus a rather complex process. Our results indicate that among the various cholinesterases that we have studied, only Torpedo californica acetylcholinesterase is suitable for mercury detection using biosensors, and that a careful study of cholinesterase inhibition in a species is a prerequisite before using it as a biomarker to survey mercury in the environment.
Presence of gapped silicene-derived band in the prototypical (3 × 3) silicene phase on silver (111) surfaces

By mapping the low-energy electronic dynamics using angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), we have shed light on essential electronic characteristics of the (3 × 3) silicene phase on Ag(111) surfaces. In particular, our results show a silicene-derived band with a clear gap and linear energy–momentum dispersion near the Fermi level at the Γ symmetry point of the (3 × 3) phase at several distinctive Brillouin zones. Moreover, we have confirmed that the large buckling of ∼0.7 Å of this silicene structure induces the opening of a gap close to the Fermi level higher than at least 0.3 eV, in agreement with recent reported photoemission results. The two-dimensional character of the charge carriers has also been revealed by the photon energy invariance of the gapped silicene band, suggesting a limited silicene–silver hybridization, in disagreement with recent density-functional theory (DFT) predictions.
Benign Solid Thyroid Nodules: US-guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation-Initial Clinical Outcomes.

PURPOSE To assess the short-term efficacy and safety of ultrasonographically (US)-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation for treatment of benign solid thyroid nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS This prospective study was approved by the institutional ethics committee, and written informed consent was acquired. HIFU ablation was performed in one session with US guidance and conscious sedation in 20 euthyroid patients (mean age, 44.5 years) with a benign solitary or dominant thyroid nodule. Thyroid nodule volume, US structure, and Doppler pattern were assessed at baseline, at 1 week, and at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment. Adverse events associated with HIFU were evaluated. Statistical analysis was conducted by using repeated measures analysis of variance, the Student t test, χ(2) test, and correlation analysis. RESULTS The mean ± standard deviation nodule volume was 4.96 mL ± 2.79 at the start of the study. Nodule volume had decreased to 3.05 mL ± 1.96 at the 3-month follow-up examination (n = 20, P < .001), and reached 2.91 mL ± 2.43 by the 6-month follow-up examination (n = 16, P < .001). By then, the mean volume reduction was 48.7% ± 24.3 (P < .001). Isoechoic nodules showed greater reduction at 1 month than did hypoechoic nodules (31.6% ± 18.1 vs 16.4% ± 8.6, P = .053). Nodules with markedly increased blood flow showed smaller volume reduction at 3 months than did less-vascularized nodules (10.9% ± 14.5 vs 41.5% ± 20.3, P = .054). Minor transient complications (eg, subcutaneous edema, mild skin redness) were observed in two patients. CONCLUSION Early data suggest that US-guided HIFU ablation is an effective and safe procedure for treatment of benign solid thyroid nodules. Initial US echogenicity and vascularization influence the ablation outcome.
An asynchronous HRTF measurement method based on phase alignment

The virtual sound technology based on the Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF) is important in many applications such as gaming, education and military. Currently, the most important and accurate method to obtain HRTF is experimental measurement. In experimental measurement, the Maxim Length Sequence (MLS), the sweep signal, and impulse signal are usually used as the exciting signal and played in loop to generate several HRTFs and then the HRTFs are averaged to improve the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) of the results. However, the inconsistency of the timing modules (Oscillator) used in the recording system and in the playback system results the time non-alignment between the measured HRTFs in different played loop. The time non-alignment destroys the function of the average process and makes the average results distortion. For solving this problem, this paper proposed an asynchronous HRTF measurement method based on the phase alignment. Firstly, HRTFs are measured using the MLS signal as the exciting signal which are played in loops; then the phase alignment algorithm is applied to HRTFs in each loop to compensate the difference of the timing modules (Oscillator) of the recording system and the playback system; lastly, the aligned HRTFs are averaged to generate the result HRTF. The evaluation experiment results show that the Peak-SNR of the proposed HRTF measured method are improved about 4.5 dB compare to that of the traditional method.
Dry-ice blasting an optimal panacea for depurating welding robots of slag and spatter

Though MIG welding robots are extensively applied in the automotive assemblies ‘Spot Welding’ is the most common welding application found in the auto stamping assembly manufacturing.Every manufacturing process is subject to variations – with resistance welding, these include; part fit up, part thickness variations, misaligned electrodes, variations in coating materials or thickness, sealers, weld force variations, shunting, machine tooling degradation; and slag and spatter damage.All welding gun tips undergo wear; an elemental part of the process.Though adaptive resistance welding control automatically compensates to keep production and quality up to the levels needed as gun tips undergo wear so that the welds remain reliable; the system cannot compensate for deterioration caused by the slag and spatter on the part holding fixtures, sensors, and gun tips.To cleanse welding robots of slag and spatter, dry-ice blasting has proven to be an effective remedy. Presently, CO2 / dry ice blasting is being effectively used in a wide array of applications from heavy slag removal to delicate semiconductor and circuit board cleaning.This process can be used on-line without damaging equipment or requiring a machine "teardown". Unlike conventional toxic chemicals, high-pressure water blasting and abrasive grit blasting, CO2 / dry ice blasting uses dry ice particles in a high velocity air flow to remove contaminates from surfaces without the added costs and inconvenience of secondary waste treatment and disposal.This paper describes MIG and Spot welding process and analyses the slag and spatter formation during robotic welding of stamping assemblies; and concludes that the dry ice blasting process’s utility in cleansing of welding robots in auto stamping plant operations is paramount and exigent
Intestinal permeability and postheparin plasma diamine oxidase activity in the prediction of Crohn's disease relapse.

A method of detecting presymptomatic relapse of Crohn's disease could allow for the selective use of maintenance or intensified medical therapy in those with an increased risk of relapse. The aim of this study was to evaluate three potential laboratory markers of relapse: intestinal and gastroduodenal permeability and plasma diamine oxidase activity. Intestinal permeability (lactulose/mannitol test), gastroduodenal permeability (urinary sucrose excretion), and postheparin plasma diamine oxidase activity were serially measured in 61 adults with Crohn's disease in remission (CDAI <150) for at least 30 days. Subjects were followed periodically for clinical relapse (CDAI >150 and increased by at least 100 points or the need for steroids or surgery). Fourteen patients (23%) relapsed. A cut-off of 0.030 for the lactulose/mannitol ratio was defined. Those with ratios above the cutoff had a 7.0 times greater risk of relapse (p<0.001). Three subjects who went from a normal ratio to an abnormal ratio relapsed, whereas none of 32 subjects with a repeatedly normal ratio relapsed. Sucrose excretion and plasma diamine oxidase activity did not predict relapse. Serial testing of intestinal permeability, but not of gastroduodenal permeability or plasma diamine oxidase activity, was useful in predicting relapse in asymptomatic patients.
The Effects of Intrapersonal, Intragroup, and Intergroup Conflict on Team Performance Effectiveness and Work Satisfaction

Although numerous studies have focused on conflict management, few have considered the effects of unit technology and intrapersonal, intragroup, and intergroup conflict on team performance effectiveness and work satisfaction. The model was tested using a nonexperimental design. Path analysis using multiple regression was used to test the model. The nonrandom sample consisted of 141 nurses employed on 13 inpatient units at a state-supported, 597-bed academic medical center in a southeastern city. Findings indicated that intrapersonal conflict had a direct negative impact on intragroup conflict and work satisfaction. Intragroup conflict had direct negative effects on work satisfaction and team performance effectiveness. Unit technology had a direct negative impact on work satisfaction. Findings have implications for administrators to implement strategies to decrease a stressful work environment and increase team-building activities.
THE ROLE OF METACOGNITION IN C-LEARNING CURRICULUM

The article provides the Reader with an extensive review of literature, both theoretical and empirical, concerning c-learning and it’s possible content. Initially, the origins on c-learnign idea are reviewed, from the point of looking at the evolution of various forums of distance education over the Internet. Empirical results that led psychologists and pedagogues to consider c-learning as the answer to a majority of problems of traditional e-learning are presented, followed by a description of what c-learning currently is and what its main challenges are. Than, one of those challenges – c-learning curriculum – is considered and the path that led educational psychologists from treating instilling knowledge as the main aim of a teacher to treating training metaknowledge and metacognitive abilities as such is presented. Following that, the origins of the concept of metacognitive skills, the structure of those skills and their relation to cognitive functioning are discussed. Finally, the place metacognition should take in c-learning, and possibly all types of modern education paradigms (even traditional school), is considered, and the view presented is supported by a review of works from all fields involved in virtual schooling attempts: technology of education, educational and cognitive psychology and pedagogy.
Long memory and the aggregation of AR ( 1 ) processes : Some Monte Carlo results

Granger (1980) found that the aggregation of m short-memory AR(1) processes yields a long-memory process. Thereby he assumed m → ∞, Gaussian shape and betadistributed AR(1) parameters over (0; 1). To test hypotheses that long memory in climate time series comes from aggregation, the finding of Granger (1980) cannot be directly applied. First, the number of “microclimatic” processes to be aggregated is finite. Second, climatic processes often produce right-skewed data. Third, the AR(1) parameters of the microclimatic processes could be restricted to a narrower interval than (0; 1). We therefore perform Monte Carlo simulations to study aggregation in climate time series under realistic conditions. The long-memory parameter, H, is estimated by fitting an ARFIMA model to various types of aggregations. Our results are as follows. First, for m above a few hundred, H approaches saturation. Second, the distributional shape has little influence, as noted by Granger (1980). Third, the upper limit of the interval for the AR(1) parameter has a strong influence on the saturation value of H, as noted by Granger (1980).
Heme oxygenase-1-derived carbon monoxide requires the activation of transcription factor NF-kappa B to protect endothelial cells from tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mediated apoptosis.

We have shown that carbon monoxide (CO) generated by heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protects endothelial cells (EC) from tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-alpha)-mediated apoptosis. This effect relies on the activation of p38 MAPK. We now demonstrate that HO-1/CO requires the activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB to exert this anti-apoptotic effect. Our data suggest that EC have basal levels of NF-kappaB activity that sustain the expression of NF-kappaB-dependent anti-apoptotic genes required to support the anti-apoptotic effect of HO-1/CO. Over-expression of the inhibitor of NF-kappaB alpha (IkappaBalpha) suppresses the anti-apoptotic action of HO-1/CO. Reconstitution of NF-kappaB activity, by co-expression of IkappaBalpha with different members of the NF-kappaB family, i.e. p65/RelA or p65/RelA plus c-Rel, restores the anti-apoptotic effect of HO-1/CO. Expression of the NF-kappaB family members p65/RelA or p65/RelA with p50 or c-Rel up-regulates the expression of the anti-apoptotic genes A1, A20, c-IAP2, and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). Inhibition of NF-kappaB activity by over-expression of IkappaBalpha suppresses the expression of some of these anti-apoptotic genes, i.e. c-IAP2. Under inhibition of NF-kappaB, co-expression of some of these anti-apoptotic genes, i.e. c-IAP2 and A1, restores the anti-apoptotic action of HO-1/CO, whereas expression of A20 or MnSOD cannot. The ability of c-IAP2 and/or A1 to restore the anti-apoptotic action of HO-1/CO is abolished when p38 MAPK activation is blocked by over-expression of a p38 MAPK dominant negative mutant. In conclusion, we demonstrate that HO-1/CO cooperates with NF-kappaB-dependent anti-apoptotic genes, i.e. c-IAP2 and A1, to protect EC from TNF-alpha-mediated apoptosis. This effect is dependent on the ability of HO-1/CO to activate the p38 MAPK signal transduction pathway.