Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Emotionality in Text as Predictor of Behavior

The present study demonstrates how the emotional content of search terms and their eventual results affects the breadth of a users’ search for information. We observed the quantity of results selected by users. In a random sample of queries from the Microsoft LiveSearch search engine, 7,021 queries were evaluated using a dictionary with valence and arousal ratings. The number of search results selected was regressed on the valence and arousal of the search terms. We additionally observed users’ selection of results based on the position in the search results. Using the same sample, result placement was regressed on the valence and arousal level of the search terms. Results from quantity of search results selected shows that negative search terms result in an overall larger number of selections made than positive search terms. For position-based selections, we found that the selection of the first result is affected by an interaction of valence and arousal. Specifically, users were unaffected by the arousal level of negative search terms, but appeared to be more likely to search deeper on the page when they searched for less arousing positive information. These results suggest that the emotional content associated with a search query may lead users to be more or less discriminating in their acceptance of information and may influence the impact of placement on result selection.
Myocardial motion estimation from 2D analytical phases and preliminary study on the hypercomplex signal. (Estimation du mouvement cardiaque par la phase analytique et étude préliminaire du signal hypercomplexe)

Different mathematical tools, such as multidimensional analytic signals, provide possibilities to calculate multidimensional phases and modules. However, little work can be found on multidimensional analytic signals that perform appropriate extensibility for the applications on both of the 2D and 3D medical data processing. In this thesis, based on the Hahn 1D complex analytic, we aim to proposed a multidimensional extension approach from the 2D to a new 3D hypercomplex analytic signal in the framework of Clifford algebra. With the complex/hypercomplex analytic signals, we propose new 2D/3D medical image processing methods for the application of ultrasound envelope detection and cardiac motion estimation. Firstly, a general representation of 2D quaternion signal is proposed in the framework of Clifford algebra and this idea is extended to generate 3D hypercomplex analytic signal. The proposed method describes that the complex/hypercomplex 2D analytic signals, together with 3D hypercomplex analytic signal, are equal to different combinations of the original signal and its partial and total Hilbert transforms, which means that the hypercomplex Clifford analytic signal can be calculated by the classical Fourier transform. Based on the proposed 3D Clifford analytic signal, an application of 3D ultrasound envelope detection is presented. The results show a contrast optimization of about 7% comparing with 1D and 2D envelope detection methods. Secondly, this thesis proposes an approach based on two spatial phases of the 2D analytic signal applied to cardiac sequences. By combining the information of these phases issued from analytic signals of two successive frames, we propose an analytical estimator for 2D local displacements. To improve the accuracy of the motion estimation, a local bilinear deformation model is used within an iterative estimation scheme. This phase-based method allows the displacement to be estimated with subpixel accuracy and is robust to image intensity variation in time. Results from seven realistic simulated tagged magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences show that our method is more accurate compared with the state-of-the-art method. The motion estimation errors (end point error) of the proposed method are reduced by about 33% compared with that of the tested methods. In addition, the frame-to-frame displacements are further accumulated in time, to allow for the calculation of myocardial point trajectories. Indeed, from the estimated trajectories in time on two patients with infarcts, the shape of the trajectories of myocardial points belonging to pathological regions are clearly reduced in magnitude compared with the ones from normal regions. Myocardial point trajectories, estimated from our phase-based analytic signal approach, are therefore a good indicator of the local cardiac dynamics. Moreover, they are shown to be coherent with the estimated deformation of the myocardium.
Cooperative Spectrum Sensing for Cognitive Radio in Flat-Fading Environment

In cognitive radio system, the secondary users can use the frequency bands when the primary users are not present. Therefore, the secondary users need to sense the channel periodically. When the primary users are detected, the secondary users have to stop using that channel. This makes the probability of detection important to the cognitive radio system. However, detection is compromised when a secondary user experiences fading. The simulation results show that the detection probability of Rayleigh fading channel is 10dB worse than the additive white Gaussian noise channel. The cooperative schemes have been shown to improve the performance in MIMO system. In this paper, we will discover weather the cooperative scheme can improve the probability of detection. The results indicate that with only a few users in cooperation, the detection probability can be increased by 40% in fading channel at low SNR.
Contribution of central and peripheral factors to residual fatigue in Guillain–Barré syndrome

Many patients with Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) suffer from severe residual fatigue that has an uncertain basis. We determined the relative contribution of peripheral and central factors during a 2‐min fatiguing sustained maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) in 10 neurologically well‐recovered GBS patients and 12 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls. Physiological fatigue was defined as the decline of voluntary force during an MVC of the biceps brachii. Relative amounts of peripheral fatigue and central activation failure were determined combining voluntary force and force responses to electrical stimulation. Surface electromyography was used to determine muscle‐fiber conduction velocity. During the first minute of sustained MVC, peripheral fatigue developed more slowly in patients than in controls. Central fatigue only occurred in patients. The muscle‐fiber conduction velocity was higher in patients. The initial MVC, decrease of MVC, initial force response, and initial central activation failure did not significantly differ between the groups. Although peripheral mechanisms cannot be excluded in the pathogenesis of residual fatigue after GBS, these results suggest that central changes are involved. This study thus provides further insight into the factors contributing to residual fatigue in GBS patients. Muscle Nerve, 2007
Input-driven differences in toddlers’ perception of a disappearing phonological contrast

ABSTRACT How does phonological development differ in children exposed to one versus two variants of a single language? If children receive mixed evidence for a phonological contrast (i.e., one language variant in the environment maintains a contrast while another neutralizes it), will they treat this contrast as noncontrastive (i.e., as allophonic)? Or will they learn that only some speakers maintain the contrast and use this information to strategically optimize online word recognition? We examine these issues in two groups of Dutch 24-month-olds. One group had exposure to a single variant of Dutch that devoices all fricatives; the other had exposure to two Dutch variants, only one of which devoices all fricatives. We find that children who receive mixed evidence for a phonological contrast rapidly adapt their signal processing strategies to suit different speakers. Moreover, children routinely exposed to only one language variant demonstrate similar capabilities if given time to adapt to an unfamiliar variant.
AMBULATORY LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY IS SAFE AND COST-EFFECTIVE: a Brazilian single center experience.

BACKGROUND - Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the treatment of choice for gallstone disease, and has been perfomed as an outpatient surgery in many Institutions over the last few years. OBJECTIVE - This is a retrospective study of a single center in Brazil, that aims to analyze the outcomes of 200 cases of ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed by the same Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary team, evaluating the safety and cost-effectiveness of the method. METHODS - Two hundred consecutive patients who underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were retrospectively analyzed; some of them underwent additional procedures, as liver biopsies and abdominal hernias repair. RESULTS - From a total of 200 cases, the outpatient surgery protocol could not be carried out in 22 (11%). Twenty one (95.5%) patients remained hospitalized for 1 day and 1 (4.5%) patient remained hospitalized for 2 days. From the 178 patients who underwent ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 3 (1.7 %) patients returned to the emergency room before the review appointment. Hospital cost was on average 35% lower for the ambulatory group. CONCLUSION - With appropriate selection criteria, ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy is feasible, safe and effective; readmission rate is low, as well as complications related to the method. Cost savings and patient satisfaction support its adoption. Other studies are necessary to recommend this procedure as standard practice in Brazil.
A novel software framework for teaching aircraft dynamics and control

Aircraft dynamics and control (ADC) is a core course requirement for an undergraduate program in aeronautical engineering. This article presents an undertaking that reconfigures the instruction of fundamental concepts in ADC by replacing traditional problem‐solving approach with a method that relies on a simulation framework comprising of Matlab, USAF DATCOM, and flight simulation software. The typical challenges experienced by students including their inability to visualize complicated, multi‐modal aircraft were overcome by the new method thus enhancing the student's learning experience. The implemented approach improved students' motivational belief and its calibration, their use of active learning strategies and actual performance. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 23:63–71, 2015; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/cae; DOI 10.1002/cae.21579
A Functional Linker in Human Topoisomerase I Is Required for Maximum Sensitivity to Camptothecin in a DNA Relaxation Assay*

Human topoisomerase I is composed of four major domains: the highly charged NH2-terminal region, the conserved core domain, the positively charged linker domain, and the highly conserved COOH-terminal domain. Near complete enzyme activity can be reconstituted by combining recombinant polypeptides that approximate the core and COOH-terminal domains, although DNA binding is reduced somewhat for the reconstituted enzyme (Stewart, L., Ireton, G. C., and Champoux, J. J. (1997) J. Mol. Biol.269, 355–372). A reconstituted enzyme comprising the core domain plus a COOH-terminal fragment containing the complete linker region exhibits the same biochemical properties as a reconstituted enzyme lacking the linker altogether, and thus detachment of the linker from the core domain renders the linker non-functional. The rate of religation by the reconstituted enzyme is increased relative to the forms of the enzyme containing the linker indicating that in the intact enzyme the linker slows religation. Relaxation of plasmid DNA by full-length human topoisomerase I or a 70-kDa form of the enzyme that is missing only the non-essential NH2-terminal domain (topo70) is inhibited ∼16-fold by the anticancer compound, camptothecin, whereas the reconstituted enzyme is nearly resistant to the inhibitory effects of the drug despite similar affinities for the drug by the two forms of the enzyme. Based on these results and in light of the crystal structure of human topoisomerase I, we propose that the linker plays a role in hindering supercoil relaxation during the normal relaxation reaction and that camptothecin inhibition of DNA relaxation depends on a direct effect of the drug on DNA rotation that is also dependent on the linker.
Comparison of a Commercial DNA Probe Test and Three Cultivation Procedures for Detection of Mycobacterium Paratuberculosis in Bovine Feces

Diagnosis of paratuberculosis using the IDEXX DNA probe test and 3 methods for cultivation of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis from fecal specimens were compared. Twenty-one of 170 fecal specimens were DNA probe test positive, whereas 35 specimens were positive by 1 or more of the cultivation methods evaluated. Four specimens were DNA probe test positive but were negative by fecal culture. The probe test detected M. paratuberculosis DNA in 62.9% of the specimens positive by a sedimentation culture method, in 56.6% of those positive by a centrifugation culture method, and in 65.4% of the specimens positive by the Cornell culture method. Specificity of the DNA probe test was approximately 97% relative to all culture methods. Generally, the probe test detected M. paratuberculosis DNA in fecal specimens from animals shedding at least 104 M. paratuberculosis colony forming units per gram of feces. Although the probe test did not detect all of the cattle shedding M. paratuberculosis, it was possible to identify cattle shedding the greatest number of organisms in 3 days compared with a minimum of 6 weeks required for positive culture results. The centrifugation method resulted in the most isolations of M. paratuberculosis after 12 weeks of incubation. However, contamination also was greatest when the centrifugation method was used. Contamination was best controlled using the Cornell method. The sedimentation method was the least time consuming and yielded results similar to those of the other 2 methods.
An interdomain disulfide bridge links the NtA and first FS domain in agrin

Agrin is a multidomain heparan sulfate proteoglycan involved in postsynaptic differentiation at the neuromuscular junction. Binding of agrin to synaptic basal lamina is mediated by the N‐terminal agrin (NtA) domain. The NtA domain of agrin is followed by a tandem of nine follistatin‐like (FS) domains forming a rod‐like spacer to the laminin G‐like domains of the molecule. Here we report that the most C‐terminal cysteine residue of NtA (Cys123) forms an interdomain disulfide bond with the FOLN subdomain of the FS module. Remarkably, this single cysteine is flanked by Leu117 and Val124, which are two essential β‐branched amino acids forming the heterocomplex of NtA with the γ1 chain of laminin. Moreover, we show that this covalent linkage compensates for the seven amino acid residue splice insert at the very C‐terminal helix H3 and causes a rigid interface between NtA and FS independent of the alternative mRNA splice event. These results suggest that the interdomain disulfide bond between the NtA and the first FS domain might be important for the proper folding of agrin.
Linux HTB queuing discipline implementations

In computer networks the traffic control is an essential management issue and a permanent challenge for network engineers. The paper is evaluating the main QoS (Quality of Service) technologies used in networks management. The article is mainly focusing on classful queuing disciplines and HTB (Hierarchy Token Bucket) Linux implementations. The shaping and prioritization mechanisms are explained, and are proposed three different practical solutions for implementing HTB, under a common Linux environment, for a defined QoS scenario.
Comparison of trauma scoring systems for predicting the effectiveness ofmortality and morbidity on pediatric patients.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of trauma scoring systems for predicting the sepsis and multiple organ failure in pediatric trauma patients. A total of 330 trauma patients with 112 children and 218 adults admitted to the emergency service of the university hospital which had level 1 trauma center properties between 01.01. 2006 and 01.01. 2010 were included in the study. Trauma scores such as Injury Severity Score (ISS), New Injury Severity Score (NISS), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Revised Trauma Score (RTS) were calculated by screening the files and computer records of the patients during clinic visits. The average of ISS, NISS, RTS and GCS scores were statistically significant in pediatric trauma patients in whom mortality was observed than in the patients without mortality observed (p=0.001). The average of ISS, NISS, RTS and GCS scores were statistically significant in adult trauma patients in whom mortality was observed than in the patients without mortality observed (p=0.001). The average of ISS, NISS, RTS and GCS scores were statistically significant in pediatric and adult trauma patients with multi organ failure (MOF) compared to the group without mortality observed (p=0.001). Prediction and accurate triage of the complications play an important role in the management of these trauma patients. In this study, we concluded that physiologic trauma scores could be use for this purpose and were more effective in children.
Capitalizing on Information Organization and Information Visualization for a New-Generation Catalogue

Subject searching is difficult with traditional text-based online public access library catalogues (OPACs), and the next-generation discovery layers are keyword searching and result filtering tools that offer little support for subject browsing. Next-generation OPACs ignore the rich network of relations offered by controlled subject vocabulary, which can facilitate subject browsing. A new generation of OPACs could leverage existing information-organization investments and offer online searchers a novel browsing and searching environment. This is a case study of the design and development of a virtual reality subject browsing and information retrieval tool. The functional prototype shows that the Library of Congress subject headings (LCSH) can be shaped into a useful and usable tree structure serving as a visual metaphor that contains a real world collection from the domain of science and engineering. Formative tests show that users can effectively browse the LCSH tree and carve it up based on their keyword search queries. This study uses a complex information-organization structure as a defining characteristic of an OPAC that goes beyond the standard keyword search model, toward the cutting edge of online search tools.
Parameterization models for sampling planar curves

Discretizing planar curves yields many useful applications. We show that in order to sample a curve, one needs to impose a priori assumptions about the type of parameterization (coordinate system), which would provide a functional form for otherwise just a set of points on the plane. The choice of parameterization is dependent on the nature of typical objects one intends to work with, and thus depends on a particular application. We show the general approach to the problem of choosing a suitable parameterization based on the prevailing shape of objects of interest. Samples of a curve must incorporate the information about both the curve and the coordinate system (type of parameterization) that was used to produce them. The curve is then obtained from the samples by first reconstructing the coordinate system and finally the curve itself. Provided examples illustrate sufficiently general applicability of the proposed techniques.
The Putative Amino-terminal Signal Peptide of the Cloned Rat Brain Na+-Ca2+ Exchanger Gene (RBE-1) Is Not Mandatory for Functional Expression (*)

The rat brain Na+-Ca2+ exchanger (RBE) gene, as well as other isoforms of this protein family, can be organized into 12 transmembrane α helices, the first of which was proposed by Durkin et al.(14) to constitute a cleavable signal peptide. We have prepared three amino-terminal mutants, in which 21, 26, and 31 amino acids beyond the initiating methionine were deleted. The deletions include the hydrophobic core of the putative signal peptide(N21), the entire putative signal peptide and parts of the putative signal peptidase cleavage site(N26), and the entire putative signal peptide and putative signal peptidase cleavage site(N31). All three mutant clones were transiently expressed in HeLa cells. The average Na+ gradient-dependent Ca2+ transport activity of the mutant exchangers was 108%(N21), 37.2% (N26), and 60.06%(N31) of the wild-type clone. Mutation of the putative cleavage site by an exchange of Ala-32 → Asp, resulted in a decrease in Na+-Ca2+ exchange activity to 7.7%, relative to the wild-type exchanger. Functional reconstitution of the proteins that were expressed in the transfected cells, resulted in transport activities of: 60.1%(N21), 26.75%(N26), 85.36%(N31), and 31% (Ala-32 → Asp) relative to the wild-type exchanger. Western blot analysis of the protein profile of RBE-1, N21, N26, N31 and Ala-32 → Asp-transfected HeLa cells was carried out by using an antipeptide antibody directed against a pentadecapeptide segment derived from the large putative cytoplasmic loop of the cloned rat exchanger gene. In the total cell extract and in the plasma membrane-enriched fraction, in addition to a major protein band of about 125 kDa, which corresponds to the molecular mass of the mature fully processed Na+-Ca2+ exchanger, an additional protein of about 135 kDa is revealed in the profile of N21- and N26-transfected cells. This band is not detected in the protein profile of RBE-1, N31, or Ala-32 → Asp. The amino-terminal truncated mutants of the cloned Na+-Ca2+ exchanger could be expressed and processed also in a reticulocyte lysate supplemented with dog microsomes. Our results suggest that the putative signal peptide of the cloned Na+-Ca2+ exchanger gene does not play a mandatory role in functional expression of the protein in HeLa cells.
COMBINING DATASETS TO OVERCOME SELECTION CAUSED BY CENSORING AND TRUNCATION IN MOMENT BASED MODELS

Economists and other social scientists often encounter data generating mechanisms (dgm’s) that produce censored or truncated observations. These dgm’s induce a probability distribution on the realized observations that differs from the underlying distribution for which inference is to be made. If this dichotomy between the target and realized populations is not taken into account, statistical inference can be severely biased. In this paper, we show how to do efficient semiparametric inference in moment condition models by supplementing the incomplete observations with some additional data that is not subject to censoring or truncation. These additional observations, or refreshment samples as they are sometimes called, can often be obtained by creatively matching existing datasets. To illustrate our results in an empirical setting, we show how to estimate the effect of changes in compulsory schooling laws on age at first marriage, a variable that is censored for younger individuals, and also demonstrate how refreshment samples in this application can be created by matching cohort information across census datasets.