Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Loudness (or annoyance) summation of combined community noises

The purpose of the experiment was to study how the loudness (or annoyance) of the constituents in pairs of community noises combines into total loudness (or total annoyance). Three community noises (pile driving, jack hammering, street traffic) were combined pairwise at different sound levels. The observers judged the total loudness of the combined noises as well as the loudness of each component noise when heard alone. Three models of loudness (or annoyance) summation for noise were tested: a vector summation model, a model assuming that the loudnesses of the masked constituent noises add arithmetically, and a simple model stating that the total loudness equals the loudest of the component noises when heard alone. All three models fitted the data satisfactorily from a statistical point of view. The ’’loudest component’’ model was favored because it produced a prediction error of only 14% in the ’’worst case’’ and can, therefore, serve as a ’’rule of thumb’’ for many practical purposes.
Cannabis Use Disorder Treatment Preferences: A Pilot Survey in Current Users of Cannabis

Objectives Highly effective treatments for cannabis use disorder (CUD) are lacking, and patient preferences have not been considered during treatment development. We therefore conducted an exploratory crowdsourced survey of individuals reporting current cannabis use and a willingness to cut down or quit their cannabis use, to determine their interest in various treatment aspects. Methods Subjects (n = 63) were queried about their willingness to take medications as a function of type, route, and regimen and to participate in adherence monitoring. Subjects were also asked about their willingness to engage in behavioral/psychosocial interventions as a function of type, setting, and duration. Measures theorized to be associated with treatment preferences were also collected, including cannabis use variables, readiness to change, reduction or cessation goal, perceived cessation barriers, and medication use beliefs and behaviors. Results Survey responses indicated that efforts to develop CUD medications should focus on nonsynthetic compounds administered orally or by mouth spray no more than once per day to maximize patient acceptance. Remote adherence monitoring and one-on-one outpatient behavioral treatment approaches, especially contingency management, are also anticipated to enhance participation. Most subjects indicated a preference to reduce their cannabis use rather than quit. Conclusions These data provide guidance for the development of CUD interventions based on the preferences of individuals interested in treatment for their cannabis use. Additional research is needed to confirm these results in a larger sample and determine if matching CUD patients with their preferred treatments improves success rates.
What’s in a Badge? A Computational Reproducibility Investigation of the Open Data Badge Policy in One Issue of Psychological Science

In April 2019, Psychological Science published its first issue in which all Research Articles received the Open Data badge. We used that issue to investigate the effectiveness of this badge, focusing on the adherence to its aim at Psychological Science: sharing both data and code to ensure reproducibility of results. Twelve researchers of varying experience levels attempted to reproduce the results of the empirical articles in the target issue (at least three researchers per article). We found that all 14 articles provided at least some data and six provided analysis code, but only one article was rated to be exactly reproducible, and three were rated as essentially reproducible with minor deviations. We suggest that researchers should be encouraged to adhere to the higher standard in force at Psychological Science. Moreover, a check of reproducibility during peer review may be preferable to the disclosure method of awarding badges.
Steady-state analysis of signal transmission in evanescent channels

Transfer functions of evanescent transmission channels are investigated in detail. Based on a Taylor expansion of the corresponding phase and attenuation constants, different characteristic transmission parameters are introduced (or revisited). The steady-state propagation of an RF carrier signal modulated by a narrowband base-band Gaussian pulse in evanescent waveguide sections is then studied. It is shown that temporal pulse compression as well as carrier frequency drift usually accompany such transmissions. It is also shown that under steady-state conditions, conventionally defined transmission velocities are not necessarily restricted to be less than or equal to c (speed of light in free space) as long as they are not related to direct measurements. Only the power coupling accompanying a measurement is responsible for limiting the transmission velocity of the measured physical quantity below or equal to c.
Research on Co-Location Privacy-Preserving System

With the deep integration of mobile, social and location, users share information with location tags and friends labels in mobile social networks, which could result in the disclosure of location privacy of the users and their friends. Because of the complexity of social circles and the difference of relation strength, users have different location privacy-preserving requirements for different friends. Existing location privacy protection methods and mobile social network services pay less attention to the co-location information attack called CF attack for short. A co-location privacy-preserving system framework is proposed, the key technologies of core module called location privacy-preserving agent are explored, novel calculation method of relation strength based on bi-direction interaction frequency between user and friends is given, and two location privacy-preserving algorithms as a defence against CF attack are designed in the paper, which are LPPC based on the user's coordination and CCTA based on the co-location information concealment and time adjustment. Experimental tests on real data sets show that algorithms proposed could be suitable for different location privacy-preserving scenarios and reflect the mapping between intimacy and privacy-preserving requirement effectively, and the system framework could be extended to the location privacy-preserving application for any mobile social network services.
Defecation Symptoms in Relation to Stool Consistency Significantly Reflect the Dyssynergic Pattern in High-resolution Anorectal Manometry in Constipated Patients

Goals: To evaluate the usefulness of a 2-week patient-completed bowel habit and symptom diary as a screening tool for disordered rectoanal coordination (DRC). Background: DRC is an important subgroup of chronic constipation that benefits from biofeedback treatment. Diagnosis of DRC requires a dyssynergic pattern (DP) of attempted defecation in high-resolution anorectal manometry (HRAM) and at least 1 other positive standardized examination, such as the balloon expulsion test or defecography. However, HRAM is generally limited to tertiary gastroenterology centres and finding tools for selecting patients for referral for further investigations would be of clinical value. Study: Retrospective data from HRAM and a 2-week patient-completed bowel habit and symptom diary from 99 chronically constipated patients were analyzed. Results: Fifty-seven percent of the patients had a DP pattern during HRAM. In the DP group, 76% of bowel movements with loose or normal stool resulted in a sense of incomplete evacuation compared with 55% of the non-DP group (P=0.004). Straining and sensation of incomplete evacuation with the loose stool were significantly more common in the DP group (P=0.032). Hard stool was a discriminator for non-DP (P=0.044). Multiple logistic regression including incomplete evacuation and normal stool predicted DP with a sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 50%. Conclusions: The sensation of incomplete evacuation with loose or normal stool could be a potential discriminator in favor of DP in chronically constipated patients. The bowel habit and symptom diary may be a useful tool for stratifying constipated patients for further investigation of suspected DRC.
Travelling waves for delayed reaction–diffusion equations with global response

We develop a new approach to obtain the existence of travelling wave solutions for reaction–diffusion equations with delayed non-local response. The approach is based on an abstract formulation of the wave profile as a solution of an operational equation in a certain Banach space, coupled with an index formula of the associated Fredholm operator and some careful estimation of the nonlinear perturbation. The general result relates the existence of travelling wave solutions to the existence of heteroclinic connecting orbits of a corresponding functional differential equation, and this result is illustrated by an application to a model describing the population growth when the species has two age classes and the diffusion of the individual during the maturation process leads to an interesting non-local and delayed response for the matured population.
On the validity of quantum hydrodynamics for describing antidot array devices

Quantum hydrodynamic models are becoming increasingly used for modelling both conventional and novel semiconductor devices. However, there are several controversial problems which are unresolved including the form of the quantum potential in different formulations. It is shown here that present quantum hydrodynamics is not consistent with mixed quantum states in which spatial fluctuations are significant and that where transient bound state formation is possible it becomes important to add vorticity terms to account for multiply connected regions. These problems are of importance to transport studies of dense antidot systems.
Interrelationships Between Multiple Speed Tests in Youth Soccer: Are Players Equally Efficient at Performing Different Sprint and Change of Direction Tasks?

Abstract Freitas, TT, Pereira, LA, Alcaraz, PE, Cadore, EL, Grazioli, R, Azevedo, PHSM, Jeffreys, I, and Loturco, I. Interrelationships between multiple speed tests in youth soccer: Are players equally efficient at performing different sprint and COD tasks? J Strength Cond Res 37(4): 848–853, 2023—We investigated the relationships between linear and multidirectional sprint tests in elite young soccer players, using different speed measurements and their associated deficits. Twenty-three under-17 and 17 under-16 soccer players performed, on the same day, 17-m linear sprint (with 10-m split times), curve sprints for “good” and “weak” sides (CSGS and CSWS, respectively), and zigzag and 505 change of direction (COD) tests. The Pearson’s product moment test was used to determine the relationships among the tested variables. Significance level was set at p < 0.05. Large and very large significant correlations were observed between CSGS and CSWS and 10-m (r = 0.73 and r = 0.53, respectively; p < 0.0001) and 17-m sprint velocity (r = 0.84 and r = 0.74, respectively; p < 0.0001). Moderate and significant associations were identified between zigzag and 17-m sprint performances (r = 0.40; p = 0.02). No significant relationships were found between 505 performance and 17-m sprint velocity and between the different COD tasks (p > 0.05). Significant correlations were observed between sprint performance at 10- and 17-m and both CS and COD deficits (r values ranging from 0.37 to 0.54; p < 0.05). In general, higher linear sprinting velocities were associated with superior performances in smoother multidirectional tasks (i.e., CS and zigzag tests) but not in more aggressive COD maneuvers (i.e., 505). Faster athletes in linear actions presented greater CS and COD deficits. No associations were detected between the different COD measurements, supporting the notion that the technical and mechanical demands of COD actions are angle and velocity dependent. From a practical perspective, comprehensive speed testing batteries (i.e., incorporating linear sprints, CS, and different COD assessments) should be administered to young soccer players, to better understand their ability to change direction and sprint over multiple trajectories.
SUBSTRUCTURE WITHIN CLUSTERS OF GALAXIES.

Surface number density contour maps based on Dressler's (1976, 1980) studies of 65 rich clusters are presented to demonstrate the frequent occurrence of substructure in these dense systems. A prescription is given for examining the significance of such structure and it is shown that structure on scales equal to or larger than 0.24 Mpc (H0 = 100 km/s Mpc) is present in approximately 40% of the clusters in this sample. Many of the remaining clusters are elongated. The contour plots are useful for comparison with X-ray surface brightness maps. Together with available velocity data, they also serve warning that many rich clusters may not be simply characterized by a single core radius and velocity dispersion.
Magnetic field evolution of accreting neutron stars

Observations suggest a connection between the low magnetic fields of binary and millisecond pulsars and their being processed in binary systems, indicating accretion-induced field decay in such cases. A possible mechanism is that of rapid ohmic decay in the accretion-heated crust. The effect of accretion on purely crustal fields, for which the current loops are completely confined within the solid crust, is two-fold. On the one hand the heating reduces the electrical conductivity and consequently the ohmic decay time-scale, inducing a faster decay of the field. At the same time the material movement, caused by the deposition of matter on top of the crust, pushes the original current-carrying layers into deeper and denser regions where the higher conductivity slows the decay down. This results in a competition between these two opposing processes. The mass of the crust of a neutron star changes very little with a change in the total mass; accretion therefore implies assimilation of the original crust into the superconducting core. When the original current-carrying regions undergo such assimilation, further decay is stopped altogether. We perform model evolutionary calculations for a range of values of the accretion rate and the crustal temperature. We find that in all cases an initial phase of rapid decay is followed by a slow-down and finally a freezing of the surface field. The pre-accretion phase of field decay in the effectively isolated neutron star plays a significant role. In this phase the currents diffuse down through the whole of the crust by pure ohmic dissipation, and the longer it lasts the deeper the currents penetrate. If prior to the accretion phase the currents have already penetrated to the regions of high density and hence high conductivity, the effect of crustal heating is not as dramatic.
Predictors of lenalidomide maintenance duration after autologous stem cell transplant in patients with multiple myeloma

Background For patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who have undergone autologous stem cell transplant (auto-SCT), the immunomodulatory agent lenalidomide is a first-line option for maintenance therapy. Because longer durations of lenalidomide maintenance are associated with improved survival, identifying strategies to avoid premature cessation of maintenance is an important priority in the post-transplant setting. Objectives The primary objective of this analysis was to identify specific clinical predictors of lenalidomide treatment duration that could guide optimal medication management. Key secondary objectives included predictors of intolerable toxicity, rationale for lenalidomide dose reduction/discontinuation, and characterization of dose adjustments. Study Design This retrospective, multi-center cohort study included adults with MM who underwent auto-SCT and initiated maintenance lenalidomide between 01/01/2012 and 02/28/2021. Variables assessed as potential predictors of maintenance duration or intolerable toxicity included age, body mass index (BMI), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status at time of auto-SCT, renal function, initial lenalidomide dose, use of combination maintenance therapy, and cytogenetic risk category. Results Among 299 patients included, the median age at time of auto-SCT was 62 years (range 30–77). The majority of patients had standard-risk cytogenetics (64%) and an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1 (72%). In the overall population, the median duration of maintenance was 1.3 years (range 0.3–8.6 years). The median initial dose of lenalidomide was 10 mg daily (range 2.5–25 mg). During the study period, 35% of patients had a dose reduction due to toxicity, 21% stopped lenalidomide due to disease progression, and 19% stopped due to toxicity. Multivariate linear regression analyses did not identify any significant predictors of lenalidomide duration or discontinuation due to intolerable toxicity. The most frequently reported toxicities leading to discontinuation were cytopenias, rash, and fatigue. Conclusion This analysis did not identify any significant risk factors to predict the duration of lenalidomide maintenance or discontinuation for toxicity following auto-SCT in patients with MM. While limited by the retrospective design and relatively small sample size, our findings suggest that a priori lenalidomide dose reductions based on patient co-morbidities or performance status may not substantially affect the duration of lenalidomide maintenance.
Comparison of Different Rehabilitation Techniques of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine in the Treatment of Motor Dysfunction After Stroke Based on Frequency Method

Objective The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of different traditional Chinese and western medicine rehabilitation techniques on motor dysfunction after stroke using a network meta-analysis. Methods CNKI, Wanfang, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched from inception to September 2022. We independently searched and screened randomized controlled trials of rehabilitation techniques for poststroke motor dysfunction treatment, evaluated the quality, and analyzed the data using Stata 14.0. Results Seventy-four randomized controlled trials involving nine rehabilitation techniques and 5128 patients were included. The results of network meta-analysis showed the following orders regarding improvement of the total scores of Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Action Research Arm Test, and Berg Balance Scale: biofeedback therapy > mirror therapy > repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation > acupuncture therapy > transcranial direct current stimulation > Taichi > common therapy, virtual reality > transcranial direct current stimulation > repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation > mirror therapy > common therapy, and acupuncture therapy > virtual reality > neuromuscular electrical stimulation > mirror therapy > common therapy > transcranial direct current stimulation, respectively. Conclusions Biofeedback therapy had the best comprehensive effect, while virtual reality was the best intervention for improving the index of action research arm test and Fugl-Meyer Assessment–lower extremity. Acupuncture therapy improved lower limb balance function.
On the least‐squares residual anomaly determination

This paper discusses an approach to determine the least‐squares optimum order of the regional surface which, when subtracted from the Bouguer gravity anomaly data, minimizes distortion of the residual component of the field. The least‐squares method was applied to theoretical composite gravity fields each consisting of a constant residual component (sphere or vertical cylinder) and a regional component of different order using successively increasing orders of polynomial regionals for residual determination. The overall similarity between each two successive residual maps was determined by computing the correlation factor between the mapped variables. Similarity between residual maps of the lowest orders, verified by good correlation, may generally be considered a criterion for determining the optimum order of the regional surface and consequently the least distorted residual component. The residual map of the lower order in this well‐correlated doublet is considered the most plausible one and may be used.
Carrier‐density fluctuations and the IGFET mobility near threshold

The behavior of the inversion‐layer mobility observed in the IGFET at biases close to threshold is explained in terms of small fluctuations in the density of minority carriers. These fluctuations are in response to localized charges at the oxide‐semiconductor interface. The theory predicts the abrupt drop of mobility with decreasing carrier density near threshold which is observed in the dc conductance mobility, field‐effect mobility, and Hall mobility. The analysis also indicates that the dc mobility drop occurs at higher carrier densities at 4.2 °K than at 300 °K due to the larger fluctuations of the minority carriers at low temperatures (when they are all in a single quantum subband) than at high temperatures (when they are distributed over a large number of subbands). The anomalous threshold shift of the IGFET with temperature for temperatures below 77 °K is attributed to carrier population changes with temperature, i.e., with the freezeout with decreasing temperature of carriers from higher subband.
Competencies for the Use of Artificial Intelligence–Based Tools by Health Care Professionals

Purpose The expanded use of clinical tools that incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) methods has generated calls for specific competencies for effective and ethical use. This qualitative study used expert interviews to define AI-related clinical competencies for health care professionals. Method In 2021, a multidisciplinary team interviewed 15 experts in the use of AI-based tools in health care settings about the clinical competencies health care professionals need to work effectively with such tools. Transcripts of the semistructured interviews were coded and thematically analyzed. Draft competency statements were developed and provided to the experts for feedback. The competencies were finalized using a consensus process across the research team. Results Six competency domain statements and 25 subcompetencies were formulated from the thematic analysis. The competency domain statements are: (1) basic knowledge of AI: explain what AI is and describe its health care applications; (2) social and ethical implications of AI: explain how social, economic, and political systems influence AI-based tools and how these relationships impact justice, equity, and ethics; (3) AI-enhanced clinical encounters: carry out AI-enhanced clinical encounters that integrate diverse sources of information in creating patient-centered care plans; (4) evidence-based evaluation of AI-based tools: evaluate the quality, accuracy, safety, contextual appropriateness, and biases of AI-based tools and their underlying data sets in providing care to patients and populations; (5) workflow analysis for AI-based tools: analyze and adapt to changes in teams, roles, responsibilities, and workflows resulting from implementation of AI-based tools; and (6) practice-based learning and improvement regarding AI-based tools: participate in continuing professional development and practice-based improvement activities related to use of AI tools in health care. Conclusions The 6 clinical competencies identified can be used to guide future teaching and learning programs to maximize the potential benefits of AI-based tools and diminish potential harms.