Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Fast Algorithm for Multilevel Thresholding

Otsu reference proposed a criterion for maximizing the between-class variance of pixel intensity to perform picture thresholding. However, Otsu's method for image segmentation is very time-consuming because of the inefficient formulation of the be- tween-class variance. In this paper, a faster version of Otsu's method is proposed for improving the efficiency of computation for the optimal thresholds of an image. First, a criterion for maximizing a modified between-class variance that is equivalent to the criterion of maximizing the usual between-class variance is proposed for image segmen- tation. Next, in accordance with the new criterion, a recursive algorithm is designed to efficiently find the optimal threshold. This procedure yields the same set of thresholds as the original method. In addition, the modified between-class variance can be pre-computed and stored in a look-up table. Our analysis of the new criterion clearly shows that it takes less computation to compute both the cumulative probability (zeroth order moment) and the mean (first order moment) of a class, and that determining the modified between-class variance by accessing a look-up table is quicker than that by performing mathematical arithmetic operations. For example, the experimental results of a five-level threshold selection show that our proposed method can reduce down the processing time from more than one hour by the conventional Otsu's method to less than 107 seconds.
Dyadic Interactions Between Deaf Children and Their Communication Partners

This study assesses the quality of communicative interaction in a group of profoundly deaf children, and the nature and efficiency of different modes of communication. Data were video-recorded. Each recording lasted 10 minutes. The situations were of dyadic interactions using materials and tasks that required cooperation and/or information exchange. The participants in the study were deaf and hearing children, some of whom knew each other and some of whom did not; a deaf adult who was unfamiliar to the children; and a hearing adult who was familiar to the children. Interaction variables (initiation, continuation, ending, and complexity) and communicative modalities (sign, actions, conventional gestures, deictics, verbalizations, vocalizations, physical contact, and objects) were analyzed. The findings relate the different modalities used, their communicative efficiency and their relationship to the types of partners, suggesting greater attention to the informal aspects of communication and emphasizing the importance of linguistic adjustments among speakers.
Coronary heart disease Association between plasma levels of heat shock protein 60 and cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes mellitus

Division of Microbial Diseases, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, 256 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8LD, UK; Centre for Cardiovascular Genetics, British Heart Foundation Laboratories, Royal Free and University College London Medical School, London, UK; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 256 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8LD, UK; and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, St George’s University of London, London, UK
Development and initial validation of the Cardiovascular Disease Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (CVD-AAQ) in an Italian sample of cardiac patients

Psychological inflexibility refers to the attempt to decrease internal distress even when doing so is inconsistent with life values, and has been identified as a potential barrier to making and maintaining health behavior changes that are consistent with a heart-healthy lifestyle. Disease- and behavior-specific measures of psychological inflexibility have been developed and utilized in treatment research. However, no specific measure has been created for patients with heart disease. Thus, the CardioVascular Disease Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (CVD-AAQ) was developed. The present study is aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the CVD-AAQ and to explore its association with measures of psychological adjustment and cardiovascular risk factors in an Italian sample of 275 cardiac patients. Exploratory factor analysis showed a structural one-factor solution with satisfactory internal consistency and test–retest reliability. The relation with other measures was in the expected direction with stronger correlations for the theoretically consistent variables, supporting convergent and divergent validity. CVD-AAQ scores were associated with general psychological inflexibility, anxiety and depression and inversely correlated with psychological well-being. Moreover, the results showed that CVD-AAQ scores are associated with two relevant risk factors for cardiac patients, namely low adherence to medication and being overweight. In sum, results suggest that the CVD-AAQ is a reliable and valid measure of heart disease-specific psychological inflexibility with interesting clinical applications for secondary prevention care.
A global optimization framework for meeting summarization

We introduce a model for extractive meeting summarization based on the hypothesis that utterances convey bits of information, or concepts. Using keyphrases as concepts weighted by frequency, and an integer linear program to determine the best set of utterances, that is, covering as many concepts as possible while satisfying a length constraint, we achieve ROUGE scores at least as good as a ROUGE-based oracle derived from human summaries. This brings us to a critical discussion of ROUGE and the future of extractive meeting summarization.
Bovine filensin possesses primary and secondary structure similarity to intermediate filament proteins

The cDNA coding for calf filensin, a membrane-associated protein of the lens fiber cells, has been cloned and sequenced. The predicted 755- amino acid-long open reading frame shows primary and secondary structure similarity to intermediate filament (IF) proteins. Filensin can be divided into an NH2-terminal domain (head) of 38 amino acids, a middle domain (rod) of 279 amino acids, and a COOH-terminal domain (tail) of 438 amino acids. The head domain contains a di- arginine/aromatic amino acid motif which is also found in the head domains of various intermediate filament proteins and includes a potential protein kinase A phosphorylation site. By multiple alignment to all known IF protein sequences, the filensin rod, which is the shortest among IF proteins, can be subdivided into three subdomains (coils 1a, 1b, and 2). A 29 amino acid truncation in the coil 2 region accounts for the smaller size of this domain. The filensin tail contains 6 1/2 tandem repeats which match analogous motifs of mammalian neurofilament M and H proteins. We suggest that filensin is a novel IF protein which does not conform to any of the previously described classes. Purified filensin fails to form regular filaments in vitro (Merdes, A., M. Brunkener, H. Horstmann, and S. D. Georgatos. 1991. J. Cell Biol. 115:397-410), probably due to the missing segment in the coil 2 region. Participation of filensin in a filamentous network in vivo may be facilitated by an assembly partner.
The cage effect of electron beam irradiation damage in cryo-electron microscopy

Electron beam irradiation can cause damage to biological and organic samples, as determined via transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) significantly reduces such damage by quickly freezing the environmental water around organic molecules. However, there are multiple hypotheses about the mechanism of cryo-protection in cryo-EM. A lower temperature can cause less molecular dissociation in the first stage, or frozen water can have a “cage” effect by preventing the dissociated fragments from flying away. In this work, we used real-time time-dependent density functional theory (rt-TDDFT-MD) molecular dynamic simulations to study the related dynamics. We used our newly developed natural orbital branching (NOB) algorithm to describe the molecular dissociation process after the molecule is ionized. We found that despite the difference in surrounding water molecules at different temperatures, the initial dissociation process is similar. On the other hand, the dissociated fragments will fly away at room temperature, while they will remain in the same cage when frozen water is used. Our results provide direct support for the cage effect mechanism.
Equitability Analysis of the Maximal Information Coefficient, with Comparisons

A measure of dependence is said to be equitable if it gives similar scores to equally noisy relationships of different types. Equitability is important in data exploration when the goal is to identify a relatively small set of strongest associations within a dataset as opposed to finding as many non-zero associations as possible, which often are too many to sift through. Thus an equitable statistic, such as the maximal information coefficient (MIC), can be useful for analyzing high-dimensional data sets. Here, we explore both equitability and the properties of MIC, and discuss several aspects of the theory and practice of MIC. We begin by presenting an intuition behind the equitability of MIC through the exploration of the maximization and normalization steps in its definition. We then examine the speed and optimality of the approximation algorithm used to compute MIC, and suggest some directions for improving both. Finally, we demonstrate in a range of noise models and sample sizes that MIC is more equitable than natural alternatives, such as mutual information estimation and distance correlation.
Using Evidence-Based Multimedia to Improve Vocabulary Performance of Adolescents With LD

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework that is commonly used for guiding the construction and delivery of instruction intended to support all students. In this study, we used a related model to guide creation of a multimedia-based instructional tool called content acquisition podcasts (CAPs). CAPs delivered vocabulary instruction during two concurrent social studies units to 32 SWD and 109 students without disabilities. We created CAPs using a combination of evidence-based practices for vocabulary instruction, UDL, and Mayer’s instructional design principles. High school students with and without learning disabilities completed weekly curriculum-based measurement (CBM) probes (vocabulary matching) over an 8-week period along with two corresponding posttests. Students were nested within sections of world history and randomly assigned to alternating treatments (CAPs and business as usual) that were administered sequentially to each group. Results revealed that students with and without disabilities made significant growth on CBMs and scored significantly higher on the posttests when taught using CAPs.
English adaptation, international harmonisation, and normative validation of the Language Screening Test (LAST)

Background: The Language Screening Test (LAST) is a unique bedside tool, designed to rapidly and reliably evaluate aphasia during the acute and chronic phases of stroke. Two equivalent reliable and validated versions of the LAST exist in French. Aims: Our objective was to conduct a linguistic adaptation for English (LASTen) through a process of translation, international harmonisation, and normalisation in multiple English-speaking countries. Methods & Procedures: There were four progressive stages in the adaptation of the LASTen including a series of sequential evaluations to identify problematic items, with selection of alternatives by consensus and in collaboration with the original LAST developers. First, three Canadian translators independently adapted the 29 items of the original LAST into English, resolving discrepancies by consensus to produce adaptation I. Evaluations of adaptation I involved ratings of translation difficulty and multidisciplinary expert panel review to produce adaptation II. Evaluations of adaptation II included ratings of translation quality by three different translators followed by healthy native speaker testing in Canada to produce adaptation III. Evaluations of adaptation III included expert review in Australia, Canada, England, and the USA for cultural acceptability and naturalness, followed by healthy native speaker testing in all the four countries to produce adaptation IV. Adaptation IV constituted a linguistically valid LASTen for four English dialects. We documented consensus decisions to modify or retain problematic items. We evaluated group differences using the Kruskal–Wallis test for continuous variables and chi-squared analyses for frequency variables with statistical significance of alpha ≤. 05. Outcomes & Results: During the translation and the evaluations, we reconsidered 22 of the 29 items, revising 20 to produce adaptation IV of the LASTen. Normative testing in the four English-speaking countries involved 109 participants (mean age 60 years, SD ±16.1). Fifty-five percent were women, and 32% lacked postsecondary education. Fourteen participants made errors across nine items. There were no significant differences in errors for age, sex, or country. However, participants with postsecondary education made fewer errors than those without (p = .04). Conclusions: We achieved a linguistically compatible adaptation of the French LAST for English, confirming naturalness and cultural appropriateness in healthy native speakers of four English dialects. Our systematic multistep approach delineates rigorous methods for the adaptation of aphasia tools. Our normative validation of the LASTen in healthy native speakers of English provides the impetus for its validation in stroke patients within the four English-speaking countries.
Resource adaptations with servers for hard real-time systems

Many real-time applications are designed to work in different operating modes each characterized by different functionality and resource demands. With each mode change, resource demands of applications change, and static resource reservations may not be feasible anymore. Dynamic environments where applications may be added and removed online also need to adapt their resource reservations. In such scenarios, resource reconfigurations are needed for changing the resource reservations during runtime and achieve better resource allocations. There are a lot of results in the scientific literature of how to find the optimal amount of resources needed by an application in the different operating modes, or how an application can perform safe mode transitions. However, the problem of resource reconfigurations for systems with reservations has not been addressed. A resource scheduler should be reconfigured online in such a way that it still guarantees a certain amount of resources during the reconfiguration process, otherwise applications may miss deadlines. The paper proposes a framework for scheduling real-time applications through scheduling servers that provide resource reservations, and algorithms for changing the resource reservations online while still guaranteeing the feasibility of the system and the schedulability of applications. The framework analysis is integrated into a well-known modular performance analysis paradigm based on Real-Time Calculus. The results are illustrated with examples and a case study.
Boundary connectedness based video cut for moving object segmentation

A new algorithm for automatic segmentation of moving objects in video based on spatio-temporal saliency and Neutro-Connectedness is presented in this paper. First, we propose a simple model to compute video saliency by combining initial saliency maps computed in spatial and temporal domains. Then, based on the detected spatiotemporal saliency map and temporal superpixels, initial background and foreground regions can be detected and taken as input of our proposed boundary connectedness based video cut (BC-video cut) to achieve moving object segmentation. Our model predicts jointly appearance models, Neutro-Connectedness, and pixel labels via an iterative energy minimization framework. Experiments show a good performance of our algorithm to segment moving objects on benchmark datasets.
Community-Oriented Research in an Era of Community-Oriented Policing

Proactive public administrators in modern American society are challenged to know and respond to the needs of their diverse constituencies if they are to direct responsive government agencies. However, more than just knowing citizens' needs and responding in kind unilaterally, local government in the community era is expected to engage the public in participative governance. This article describes how one such entity—the police department—is changing with regard to a philosophical shift in how it must conduct business in the future, and in turn, how it might employ community-oriented research methods to assess its progress and effectiveness among the citizens it serves.
Reality Shock: The Link Between Socialisation and Organisational Commitment

Reality shock occurs when a new employee's expectations, established prior to joining an organisation, differ significantly from what is experienced upon entering the organisation. This paper examines the organisational commitment and organisational entry literatures, and develops a model that links these two bodies of theory. It is hypothesised that reality shock has a negative impact on the degree to which an individual is committed to the organisation. Three strategies are suggested for reducing reality shock and building commitment.
Cyclic nucleotide regulation of the contractile proteins in mammalian cardiac muscle

The contractile system of rat cardiac muscle that has been made hyperpermeable by soaking the tissue in EGTA (McClellan and Winegrad. 1978. J. Gen. Physiol. 72:737-764) can be probed directly with Ca buffer from the bathing solution without significant interference from either sarcoplasmic reticulum or mitochondria on the Ca concentration. Changes in Ca-activated force are due therefore to changes in the properties of the contractile system itself and not to regulation of Ca concentration. The addition of cAMP, cGMP, and GTP, guanylyl imidodiphosphate (GMP-PNP), or epinephrine to the bath does not alter maximum Ca-activated force, but when these drugs are added with 1% nonionic detergent to the bath, contractility increases by as much as 180%. An inhibitor of phosphodiesterase must be present for the inotropic effect of cAMP but not cGMP, GTP, GMP-PNP, or epinephrine. The inotropic response to cAMP is independent of the Ca sensitivity of the contractile system, but guanine nucleotides enhance contractility only when Ca sensitivity is not high. The inotropic effect of epinephrine is inhibited to a large extent by cGMP but not by GMP-PNP. These data can be explained by a model in which contractility is enhanced by a cAMP-regulated phosphorylation that can be controlled through the beta-receptor adenylate cyclase complex in the sarcolemma. The regulation involves two reactions, one a phosphorylation and a second that occurs in the presence of detergent. Phosphorylation of neither the myosin light chain nor the inhibitory subunit of troponin appears to be involved in this mechanism for regulating contractility.
Analyzing Judgments of Ethnically Diverse Applicants During Personnel Selection: A Study at the Dutch Police

A judgment-analysis study was used to investigate assessors' judgment processes, evaluating ethnic minority vs ethnic majority applicants. Sixteen ethnic majority assessors judged 5089 applicants during the Dutch police officer selection procedure, with each assessor judging 30 ethnic minority applicants minimally. Information from an employment interview, an assessment center, and a Big Five personality test were combined into a final selection advice. Results showed that as much as or more information sources were used to judge ethnic minority than ethnic majority applicants. Furthermore, a larger number of irrelevant cues were used for the judgment of ethnic minority applicants. Finally, when judging ethnic minority applicants, assessors based their decision to a lesser extent on their own ratings than on ratings of others.
Evaluation of a novel autoinjector for subcutaneous self-administration of belimumab in systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective: To study self-administration and pharmacokinetics (PK) of subcutaneous (SC) belimumab in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: Patients previously treated with belimumab self-administered belimumab 200 mg SC weekly for 8 weeks using an autoinjector. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients able to self-administer their first and second dose (weeks 1 and 2) in the clinic. The proportion able to self-administer at weeks 4 and 8 (clinic) and weeks 3, 5, 6, and 7 (home) were secondary endpoints. Belimumab PK, safety, and injection-site pain were assessed. Results: 91/95 patients completed the study (withdrawals: adverse events (AEs): 3; lost to follow-up: 1). 93% were female, and mean (SD) age was 44.8 (12.50) years. The majority (99%, 89/90; no attempt, n = 5) successfully self-administered belimumab SC at weeks 1 and 2 (5 had clinic staff assistance), and 98% (85/87) successfully self-administered at weeks 4 and 8. Home-administration success rates were high (93%, (81/87) at weeks 3, 5, 6, and 7). Week 8 median trough concentration was 113 µg/mL. For patients with a ≤ 1.5-week interval between IV SC administration, week-1 concentrations were higher vs. week 8 (+ 51% median) but within a range observed with IV dosing; those with a ≥ 2.5-week interval had median differences close to 0. AEs and serious AEs were low, with no deaths; pain levels were low and decreased with subsequent injections. Conclusion: Patients with SLE successfully self-administered belimumab SC using a novel autoinjector; the PK profile was stable following a switch from IV with acceptable AE and pain levels. The recommended dosing interval between IV to SC dosing is 1 – 4 weeks.
Autosegmental and metrical spreading in the vowel-harmony systems of northwestern Spain

This paper studies the vowel-harmony processes found in the dialects of Asturias-Cantabria (Spain). These dialects present a variety of harmony systems. Harmonization may be triggered by certain high final vowels (metaphony) or by high stressed vowels. These rules can be in a feeding relation, and up to three different processes may be found in one single dialect. We find three major types of metaphony: 1. metaphony extends throughout the domain of a phonological word; 2. metaphony affects vowels only up to the stressed vowel; 3. only the quality of the stressed vowel is affected by a metaphonyinducing final vowel. This variation is of great theoretical significance. Whereas the first type can be straightforwardly analyzed as autoscgmental spreading, the other two types require a metrical analysis. The feature percolates to all vowels in the foot in type 2 metaphony processes; but only to the head of the foot (the stressed vowel) in type 3 metaphony. It is thus shown that a seemingly unitary process (vowel harmony) can be implemented in radically different ways in closely related dialects. It is argued that the metrical nature of vowel harmony in certain dialects does not add complexity to the grammar, since metrical structure must be built for stress assignment.