Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TiTAN: Exploring Midair Text Entry using Freehand Input

TiTAN is a spatial user interface that enables freehand, midair text entry with a distant display while only requiring a low-cost depth sensor. Our system aims to leverage one's familiarity with the QWERTY layout. It allows users to input text, in midair, by mimicking the typing action they typically perform on a physical keyboard or touchscreen. Here, both hands and ten fingers are individually tracked, along with click action detection which enables a wide variety of interactions. We propose three midair text entry techniques and evaluate the TiTAN system with two different sensors.
The medium is the massage

In some respects, Marshall McLuhan is a forgotten thinker, a path-breaker in ‘media theory’, who has been overtaken by more original theorists and more pressing concerns. McLuhan was a paradigmatic child of the 1960s and the packaged mélange of themes he invented and popularized – the media-is-the-message, the coming electronic communications revolution, the social impact of the electronic age, the politics of the global village, and so on – were for many their first introduction to ‘mass communication theory’ and the pseudo-intellectual movement of ‘McLuhanism’. No doubt McLuhan was also something of a self-publicist, a denizen of ‘celebrity culture’ before the term was invented and, perhaps, even a bit of an intellectual charlatan. But the series of books he published in the 1960s – The Gutenberg galaxy (1962), The medium is the message and Understanding media: The extensions of man (1967b) – also ruffled feathers, disturbed the academic establishment, generated novel lines of thought and created agendas that are still being theorized and researched. Like Jean Baudrillard a decade or so later, McLuhan was a provocateur and, perhaps, to borrow David Beer’s phrase, an early instance of punk sociology (Beer, 2014) In what follows, I wish to reappraise McLuhan’s impact upon an earlier version of myself as a young sociologist studying for a university degree in the social sciences between 1967 and 1970. In re-visiting McLuhan’s book The medium is the massage (1967a), I will detail three idea constellations under the headings: McLuhan’s communications problematic, Convergent lines of media inquiry, and McLuhan’s futurity.
The Role of Means Efficacy When Predicting Creative Performance

According to the Internal-External Efficacy model, self-efficacy is an insufficient explanation for self-regulated behavior because it ignores the influence of external resources. Applying this theory of motivation to the prediction of creative performance, the extent to which means efficacy or the belief in the utility of external resources predicted independent assessments of creativity was tested. In Study 1, student webmasters’ (N =124) means efficacy predicted subject matter expert's ratings of creativity of student organization homepages. In Study 2, employees’ (N = 128) means efficacy predicted individual supervisory ratings of creative performance. In addition, means efficacy enhanced the positive relationship between creative self-efficacy and supervisors’ ratings of creative performance. Implications for enhancing creativity in the workplace are discussed.
Prosodic cues to engagement in non-lexical response tokens in Swedish

Parallel with the orthographic streams of words in conversation are multiple layered epiphenomena, short in duration and with a communicativepurpose. These paralinguistic events regulate the interaction flow via gaze,gestures and intonation. This thesis focus on how to compute, model, discoverand analyze prosody and it’s applications for spoken dialog systems.Specifically it addresses automatic classification and analysis of conversationalcues related to turn-taking, brief feedback, affective expressions, their crossrelationshipsas well as their cognitive and neurological basis. Techniques areproposed for instantaneous and suprasegmental parameterization of scalarand vector valued representations of fundamental frequency, but also intensity and voice quality. Examples are given for how to engineer supervised learned automata’s for off-line processing of conversational corpora as well as for incremental on-line processing with low-latency constraints suitable as detector modules in a responsive social interface. Specific attention is given to the communicative functions of vocal feedback like "mhm", "okay" and "yeah, that’s right" as postulated by the theories of grounding, emotion and a survey on laymen opinions. The potential functions and their prosodic cues are investigated via automatic decoding, data-mining, exploratory visualization and descriptive measurements.
A dynamic conception of humanity, intercultural relation and cooperative learning

The main focus of this paper relates to the conceptualizations of human identity and intercultural relations needed for cooperative learning (CL) to occur. At one extreme, some have argued that the relation between different cultures should be conceptualized in terms of incommensurability. At the other extreme, a standardization and unification along with the trend of globalization is supported at the peril of leaving pluralism aside. This paper argues that neither of the two extreme views can provide a satisfactory theoretical basis for CL at the intercultural level. Such a theoretical basis can be sought in providing a compromise between Donald Davidson’s principle of charity and Gadamer’s view of understanding in terms of fusion of horizons. Consequently, understanding is neither merely an inner nor an outer endeavour; rather it involves both. Cooperative learning in this framework implies that the material for learning is neither in the hands of the learner nor in those of the so‐called ‘teacher’. In fact, this material develops an intercultural relation by means of both poles of the relation. CL involves reciprocal support as well as reciprocal critique.
Number of levels needed for diagnosis of endometrial biopsies

carcinoma in the differential diagnosis. This diagnosis is especially crucial to exclude in small superficial biopsies where the presence of extensive squamous hyperplasia, combined with a strong clinical suspicion of carcinoma, could potentially lead to a false diagnosis. Long-term use of antimicrobials is important as the disease has a high relapse rate; recurrence rates as high as 76% have been reported. The diagnosis of rhinoscleroma ultimately requires a high index of suspicion and clinicopathological correlation. It is important to have an accurate history, including a travel history, a thorough physical examination, imaging studies and endoscopic biopsies. Biopsy and bacterial cultures are the definitive tests. Even so, biopsies of the fibrotic stage may be quite nonspecific and cultures are positive in only 50–60% of the cases. The importance of a high index of suspicion cannot be overestimated in securing a correct diagnosis of rhinoscleroma.
Transactivation Response DNA-Binding Protein 43 Microvasculopathy in Frontotemporal Degeneration and Familial Lewy Body Disease

We describe novel transactivation response DNA-binding protein of43 kd (TDP-43)-positive structures in the brains of patients withfrontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin-positive inclusions and familial Lewy body disease. The TDP-43 immunohistochemistry revealed small round structures closely associated with small blood vessels. By immunoelectron microscopy, these TDP-43-positive structures were unmyelinated cell processes located adjacent to and sometimes enclosed by the capillary basal lamina. Some processes protruded from outside of the vascular basal lamina toa position beneath the basal lamina. The processes contained 10- to 17-nm-diameter straight filaments or filaments coated with granular material similar to those described in neurites in frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin-positive inclusions and other disorders. Insome of the abnormal structures, electron-dense material formed paracrystalline arrays composed of TDP-43. The inclusions were variably positive by immunostaining for the small heat shock protein &agr;B-crystallin and less often glial fibrillary acidic protein. Bundles of astrocytic glial fibrils characteristic of reactive astrocytes were often found in proximity, but glial fibrils were negative for TDP-43. These data suggest that these processes are astrocytic end-feet with abnormal TDP-43 fibrillary inclusions. The significance of this novel TDP-43 microvasculopathy on blood-brain barrier integrity warrants further investigation.
Cranial musculature in the larva of the caecilian, Ichthyophis kohtaoensis (Lissamphibia: Gymnophiona)

Within the Gymnophiona (caecilians) oviparous species with biphasic life‐cycles possess a free living semi‐aquatic larval stage that feeds in aquatic habitats. The larvae pass through a metamorphosis to a purely terrestrial adult stage. It is likely that the cranial morphology of caecilian larvae has specializations for aquatic feeding. However, little is known about the cranial morphology, and the cranial musculature is especially neglected in the literature. This study provides a detailed description of the jaw and hyobranchial musculature in larval stages of a caecilian. We studied late embryonic and early larval specimens of Ichthyophis kohtaoensis. Furthermore, we compared and homologized the cranial muscles found in larval I. kohtaoensis with the muscles described for adult caecilians. Most cranial muscles of larval I. kohtaoensis are also present in the adult, except for the m. levator mandibulae externus and the m. subarcualis obliquus II. Our results were compared with the data available for larval frogs and salamanders in order to hypothesize the cranial musculature in the larva of the most recent common ancestor of the Lissamphibia. Larval caecilians, frog tadpoles, and salamander larvae share many characters in their cranial musculature, which, consequently, can be assigned to the lissamphibian ground pattern. However, the m. pterygoideus and the m. levator quadrati are unique to the Gymnophiona. J. Morphol. , 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Long-term effects of psychosocial work stress in midlife on health functioning after labor market exit--results from the GAZEL study.

OBJECTIVES To study long-term effects of psychosocial work stress in mid-life on health functioning after labor market exit using two established work stress models. METHODS In the frame of the prospective French Gazel cohort study, data on psychosocial work stress were assessed using the full questionnaires measuring the demand-control-support model (in 1997 and 1999) and the effort-reward imbalance model (in 1998). In 2007, health functioning was assessed, using the Short Form 36 mental and physical component scores. Multivariate regressions were calculated to predict health functioning in 2007, controlling for age, gender, social position, and baseline self-perceived health. RESULTS Consistent effects of both work stress models and their single components on mental and physical health functioning during retirement were observed. Effects remained significant after adjustment including baseline self-perceived health. Whereas the predictive power of both work stress models was similar in the case of the physical composite score, in the case of the mental health score, values of model fit were slightly higher for the effort-reward imbalance model (R(2): 0.13) compared with the demand-control model (R²: 0.11). CONCLUSIONS Findings underline the importance of working conditions in midlife not only for health in midlife but also for health functioning after labor market exit.
Will the Real Bemisia tabaci Please Stand Up?

Since Panayiotis Gennadius first identified the whitefly, Aleyrodes tabaci in 1889, there have been numerous revisions of the taxonomy of what has since become one of the world's most damaging insect pests. Most of the taxonomic revisions have been based on synonymising different species under the name Bemisia tabaci. It is now considered that there is sufficient biological, behavioural and molecular genetic data to support its being a cryptic species complex composed of at least 34 morphologically indistinguishable species. The first step in revising the taxonomy of this complex involves matching the A. tabaci collected in 1889 to one of the members of the species complex using molecular genetic data. To do this we extracted and then amplified a 496 bp fragment from the 3′ end of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase one (mtCOI) gene belonging to a single whitefly taken from Gennadius' original 1889 collection. The sequence identity of this 123 year-old specimen enabled unambiguous assignment to a single haplotype known from 13 Mediterranean locations across Greece and Tunisia. This enabled us to unambiguously assign the Gennadius A. tabaci to the member of the B. tabaci cryptic species complex known as Mediterranean or as it is commonly, but erroneously referred to, as the ‘Q-biotype’. Mediterranean is therefore the real B. tabaci. This study demonstrates the importance of matching museum syntypes with known species to assist in the delimitation of cryptic species based on the organism's biology and molecular genetic data. This study is the first step towards the reclassification of B. tabaci which is central to an improved understanding how best to manage this globally important agricultural and horticultural insect pest complex.
Is There a Role for the Use of the L1 in an L2 Setting

Language learners are usually discouraged from using their shared L1 in L2 classroom activities. Brooks and Donato (1994) note that teachers are sometimes reluctant to use group work because they feel that students will use their L1 in group situations. A major motivation for this reluctance has been the widespread adoption of communicative approaches to language teaching in which classroom activities are designed to maximize learners' use of the target language.
Alternative Education Strategies

Alternative education programs are expanding in the United States due to zero-tolerance policies, changes in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, increases in youth violence and school failure, and knowledge of the developmental trajectories leading to antisocial behavior. At the same time, there is little research evidence of the efficacy of these programs due to great diversity in approaches, populations served, and locations of the programs. In this article we provide a review of teaching strategies expected to be effective in alternative education programs for students who are at risk for school failure, dropout, delinquency, and violence. We discuss the need for alternative educational programs for students in both special and general education, describe research-based and recommended alternative education strategies, and offer suggestions for program development.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Seroprevalence in Parturients in Rural South Carolina

To establish the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the population of childbearing women in a rural South Carolina community, a blinded seroprevalence survey was conducted using all cord blood samples collected during a one-year period at a single hospital. There were 1,811 live births (57% white, 43% black) during that period. Of the 1,365 samples collected and tested, six (0.44%) were HIV-positive by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and three (0.22%) were confirmed by Western blot analysis. Based on these percentages, we estimate that there are approximately 80 HIV-infected women of childbearing age among the 180,000 residents of our health district. Although the seroprevalence of HIV in our parturients is low, it is somewhat higher than that reported from other rural areas. We therefore recommend counseling and voluntary blood testing for HIV antibodies, with informed consent, for all pregnant women living within our health district.
A software implementation of IEEE 1588 on RTAI/RTnet platforms

At present, an increasing number of distributed control systems are based on platforms made up of conventional PCs running open-source real-time operating systems. Often, the need arises in these systems to have networked devices supporting synchronized operations. In this paper, an inexpensive solution is introduced, described, implemented and evaluated that relies on standard software and protocols such as RTAI, RTnet and IEEE 1588. The main goals of this architecture are reducing design and development costs, ensuring adequate synchronization accuracy, and easing the porting of control applications to different H/W and S/W configurations.
DREAMS and DREAMING The Effect of Dreams on Waking Life

Many studies have investigated the effect of waking experience, e.g., pre-sleep stimuli, stress, major life events, traumata, on dream content and have supported the so-called continuity hypothesis of dreaming, i. e. waking experience is reflected in dreams (Overviews: 1-3). On the other hand, systematic research on the effects of drams on subsequent waking life is scarce, although a considerable amount of anecdotal evidence (4) indicates that dreams stimulate creativity in areas such as literature (e.g., Robert Louis Stevenson, Edgar Allan Poe, Steven Spielberg), art (e.g., Salvadore Dali, Henri Rousseau), music (e.g., Guiseppe Tartini) and science (e.g., Elias Howe, Nils Bohr). Nightmare research has shown that dreams with strong negative emotions affect daytime mood and can cause anxiety about falling asleep (e. g. [5]). In the following, empirical studies which have investigated the effects of dreams on waking life are reviewed. Wasserman and Ballif (6) have investigated the causes which may influence morning mood. Fifty subjects kept a diary over 28 days. Forty percent of the sample stated at least once that a dream was the major cause of the morning mood. The emotional tone produced in this way was balanced, i.e., dreams affected negative as well as positive emotions in the morning. The findings of Schredl and Doll (7), however, indicated that negative dream emotions affect morning mood to a larger extend than positive dream emotions. A questionnaire survey (8) including 265 patients of a family practice medical clinic elicited different possible effects of dreaming on awake behavior (e.g., dreams affect emotions, dreams affect waking activity, dreams used for creativity). The percentages of persons who stated that the effect was experienced sometimes, often or always ranged from 19.3% (dreams affect decisions) to 33.2% (dreams affect waking life). A factor analysis of 9 items, which was not explained in detail, led to a reduction to 7 items (loading on one factor) and, thus, implicated the existence of a general factor. Pagel and Vann (8) pointed out that gender differences were present in their data, i.e., women reported dream effects more often than men. These comparisons, however, were not controlled for dream recall frequency which was also elevated for women. It seems obvious that the frequency of dream effects is strongly related to dream recall frequency. The correlation coefficients in this study (9) ranged from r = . 12 (dreams affect work) to r = . 32 (dreams affect emotions). Similar, the findings that dream use is more pronounced in filmmakers (10) must be interpreted with caution since dream recall freDREAMS and DREAMING
Cadmium Is a Novel and Independent Risk Factor for Early Atherosclerosis Mechanisms and In Vivo Relevance

Objectives—Although cadmium (Cd) is an important and common environmental pollutant and has been linked to cardiovascular diseases, little is known about its effects in initial stages of atherosclerosis. Methods and Results—In the 195 young healthy women of the Atherosclerosis Risk Factors in Female Youngsters (ARFY) study, cadmium (Cd) level was independently associated with early atherosclerotic vessel wall thickening (intima-media thickness exceeding the 90th percentile of the distribution; multivariable OR 1.6[1.1.–2.3], P=0.016). In line, Cd-fed ApoE knockout mice yielded a significantly increased aortic plaque surface compared to controls (9.5 versus 26.0 mm2, P<0.004). In vitro results indicate that physiological doses of Cd increase vascular endothelial permeability up to 6-fold by (1) inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation, and (2) induction of a caspase-independent but Bcl-xL-inhibitable form of cell death more than 72 hours after Cd addition. Both phenomena are preceded by Cd-induced DNA strand breaks and a cellular DNA damage response. Zinc showed a potent protective effect against deleterious effects of Cd both in the in vitro and human studies. Conclusion—Our research suggests Cd has promoting effects on early human and murine atherosclerosis, which were partly offset by high Zn concentrations.
Influence of dietary fish proteins on plasma and liver cholesterol concentrations in rats

The effects of amount and type of dietary fish proteins on plasma and liver cholesterol concentrations were evaluated in female rats. The isonitrogenous diets used contained 10 g cholesterol/kg and were carefully balanced for residual fat, cholesterol, Ca, Mg and P in the protein preparations. Cod meal, soya-bean protein or casein was incorporated into the diets as the only source of dietary protein a t three levels: either 24,48 or 72 g N/kg diet. Extra protein was added to the diet at the expense of the glucose component. In a second experiment soya-bean protein, casein, cod meal, whiting meal or plaice meal was added to the diet at a level of 24 g N/kg. When compared with casein, cod meal and soya-bean protein decreased plasma and liver cholesterol concentrations. A further cholesterol-lowering effect was achieved by increasing the proportion of either soya-bean protein or cod meal in the diet. Substitution of casein for glucose did not influence plasma and liver cholesterol concentrations. Plaice meal in the diet produced lower group mean plasma cholesterol concentrations than did whiting meal. In rats fed on the diet containing plaice meal, liver cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower than those in their counterparts fed on either cod meal or whiting meal. The present study demonstrates that different fish proteins in the diet have different effects on cholesterol metabolism and that the cholesterol-influencing properties of cod meal can be enhanced by the incorporation of higher proportions of this protein in the diet.
Issues on curriculum development for moral education

Curriculum design and implementation has been a preserve of educational policy makers and curriculum designers from time immemorial More often, emphasis has been on drawing up a curriculum that prepares children for the world of work. This has been the situation in independent Zimbabwe. Very little attention has been given to traditional moral values when setting up curriculum objectives, yet there has been moral decadence in contemporary society due to the failure by social institutions such as schools and universities to teach moral values. Curriculum designers have not put much weight on the need to introduce the moral dimension in the school curriculum. This article makes an attempt to suggest a moral education curriculum that takes these cardinal virtues into consideration.