Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preschooler's Understanding of the Role of Mental States and Action in Pretense

This research investigated 3- to 5-year-old's understanding of the role of intentional states and action in pretense. There are two main perspectives on how children conceptualize pretense. One view is that children understand the mental aspects of pretending (the rich interpretation). The alternative view is that children conceptualize pretense as "acting-like" and do not appreciate that the mind is crucial to pretense (the lean interpretation). The experiments in this article used a novel approach to test these two interpretations. Children were presented with two types of videotaped scenarios. In Experiment 1, children were presented with a scenario in which people wanted to be like something else (e.g., a kangaroo) and either acted like it or did not act like it. Children were asked whether the protagonists were pretending and whether they were thinking about the pretend entity. In Experiment 2, children were presented with the Experiment 1 scenarios and also with a scenario in which a person had the intention to do something else (e.g., look for her keys) but whose actions were similar to those of a pretend entity (e.g., a bear). Children were asked about the pretense, thoughts, and the intentions of the protagonists. Experiment 3 tested for the effect of asking an open-ended versus a forced-choice question on the Experiment 2 tasks. The results of this study suggest that in certain facilitating conditions (e.g., intention information salient, forced-choice question) children have an early understanding of the role of mind in pretense.
Making Byzantine Fault Tolerant Systems Tolerate Byzantine Faults

This paper argues for a new approach to building Byzantine fault tolerant replication systems. We observe that although recently developed BFT state machine replication protocols are quite fast, they don't tolerate Byzantine faults very well: a single faulty client or server is capable of rendering PBFT, Q/U, HQ, and Zyzzyva virtually unusable. In this paper, we (1) demonstrate that existing protocols are dangerously fragile, (2) define a set of principles for constructing BFT services that remain useful even when Byzantine faults occur, and (3) apply these principles to construct a new protocol, Aardvark. Aardvark can achieve peak performance within 40% of that of the best existing protocol in our tests and provide a significant fraction of that performance when up to f servers and any number of clients are faulty. We observe useful throughputs between 11706 and 38667 requests per second for a broad range of injected faults.
A maximal central venous oxygen saturation (SvO2max) for the surgical patient

Before induction of anaesthesia, 23 patients scheduled for major abdominal surgery had blood samples drawn from a central venous catheter for oxygen saturation (SvO2) after graded infusion of isotonic saline. The infusion of saline was continued until further administration resulted in a stable SvO2 (SvO2max). The SvO2 increased from 69 (53–83) to 72 (66–83) % (median and range; P < 0. 0001), when the patients received 10 (0–26) mL‐ kg‐1, average 500 mL, of saline. At the same time central venous haematocrit decreased from 38 (32–47) to 36 (23–47) % which suggests that the intravascular volume was expanded by 420 (180–3070) mL or by 72 (18–174) % of the administered volume. The results demonstrate that volume expansion by saline can establish a maximal venous oxygen saturation in the surgical patient.
Developmental Emergence of Phenotypes in the Auditory Brainstem Nuclei of Fmr1 Knockout Mice

Abstract Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common monogenic cause of autism, is often associated with hypersensitivity to sound. Several studies have shown abnormalities in the auditory brainstem in FXS; however, the emergence of these auditory phenotypes during development has not been described. Here, we investigated the development of phenotypes in FXS model [Fmr1 knockout (KO)] mice in the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN), medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB), and lateral superior olive (LSO). We studied features of the brainstem known to be altered in FXS or Fmr1 KO mice, including cell size and expression of markers for excitatory (VGLUT) and inhibitory (VGAT) synapses. We found that cell size was reduced in the nuclei with different time courses. VCN cell size is normal until after hearing onset, while MNTB and LSO show decreases earlier. VGAT expression was elevated relative to VGLUT in the Fmr1 KO mouse MNTB by P6, before hearing onset. Because glial cells influence development and are altered in FXS, we investigated their emergence in the developing Fmr1 KO brainstem. The number of microglia developed normally in all three nuclei in Fmr1 KO mice, but we found elevated numbers of astrocytes in Fmr1 KO in VCN and LSO at P14. The results indicate that some phenotypes are evident before spontaneous or auditory activity, while others emerge later, and suggest that Fmr1 acts at multiple sites and time points in auditory system development.
Inside the College Gates: How Class and Culture Matter in Higher Education

Abstract Stuber’s Inside the College Gate examines how social class shapes student involvement in extracurricular activities during college, and in turn how student involvement shapes social class identity. The author’s findings from a qualitative study of upper-middle-class and working-class students at a private liberal arts institution and a state flagship university provide administrators and student affairs practitioners with valuable insights on how best to reach out to working-class students. This review summarizes and contextualizes Stuber’s findings.
Automatic TV logo detection and classification in broadcast videos

In this study1, we present a fully automatic TV logo identification system. TV logos are detected in static regions given by time-averaged edges subjected to post-processing operations. Once the region of interest of a logo candidate is established, TV logos are recognized via their subspace features. Comparative analysis of features has indicated that ICA-II architecture yields the most discriminative with an accuracy of 99.2% in a database of 3040 logo images (152 varieties). Online tests for both detection and recognition on running videos have achieved 96.0% average accuracy. A more reliable logo identifier will be feasible by improving the accuracy of the extracted logo mask.
IFNGR2 genetic polymorphism associated with sex-specific paranoid schizophrenia risk

Abstract Background: Considering current scientific evidence about the significant role of chronic low grade inflammation in the physiopathology of schizophrenia, it has been hypothesized that changes in pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interferon gamma may have a significant role in the predisposition to schizophrenia. Aim: This study focuses on identifying whether the functional polymorphism of interferon gamma receptor 2 (IFNGR2) is a risk factor for the development of schizophrenia. Methods: This study was conducted by the RFLP-PCR on a Tunisian population composed of 225 patients with different sub-types of schizophrenia and 166 controls. Results: The IFNGR2 (Q64R) polymorphism analysis showed higher frequencies of minor homozygous genotype (RR) and allele (R) in all patients compared to controls (21.8% vs 10.2%; p = .006, OR = 2.54) and (44% vs 34.9%; p = .01; OR = 1.46), respectively. This correlation was confirmed only for males. This study also noted a significant increase of the mutated homozygous (RR) genotype and (R) allele frequencies of IFNGR2 in paranoid schizophrenics compared to controls (31.4% vs 10.2%; p = .001; OR = 3.34 and 47.2% vs 34.9%; p = .009; OR = 1.66, respectively). This increase remains significant after using binary logistic regression to eliminate confounding factors such as age and sex. Additionally, carriers of RR genotype have significant lower scores on the Scale of Assessment of Positive (SAPS) and negative (SANS) symptoms comparatively to the carrier of the QQ + QR genotypes, suggesting that the R recessive allele carriers could have milder symptoms. Conclusion: The IFNGR2Q64R polymorphism is correlated with male sex and paranoid schizophrenia. It is suggested that a chronic neuroinflammation may predispose to the paranoid schizophrenia development in men.
Supervised evaluation of seed-based interactive image segmentation algorithms

Extensive research has been conducted in an effort to evaluate methods and techniques for image segmentation. However, while most literature has focused on evaluating automatic and semi-automatic algorithms, works evaluating interactive segmentation algorithms are less numerous. Note that interactive segmentation can improve results by adding prior knowledge from users into the process. Although this user guidance improves segmentation results, it also makes difficult to conduct objective evaluations. For this reason, some works only present non-canonical evaluations. In this paper, we present an objective and empirical evaluation of seed-based interactive segmentation algorithms. We first compare popular metrics that are employed in image-segmentation evaluations in order to define which one reflects most accurately the performance of segmentation algorithms. Then, in the aim of presenting reproducible results, we introduce a novel seed-based user input dataset that extends the well-known GrabCut dataset. In addition, we evaluate and contrast four state-of-the-art interactive segmentation algorithms. The analysis of the results demonstrates that Jaccard coefficient and Precision-Recall curves provide a good insight into the performance of the evaluated algorithms. Finally, the GrabCut algorithm presents the most robust and useful segmentation among all the evaluated algorithms.
Clinically Relevant Quality Assurance for Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy Plans: Gamma Maps and DVH-Based Evaluation

Purpose: To explore a novel patient-dose DVH-based method for pretreatment dose quality assurance tests. Methods: 20 IMRT plans for head-and-neck cancer patients were used. A comparison was performed between the planned dose distributions, the computed, and the reconstructed ones using the gamma-index (GI) method. The GI analysis was performed using both the 3%/3 mm and the 2%/2 mm criteria. Results: No significant DVH-deviation was observed. Considering the 3%/3 mm criteria the mean GI% < 1 for the body and structures was significantly higher compared to 2%/2 mm criteria. Conclusions: Our results underline the importance of QA-methods based on DVH-metrics to predict the impact of delivered dose.
The design and validation of an instrument to measure teachers’ professional development at work

ABSTRACT After graduation, it is essential for teachers to continue working on their professional development since they need to be prepared for the requirements of tomorrow's knowledge- and technology-based society, a more varied student and pupil population creating new responsibilities, and higher social expectations from schools and the society as a whole. Although attention for teachers’ professional development at work is increasing, the availability of valid survey instruments that measure their participation in professional development at work is still limited. Based on a literature review, such an instrument was designed. This 21-item self-report measure, using a 4-point rating scale, makes an inventory of teachers’ participation in activities contributing to professional development. The purpose of the instrument is to make teachers, school leaders and other stakeholders aware of whether, and to what degree, teachers engage in learning at work. This is important because ultimately the quality of education depends on it. A survey was administered in 9 Dutch primary schools and 15 Dutch secondary schools. Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis confirmed a six-factor structure, and augments earlier findings in the field. The reliabilities of the six subscales were sufficient to good.
Prophylaxis and management of acute radiation-induced skin reactions: a systematic review of the literature.

Radiation therapy is a common treatment for cancer patients. One of the most common side effects of radiation is acute skin reaction (radiation dermatitis) that ranges from a mild rash to severe ulceration. Approximately 85% of patients treated with radiation therapy will experience a moderate-to-severe skin reaction. Acute radiation-induced skin reactions often lead to itching and pain, delays in treatment, and diminished aesthetic appearance-and subsequently to a decrease in quality of life. Surveys have demonstrated that a wide variety of topical, oral, and intravenous agents are used to prevent or to treat radiation-induced skin reactions. We conducted a literature review to identify trials that investigated products for the prophylaxis and management of acute radiation dermatitis. Thirty-nine studies met the pre-defined criteria, with thirty-three being categorized as prophylactic trials and six as management trials.For objective evaluation of skin reactions, the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group criteria and the U.S. National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria were the most commonly used tools (65% of the studies). Topical corticosteroid agents were found to significantly reduce the severity of skin reactions; however, the trials of corticosteroids evaluated various agents, and no clear indication about a preferred corticosteroid has emerged. Amifostine and oral enzymes were somewhat effective in preventing radiation-induced skin reactions in phase II and phase III trials respectively; further large randomized controlled trials should be undertaken to better investigate those products. Biafine cream (Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, Titusville, NJ, U.S.A.) was found not to be superior to standard regimes in the prevention of radiation-induced skin reactions (n = 6). In conclusion, the evidence is insufficient to support the use of a particular agent for the prevention and management of acute radiation-induced skin reactions. Future trials should focus on comparing agents and approaches that, in phase I and II trials, suggest efficacy. These future phase III randomized controlled trials must clearly distinguish between preventive and management strategies for radiation-induced dermatitis. Only then can evidence-based guidelines be developed, with the hope of standardizing the approach across centres and of improving the prevention and management of radiation-induced dermatitis.
Complex biological pattern of fertility hormones in children and adolescents: a study of healthy children from the CALIPER cohort and establishment of pediatric reference intervals.

BACKGROUND Pediatric endocrinopathies are commonly diagnosed and monitored by measuring hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Because growth and development can markedly influence normal circulating concentrations of fertility hormones, accurate reference intervals established on the basis of a healthy, nonhospitalized pediatric population and that reflect age-, gender-, and pubertal stage-specific changes are essential for test result interpretation. METHODS Healthy children and adolescents (n = 1234) were recruited from a multiethnic population as part of the CALIPER study. After written informed parental consent was obtained, participants filled out a questionnaire including demographic and pubertal development information (assessed by self-reported Tanner stage) and provided a blood sample. We measured 7 fertility hormones including estradiol, testosterone (second generation), progesterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone by use of the Abbott Architect i2000 analyzer. We then used these data to calculate age-, gender-, and Tanner stage-specific reference intervals according to Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute C28-A3 guidelines. RESULTS We observed a complex pattern of change in each analyte concentration from the neonatal period to adolescence. Consequently, many age and sex partitions were required to cover the changes in most fertility hormones over this period. An exception to this was prolactin, for which no sex partition and only 3 age partitions were necessary. CONCLUSIONS This comprehensive database of pediatric reference intervals for fertility hormones will be of global benefit and should lead to improved diagnosis of pediatric endocrinopathies. The new database will need to be validated in local populations and for other immunoassay platforms as recommended by the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute.
Trouble at Rest: How Correlation Patterns and Group Differences Become Distorted After Global Signal Regression

Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-FMRI) holds the promise of revealing brain functional connectivity without requiring specific tasks targeting particular brain systems. RS-FMRI is being used to find differences between populations even when a specific candidate target for traditional inferences is lacking. However, the problem with RS-FMRI is a lacking definition of what constitutes noise and signal. RS-FMRI is easy to acquire but is not easy to analyze or draw inferences from. In this commentary we discuss a problem that is still treated lightly despite its significant impact on RS-FMRI inferences; global signal regression (GSReg), the practice of projecting out signal averaged over the entire brain, can change resting-state correlations in ways that dramatically alter correlation patterns and hence conclusions about brain functional connectedness. Although Murphy et al. in 2009 demonstrated that GSReg negatively biases correlations, the approach remains in wide use. We revisit this issue to argue the problem that GSReg is more than negative bias or the interpretability of negative correlations. Its usage can fundamentally alter interregional correlations within a group, or their differences between groups. We used an illustrative model to clearly convey our objections and derived equations formalizing our conclusions. We hope this creates a clear context in which counterarguments can be made. We conclude that GSReg should not be used when studying RS-FMRI because GSReg biases correlations differently in different regions depending on the underlying true interregional correlation structure. GSReg can alter local and long-range correlations, potentially spreading underlying group differences to regions that may never have had any. Conclusions also apply to substitutions of GSReg for denoising with decompositions of signals aggregated over the network's regions to the extent they cannot separate signals of interest from noise. We touch on the need for careful accounting of nuisance parameters when making group comparisons of correlation maps.
Development and evaluation of the Serve-Specific Core Self-Evaluations Scale in Portuguese†

Core self-evaluations (CSE) is a broad construct that is an integration of the constructs of self-esteem, generalised self-efficacy, locus of control, and emotional stability (i.e. low neuroticism). CSE has consistently demonstrated positive relationships to performance, motivation, attitudes, and other important performance constructs in industrial-organisational psychology research; these relationships will likely generalise to other areas of psychology, such as sport and exercise psychology. The CSE Scale is a psychometrically hardy scale that is frequently used to measure CSE; it has thrice been adapted for use in measuring activity-specific CSE. In this study, we translated the Serve-Specific Core Self-Evaluation Scale (SS-CSES) into Portuguese and evaluated the psychometric properties of the translated scale. The translation was successful and the Portuguese SS-CSES demonstrated strong internal consistency and test-retest reliability. SS-CSE was positively related to years of practice and level of competition. Our results suggest the CSES may be successfully adapted for activity-specific applications, that the SS-CSES adapts well across cultures, and likely would maintain sound psychometric properties if translated into a variety of other languages. It is likely that skill-/component-specific scales of CSE could readily be developed and implemented in the study and practice of sport and exercise psychology for a variety of activities and across a variety of cultures.
Clinical and Pathological Features of Childhood-Onset Nemaline Myopathy: A Report of Four Cases

We examined whether immunological abnormalities can be found in the specimens of four childhood-onset nemaline myopathy (NM) patients without autoimmune diseases. Pathological examination revealed that nemaline rods were found in all specimens. The immunohistochemical results showed that CD4 positive cells and some other cells were gathered among the necrotic muscle fibers. We conclude that immunological abnormalities are present in the specimens of certain childhood-onset NM patients without autoimmune diseases. Further evaluation of the immunological changes is warranted in childhood-onset NM patients.
Real-time, high-accuracy 3D tracking of small animals for motion-corrected SPECT imaging

An optical landmark-based pose measurement and tracking system has been developed to provide 3D animal position data for a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging system for non-anesthetized, unrestrained laboratory animals. The animal position and orientation data provides the opportunity for motion correction of the SPECT data. The tracking system employs infrared (IR) markers placed on the animal's head along with strobed IR LEDs to illuminate the reflectors. A stereo CMOS camera system acquires images of the markers through a transparent enclosure. Software routines segment the markers, reject unwanted reflections, determine marker correspondence, and calculate the 3D pose of the animal's head. Recent improvements have been made in this tracking system including enhanced pose measurement speed and accuracy, improved animal burrow design, and more effective camera positioning for enhanced animal viewing. Furthermore, new routines have been developed to calibrate the SPECT detector head positions relative to one another and to align the coordinate systems of the optical tracking cameras with the SPECT detectors. This alignment enables motion-corrected SPECT image reconstruction. Phantom experiments validate the accuracy of the tracking system to better than 0.1 mm accuracy, and live mouse tracking results demonstrate that reliable, accurate tracking measurements can be consistently achieved during the entire 360-degree SPECT image acquisition.
Effects of Social Stories on the Behaviors of Typically Developing Preschoolers

Challenging behaviors are not exclusive to children with disabilities; they can also affect typically developing children. This study used a multiple baseline design across participants to look at how a social story intervention affected the challenging behaviors (e.g., temper tantrums, hitting, yelling) of three typically developing preschoolers. Overall, results showed that the social stories decreased challenging behaviors from baseline to intervention. Children also experienced an increase in prosocial behaviors and social validity indicated that teachers believed the social story was effective in teaching social skills. This study added to the existing literature on social stories by researching their effect on a population that had not yet been studied. These findings suggest that social stories can be effective interventions for typically developing preschoolers who demonstrate challenging behaviors.