Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Accurate Global Localization Using Visual Odometry and Digital Maps on Urban Environments

Over the past few years, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADASs) have become a key element in the research and development of intelligent transportation systems (ITSs) and particularly of intelligent vehicles. Many of these systems require accurate global localization information, which has been traditionally performed by the Global Positioning System (GPS), despite its well-known failings, particularly in urban environments. Different solutions have been attempted to bridge the gaps of GPS positioning errors, but they usually require additional expensive sensors. Vision-based algorithms have proved to be capable of tracking the position of a vehicle over long distances using only a sequence of images as input and with no prior knowledge of the environment. This paper describes a full solution to the estimation of the global position of a vehicle in a digital road map by means of visual information alone. Our solution is based on a stereo platform used to estimate the motion trajectory of the ego vehicle and a map-matching algorithm, which will correct the cumulative errors of the vision-based motion information and estimate the global position of the vehicle in a digital road map. We demonstrate our system in large-scale urban experiments reaching high accuracy in the estimation of the global position and allowing for longer GPS blackouts due to both the high accuracy of our visual odometry estimation and the correction of the cumulative error of the map-matching algorithm. Typically, challenging situations in urban environments such as nonstatic objects or illumination exceeding the dynamic range of the cameras are shown and discussed.
Hearing Impairment and Emotion Identification from Auditory and Visual Stimuli

In the present pilot study, the researchers investigated how people with impaired hearing identify emotions from auditory and visual stimuli, with people with normal hearing acting as their controls. Two separate experiments were conducted. The viewpoint was in the communication and social function of emotion perception. Professional actors of both genders produced emotional nonsense samples without linguistic content, samples in the Finnish language, and prolonged vowel samples. In Experiment 1, nine Cochlear implant users and nine controls participated in the listening test. In Experiment 2, nine users of a variety of hearing aids and nine controls participated in the perception test. The results of both experiments showed a statistically significant difference between the two testing groups, people with hearing impairment and people with normal hearing, in the emotion identification and valence perception from both auditory and visual stimuli. The results suggest that hearing aids and cochlear implants do not transfer well enough the nuances within emotions conveyed by the voice. The results also suggest difficulties in the visual perception among people with hearing impairment. This warrants further studies with larger samples.
Do visually impaired children and their parents agree on the child's vision-related quality of life and functional vision?

Aims To investigate agreement between children with visual impairment (VI) and their parents on their ratings of the child's vision-related quality of life (VQoL) and functional vision (FV) using two novel self-report patient-reported outcome measures developed for this population. Methods 99 children aged 10–15 years (mean age=12.2, SD=1.9) with VI (best corrected acuity (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) 0.50 or worse in better eye) and their parents participated in a national postal survey, completing the child and proxy versions of our novel instruments assessing VQoL and FV of children with VI—the vision-related quality of life instrument for children and young people (VQoL_CYP) and the functional vision questionnaire for children and young people (FVQ_CYP), respectively. Parent-child agreement was investigated using the Bland-Altman (BA) method. Variation across key sociodemographic and clinical characteristics was examined using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient. Results Average parental ratings of their child's VQoL and FV were significantly lower than the children's own ratings, but the range of disagreement was wide, with parents both overestimating and underestimating their child's VQoL (mean score difference=5.7, BA limits of agreement (LOA): lower −22.10 (CI 95% −24.61 to 19.59) and upper 33.50 (CI 95% 30.99 to 36.01)), but more consistently underestimating the child's FV (mean score difference=−11.8, BA LOA: lower −39.60 (CI 95% −42.12 to 37.08) and upper 16 (CI 95% 13.48 to 18.52)). There was variation in agreement by some child characteristics, including vision level, time of onset and course of VI progression. Conclusions Visually impaired children and their parents perceive the broader impact of living with VI very differently. There is value in routine capture of information independently from children and their parents for comprehensively gauging the impact of childhood VI and tailoring appropriate interventions.
Marine N-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Are Inversely Associated with Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Asians: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background Prospective cohort studies in relation to the associations between n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) were inconsistent. Differences in tissue n-3 PUFA compositions in subjects with and without T2D were also inconsistent in both cohort and case-control studies. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies to examine the associations of fish and n-3 PUFA intake with T2D risk. The differences in tissue n-3 PUFA compositions in subjects with and without T2D were investigated based on cohort and case-control studies. Methods and Findings PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Chinese VIP database up to January 2012 was used to identify relevant studies, and reference lists from retrieved studies were reviewed. Two authors independently extracted the data. Random-effects models were used to pool the summary relative risk (RR). Twenty-four studies including 24,509 T2D patients and 545,275 participants were identified. For cohort studies, the summary RR of T2D for the highest vs lowest categories of total fish, marine n-3 PUFA and alpha-linolenic acid intake was 1.07 (95% CI: 0.91, 1.25), 1.07 (95% CI: 0.95, 1.20) and 0.93 (95% CI: 0.81, 1.07), respectively. Subgroup analyses indicated that summary RR (highest vs lowest category) of T2D for fish and marine n-3 PUFA intake was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.81, 0.98) and 0.87 (95% CI: 0.79, 0.96) for Asian populations, and 1.20 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.44) and 1.16 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.28) for Western populations. Asian subjects with T2D had significantly lower tissue compositions of C22∶6n-3 (SMD: −1.43; 95% CI: −1.75, −1.12) and total n-3 PUFA (SMD: −1.41; 95% CI: −2.23, −0.59) compared with those without T2D. Conclusion This systematic review and meta-analysis provides evidence that marine n-3 PUFA have beneficial effects on the prevention of T2D in Asian populations.
The Stable Level of Glutamine synthetase 2 Plays an Important Role in Rice Growth and in Carbon-Nitrogen Metabolic Balance

Glutamine synthetase 2 (GS2) is a key enzyme involved in the ammonium metabolism in plant leaves. In our previous study, we obtained GS2-cosuppressed plants, which displayed a normal growth phenotype at the seedling stage, while at the tillering stage they showed a chlorosis phenotype. In this study, to investigate the chlorosis mechanism, we systematically analyzed the plant growth, carbon-nitrogen metabolism and gene expressions between the GS2-cosuppressed rice and wild-type plants. The results revealed that the GS2-cosuppressed plants exhibited a poor plant growth phenotype and a poor nitrogen transport ability, which led to nitrogen accumulation and a decline in the carbon/nitrogen ratio in the stems. Interestingly, there was a higher concentration of soluble proteins and a lower concentration of carbohydrates in the GS2-cosuppressed plants at the seedling stage, while a contrasting result was displayed at the tillering stage. The analysis of the metabolic profile showed a significant increase of sugars and organic acids. Additionally, gene expression patterns were different in root and leaf of GS2-cosuppressed plants between the seedling and tillering stage. These results indicated the important role of a stable level of GS2 transcription during normal rice development and the importance of the carbon-nitrogen metabolic balance in rice growth.
Perceived risk of information security and privacy in online shopping: A study of environmentally sustainable products

Consumers’ information security and privacy for online shopping is a fundamental concern of decision-making for purchase. In this study, the technology acceptance model was used as a framework to explore website characteristics related to perceived risk of information security and purchase intention. A survey was conducted with a sample size of 387 online shoppers, methodology was done using LISREL 8.54 and SPSS 12.0 to perform factor analysis in order to obtain the factors of the construct and to measure their validity and reliability, the study revealed that website characteristics positively influence perceived risk of information security and privacy and further, have an impact on purchase intention. This study showed that perceived risk of information security and privacy on a website is strongly related to purchase intention. Website management must therefore be strengthened- first, by upgrading the network security of e-commerce technology, and second, by developing e-commerce security management systems. Moreover, a website platform should be constructed to improve awareness of consumer information security and to ensure a secure environment for online shopping. Finally, it is important to strengthen integrity management in order to enable consumers to securely buy goods online. Key words: TAM, perceived risk of information security and privacy, purchase intention, environmentally sustainable products.
Gestural Alignment Constraints andUnstressed Vowel Devoicing in Andean Spanish

This paper applies the gestural alignment constraint schema proposed by Gafos (2002) to unstressed vowel devoicing in Andean Spanish. I will argue that this approach successfully addresses several characteristics identified in novel data from Cusco, Peru that depart from cross-linguistic trends in vowel devoicing and cannot be readily explained in terms of more traditional Articulatory Phonology phasing terminology. The discussion is organized as follows: Section 2 provides a description of vowel devoicing patterns in Andean Spanish and compares them with the characteristics of vowel devoicing in other languages. Section 3 develops an account of the Andean data in terms of timing patterns expressed as inter-segmental and intra-segmental gestural alignment constraints while Section 4 concludes and summarizes.
Factors affecting e-learning for achievement

E-learning is an essential trend in education for the 21st century. Because the nature of e-learning is different from the traditional learning, an in-depth research on factors affecting e-learning would help instructors to improve their teaching effectiveness, and the results can also benefit e-learning players for their operation and management of cyber universities (digital schools). This study adopted methods combining both qualitative and quantitative. The subjects were 70 students taking "Computer Networks and the Internet" course in the masters program offered over the Internet by National Sun Yat-sen University in Taiwan. The study found that elearning provided a good learning achievement and students' background has no significant influence on learning achievement. However, study habits and class attendance with learning achievement were found to have positive and significant relation. In addition, we survey influencing factor for more understanding of the learner in factors that affect students' success in Web-based learning. The most significant factors according to the influence level are: 1. Job factor, 2. Internet transmission speed and stability, 3. Diligence, 4. Instructors' online lecture delivery software.
Vygotsky and beyond: horizons for the future of psychology / Vygotski y más allá: horizontes para el futuro de la psicología

Abstract In this article some usually overlooked aspects of Vygotsky’s work are presented. First, the understanding of the mediation system as a trans-organic, extended branch of the psychological system. Second, the semantic nature of conscience and the systemic neuropsychological organization of higher functions. Third, the leading role played in the psychic system by directive functions. Fourth, the understanding of human evolution as open and permanently provisional. Last, a reference is made to the role of psychology in the process of human auto-evolution, which Vygotsky viewed as a mission.
GATA1-Mediated Megakaryocyte Differentiation and Growth Control Can Be Uncoupled and Mapped to Different Domains in GATA1

ABSTRACT The DNA-binding hemopoietic zinc finger transcription factor GATA1 promotes terminal megakaryocyte differentiation and restrains abnormal immature megakaryocyte expansion. How GATA1 coordinates these fundamental processes is unclear. Previous studies of synthetic and naturally occurring mutant GATA1 molecules demonstrate that DNA-binding and interaction with the essential GATA1 cofactor FOG-1 (via the N-terminal finger) are required for gene expression in terminally differentiating megakaryocytes and for platelet production. Moreover, acquired mutations deleting the N-terminal 84 amino acids are specifically detected in megakaryocytic leukemia in human Down syndrome patients. In this study, we have systematically dissected GATA1 domains required for platelet release and control of megakaryocyte growth by ectopically expressing modified GATA1 molecules in primary GATA1-deficient fetal megakaryocyte progenitors. In addition to DNA binding, distinct N-terminal regions, including residues in the first 84 amino acids, promote platelet release and restrict megakaryocyte growth. In contrast, abrogation of GATA1-FOG-1 interaction leads to loss of differentiation, but growth of blocked immature megakaryocytes is controlled. Thus, distinct GATA1 domains regulate terminal megakaryocyte gene expression leading to platelet release and restrain megakaryocyte growth, and these processes can be uncoupled.
Socioemotional and behavioural adaptation of students with disabilities: the significance of teacher–student attachment-like relationships

ABSTRACT The present study explores the extent to which maternal attachment and teacher–student attachment-like relationships explain the socioemotional adaptation of students with disabilities. Participants consisted of 65 dyads of homeroom teachers and their students (from a middle-to-low-class area in Northern Israel) with learning disabilities (LD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and LD/ADHD-co-morbidity (mean age = 10.9). Students were assessed based on the maternal attachment security scale (ASS) and the appraisal of the teacher as a secure base scale. Homeroom teachers completed the student-teacher security scale. Third-party teachers reported on students’ school adaptation. Results indicated that beyond the disability factor, secure teacher-student relationships reduced the students’ externalising problem behaviours and improved student learning proficiencies that are considered to be affected by the adequacy of executive functioning. Additionally, maternal attachment reduced internalising problem behaviours. Implications for the protective role of teachers of students with disabilities and for research on teacher–student relationship quality are discussed.
A Recommendation Method for Online Dating Networks Based on Social Relations and Demographic Information

A new relationship type of social networks - online dating - are gaining popularity. With a large member base, users of a dating network are overloaded with choices about their ideal partners. Recommendation methods can be utilized to overcome this problem. However, traditional recommendation methods do not work effectively for online dating networks where the dataset is sparse and large, and a two-way matching is required. This paper applies social networking concepts to solve the problem of developing a recommendation method for online dating networks. We propose a method by using clustering, SimRank and adapted SimRank algorithms to recommend matching candidates. Empirical results show that the proposed method can achieve nearly double the performance of the traditional collaborative filtering and common neighbor methods of recommendation.
Forecasting Long-Term Acorn Production with and without Oak Decline Using Forest Inventory Data

Acorns are important as wildlife food and for oak regeneration, but production is highly variable, posing a challenge to forest managers targeting acorn production levels. Forest managers need tools to predict acorn production capability tailored to individual landscapes and forest management scenarios, adjusting for oak mortality and stand development over time. We implemented published predictive models of average annual acorn production by five oak species common to the eastern United States in the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) and used forest inventory data to estimate long-term acorn production on the Bent Creek Experimental Forest watershed, with and without oak decline. Under a no-management scenario, simulations forecasted a 58% increase in average annual acorn production by 2062 without oak decline but a 17% decrease with oak decline. Forecasts were influenced by the initial abundance and basal area of different oak species on the landscape and stand dynamics over time. Simulations indicated that heavy oak mortality with regeneration failure could substantially affect acorn production over the long term by reducing the proportion of mature canopy oaks and relative abundance of oak species. FVS ACORN provides a powerful tool for long-term acorn production planning that can be tailored to individual landscapes and forest management scenarios to predict average annual number and mass of acorns.
Cost implications of treatment non-completion in a forensic personality disorder service

BackgroundA high proportion of individuals admitted to specialist secure hospital services for treatment of personality disorder do not complete treatment. Non-completion has been associated with poorer treatment outcomes and increased rates of recidivism and hospital readmission, when compared with individuals who do complete treatment or who do not receive treatment at all. AimsIn this study, we sought to determine the economic consequences of non-completion of treatment, using case study data from a secure hospital sample. Both health and criminal justice service perspectives were taken into account. MethodsData were collected from a medium secure hospital personality disorder unit. A probabilistic decision-analytic model was constructed, using a Markov cohort simulation with 10,000 iterations. The expected cost differential between those who do and those who do not complete treatment was estimated, as was the probability of a cost differential over a 10-year post-admission time horizon. ResultsOn average, in the first 10 years following admission, those who do not complete treatment go on to incur £52,000 more in costs to the National Health Service and criminal justice system than those who complete treatment. The model estimates that the probability that non-completers incur greater costs than completers is 78%. ConclusionIt is possible that an improvement in treatment completion rates in secure hospital personality disorder units would lead to some cost savings. This might be achievable through better selection into treatment or improved strategies for engagement and retention. Our study highlights a financial cost to society of individuals discharged from secure hospital care when incompletely treated. We suggest that it could, therefore, be useful for secure hospitals to introduce routine monitoring of treatment completion. © 2013 The Authors. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A localised subgrid scale model for fluid dynamical simulations in astrophysics I: Theory and numerical tests

We present a one-equation subgrid scale model that evolves the turbulence energy corresponding to unresolved velocity fluctuations in large eddy simulations. The model i s derived in the context of the Germano consistent decomposition of the hydrodynamical equations. The eddy-viscosity closure for the rate of energy transfer from resolved toward subgrid scales is localised by means of a dynamical procedure for the computation of the closure parameter. Therefore, the subgrid scal e model applies to arbitrary flow geometry and evolution. For t he treatment of microscopic viscous dissipation a semi-statistical approach is used, and the gradient-diffusion hypothesis is adopted for turbulent transport. A priori tests of the localised eddy- viscosity closure and the gradient-diffusion closure are made by analysing data from direct numerical simulations. As an a posteriori testing case, the large eddy simulation of thermonuclear combustion in forced isotropic turbulence is discussed. We intend the formulation of the subgrid scale model in this paper as a basis for more advanced applications in numerical simulations of complex astrophysical phenomena involving turbulence.
High-resolution OVI absorption line observations at 1.2 $ \leq z \leq $ 1.7 in the bright QSO HE 0515-4414

STIS Echelle observations at a resolution of 10 km s 1 and UVES/VLT spectroscopy at a resolution of 7 km s 1 of the luminous QSO HE 0515-4414 (zem =1 :73, B =1 5:0) reveal four intervening O vi absorption systems in the redshift range 1:21 zabs 1:67 (1.38503, 1.41601, 1.60175, 1.67359). In addition, two associated systems at z =1 :69707 and z =1 :73585 are present. Noteworthy is an absorber at z =1 :385 with log NH i = 13:9 and strong O vi (N(O vi)/N(H i) 1) and C iv doublets, while a nearby much stronger Ly absorber (log NH i =1 4:8, v = 123 km s 1 ) does not reveal any heavy element absorption. For the rst time, high resolution observations allow one to measure radial velocities of H i ,C iv and O vi simultaneously in several absorption systems (1.385, 1.674, 1.697) with the result that signicant velocity dierences (up to 18 km s 1 ,a re observed between H i and O vi, while smaller dierences (up to 5 km s 1 ) are seen between C iv and O vi . W e tentatively conclude that H i ,O vi ,a nd Civ are not formed in the same volumes and that therefore conclusions on ionization mechanisms are not possible from the observed column density ratios O vi/H i or O vi/C iv . T he number density of O vi absorbers with Wrest 25 m Ai s dN=dz 10, roughly a factor of 5 less than that found by Tripp et al. (2000) at low redshift. However, this number is uncertain and further lines of sight will be probed in the next HST cycle. An estimate of the cosmological mass-density of the O vi-phase yields b(O vi) 0:0003h 1 75 for (O=H) = 1 and an assumed ionization fraction O vi/O = 0.2. It should be noted that this result is subject to large systematic errors. This corresponds to an increase by roughly a factor of 15 between z =1 :5 (this work) and the value found by Tripp et al. (2000) at z =0 :21, if the same oxygen abundance (O=H) = 1 is assumed. Agreement with the simulations by Dav e et al. (2001) can be obtained, if the oxygen abundance increases by a factor of3 over the same redshift interval.