Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assistive technology to support occupational engagement and mobility in persons with multiple disabilities

These two studies extended the evaluation of technology-aided programs for fostering occupational engagement and mobility in persons with multiple disabilities (i.e., severe to profound intellectual disability and blindness or limited residual vision). In Study I, the program (a) provided auditory cues to guide three adults to various desks, at each of which a simple occupational activity was to be carried out, and (b) ensured preferred stimulation at each of the desks. In Study II, the program (a) provided auditory or visual plus auditory cues to guide two adolescents to gather five objects of a collection at five different desks and put each of them into a container located at a sixth desk, and (b) ensured preferred stimulation at each desk. The results of both studies were largely positive with all participants learning to move from one desk to University of Bari, Italy. E-mail: giulio.lancioni@uniba.it Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, USA. E-mail: nirbsingh52@aol.com University of Texas at Austin, TX, USA. E-mail: markoreilly@mail.utexas. edu Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. E-mail: jeff.sigafoos@vuw.ac. nz Lega F. D’Oro Research Center, Osimo and Molfetta, Italy. E-mail: glorya84@hotmail.com Lega F. D’Oro Research Center, Osimo and Molfetta, Italy. E-mail: adele.boccasini@alice.it Lega F. D’Oro Research Center, Osimo and Molfetta, Italy. E-mail: l.civita@outlook.it Lega F. D’Oro Research Center, Osimo and Molfetta, Italy. E-mail: rosanna.tedone@gmail.com Lega F. D’Oro Research Center, Osimo and Molfetta, Italy. E-mail: marialuisa.lamartire@virgilio.it IRCCS Oasi Maria SS. Troina, Italy. E-mail: gtrubia@oasi.en. it Correspondence to: G. E. Lancioni, Department of Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari, Corso Italia 23, 70121 Bari, Italy. Received: March 24, 2015; Revised: April 24, 2015; Accepted: June 22, 2015 © 2015 Associazione Oasi Maria SS. IRCCS Life Span and Disability Lancioni G. E. et al. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 120 the next independently to deal with the activities/objects properly. The results were discussed in light of previous evidence in the area and in terms of practical and technical implications for daily intervention with persons with multiple disabilities.
Phocine Distemper Virus in Northern Sea Otters in the Pacific Ocean, Alaska, USA

Phocine distemper virus (PDV) has caused 2 epidemics in harbor seals in the Atlantic Ocean but had never been identified in any Pacific Ocean species. We found that northern sea otters in Alaska are infected with PDV, which has created a disease threat to several sympatric and decreasing Pacific marine mammals.
FOUNDATIONS OF GREGARIOUSNESS: A DISPERSAL POLYMORPHISM AMONG THE PLANKTONIC LARVAE OF A MARINE INVERTEBRATE

Abstract Theory predicts that selection should favor genotypes that can vary their tendency to disperse in habitats that are spatially or temporally variable or those that remain near their carrying capacity. Although many marine habitats appear to fit these criteria, confirmed examples of dispersal polymorphism among marine invertebrates are exceedingly rare. Competent larvae of the gregarious tubeworm, Hydroides dianthus, settle specifically in response to living conspecific worms, but a small proportion of each spawn settle nonspecifically on uninhabited substrata concurrently with their gregarious siblings. Here, using a parental half-sib analysis, we show that the proportion of a spawn settling in response to uninhabited biofilm is highly heritable. When estimated as a continuous trait based on a one-way ANOVA, heritability is estimated to be 0.83 ± 0.31. When founder production was analyzed as a threshold trait, heritability was estimated to be 0.68 ± 0.10 based on the breeding design experiment and 0.65 ± 0.09 based on the artificial selection experiments. Realized heritability based on the selection experiments was considerably lower, however (0.17 per generation and 0.02 cumulative). Artificial selection was ineffectual at sequentially increasing the proportion of founder larvae among inbred family lines, but after three generations of selection, the proportion of larvae settling in response to biofilm was significantly higher among inbred lines than among the field-collected parents. The obligate planktonic larval stage common among so many marine invertebrates is thought to preclude the evolution of dispersal polymorphisms in these animals. Theoretical expectations of variable dispersal may instead be realized through individual behavioral differences resulting in differential transport or settlement preference, but this possibility remains largely unexplored among marine invertebrates. Corresponding Editor: R. Burton
Improving quantitative dosimetry in 177Lu-DOTATATE SPECT by energy window-based scatter corrections

PurposePatient-specific dosimetry of lutetium-177 (177Lu)-DOTATATE treatment in neuroendocrine tumours is important, because uptake differs across patients. Single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT)-based dosimetry requires a conversion factor between the obtained counts and the activity, which depends on the collimator type, the utilized energy windows and the applied scatter correction techniques. In this study, energy window subtraction-based scatter correction methods are compared experimentally and quantitatively. Materials and methods177Lu SPECT images of a phantom with known activity concentration ratio between the uniform background and filled hollow spheres were acquired for three different collimators: low-energy high resolution (LEHR), low-energy general purpose (LEGP) and medium-energy general purpose (MEGP). Counts were collected in several energy windows, and scatter correction was performed by applying different methods such as effective scatter source estimation (ESSE), triple-energy and dual-energy window, double-photopeak window and downscatter correction. The intensity ratio between the spheres and the background was measured and corrected for the partial volume effect and used to compare the performance of the methods. ResultsLow-energy collimators combined with 208 keV energy windows give rise to artefacts. For the 113 keV energy window, large differences were observed in the ratios for the spheres. For MEGP collimators with the ESSE correction technique, the measured ratio was close to the real ratio, and the differences between spheres were small. ConclusionFor quantitative 177Lu imaging MEGP collimators are advised. Both energy peaks can be utilized when the ESSE correction technique is applied. The difference between the calculated and the real ratio is less than 10% for both energy windows.
Human activity recognition: Various paradigms

Action and activity representation and recognition are very demanding research area in computer vision and man-machine interaction. Though plenty of researches have been done in this arena, the field is still immature. Over the last decades, extensive research methodologies have been developed on human activity analysis and recognition for various applications. This paper overviews various recent methods for human activity recognition with analysis. We attempt to sum up the various methods related to human motion representation and recognition. We make an effort to categorize the recent methods from the best in the business, and finally figure out the short-comings and challenges to dig out in future to develop robust action recognition approaches. This work exclusively endeavors to encompass the researches related only to human action recognition mainly from 2001 till-to-date with critical assessment of the methods. We also present our work along with to solve some of the shortcomings. It will widely benefit the researchers to understand and compare the related advancements in this area.
Vasodilatory Effects of C‐Type Natriuretic Peptide on Forearm Resistance Vessels Are Distinct From Those of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide in Chronic Heart Failure

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is a newly identified peptide that is structurally related to atrial natri-uretic peptide (ANP). Although it has been suggested that CNP is released from the endothelium for the regulation of local vascular tone, no data are available concerning the vasodilatory response to CNP in humans. Methods and ResultsStrain-gauge plethysmography was used to determine the vasodilatory effects of intra-arterially infused CNP compared with the effects of ANP infusion in 11 patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and 11 age-matched healthy controls. Graded doses of CNP and ANP (8, 16, 32, and 48 pmo.minm−1 · dL−1 tissue volume) were administered randomly into the nondominant brachial artery, and forearm blood flow (FBF) was measured. No significant changes in systemic blood pressure and heart rate were found during the study. Both the absolute and percent FBF responses to ANP relative to the baseline value were significantly lower in CHF patients than in healthy controls (P<.01), whereas the responses to CNP were similar. The calculated forearm spillover of cyclic GMP (cGMP) was significantly lower in CHF patients receiving the highest dose of ANP (P<.02), whereas changes in cGMP spillover after the equimolar dose of CNP were significantly higher (P<.02), despite the lesser potency of CNP. ConclusionsIn patients with CHF the peripheral vasodilatory effect of ANP is attenuated, but CNP-induced peripheral vasorelaxation is preserved, with CNP being less potent for equimolar doses.
A systematic framework for analysing the critical success factors of communities of practice

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to briefly illustrate the test of an explanatory framework of the factors affecting the success of internal communities of practice (CoPs). Design/methodology/approach – The analysis is based on a qualitative case study of the formation and management of intentionally created CoPs inside a large division of a multinational oil company. Findings – The results of the study appear to confirm the utility of the framework as a tool for a sound and systematic investigation of the functioning of a CoP, and for understanding the reasons of its success or failure Research limitations/implications – Since it if the first attempt to test the framework, further empirical investigation is needed. In particular, it would be particularly useful to apply the scheme to cases of failure. Practical implications – The suggested framework can be of use for the design and management of intentionally created CoPs. In particular, it can provide insights into ‘‘good practices’’ or ‘‘mistakes to be avoided’’. Originality/value – The main contribution of the paper is the application of a comprehensive and coherent model, which can represent the initial step toward the definition of a ‘‘check-list’’ for the creation and management of CoPs.
Students’ understandings of nature of science and their arguments in the context of four socio-scientific issues

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine students understandings about nature of science (NOS) and their arguments in context of controversial socio-scientific issue (SSI). A total of 74 11th graders in six schools in Saudi Arabia participated in the study. The instrument used was a questionnaire consisting of four scenarios addressing SSI about global warming, genetically modified food, acid rain, and human cloning. The scenarios were followed by questions relating to argumentation and NOS. Quantitative and qualitative measures were employed to analyze the data related to participants understandings of three NOS aspects (subjective, tentative, and empirical) and their arguments components (argument, counterargument, and rebuttal). Results showed no significant correlations between argument components and the NOS aspects. On the other hand, qualitative data showed that participants who generated well-developed arguments across the four SSI also exhibited more informed understandings of the NOS aspects, especially for female participants. Further, the chi-square analyses did not show significant differences in participants arguments and NOS understandings across the four scenarios. Again, the qualitative data from questionnaires showed differences in participants responses to the different scenarios. The results were interpreted along contextual factors, emotional factors, and cultural factors. Implications for the teaching of NOS and arguments were discussed.
Measuring Multidimensional Poverty: An Empirical Comparison of Various Approaches

This paper makes a systematic comparison of four approaches to multidimensional poverty analysis based respectively on the theory of fuzzy sets, information theory, efficiency analysis and axiomatic derivations of poverty indices. The database was the 1995 Israeli Census that provided information on the ownership of various durable goods. There appears to be a fair degree of agreement between the various multidimensional poverty indices concerning the identification of the poor households. The four approaches have also shown that poverty decreases with the schooling level of the head of the household, first decreases and then increases with his/her age and with the size of the household. Poverty is higher when the head of the household is single and lower when he/she is married, lowest when the head of the household is Jewish and highest when he/she is Muslim. Poverty is also higher among households whose head immigrated in recent years, does not work or lives in Jerusalem. These observations were made on the basis of logit regressions. This impact on poverty of many of the variables is not very different from the one that is observed when poverty measurement is based only on the income or the total expenditures of the households.
Multisite observations of SU Aurigae

We present results from the 1996 Multi-Site Continuous Spectroscopy (MUSICOS) campaign on the T Tauri star SU Aurigae. We find a 2.7-d periodicity in the HeI (587.6 nm) line, and somewhat longer, less well-pronounced periodicities in the Balmer lines and in Na D. Our observations support the suggestion that the wind and infall signatures are out of phase on SU Aur. We present Doppler images of SU Aur that have been obtained from least-squares deconvolved profiles. Images taken about one rotation apart show only limited overlap, in particular at low latitudes. This is due in part to limitations in signal-to-noise ratio, and in part to line-profile deformations that arise from short-lived and/or non-surface features. The agreement at high latitudes is better and suggests that at least some longer-lived features are present. The analysis of Stokes V profiles yields a marginal magnetic field detection during one of the phases.
Impact of mental stress on heart rate asymmetry

This article studies the impact of mental stress induced by open-road driving on heart rate asymmetry (HRA), a physiological phenomenon that quantifies imbalance of heart rate acceleration and deceleration. Using ECG data of 10 individuals from a retrospective database from Physionet, three common HRA indexes (i.e., Porta Index-PI, Guzik Index-GI, and Slope Index-SI) were calculated within five minutes time windows across different stress levels. Results revealed that on average HRA significantly reduced by 2.1% with stress level (p<;0.05) and HRA was lower in high stress, compared to moderate and low stress. Further pairwise comparison revealed that PI was significantly different between low and moderate stress (p=0.004) as well as moderate and high stress (p=0.047). Also, GI and SI were independent discriminators between low and moderate stress (p<;0.001), and low and high stress (p<;0.001). These results suggest that HRA can be used as a new biomarker for stress assessment.
Learning Mixtures of Gaussians in High Dimensions

Efficiently learning mixture of Gaussians is a fundamental problem in statistics and learning theory. Given samples coming from a random one out of k Gaussian distributions in Rn, the learning problem asks to estimate the means and the covariance matrices of these Gaussians. This learning problem arises in many areas ranging from the natural sciences to the social sciences, and has also found many ma- chine learning applications. Unfortunately, learning mixture of Gaussians is an information theoretically hard problem: in order to learn the parameters up to a reasonable accuracy, the number of samples required is exponential in the number of Gaussian components in the worst case. In this work, we show that provided we are in high enough dimensions, the class of Gaussian mixtures is learnable in its most general form under a smoothed analysis framework, where the parameters are randomly perturbed from an adversarial starting point. In particular, given samples from a mixture of Gaussians with randomly perturbed parameters, when n ≥ Ω(k2), we give an algorithm that learns the parameters with polynomial running time and using polynomial number of samples. The central algorithmic ideas consist of new ways to de- compose the moment tensor of the Gaussian mixture by exploiting its structural properties. The symmetries of this tensor are derived from the combinatorial structure of higher order moments of Gaussian distributions (sometimes referred to as Isserlis' theorem or Wick's theorem). We also develop new tools for bounding smallest singular values of structured random matrices, which could be useful in other smoothed analysis settings.
Syndecan-1 (CD138) Modulates Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Stem Cell Properties via Regulation of LRP-6 and IL-6-Mediated STAT3 Signaling

Syndecan-1 (CD138), a heparan sulfate proteoglycan, acts as a coreceptor for growth factors and chemokines and is a molecular marker associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition during development and carcinogenesis. Resistance of Syndecan-1-deficient mice to experimentally-induced tumorigenesis has been linked to altered Wnt-responsive precursor cell pools, suggesting a potential role of Syndecan-1 in breast cancer cell stem function. However, the precise molecular mechanism is still elusive. Here, we decipher the functional impact of Syndecan-1 knockdown using RNA interference on the breast cancer stem cell phenotype of human triple-negative MDA-MB-231 and hormone receptor-positive MCF-7 cells in vitro employing an analytical flow cytometric approach. Successful Syndecan-1 siRNA knockdown was confirmed by flow cytometry. Side population measurement by Hoechst dye exclusion and Aldehyde dehydrogenase-1 activity revealed that Syndecan-1 knockdown in MDA-MB-231 cells significantly reduced putative cancer stem cell pools by 60% and 27%, respectively, compared to controls. In MCF-7 cells, Syndecan-1 depletion reduced the side population by 40% and Aldehyde dehydrogenase-1 by 50%, repectively. In MDA-MB-231 cells, the CD44(+)CD24(-/low) phenotype decreased significantly by 6% upon siRNA-mediated Syndecan-1 depletion. Intriguingly, IL-6, its receptor sIL-6R, and the chemokine CCL20, implicated in regulating stemness-associated pathways, were downregulated by >40% in Syndecan-1-silenced MDA-MB-231 cells, which showed a dysregulated response to IL-6-induced shifts in E-cadherin and vimentin expression. Furthermore, activation of STAT-3 and NFkB transcription factors and expression of a coreceptor for Wnt signaling, LRP-6, were reduced by >45% in Syndecan-1-depleted cells compared to controls. At the functional level, Syndecan-1 siRNA reduced the formation of spheres and cysts in MCF-7 cells grown in suspension culture. Our study demonstrates the viability of flow cytometric approaches in analyzing cancer stem cell function. As Syndecan-1 modulates the cancer stem cell phenotype via regulation of the Wnt and IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathways, it emerges as a promising novel target for therapeutic approaches.
An online audio indexing system

This paper presents overview of an online audio indexing system, which creates a searchable index of speech content embedded in digitized audio files. This system is based on our recently proposed offline audio segmentation techniques. As the data arrives continuously, the system first finds boundaries of the acoustically homogenous segments. Next, each of these segments is classified as speech, music or {\it mixture} classes, where mixtures are defined as regions where speech and other non-speech sounds are present simultaneously and noticeably. The speech segments are then clustered together to provide consistent speaker labels. The speech and mixture segments are converted to text via an ASR system. The resulting words are time-stamped together with other metadata information (speaker identity, speech confidence score) in an XML file to rapidly identify and access target segments. In this paper, we analyze the performance at each stage of this audio indexing system and also compare it with the performance of the corresponding offline modules.
Nondegenerate colourings in the Brooks theorem

Abstract Let c ≥ 2 and p ≥ c be two integers. We say that a proper colouring of the graph G is (c, p)-nondegenerate, if for any vertex of G of degree at least p there are at least c vertices of different colours adjacent to it. In this research we prove the following result which generalises the Brooks theorem. Let D ≥ 3 and G be a graph without cliques on D + 1 vertices and a degree of any vertex in this graph be no greater than D. Then for any integer c ≥ 2 there is a proper (c, p)-nondegenerate vertex D-colouring of G, where p = (c 3 + 8c 2 + 19c + 6)(c – 1).
Computing Performance Bounds of Fork-Join Parallel Programs Under a Multiprocessing Environment

We study a multiprocessing computer system which accepts parallel programs that have a fork-join computational paradigm. The multiprocessing computer system under study is modeled as K homogeneous servers, each with an infinite capacity queue. Parallel programs arrive at the multiprocessing system according to a series-parallel phase type interarrival process with mean arrival rate of h. Upon the program arrival, it forks into K-independent tasks and each task is assigned to an unique server. Each task's service time has a k-stage Erlang distribution with mean service time of /spl lambda/. A parallel program is completed upon the completion of its last task. This kind of queuing model has no known closed form solution in the general (K/spl ges/2) case. In this paper, we show that by carefully modifying the arrival and service distributions at some imbedded points in time, we can obtain tight performance bounds. We also provide a computational efficient algorithm for obtaining upper and lower bounds on the expected response time. The methodology is flexible and allows one to trade-off the tightness of the bounds and computational cost.