Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Leveling the Intra-Household Playing Field: Compensation and Specialization in Child Labor Allocation

This paper analyzes changes in the allocation of child labor within the household in reaction to exogenous shocks created by a social program in Nicaragua. The paper shows that households that randomly received a conditional cash transfer compensated for some of the intra-household differences, as they reduced child labor more for older boys who used to work more and for boys who were further behind in school. The results also show that households that randomly received a productive investment grant, in addition to the basic conditional cash transfer benefits, both targeted at women, show an increased specialization of older girls in nonagricultural and domestic work, but no overall increase in girls' child labor. The findings suggest that time allocation and specialization patterns in child labor within the household are important factors to understand the impact of a social program.
On the use of scaling matrices for task-specific robot design

Good robot performance often relies upon the selection of design parameters that lead to a well conditioned Jacobian or impedance "design" matrix. In this paper, a new design matrix normalization technique is presented to handle the problem of nonhomogeneous physical units and to provide a means of specifying a performance based design goal. The technique pre- and post-multiplies a design matrix by scaling matrices corresponding to a range of joint and task space variables. The task-space scale factors are used to set the relative required strength or speed along any axes of end point motion while the joint-space scale factors are treated as free design parameters to improve isotropy through nonhomogeneous actuation. The effect of scaling on actual designs is illustrated by a number of design examples using a global search method previously developed by the authors.
Large grains in the disk of CQ Tau

We present 7 mm observations of the dusty disk surrounding the 10 Myr old 1.5 Mpre-main-sequence star CQ Tauri obtained at the Very Large Array with 0.8 arcsec resolution and 0.1 mJy rms sensitivity. These observations resolve the 7 mm emission in approximately the north-south direction, confirming previous results obtained with lower resolution. We use a two- layer flared disk model to interpret the observed fluxes from 7 mm to 1.3 mm together with the resolved 7 mm structure. We find that the disk radius is constrained to the range 100 to 300 AU, depending on the steepness of the disk surface density distribution. The power law index of the dust opacity coefficient, β, is constrained to be 0.5 to 0.7. Since the models indicate that the disk is optically thin at millimeter wavelengths for radii greater than 8 AU, the contribution of an optically thick region to the emission is less than 10%. This implies that high optical depth or complex disk geometry cannot be the cause of the observed shallow millimeter spectral index. Instead, the new analysis supports the earlier suggestion that dust particles in the disk have grown to sizes as large as a few centimeters. The dust in the CQ Tauri system appears to be evolved much like that in the TW Hydra system, a well-studied pre-main-sequence star of similar age and lower mass. The survival of gas-rich disks with incomplete grain evolution at such old ages deserves further investigations.
Cognition and Intelligence: The Neural Bases of Intelligence: A Perspective Based on Functional Neuroimaging

We present a t heory of neural processing that is derived from the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). According to the neural principles described here, fluid intelligence arises from a highly adaptive, flexible neural system. The theory is composed of a set of operating principles for cortical computation. Together these principles suggest that intelligence arise from a dynamically configured set of brain areas that collaborate adaptively to meet a cognitive challenge.
Introspection, mindreading, and the transparency of belief

Centre for Logic and Analytic Philosophy, Institute of Philosophy, KU Leuven, Kardinaal Mercierplein 2, 3000, Leuven, Belgium Department of Economics, University College London, Gower St, Kings Cross, London WC1E 6BT, UK Correspondence Uwe Peters, Centre for Logic and Analytic Philosophy, Institute of Philosophy, KU Leuven, Kardinaal Mercierplein 2, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Email: uwe.peters@kuleuven.be
An Accurate Interconnection Length Estimation for Computer Logic

Important layout properties of electronic designs include space requirements and interconnection lengths. A reliable interconnection length estimation is essential for improving placement and routing techniques. Donath found an upper bound for the average interconnection length that follows the trends of experimentally obtained average lengths. Yet, this upper bound deviates from the experimentally obtained value by a factor /spl delta//spl ap/2, which is not sufficiently accurate for some applications. We show that we obtain a significantly more accurate estimate by taking into account the inherent features of the optimal placement process.
A 5–300MHz CMOS transceiver for multi-nuclear NMR spectroscopy

This paper presents a 5-300MHz multi-nuclei NMR transceiver designed with spectroscopy for drug discovery in mind. The overall transceiver (transmitter and receiver), is implemented in 130nm CMOS, occupies an active area of 2mm2 and consumes 12mA from a 1.5V supply. The measured phase noise for the on-chip frequency synthesizer is -110dBc at 10KHz offset when the LO frequency is 212.966MHz (~1H Larmor frequency at 5T). The measured input referred noise floor for the overall receiver is 3.5nV/√Hz. The receiver NMR functionality was validated using a variety of chemical samples, including adenosine triphosphaste(ATP), benzene(C6H6) and ethanol(CH3CH2OH) in a 5T magnet. Full transceiver NMR functionality, including that of of the internal power amplifier, was validated with the help of a 0.3mL H2O sample.
Prevalence and attributes of roll-your-own smokers in the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Four Country Survey

Background: Roll-your-own (RYO) cigarettes are often substantially less expensive than factory made (FM) cigarettes, and appear to be increasing in popularity—perhaps because smokers seek out less expensive options to maintain their nicotine addiction. There is surprisingly little research available on the actual prevalence of RYO cigarette usage, and even less on the attributes of those who smoke RYO cigarettes. Objectives: This study has two objectives: (1) to compare the prevalence of RYO versus FM cigarette usage among adult smokers in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States; and (2) to compare the attributes of exclusive FM smokers, exclusive RYO smokers, and those who report “mixed” RYO and FM use. Design: The data were collected from the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Four Country Survey (ITC-4), a random digit dialed telephone survey of representative samples of over 9046 adult smokers from the following four countries: Australia (n = 2301), Canada (n = 2,206), the UK (n = 2400), and the USA (n = 2,139), surveyed between October and December 2002, and on 6075 smokers followed-up, on average, seven months later. Results: The prevalence of RYO cigarette usage varied widely across the four countries, with a low of 6.7% in the USA, to 28.4% in the UK. Exclusive use of RYO cigarettes was more common in the UK than in the other three countries. The use of RYO cigarettes was associated with having a lower annual income, male sex, younger average age, higher level of nicotine addiction, a stronger belief that RYO tobacco is less harmful compared to other forms of tobacco, and a more positive perception of tobacco use. Prevalence of RYO use was relatively stable within each of the four countries between the baseline and follow-up survey. RYO use was unrelated to quitting activity at follow-up, although mixed RYO users who had made a quit attempt were more likely to relapse than either exclusive FM or exclusive RYO smokers. Conclusions: Patterns of RYO use vary considerably across Australia, Canada, the USA, and the UK. RYO smokers are a heterogeneous group; however, the factors associated with RYO use appear to be the same across the four countries studied.
Compensatory movements during functional activities in ambulatory children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

OBJECTIVE During the transitional phase (ambulatory to non-ambulatory), synergies characterize the evolution of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). This study was performed to describe and quantify compensatory movements while sitting down on/rising from the floor and climbing up/down steps. METHOD Eighty videos (5 children × 4 assessments × 4 tasks) were recorded quarterly in the year prior to gait loss. Compensatory movements from the videos were registered based on the Functional Evaluation Scale for DMD. RESULTS The most frequently observed compensatory movements were upper limb support on lower limbs/floor/handrail during all the tasks and lumbar hyperlordosis, trunk support on handrail, equinus foot, increased base of support, non-alternated descent, and pauses while climbing up/down steps. CONCLUSION Climbing up/down steps showed a higher number of compensatory movements than sitting down on/rising from the floor, which seemed to be lost before climbing up/down steps in ambulatory children with DMD.
Relearning through e-learning :changing conceptions of teaching through online experience

What can the duality of experience of being an online student/ online educator afford? This paper draws on recent literature on reflective practice principles of online learning and teaching to explore experiences from those who have been on both sides — online educators and online students. Educators and online course developers need to hear from student voices in order to inform online pedagogical directions, create innovations and enrich and expand on how to provide stimulating and challenging online learning environments. Educators can do so through engagement in learner roles through experiential online learning, thereby enabling a reframing/ reconceptualisation of online teaching. By listening to student experiences, allowing for a heightened sense of awareness of learner needs, educators gain insights to improve pedagogical practice. By using qualitative in depth interview techniques with 5 online educators/ students across two Australian states, the study explores the vantage points afforded by these experiences. The findings can inform how educators can provide engaging and empowering online teaching and learning environments that move beyond traditional comfort zones and established pedagogies.
Remote sensing of Greenland ice sheet using multispectral near‐infrared and visible radiances

[1] We present the physical basis of and validate a new remote-sensing algorithm that utilizes reflected visible and near-infrared radiation to discriminate between dry and wet snow. When applied to the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite data, our discrimination algorithm has the potential to retrieve melting regions of the ice sheet at a spatial resolution of 0.25 km 2 , over three orders of magnitude higher than the resolution of current microwave methods. The method should be useful for long-term monitoring of the melt area of the Greenland ice sheet, especially regions close to ice sheet margins and of the outflow glaciers. Our analysis of MODIS retrievals of the western portion of the Greenland ice sheet over the period 2000 to 2006 indicates significant interannual variability with a maximum melt extent in 2005. Collocated in situ meteorological data reveal a high correlation (0.80) between the MODIS melt-day area and the average summer temperature. Our analysis suggests that it is the magnitude of the summer temperature that dominates the melting (not the variability of the length of the melting season). Furthermore, we find that the melt-day area increases by about 3.8% for each 0.1 K increase in the average surface air summer temperature. We combine this empirical relationship with historic temperature data to infer that the melt-day area of the western part of the ice sheet doubled between the mid-1990s and mid-2000s and that the largest ice sheet surface melting probably occurred between 1920s and 1930s, concurrent with the warming in that period.
The effect of retouch intensity on mid to late Holocene unifacial and bifacial points from the Kimberley

Abstract Stone points have provided key data for studies of hunter gatherer lifeways in several parts of the world. Point technologies occur widely across northern Australia, appearing around the mid-Holocene and persisting into the European Contact period. These points exhibit high-morphological variation, and include bifacial, unifacial and other forms. In the Northern Territory and north Queensland, points have been shown to form part of a reduction continuum. However, in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, similar reconstructions of artefact life history have not been conducted. Using a recently excavated assemblage with a large sample of retouched unifacial and bifacial points (n = 137), we examine the effect of retouch intensity on changing point morphology. Quantification of point reduction reveals a complex artefact life history having compelling parallels with point assemblages from other parts of northern Australia. Drivers for the inception of point technology in northern Australia are likely to be multiple, including environmental change, population change and social signalling.
Housing conditions and mental health in a disadvantaged area in Scotland.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the mental health impact of different aspects of poor housing. DESIGN: This was a post hoc analysis of data from a household interview survey. SETTING: A public sector housing estate on the outskirts of Glasgow. SUBJECTS: These comprised 114 men and 333 women aged between 17 and 65 from 451 households. MEASURES: Dependent variable: scoring > or = 5 on the 30 item general health questionnaire (GHQ30). Independent variables: self reported data on household composition, whether ill health was a factor in the move to the current dwelling, length of time at address, household income, whether the respondent was employed, chronic illness, and 6 problems with the dwelling. RESULTS: Reporting a problem with dampness was significantly and independently associated with scores of > or = 5 on the GHQ30 after controlling for possible confounding variables. CONCLUSION: Initiatives to tackle housing dampness may be important in developing a strategy to improve mental health for the study area. More research on the mental health impact of different aspects of poor housing is required.
Daily uplifts and coping as a buffer against everyday hassles: Relationship with stress reactions over time in military personnel

The aim of this research was to gain a deeper understanding of how daily hassles and uplifts interact with each other and with stress reactions over time in military personnel. Interviews were conducted with 15 Swedish veterans five years after an international peace enforcement mission. The grounded theory method was used and result patterns were generated for six specific time periods distributed before, during, and after the mission. A theoretical model was developed showing that everyday uplifts combined with adaptive coping can be sufficient to limit stress reactions related to daily hassles. The model was supported by the fact that, five years after the mission, none of interviewees had received a PTSD diagnosis or needed professional psychological treatment. The last-mentioned outcome is noteworthy in itself given the severe stress often encountered in peace enforcement missions and previous research observations of high PTSD incidence, suicide rates, criminality, and substance abuse in mission participants.
Establishing A Mission-Based Culture: Analyzing the Relation Between Intra-Organizational Socialization Agents, Mission Valence, Public Service Motivation, Goal Clarity and Work Impact

ABSTRACT This study contributes to our understanding of how organizations can craft a mission-based culture by examining the relationship between mission valence, PSM, goal clarity, and work impact. More specifically, the study assesses how value-laden communication with multiple intra-organizational socialization referents is related with the cited variables. The developed hypotheses are tested using structural equation modelling and a sample of 585 non-managerial employees employed by a public welfare organization. The findings confirm the claim that position in an organizational hierarchy is not likely to influence the analyzed relationships. The magnitude of the relationships, however, diverges. In contrast to previous research, the study results indicate that, in the case of lower-level employees, PSM is the most powerful predictor of mission valence. Furthermore, the results indicate that exposure to organizational values via interaction with internal socialization agents is positively related with their perceived importance. The results thus not only confirm the relevance of incorporating the institutional setting when analyzing mission valence, but also provide further proof for an institutional theory of PSM by highlighting that different organizational socialization agents could play a distinctive role in crafting PSM and a mission-based culture.
A Clockwork RNN

Sequence prediction and classification are ubiquitous and challenging problems in machine learning that can require identifying complex dependencies between temporally distant inputs. Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) have the ability, in theory, to cope with these temporal dependencies by virtue of the short-term memory implemented by their recurrent (feedback) connections. However, in practice they are difficult to train successfully when long-term memory is required. This paper introduces a simple, yet powerful modification to the simple RNN (SRN) architecture, the Clockwork RNN (CW-RNN), in which the hidden layer is partitioned into separate modules, each processing inputs at its own temporal granularity, making computations only at its prescribed clock rate. Rather than making the standard RNN models more complex, CW-RNN reduces the number of SRN parameters, improves the performance significantly in the tasks tested, and speeds up the network evaluation. The network is demonstrated in preliminary experiments involving three tasks: audio signal generation, TIMIT spoken word classification, where it outperforms both SRN and LSTM networks, and online handwriting recognition, where it outperforms SRNs.
Evaluating Livestock Grazing Use With Streambank Alteration Protocols: Challenges and Solutions

Abstract Appropriate management of livestock in riparian areas can help ensure that these ecosystems are maintained. We evaluated how one indicator of livestock grazing in riparian areas, streambank alteration, was affected by choices related to protocols and personnel used for these assessments. We found that although streambank alteration protocols were generally repeatable among observers, results were affected by factors not directly related to grazing intensity, including 1) training, 2) professional background, 3) location and intensity of measurements, and 4) the protocol used. Training reduced estimates of alteration and observer variability. Rangeland professionals had higher estimates of streambank alteration than seasonal technicians. Rapid assessments of alteration were correlated with more intensive estimates; however, the relationship was not 1∶1. Different protocols resulted in different alterations estimates when alterations at the same locations were estimated. Given the large number of monitoring programs, personnel, and methods used to assess streambank alteration, we suggest more thought be given on how to standardize monitoring efforts so results consistently reflect the true amount of alteration at a site. We also remind managers that no protocol can be implemented without some error. Managers should therefore be careful when taking action based on a single evaluation—especially when the result is near a management standard or threshold. When these concerns are addressed, indicators such as streambank alteration can help ensure management decisions maintain both sustainable allotments and landscapes.
Automatic spherical panorama generation with two fisheye images

Panoramas are often used to enhance immersive experiences. Former panorama generation methods with fisheye images either require pre-calibrating the rotation of fisheye cameras with a calibration rig or manually selecting correspondences between images. In this paper, we propose an automatic spherical panorama generation method with two fisheye images. The method contains fisheye camera calibration and panorama stitching. In the calibration, the field of view and circular boundary are used to initialize the focal length, and line perspective constraint on sphere is used to refine the intrinsic parameters. In the panorama stitching, we use scale invariant feature transform (SIFT) features and RANSAC to get the fisheye correspondences. Then the correspondences are used to refine the estimation of rotation and intrinsic parameters. Finally, a spherical panorama is obtained by warping the fisheye images. In the panorama stitching process, no user input is needed. Experimental results on both simulated and real images show that our method is effective.
Retreatability of Root Canals Obturated Using Gutta-Percha with Bioceramic, MTA and Resin-Based Sealers

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the retreatability of root canals obturated with gutta-percha (GP) and three different endodontic sealers [iRoot SP (bioceramic sealer), MTA Fillapex (MTA-based sealer) and AH-26 (epoxy resin-based sealer)] using the ProTaper Universal Retreatment (PTR) system. Methods and Materials: Forty extracted single-rooted human teeth were prepared with universal ProTaper files up to F4 (40/0.06). Specimens were randomly divided into four groups according to obturation technique/material: single-cone GP/AH-26, lateral compaction of GP/AH-26, single-cone GP/iRoot SP, and single-cone GP/MTA Fillapex. Root fillings were removed with PTR. The time taken to reach the working-length (TWL) was recorded. Roots were longitudinally sectioned and each half was evaluated using a stereomicroscope. Three observers scored each third of all specimen. Obtained data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, Welch and Games-Howell tests. The level of significance was set at 0.05. Results: In single-cone GP/MTA Fillapex group the TWL was significantly shorter. The remnant of filling material in the apical and middle thirds of groups was similar and higher than the coronal thirds. Conclusion: None of the tested sealers were completely removed from the root canal system.