Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Understanding Neural Networks through Representation Erasure

While neural networks have been successfully applied to many natural language processing tasks, they come at the cost of interpretability. In this paper, we propose a general methodology to analyze and interpret decisions from a neural model by observing the effects on the model of erasing various parts of the representation, such as input word-vector dimensions, intermediate hidden units, or input words. We present several approaches to analyzing the effects of such erasure, from computing the relative difference in evaluation metrics, to using reinforcement learning to erase the minimum set of input words in order to flip a neural model's decision. In a comprehensive analysis of multiple NLP tasks, including linguistic feature classification, sentence-level sentiment analysis, and document level sentiment aspect prediction, we show that the proposed methodology not only offers clear explanations about neural model decisions, but also provides a way to conduct error analysis on neural models.
The Role of Emotional Stability and Competence in Young Adolescents’ Career Judgments

A transition from elementary to high school represents a very profound change and a potential source of stress, as it often requires young adolescents to make significant professional decisions. This topic was the focus of the present study in which 303 Croatian students attending their final year of elementary school completed measures of career decision self-efficacy, emotional stability, emotional competence, and concerns regarding the upcoming transition. The results indicated emotional competence as a statistically significant predictor of career decision self-efficacy, whereas emotional stability was revealed as a significant predictor of career concerns. Furthermore, a moderating effect of gender and a mediating role of career decision self-efficacy were revealed in this context. These findings provide novel evidence regarding the complex relationship between individuals’ vocational self-beliefs and emotional processing and may be informative for vocational guidance interventions targeted at young adolescents undergoing similar educational transitions.
ns2-MIRACLE: a modular framework for multi-technology and cross-layer support in network simulator 2

In this paper we present a novel framework for ns2 to facilitate the simulation and, in general, the design of beyond 3G networks. The set of libraries we wrote for this purpose is called Multi InteRfAce Cross Layer Extension for ns2 (MIRACLE). They enhance the functionalities offered by the Network Simulator ns2 by providing an efficient and embedded engine for handling cross-layer messages and, at the same time, enabling the coexistence of multiple modules within each layer of the protocol stack. For instance, multiple network, link, MAC or physical layers can be specified and used within the same node. The implications of this are manifold. First of all, the framework facilitates the implementation and the simulation of modern communication systems in ns2. Secondly, due to its modularity, the code will be portable, re-usable and extensible. As an example of the advantages offered by our architecture, we show how the MIRACLE framework can be used to quickly set up protocol architectures for Ambient Networks [1] and evaluate their performance in wireless and multi-technology environments. We stress that, even though the emphasis in the present paper is put on wireless systems, MIRACLE is a general framework which can be used for simulating wired networks as well as a mixture of wired and wireless scenarios. Throughout the paper we also discuss some of the downsides of existing ns2 extensions, which are often programmed in a rather ad hoc manner, according to specific needs or technologies and, as such, are often difficult to extend/re-use. In contrast, our effort aims at providing well defined interfaces and is based on a truly modular architectural design. Our work can be seen as a step toward the definition of a standard framework for the simulation of cross-layer, multi-technology and mobile systems in ns2.
The magic words: Using computers to uncover mental associations for use in magic trick design

The use of computational systems to aid in the design of magic tricks has been previously explored. Here further steps are taken in this direction, introducing the use of computer technology as a natural language data sourcing and processing tool for magic trick design purposes. Crowd sourcing of psychological concepts is investigated; further, the role of human associative memory and its exploitation in magical effects is explored. A new trick is developed and evaluated: a physical card trick partially designed by a computational system configured to search for and explore conceptual spaces readily understood by spectators.
‘Put me in, coach, I’m ready to play’: sexuality education for adults at Good Vibrations

Abstract Although sex education is often provided to young people, there is a lack of spaces where adults can go to learn more about sex from experts in a free and welcoming environment. One place that provides an opportunity for adult sex education is adult sexual retail stores. While these stores aim to be commercially successful, they also fulfil a role of educating adults about sex and sexuality. This study explains how Good Vibrations (GV), a sex-positive adult sexual retail store company in the USA, disseminates sexuality education for adults. Using qualitative methods including observations, interviews and textual analysis, I show how GV serves as a coach to its patrons. The coaching framework described here promotes shared responsibility through inclusive and accessible education, highlighting communication and focusing on pleasure and positivity. This paper provides one of the first evidence-based accounts of how an adult sexual retailer educates its customers and provides a model for sexuality educators for all ages.
Metabolic Syndrome With and Without C-Reactive Protein as a Predictor of Coronary Heart Disease and Diabetes in the West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study

Background—The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) recently proposed a simple definition for metabolic syndrome. Information on the prospective association of this definition for coronary heart disease (CHD) and type 2 diabetes is currently limited. Methods and Results—We used a modified NCEP definition with body mass index in place of waist circumference. Baseline assessments in the West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study were available for 6447 men to predict CHD risk and for 5974 men to predict incident diabetes over 4.9 years of follow-up. Mean LDL cholesterol was similar but C-reactive protein was higher (P <0.0001) in the 26% of men with the syndrome compared with those without. Metabolic syndrome increased the risk for a CHD event [univariate hazard ratio (HR)=1.76 (95% CI, 1.44 to 2.15)] and for diabetes [univariate HR=3.50 (95% CI 2.51 to 4.90)]. Metabolic syndrome continued to predict CHD events (HR=1.30, 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.67, P =0.045) in a multivariate model incorporating conventional risk factors. Men with 4 or 5 features of the syndrome had a 3.7-fold increase in risk for CHD and a 24.5-fold increase for diabetes compared with men with none (both P <0.0001). C-reactive protein enhanced prognostic information for both outcomes. With pravastatin, men with the syndrome had similar risk reduction for CHD as compared with those without (HR, 0.73 and 0.69; pravastatin versus placebo). Conclusions—A modified NCEP metabolic syndrome definition predicts CHD events, and, more strikingly, new-onset diabetes, and thus helps identify individuals who may receive particular benefit from lifestyle measures to prevent these diseases.
Factors describing community ambulation after stroke: a mixed-methods study

Objective: To develop a model of community ambulation after stroke based on: Canadian data from community-dwelling individuals post-stroke; the experiences and opportunities for community ambulation expressed by individuals with stroke; and current literature. The model presents a visual depiction of the relationships between the different factors of community ambulation after stroke. Design: A quantitative/qualitative explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was utilized. Secondary data analysis with structural equation modeling resulted in a community ambulation model. Two focus groups of individuals with stroke were conducted to verify and explain the model. Setting: Community. Subjects: Quantitative data from 227 participants: 142 (63%) male; 63.4 (12.0) years of age and 2.6 (2.5) years post stroke. Eleven individuals participated in the focus groups: 6 (55%) male; 61.4 (6.9) years of age and 5.8 (3.3) years since stroke. Main measures: Model variables: items from the EuroQol, Preference Based Stroke Index, gait speed, Reintegration to Normal Living Index, the Community Health Activities Model Program for Seniors, and the Geriatric Depression Scale. Results: The model had reasonable fit with three latent variables: ambulation, gait speed, and health perceptions (normed χ2 = 1.8, root mean square error of approximation = 0.060 (0.043; 0.075)). Depression was also a component of community ambulation. Participants verified the model and added endurance and the environment as additional components. Participants used self-awareness and knowledge of the environment to engage in cognitive strategies related to community ambulation. Conclusions A model of community ambulation after stroke was developed and verified. Recognizing important components of community ambulation may assist physiotherapists in determining community ambulation goals, needs, and opportunities in partnership with clients.
Bandelet Image Approximation and Compression

Finding efficient geometric representations of images is a central issue to improving image compression and noise removal algorithms. We introduce bandelet orthogonal bases and frames that are adapted to the geometric regularity of an image. Images are approximated by finding a best bandelet basis or frame that produces a sparse representation. For functions that are uniformly regular outside a set of edge curves that are geometrically regular, the main theorem proves that bandelet approximations satisfy an optimal asymptotic error decay rate. A bandelet image compression scheme is derived. For computational applications, a fast discrete bandelet transform algorithm is introduced, with a fast best basis search which preserves asymptotic approximation and coding error decay rates.
Ethnic Considerations for Metabolic Surgery

Obesity and diabetes represent twin health concerns in the developed world. Metabolic surgery has emerged as an established and enduring treatment for both obesity and diabetes. As the burden of obesity and diabetes varies upon the basis of ethnicity, it is also apparent that there may be differences for indications and outcomes for different ethnic groups after metabolic surgery. Whereas there appears to be evidence for variation in weight loss and complications for different ethnic groups, comorbidity remission particularly for diabetes appears to be free of ethnic disparity after metabolic surgery. The impacts of access, biology, culture, genetics, procedure, and socioeconomic status upon metabolic surgery outcomes are examined. Further refinement of the influence of ethnicity upon metabolic surgery outcomes is likely imminent.
Rediscovering Rogers's Self Theory and Personality

Abstract This study examined the self theory of Carl Rogers in depth. There are some important concepts illuminated well, considering one's personality development. Its main focus was positive regard, self-worth and actualizing tendency, proposed by Rogers. To explain them in brief, positive regard was studied through self-image, ideal self and congruence. Self-worth is described as conditional and unconditional to cope with challenges in life, tolerate failures and sadness at times. Actualizing tendency was expounded into fully functioning or self-actualizing. These all concepts indicated that having a tendency on human behavior and concentrating on the capacity of individuals to think intentionally and soundly, to control their biological urges, are significantly main elements to evaluate one’s self. Therefore, in the humanistic perspective, individuals have the opportunity and will to change their states of mind and behavior. This study might be a guide to some certain aspect of self related studies for other researchers to benefit accordingly and also to develop a new scale related to self using Rogers’s theory. Keywords: Rogers, personality, self, positive regard, actualizing tendency
Modelling the Spread of HIV Immune Escape Mutants in a Vaccinated Population

Because cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) have been shown to play a role in controlling human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and because CTL-based simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) vaccines have proved effective in non-human primates, one goal of HIV vaccine design is to elicit effective CTL responses in humans. Such a vaccine could improve viral control in patients who later become infected, thereby reducing onwards transmission and enhancing life expectancy in the absence of treatment. The ability of HIV to evolve mutations that evade CTLs and the ability of these ‘escape mutants’ to spread amongst the population poses a challenge to the development of an effective and robust vaccine. We present a mathematical model of within-host evolution and between-host transmission of CTL escape mutants amongst a population receiving a vaccine that elicits CTL responses to multiple epitopes. Within-host evolution at each epitope is represented by the outgrowth of escape mutants in hosts who restrict the epitope and their reversion in hosts who do not restrict the epitope. We use this model to investigate how the evolution and spread of escape mutants could affect the impact of a vaccine. We show that in the absence of escape, such a vaccine could markedly reduce the prevalence of both infection and disease in the population. However the impact of such a vaccine could be significantly abated by CTL escape mutants, especially if their selection in hosts who restrict the epitope is rapid and their reversion in hosts who do not restrict the epitope is slow. We also use the model to address whether a vaccine should span a broad or narrow range of CTL epitopes and target epitopes restricted by rare or common HLA types. We discuss the implications and limitations of our findings.
Amentoflavone protects against high fat-induced metabolic dysfunction: Possible role of the regulation of adipogenic differentiation

In the present study, we evaluated the protective effects of amentoflavone (AMF) against high-fat (HF) diet-induced metabolic dysfunction and focused on the influence of AMF on adipogenic differentiation during 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation. For this purpose, male Wistar rats were fed a HF diet or a HF diet with AMF (10 or 50 mg/kg). We found that AMF protected against HF diet-induced metabolic dysfunction in a dose-dependent manner, as evidenced by a decrease in the fasting blood glucose levels, fasting insulin levels and the homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), as well as by a decrease in the glucose level, as shown by the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test and intraperitoneal insulin tolerance test. Moreover, the results revealed that AMF significantly inhibited the increase in body weight, the weight of perirenal adipose tissues and the serum triglyceride (TG) content of the rats fed the HF diet in a dose-dependent manner. AMF also inhibited the accumulation of oil droplets in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes in a concentration-dependent manner. The incubation of the cells with AMF for 0–8, 0–2, 2–4, or 4–8 days markedly inhibited adipogenesis. During the early phase of the adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells, AMF decreased CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) β expression in a concentration-dependent manner, leading to the inhibition of mitotic clonal expansion (MCE). Moreover, our results demonstrated that AMF significantly increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in the cells and the antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), markedly attenuated the inhibitory effects of AMF on adipogenesis. AMF also inhibited the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and C/EBPα and the expression of downstream targets in a concentration-dependent manner. The overexpression of PPARγ and C/EBPα (by transfection with respective overexpression plasmids) attentuated the inhibitory effects of AMF on the formation of oil droplets. The inhibitory effects of AMF on adipocyte differentiation may contribute to its protective effects against HF diet-induced metabolic dysfunction. Overall, the data in our study provide novel insight into the mechanisms responsible for the protective effects of AMF against HF diet-induced metabolic dysfunction and those for its inhibitory effect on adipocyte differentiation.
Clinical Study Risk Factors for High-Titer Inhibitor Development in Children with Hemophilia A : Results of a Cohort Study

1 Gerinnungszentrum Rhein-Ruhr (GZRR), 47051 Duisburg, Germany 2Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Munich, 80337 Munich, Germany 3Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University Hospital of Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany 4Outpatient Hemophilia Treatment Center, 23564 Lubbock, Germany 5Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Charite, 13353 Berlin, Germany 6The Israel National Hemophilia Centre, Sheba Medical Centre, Tel-Hashomer and the Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv, 52621 Tel-Hashomer, Israel 7 Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany 8Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada L85 4K1 9Thrombosis & Hemophilia Treatment Center, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital of Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany
Performance comparison of subspace rotation and MUSIC methods for direction estimation

Studies the statistical performance of subspace rotation (SR) methods (such as TAM and a variant of ESPRIT) for direction estimation using arrays composed of matched sensor doublets. The distributional properties of these methods are established and a compact explicit formula for the covariance matrix of their estimation errors is provided. It is shown that the SR methods are statistically less efficient than MUSIC, at least for a sufficiently large number of snapshots. The difference in statistical performance between the commonly used SR method and MUSIC may be substantial if the number of sensors in the array is large. An optimally-weighted SR method which may approach the MUSIC level of statistical performance for one direction parameter (specified by the user) is introduced. <<ETX>>
Combining Competitive Sports and Education: How Top-Level Sport Became Part of the School System in the Soviet Union, Sweden and Finland

Combining top-level sport and education has turned out to be one way of keeping competitive sports at the international level in several countries. The best-known examples of combining sports training and education are the elite sports boarding schools found in the former Soviet Union. Discussion of educational possibilities for athletes has emerged in many countries since the 1960s. This review analyses from a historical and comparative perspective how top-level training and education leading to a degree were integrated in three countries.
A Strategy of Rapid Extraction of Built-Up Area Using Multi-Seasonal Landsat-8 Thermal Infrared Band 10 Images

Recently, studies have focused more attention on surface feature extraction using thermal infrared remote sensing (TIRS) as supplementary materials. Innovatively, in this paper, using three-date (winter, early spring, and end of spring) TIRS Band 10 images of Landsat-8, we proposed an empirical normalized difference of a seasonal brightness temperature index (NDSTI) for enhancing a built-up area based on the contrast heat emission seasonal response of a built-up area to solar radiation, and adopted a decision tree classification method for the rapidly accurate extraction of the built-up area. Four study areas, including one major experimental study area (Tangshan) and three verification areas (Minqin, Laizhou, and Yugan) in different climate zones, respectively, were used to empirically establish the overall strategy system, then we specified constrained conditions of this strategy. Moreover, we compared the NDSTI to the current built-up indices, respectively, for extracting the built-up area. The results showed that (1) the new index (NDSTI) exploited the seasonal thermal characteristic variation between the built-up area and other covers in the time series analysis, helping achieve more accurate built-up area extraction than other spectral indices; (2) this strategy could effectively realize rapid built-up area extraction with generally satisfied overall accuracy (over 80%), and was especially excellent in Tangshan and Laizhou; however, (3) it may be constrained by climate patterns and other surface characteristics, which need to be improved from the view of the results of Minqin and Yugan. In summary, the method developed in this study has the potential and advantage to extract the built-up area rapidly from the multi-seasonal thermal infrared remote sensing data. It could be an operative tool for long-term monitoring of built-up areas efficiently and for more applications of thermal infrared images in the future.
IMPLICATIONS OF LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION ON CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN: A CASE OF HILL SCHOOL

The world today is facing numerous challenges such as indiscipline in schools, civil strife and social deprivation. Life Skills Education (LSE) is an intervention. This program is meant to equip the youth with life skills. The purpose of this study was to investigate the development of LSE amongst primary school children in Kenya. The major research objective was to determine whether LSE contributes to character development. The research addressed these research questions: What is the status of LSE in Kenya; how is LSE implemented; to what extent has LSE contributed to development of psychosocial competencies; what are the challenges facing the implementation of LSE? The research design was descriptive survey. Data was collected using questionnaires, interviews and focused group discussions. Quantitative data was analysed using Pearson Product moment correlation coefficient, multiple regressions and Kendall’s Tau (t) coefficient. Qualitative data was coded and under themes. Results revealed a significant correlation between teaching of LSE and development of character. Teachers and pupils acknowledged the importance of LSE in the development of character. The study identified challenges facing the implementation of LSE. This study is relevant to teachers, parents, educators, policy makers and stakeholders in education.