Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of home spoken language on learning to read Chinese: comparing Mandarin monolingual children and dialect-speaking children in mainland China

The primary goal of the current study was to investigate the impact of different first language backgrounds on early Chinese reading development by comparing a group of children who spoke a dialect at home and learned to speak and read Mandarin as a second language as soon as they attended Mandarin immersion programs with their Mandarin-speaking monolingual counterparts. The comparison involved five variables, two of which were measures of reading outcomes, word reading accuracy and vocabulary knowledge, and the other three were measures related to processing spoken languages, including rapid automatized naming, phonological awareness, and morphological awareness. The study was carried out in two phases. Participants in Phase One consisted of 30 dialect-dominant (DD) and 30 Mandarin-monolingual (MD) children from one kindergarten. Half of them were in their second year (K2), and the other half were in their third year of kindergarten (K3). Participants in Phase Two consisted of 218 dialectdominant children from the third-year kindergarten to the third grade in one school. The assessments in Phase One were administered from March to April in 2011, and the assessments in Phase Two were administered from May to July in 2011. The current study added to extant literature by yielding several important findings with an under-represented population in Chinese reading research. First, the strong link between morphological awareness and vocabulary knowledge, which has been documented in previous studies, is now extended to the group of DD children. Second, the current study revealed that in comparison to the MD group the DD group performed significantly poorer on Mandarin morphological construction in K2, indicating an impact of language proficiency in the development of morphological awareness. This impact appeared to affect the DD children’s subsequent vocabulary development. Third, the current study showed grade variability in the rapid automatized naming (RAN)–Chinese
Automated vocal analysis of naturalistic recordings from children with autism, language delay, and typical development

For generations the study of vocal development and its role in language has been conducted laboriously, with human transcribers and analysts coding and taking measurements from small recorded samples. Our research illustrates a method to obtain measures of early speech development through automated analysis of massive quantities of day-long audio recordings collected naturalistically in children's homes. A primary goal is to provide insights into the development of infant control over infrastructural characteristics of speech through large-scale statistical analysis of strategically selected acoustic parameters. In pursuit of this goal we have discovered that the first automated approach we implemented is not only able to track children's development on acoustic parameters known to play key roles in speech, but also is able to differentiate vocalizations from typically developing children and children with autism or language delay. The method is totally automated, with no human intervention, allowing efficient sampling and analysis at unprecedented scales. The work shows the potential to fundamentally enhance research in vocal development and to add a fully objective measure to the battery used to detect speech-related disorders in early childhood. Thus, automated analysis should soon be able to contribute to screening and diagnosis procedures for early disorders, and more generally, the findings suggest fundamental methods for the study of language in natural environments.
Experimental 3-D digital TV studio

The Michelangelo project at the University of Glasgow has developed an experimental three-dimensional television studio. This uses 24 video cameras and parallel computers to capture moving three-dimensional models of human actors. This allows the capture in real time of the appearance and three-dimensional positions of a human actor. It does this using stereo imaging techniques that have been under development at the University of Glasgow for several years. The development of the studio has thrown up many technical problems which are still to be fully resolved, nonetheless it is already producing convincing animated sequences.
Selection of the Target Group based on Social Network

Nowadays, there is a great need to find appropriate individuals or groups of people who would be able to perform specific tasks or could become a target group either for marketing or advertising purposes. Results of the new research presented in the paper has been made in order to improve the process of target group selection by adding the social elements of peoples’ behaviors. The target group should fulfill a set of prerequisites. Simultaneously, the selection process ought to respect specific social aspects provided by the social network. The entire selection process, called human filtering, includes one of two separate scenarios: selection by single member or selection by social group. Both these novel approaches are considered in the paper.
A test of the Great Circle Approximation in the analysis of surface waves

A new way of reconstructing wave fronts is de- veloped for testing the validity of the great circle approxima- tion in dispersion analysis of surface waves. Phase and time delays between pairs of stations of an array are used to re- construct the wave fronts or surfaces of equal phase. This techque is applied to fundamental mode Rayleigh waves recorded at the NARS stations dudlag the ILIHA (Iberian Lithosphere Heterogeneity and Anisotropy) project. The re- sulting wave fronts are compared with the theoretical ones, i.e. calculated assuming that the waves have traveled along the great circle path with a constant phase velocity, and the angle between both fronts is calculated. Waves traveling mosfiy through a laterally homogeneous oceanic path before arriving to the Iberian Peninsula are analyzed for the fre- quency range of 10 to 60 mHz. These show angles up to 8 degrees between the theoretical wave fronts and the wave fronts reconstructed using the delay data. This implies that we make a relative error less than 1% when calculating path- averaged phase velocities ignoring the deviation of the ar- rival of the wave from the great circle direction.
Heat Kernel Estimate for ∆ + ∆ α / 2 in C 1 , 1 open sets ( To appear

We consider a family of pseudo differential operators {∆ + a∆; a ∈ (0, 1]} on R for every d ≥ 1 that evolves continuously from ∆ to ∆ + ∆, where α ∈ (0, 2). It gives rise to a family of Lévy processes {X, a ∈ (0, 1]} in R, where X is the sum of a Brownian motion and an independent symmetric α-stable process with weight a. We establish sharp two-sided estimates for the heat kernel of ∆ + a∆ with zero exterior condition in a family of open subsets, including bounded C (possibly disconnected) open sets. This heat kernel is also the transition density of the sum of a Brownian motion and an independent symmetric α-stable process with weight a in such open sets. Our result is the first sharp two-sided estimates for the transition density of a Markov process with both diffusion and jump components in open sets. Moreover, our result is uniform in a in the sense that the constants in the estimates are independent of a ∈ (0, 1] so that it recovers the Dirichlet heat kernel estimates for Brownian motion by taking a → 0. Integrating the heat kernel estimates in time t, we recover the two-sided sharp uniform Green function estimates of X in bounded C open sets in R, which were recently established in [14] by using a completely different approach. AMS 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: Primary 60J35, 47G20, 60J75; Secondary 47D07
Two-Level phoneme recognition based on successive use of monophone and diphone models

Two-level phoneme recognition method is proposed based on successive use of monophone and diphone models. In the first level of the recognition, computationally lighter (in terms of the number of the models) monophone models are used for selecting a subset of diphone models. For each input utterance, those diphone models are set active whose left or right contexts are present in the recognized monophone sequence. The chosen diphone models are then evaluated in the next level of the recognition. This substantially decreases the computational load compared to the case where all diphone models must be examined for each input utterance. In the Finnish speaker-independent phoneme recognition task on average half of the diphone models could be eliminated in the second level of the recognition per word utterance while still achieving the same recognition accuracy as when using all the models. Clustered monophone and diphone models were also experimented as the models in the first-level recognizer. This did not, however, bring any further improvement to the results obtained by using unclustered monophone and diphone models.
What makes a query temporally sensitive?

This work examines factors that affect manual classifications of “temporally sensitive” information needs. We introduce the concepts of temporal relevance and temporal topicality to differentiate between different aspects of temporal retrieval research. We use qualitative and quantitative techniques to analyze 660 topics from the Text Retrieval Conference (TREC) previously used in the experimental evaluation of temporal retrieval models. We use regression analysis to model previous manual classifications. We identify factors and potential problems with previous classifications, proposing principles and guidelines for future work on the evaluation of temporal retrieval models.
outputs Examining hybrid digital / material resources in networked learning : a critical realist approach Conference Item

'Sociomateriality' refers to a range of perspectives on the problematic relationship between people and technology that has recently gained traction in the learning technology literature. Sociomaterialists typically draw on actor network or agential realist approaches to the understanding of technology. The ways these approaches understand the world, we argue, have limitations and we propose an alternative approach to conceptualising the complex relationship between people, artefacts and organisation drawing on critical realist perspectives on technology. This approach accepts that our understandings of a particular technology are mediated by our theories both of a technology's inherent material and nonmaterial properties and of its social situation. It also recognises that aspects of the natural world are autonomous from our understandings and that these are inherent in our technologies. We suggest a similar autonomy for the underlying mathematics which structure the possibilities of the digital world. Hybrid artefacts are comprised both of a digital component, as is typical of networked learning technologies, but also important and distinctive physically material aspects. Many examples of the remote control of experimental devices can be found in the engineering and science education literatures where physical experimental devices incorporate digital control, sensor and other informational components in physical equipment such as telescopes or nuclear reactors. With the emergence of the 'internet of things' we expect to see increasing experimentation in the use of hybrid technologies in learning contexts. The distinctive materiality of these hybrid devices offers an interesting context in which to develop a theory of the relationship between the social and the material in (learning) technology. We elaborate a framework for thinking about 'hybrid' digital/material artefacts in networked learning drawing on contributions from the critical realist literature and illustrate how this may be used through the example of a remote student experiment to measure biochemical oxygen demand, as part of a practical distance learning Level 2 environmental science module at the Open University. The experiment is a relatively simple example of a remote experiment, requiring students to observe digital pressure sensors on samples of water and wastewater as a measure of biological activity. We conclude with a brief discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of our approach.
The Changing World Food Order: The Case of Turkey

The last two decades of the twentieth century have witnessed new methods of domination by the core of the capitalist world economy over its periphery. On matters concerning international organization of capital accumulation the core makes use of international institutions such as the G7, the IMF and the World Bank, and the GATT on a larger scale than ever before. In the present study, we will discuss the history of world agriculture and food production in the twentieth century in an attempt to explain how the current structure of metropolitan domination in these sectors has been shaped in the post-war era. We will, then, investigate the transformations that Turkish agriculture and food production have been undergoing during this period.
Renal Lipotoxicity-Associated Inflammation and Insulin Resistance Affects Actin Cytoskeleton Organization in Podocytes

In the last few decades a change in lifestyle has led to an alarming increase in the prevalence of obesity and obesity-associated complications. Obese patients are at increased risk of developing hypertension, heart disease, insulin resistance (IR), dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes and renal disease. The excess calories are stored as triglycerides in adipose tissue, but also may accumulate ectopically in other organs, including the kidney, which contributes to the damage through a toxic process named lipotoxicity. Recently, the evidence suggests that renal lipid accumulation leads to glomerular damage and, more specifically, produces dysfunction in podocytes, key cells that compose and maintain the glomerular filtration barrier. Our aim was to analyze the early mechanisms underlying the development of renal disease associated with the process of lipotoxicity in podocytes. Our results show that treatment of podocytes with palmitic acid produced intracellular accumulation of lipid droplets and abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism. This was accompanied by the development of inflammation, oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress and insulin resistance. We found specific rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton and slit diaphragm proteins (Nephrin, P-Cadherin, Vimentin) associated with this insulin resistance in palmitic-treated podocytes. We conclude that lipotoxicity accelerates glomerular disease through lipid accumulation and inflammation. Moreover, saturated fatty acids specifically promote insulin resistance by disturbing the cytoarchitecture of podocytes. These data suggest that renal lipid metabolism and cytoskeleton rearrangements may serve as a target for specific therapies aimed at slowing the progression of podocyte failure during metabolic syndrome.
Phytochemicals and Medicinal Properties of Indigenous Tropical Fruits with Potential for Commercial Development

Hundreds of fruit-bearing trees are native to Southeast Asia, but many of them are considered as indigenous or underutilized. These species can be categorized as indigenous tropical fruits with potential for commercial development and those possible for commercial development. Many of these fruits are considered as underutilized unless the commercialization is being realized despite the fact that they have the developmental potential. This review discusses seven indigenous tropical fruits from 15 species that have been identified, in which their fruits are having potential for commercial development. As they are not as popular as the commercially available fruits, limited information is found. This paper is the first initiative to provide information on the phytochemicals and potential medicinal uses of these fruits. Phytochemicals detected in these fruits are mainly the phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and other terpenoids. Most of these phytochemicals are potent antioxidants and have corresponded to the free radical scavenging activities and other biological activities of the fruits. The scientific research that covered a broad range of in vitro to in vivo studies on the medicinal potentials of these fruits is also discussed in detail. The current review is an update for researchers to have a better understanding of the species, which simultaneously can provide awareness to enhance their commercial value and promote their utilization for better biodiversity conservation.
A qualitative analysis of pre-service primary school teachers’ TPACK development over the four years of their teacher preparation programme

Abstract This article reports on a qualitative case study which examined the development of six Australian pre-service teachers’ Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK), through a series of six semi-structured interviews, over the duration of their four-year teacher preparation programme. Consistent with the research design employed, detailed description is used to provide an insightful picture of the knowledge and skills gained. The results indicate a clear progression in the development of TPACK in these pre-service teachers. For some this was more pronounced than for others, a range of identified aspects of their preparation experience impacting on their development. The extent of ICT use on professional placement, expectations and practice of supervising teachers, school culture and resourcing were major identified influences. A range of aspects of university preparation including an ICT skill and pedagogy subject, assignments and lecturer modelling also had an evident effect on the growth of the pre-service teachers’ TPACK.
CATCH EFFICIENCY IN THE CHILEAN PELAGIC FISHERY : DOES SIZE MATTER ?

This paper examines the determinants of technical efficiency for a sample of 204 industrial vessels operating in the Southern-Central pelagic fishery of Chile during the 1985-95 period. Data on vessel’s annual landings and fishing effort, vessel’s size, age, fishing experience and vessel’s controlling firm are analysed considering a Translog stochastic frontier model à-la Battese-Coelli (1995), which includes a vessel-specific inefficiency model. Yearly averages for vessel efficiency vary from 50% to 86%. Close to 90% of the residuals’ total variance is accounted by the inefficiency term, suggesting a significant disparity in vessels’ catch performance. Vessel age and scale of operation are found to be significant in explaining efficiency. Larger vessels tend to be the most efficient and the ones showing least variance in their efficiency. Smaller vessels, which on average are also the oldest in the fleet, show greater dispersion and lower efficiency scores. We confirm prior results suggesting vessel-level economies of scale at this fishery, related to fishing effort intensity. Explanatory variables aggregated at the ship-owner level, which aim at controlling the firm’s operating scale, are also significant as a whole when explaining vessel-level efficiency. We find positive search externalities associated to the number of vessels under control of a given firm, as well as external diseconomies related to each firm’s fleet use. Overall, we report significant productive heterogeneity in the fleet under study where control variables associated to ‘size effects’ do indeed play a significant role.
An Intelligent Mobile News Reader for the Visually Impaired People

In order to access the Web news, visually impaired people have to resort to some types of screen readers to convert the textual information into audio streams. Such special users have to listen to the information line by line. It is particularly inefficient with a mobile device to search and navigate interested information in Web news-sphere in which the content structure is complicated and the connection of relevant news is loose. The challenge lies in the complex digital information organization and limited accessibility in mobile devices including small UI, limited processing power and so forth. In this article, we propose an intelligent information-processing paradigm to transform the complex news information for easy mobile accessibility. This is achieved by summarizing content, and recommending relevant information. Our experimental evaluation with the participation of the visually impaired users shows that this mechanism reduces the navigational overhead significantly and enables the visually impaired users to access news articles effectively.
Design of a Portable and Customizable Microprocessor for Rapid System Prototyping

Due to the increasing number of processors which are integrated in System On Chips (SOCs) the need for robust, highly configurable processors emerged. Preliminary research showed that commercial processors are not suited for many research projects due to the fact that they are closed source and they can not be modified. Open source processors on the other hand appeared to be of too low quality. Within this thesis a light-weight instruction and cycle compatible implementation of the MicroBlaze architecture called mb-lite is presented to fill the need for a fast, reliable processor suitable for Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and semi-custom implementation. This was accomplished by using a proven design methodology and using high-level VHDL abstractions. Experimental results showed that mb-lite is able to obtain much higher performance than existing open source processors, while using very few hardware resources. mb-lite can be easily extended with existing Intellectual Property (IP) components due to a wishbone bus adapter and a modular, easily configurable multiplexed memory bus. All components are thoroughly tested for compliance, and their functionality was proven to be correct using timing back-annotated simulations. Continued work on mb-lite will focus on including the design in a reconfigurable fabric as well as fabrication in a 90 nm semi-custom Integrated Circuit (IC) technology.
A new dynamic architecture for an active network

Existing active network architectures depend on using statically typed languages for protection and performance. Unfortunately, this limits some of the more dynamic features of an active network. In this paper, we present PANTS (Python Active Node Transfer System)-a dynamically extensible active network architecture. We describe a new architecture for an active node which does not depend on language-based security but provides the flexibility to perform dynamic changes to the node and to the capsules. An implementation conforming to this architecture is described and compared with existing active network architectures.
Fast Fluid Dynamics on the Single-chip Cloud Computer

Fast simulation of incompressible fluid flows is necessary for simulation-based design optimization. Traditional Computational Fluid Dynamics techniques often don’t exhibit the necessary performance when used to model large systems, especially when used as the energy function in order to achieve global optimization of the system under scrutiny. This paper maps an implementation of the Stable Fluids solver for Fast Fluid Dynamics to Intel’s Single-ship Cloud Computer (SCC) platform to understand its data communication patterns on a distributed system and to verify the effects of the on-die communication network on the algorithm’s scalability traits.