Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Indigenous Approaches to Health Promotion: Challenges for Education Support in South Africa

This article explores whether and how an integrated approach to health promotion, which draws on indigenous and other worldviews and approaches, can be developed to address more effectively biopsychosocial challenges that constitute barriers to learning and development in education contexts. More specifically, the article aims to investigate whether and how indigenous perspectives to health promotion have been incorporated into support services in Native American contexts and what lessons can be learnt from this for the South African context. An analysis of relevant literature and interviews with 25 key informants in Native American contexts in the United States highlighted the following key challenges relating to incorporating different views of and approaches to health promotion in education in South Africa: facilitating ‘paradigm shifting’ or mindset change; addressing power dynamics relating to ongoing colonialism; developing culturally responsive education support services and life skills education curricula; and developing strong school–community partnerships. The article argues that these challenges could be successfully pursued within a South African health promoting schools framework that reflects the different perspectives of role players in this context.
MultiAspect Graphs: Algebraic representation and algorithms

We present the algebraic representation and basic algorithms for MultiAspect Graphs (MAGs). A MAG is a structure capable of representing multilayer and time-varying networks, as well as higher-order networks, while also having the property of being isomorphic to a directed graph. In particular, we show that, as a consequence of the properties associated with the MAG structure, a MAG can be represented in matrix form. Moreover, we also show that any possible MAG function (algorithm) can be obtained from this matrix-based representation. This is an important theoretical result since it paves the way for adapting well-known graph algorithms for application in MAGs. We present a set of basic MAG algorithms, constructed from well-known graph algorithms, such as degree computing, Breadth First Search (BFS), and Depth First Search (DFS). These algorithms adapted to the MAG context can be used as primitives for building other more sophisticated MAG algorithms. Therefore, such examples can be seen as guidelines on how to properly derive MAG algorithms from basic algorithms on directed graphs. We also make available Python implementations of all the algorithms presented in this paper.
Animated Agents for Procedural Training in Virtual Reality: Perception, Cognition, and Motor Control

This paper describes Steve , an animated agent that helps students learn to perform physical , procedural tasks . The student and Steve cohabit a three - dimensional , simulated mock - up of the student's work environment . Steve can demonstrate how to perform tasks and can also monitor students while they practice tasks , providing assistance when needed . This paper describes Steve's architecture in detail , including perception , cognition , and motor control . The perception module monitors the state of the virtual world , maintains a coherent representation of it , and provides this information to the cognition and motor control modules . The cognition module interprets its perceptual input , chooses appropriate goals , constructs and executes plans to achieve those goals , and sends out motor commands . The motor control module implements these motor commands , controlling Steve's voice , locomotion , gaze , and gestures , allowing Steve to manipulate objects in the virtual world .
The Limits of Counting Accuracy in Distributed Neural Representations

Learning about a causal or statistical association depends on comparing frequencies of joint occurrence with frequencies expected from separate occurrences, and to do this, events must somehow be counted. Physiological mechanisms can easily generate the necessary measures if there is a direct, one-to-one relationship between significant events and neural activity, but if the events are represented across cell populations in a distributed manner, the counting of one event will be interfered with by the occurrence of others. Although the mean interference can be allowed for, there is inevitably an increase in the variance of frequency estimates that results in the need for extra data to achieve reliable learning. This lowering of statistical efficiency (Fisher, 1925) is calculated as the ratio of the minimum to actual variance of the estimates. We define two neural models, based on presynaptic and Hebbian synaptic modification, and explore the effects of sparse coding and the relative frequencies of events on the efficiency of frequency estimates. High counting efficiency must be a desirable feature of biological representations, but the results show that the number of events that can be counted simultaneously with 50 efficiency is fewer than the number of cells or 0.1-0.25 of the number of synapses (on the two models)many fewer than can be unambiguously represented. Direct representations would lead to greater counting efficiency, but distributed representations have the versatility of detecting and counting many unforeseen or rare events. Efficient counting of rare but important events requires that they engage more active cells than common or unimportant ones. The results suggest reasons that representations in the cerebral cortex appear to use extravagant numbers of cells and modular organization, and they emphasize the importance of neuronal trigger features and the phenomena of habituation and attention.
The quest for quality in early day care and preschool experience continues

In research in the areas of day care for young children and preschool education at the end of the second millennium, common themes can be recognised. Early research was primarily concerned with whether children attending institutions (day care or preschool centre), developed differently from those not attending such centres. Later work recognised that day care or preschool experience is not unitary and that the quality or characteristic of experience matters. Yet further research drew attention to the importance of the interaction between home and out of home experience. These have been referred to as the three waves of research. In the 1980s, the proposition emerged that infant day care may be a risk factor for insecure attachment to the mother. In an ideologically and politically sensitive ” eld, the concern raised by this proposition that day care might be bad for infants, led to the funding of one of the largest studies of day care, the NICHD study. The results of this study so far indicate that quality of care is an important aspect of child care experience. This study is likely to be a watershed in that the sample size and detail of data are far greater than preceding studies. The conclusion that quality of experience for young children matters however, sets the agenda for research in the new millennium. Currently, approaches to this issue generally adopt the strategy of using a measure of child care quality and investigating associations with child development outcomes. An alternative approach derives from school effectiveness research. Children from specific centres are followed longitudinally. Their developmental progress is then considered in terms of family factors, type amount and quality of centre experience, and the specific centre attended. In this approach the presence of specific centre effects can be detected so that a specific centre can be identi” ed as associated with a quantifiable positive or negative effect on development. The resulting incongruence between traditional measures of quality and measures derived from developmental effects will require a reformulation of the links between child care characteristics, child experience, and developmental outcomes. As measures of quality become more ”rmly related to developmental outcomes child care research can become more integrated within developmental psychology.
Pharmacological MRI in awake rats predicts selective binding of α4β2 nicotinic receptors

Neuronal nicotinic receptors are the subject of intensive research focused on developing novel therapies for drug abuse, neurocognitive disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and pain. In this study, we have applied pharmacological magnetic resonance imaging (phMRI) in awake rats to map functional brain responses to the selective α4β2 nicotinic receptor agonists, A‐85380, and ABT‐594. Moreover, we have validated our methods by comparison with autoradiography using [3H]‐A‐85380 and [3H]‐ABT‐594. Under awake conditions (no anesthesia during scanning) where rats were habituated to the imaging environment, both compounds increased regional cerebral blood volume (rCBV) across multiple brain regions that closely matched regional brain receptor distribution with the same tritiated compounds. In addition, regional ABT‐594‐induced rCBV changes under awake conditions were also derived and characterized using a pharmacological model. Area‐under‐curve and maximum rCBV changes in brain were found to be dose‐related and region‐specific, and corresponded well with the known preclinical behavioral profile of this drug. In contrast, under conditions of α‐chloralose anesthesia where physiological variables were maintained within normal ranges, increases in rCBV induced by ABT‐594 were primarily restricted to some cortical areas and did not agree well with autoradiography data. Our data demonstrate the utility of using phMRI in awake animals to characterize selective pharmacological action but also highlight an important confound (anesthesia) that is rarely considered in preclinical phMRI studies. Synapse 62:159–168, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The LNK1 night light-inducible and clock-regulated gene is induced also in response to warm-night through the circadian clock nighttime repressor in Arabidopsis thaliana

Ambient temperature has two fundamental impacts on the Arabidopsis circadian clock system in the processes referred to as temperature compensation and entrainment, respectively. These temperature-related longstanding problems have not yet been fully clarified. Recently, we provided evidence that temperature signals feed into the clock transcriptional circuitry through the evening complex (EC) nighttime repressor composed of LUX-ELF3-ELF4, and that the transcription of PRR9, PRR7, GI and LUX is commonly regulated through the nighttime repressor in response to both moderate changes in temperature (∆6 °C) and differences in steady-state growth-compatible temperature (16 °C to 28 °C). These temperature-associated characteristics of the core clock genes might be relevant to the fundamental oscillator functions. Here, we further show that the recently identified LNK1 night light-inducible and clock-controlled gene, which actually has a robust peak at daytime, is induced also by warm-night through the EC nighttime repressor in a manner very similar to PRR7, which is also night light-inducible daytime gene. Based on these findings, a hypothetical view is proposed with regard to the temperature entrainment of the central oscillator.
The Influence of Relocation on the Environmental, Social, and Psychological Stress Experienced by Disaster Victims

A review of the forced relocation literature suggested that relocation following a natural disaster contributes to the environmental, social, and psychological stress experienced by cisastervictims. The present study was designed to examine the effects of relocation on the well-being of victims of Hurricane Andrew, a major disaster that hit south Florida in August 1992. Respondents were 404 residents of southern Dade County who were interviewed in their current residences 6 months after the hurricane. Results indicated that at 6 months post event, relocation was associated with higher levels of ecological stress, crowding, isolation, and social disruption. Moreover, relocation and ecological stress interacted to predict psychological symptoms: Relocatees living in poor conditions fared worse than either nonrelocatees who lived under comparable conditions or other relocatees who lived under better conditions.
Distributed Fault Diagnosis With Overlapping Decompositions: An Adaptive Approximation Approach

This technical note deals with the problem of designing a distributed fault detection methodology for distributed (and possibly large-scale) nonlinear dynamical systems that are modelled as the interconnection of several subsystems. The subsystems are allowed to overlap, thus sharing some state components. For each subsystem, a local fault detector is designed, based on the measured local state of the subsystem as well as the transmitted variables of neighboring states that define the subsystem interconnections. The local detection decision is made on the basis of the knowledge of the local subsystem dynamic model and of an adaptive approximation of the interconnection with neighboring subsystems. The use of a specially-designed consensus-based estimator is proposed in order to improve the detectability of faults affecting variables shared among different subsystems. Simulation results provide an evidence of the effectiveness of the proposed distributed fault detection scheme.
The role of motion in learning new faces

Four experiments are reported that investigate the usefulness of rigid (head nodding, shaking) and nonrigid (talking, expressions) motion for establishing new face representations of previously unfamiliar faces. Results show that viewing a face in motion leads to more accurate face learning, compared with viewing a single static image (Experiment 1). The advantage for viewing the face moving rigidly seems to be due to the different angles of view contained in these sequences (Experiment 2). However, the advantage for nonrigid motion is not simply due to multiple images (Experiment 3) and is not specifically linked to forwards motion but extends to reversed sequences (Experiment 4). Thus, although we have demonstrated beneficial effects of motion for face learning, they do not seem to be due to the specific dynamic properties of the sequences shown. Instead, the advantage for nonrigid motion may reflect increased attention to faces moving in a socially important manner.
An Alternative to Scale-space Representation for Extracting Local Features in Image Recognition

: In image recognition, the common approach for extracting local features using a scale-space representation has usually three main steps; ﬁrst interest points are extracted at different scales, next from a patch around each interest point the rotation is calculated with corresponding orientation and compensation, and ﬁnally a descriptor is computed for the derived patch (i.e. feature of the patch). To avoid the memory and computational intensive process of constructing the scale-space, we use a method where no scale-space is required This is done by dividing the given image into a number of triangles with sizes dependent on the content of the image, at the location of each triangle. In this paper, we will demonstrate that by rotation of the interest regions at the triangles it is possible in grey scale images to achieve a recognition precision comparable with that of MOPS. The test of the proposed method is performed on two data sets of buildings.
Residue-to-binary conversion for general moduli sets based on approximate Chinese remainder theorem

ABSTRACT The residue number system (RNS) is an unconventional number system which can lead to parallel and fault-tolerant arithmetic operations. However, the complexity of residue-to-binary conversion for large number of moduli reduces the overall RNS performance, and makes it inefficient for nowadays high-performance computation systems. In this paper, we present an improved approximate Chinese remainder theorem (CRT) with the aim of performing efficient residue-to-binary conversion for general RNS moduli sets. To achieve this aim, the required number of fraction bits for accurate residue-to-binary conversion is derived. Besides, a method is proposed to substitute fractional calculations by similar computations based on integer numbers to have a hardware amenable algorithm. The proposed approach results in high-speed and low-area residue-to-binary converters for general RNS moduli sets. Therefore, with this conversion method, high dynamic range residue number systems suitable for cryptography and digital signal processing can be designed.
Mask-making as Representational Process: The Situated Composition of an Identity Project in a Senior English Class

Eisner, Gardner, and others have argued that the arts should be better integrated into the K-12 curriculum. In this study we examine three high school senior boys who, as part of a unit of instruction on identity, each produced a mask through which he artistically expressed his sense of self. Using a sociocultural framework based in the work of Vygotsky, we analyzed the boys’ composition of their masks in terms of their goals for working on the project, the material and psychological tools they employed to produce the masks, and the settings in which they learned how to use their compositional tools for such purposes. Based on both concurrent
Synaptic Anchorage of AMPA Receptors by Cadherins through Neural Plakophilin-Related Arm Protein–AMPA Receptor-Binding Protein Complexes

Cadherins function in the adhesion of presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes at excitatory synapses. Here we show that the cadherin-associated protein neural plakophilin-related arm protein (NPRAP; also called δ-catenin) binds via a postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95)/discs large/zona occludens-1 (PDZ) interaction to AMPA receptor (AMPAR)-binding protein (ABP) and the related glutamate receptor (GluR)-interacting protein (GRIP), two multi-PDZ proteins that bind the GluR2 and GluR3 AMPAR subunits. The resulting cadherin–NPRAP–ABP/GRIP complexes serve as anchorages for AMPARs. Exogenous NPRAP that was bound to cadherins at adherens junctions of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells recruited ABP from the cytosol to form cadherin–NPRAP–ABP complexes, dependent on NPRAP interaction with the ABP PDZ domain 2. The cadherin–NPRAP–ABP complexes also bound GluR2. In cultured hippocampal neurons, dominant-negative mutants of NPRAP designed to disrupt tethering of ABP to NPRAP–cadherin complexes reduced surface levels of endogenous GluR2, indicating that interaction with cadherin–NPRAP–ABP complexes stabilized GluR2 at the neuronal plasma membrane. Cadherins, NPRAP, GRIP, and GluR2 copurified in the fractionation of synaptosomes and the postsynaptic density, two fractions enriched in synaptic proteins. Furthermore, synaptosomes contain NPRAP–GRIP complexes, and NPRAP localizes with the postsynaptic marker PSD-95 and with AMPARs and GRIP at spines of hippocampal neurons. Thus, tethering is likely to take place at synaptic or perisynaptic sites. NPRAP also binds PSD-95, which is a scaffold for NMDA receptors, for AMPARs in complexes with auxiliary subunits, the TARPs (transmembrane AMPA receptor regulator proteins), and for adhesion molecules. Thus, the interaction of scaffolding proteins with cadherin–NPRAP complexes may anchor diverse signaling and adhesion molecules at cadherins.
Assessment of Toxicity of Monocrotophos in Freshwater Bivalve, Lamellidens marginalis, Using Different Markers

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the toxic effects of monocrotophos, a widely used organophosphorus pesticide, on Lamellidens marginalis with a wide battery of biomarkers consisting of AchE inhibition, lipid peroxidation, the levels of antioxidant enzymes, and histopathological changes. Animals were exposed to monocrotophos (52.36 mg/l) for four days. Malondialdehyde (MDA) values were measured as index of oxidation while Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione s-Transferase (GST), and Glutathione-Reductase (GR) were measured as index of an antioxidant status. After exposure, a significant reduction of the capability to neutralize radicals was observed. Histopathological changes, such as fibrosis in gill filaments and hypertrophy in mucous cells of foot tissue, were observed after treatment.In a second series of experiment, exposed animals were thereafter transferred to clean water and kept in it up to 28 days to assess the recovery pattern. Significant recovery is observed in AchE and antioxidant enzymes. Oxidative damage observed after acute exposure indicate that mussels faced an oxidative challenge but were able to counteract, as values of anti-oxidants returned near to control values after 28 days. Altered activities in anti-oxidant enzymes due to stress recovered well after 28 days in gill and muscles as compared to foot and mantle. Overall results suggested that oxidative markers are highly sensitive and could be profitably applied to freshwater mussels for environmental quality assessment in freshwater.
Insight in Schizophrenia. Its Relationship to Acute Psychopathology

The relationship between insight and acute psychopathology was explored in a group of 52 acutely psychotic, schizophrenic patients. A measure of insight, reflecting patients' recognition of their illness and need for care, was validated against ratings from a semistructured interview and against assessments of patients' compliance with medication. Contrary to expectations, degree of insight was not consistently related to the severity of acute psychopathology, as measured on two structured scales. Nor did changes in insight during hospitalization vary consistently with changes in acute psychopathology. These data suggest that very little of the deficiency in insight seen in schizophrenic patients is explainable on the basis of acute psychopathological features. The mechanism that accounts for impairment in insight in schizophrenia may be relatively resistant to treatment with neuroleptic medication.
Hop/Sti1 phosphorylation inhibits its co-chaperone function

In eukaryotes, the molecular chaperones Hsp90 and Hsp70 are connected via the co‐chaperone Sti1/Hop, which allows transfer of clients. Here, we show that the basic functions of yeast Sti1 and human Hop are conserved. These include the simultaneous binding of Hsp90 and Hsp70, the inhibition of the ATPase activity of Hsp90, and the ability to support client activation in vivo. Importantly, we reveal that both Hop and Sti1 are subject to inhibitory phosphorylation, although the sites modified and the influence of regulatory phosphorylation is species specific. Phospho‐mimetic variants have a reduced ability to activate clients in vivo and different affinity for Hsp70. Hop is more tightly regulated, as phosphorylation affects also the interaction with Hsp90 and induces structural rearrangements in the core part of the protein.
A Minimal Spanning Tree Analysis of EEG Responses to Complex Visual Stimuli

Human brain is the most complicated network and its functional mechanism is a demanding concept in neuroscience research. Graph theory and forms an interesting tool for modeling the brain interactions and estimated brain parameters. In this paper, we consider synchronization features for modeling brain operations in electro-encephalogram (EEG) responses to kanizsa and fractal stimuli, using minimal spanning tree (MST) on a network of phase synchronization EEG channels. Graphs of phase-synchronization activity and MST structures are computed using these graphs. The proposed approach yields evidence that the fractal stimuli generate stronger energy response and synchronization of theta band in occipital lobe.