Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Presumption of Incompetence

This article describes the potential impact that state guardianship laws may have on the transition planning process for students identified with intellectual and developmental disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Improvement Act. The authors utilize a disability studies framework to describe how the goals of transition planning under the IDEIA –which promote autonomy and independence– appear to be in direct conflict with the goal of guardianship laws –which is to remove from young adults all or some decision making authority over their own lives. The appointment of guardians for students at the age of majority necessarily limits opportunities for students to develop decision making skills, just at the time in their lives when they should be supported by teachers and school staff to become self-determined adults. The presumption of competency as an underlying approach to all students with disabilities is discussed, and which, if used, will assist teachers, family members, and students themselves in better preparing for and successfully meeting the goals of the IDEIA. The authors suggest that parents, families and educational professionals need to be made aware of alternatives to guardianship that position the student at the center of the decision-making process in order to ensure that the goals of the IDEIA are realized for each student.
Identifying Blind Spots in a Stereo View for Early Decisions in SI for Fusion based DMVC

In DMVC, we have more than one options of sources available for construction of side information. The newer techniques make use of both the techniques simultaneously by constructing a bitmask that determines the source of every block or pixel of the side information. A lot of computation is done to determine each bit in the bitmask. In this paper, we have tried to define areas that can only be well predicted by temporal interpolation and not by multiview interpolation or synthesis. We predict that all such areas that are not covered by two cameras cannot be appropriately predicted by multiview synthesis and if we can identify such areas in the first place, we don’t need to go through the script of computations for all the pixels that lie in those areas. Moreover, this paper also defines a technique based on KLT to mark the above mentioned areas before any other processing is done on the side view. Keywords—Side Information, Distributed Multiview Video Coding, Fusion, Early Decision.
Impacts of changes to trading hours of liquor licences on alcohol-related harm: a systematic review 2005-2015.

BACKGROUND Legislative limits on trading hours for licensed premises have a long history in Australia as a key policy approach to managing alcohol-related problems. In recent years, following substantial extensions to permitted hours of sale, there has been renewed attention to policies aimed at reducing late-night trading hours. Restrictions on on-premise alcohol sales have been implemented in Australia after 3.30 am in Newcastle, and after 3 am in Kings Cross and the Sydney central business district in New South Wales. In July 2016, similar restrictions were introduced state-wide after 2 am, or 3 am in 'safe night precincts', in Queensland. Similar policy changes have occurred internationally (e.g. in the UK and the Nordic countries) and there is a growing body of research examining the impacts of trading hour policies on alcohol-related harm. Although there has been a series of reviews of the research in this area, the most recent is now 5 years old and limited to studies published before March 2008. Objective and importance of study: To examine recent (2005-2015) research about the impact of changing the hours of sale of alcohol on alcohol-related harms. The ongoing public discussion about trading hours policy in Australia can benefit from an up-to-date and comprehensive review of the research. METHODS Systematic review of the literature that considered the impact of policies that extended or restricted trading hours. MEDLINE, Core Collection, PsychINFO and EMBASE databases were searched from January 2005 to December 2015. Articles were summarised descriptively, focusing on studies conducted in Australia and published since the previous reviews. RESULTS The search identified 21 studies, including seven from Australia. There were 14 studies published since previous reviews. A series of robust, well-designed Australian studies demonstrate that reducing the hours during which on-premise alcohol outlets can sell alcohol late at night can substantially reduce rates of violence. The Australian studies are supported by a growing body of international research. CONCLUSION The evidence of effectiveness is strong enough to consider restrictions on late trading hours for bars and hotels as a key approach to reducing late-night violence in Australia.
Applying Memetic Algorithm in Multi-Objective Resource Allocation among Competing Projects

This paper presents a memetic algorithm for solving project resource allocation problems, where the resource requirements of each project concern numbers of monetary units and never exceeds the amount of capital available. Our objectives are to obtain the best overall result for which returns are maximized and costs are minimized. Such problem, considered as a multi-objective optimization, is too complex to be solved by exact methods. In the proposed MA, the population generated by the crossover or the mutation operator is further improved by a local search method. The approximated Pareto front is updated using all new solutions generated. The performance of MA is demonstrated via an instance, consisting of six projects, and 120 units of capitals, and compared with the reference Pareto front found by executing the exhaustive method . Based on both solution quality and CPU time, the results of such comparison have proved our MA to be an effective optimal method in the multi-objective resource allocation problems (MORAP) .
Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics (OHDSI): Opportunities for Observational Researchers

The vision of creating accessible, reliable clinical evidence by accessing the clincial experience of hundreds of millions of patients across the globe is a reality. Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics (OHDSI) has built on learnings from the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership to turn methods research and insights into a suite of applications and exploration tools that move the field closer to the ultimate goal of generating evidence about all aspects of healthcare to serve the needs of patients, clinicians and all other decision-makers around the world.
The relevance of personality traits in impulsivity-related disorders: From substance use disorders and gambling disorder to bulimia nervosa

Background and aims The main aim of this study was to analyze and describe the clinical characteristics and shared personality traits in different impulsivity–compulsivity spectrum disorders: substance use disorders (SUD), gambling disorder (GD), and bulimia nervosa (BN). The specific aims were to compare personality differences among individuals with pure SUD, BN with and without SUD, and GD with and without SUD. In addition, we assessed the differential predictive capacity of clinical and personality variables in relation to diagnostic subtype. Methods The sample comprised 998 subjects diagnosed according to DSM-IV-TR criteria: 101 patients were diagnosed with SUD, 482 with GD, 359 with BN, 11 with GD + SUD, and 45 patients with BN + SUD. Various assessment instruments were administered, as well as other clinical measures, to evaluate their predictive capacity. Results Marked differences in personality traits were observed between groups. Novelty seeking, harm avoidance, self-directedness, cooperation, and self-transcendence best differentiated the groups. Notably, novelty seeking was significantly higher in the two dual pathology subgroups. Patients with dual pathology showed the most dysfunctional personality profiles. Discussion and conclusion Our results indicate the existence of shared dysfunctional personality traits among the groups studied, especially in novelty seeking and self-directedness.
Controlled Visual Sensing and Exploration

Abstract : This project developed analytical and computational tools to design integrated sensor-control systems, where the controller is part of the sensor and designed so as to maximize task-specific information. Within this broad umbrella, we have focused on visual sensors (EO imagery),inertial sensors (accelerometers and gyrometers) and ranging sensors (structured light), and their integration in support of mobility task (exploration) and decisions (detection, localization, recognition, categorization of objects and scenes). The task informs what part of the data-formation process is a nuisance, i.e. it is irrelevant to the task but nevertheless affects the data. Obviously, the resulting sensor-control system depends on the data and it depends on the task. We have focused on tasks that require invariance or co-variance to illumination and to vantage point. Then the control reduces to mobility of the sensor platform, so as to overcome occlusion or scaling limitation in the passive version of the sensor. Therefore, the actuation, control, and sensing systems are collectively considered an active sensor, and algorithms for inference, planning and control can be co-designed so as to achieve maximum uncertainty reduction in the task, or maximum actionable information [11].
Development of Multigene Expression Signature Maps at the Protein Level from Digitized Immunohistochemistry Slides

Molecular classification of diseases based on multigene expression signatures is increasingly used for diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of response to therapy. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is an optimal method for validating expression signatures obtained using high-throughput genomics techniques since IHC allows a pathologist to examine gene expression at the protein level within the context of histologically interpretable tissue sections. Additionally, validated IHC assays may be readily implemented as clinical tests since IHC is performed on routinely processed clinical tissue samples. However, methods have not been available for automated n-gene expression profiling at the protein level using IHC data. We have developed methods to compute expression level maps (signature maps) of multiple genes from IHC data digitized on a commercial whole slide imaging system. Areas of cancer for these expression level maps are defined by a pathologist on adjacent, co-registered H&E slides, allowing assessment of IHC statistics and heterogeneity within the diseased tissue. This novel way of representing multiple IHC assays as signature maps will allow the development of n-gene expression profiling databases in three dimensions throughout virtual whole organ reconstructions.
Predictive Evaluation of Econometric Forecasting Models in Commodity Futures Markets

The predictive accuracy of various econometric models, including random walks, vector-autoregressive and vector-error-correction models, are investigated using daily futures prices of four commodities (the S&P 500 index, treasury bonds, gold, and crude oil). All models are estimated using a rolling-window approach, and evaluated by both in-sample and out-of-sample performance measures. The criteria considered include system criteria, where we evaluate multiequation forecasting models, and univariate forecast-accuracy criteria. The five univariate criteria are root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute deviation (MAD), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), confusion matrix (CM), and confusion rate (CR). The five system criteria used include the trace of second-moment matrix of the forecast-errors matrix (TMSE), the trace of second-moment matrix of percentage-forecast errors (TMAPE), the generalized forecast-error second-moment matrix (GFESM), and a trading-rule profit criterion (TPC) based on a maximum-spread trading strategy. An in-sample criterion, the mean Schwarz information criteria (MSIC), is also computed. Our results suggest that error-correction models perform better in shorter forecast horizons, when models are compared based on quadratic loss measures and confusion matrices. However, the error-correction models which we consider perform better at all forecast horizons (one to five steps ahead) when models are compared based on a profit-maximization loss function. Further, our error-correction model, where the error-correction term is constructed according to a cost-of-carry equilibrium condition, outperforms our alternative error-correction model, which uses the price spreads as the error-correction term.
Suitability of tile-based rendering for low-power 3d graphics accelerators

In this dissertation, we address low-power high performance 3D graphics accelerator architectures. The purpose of these accelerators is to relieve the burden of graphical computations from the main processor and also to achieve a better energy efficiency than can be achieved by executing these computations on the main processor. Since external data traffic is a major source of power consumption and because usually the rasterization stage of the 3D graphics pipeline requires the highest amount of data traffic, in this dissertation we especially focus on this stage of the graphics pipeline. Another reason for focusing on the rasterization stage is that it requires more processing power than the other stages because the operations are pixel-based. A promising technique to reduce the external data traffic in the rasterization stage of the graphics pipeline is tile-based rendering. This technique decomposes a scene into tiles and renders the tiles one by one. This allows the color components and z values of one tile to be stored in small, on-chip buffers, so that only the pixels visible in the final scene need to be stored in the external framebuffer. Tile-based accelerators, however, require large scene buffers to store the primitives to be rendered. While there have been studies related to the tile-based rendering paradigm for high performance systems, we are specifically discussing the suitability of tile-based 3D graphics accelerators for low-power devices. In order to evaluate various low-power 3D graphics architectures we first present GraalBench, a set of 3D graphics workloads representative for contemporary and emerging mobile devices. Furthermore, we propose several scene and state management algorithms for tile-based renderers. Thereafter, we analyze the performance of tile-based renderers compared to that of traditional renderers and we also determine the influence of the tile size on the amount of the data-traffic required for the rasterization stage of a tile-based renderer. In order to reduce even more the data traffic between the main memory and graphics accelerators, and to exploit the high temporal and spatial locality of texture accesses, we have also investigated several cache structures. Our results show that the proposed algorithms for tile-based renderers can effectively decrease the data traffic and computational requirements for the rasterization stage of the 3D graphics pipeline.
Methods for Multimedia Service Adaptation in Next Generation Networks

In Next Generation Networks (NGNs), vertical handovers between different wireless access technologies provide seamless roaming during active multimedia sessions. The quality of these multimedia sessions, as well as the quality of user experience, depends on the network handover policies, link layer characteristics, and codecs used in the respective networks. Even though extensive research has been carried out on seamless mobility, a thorough analysis of user perception of this aspect is still missing. Knowledge of user perception is however necessary in order to successfully design and further improve mobility management solutions for always-on multimedia services. We present an NGN testbed and an approach for mapping user experience to network conditions, focusing on phenomena caused by a user roaming across diverse wireless technologies. Current experiments address the quality of Voice over IP in Next Generation Networks, as an example of multimedia sessions. These define when a network handover should be scheduled in order to reach optimum quality for the user.
The joint effect of maternal malnutrition and cold weather on neonatal mortality in nineteenth-century Venice: An assessment of the hypothermia hypothesis

Recent studies stress the key role played by neonatal mortality in the demographic regime of north-eastern Italy. In particular, during the period 1700–1830 this area experienced a dramatic upsurge in winter neonatal deaths, pushing overall neonatal and infant mortality rates to the highest in Italy and most of Europe. Scholars have argued that this trend was caused by a general pauperization leading to widespread maternal malnutrition, low birth weight, and an increased frequency of winter neonatal deaths caused by the higher sensitivity of low-birth-weight infants to the cold. The study presented here tested this hypothesis using a large mid-nineteenth-century longitudinal sample of the Venetian population. Two alternative measures of maternal malnutrition were applied: chronic undernourishment and temporary nutritional stress during late gestation. Only the second condition is significantly associated with higher neonatal mortality when outside temperatures were low. This is consistent with mechanisms of neonatal thermoregulation but casts doubt on the pauperization hypothesis suggested by other studies.
Discovering matching dependencies

Matching dependencies (MDs) are recently proposed for various data quality applications such as detecting the violation of integrity constraints and duplicate object identification. In this paper, we study the problem of discovering matching dependencies for a given database instance. First, we formally define the measures, support and confidence, for evaluating the utility of MDs in the given database instance. Then, we study the discovery of MDs with certain utility requirements of support and confidence. Exact algorithms are developed, together with pruning strategies to improve the time performance. Finally, our experimental evaluation demonstrates the efficiency of the proposed methods.
Wind Turbine Power References in Coordinated Control of Wind Farms

The new grid regulations require that a grid-connected wind farm acts as a single controllable power producer. To meet this requirement a traditional wind farm control structure, which allowed individual wind turbines to internally define their power production, has to be modified. This paper investigates the opportunity for wind turbine load reduction that arises from dynamic power control of wind turbines. The wind farm controller design is proposed that utilizes coordinated power control of all wind turbines to achieve the wind farm regulation requirements and to minimize the wind turbine loads.
X-ray detection of the substellar twin 2MASS J11011926-7732383 AB

Context. 2MASS J11011926-7732383 AB (hereafter 2M 1101 AB), located in the Cha I star forming region, is a rare wide-separation brown dwarf binary. Being spatially resolvable in many wavebands, it is a unique target for studying the properties of substellar twins. Aims. Here, we exploit the coeval pair 2M 1101 AB to examine the influence of physical parameters (mass, bolometric luminosity and effective temperature) on X-ray emission from substellar objects. Methods. We determine the X-ray properties of 2M 1101 A and B using XMM-Newton and Chandra observations. Results. The spatial resolution of XMM-Newton is not sufficient to separate contributions from the two components in the binary. The X-ray source detected with XMM-Newton has a column density compatible with the infrared extinction of component A. On the other hand, the binary is resolved with Chandra, and the bulk of the X-ray emission is clearly associated with the photospherically cooler component B. These apparently contradictory results point at strong variability of 2 M1101’s X-ray emission. Combined with previous sensitive X-ray observations from low-mass members of Cha I, we find a decline of X-ray luminosity with decreasing (sub)stellar mass that is typical for star forming regions. Conclusions. 2M 1101 B is the coolest (spectral type M8.25) and least massive brown dwarf of Cha I detected in X-rays so far. It is also among the youngest (∼1 Myr) substellar Cha I members, and therefore relatively luminous. Most bona fide brown dwarfs of Cha I have remained below the sensitivity limits of available X-ray observations, because of their low luminosity associated with higher age.
Advanced virtual testing of structural integrity in microelectronic assemblies

This work presents some recent progresses in reliability assessment of electronic assemblies in automotive industry and shows how coupled numerical-experimental techniques can help us save time and reduce the cost of IC package qualification. In order to fulfill the continuous trends in miniaturization of the electronic devices together with the demands to shorten the time-to-market, it is essential to use virtual qualification methods with the simulation tools. One of the main concerns in electronic packages is their structural integrity during the fabrication, surface mount process, and service life. A prominent example of failure in electronic assemblies is the interface delamination between two dissimilar materials. This failure mode is accelerated when the polymeric materials absorb moisture from humid environments. Moisture results in degradation of the physical properties of polymers, induces additional deformation due to hygroscopic swelling, and more importantly, degrades the adhesion strength of the polymer to metal joints. This work provides conceptual understandings of the problem of moisture-driven interface delamination in plastic encapsulated microcircuits. In addition, it is shown how the developed method can enhance the material selection in order to improve the delamination resistance in the package and preserve the structural integrity.
Invasive hybrid tiger salamander genotypes impact native amphibians

Although the ecological consequences of species invasions are well studied, the ecological impacts of genetic introgression through hybridization are less understood. This is particularly true of the impacts of hybridization on “third party” community members not genetically involved in hybridization. We also know little about how direct interactions between hybrid and parental individuals influence fitness. Here, we examined the ecological effects of hybridization between the native, threatened California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense) and the introduced Barred Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum mavortium). Native x introduced hybrids are widespread in California, where they are top predators in seasonal ponds. We examined the impacts of early generation hybrids (first 2 generations of parental crosses) and contemporary hybrids derived from ponds where hybrids have been under selection in the wild for 20 generations. We found that most classes of hybrid tiger salamander larvae dramatically reduced survival of 2 native community members, the Pacific Chorus Frog (Pseudacris regilla) and the California Newt (Taricha torosa). We also found that native A. californiense larvae were negatively impacted by the presence of hybrid larvae: Native survival and size at metamorphosis were reduced and time to metamorphosis was extended. We also observed a large influence of Mendelian dominance on size, metamorphic timing and predation rate of hybrid tiger salamanders. These results suggest that both genetic and ecological factors are likely to influence the dynamics of admixture, and that tiger salamander hybridization might constitute a threat to additional pond-breeding species of concern in the region.