Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Soft-Constraints to Reduce Legacy and Performance Bias to Elicit Whole-body Gestures with Low Arm Fatigue

Participant biases can influence proposed gestures in elicitation studies. There is a legacy bias from previous experience with, or even knowledge of, existing input devices, interfaces, and technologies. There is also a performance bias, where the artificial study setting does not encourage consideration of long-term aspects such as fatigue. These biases make it especially difficult to uncover gestures appropriate for whole-body gestural input. We propose using soft constraints to correct for legacy and performance biases by penalizing physical movements. We use wrist weights as a soft constraint to elicit whole-body gestures with low arm fatigue. We show soft constraints encourage a wider range of gestures using subtler arm movements or alternate body parts and lower consumed endurance for arm movements.
Parent-to-parent support for the families of deaf children identified by the newborn hearing screen

ABSTRACT Parent-to-parent support for the families of deaf children has been provided in an East London district as an adjunct to the existing Early Support programme. Two parents of deaf children were employed as Parent Support Workers. They were members of a multi-disciplinary team of audiologists, teachers of the deaf and a specialist speech therapist. A questionnaire was used to obtain the views of the parents of a 10-year cohort of 35 deaf children who had received the peer support. There were high levels of satisfaction. Twenty-two respondents (63%) judged that a parent who had a shared experience was the person best placed to offer help and advice immediately following the diagnosis of childhood deafness with 27 (77%) considering the counselling and guidance of the teacher or therapist as most useful in the pre-school period after this initial period. An overwhelming 34 (97%) would recommend peer support as being useful. Twelve professionals, including five teachers, submitted free text on their views of the support. This was evaluated using thematic analysis. There were concerns about training and governance of the Parent Support Workers, with one teacher considering that the role may conflict with that of the teacher. However, ten professionals considered it to be a beneficial addition to existing programmes and none wanted it withdrawn. Most recognised that the “shared experience” of caring for a deaf child enabled the support workers to get close to families and provide a link with the home, which helped the parents engage with the intervention of the multi-disciplinary team.
Ontologies in support of activities in geographical space

A method is proposed to derive ontologies of geographical domains from natural language texts that describe human activities. Through its textual grounding, the method addresses the issue of where to take the contents of ontologies from. Through its focus on actions afforded by domain objects, it establishes a criterion for selecting the contents. The actions are organized into a hierarchical theory of human activities in the domain. Using an analysis of the German traffic code as a case study, the paper demonstrates the informal parts of the process to derive such ontologies.
Active Learning for One-Class Classification

Active learning is a common solution for reducing labeling costs and maximizing the impact of human labeling efforts in binary and multi-class classification settings. However, when we are faced with extreme levels of class imbalance, a situation in which it is not safe to assume that we have a representative sample of the minority class, it has been shown effective to replace the binary classifiers with a one-class classifiers. In such a setting, traditional active learning methods, and many previously proposed in the literature for one-class classifiers, prove to be inappropriate, as they rely on assumptions about the data that no longer stand. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to active learning designed for one-class classification. The proposed method does not rely on many of the inappropriate assumptions of its predecessors and leads to more robust classification performance. The gist of this method consists of labeling, in priority, the instances considered to fit the learned class the least by previous iterations of a one-class classification model. We provide empirical evidence for the merits of the proposed method compared to the available alternatives, and discuss how the method may have an impact in an applied setting.
Towards a natural interface to adaptive service composition

Novel modes of interaction and tailored application delivery are a key challenge in ubiquitous computing. This paper proposes a method of adaptively delivering lightweight, disposable service compositions to a user in a smart space. The user intuitively requests these services through a single, natural interface, which infers goals through observing behaviour and context. The composition is driven by generating tasks from these inferences, which can be resolved down to candidate services. We will discuss the proposed interaction between these components and highlight what direction our research will take.
Synthesis, Characterization, Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition, Molecular Modeling and Antioxidant Activities of Some Novel Schiff Bases Derived from 1-(2-Ketoiminoethyl)piperazines

Some novel Schiff bases derived from 1-(2-ketoiminoethyl)piperazines were synthesized and characterized by mass spectroscopy, FTIR, UV-Visible, 1H and 13C-NMR. The compounds were tested for inhibitory activities on human acetylcholinesterase (hAChE), antioxidant activities, acute oral toxicity and further studied by molecular modeling techniques. The study identified the compound (DHP) to have the highest activity among the series in hAChE inhibition and DPPH assay while the compound LP revealed the highest activity in the FRAP assay. The hAChE inhibitory activity of DHP is comparable with that of propidium, a known AChE inhibitor. This high activity of DHP was checked by molecular modeling which showed that DHP could not be considered as a bivalent ligand due to its incapability to occupy the esteratic site (ES) region of the 3D crystal structure of hAChE. The antioxidant study unveiled varying results in 1,1-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. This indicates mechanistic variations of the compounds in the two assays. The potential therapeutic applications and safety of these compounds were suggested for use as human acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and antioxidants.
Animation space: A truly linear framework for character animation

Skeletal subspace deformation (SSD), a simple method of character animation used in many applications, has several shortcomings; the best-known being that joints tend to collapse when bent. We present animation space, a generalization of SSD that greatly reduces these effects and effectively eliminates them for joints that do not have an unusually large range of motion.While other, more expensive generalizations exist, ours is unique in expressing the animation process as a simple linear transformation of the input coordinates. We show that linearity can be used to derive a measure of average distance (across the space of poses), and apply this to improving parametrizations.Linearity also makes it possible to fit a model to a set of examples using least-squares methods. The extra generality in animation space allows for a good fit to realistic data, and overfitting can be controlled to allow fitted models to generalize to new poses. Despite the extra vertex attributes, it is possible to render these animation-space models in hardware with no loss of performance relative to SSD.
Do Digital Video Recorders Influence Sales?

The authors analyze a multimillion dollar, three-year field study sponsored by five firms to assess whether enabling skipping of advertisements using digital video recorders (DVRs) affects consumers’ shopping behavior for advertised and private label goods. A large sample of households received an offer for a free DVR and service, and close to 20% accepted. Each household's shopping history is observed for 48 consumer packaged goods categories during the 13 months before and the 26 months after the DVR offer. The authors fail to reject the null hypothesis of no DVR treatment effect on household spending on advertised branded or private label goods, either one or two years after the DVRs are shipped. The predicted DVR effect is tightly centered around 0, suggesting that the data have sufficient power to identify a true null effect. Using advertising exposure information for seven of the brands in the study, the authors offer suggestive evidence that ad skipping occurs for a relatively small fraction of the total television content viewed. The authors also discuss other potential explanations for the lack of a DVR effect.
Emotion and Embodiment in Cognitive Agents: from Instincts to Music

This paper suggests the use of modeling techniques to tack into the emotion/cognition paradigm. We presented two possible frameworks focusing on the embodiment basis of emotions. The first one explores the emergence of emotion mechanisms, by establishing the primary conditions of survival and exploring the basic roots of emotional systems. These simulations show the emergence of a stable motivational system with emotional contexts resulting from dynamical categorization of objects in the environment, in answer to survival pressures and homeostatic processes. The second framework uses music as a source of information about the mechanism of emotion and we propose a model based on recurrent connectionist architectures for the prediction of emotional states in response to music experience. Results demonstrate that there are strong relationships between arousal reports and music psycho acoustics, such as tempo and dynamics. Finally we discuss future directions of research on emotions based on cognitive agents and mathematical models
Cutting and Stitching: Converting Sets of Polygons to Manifold Surfaces

Many real-world polygonal surfaces contain topological singularities that represent a challenge for processes such as simplification, compression, and smoothing. We present an algorithm that removes singularities from nonmanifold sets of polygons to create manifold (optionally oriented) polygonal surfaces. We identify singular vertices and edges, multiply singular vertices, and cut through singular edges. In an optional stitching operation, we maintain the surface as a manifold while joining boundary edges. We present two different edge stitching strategies, called pinching and snapping. Our algorithm manipulates the surface topology and ignores physical coordinates. Except for the optional stitching, the algorithm has a linear complexity and requires no floating point operations. In addition to introducing new algorithms, we expose the complexity (and pitfalls) associated with stitching. Finally, several real-world examples are studied.
Employee Ownership of Institutional Investment Management Firms

We empirically examine employee ownership of institutional investment management firms. We show that employee ownership is common, and the majority of firms in this industry are employee owned. The distribution of employee ownership is consistent with an optimal contracting equilibrium. It is more prevalent when it is less costly, more efficient, and when alternative incentives are less attractive. The level of employee ownership does not predict risk-adjusted returns, also consistent with an optimal contracting equilibrium. Finally, we show that employee ownership predicts risk taking. Portfolios managed by employee owners have significantly higher tracking errors, betas, and standard deviations even after controlling for firm characteristics. JEL Classifications: G11, G23, G32
Chapter 1 Mashups for the Emergency Management Domain

Emergency management applications support a command staff in disruptive disaster situations, such as earthquakes, large-scale floodings or fires. One crucial requirement to emergency management systems is to provide decision makers with the relevant information to support their decisions. Mashups can help here by providing flexible and easily understandable views on up-to-date information. In this chapter, we introduce a number of mashups from the domain of emergency management. An in-depth study of the mashup MICI shows how mashups can combine valuable information for ranking and filtering emergency calls to cope with information shortage and overload. We further discuss the use of Linked Open Data both as a source of additional information and a means for more intelligent filtering.
Global stability of a class of continuous-time recurrent neural networks

This paper investigates global asymptotic stability (GAS) and global exponential stability (GES) of a class of continuous-time recurrent neural networks. First, we introduce a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence and uniqueness of equilibrium of the neural networks with Lipschitz continuous activation functions. Next, we present two sufficient conditions to ascertain the GAS of the neural networks with globally Lipschitz continuous and monotone nondecreasing activation functions. We then give two GES conditions for the neural networks whose activation functions may not be monotone nondecreasing. We also provide a Lyapunov diagonal stability condition, without the nonsingularity requirement for the connection weight matrices, to ascertain the GES of the neural networks with globally Lipschitz continuous and monotone nondecreasing activation functions. This Lyapunov diagonal stability condition generalizes and unifies many of the existing GAS and GES results. Moreover, two higher exponential convergence rates are estimated.
XLCM: Xross-layer communication module for service differentiation in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), having inherent features, require new protocols and algorithms for QoS provisioning in realtime multimedia applications. In this paper, we present a new cross-layer communication module, called XLCM and its protocol XLCP enabling scalable service differentiation in WSNs. We implemented XLCP as a module in NS-2 simulator to evaluate its performance. The results indicate that the protocol succesfully differentiates the service classes in terms of latency and reliability requirements.
School-Based Suicide Prevention Program Implementation: Improving Awareness among Parents and Faculty

The health development and critical transition period of preteen to adolescence are subject to adverse experiences and prevalent risk behaviors that may negatively influence mental health. Emerging issues of depression and suicide among school-aged youths present a global epidemic. Well-designed interventions, such as school-based programs, align with national strategies and health initiatives to reduce suicide rates and facilitate treatment of concerning symptoms. Database searches for school-based, suicide, depression, prevention, and screening literature from 2012-2017 identified 12 relevant studies selected for review. Mental wellness and suicide prevention curricula must successfully improve wisdom, enhance coping skills/resilience, and foster relationships which support help-seeking behavior and provide intervention services. Health promotion, mental health assessment, and subsequent treatment addressing elements of suicidal ideation and self-harm are critical to plan design. Research findings continue to emphasize the need for validated effective prevention programs and additional research. Adopting ongoing intervention strategies is necessary to prevent further disparity. Innovative approaches to care possess significant value in addressing the dynamic health needs of adolescents suffering from depression and suicide. SCHOOL-BASED SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION 3
Evaluation of APP695 Transgenic Mice Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Neural Differentiation for Transplantation

Objective. Even though there is a therapeutic potential to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD) with neural cell replenishment and replacement, immunological rejections of stem cell transplantation remain a challenging risk. Autologous stem cells from AD patients however may prove to be a promising candidate. Therefore, we studied the neuronal differentiation efficiency of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from APP695 transgenic mice, which share features of human AD. Method. Cultured MSCs from APP695 transgenic mice are used; neuronal differentiation was assessed by immunocytochemistry and Western blot. Correlation with Notch signaling was examined. Autophage flux was assessed by western blot analysis. Results. MSCs from APP695 mice have higher neuronal differentiation efficiency than MSCs from wild type mice (WT MSCs). The expression of Notch-1 signaling decreased during the differentiation process. However, autophagy flux, which is essential for neuronal cell survival and neuronal function, was impaired in the neuronally differentiated counterparts of APP695 MSCs (APP695 MSCs–n). Conclusion. These results suggested autologous MSCs of APP690 mice may not be a good candidate for cell transplantation.
Constructed Communities of Willing and Unwilling Collaborative Leaders: In the Company of Women Administrators.

Many female administrators fear that white male culture will not allow them to be viewed as successful and powerful unless they behave as "ladies should. " To explore such fears, this study examined the definition and application of power within the practice of women educational administrators. The purpose of the research was to construct a theory of power and to detail the differences between the feelings/beliefs and successes/failures of those women who define power as "power to" accomplish, and those who regard it in the more masculine conception of "power over" people and things. The research draws on the individual accounts of women administrators, offering their combined experiences of working in a masculine-constructed environment. It analyzes the socialization of women administrators and how women have been taught to believe that they must ask permission for all actions--a process, that leads to collaboration and consensus-building ("power to"). However, some women define power as "power over" and can become confrontational without even being aware of it, occupying areas customarily associated with men. It is concluded that neither conception is wholly desirable for women, and that each woman must be aware of such concerns during daily interactions. Contains 40 references. (RJM) ******************************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * ******************************************************************************** Constructed Communities of Willing and Unwilling Collaborative Leaders: In the Company of Women Administrators
Isolation and characterization of protein kinase C from Y-1 adrenal cell cytoskeleton

The cytoskeletons of Y-1 mouse adrenal tumor cells contain a calcium and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) that is bound sufficiently tight to resist extraction by 0.5% Triton but not by 1.0% Triton. The enzyme has been purified to near homogeneity from cytoskeleton and cytosol. It shows features typical of this type of kinase, namely a requirement for Ca2+ and phospholipid, stimulation by tumor promoters but not by nontumor-promoting phorbol esters, and inhibition by trifluoperazine. The enzyme shows specificity for four substrates found in the cytoskeleton, namely 80, 33, 20, and 18 kD. The first three substrates are phosphorylated by the enzyme; the fourth is dephosphorylated and is therefore affected by the kinase indirectly. The 80-kD protein is the kinase enzyme itself which is autophosphorylated in vitro and in the cytoskeleton. The 20-kD protein is myosin light chain. The 33- and 18-kD proteins are unidentified. The same substrates were phosphorylated when Y-1 cells were permeabilized with digitonin and incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP and phorbol-12- myristate-13-acetate. Partly purified protein kinase C changes the extent of phosphorylation of the same substrates when added to cytoskeletons previously extracted to remove endogenous protein kinase C. Addition of Ca2+, phosphatidylserine, and phorbol-12-myristate-13- acetate to cytoskeletons, and addition of these three agents plus protein kinase C to extracted cytoskeletons, causes these structures to undergo a rapid and extensive rounding. A similar change is induced in intact cells by addition of phorbol ester. It is concluded that protein kinase C is capable of changing the shape of adrenal cells by an action that involves autophosphorylation and phosphorylation of myosin light chain. This response may in turn be related to the steroidogenic responses to ACTH and cyclic AMP.
Creative collaboration with a social robot

This research builds on the UbiComp vision of systems that do not do things for people but engage people in their computational environment so that people can do things for themselves better. In this investigation, we sought to make good on a proof-of-concept where people interact with a social robot whereby the robot helps people to be more humanly creative. Twenty seven participants interacted with ATR's humanoid robot Robovie (through a WoZ interface) in a creativity task. Results supported our proof of concept insofar as 100% of the participants generated creative ideas, and 63% incorporated the robot's ideas into their own ideas for their creative output. Of the participants who had the highest creativity scores, 83% incorporated the robot's ideas into their own. Discussion focuses on next steps toward building the Natural Language Processing system, and integrating the system into a more extensive networked UbiComp environment.
Evaluation of the Persian version of modified fatigue impact scale in Iranian patients with multiple sclerosis

Background Fatigue, a major cause of disability in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), is associated with reduced quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and reproducibility of the Persian version of Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) in Iranian patients with MS. Methods This study included 15 subjects with clinically definite MS, 15 hospitalized patients with MS, and 15 hospitalized patients with other chronic illnesses (as controls). They filled in the Persian version of the MFIS twice with a three-day interval. MFIS items were analyzed and the correlation coefficient was calculated. Results There was a good correlation between the scores of the two measurements (correlation coefficient: 0.984, P < 0.001) especially in physical and cognitive subgroups. The reproducibility of psychosocial subscale was lower than physical and cognitive subscales. Conclusion According to our findings, the Persian version of the MFIS has a good reliability and reproducibility for assessment of fatigue in patients with MS.