Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Special Education and Later Academic Achievement

Objectives: To determine whether grade at entry to special education is associated with improved reading achievement in children with reading disorders (RD) and whether the effect of grade at entry to special education differs by socioeconomic status (SES). Methods: The authors conducted a secondary data analysis using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study—Kindergarten Cohort (ECLS-K), a nationally representative cohort of children followed longitudinally from kindergarten through eighth grade (1998–2007). Using data from the fifth grade wave of ECLS-K, the authors identified children with RD (n = 290). The outcome of interest was change in score on the reading achievement test, which was developed by ECLS-K staff, between first and fifth grade. Using multiple linear regression, the authors modeled outcome as a function of a child’s grade at entry to special education, controlling for several covariates. Results: Early entry to special education (by first grade vs second or third grade) was associated with larger gains in reading achievement between first and fifth grade (p < .0001). Children who entered special education by first grade versus second grade gained 4.5 more points on the reading achievement test (p < .0001). Children who entered special education by first grade versus third grade gained 1.7 more points on the reading achievement test (p < .0001). There was no difference in the magnitude of gains associated with early entry to special education between children from families of low and higher SES. Conclusion: For children with RD, early entry to special education is associated with improved reading achievement during elementary school.
Mesh simplification for building typification

This paper describes an approach for the typification of buildings using a mesh‐simplification technique. The approach is adapted from the area of computer graphics and was originally developed for surface reconstruction and mesh simplification. The main goal was to develop an algorithm which creates fast and reproducible results. The typification procedure is modelled as a two‐stage process, with the steps ‘positioning’ and ‘representation’. While the positioning step determines the number and the position of the building objects based on Delaunay triangulation, the representation step is used to calculate the size and orientation for the replacement buildings. The results presented show the important influence of weights during positioning steps to control the object distribution. The proposed parameters are the number of objects as well as several object characteristics such as size, shape, orientation, and semantic. The approach has to be extended, if building alignments are also to be preserved. Further applications are imaginable, for instance the icon placement on dynamic maps.
Quality-aware video decoding on thermally-constrained MPSoC platforms

Current mobile devices extensively run video players that are power hungry. Further, higher power densities as a result of technology scaling results in higher on-chip temperatures. Unlike general purpose computer systems, mobile devices that run on batteries cannot afford to have expensive cooling mechanisms. Therefore, in order to satisfy thermal constraints while running power hungry applications, dynamic thermal management (DTM) techniques have been employed. For multimedia applications, the techniques primarily relied on dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) and dynamic power management (DPM) while taking care that maximum video quality is achieved. However, no prior work has exploited frame drops to lower the inserted idle times under predetermined quality constraints. In this work, we propose a DPM framework that utilizes frame drops to dynamically insert low idle times in order to satisfy a peak temperature constraint under a given quality constraint. This also reduces the end-to-end latency. The latencies are further reduced by maintaining lightweight workload histories. For the videos used in our experiments, it was observed that a small reduction in quality of 2 dB (reduction from 32 dB to 30 dB) due to frame drops in motion videos results in a maximum latency reduction of 1.7 sec.
Tyrosine hydroxylase gene regulation in human neuronal progenitor cells does not depend on Nurr1 as in the murine and rat systems

A previous study on the human tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) promoter revealed remarkable differences in the mechanism of TH gene regulation between the human and murine models. Indeed, a low degree of homology was observed in the sequence of TH promoters among human, mouse, and rat systems. Only five short conserved regions (CRs) could be identified among the three species. A human TH minimal promoter was engineered and assembled into a self‐inactivating lentiviral vector system. This human TH minimal promoter contained the five CRs plus the first ‐194 bp from the transcription start of the human TH promoter and the first 35 bp of the untranslated messenger RNA leader of the human TH gene. A significant degree of specificity for this human TH minimal promoter was observed only for human neuronal progenitor cells (hNPCs), but not for TH‐positive differentiated mouse primary striatal and substantia nigra cells, indicating a significant difference in TH gene regulation between the human and mouse systems. Not only is the degree of homology between the human and mouse promoters in the range of only 46%, but also those few elements that share a high degree of homology display totally different functions in human and mouse brain‐derived cells. In the rodent system, NR4A2 (Nurr1) is required for the transactivation of TH minimal promoters. Intriguingly, neither the dimeric nor the heterodimeric binding sites for Nurr1 are present in the 13 kb DNA sequence that contains the human TH promoter. Instead, the CRs termed one and four of the human TH promoter encode only for a half palindromic binding site sequence for Nurr1, which failed to bind Nurr1 in an in vitro electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Additionally, of the three monomeric NGFI‐B response element (NBRE) core sites (AGGTCA) and two NBRE‐related sites present in the human TH promoter, only one core and two NBRE‐related sites formed protein binding complexes. Interestingly, there was no increase of protein binding complex formation upon TH induction and in no case could antibodies supershift Nurr1 from the complex. These findings, taken together, demonstrate that NBRE‐related binding sites for Nurr1 do not play a direct role in mediating an interaction between Nurr1 and the human TH promoter. Likewise, immunohistochemical and Western blot analysis have also confirmed that both endogenous and exogenous Nurr1 expression does not positively correlate with TH gene expression in hNPCs, in contrast to the mouse model. In addition, real‐time PCR analysis revealed that the downregulation of human Nurr1 gene expression mediated by silencing RNA molecules did not affect human TH gene expression in differentiated hNPCs. A better understanding of human TH gene regulation may have important implications both for the development of novel therapeutic approaches and the study of the pathogenesis of a variety of neurological illnesses, including Parkinson's disease, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. J. Cell. Physiol. 207: 49–57, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A new small signal modeling of RF MOSFETs including charge conservation capacitances

A novel extraction method of high frequency small-signal model parameters for MOSFETs is proposed. From S-parameter measurement, this technique accurately extracts the model parameters including the charge conservation capacitance parameters. To consider charge conservation, nonreciprocal capacitance is considered. The modeled parameters fit the measurements very well without any optimization. The extracted parameters also match very well with BSIM3v3 model.
Generalized Penalized Weighted Least-Squares Reconstruction for Deblurred Flat-Panel CBCT

An increase in achievable spatial resolution would enable application of flat-panel detector cone-beam CT (FPCBCT) in high-resolution applications, such as 3D breast and bone imaging. Improved reconstruction techniques exploiting more sophisticated models of noise and spatial resolution characteristics may provide such improvement. In this work, we propose a statistical model of measurement mean and covariance, with particular attention given to correlations in measurement data. An iterative reconstruction algorithm based on this model was applied to simulated and real experimental data to evaluate its performance compared to an uncorrelated model under various imaging conditions. Focal spot and detector blur of a CBCT testbench were measured and used to inform the model-based image reconstruction. Simulation studies demonstrate that incorporation of the correlated noise model yields improved reconstructions, especially in the presence of focal spot blur. Improved noise-resolution tradeoffs were quantified, and application to high-resolution imaging of trabecular bone was
The Effect of Maternal Cocaine Exposure on Neonatal Rat Cardiac Function

Fetal cocaine exposure has been associated with a variety of cardiovascular dysfunctions in humans. We treated pregnant rats with either saline or cocaine at 60 mg/kg by gastric lavage for the entire gestational period and for 14 days after parturition. We then performed high-frequency transthoracic echocardiography to determine whether cocaine exposure affected neonatal cardiac contractile function in vivo in 7- and 14-day-old neonatal rats. All studies were performed in the unsedated, conscious state. Heart rate (HR) and systolic function, expressed as fractional area of change at the midpapillary muscle level, were calculated from two-dimensional images. Resting HR was faster in the cocaine-exposed group at both ages, but baseline contractile function was not different between control (CTL) and cocaine-exposed (COC) neonatal rats. Dobutamine induced a significant increase in HR in all groups at only the largest dose tested (Day 7 CTL HR increased from 438 ± 3 bpm to 462 ± 10 bpm; Day 7 COC HR increased from 466 ± 3 bpm to 493 ± 7 bpm; Day 14 CTL HR increased from 443 ± 4 bpm to 487 ± 4 bpm; Day 14 COC HR increased from 477 ± 4 bpm to 501 ± 5 bpm). Dobutamine elicited a significant increase in contractile response at both Day 7 (from 76.6% ± 0.6% to 81.5% ± 0.7%) and Day 14 in CTL (from 78.2% ± 0.7% to 81.9% ± 0.7%), but not in COC, animals (from 76.7% ± 0.8% to 78.9% ± 0.8% at Day 7 and from 76.8% ± 1.1% to 79.3% ± 0.8% at Day 14). Epinephrine induced a significant increase in contractile response in CTL, but not in COC, rats at Day 7 and had no effect on fractional area of change at 14 days of age in either CTL or COC animals. Our results indicate that perinatal cocaine exposure does not modify resting contractile function but attenuates the contractile response to &bgr;-adrenoceptor stimulation in the neonatal rat. These results suggest that perinatal cocaine exposure may lead to decreased responsiveness to inotropic drugs during the early neonatal period.
Focusing on everything

Lytro, a Silicon Valley start-up, has just launched the world's first consumer light-field camera, which shoots pictures that can be focused long after they're captured, either on the camera itself or online. Lytro promises no more blurry subjects, and no shutter lag waiting for the camera's lens to focus. A software update to the camera, coming soon, will even let you produce 3-D images.
The Effects of Consumer Inertia and Emotions on New Technology Acceptance

 Abstract — Prior literature on innovation diffusion or acceptance has almost exclusively concentrated on consumers’ positive attitudes and behaviors for new products/services. Consumers’ negative attitudes or behaviors to innovations have received relatively little marketing attention, but it happens frequently in practice. This study discusses consumer psychological factors when they try to learn or use new technologies. According to recent research, technological innovation acceptance has been considered as a dynamic or mediated process. This research argues that consumers can experience inertia and emotions in the initial use of new technologies. However, given such consumer psychology, the argument can be made as to whether the inclusion of consumer inertia (routine seeking and cognitive rigidity) and emotions increases the predictive power of new technology acceptance model. As data from the empirical study find, the process is potentially consumer emotion changing (independent of performance benefits) because of technology complexity and consumer inertia, and impact innovative technology use significantly. Finally, the study presents the superior predictability of the hypothesized model, which let managers can better predict and influence the successful diffusion of complex technological innovations.
Cellular capacity gains of cooperative MIMO transmission in the downlink

In this paper cooperation among users at the physical layer level is studied for the downlink. Distributed space time linear dispersion codes are proposed for the cooperative strategies amplify and forward (AF) and decode forward (DF), assuming no channel state knowledge at the transmitter. Both AF and DF strategies are evaluated in a cellular multiuser realistic scenario based on TDMA access, considering cellular reuse of the relay slot. Different configurations regarding the number of antennas at the relay and destination nodes are considered. The maximum achievable rate of cooperative schemes implemented by means of space time linear dispersion codes is compared with the theoretical capacity of the cooperative channel. Finally an analysis in terms of BER is given for different schemes.
Basis Functions of the Multidimensional CMAC Neural Network

The short introduction to the cerebellar model articulation controller (the CMAC neural network) and its main properties are presented. It is shown that the basis functions of the CMAC neural network are given implicitly, the number of these function is finite, and they have the incorrect pyramid forms. The expressions for the number of these function is given.
Perceived Skin Cancer Risk and Sunscreen Use among African American Adults

We examined perceived skin cancer risk and its relationship to sunscreen use among a large (N = 1932) random sample of African American adults for the first time. Skin cancer risk perceptions were low (Mean = 16.11 on a 1—100 scale). Sun-sensitive skin type and a prior cancer diagnosis were associated with higher perceived skin cancer risk, but demographic factors were not. Unlike findings for Whites, perceived skin cancer risk was not associated with sunscreen use among African Americans. Directions for future research, and suggestions for increasing sunscreen use among African Americans are provided.
Relationship between Nutritional Status and Tumor Growth in Humans

Aims and background There is considerable evidence from studies on tumor-bearing animals that nutritional support aimed at maintaining a good nutritional status can indeed promote tumor growth. Experience in humans, however, is scanty and controversial, this issue never having been extensively investigated. The purpose of this study was to analyze whether there exists a relationship between nutritional status and tumor growth in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The hypothesis behind it was that if it is true than an abundant availability of substrates promotes tumoral growth, then the better the nutritional status the higher the tumor cell proliferation. Methods Two hundred and forty six adult patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were characterized according to nutritional status (percent of weight loss as compared to usual body weight, serum albumin, serum cholinesterase, number of lymphocytes) and rate of incorporation of 3H thymidine labelling index in the tumor tissue. The values of serum albumin, serum cholinesterase and lymphocytes were subdivided into three classes adopting as cut-off points the tertile values of their distribution, while weight loss was scored as a “no” and a “yes”. The association between nutritional parameters and labelling index was evaluated by a univariate analysis (X2 test and Mantel-Haenszel X2 test and the odds ratio) and by a logistic multiple regression model. Results Results of the univariate analysis show a statistically significant association between “poor” nutritional status (depressed nutritional indexes) and “high” labelling index (increased tumoural growth), while the multiple regression analysis found that the only significant association was that between low serum cholinesterase and high labelling index. Conclusions These data demonstrate for the first time in a large series of patients that maintenance of a good nutritional status does not have any deleterious effect on the tumor growth.
Compact double U-slotted microstrip patch antenna element for GSM1800, UMTS and HIPERLAN2

A medium gain triple-band compact microstrip patch antenna element with a small ground plane is presented. It has been developed to be used in small handsets of future multi-standard mobile communication (GSM1800 and UMTS) and wireless local area network (HIPERLAN2) systems. A prototype has been designed, fabricated and tested. Good agreement has been obtained between numerical simulations and experimental results.
Identification of haemophilia B patients with mutations in the two calcium binding domains of factor IX: importance of a β‐OH Asp 64→Asn change

Summary. The polymerase chain reaction procedure (PCR) coupled with direct sequencing has been used to screen a panel of haemophilia B patients. This analysis has identified, amongst others, several mutations in the functionally important gla and type B EGF domains of factor IX, both of which are known to bind calcium. Type B EGF domains are widely distributed in proteins; located within these domains are highly conserved amino acid residues important for the formation of a high‐affinity calcium binding site. One prominent feature of these domains is a highly conserved β‐hydroxylated Asp or Asn residue. Of particular interest is the identification of one patient, with a substitution of the β‐hydroxy Asp‐64 residue normally present in factor IX for Asn. This change results in a functionally defective factor IX molecule with altered calcium binding properties. To explain the functional abnormality caused by this substitution of one amino acid residue for another which is commonly found at the equivalent position in other proteins with type B EGF domains, we propose the existence of additional conserved residues within this domain, which are important for calcium binding, and which correlate with whether the β‐hydroxylated residue is Asp or Asn.
Permeability of the continental crust: Implications of geothermal data and metamorphic systems

In the upper crust, where hydraulic gradients are typically <1 MPa km−1, advective heat transport is often effective for permeabilities k ≥ 10−16 m² and advective mass (solute) transport for k ≥ 10−20 m². Regional‐scale analyses of coupled groundwater flow and heat transport in the upper crust typically infer permeabilities in the range of 10−17 to 10−14 m², so that heat advection is sometimes significant and solute advection should nearly always be significant. Analyses of metamorphic systems suggest that a geochemically significant level of permeability can exist to the base of the crust. In active metamorphic systems in the mid to lower crust, where vertical hydraulic gradients are likely >10 MPa km−1, the mean permeabilities required to accommodate the estimated metamorphic fluid fluxes decrease from ∼10−16 m² to ∼10−18 m² between 5‐ and 12‐km depth. Below ∼12 km, which broadly corresponds to the brittle‐plastic transition, mean k is effectively independent of depth at ∼10−18.5±1 m² Consideration of the permeability values inferred from thermal modeling and metamorphic fluxes suggests a quasi‐exponential decay of permeability with depth of log k ≈ −3.2 log z ‐ 14, where k is in meters squared and z is in kilometers. At mid to lower crustal depths this curve lies just below the threshold value for significant advection of heat. Such conditions may represent an optimum for metamorphism, allowing the maximum transport of fluid and solute mass that is possible without advective cooling.
Vibrotactile spatial acuity on the torso: effects of location and timing parameters

The processing of spatio-temporal vibrotactile patterns by the torso was examined in two experiments. The first investigated the spatial acuity as function of location on the torso. A uniform acuity between 2 and 3 cm was found, except on the body midline where acuity was about 1 cm. This favorable effect was hypothesized to be caused by specific processing characteristics of the central nervous system. The second experiment focused on the effect of timing parameters in a localization task. The results indicated that localization performance was closely related to both temporal ordering and apparent motion. The results can be used to optimize torso display design and the patterns presented on those displays. Also, they demonstrate that even the most advanced displays have not reached the borders of the processing capacities of the torso.
No Evidence of Association between 8q24 and Susceptibility to Nonsyndromic Cleft Lip with or without Palate in Japanese Population

Objective Recent genome-wide association studies identified susceptibility loci for nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL±P) on 8q24.21, 10q25.3, 13q31.1, 15q13.3, 17q22, and 18q22 in populations of European origin. The purpose of this study was to determine, using DNA samples, whether 8q24.21 was a susceptibility locus for the development of NSCL±P in Japanese patients. Methods We used DNA from 167 Japanese NSCL±P patients (45 cleft lip without cleft palate and 122 cleft lip with cleft palate patients) and 190 Japanese unaffected control individuals. We performed an association study using 13 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) selected on the 8q24.21 locus. Genotyping of each SNP was carried out by direct sequencing of genomic DNA. Additionally, a haplotype block was constructed using the selected SNPs. Results The 13 selected SNPs were successfully genotyped in 357 individuals. The p values obtained were not low enough to indicate a significant association between the haplotypes and the development of NSCL±P in this population. Conclusions Our results suggest that the 8q24.21 locus is not associated with susceptibility to NSCL±P in Japanese patients and provide further evidence that ethnicity is a strong factor in determining susceptibility loci, albeit using a limited number of samples. Further studies are needed to identify regions involved in the development of NSCL±P in the Japanese population.
Ontology of human relation extraction based on dependency syntax rules

This paper proposed a novel scheme for extracting character relation from unstructured text based on dependency grammar rules. First of all, we took the Three Kingdoms characters as our research object, then selected articles containing target relationships and thus constructed a corpus consisting of 1000 sentences. Secondly, We analyzed the corpus and developed a set of dependent grammar rules for relation extraction. Finally, we proposed a system, which makes it possible for computers to automatically extract and identify character relationships.