Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Study of Visual Function Evaluation for People with Severe Motor and Intellectual Disabilities Utilizing Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

The purpose of this study was (1) assess the effectiveness of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for evaluating visual function of people with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMID), and (2) investigate the inference of characteristics of visual stimuli to response from them and to dynamics of cerebral blood flow. Twenty-one SMID were presented Visual Task 1 which uses a photograph, and classified into four groups based on subjects’ eye movement. Additionally, oxy-Hb which was most increased was measured. Results, the averages of oxy-Hb for “gaze” and “habituation” group were 0.45 and 0.83 mM*mm, “non-gaze” was almost 0 mM*mm, and “non-judgment” were resembled “gaze”. In Visual Task 2 which uses a moving image, most subjects were classified in “gaze”, and an oxy-Hb had increased. This study indicated that NIRS is an effective instrument for visual function evaluation, and that difference in the characteristics of stimuli could affect the responses and oxy-Hb of SMID.
Method for Extracting RDF(S) Sub-Ontology

RDF ontology can represent semantic information in semantic Web. Ontologies are often too large to be used in a single application. Extracting sub-ontology from large-scale ontology can solve this problem. RDF(S) ontologies are abstracted as graph models. According to the RDFS inference rules, the closure of RDFS ontology graph model can be constructed. To decrease the time of generating closure, a parallel closure algorithm is presented. We also present an algorithm based on the graph theory to extract a sub-graph with the concepts in the domain term lexicon as nodes. This sub-graph is regarded as the required domain ontology. The method is applicable to RDF(S) domain ontology extraction. Applying the method, domain ontology can be built fast and effectively.
Exclusive Use of trans-Editing Domains Prevents Proline Mistranslation*

Background: Editing domains of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases ensure high fidelity in codon translation, but the extent of single-domain trans-editing is unclear. Results: A bioinformatics analysis reveals distribution of five distinct homologs of the bacterial prolyl-tRNA synthetase editing domain. Conclusion: A triple-sieve mechanism of editing in Caulobacter crescentus relies exclusively on trans-editing. Significance: A diversity of approaches is used by bacteria to prevent proline mistranslation. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) catalyze the attachment of specific amino acids to cognate tRNAs. Although the accuracy of this process is critical for overall translational fidelity, similar sizes of many amino acids provide a challenge to ARSs. For example, prolyl-tRNA synthetases (ProRSs) mischarge alanine and cysteine onto tRNAPro. Many bacterial ProRSs possess an alanine-specific proofreading domain (INS) but lack the capability to edit Cys-tRNAPro. Instead, Cys-tRNAPro is cleared by a single-domain homolog of INS, the trans-editing YbaK protein. A global bioinformatics analysis revealed that there are six types of “INS-like” proteins. In addition to INS and YbaK, four additional single-domain homologs are widely distributed throughout bacteria: ProXp-ala (formerly named PrdX), ProXp-x (annotated as ProX), ProXp-y (annotated as YeaK), and ProXp-z (annotated as PA2301). The last three are domains of unknown function. Whereas many bacteria encode a ProRS containing an INS domain in addition to YbaK, many other combinations of INS-like proteins exist throughout the bacterial kingdom. Here, we focus on Caulobacter crescentus, which encodes a ProRS with a truncated INS domain that lacks catalytic activity, as well as YbaK and ProXp-ala. We show that C. crescentus ProRS can readily form Cys- and Ala-tRNAPro, and deacylation studies confirmed that these species are cleared by C. crescentus YbaK and ProXp-ala, respectively. Substrate specificity of C. crescentus ProXp-ala is determined, in part, by elements in the acceptor stem of tRNAPro and further ensured through collaboration with elongation factor Tu. These results highlight the diversity of approaches used to prevent proline mistranslation and reveal a novel triple-sieve mechanism of editing that relies exclusively on trans-editing factors.
Radio Planning of Wireless Local Area Networks

In this paper we propose mathematical models to tackle the WLAN planning problem. Our approach aims at maximizing network efficiency by taking into account the inter-AP domain interference and the access mechanism. Both the single-channel and the multiple-channel WLAN planning problems are considered. We give different formulations which capture at different levels of detail the effect of interference on the network efficiency. In order to evaluate the quality of the proposed models, we obtain the optimal solutions for synthetic network instances, and propose heuristics to get suboptimal solutions in a reasonable computing time. We show that the networks planned according to our approach feature higher efficiency than the ones planned using classical models, like the minimum-cardinality set covering problem (SCP), by privileging network solutions with low-power APs installed. The achieved gain reaches 167% in particular network scenarios. Moreover, we test the obtained solutions through simulation and real-life testbed implementation; both analyses show that the networks planned with the proposed approaches are the ones with the highest saturation throughput with respect to those configurations obtained with SCP.
Ovary Dysgerminoma in Girl of 10 Years-Old Associate with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome (Mrkh) Type 1. A Unusual Condition. Clinical Case

Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH) affects about 4,500 women around the world, this syndrome is a malformation of the female genitalia due to an embryonic development interrupt of the Müllerian (paramesonephric ducts) between the 5th and 6th week of embryonic development. On the other hand, the patients are chromosomally, phenotypically and endocrinologically normal. This syndrome is subdivided into type A with symmetrical uterine remnants and with normal fallopian tubes, and type B (atypical) with asymmetric uterine outbreaks, abnormal fallopian tubes and various abnormalities of other organs and systems [1]. Type 1 MRKH syndrome is less frequent and type 2 anomalies include: renal (unilateral agenesia, ectopia of kidneys or horseshoe kidneys), Skeletal (particularly vertebral as in Klippel-Feil syndrome, fused vertebrae, scoliosis), Hearing defects and rarely cardiac anomalies and limb anomalies such as syndactyly or polydactyly) [2].
Comparison of Particle Swarm Optimization and Genetic Algorithm for HMM training

Hidden Markov model (HMM) is the dominant technology in speech recognition. The problem of optimizing model parameters is of great interest to the researchers in this area. The Baum-Welch (BW) algorithm is a popular estimation method due to its reliability and efficiency. However, it is easily trapped in local optimum. Recently, genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) have attracted considerable attention among various modern heuristic optimization techniques. Since the two approaches are supposed to find a solution to a given objective function but employ different strategies and computational effort, it is appropriate to compare their performance. This paper presents the application and performance comparison of PSO and GA for continuous HMM optimization in continuous speech recognition. The experimental results demonstrate that PSO is superior to GA in respect of the recognition performance.
ColourFAST: GPU-based feature point detection and tracking on mobile devices

A realtime feature point detection algorithm called ColourFAST is introduced. ColourFAST extracts vector-based feature strength and direction measures from the colour channels of any pixel in an image. The extracted information is applied to create an effective feature point tracker. These feature point and tracker algorithms have a pipeline design optimized for GPU processors. Results are provided for an implementation on mobile devices developed using programmable shaders. Its performance demonstrates several improvements over conventional FAST feature point detection and Lucas-Kanade tracking.
Toward Developing New Occupational Science Measures: An Example from Dementia Care Research

Abstract The Activity in Context and Time (ACT) was developed as a quantitative, direct observational measure of environmental correlates of time‐use and quality of life of people with dementia living in nursing homes or other long term care institutions. A variety of experiences and considerations influenced the decision to develop the ACT including: commitments honed through clinical practice in occupational therapy; research experiences with non hum an primates; moral challenges of research with persons with dementia; and relevant scholarship in environmental psychology, gerontology, occupational therapy and science. To develop and refine the ACT such that it could meet modest criteria of validity and reliability, numerous theoretical and practical challenges also had to be addressed. Critique of the ACT suggests limitations and strengths of direct observational measures, as well as specific ways in which the ACT does and does not contribute to an integral holistic science of occupation. By describing the ongoing methodological journey of the ACT including its early influences, developmental challenges, strengths and limitations, and anticipated future refinements, it is hoped that this article might be of value to other researchers who are interested in developing new methodologies that embody and advance an occupational science perspective.
Radiometric Compensation through Inverse Light Transport

Radiometric compensation techniques allow seamless projections onto complex everyday surfaces. Implemented with projector-camera systems they support the presentation of visual content in situations where projection-optimized screens are not available or not desired - as in museums, historic sites, air-plane cabins, or stage performances. We propose a novel approach that employs the full light transport between projectors and a camera to account for many illumination aspects, such as interreflections, refractions, shadows, and defocus. Precomputing the inverse light transport in combination with an efficient implementation on the GPU makes the real-time compensation of captured local and global light modulations possible.
Downregulation of FOXO3a Promotes Tumor Metastasis and Is Associated with Metastasis-Free Survival of Patients with Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Purpose: To explore the mechanisms underlying clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) metastasis using transcriptional profiling and bioinformatics analysis of ccRCC samples, and to elucidate the role of FOXO3a in ccRCC metastasis. Experimental Design: Gene expression profiling was performed using four primary metastatic and five primary nonmetastatic ccRCC samples. The mRNA and protein levels of FOXO3a in ccRCC samples were investigated by real-time reverse transcription PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The association between metastasis-free survival of patients with ccRCC and FOXO3a mRNA levels was analyzed. Biologic functions of FOXO3a in renal cancer cell lines were investigated. The influence of FOXO3a on tumor metastasis was also studied in vivo orthotopic xenograft tumor model. Finally, the mechanism by which FOXO3a attenuation could increase invasion and migration of tumor cells was explored. Results: Bioinformatics analysis of the profiling data identified FOXO3a as a key factor in ccRCC metastasis. FOXO3a expression was decreased in primary metastatic ccRCC samples. Patients with low FOXO3a mRNA levels had poor metastasis-free survival (P = 0.003). Knocking down FOXO3a induced tumor cell invasion and migration in the nonmetastatic ccRCC cells. Induced FOXO3a overexpression in SN12-PM6 cells could inhibit tumor metastasis in vivo. Downregulation of FOXO3a increased SNAIL1 expression, thereby activating the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of RCC cell lines. Conclusions: The loss of FOXO3a induced EMT of tumor cells by upregulating SNAIL1, which promoted tumor cells metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Thus, FOXO3a could be considered as an independent prognostic factor in ccRCC metastasis and could be a marker of occult metastases. Clin Cancer Res; 20(7); 1779–90. ©2014 AACR.
Unraveling the Differential Effects of Motivational and Skills, Social, and Self-Management Measures from Traditional Predictors of College Outcomes.

The authors report on a large-scale study examining the effects of self-reported psychosocial factors on 1st-year college outcomes. Using a sample of 14,464 students from 48 institutions, the authors constructed hierarchical regression models to measure the predictive validity of the Student Readiness Inventory, a measure of psychosocial factors. Controlling for institutional effects and traditional predictors, the authors tested the effects of motivational and skill, social, and self-management measures on academic performance and retention. Academic Discipline was incrementally predictive of academic performance (grade-point average) and retention. Social Activity and Emotional Control also helped predict academic performance and retention, whereas Commitment to College and Social Connection offered incremental prediction of retention. This study elaborates recent meta-analytic findings (S. Robbins et al., 2004), demonstrating the salience of a subset of motivational, social, and self-management factors. Future research questions include how measures of psychosocial factors can be used to aid students, the salience of these measures over the entire college experience and for predicting job performance, and the need for testing theoretical models for explaining postsecondary educational outcomes incorporating traditional, motivational, self-management, and social engagement factors.
Characterization of nickel silicides using EELS‐based methods

The characterization of Ni‐silicides using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) based methods is discussed. A series of Ni‐silicide phases is examined: Ni3Si, Ni31Si12, Ni2Si, NiSi and NiSi2. The composition of these phases is determined by quantitative core‐loss EELS. A study of the low loss part of the EELS spectrum shows that both the energy and the shape of the plasmon peak are characteristic for each phase. Examination of the Ni‐L edge energy loss near edge structure (ELNES) shows that the ratio and the sum of the L2 and L3 white line intensities are also characteristic for each phase. The sum of the white line intensities is used to determine the trend in electron occupation of the 3d states of the phases. The dependence of the plasmon energy on the electron occupation of the 3d states is demonstrated.
Music perception ability of children with executive function deficits

This study examined differences in music perception between children with executive function deficits (EF deficits) and typically-developing children. The role of executive functions in music perception ability was also examined. Participants included 71 children (40 males), aged 9–11 years. The study utilized a between-subjects control group design in which executive functions were measured by the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), and music perception ability was measured by several music listening tasks of tone and timing discrimination. The children with EF deficits performed significantly poorer than their typically-developing peers when discriminating between duration of tones and when discriminating between rhythm patterns. However, pitch and melodic perception did not show performance decrement. The executive function of working memory was the only independent predictor of duration and rhythm perception ability as shown in multiple regression models. In conclusion, there are significant differences in duration and rhythm perception ability between children with and without executive dysfunction. Moreover, music perception testing may serve as a potential measure of executive functions assessment, and given that improvements in working memory are desirable for children with EF deficits, music-based activities may be a promising medium for working memory intervention.
An Algorithm for the Exact Numerical Integration of a Special Class of Functions

The classical Gaussian quadrature rules yield very inaccurate results when they are used for the integration of functions of the form f(x)=P(x,\cos(cx+d))\exp(-a^{2}x^{2}+bx) over the infinite interval (-\infty, \infty) , where a\gt 0, b, c, d are real numbers and P is a polynomial. In this paper we propose a new algorithm that computes this type of integrals without error in the machine precision. The algorithm can also be used for the multiple integrals. We give some numerical examples to compare the results obtained by the new algorithm and those obtained by some other methods including the classical Gauss-Hermite integration rules.
State Variations in United States Divorce Rates.

A partial explanation of high divorce rates in certain areas and states of the United States has been offered for many years by the claim of a "frontier atmosphere' in existence that is conducive towards divorce in these locations. This paper seeks to operationalize this concept and subject it to empirical testing by relating intra and in-migration rates of states to divorce rates. A resonably high positive correlation is found to exist between the two types of rates and it is suggested that an explanation of this relationship may be found in the comparatively lower social costs attached to divorce in states having high migration rates as compared to states having low migration rates.
Integrating Macrophages into Organotypic Co-Cultures: A 3D In Vitro Model to Study Tumor-Associated Macrophages

Tumor progression is controlled by signals from cellular and extra-cellular microenvironment including stromal cells and the extracellular matrix. Consequently, three-dimensional in vitro tumor models are essential to study the interaction of tumor cells with their microenvironment appropriately in a biologically relevant manner. We have previously used organotypic co-cultures to analyze the malignant growth of human squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell lines on a stromal equivalent in vitro. In this model, SCC cell lines are grown on a collagen-I gel containing fibroblasts. Since macrophages play a critical role in the progression of many tumor types, we now have expanded this model by integrating macrophages into the collagen gel of these organotypic tumor co-cultures. This model was established as a murine and a human system of skin SCCs. The effect of macrophages on tumor progression depends on their polarization. We demonstrate that macrophage polarization in organotypic co-cultures can be modulated towards and M1 or an M2 phenotype by adding recombinant IFN-γ and LPS or IL-4 respectively to the growth medium. IL-4 stimulation of macrophage-containing cultures resulted in enhanced tumor cell invasion evidenced by degradation of the basement membrane, enhanced collagenolytic activity and increased MMP-2 and MMP-9. Interestingly, extended co-culture with tumor cells for three weeks resulted in spontaneous M2 polarization of macrophages without IL-4 treatment. Thus, we demonstrate that macrophages can be successfully integrated into organotypic co-cultures of murine or human skin SCCs and that this model can be exploited to analyze macrophage activation towards a tumor supporting phenotype.
El tecnopopulismo de Rafael Correa: ¿Es compatible el carisma con la tecnocracia?

Resumen: Este articulo sigue las sugerencias de Weber de estudiar como diferentes tipos de dominacion se combinan en experiencias historicas concretas. Se analizan las sinergias y tensiones entre el liderazgo carismatico de Rafael Correa y criterios tecnocraticos. A diferencia de lideres neopopulistas que encargaron sus politicas economicas a expertos neoliberales, Correa combina en su persona al experto con el politico carismatico. En su oratoria y en sus programas de television y radio semanales Correa compagina tecnocracia y carisma y se presenta como el profesor y redentor de la nacion. Expertos posneoliberales estan en las posiciones mas importantes del regimen. Comparten con Correa la idea de estar liderando un ciclo de cambios profundos, de encarnar los intereses de toda la sociedad y no de sectores particulares, y la mision de llevar a cabo la refundacion de la nacion. Las tensiones entre criterios tecnocraticos y carisma se evidenciaron en la crisis politica causada por una rebelion policial en la que los criterios carismaticos opacaron consideraciones racionales y estrategicas. Si bien el carisma y la tecnocracia pueden convivir en el discurso, el carisma es inestable y subvierte los intentos de gobernar a traves del conocimiento de los expertos.
A P2P based distributed services network for next generation mobile internet communications

In this poster, we present a novel P2P (Peer to Peer) based distributed services network (DSN), which is a next generation operable and manageable distributed core network architecture and functional structure, proposed by China Mobile for telecommunication services and wireless Internet. Our preliminary implementations of P2P VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) system over DSN platform demonstrate its effectiveness and promising future.
Visual tracking by particle filtering in a dynamic environment

An improved particle filter algorithm was presented to track a moving target under natural environment, in which the colour histogram was integrated with the measurement model, the latest observations were taken into account and the system model is the second order autoregressive process. The proposed method can deal with rotation and scale transformation, variations in the light source and partial occlusions and the tracked target can be rigid or non-rigid. The demonstration examples showed that the method can track the target with robustness in real-time.
I can't imagine doing anything else': why do teachers of children with SEN remain in the profession? Resilience, rewards and realism over time

There has been a substantial amount of research on why teachers leave the profession but little on why they stay. The paper will follow Day et al.'s work (2007) in examining the factors that determine which teachers will maintain resilience and stay in the profession, focusing particularly on those who worked as special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCOs), analysing the careers of 19 teachers who had been in the profession for more than 15 years. Data were gathered by focus groups and life history interviews taking a qualitative, narrative enquiry approach. This research found that some situated factors in schools were found to contribute positively and/or negatively to teachers' efficacy, commitment and perceived effectiveness. Personal influences were also significant and included having children, salary requirements and flexible working patterns. An important factor, and unique to this research, was a commitment to working with children with SEN, and all respondents wanted to continue doing this in some capacity in the future. The paper concludes with the implications for policy and practice and considers possible strategies for maintaining teachers' resilience across their careers.