Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Explanation of the Relationship between Instructor Humor and Student Learning: Instructional Humor Processing Theory

This paper proposes the Instructional Humor Processing Theory (IHPT), a theory that incorporates elements of incongruity-resolution theory, disposition theory, and the elaboration likelihood model (ELM) of persuasion. IHPT is proposed and offered as an explanation for why some types of instructor-generated humor result in increased student learning and others do not. A preliminary study was conducted with 378 students who identified a specific instructor and reported that same instructor's use of inappropriate and appropriate humor, perceptions of instructor humorousness, and affective learning and learning indicators. The Instructional Humor Processing Theory hypothesized that humor related to instructional content would correlate positively with student learning, while inappropriate forms would not. Consistent with IHPT, related humor, an appropriate form of instructional humor, was positively associated with student learning, while other-disparaging and offensive humor, inappropriate forms of humor, did not correlate with student learning. Humorous instructors used significantly more appropriate and inappropriate humor than nonhumorous instructors. Explanations are offered for these findings as well as study limitations and directions for future research to support IHPT.
Screw axis measurement for kinematic calibration of the Sarcos Dextrous Arm

A recently developed kinematic calibration technique for six degree-of-freedom (DOF) arms, the Jacobian measurement method, is generalized to include underconstrained and overconstrained arms. Using joint torque sensing and a wrist six-axis force/torque sensor to measure the Jacobian, experimental results are presented for the first five DOFs of the Sarcos Dextrous Arm. Results are compared to two standard calibration methods, i.e., open loop calibration and circle point analysis. Measurements of endpoint position and orientation were obtained with the Optotruk and the Bird sensor, two commercial motion tracking systems.
A backward-compatible inter-domain multipath routing framework

We present a framework to facilitate the inter-domain multipath routing for carrier networks that are based on circuit switching technologies, without significant changes to the existing inter-domain protocols. We first introduce a simple mechanism, namely, Single Routing Plane Multipath (SRPM) which can be easily implemented in the existing PCE-based inter-domain architectures. The main idea behind the SRPM method is to represent multiple link disjoint paths as a single virtual edge in the PCE and thus use the existing single path routing mechanisms to enable multipath routing. We further present a more generic mechanism, referred to as Multiple Routing Plane Multipath (MRPM) method, with the goal to facilitate the provisioning of multipath connections over dynamically selected domain chains. In this method, we propose to virtualize the network into multiple slices and represent as multiple routing topologies by the PCEs. In this way, multiple routing planes are constructed to facilitate inter-domain routing. For both methods, we consider the buffer size as constraint for multipath routing due to the resulting differential delay. The results show that the proposed methods can significantly improve the blocking performance and are backward compatible, while only slightly impacting the intra-domain traffic.
Effects of a meditative‐relaxation exercise on non‐attending behaviors of behaviorally disturbed children

Abstract Two nine member classes for behaviorally disturbed 8 to 11 year old males and females were randomly selected for a treatment or a no‐treatment group. Time spent in off‐task behavior was recorded by two observers via a time sampling technique. One group practiced Benson's meditative‐relaxation technique while the no‐treatment subjects were instructed to relax for the same 20 minute sessions over a five day period. Non‐attending behavior levels were recorded during the treatment period. The t‐test for pretest to post‐test mean change differences of non‐attending behavior for the two groups reflected a significant reduction (p < .001) in the number of non‐attending behaviors for the treatment group.
In vivo anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic activities of aqueous extracts from Thymelaea hirsuta

Background: The aerial parts of Thymelaea hirsuta (TH) are used as a decoction in the treatment of different pathologies in folk medicine in Morocco. Objective: The aqueous extracts were evaluated for its anti-inflammatory activity and in inhibition of adjuvant induction arthritis in male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: The anti-inflammatory activity was carried out using carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model, and the antiarthritic activity was carried out using complete Freund′s adjuvant-induced arthritis model. Results: The plant extract (500 mg/kg body weight) exhibited significant activity in acute inflammation produced 60% of inhibition after 4 h as compared with that of the standard anti-inflammatory drug, the diclofenac (100 mg/kg) which showed 40% of inhibition. In arthritis model, the extract produced 85% inhibition after 18 days when compared with the diclofenac (10 mg/kg; 72%). Conclusion: These results indicate that the aqueous extract of TH had an anti-inflammatory activity and inhibited the induction of adjuvant arthritis in male Wistar rats.
Speeding up Network Layout and Centrality Measures with NodeXL and the Nvidia CUDA Technology

In this paper we talk about speeding up calculation of graph metrics and layout with NodeXL by exploiting the parallel architecture of modern day Graphics Processing Units (GPU), specifically Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) by Nvidia. Graph centrality metrics like Eigenvector, Betweenness, Page Rank and layout algorithms like Fruchterman-Rheingold are essential components of Social Network Analysis (SNA). With the growth in adoption of SNA in different domains and increasing availability of huge networked datasets for analysis, social network analysts are looking for tools that are faster and more scalable. Our results show up to 802 times speedup for a FruchtermanRheingold graph layout and up to 17,972 times speedup for Eigenvector centrality metric calculations.
Akt, a Target of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase, Inhibits Apoptosis in a Differentiating Neuronal Cell Line

ABSTRACT Phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase has been suggested to mediate cell survival. Consistent with this possibility, apoptosis of conditionally (simian virus 40 Tts) immortalized rat hippocampal H19-7 neuronal cells was increased in response to wortmannin, an inhibitor of PI 3-kinase. Downstream effectors of PI 3-kinase include Rac1, protein kinase C, and the serine-threonine kinase Akt (protein kinase B). Here, we show that activation of Akt is one mechanism by which PI 3-kinase can mediate survival of H19-7 cells during serum deprivation or differentiation. While ectopic expression of wild-type Akt (c-Akt) does not significantly enhance survival in H19-7 cells, expression of activated forms of Akt (v-Akt or myristoylated Akt) results in enhanced survival which can be comparable to that conferred by Bcl-2. Conversely, expression of a dominant-negative mutant of Akt accelerates cell death upon serum deprivation or differentiation. Finally, the results indicate that Akt can transduce a survival signal for differentiating neuronal cells through a mechanism that is independent of induction of Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL or inhibition of Jun kinase activity.
Ultra-Low Latency for 5G - A Lab Trial

In this paper, we introduce a lab trial that is conducted to study the feasibility of ultra-low latency for 5G. Using a novel frame structure and signaling procedure, a stabilized 1.5 ms hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) round trip time (RTT) is observed in lab trial as predicted in theory. The achieved round trip time is around 5 times shorter compared with what is supported by LTE-Advanced standard.
Blueberry polyphenols increase lifespan and thermotolerance in Caenorhabditis elegans

The beneficial effects of polyphenol compounds in fruits and vegetables are mainly extrapolated from in vitro studies or short‐term dietary supplementation studies. Due to cost and duration, relatively little is known about whether dietary polyphenols are beneficial in whole animals, particularly with respect to aging. To address this question, we examined the effects of blueberry polyphenols on lifespan and aging of the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, a useful organism for such a study. We report that a complex mixture of blueberry polyphenols increased lifespan and slowed aging‐related declines in C. elegans. We also found that these benefits did not just reflect antioxidant activity in these compounds. For instance, blueberry treatment increased survival during acute heat stress, but was not protective against acute oxidative stress. The blueberry extract consists of three major fractions that all contain antioxidant activity. However, only one fraction, enriched in proanthocyanidin compounds, increased C. elegans lifespan and thermotolerance. To further determine how polyphenols prolonged C. elegans lifespan, we analyzed the genetic requirements for these effects. Prolonged lifespan from this treatment required the presence of a CaMKII pathway that mediates osmotic stress resistance, though not other pathways that affect stress resistance and longevity. In conclusion, polyphenolic compounds in blueberries had robust and reproducible benefits during aging that were separable from antioxidant effects.
Immunochemical localization of myosin heavy chain isoforms and paramyosin in developmentally and structurally diverse muscle cell types of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans contains two major groups of muscle cells that exhibit organized sarcomeres: the body wall and pharyngeal muscles. Several additional groups of muscle cells of more limited mass and spatial distribution include the vulval muscles of hermaphrodites, the male sex muscles, the anal-intestinal muscles, and the gonadal sheath of the hermaphrodite. These muscle groups do not exhibit sarcomeres and therefore may be considered smooth. Each muscle cell has been shown to have a specific origin in embryonic cell lineages and differentiation, either embryonically or postembryonically (Sulston, J. E., and H. R. Horvitz. 1977. Dev. Biol. 56:110-156; Sulston, J. E., E. Schierenberg, J. White, and J. N. Thomson. 1983. Dev. Biol. 100:64- 119). Each muscle type exhibits a unique combination of lineage and onset of differentiation at the cellular level. Biochemically characterized monoclonal antibodies to myosin heavy chains A, B, C, and D and to paramyosin have been used in immunochemical localization experiments. Paramyosin is detected by immunofluorescence in all muscle cells. Myosin heavy chains C and D are limited to the pharyngeal muscle cells, whereas myosin heavy chains A and B are localized not only within the sarcomeres of body wall muscle cells, as reported previously, but to the smooth muscle cells of the minor groups as well. Myosin heavy chains A and B and paramyosin proteins appear to be compatible with functionally and structurally distinct muscle cell types that arise by multiple developmental pathways.
The effects of wealth, occupation, and immigration on epidemic mortality from selected infectious diseases and epidemics in Holyoke township, Massachusetts, 1850–1912

BACKGROUND Previous research suggests individual-level socioeconomic circumstances and resources may be especially salient influences on mortality within the broader context of social, economic, and environmental factors affecting urban 19th century mortality. OBJECTIVE We sought to test individual-level socioeconomic effects on mortality from infectious and often epidemic diseases in the context of an emerging New England industrial mill town. METHOD We analyze mortality data from comprehensive death records and a sample of death records linked to census data, for an emergent industrial New England town, to analyze infectious mortality and model socioeconomic effects using Poisson rate regression. RESULTS Despite our expectations that individual resources might be especially salient in the harsh mortality setting of a crowded, rapidly growing, emergent, industrial mill town with high levels of impoverishment, infectious mortality was not significantly lowered by individual socio-economic status or resources.
Boundary Control of a Nonhomogeneous Flexible Wing With Bounded Input Disturbances

This note deals with the boundary control problem of a nonhomogeneous flexible wing evolving under unsteady aerodynamic loads. The wing is actuated at its tip by flaps and is modeled by a distributed parameter system consisting of two coupled partial differential equations. Based on the proposed boundary control law, the well-posedness of the underlying Cauchy problem is first investigated by resorting to the semigroup theory. Then, a Lyapunov-based approach is employed to assess the stability of the closed-loop system in the presence of bounded input disturbances.
Validation of a retrospective respiratory gating method for small-animal CT scanners

We propose a retrospective respiratory gating algorithm to generate dynamic CT studies. To this end, we compared three different methods of extracting the respiratory signal from the projections of small-animal cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanners. Given a set of frames acquired from a certain axial angle, subtraction of their average image from each individual frame produces a set of difference images. The respiratory signals were extracted by analyzing the shape of the histogram of these difference images: we calculated the first four central and non-central moments. However, only odd-order moments produced the desired breathing signal, as the even-order moments lacked information about the phase. Each of these curves was compared to a reference signal recorded by means of a pneumatic pillow. Given the similar correlation coefficients yielded by all of them, we selected the mean to implement our retrospective protocol. Respiratory phase bins were separated, reconstructed independently and included in a dynamic sequence, suitable for cine playback. We validated our method in 5 adult rat studies by comparing profiles drawn across the diaphragm dome, with and without retrospective respiratory gating. Results showed a sharper transition in the gated reconstruction, with an average slope improvement of 60.7%.
Stress and coping behaviors among primary school teachers

One hundred percent of teachers interviewed for this study reported that the teaching profession is stressful with 72% describing the profession as extremely or very stressful. This study recognizes and investigates the stressors that affect primary school teachers and identifies the coping behaviors that are used in response to these stressors. A mixed method design was used to assess stress and coping behaviors among current primary school teachers. Two quantitative focus groups provided insight into stress and coping behaviors through the perspectives of current primary school teachers at a specific school in rural North Carolina. A quantitative pilot survey was then administered to measure the responses and coping strategies that primary school teachers employ when stress is present in the workplace. The results indicate that unrealistic expectations set forth by school officials and parents are the most frequent source of stress followed by excessive paperwork and school administration. The results also indicate that primary school teachers will most often employ neutral coping behaviors followed by positive coping behaviors and negative coping behaviors. With these stressors being a part of the teaching profession it is suggested that primary school teachers participate in stress management educational programs in order to more effectively handle stress.
A generic unsupervised method for decomposing multi-author documents

Given an unsegmented multi-author text, we wish to automatically separate out distinct authorial threads. We present a novel, entirely unsupervised, method that achieves strong results on multiple testbeds, including those for which authorial threads are topically identical. Unlike previous work, our method requires no specialized linguistic tools and can be easily applied to any text.
On a least absolute deviations estimator of a multivariate convex function

When estimating a performance measure f* of a complex system from noisy data, the underlying function f* is often known to be convex. In this case, one often uses convexity to better estimate f* by fitting a convex function to data. The traditional way of fitting a convex function to data, which is done by computing a convex function minimizing the sum of squares, takes too long to compute. It also runs into an “out of memory” issue for large-scale datasets. In this paper, we propose a computationally efficient way of fitting a convex function by computing the best fit minimizing the sum of absolute deviations. The proposed least absolute deviations estimator can be computed more efficiently via a linear program than the traditional least squares estimator. We illustrate the efficiency of the proposed estimator through several examples.
Grounded evaluation of information visualizations

We introduce grounded evaluation as a process that attempts to ensure that the evaluation of an information visualization tool is situated within the context of its intended use. We discuss the process and scope of grounded evaluation in general, and then describe how qualitative inquiry may be a beneficial approach as part of this process. We advocate for increased attention to the field of qualitative inquiry early in the information visualization development life cycle, as it tries to achieve a richer understanding by using a more holistic approach considering the interplay between factors that influence visualizations, their development, and their use. We present three case studies in which we successfully used observational techniques to inform our understanding of the visual analytics process in groups, medical diagnostic reasoning, and visualization use among computational linguists.
Mixing ideas: a new technique for working with young children as design partners

This paper sets forth a new technique for working with young children as design partners. Mixing ideas is presented as an additional Cooperative Inquiry design technique used to foster effective collaboration with young children (ages 4-6). The method emerged from our work with children on the Classroom of the Future project at the University of Maryland. A case study of this work is presented along with the implications of this method for future research.
A Fast Infrared Face Recognition System Using Curvelet Transformation

In this paper, a fast infrared face recognition system using Curvelet transformation is proposed. Firstly, to get the good performance of infrared face recognition from the biological feature, thermal images are converted into blood perfusion domain by blood perfusion model. Secondly, Curvelet transform has better directional and edge representation abilities than widely used wavelet transformation and other classic transformations. Inspired by these attractive attributes of Curvelets in sparse representation of the images, we introduce the idea of decomposing images into their curvelet subbands to extract the principal representative feature, which saves the computational complexity and storage units. Finally, the nearest neighbor classifier is chosen to get the system recognition result. The experiments illustrate that compared with traditional PCA based systems, the proposed system has better performance and requires fewer computations and memory units.
Phase-Locked Responses to Speech in Human Auditory Cortex are Enhanced During Comprehension

A growing body of evidence shows that ongoing oscillations in auditory cortex modulate their phase to match the rhythm of temporally regular acoustic stimuli, increasing sensitivity to relevant environmental cues and improving detection accuracy. In the current study, we test the hypothesis that nonsensory information provided by linguistic content enhances phase-locked responses to intelligible speech in the human brain. Sixteen adults listened to meaningful sentences while we recorded neural activity using magnetoencephalography. Stimuli were processed using a noise-vocoding technique to vary intelligibility while keeping the temporal acoustic envelope consistent. We show that the acoustic envelopes of sentences contain most power between 4 and 7 Hz and that it is in this frequency band that phase locking between neural activity and envelopes is strongest. Bilateral oscillatory neural activity phase-locked to unintelligible speech, but this cerebro-acoustic phase locking was enhanced when speech was intelligible. This enhanced phase locking was left lateralized and localized to left temporal cortex. Together, our results demonstrate that entrainment to connected speech does not only depend on acoustic characteristics, but is also affected by listeners' ability to extract linguistic information. This suggests a biological framework for speech comprehension in which acoustic and linguistic cues reciprocally aid in stimulus prediction.
Effective follow-up strategies for professional development for primary teachers in Namibia

Abstract It is widely accepted in the literature that follow-up is critical to effective professional development, particularly in developing countries. However, very little empirical research has been conducted which supports this view, illuminates the follow-up processes used or demonstrates the effectiveness of particular follow-up strategies. This article begins to address this gap. It emerged from a three-year research study of a professional development programme for mainly unqualified Namibian primary teachers. The article begins with a summary of this programme and its role within the newly reformed Namibian education system. It summarises the associated research study and discusses the literature relevant to follow-up. It then explores and illuminates effective follow-up strategies used within the professional development programme. They are divided into two broad areas: trainer follow-up strategies and teacher follow-up strategies. The trainer strategies were lesson observation, learner assessment, progress meetings, checklists, trainer role and demonstration lessons. The teacher strategies were workshop handouts, diaries, self-evaluation forms and peer coaching. The article concludes with an examination of the effectiveness of these strategies.