Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Psychometric Curve and Behavioral Strategies for Whisker-Based Texture Discrimination in Rats

The rodent whisker system is a major model for understanding neural mechanisms for tactile sensation of surface texture (roughness). Rats discriminate surface texture using the whiskers, and several theories exist for how texture information is physically sensed by the long, moveable macrovibrissae and encoded in spiking of neurons in somatosensory cortex. However, evaluating these theories requires a psychometric curve for texture discrimination, which is lacking. Here we trained rats to discriminate rough vs. fine sandpapers and grooved vs. smooth surfaces. Rats intermixed trials at macrovibrissa contact distance (nose >2 mm from surface) with trials at shorter distance (nose <2 mm from surface). Macrovibrissae were required for distant contact trials, while microvibrissae and non-whisker tactile cues were used for short distance trials. A psychometric curve was measured for macrovibrissa-based sandpaper texture discrimination. Rats discriminated rough P150 from smoother P180, P280, and P400 sandpaper (100, 82, 52, and 35 µm mean grit size, respectively). Use of olfactory, visual, and auditory cues was ruled out. This is the highest reported resolution for rodent texture discrimination, and constrains models of neural coding of texture information.
Variant-specific patterns and humoral regulation of HP1 proteins in human cells and tissues

We have examined the occurrence and distribution of HP1α and HP1β under in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro conditions. Consistent with a non-essential role in heterochromatin maintenance, both proteins are diminished or undetectable in several types of differentiated cells and are universally downregulated during erythropoiesis. Variant-specific patterns are observed in almost all human and mouse tissues examined. Yet, the most instructive example of HP1 plasticity is observed in the lymph nodes, where HP1α and HP1β exhibit regional patterns that are exactly complementary to one another. Furthermore, whereas HP1α shows a dispersed sub-nuclear distribution in the majority of peripheral lymphocytes, it coalesces into large heterochromatic foci upon stimulation with various mitogens and IL-2. The effect of inductive signals on HP1α distribution is reproduced by coculture of immortalized T- and B-cells and can be confirmed using specific markers. These complex patterns reveal an unexpected plasticity in HP1 variant expression and strongly suggest that the sub-nuclear distribution of HP1 proteins is regulated by humoral signals and microenvironmental cues.
Design strategies for spoken language dialog systems

The development of task-oriented spoken language dialog system requires expertise in multiple domains including speech recognition, natural spoken language understanding and generation, dialog management and speech synthesis. The dialog manager is the core of a spoken language dialog system, and makes use of multiple knowledge sources. In this contribution we report on our methodology for developing and testing different strategies for dialog management, drawing upon our experience with several travel information tasks. In the LIMSI ARISE system for train travel information we have implemented a 2-level mixedinitiative dialog strategy, where the user has maximum freedom when all is going well, and the system takes the initiative if problems are detected. The revised dialog strategy and error recovery mechanisms have resulted in a 5-10% increase in dialog success depending upon the word error rate.
Cyberbullying, schools and the law: a comparative study in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland

Background: This study addresses the fast developing behavioural issue of cyberbullying in schools and its complex legal context. Purpose: This study set out to investigate teachers’ perceptions of the extent of cyberbullying and the extent to which school leaders in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland feel knowledgeable and confident about dealing with cyberbullying problems in school. The study also examined the legal responsibility that schools in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have in dealing with incidents of cyberbullying. Sample: The sample comprised 14 headteachers and senior teachers from primary and post-primary schools (focus groups), and a further 143 school headteachers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland who responded to the postal questionnaire. Design and Methods: The sample was stratified according to geographical location, school management type and school size. The study had qualitative and quantitative elements. Focus group discussions were held in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland involving experienced primary and post-primary teachers and headteachers. Questionnaires were sent to primary and post-primary school headteachers (n = 143 completed: response rate = 28.6%). Data were analysed to provide a descriptive overview of knowledge and attitudes as well as the experiences of staff working in schools in both jurisdictions. Results: The study indicates that school leaders in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland reported a level of frustration in their attempts to deal with the growing and very complex problem of cyberbullying. They expressed a desire for more guidance from their respective government departments of education. Analysis of data suggests that confusion surrounding the legal responsibilities of schools was common in both jurisdictions. Findings indicate that rather than relying on evidence-based strategies and procedures proposed by government, school leaders were resorting to ad hoc solutions, at best consulting neighbouring schools, while trying to unravel intricate webs of interpersonal online aggressive acts, many of which had taken place outside of school and outside-of-school hours. Conclusion: Recommendations are made in relation to the development and dissemination of training and resources for schools in both jurisdictions. In describing the challenges faced by school leaders in dealing with cyberbullying, this study highlights, more generally, the need for the development of guidance and professional support frameworks to help educators manage the problems that are presented by this complex and evolving social phenomenon.
Resilient Therapy: Strategic Therapeutic Engagement with Children in Crisis

This article offers an overview of Resilient Therapy (RT) and outlines a case study of how it can be used in practice. RT draws on the resilience research base, and has been designed to meet the needs of children in crisis by providing insights and analytical tools that help carers and practitioners build relationships of trust in the hardest of circumstances. RT emphasises Masten's notion of “ordinary magic”, and the idea of the “Resilient Therapist” has emerged through practice situations with parents, carers and colleagues, and through work with specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. The core competences of the Resilient Therapist are outlined, with a case example providing an illustration of how RT can be applied.
Holistic approach to learning and teaching introductory object-oriented programming

This article describes a holistic approach to designing an introductory, object-oriented programming course. The design is grounded in constructivism and pedagogy of phenomenography. We use constructive alignment as the framework to align assessments, learning, and teaching with planned learning outcomes. We plan learning and teaching activities, and media with an understanding of variation theory and the ways in which students learn to program. We outline the implementation of the course, and discuss the findings from the first cycle of an action research study with a small sample of undergraduate students. An investigation of the preferred (deep/surface) learning approaches of the students led us to believe that these approaches can be influenced through course design. Personal constructs of the students, elicited through the repertory grid technique, revealed that rich inventories of learning resources are highly valued. We comment on the transformational processes of the experience of the participants, and identify areas for further refinement and investigation in the next action research cycle.
Origin of Tidal Dissipation in Jupiter. I. Properties of Inertial Modes

We study global inertial modes with the purpose of unraveling the role they play in the tidal dissipation process of Jupiter. For spheres of uniformly rotating, neutrally buoyant fluid, we show that the partial differential equation governing inertial modes can be separated into two ordinary differential equations when the density is constant or when the density has a power-law dependence on radius. For more general density dependencies, we show that one can obtain an approximate solution to the inertial modes that is accurate to the second order in wavevector. Frequencies of inertial modes are limited to ω < 2Ω (Ω is the rotation rate), with modes propagating closer to the rotation axis having higher frequencies. An inertial mode propagates throughout much of the sphere with a relatively constant wavelength and a wave amplitude that scales with density as 1/. It is reflected near the surface at a depth that depends on latitude, with the depth being much shallower near the special latitudes θ = ±ω/2Ω. Around this region, this mode has the highest wave amplitude as well as the sharpest spatial gradient (the "singularity belt"), thereby incurring the strongest turbulent dissipation. Inertial modes naturally cause small Eulerian density perturbations, so they are only weakly coupled to the tidal potential. In a companion paper, we attempt to apply these results to the problem of tidal dissipation in Jupiter.
Genome sequence of the moderately thermophilic halophile Flexistipes sinusarabici strain (MAS10T)

Flexistipes sinusarabici Fiala et al. 2000 is the type species of the genus Flexistipes in the family Deferribacteraceae. The species is of interest because of its isolated phylogenetic location in a genomically under-characterized region of the tree of life, and because of its origin from a multiply extreme environment; the Atlantis Deep brines of the Red Sea, where it had to struggle with high temperatures, high salinity, and a high concentrations of heavy metals. This is the fourth completed genome sequence to be published of a type strain of the family Deferribacteraceae. The 2,526,590 bp long genome with its 2,346 protein-coding and 53 RNA genes is a part of the GenomicEncyclopedia ofBacteria andArchaea project.
The Director's Cut: Toward an Improved Understanding of Learning from Museums

This paper presents two perspectives that the author believes will contribute to an enhanced ability to describe and understand learning from museums. Arguably, a major strength of the past decade of research on learning from museums has been the description and investigation of many of the myriad factors that appear to influence learning from museums. However, though we now understand the factors, we do not yet know how to consider them holistically. We do not conduct research as if all these variables were important. In addition, we have not sufficiently incorporated scope and scale into our research models. Specifically, we have attempted to study an individual or group learning from a museum within the delimited physical scope and time scale of the actual museum visit instead of viewing what happens within the museum as being a small part of a much larger whole. Situating learning from museums within an enlarged scope and scale are not just abstract niceties; they are fundamental to validly determining what is or is not learned from a museum experience. Examples supporting the importance of these perspectives are presented. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed88(Suppl. 1):S83–S96, 2004
Does Technology = More Knowledgeable Other? an Investigation of the Effects of an Integrated Learning System on the Literacy Learning of Emergent Readers

Professionals in education continue to explore technology as a way to instruct young students, and there is an accompanying belief that this technology can make an educational and academic difference. Despite the high percentage of young students in classrooms using technology, the impact of this technology on the early literacy skills of young children remains largely unknown. Guided by Vygotsky’s social learning theory, this study reports a 24-week investigation on whether regular use of Istation®, an integrated learning system used by approximately 3,000,000 students in the United States, had an effect on the early literacy achievement of children in twelve kindergarten classrooms. A mixed-method, quasi-experimental design was constructed using propensity scores. Also investigated were the effects of the level of teacher literacy support on early literacy achievement and the interaction between Istation® use and the level of teacher literacy support. A descriptive discriminant analysis was performed to determine the main effect of Istation®. The level of teacher support and the interaction effect was then tested using a multivariate between-subject analysis. Results indicated that Istation® did have a statistically significant effect on the early literacy skills of the 72 kindergarten students studied and was able to explain 17.7% of the variance in group differences. Hearing and recording sounds and letter sound knowledge were the main contributors to group differences. Teacher literacy support and the interaction between teacher support and Istation were not significant. This study considers the relationship between technology and early literacy and concludes that Istation® can serve as a more knowledgeable other as students develop some early literacy skills; however, teachers are still needed to provide complete literacy instruction for young students.
Gene Expression Profiling of Preovulatory Follicle in the Buffalo Cow: Effects of Increased IGF-I Concentration on Periovulatory Events

The preovulatory follicle in response to gonadotropin surge undergoes dramatic biochemical, and morphological changes orchestrated by expression changes in hundreds of genes. Employing well characterized bovine preovulatory follicle model, granulosa cells (GCs) and follicle wall were collected from the preovulatory follicle before, 1, 10 and 22 h post peak LH surge. Microarray analysis performed on GCs revealed that 450 and 111 genes were differentially expressed at 1 and 22 h post peak LH surge, respectively. For validation, qPCR and immunocytochemistry analyses were carried out for some of the differentially expressed genes. Expression analysis of many of these genes showed distinct expression patterns in GCs and the follicle wall. To study molecular functions and genetic networks, microarray data was analyzed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis which revealed majority of the differentially expressed genes to cluster within processes like steroidogenesis, cell survival and cell differentiation. In the ovarian follicle, IGF-I is established to be an important regulator of the above mentioned molecular functions. Thus, further experiments were conducted to verify the effects of increased intrafollicular IGF-I levels on the expression of genes associated with the above mentioned processes. For this purpose, buffalo cows were administered with exogenous bGH to transiently increase circulating and intrafollicular concentrations of IGF-I. The results indicated that increased intrafollicular concentrations of IGF-I caused changes in expression of genes associated with steroidogenesis (StAR, SRF) and apoptosis (BCL-2, FKHR, PAWR). These results taken together suggest that onset of gonadotropin surge triggers activation of various biological pathways and that the effects of growth factors and peptides on gonadotropin actions could be examined during preovulatory follicle development.
Rejection of Periodic Wind Disturbances on a Smart Rotor Test Section Using Lifted Repetitive Control

A repetitive control method is presented that is implemented in real-time for periodic wind disturbance rejection for linear systems with multiple inputs and multiple outputs and with both repetitive and non-repetitive disturbance components. The novel repetitive controller can reject the periodic wind disturbances for fixed-speed wind turbines and variable-speed wind turbines operating above-rated and we will demonstrate this on an experimental “smart” rotor test section. The “smart” rotor is a rotor where the blades are equipped with a number of control devices that locally change the lift profile on the blade, combined with appropriate sensors and controllers. The rotational speed of wind turbines operating above-rated will vary around a defined reference speed, therefore methods are given to robustify the repetitive controllers for a mismatch in the period. The design of the repetitive controller is formulated as a lifted linear stochastic output-feedback problem on which the mature techniques of discrete linear control may be applied. For real-time implementation, the computational complexity can be reduced by exploiting the structure in the lifted state-space matrices. With relatively slow changing periodic disturbances it is shown that this repetitive control method can significantly reduce the structural vibrations of the “smart” rotor test section. The cost of additional wear and tear of the “smart” actuators are kept small, because a smooth control action is generated as the controller mainly focuses on the reduction of periodic disturbances.
Visual information retrieval in endoscopic video archives

In endoscopic procedures, surgeons work with live video streams from the inside of their subjects. A main source for documentation of procedures are still frames from the video, identified and taken during the surgery. However, with growing demands and technical means, the streams are saved to storage servers and the surgeons need to retrieve parts of the videos on demand. In this submission we present a demo application allowing for video retrieval based on visual features and late fusion, which allows surgeons to re-find shots taken during the procedure.
Unsupervised Spoken Language Understanding for a Multi-Domain Dialog System

This paper proposes an unsupervised spoken language understanding (SLU) framework for a multi-domain dialog system. Our unsupervised SLU framework applies a non-parametric Bayesian approach to dialog acts, intents and slot entities, which are the components of a semantic frame. The proposed approach reduces the human effort necessary to obtain a semantically annotated corpus for dialog system development. In this study, we analyze clustering results using various evaluation metrics for four dialog corpora. We also introduce a multi-domain dialog system that uses the unsupervised SLU framework. We argue that our unsupervised approach can help overcome the annotation acquisition bottleneck in developing dialog systems. To verify this claim, we report a dialog system evaluation, in which our method achieves competitive results in comparison with a system that uses a manually annotated corpus. In addition, we conducted several experiments to explore the effect of our approach on reducing development costs. The results show that our approach be helpful for the rapid development of a prototype system and reducing the overall development costs.
Using random sets as oracles

Let R be a notion of algorithmic randomness for individual subsets of ℕ. A set B is a base for R randomness if there is a Z ⩾T B such that Z is R random relative to B. We show that the bases for 1‐randomness are exactly the K‐trivial sets, and discuss several consequences of this result. On the other hand, the bases for computable randomness include every Δ20 set that is not diagonally noncomputable, but no set of PA‐degree. As a consequence, an n‐c.e. set is a base for computable randomness if and only if it is Turing incomplete.
Robot learning by nonparametric regression

We present an approach to robot learning based on a nonparametric regression technique, locally weighted regression. The model of the task to be performed is represented by infinitely many local linear models, i.e., the (hyper-) tangent planes at every query point. Such a model, however, is only generated when a query performed and is not retained. The architectural parameters of our approach, such as distance metrics, are also a function of the current query point instead of being global. Statistical tests are presented for when a local model is good enough such that it can be reliably used to build a local controller. These statistical measures also direct the exploration of the robot. We explicitly deal with the case where prediction accuracy requirements exist during exploration. By gradually shifting a center of exploration and controlling the speed of the shift with local prediction accuracy, a goal-directed exploration of state space takes place along the fringes of the current data support until the task goal is achieved. We illustrate this approach by describing how it has been used to enable a robot to learn a challenging juggling task. <<ETX>>
Effective Advising of Diverse Students in Community Colleges

In-depth interviews with 363 students across nine campuses capture the experiences of Latino, African American, Asian, Native American, White and Immigrant students in the California community college system. Four themes emerged with respect to advising and counseling: (a) Differences in the Use of Counseling and Advising; (b) The Importance of the Counseling Relationship; (c) Knowing the System; and (d) Cultural Understanding and Racism.
Influence of the Physical Environment on Instruction Process and Behavior Management: Early Childhood Teachers’ Perceptions

The purpose of this study is to describe the perceptions of early childhood teachers about the influence of physical environment on their instruction process and behavior management practices. Twenty-two female early childhood teachers participated in the study; eleven teachers from the public sector and eleven from private schools. A researcher-developed semi-structured interview protocol was used to collect data. After data analysis, 3 main themes were determined: (1) factors influencing classroom management, (2) physical environment and (3) the influence of physical environment on instruction and behavior management practices. The findings of the study show that there are some differences between private and public school teachers’ perceptions related to the factors influencing classroom management, the physical environment of their classrooms and effect of the physical environment on teachers’ instruction and behavior management practices. Key Words: physical environment, instruction, behavior management, teachers' perceptions, early childhood teachers
A Practical Approach to Selecting Record Access Paths

The physical organization of reformation w~thm a database has a major influence on the cost and performance of a computerized mformatmn system. The most efficient organization for a specific problem depends on the volume and intrinsm structure of stored mformatmn, the frequency and extent of updates, the formats and frequency of retrievals, and hardware accessing characteristms. Since these factors affect design performance m complex, subtle ways, an analyst faced with selecting a database design may well feel overwhelmed by the multitude of choices. This paper offers the practitioner a strmghtforward comparison of tradltmnal record-accessing structures. For the important class of apphcatmns lnvolwng a single record type, this article identifies the three most critical problem characteristms; it structures the essential macro-level design decisions; and it offers a procedure for choosing a reasonable data organization