Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of language and communication impairments within autism

Delays in language development and impairments in communication ability constitute a defining feature of autism. However, these language and communication impairments can be quite varied, even in classic Autistic Disorder. By current diagnostic definition (ICD-10, World Health Organization 1993; DSM-IV, American Psychiatric Association 1994), these impairments can range from a delay in the development of expressive language to a total lack of expressive language, from problems with initiating or sustaining a conversation to use of stereotyped, repetitive, and idiosyncratic language. In this chapter we first describe the historical interpretation of the basis for the language and communication impairments in autism, beginning with Kanner's (1943) description of his 11 seminal patients and continuing through the 1990s. We then identify an emerging view of the role of language and communication impairments within autism, namely that they overlap, perhaps considerably, with the language and communication impairments observed outside of autism. We then review numerous empirical studies that have demonstrated this overlap. We conclude by offering recommendations for further, necessary empirical investigations and the theoretical implications of those investigations. 1. History of language/communication impairments in autism: Kanner's 11 patients Communication impairments have been among the defining features of autism since Kanner (1943) first described his eleven seminal patients. The first child, Donald T. , arrived at the Harriet Lane Home when he was 5 years, 1 month of age. Before the age of 2, Donald could recite "short poems and even learned the Twenty-third Psalm and twenty-five questions and answers of the Presbyterian Catechism" (Kanner 1943/ reprinted 1985: 11). However, his parents
Exploring Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction and Delirium in Noncardiac Surgery Using MRI: A Systematic Review

Surgical patients are at high risk of developing postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) and postoperative delirium (POD). POCD and POD are associated with increased morbidity and mortality and worsening functional outcomes leading to severe socioeconomic consequences for the patient and the society in general. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a unique opportunity to study the anatomy and function of the brain. MRI thus plays an important role in elucidating the neuronal component of POCD and POD. Our aim has been to systematically gather MRI findings that are related to POCD and POD. Systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, and PsycINFO: MRI studies investigating patients with POCD as identified by perioperative cognitive testing or patients with delirium identified postoperatively by the Confusion Assessment Method. A total of ten eligible papers were included with a total of 269 surgical patients, 36 patient controls, and 55 healthy controls who all underwent MRI examination. These studies suggested that reduction of thalamic and hippocampal volumes and reduction of cerebral blood flow may be associated with POCD, while presurgery/preexisting and postoperative white matter pathology may be associated with POD. However, the evidence from these studies is rather weak. Future MRI studies are warranted to verify the current findings.
Annotating Points of Interest with Geo-tagged Tweets

Microblogging services like Twitter contain abundant of user generated content covering a wide range of topics. Many of the tweets can be associated to real-world entities for providing additional information for the latter. In this paper, we aim to associate tweets that are semantically related to real-world locations or Points of Interest (POIs). Tweets contain dynamic and real-time information while POIs contain relatively static information. The tweets associated with POIs provide complementary information for many applications like opinion mining and POI recommendation; the associated POIs can also be used as POI tags in Twitter. We define the research problem of annotating POIs with tweets and propose a novel supervised Bayesian Model (sBM). The model takes into account the textual, spatial features and user behaviors together with the supervised information of whether a tweet is POI-related. It is able to capture user interests in latent regions for the prediction of whether a tweet is POI-related and the association between the tweet and its most semantically related POI. On tweets and POIs collected for two cities (New York City and Singapore), we demonstrate the effectiveness of our models against baseline methods.
Effect of propolis and its polyphenolic/flavonoids compounds on DNA damage induced by radiation to mouse lymphocytes

Summary This study assessed the antioxidant potencies of several widespread flavonoids present in propolis and proplis alone. CBA mice were injected intraperitoneally (ip) with two preparation of propolis (water and ethanolic extract of propolis; WSDP or EEP) and propolis polyphenolic compounds (caffeic acid, naringin, chrysin, quercetin) at dose of 100 mg kg -1 body weight for 3 conecutive days before or after whole body γ-irradiation (WBI). Synthetic protector 2-aminoethylisothiouronium bromide hydrobromide (AET) was used as a positiv control. Mice were exposed to WBI with 9 Gy of 60 Co γ-radiation source. Therty min. after iradiation and/or treatment with test components we examined DNA damage of lymphocytes using the single-cell gel electophoresis assay (comet assay). The WBI of mice resulted in a significant elevation of DNA damage of lymphocytes as compared with unradiated mice.Pretreatment of mice with WSDP or EEP and flavonoids produced the reduction in oxidative DNA damage of lymphocytes as compared with control and they were ranked in decreasing order of potency as follows: naringin (2.98%); chrysin (16.84%); quercetin (33.67%); AET (48.52%); caffeic acid (49.51%); EEP (53.47%); and WSDP (54.46%), respectively. Also treatment with propolis and its polyphenolic/flavonoids compounds after irradiation resulted in a significant reduction of DNA damage as follows: caffeic acid (32.31%); AET (75.39%); naringin (78.46%); EEP (80%); chrysin (83.08%); quercetin (84.62%); and WSDP (89.24%). These data suggest that WSDP and EEP are more protective than flavonoids from propolis alone. Data are also consistent with the hypothesis that radioprotective activity of EEP and/or WSDP related to synergistic antioxidative effect of components present in EEP or WSDP.
High coherence plane breaking packaging for superconducting qubits

We demonstrate a pogo pin package for a superconducting quantum processor specifically designed with a nontrivial layout topology (e.g., a center qubit that cannot be accessed from the sides of the chip). Two experiments on two nominally identical superconducting quantum processors in pogo packages, which use commercially available parts and require modest machining tolerances, are performed at low temperature (10 mK) in a dilution refrigerator and both found to behave comparably to processors in standard planar packages with wirebonds where control and readout signals come in from the edges. Single- and two-qubit gate errors are also characterized via randomized benchmarking, exhibiting similar error rates as in standard packages, opening the possibility of integrating pogo pin packaging with extensible qubit architectures.
Lysosomes, autophagosomes and Alzheimer pathology in dementia with Lewy body disease

A failure of protein degradation may underpin Lewy body disease (LBD) where α‐synuclein is assimilated into the pathognomic Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites. We investigated histological alterations in lysosomes and autophagosomes in the substantia nigra (SN) and cingulate gyrus (CG) in 34 patients with LBD employing antibodies against phosphorylated α‐synuclein and lysosomal (lysosomal associated membrane proteins 1 and 2 (LAMP‐1 and LAMP‐2), cathepsin D (CTSD)) and autophagosomal (microtubule‐associated protein light chain 3α (LC3A)) proteins. Immunostained sections were qualitatively and semi‐quantitatively assessed for the appearance, distribution and intensity of staining. Four LBD patients had mutations in GBA1. There was significantly less LAMP‐1, LAMP‐2 and CTSD immunostaining in neurons of the SN in LBD cases compared to control cases and marginally less LAMP‐1 in patients with GBA1 mutations compared to those without. Loss of LAMP‐1 and CTSD immunoreactivity correlated with cell loss from the SN. There were no changes in LC3A immunoreactivity in the SN, nor any major changes in the CG, or glial cell activity in the SN and CG, for any of the markers. A proportion of amyloid plaques in both the LBD and control cases was immunoreactive for LAMP‐1 and LAMP‐2, but not CTSD or LC3A proteins. These immunohisochemical features were seen in glial cells, which were negative for amyloid‐β. Alterations in lysosomal structure or function, but not macroautophagy, may underpin the pathogenesis of LBD.
Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised: Factor Structure, Reliability, Validity, and Suicide Risk Screening Characteristics among Nigerian Patients with Schizophrenia

ABSTRACT Objective: This study attempted to explore the feasibility of use of the 18-item Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R) as a subjective suicide risk assessment tool in a cross-sectional sample of Nigerian patients with schizophrenia. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and thirty-two outpatients with schizophrenia were recruited from the mental health clinic of a university teaching hospital in Southwestern Nigeria. They completed the OCI-R in addition to the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, and a sociodemographic and illness-related questionnaire. The patients were objectively interviewed with the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview suicidality module items to assess their suicide risk. Results: The 18-item OCI-R demonstrated satisfactory sensitivity (0.900) and specificity (0.662) at a total cutoff score of 10 in relation to the identification of Nigerian patients with schizophrenia with significant suicide risk. At this cutoff score, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.817 (95% confidence interval: 0.735–0.898), and positive predictive value (0.726) and negative predictive value (0.869) were also satisfactory. The OCI-R also demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency and construct validity. Conclusion: The OCI-R has demonstrated to be useful as a subjective suicide risk assessment tool among Nigerian schizophrenia patients.
Superconducting Optoelectronic Neurons II: Receiver Circuits

Circuits using superconducting single-photon detectors and Josephson junctions to perform signal reception, synaptic weighting, and integration are investigated. The circuits convert photon-detection events into flux quanta, the number of which is determined by the synaptic weight. The current from many synaptic connections is inductively coupled to a superconducting loop that implements the neuronal threshold operation. Designs are presented for synapses and neurons that perform integration as well as detect coincidence events for temporal coding. Both excitatory and inhibitory connections are demonstrated. It is shown that a neuron with a single integration loop can receive input from 1000 such synaptic connections, and neurons of similar design could employ many loops for dendritic processing.
An Algorithm for Creating Virtual Controls Using Integrated and Harmonized Longitudinal Data

We introduce a strategy for creating virtual control groups—cases generated through computer algorithms that, when aggregated, may serve as experimental comparators where live controls are difficult to recruit, such as when programs are widely disseminated and randomization is not feasible. We integrated and harmonized data from eight archived longitudinal adolescent-focused data sets spanning the decades from 1980 to 2010. Collectively, these studies examined numerous psychosocial variables and assessed past 30-day alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use. Additional treatment and control group data from two archived randomized control trials were used to test the virtual control algorithm. Both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessed intentions, normative beliefs, and values as well as past 30-day alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use. We developed an algorithm that used percentile scores from the integrated data set to create age- and gender-specific latent psychosocial scores. The algorithm matched treatment case observed psychosocial scores at pretest to create a virtual control case that figuratively “matured” based on age-related changes, holding the virtual case’s percentile constant. Virtual controls matched treatment case occurrence, eliminating differential attrition as a threat to validity. Virtual case substance use was estimated from the virtual case’s latent psychosocial score using logistic regression coefficients derived from analyzing the treatment group. Averaging across virtual cases created group estimates of prevalence. Two criteria were established to evaluate the adequacy of virtual control cases: (1) virtual control group pretest drug prevalence rates should match those of the treatment group and (2) virtual control group patterns of drug prevalence over time should match live controls. The algorithm successfully matched pretest prevalence for both RCTs. Increases in prevalence were observed, although there were discrepancies between live and virtual control outcomes. This study provides an initial framework for creating virtual controls using a step-by-step procedure that can now be revised and validated using other prevention trial data.
Automated ECG Noise Detection and Classification System for Unsupervised Healthcare Monitoring

Objective: Automatic detection and classification of noises can play a vital role in the development of robust unsupervised electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis systems. This paper proposes a novel unified framework for automatic detection, localization, and classification of single and combined ECG noises. Methods : The proposed framework consists of the modified ensemble empirical mode decomposition (CEEMD), the short-term temporal feature extraction, and the decision-rule-based noise detection and classification. In the proposed framework, ECG signals are first decomposed using the modified CEEMD algorithm for discriminating the ECG components from the noises and artifacts. Then, the short-term temporal features such as maximum absolute amplitude, number of zerocrossings, and local maximum peak amplitude of the autocorelation function are computed from the extracted high-frequency and low-frequency signals. Finally, a decision rule-based algorithm is presented for detecting the presence of noises and classifying the processed ECG signals into six signal groups: noise-free ECG, ECG+BW, ECG+MA, ECG+PLI, ECG+BW+PLI, and ECG+BW+MA. Results: The proposed framework is rigorously evaluated on five benchmark ECG databases and the real-time ECG signals. The proposed framework achieves an average sensitivity of 99.12%, specificity of 98.56%, and overall accuracy of 98.90% in detecting the presence of noises. Classification results show that the framework achieves an average sensitivity, positive predictivity, and classification accuracy of 98.93%, 98.39%, and 97.38%, respectively. Conclusion: The proposed framework not only achieves better noise detection and classification rates than the current state-of-the-art methods but also accurately localizes short bursts of noises with low endpoint delineation errors. Significance: Extensive studies on benchmark databases demonstrate that the proposed framework is more suitable for reducing false alarm rates and selecting appropriate noise-specific denoising techniques in automated ECG analysis applications.
Alterations in white matter microstructure are associated with goal‐directed upper‐limb movement segmentation in children born extremely preterm

Altered white matter microstructure is commonly found in children born preterm (PT), especially those born at an extremely low gestational age (GA). These children also commonly show disturbed motor function. This study explores the relation between white matter alterations and upper‐limb movement segmentation in 41 children born PT (19 girls), and 41 children born at term (18 girls) at 8 years. The PT group was subdivided into extremely PT (E‐PT; GA = 25–27 weeks, N = 10), very PT (V‐PT; GA = 28–32 weeks, N = 13), and moderately PT (M‐PT; GA = 33–35 weeks, N = 18). Arm/hand preference (preferred/non‐preferred) was determined through object interactions and the brain hemispheres were designated accordingly. White matter alterations were assessed using diffusion tensor imaging in nine areas, and movement segmentation of the body‐parts head, shoulder, elbow, and wrist were registered during a unimanual goal‐directed task. Increased movement segmentation was demonstrated consistently on the preferred side in the E‐PT group compared with the term born group. Also compared with the term born peers, the E‐PT group demonstrated reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) in the cerebral peduncle (targeting the corticospinal tract) in the hemisphere on the non‐preferred side and in the splenium of corpus callosum. In contrast, in the anterior internal capsule on the preferred side, the E‐PT group had increased FA. Lower FA in the cerebral peduncle, but higher FA in the anterior internal capsule, was associated with increased movement segmentation across body‐parts in a contralateral manner. The results suggest that impaired development of sensorimotor tracts in E‐PT children could explain a sub‐optimal spatiotemporal organization of upper‐limb movements. Hum Brain Mapp 38:5051–5068, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Choice Correspondences : a Theoretical and an Empirical Study Preliminary and Incomplete

Experiments in economics generally elicit a choice function: for a given choice set, a decision maker chooses exactly one alternative. It is a restriction on most models of revealed preferences, that start with a choice correspondence: for a given choice set, a decision maker chooses a subset of alternatives. This paper explores the impact of this restriction on the consistency of observed behaviors. In order to do so, a new methodology is built to elicit a choice correspondence in an incentive compatible way, called pay-for-certainty. We introduce a new theoretical requirements, increasing chosen set that guarantees the elicitation of a proper choice correspondence with the pay-for-certainty methodology. We implement the methodology in the laboratory and compare it to choice functions. 40.13% of observed choices are singletons and only 2.33% of subjects have single-peaked preferences. Increasing chosen set is verified by 60.47% of the subjects in the relevant case. 46.51% of all choices correspondences verify warp whereas 58.82% of all choice functions do. In a second step, we use the pay-for-certainty methodology to explore the completeness of preferences assumptions, a task impossible with choice functions. We assess degrees of incomplete preferences. A lower bound introduced by Eliaz and Ok (2006) explains only 2.68% of observed behaviors. An upper bound characterized here and equivalent to the Strict Unambiguous Choice Relation of Bernheim and Rangel (2009) explains 14.77% of observed behaviors. These results points to the relevance of observing choice correspondences instead of choice functions when a choice correspondence is needed to test a theory. JEL Codes: D01, D89
The proportion of minimally verbal children with autism spectrum disorder in a community-based early intervention programme.

BACKGROUND Estimates of the proportion of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who are minimally verbal vary from 25%to 35%. However, there is a lack of consensus in defining minimally verbal and few detailed reports of communication outcomes for these children following intervention. The aim of this study was to explore how minimally verbal children have been defined and to document the proportion of minimally verbal children in a group of children with ASD receiving a community based early intervention programme. METHOD A longitudinal cohort design was used to examine the proportion of children who met criteria for minimally verbal in 246 children with ASD when they entered and exited an early intervention programme. RESULTS Overall, 26.3% of the children in this study exited the programme using 'fewer than five spontaneous and functional words' and 36.4% exited not using 'two word phrases' as indicated by direct assessment. However, our findings were mixed depending on measures and definitions used, with parent report indicating that as many as 29.4% of children were not 'naming at least three objects' consistently, and 43.3% not using 'phrases with a noun and verb' consistently at exit. More than half of the children who entered the programme with minimal speech exited the programme with a similar language profile. A small percentage of children (1.2%-4.7%) regressed in their language level over time. CONCLUSIONS Despite advances in early intervention, and access to services at a younger age, around a quarter of individuals with ASD in this study exited early intervention with significant communication needs. Our findings are considered in relation to the literature and clinical implications, and future research directions are discussed.
Genomic Comparison of the P-ATPase Gene Family in Four Cotton Species and Their Expression Patterns in Gossypium hirsutum

Plant P-type H+-ATPase (P-ATPase) is a membrane protein existing in the plasma membrane that plays an important role in the transmembrane transport of plant cells. To understand the variety and quantity of P-ATPase proteins in different cotton species, we combined four databases from two diploid cotton species (Gossypium raimondii and G. arboreum) and two tetraploid cotton species (G. hirsutum and G. barbadense) to screen the P-ATPase gene family and resolved the evolutionary relationships between the former cotton species. We identified 53, 51, 99 and 98 P-ATPase genes from G. arboretum, G. raimondii, G. barbadense and G. hirsutum, respectively. The structural and phylogenetic analyses revealed that the gene structure was consistent between P-ATPase genes, with a close evolutionary relationship. The expression analysis of P-ATPase genes showed that many P-ATPase genes were highly expressed in various tissues and at different fiber developmental stages in G. hirsutum, suggesting that they have potential functions during growth and fiber development in cotton.
Filter Selection for Optimizing the Spectral Sensitivity of Broadband Multispectral Cameras Based on Maximum Linear Independence

Previous research has shown that the effectiveness of selecting filter sets from among a large set of commercial broadband filters by a vector analysis method based on maximum linear independence (MLI). However, the traditional MLI approach is suboptimal due to the need to predefine the first filter of the selected filter set to be the maximum ℓ2 norm among all available filters. An exhaustive imaging simulation with every single filter serving as the first filter is conducted to investigate the features of the most competent filter set. From the simulation, the characteristics of the most competent filter set are discovered. Besides minimization of the condition number, the geometric features of the best-performed filter set comprise a distinct transmittance peak along the wavelength axis of the first filter, a generally uniform distribution for the peaks of the filters and substantial overlaps of the transmittance curves of the adjacent filters. Therefore, the best-performed filter sets can be recognized intuitively by simple vector analysis and just a few experimental verifications. A practical two-step framework for selecting optimal filter set is recommended, which guarantees a significant enhancement of the performance of the systems. This work should be useful for optimizing the spectral sensitivity of broadband multispectral imaging sensors.