Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A multimodal architecture for simulating natural interactive walking in virtual environments

We describe a multimodal system that exploits the use of footwear-based interaction in virtual environments. We developed a pair of shoes enhanced with pressure sensors, actuators, and markers. These shoes control a multichannel surround sound system and drive a physically based audio-haptic synthesis engine that simulates the act of walking on different surfaces. We present the system in all its components, and explain its ability to simulate natural interactive walking in virtual environments. We describe two experiments where the possibilities offered by the system are tested. In the first experiment, blindfolded subjects are asked to walk on a virtual rope, guided only by auditory, haptic and audio-haptic feedback provided at feet level. In the second experiment, subjects are overlooking a virtual canyon, while wearing a head mounted display and the developed shoes. Results of the experiments provide some preliminary indications on the role of multimodal feedback delivered at feet level to enhance realism and sense of presence in virtual environments.
A Dyadic Green's Function Based Method for the Transient Analysis of Lossy and Dispersive Multiconductor Transmission Lines

This paper describes a new algorithm for the analysis of multiconductor transmission lines characterized by frequency-dependent per-unit-length parameters. The proposed model is based on studying telegrapher's equations as a Sturm-Liouville problem. The open-end impedance matrix is expressed in a series form as an infinite sum of matrices of rational functions, derived from the series form of the dyadic Green's function. The rational form of the open-end impedance matrix allows an easy identification of poles and residues and, thus, the development of a reduced-order system of the interconnect. The pole-residue representation can be synthesized in an equivalent circuit or converted into a state-space model, which can be easily embedded into conventional nonlinear circuit SPICE-like solvers. The numerical results confirm the validity of the proposed modeling technique.
“Is violence a contagious disease?” The social implications of post-traumatic stress disorder

Abstract Some problems related to the formal diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the social implications of the concepts incorporated in the diagnosis are addressed. Increasing worldwide evidence of the circumstances likely to produce a PTSD and of patients of all ages and races satisfying the criteria for the diagnosis suggests a problem of epidemic proportions requiring intensive study.
A Collaborative Quasi-Linear Programming Framework for Ad Hoc Sensor Localization

In this paper, we propose a collaborative localization scheme which utilizes, in addition to the range estimates to nodes with known locations (anchors), the range estimates between un- localized nodes to estimate their positions. The proposed collaborative method is incorporated into the linear programming (LP) framework proposed in Venkatesh, S. and Buehrer, R. M. , (2006) and is implemented in a distributed fashion. We also adopt a constrained nonlinear optimization method to deal with the degenerate cases in the LP approach, i.e., when an unlocalized node has less than three line-of-sight (LOS) range estimates to localized nodes. Simulation results suggest that this collaborative quasi-LP framework can improve the localization accuracy as well as increase the percentage of nodes that are able to be localized, as compared to the standard sequential least-squares (LS) estimator.
An Extension of Business Process Model and Notation for Security Risk Management

Business process modelling is one of the major aspects in the modern information system development. Recently business process model and notation BPMN has become a standard technique to support this activity. Typically the BPMN notations are used to understand enterprise's business processes. However, limited work exists regarding how security concerns are addressed during the management of the business processes. This is a problem, since both business processes and security should be understood in parallel to support a development of the secure information systems. In the previous work we have analysed BPMN with respect to the domain model of the IS security risk management ISSRM and showed how the language constructs could be aligned to the concepts of the ISSRM domain model. In this paper the authors propose the BPMN extensions for security risk management based on the BPMN alignment to the ISSRM concepts. We illustrate how the extended BPMN could express assets, risks and risk treatment on few running examples related to the Internet store regarding the asset confidentiality, integrity and availability. Our proposal would allow system analysts to understand how to develop security requirements to secure important assets defined through business processes. The paper opens the possibility for business and security model interoperability and the model transformation between several modelling approaches if these both are aligned to the ISSRM domain model.
Development of Cardiovascular Indices of Acute Pain Responding in Infants: A Systematic Review

Background. Cardiovascular indices of pain are pervasive in the hospital setting. However, no prospective research has examined the development of cardiac responses to acutely painful procedures in the first year of life. Objectives. Our main goal was to synthesize existing evidence regarding the development of cardiovascular responses to acutely painful medical procedures over the first year of life in preterm and term born infants. Methods. A systematic search retrieved 6994 articles to review against inclusion criteria. A total of 41 studies were included in the review. Results. In response to acutely painful procedures, most infants had an increase in mean heart rate (HR) that varied in magnitude both across and within gestational and postnatal ages. Research in the area of HR variability has been inconsistent, limiting conclusions. Conclusions. Longitudinal research is needed to further understand the inherent variability of cardiovascular pain responses across and within gestational and postnatal ages and the causes for the variability.
Empowering Families in Difficult Times

The Women’s Economic Stability Initiative developed and evaluated a new model to help low-income, single women with children make progress toward economic stability through vocational training/educational attainment (particularly in fields traditionally dominated by men), financial assistance for reliable childcare, transportation, and housing, and life coaching/case management using an empowerment approach. During the first 3 years of the initiative, participants made progress in attaining academic degrees, maintaining employment, experiencing modest increases in income, some success in building assets, and paying down/eliminating credit card debt. The initiative provided the support needed to help women gain greater stability for themselves and their children.
Inhibition of the proteasome induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in mantle cell lymphoma cells

Summary. Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a distinctive non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma subtype, characterized by overexpression of cyclin D1 as a consequence of the chromosomal translocation t(11;14)(q13;q32). MCL remains an incurable disease, combining the unfavourable clinical features of aggressive and indolent lymphomas. The blastic variant of MCL, which is often associated with additional cytogenetic alterations, has an even worse prognosis and new treatment options are clearly needed. The present study investigated the effect of a specific proteasome inhibitor, lactacystin, on cell cycle progression and apoptosis in two lymphoma cell lines harbouring the t(11;14)(q13;q32) and additional cytogenetic alterations, including p53 mutation (NCEB) and p16 deletion (Granta 519). Granta cells were more susceptible to inhibition of the proteasome with respect to inhibition of proliferation and apoptosis induction. No changes were observed in the expression levels of the G1 regulatory molecules cyclin D1 and cdk4, but cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction was accompanied by accumulation of the cdk inhibitor p21 in both cell lines. Increased p53 expression was only observed in Granta cells with wild‐type p53. Cleavage of procaspase‐3 and ‐9 was observed but cleavage of procaspase‐8 was not involved in apoptosis induction. The proapoptotic effect of lactacystin was reversed by pretreatment with the pancaspase inhibitor zVAD.fmk. Lactacystin was also effective in inducing apoptosis in lymphoma cells from MCL patients. We conclude that inhibition of the proteasome might be a promising therapeutic approach for this incurable disease.
Subwavelength localization and toroidal dipole moment of spoof surface plasmon polaritons

We experimentally and theoretically demonstrate subwavelength scale localization of spoof surface plasmon polaritons at a point defect in a two-dimensional groove metal array. An analytical expression for dispersion relation of spoof surface plasmon polaritons substantiates the existence of a band gap where a defect mode can be introduced. A waveguide coupling method allows us to excite localized spoof surface plasmon polariton modes and measure their resonance frequencies. Numerical calculations confirm that localized modes can have a very small modal volume and a high Q factor both of which are essential in enhancing light-matter interactions. Interestingly, we find that the localized spoof surface plasmon polariton has a significant toroidal dipole moment, which is responsible for the high Q factor, as well as an electric quadrupole moment. In addition, the dispersion properties of spoof surface plasmon polaritons are analyzed using a modal expansion method and numerical calculations.
“The best or nothing": the mediating role of workaholism in the relationship between perfectionism and burnout.

The study involved 225 workers operating in an Italian public organization. The first aim was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the short version of the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale in the Italian context. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the 3-factor model of perfectionism and evidenced satisfactory psychometric properties of the scale. The study also aimed to test a theoretical model in which the three dimensions of perfectionism — self-oriented, other-oriented, socially prescribed perfectionism — have both a direct and an indirect effect, through workaholism, on emotional exhaustion and professional inefficacy. Results showed that self-oriented and other-oriented perfectionism were positively associated with workaholism, which, in turn, was positively associated with emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, workaholism mediated the relationship between self-oriented and other-oriented perfectionism and emotional exhaustion. Additionally, self-oriented perfectionism had a negative direct effect on emotional exhaustion, whereas socially prescribed perfectionism showed a positive direct effect on both emotional exhaustion and professional inefficacy. Possible implications are discussed for managers and human resources professionals.
Prices And Portfolio Choices In Financial Markets : Econometric Evidence

Structural econometrics is developed to test an extension of standard general equilibrium theory that was suggested in [2] as explanation for why in experiments securities prices tend to the predictions of general equilibrium theory but allocations do not. The test’s asymptotic properties are derived as one increases the number of subjects (relatively large in the experiments at hand), keeping fixed the time dimension (small in the experimental setting). The test, based on GMM, is arranged such that errors in the estimation of individual subjects’ risk tolerance coefficients average out as the number of subjects increases. Prices are linked to individual portfolio choices, thereby providing a comprehensive test of equilibrium conditions, unlike in studies of field data. The empirical distribution of the test’s central statistic is a horizontal translation of its distribution under the null (a χ distribution with one degree of freedom), implying that there are more rejections than expected by chance. Learning (markets move closer to equilibrium in later periods of an experiment) does not explain the finding. Small-sample bias contributes to the rejections, as evidenced by correlation between the test’s statistic and a standard measure of the distance from equilibrium pricing. A closer examination of the estimated average allocation prediction errors reveals model mis-specification as an additional source of the rejections: violations of short-sale constraints on the riskfree asset.
Genetic differentiation of Euterpe edulis Mart. populations estimated by AFLP analysis

Heart‐of‐palm (Euterpe edulis Mart.) is a wild palm with a wide distribution throughout the Atlantic Rainforest. Populations of E. edulis represent important renewable natural resources but are currently under threat from predatory exploitation. Furthermore, because the species is indigenous to the Atlantic Rainforest, which is located in the most economically developed and populated region of Brazil, social and economic pressures have devastated heart‐of‐palm forests. In order to estimate the partitioning of genetic variation of endangered E. edulis populations, 429 AFLP markers were used to analyse 150 plants representing 11 populations of the species distribution range. Analysis of the genetic structure of populations carried out using analysis of molecular variance (amova) revealed moderate genetic variation within populations (57.4%). Genetic differentiation between populations (FST = 0.426) was positively correlated with geographical distance. These results could be explained by the historical fragmentation of the Atlantic coastal region, together with the life cycle and mating system. The data obtained in this work should have important implications for conservation and future breeding programmes of E. edulis.
A statistical approach to texture description of medical images: a preliminary study

The article deals with the problem of texture description. It presents a statistical approach. Specifically, it introduces the use of first- and second-order statistics on texture color spaces. At the end of the article, we also give estimations of the computational time complexities of the parameter calculations presented in this article and describe our experience on one application domain. This study is a preliminary preparation for the application of these methods to medical images.
Neonatal Partial Denervation Results in Nodal But Not Terminal Sprouting and a Decrease in Efficacy of Remaining Neuromuscular Junctions in Rat Soleus Muscle

Mature motoneurons respond to partial denervation of their target muscle by sprouting to reinnervate denervated fibers, thus maintaining muscle strength in the face of motoneuronal loss caused by injury or disease. Neonatal motoneurons, however, do not expand to innervate more muscle fibers. The present work seeks to understand this developmental change in motoneuron response to partial denervation. It has been suggested that neonatal motor units cannot increase in size because they are already at their maximum size (approximately five times larger than in adulthood). We ruled out this explanation by showing that after partial denervation on postnatal day 14 (P14), when motor units have decreased to their adult size, motoneurons still did not sprout to reinnervate as many fibers as in adulthood. Instead, we found evidence supporting an alternative explanation involving terminal Schwann cells. After partial denervation of neonatal (but not adult) muscles, terminal Schwann cells at denervated endplates undergo apoptosis. We found that terminal (but not nodal) sprouting was absent in partially denervated neonatal muscles. This finding suggests that terminal Schwann cells, previously reported to guide terminal sprouts to denervated endplates in adult muscles, are necessary for the formation and growth of terminal sprouts. Moreover, partial denervation on P14 severely weakened the remaining, uninjured synapses, suggesting that neonatal motoneurons may withdraw terminals after the denervation of nearby fibers. These findings have implications for the interpretation of previous studies on synapse elimination and offer insight into the failure of young motor units to expand after partial denervation.
How the source of word-of-mouth influences information processing in the formation of brand attitudes

ABSTRACT Word-of-mouth (WOM) can be a powerful, persuasive source of information, but relatively little is understood about how consumers utilize information in service evaluations and how the source of WOM (e.g. friends, family) affects attitudes. The importance of WOM is acknowledged in the services context; however, the research field of higher education has found some inconsistent results concerning the impact of WOM. The aim of this study, with its focus on information processing, is to enhance the understanding of these varying results with data from international master's degree applicants. By means of structural equation modeling, the results suggest that the processing of WOM differs depending on the source and the difficulty of evaluation criteria. Information through some sources of WOM is mainly cognitively processed, whereas in others information is processed more as simple cues. Overall, insights are provided into the impact of WOM, and higher education marketing.
Poisson Latent Feature Calculus for Generalized Indian Buffet Processes

The purpose of this work is to describe a unified, and indeed simple, mechanism for non-parametric Bayesian analysis, construction and generative sampling of a large class of latent feature models which one can describe as generalized notions of Indian Buffet Processes(IBP). This is done via the Poisson Process Calculus as it now relates to latent feature models. The IBP was ingeniously devised by Griffiths and Ghahramani in (2005) and its generative scheme is cast in terms of customers entering sequentially an Indian Buffet restaurant and selecting previously sampled dishes as well as new dishes. In this metaphor dishes corresponds to latent features, attributes, preferences shared by individuals. The IBP, and its generalizations, represent an exciting class of models well suited to handle high dimensional statistical problems now common in this information age. The IBP is based on the usage of conditionally independent Bernoulli random variables, coupled with completely random measures acting as Bayesian priors, that are used to create sparse binary matrices. This Bayesian non-parametric view was a key insight due to Thibaux and Jordan (2007). One way to think of generalizations is to to use more general random variables. Of note in the current literature are models employing Poisson and Negative-Binomial random variables. However, unlike their closely related counterparts, generalized Chinese restaurant processes, the ability to analyze IBP models in a systematic and general manner is not yet available. The limitations are both in terms of knowledge about the effects of different priors and in terms of models based on a wider choice of random variables. This work will not only provide a thorough description of the properties of existing models but also provide a simple template to devise and analyze new models.
Propofol and Midazolam Inhibit Conscious Memory Processes Very Soon after Encoding: An Event-related Potential Study of Familiarity and Recollection in Volunteers

Background:Intravenous drugs active via &ggr;-aminobutyric acid receptors to produce memory impairment during conscious sedation. Memory function was assessed using event-related potentials (ERPs) while drug was present. Methods:The continuous recognition task measured recognition of photographs from working (6 s) and long-term (27 s) memory while ERPs were recorded from Cz (familiarity recognition) and Pz electrodes (recollection recognition). Volunteer participants received sequential doses of one of placebo (n = 11), 0.45 and 0.9 &mgr;g/ml propofol (n = 10), 20 and 40 ng/ml midazolam (n = 12), 1.5 and 3 &mgr;g/ml thiopental (n = 11), or 0.25 and 0.4 ng/ml dexmedetomidine (n = 11). End-of-day yes/no recognition 225 min after the end of drug infusion tested memory retention of pictures encoded on the continuous recognition tasks. Results:Active drugs increased reaction times and impaired memory on the continuous recognition task equally, except for a greater effect of midazolam (P < 0.04). Forgetting from continuous recognition tasks to end of day was similar for all drugs (P = 0.40), greater than placebo (P < 0.001). Propofol and midazolam decreased the area between first presentation (new) and recognized (old, 27 s later) ERP waveforms from long-term memory for familiarity (P = 0.03) and possibly for recollection processes (P = 0.12). Propofol shifted ERP amplitudes to smaller voltages (P < 0.002). Dexmedetomidine may have impaired familiarity more than recollection processes (P = 0.10). Thiopental had no effect on ERPs. Conclusion:Propofol and midazolam impaired recognition ERPs from long-term memory but not working memory. ERP measures of memory revealed different pathways to end-of-day memory loss as early as 27 s after encoding.
Shades of Music: Letting Users Discover Sub-Song Similarities

Many interesting pieces of music violate established structures or rules of their genre on purpose. These songs can be very atypical in their interior structure and their different parts might actually allude to entirely different other songs or genres. We present a query-by-example-based user interface that shows songs related to the one currently playing. This relation is not based on overall similarity, but on the similarity between the part currently playing and parts of other songs in the collection along different dimensions (pitch, timbre, bars, beats, loudness). The similarity is initially computed automatically, but can be corrected by the user. Once a sufficient number of corrections has been made, we expect the similarity measure to reach an even higher precision. Our system thereby allows users to discover hidden similarities on the level of song sections instead of whole songs.
Analysing the Problems of Science Teachers That They Encounter While Teaching Physics Education.

Even though physical science is very important in our daily lives, it is insufficiently understood by students. In order for students to get a better physical education, the teachers who have given physics lesson should first eliminated the problems that they face during the teaching process. The aim of this survey is to specify the matters encountered by science teachers during the teaching of physics and to provide them with solutions. The study group consisted of 50 science teachers who worked in Diyarbakir and Batman over the period of 2014 2015. This research is a descriptive study carried out by content analysis. In this study, semi-structured interview have been used along with qualitative research methods. According to the research findings, the top problems that the physics teachers encountered in physics lesson while processing the topics were laboratory problems. Some solutions have been introduced for science teachers in order to help them provide a better physics education.