Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preschoolers' Executive Function: Importance, Contributors, Research Needs and Assessment Options

The early education field increasingly is recognizing the key role played by young children's executive function (EF) skills, generally defined as the cognitive abilities that consciously support goal-directed behaviors. To provide the field with an overview of research conducted on this topic over the past 15 years, we review research on the traits and skills that fall under the broader umbrella of preschool EF and the role it plays in young children's developmental and academic outcomes. Also addressed are the child, environmental, activity-related, and curricular factors potentially impacting the development of EF and some EF-related topics for which additional research is needed. Finally, we provide practical and psychometric information regarding six examples of measures that focus on assessing preschoolers' EF skills. This report can serve as a resource for early childhood researchers and practitioners who are interested in understanding EF development during the early years. By highlighting some topics for which additional research is needed and providing information regarding examples of valid and reliable measures to assess EF in children ages 3–5 years, we hope this report also will serve as a springboard for future studies related to preschool EF.
The Evaluation of Modulation Techniques for Underwater Wireless Optical Communications

Currently, there are lots of efforts at using underwater vehicles, gliders and moorings for the spatial and temporal measurements in oceanography research. Sensor data collected by these platforms is usually internally recorded and then transmitted via a cable or wireless communication. Traditional acoustic links are fundamentally bandwidth limited to low rates of bit per second (bps). Optical methods are well posed to provide an alternative solution for high bandwidth communications in undersea. In this paper, we examined several modulation technologies for undersea environment application. Through modeling and simulation, the advantages and limitations of these modulating configurations are discussed. It is demonstrated that the Pulse Position Modulation (PPM) is better suited for low powered undersea systems and the phase shift keying (PSK) yields the best performance in term of bandwidth and error performance with poor power efficiency.
An integrated agent-based approach for modeling disease spread in large populations to support health informatics

Disease spread has a much broader impact on public health than the important issues of illnesses and deaths. Among these are chronic health problems, reductions in national wealth, government instability, and crime. Here, we describe an integrated approach for computational health informatics that includes individual-based population construction, and agent-based modeling of dynamics. We restrict dynamics modeling to epidemiology. We itemize technical challenges and provide a case study of the Ebola outbreak in Monrovia, Liberia, with discussion of mobile treatment centers.
Adjoint Jordan Blocks

Let G be a quasisimple algebraic group over an algebraically closed field of characteristic p>0. We suppose that p is very good for G; since p is good, there is a bijection between the nilpotent orbits in the Lie algebra and the unipotent classes in G. If the nilpotent X in Lie(G) and the unipotent u in G correspond under this bijection, and if u has order p, we show that the partitions of ad(X) and Ad(u) are the same. When G is classical or of type G_2, we prove this result with no assumption on the order of u. In the cases where u has order p, the result is achieved through an application of results of Seitz concerning good A_1 subgroups of G. For classical groups, the techniques are more elementary, and they lead also to a new proof of the following result of Fossum: the structure constants of the representation ring of a 1-dimensional formal group law F are independent of F.
Frederick J. Newmeyer. 2005. Possible and probable languages: A generative perspective on linguistic typology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Pp. x + 278. US $45.00 (softcover).

The stated goal of the book is "reorienting generative grammarians in a direction that is better able to capture the distinction between the possible and the probable in language" (p. 27). To achieve this, the author does not present new research results of his own, but offers a detailed critique of the dominant functionalist and formalist approaches to typological generalizations and parametric correlations. In a nutshell, Newmeyer argues that both "formalist approaches", in particular the Principles and Parameters model (Chapter 3) and "functionalist approaches" (Chapter 5), spectacularly fail when it comes to accounting for typological generalizations. Their nonabsolute, stochastic nature leads the author to propose that their explanation does not lie in the realm of grammatical theory (p. 104), but rather in a theory of performance, such as the one put forward in Hawkins (2004). Newmeyer's Universal Grammar is thus far lighter that what is assumed in most generativist studies: "UG tells us what & possible human language is, but not what a probable language is" (p. 104). This catchy sentence essentially amounts to discarding parametric theory as part of the generative enterprise. This is precisely the goal of Chapter 3 of the present book, as we will see below. Chapter 2 offers a very interesting, highly accessible and well-documented historical overview of mainly the GB and MP models, as well as Kayne's Antisymmetry. Several views of what constitutes a "parameter" are clearly presented (e.g., Baker's macroparameters and Kayne's microparameters) and examples of several parameters are given (pp. 42ff.), including Rizzi's Subjacency Parameter, the Null Subject Parameter, and the Head Directionality Parameter. The author concludes: "the commitment of generativists to account for cross-linguistic variation was greatly facilitated by the introduction of the Government-Binding theory in the early 1980s and its conception that principles are parametrized" (p. 72). Despite that conclusion, Newmeyer, at the outset of Chapter 3, sketches out the components of his own conception of linguistic theory as follows (taken from p. 73):
An Exploratory Study of the Personal Learning Environments of Security and Investigation Professionals

This paper describes and discusses how security management and investigation professionals use Personal Learning Environments (PLE) for work-related learning and continuing professional development. It is based on an exploratory study, using a qualitative description approach. An online questionnaire was completed by 67 study participants in 17 countries, followed by Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) or telephone interviews with 11 of them. The study found that these professionals participate in online discussion groups and access networks and resources. Their collaborative activities in online spaces are limited for reasons that include security, privacy, authenticity of information, and employer restriction concerns. Many therefore may limit opportunities to learn from their local, national, and international peers within PLEs. This also limits discussions of digital literacy skills that might otherwise be expected. Study participants were limited to those who responded to a request for participation posted in online discussion groups. Further research may identify those who are more actively involved in online collaboration and identify reasons for different levels of participation. Presenting case studies of successful collaborative efforts may encourage others in the occupation, enhance continuing professional development, and contribute to the research literature connecting PLEs with careers. This study contributes to the literature on PLEs and digital literacy relating to adults and work-related learning.
A Lyapunov-function-based control strategy for stable operation of a grid-connected DC microgrid with variable generations and energy storage

Renewable energy resources (RERs) are being more and more connected to distribution networks in the form of microgrid, through power electronic converters. This paper presents a control strategy for stable operation of a grid-connected DC microgrid. The proposed control strategy is based on Lyapunov's stability theory and provides compensation of power fluctuations transferred between RERs and distribution networks via battery energy storage. By utilization of the proposed control technique, the switching state functions of battery-connected and grid-connected converters are simultaneously obtained in order to achieve stable operation of whole system, which is the main contribution of this control technique over other control techniques. The simulation results, carried out through MATLAB/Simulink, demonstrate the performance of the proposed control strategy.
Design And Implementation Of Metamorphic Robots

This paper discusses issues in the design and implementa tion of metamorphic robotic systems A metamorphic robotic system is a collection of independently controlled mechatronic modules each of which has the ability to connect disconnect and climb over adjacent modules A metamorphic system can dynamically recon gure by the locomotion of modules over their neighbors Thus they can be viewed as a collection of connected modular robots which act together to perform the given task The planar metamorphic robots described in this paper consist of hexagonal or square modules Because of their shape the modules completely ll the plane without any gaps their centers forming a regular lattice Both the hexagonal and square mod ules are provided with electromechanical coupling mechanisms actuated by D C motors These connectors help to couple and uncouple modules as they move around each other to form dif ferent con gurations The modules are currently controlled by an external processor
Randomized Algorithms for Binary Search and Load Balancing on Fixed Connection Networks with Geometric Applications

There are now a number of fundamental problems in computational geometry that have optimal algorithms on PRAM models. This paper presents randomized parallel algorithms that execute on an $n$-processor butterfly interconnection network in $O(\log n)$ time for the following problems of input size $n$: trapezoidal decomposition, visibility, triangulation, and two-dimensional convex hull. These algorithms involve tackling some of the very basic problems, like binary search and load balancing, that are taken for granted in PRAM models. Apart from a two-dimensional convex hull algorithm, these are the first nontrivial geometric algorithms that attain this performance on fixed connection networks. These techniques use a number of ideas from Flashsort that have to be modified to handle more difficult situations; it seems likely that they will have wider applications.
Steganography and Digital Watermarking Introduction Computer Security

Introduction Steganography is derived from the Greek for covered writing and essentially means " to hide in plain sight ". As defined by Cachin [1] steganography is the art and science of communicating in such a way that the presence of a message cannot be detected. Simple steganographic techniques have been in use for hundreds of years, but with the increasing use of files in an electronic format new techniques for information hiding have become possible. This document will examine some early examples of steganography and the general principles behind its usage. We will then look at why it has become such an important issue in recent years. There will then be a discussion of some specific techniques for hiding information in a variety of files and the attacks that may be used to bypass steganography. Figure 1 shows how information hiding can be broken down into different areas. Steganography can be used to hide a message intended for later retrieval by a specific individual or group. In this case the aim is to prevent the message being detected by any other party. The other major area of steganography is copyright marking, where the message to be inserted is used to assert copyright over a document. This can be further divided into watermarking and fingerprinting which will be discussed later. Steganography (covered writing, covert channels) Protection against detection Protection against removal (data hiding) (document marking) Watermarking Fingerprinting (all objects are marked (identify all objects, every in the same way) object is marked specific) Figure 1*. Types of steganography. Taken from " An Analysis of Steganographic Techniques " by Popa [2]. Steganography and encryption are both used to ensure data confidentiality. However the main difference between them is that with encryption anybody can see that both parties are communicating in secret. Steganography hides the existence of a secret message and in the best case nobody can see that both parties are communicating in secret. This makes steganography suitable for some tasks for which encryption isn't, such as copyright marking. Adding encrypted copyright information to a file could be easy to remove but embedding it within the contents of the file itself can prevent it being easily identified and removed. Figure 2 shows a comparison of different techniques for communicating in secret. Encryption allows secure communication requiring a key to read the information. An attacker cannot remove the encryption but it is …
IMPROVING AND EXTENDING THE INFORMATION ON PRINCIPAL COMPONENT ANALYSIS FOR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS IN 3 D POINT CLOUDS

Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is often utilised in point cloud processing as provides an efficient method to approximate local point properties through the examination of the local neighbourhoods. This process does sometimes suffer from the assumption that the neighbourhood contains only a single surface, when it may contain multiple discrete surface entities, as well as relating the properties from PCA to real world attributes. This paper will present two methods. The first is a correction method to filter out the presence of multiple surfaces through an iterative process. The second is to combine the PCA preformed on the neighbourhood of point coordinates and normal approximations in order to estimate the radius of curvature in the maximum and minimum curvature directions.
A Model-Driven Development Approach to Mapping UML State Diagrams to Synthesizable VHDL

With the continuing rise in the complexity of embedded systems, there is an emerging need for a higher level modeling environment that facilitates efficient handling of this complexity. The aim here is to produce such a high-level environment using model- driven development (MDD) techniques that map a high-level abstract description of an electronic embedded system into its low-level implementation details. The Unified Modeling Language (UML) is a high-level graphical-based language that is broad enough in scope to model embedded systems hardware circuits. The authors have developed a framework for deriving very high speed integrated circuit hardware description language (VHDL) code from UML state diagrams and defined a set of rules that enable automated generation of synthesizable VHDL code from UML specifications using MDD techniques. By adopting the techniques and tools described in this paper, the design and implementation of complex state-based systems is greatly simplified.
Improved 3D sparse maps for high-performance SFM with low-cost omnidirectional robots

We consider the use of low-budget omnidirectional platforms for 3D mapping and self-localisation. These robots specifically permit rotational motion in the plane around a central axis, with negligible displacement. In addition, low resolution and compressed imagery, typical of the platform used, results in high level of image noise (σ ~ 10). We observe highly sparse image feature matches over narrow inter-image baselines. This particular configuration poses a challenge for epipolar geometry extraction and accurate 3D point triangulation, upon which a standard structure from motion formulation is based. We propose a novel technique for both feature filtering and tracking that solves these problems, via a novel approach to the management of feature bundles. Noisy matches are efficiently trimmed, and the scarcity of the remaining image features is adequately overcome, generating densely populated maps of highly accurate and robust 3D image features. The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated under a variety of scenarios in experiments conducted with low-budget commercial robots.
BugMarks: A tool for mapping bugs to source code components

Bugs reports and version archives are two useful sources of information for quality analysts, with the goal of mapping the bugs fixes to source code files. Manually performing this task is as arduous as it is time consuming. We propose a tool which programmatically performs this job in two phases-First, it filters relevant log entries by traversing CVS/SVN log files and then it parses the textual information into tokens to finally store required attributes in a database for future analyses. To users, it offers the flexibility and the liberty with which information can be utilized further, in any way, specific to their studies.
Inventory Routing in Practice April 19 , 2000 1 Introduction

PRAXAIR (www.praxair.com) is a large industrial gases company with about 60 production facilities and over 10,000 customers across North America. PRAXAIR recently negotiated a policy with its customers in which PRAXAIR is in charge of managing its customers’ inventories. Customers will no longer be calling PRAXAIR to request a delivery. Instead, PRAXAIR will determine who receives a delivery each day and what the size of that delivery will be. PRAXAIR will use gauge readings received from remote telemetry units as well as regular customer phone calls to monitor and forecast product inventories. The distribution planning problems associated with such vendor managed resupply policies are known as inventory routing problems. Inventory routing problems are very different from vehicle routing problems. Vehicle routing problems occur when customers place orders and the delivery company, on any given day, assigns the orders for that day to routes for trucks. In inventory routing problems, the delivery company, not the customer, decides how much to deliver to which customers each day. There are no customer orders. Instead, the delivery company operates under the restriction that its customers are not allowed to run out of product. Another difference is the planning horizon. Vehicle routing problems typically deal with a single day, with the only requirement being that all orders have to be delivered by the end of the day. Inventory routing problems deal with a longer horizon. Each day the delivery company makes decisions about which customers to visit and how much to deliver to each of them, while keeping in mind that decisions made today impact what has to be done in the future. The objective is to minimize the total cost over the planning horizon while making sure no customers run out of product. The flexibility to decide when customers receive a delivery and how large these deliveries will be may significantly reduce distribution costs. However, this flexibility also makes it very difficult to determine a good, much less an optimal, cost effective distribution plan. When the choice becomes which of the customers to serve each day (PRAXAIR has over 10,000 customers) and how much to deliver to them, the choices become virtually endless. Vendor managed resupply policies can be used in many situations. In some instances, the use of such a policy is natural, such as when the “customers” are
A comparison of the analgesic efficacy of Tramadol Contramid OAD versus placebo in patients with pain due to osteoarthritis

These articles were selected by the Dannemiller Foundation, abstracted and reviewed by a pain physician for thoroughness and accuracy. Used with written permission from Dannemiller Foundation for educational purposes and RN.ORG is not responsible for the contents. Objectives  Compare the analgesic efficacy of Tramadol Contramid OAD versus placebo in patients with pain due to osteoarthritis.  Describe the left lateral approach in management of celiac plexus block.  Study the value of magnetic resonance imaging in patients with painful lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) undergoing lumbar epidural steroid injections.  Describe a case of melorheostosis of the foot.  Describe an erosion of the inferior epigastric artery: a rare complication of intrathecal drug delivery systems.  Evaluate the efficacy of continuous epidural local anesthetic plus corticosteroid compared with single injection for the treatment of cervical brachial radicular pain.  Describe sciatic neuropathy after lower-extremity trauma in a pediatric patient.  Study the use of topiramate use in a patient with idiopathic glossodynia.  Describe a case of recurrent trigeminal neuralgia secondary to Teflon felt.  Discuss an open-label 52-week clinical extension comparing duloxetine with routine care in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain. Faculty Disclosure: Abstracted by T. Newitt, who has nothing to disclose. The objective of this multicenter, randomized, double blind, parallel-design study was to assess the analgesic efficacy and to compare the safety and clinical benefit of Tramadol Contramid ® OAD to that of placebo in patients with pain due to osteoarthritis (OA). years old and had pain due to OA of the knee.
Polarizabilities of Adsorbed and Assembled Molecules: Measuring the Conductance through Buried Contacts

We have measured the polarizabilities of four families of molecules adsorbed to Au{111} surfaces, with structures ranging from fully saturated to fully conjugated, including single-molecule switches. Measured polarizabilities increase with increasing length and conjugation in the adsorbed molecules and are consistent with theoretical calculations. For single-molecule switches, the polarizability reflects the difference in substrate−molecule electronic coupling in the ON and OFF conductance states. Calculations suggest that the switch between the two conductance states is correlated with an oxidation state change in a nitro functional group in the switch molecules.
Class Ia MHC-Deficient BALB/c Mice Generate CD8+ T Cell-Mediated Protective Immunity Against Listeria monocytogenes Infection1

CD8+ T cells are required for protective immunity against intracellular pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes. In this study, we used class Ia MHC-deficient mice, which have a severe reduction in circulating CD8+ T cells, to determine the protective capacity of class Ib MHC-restricted T cells during L. monocytogenes infection. The Kb−/−Db−/− mutation was backcrossed onto a C.B10 (BALB/c congenic at H-2 locus with C57BL/10) background, because BALB/c mice are more susceptible to Listeria infection than other commonly studied mouse strains such as C57BL/6. C.B10 Kb−/−Db−/− mice immunized with a sublethal dose of L. monocytogenes were fully protected against a subsequent lethal infection. Adoptive transfer of Listeria-immune splenocyte subsets into naive Kb−/−Db−/− mice indicated that CD8+ T cells were the major component of this protective immune response. A CD8+ T cell line isolated from the spleen of a Listeria-infected class Ia MHC-deficient mouse was shown to specifically recognize Listeria-infected cells in vitro, as determined by IFN-γ secretion and cytotoxicity assays. Adoptive transfer of this T cell line alone resulted in significant protection against L. monocytogenes challenge. These results suggest that even a limited number of class Ib MHC-restricted T cells are sufficient to generate the rapid recall response required for protection against secondary infection with L. monocytogenes.