Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Safer sex in a digital world: A Web-based motivational enhancement intervention to increase condom use among college women

ABSTRACT Objective: This study is a randomized trial of a Web-based intervention to increase condom use among college women. Participants: From October 2012 to March 2013, N = 422 completed baseline questionnaires and intervention procedures. n = 216 completed 3-month follow-up. Methods: Participants completed a decisional balance exercise examining their sex acts over the past 3 months and wrote an essay encouraging young girls to use condoms. All procedures were conducted online. Results: The intervention improved intentions to use and attitudes towards condoms for 3 subscales of condom attitudes. Attitudes following the intervention significantly predicted condom use at 3-month follow-up, and this relationship was mediated by condom intentions immediately post intervention. The relationship between intentions and condom use was moderated by group. Conclusions: The intervention improved condom attitudes and intentions immediately post intervention, and immediately post intervention intentions had a greater impact on condom use at 3-month follow-up among those in the condom intervention compared with those in the control group.
Comparisons of Self-Efficacy and Hope among Students with and without Learning Disabilities

Learning disability is a life-long condition that can affect academic functioning, everyday life and social life. In multiple areas, academic and other, students with LD often underachieve, and often with pervasive negative consequences. This study compared self-efficacy and hope in 30 elementary school (sixth grade) children with learning disabilities (LD) and 30 their peers without LD. An ex post facto design was used. Statistical population comprised of all students in elementary schools (sixth grade) in, Harsin, Iran, during the 2012-2013 academic year. Students with learning disabilities were randomly selected. The students with LD had been diagnosed by Colorado Learning Difficulties Questionnaire (CLDQ). The students completed the Wechsler Memory Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and Children’s Hope Scale. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 20) was used for computing descriptive statistics and analysis of variance. Differences were found between the groups on the self-efficacy and hope. The study demon ­ strated the important role of self-efficacy and hope for students with LD.
Using Information about Multi-word Expressions for the Word-Alignment Task

It is well known that multi-word expressions are problematic in natural language processing. In previous literature, it has been suggested that information about their degree of compositionality can be helpful in various applications but it has not been proven empirically. In this paper, we propose a framework in which information about the multi-word expressions can be used in the word-alignment task. We have shown that even simple features like point-wise mutual information are useful for word-alignment task in English-Hindi parallel corpora. The alignment error rate which we achieve (AER = 0.5040) is significantly better (about 10% decrease in AER) than the alignment error rates of the state-of-art models (Och and Ney, 2003) (Best AER = 0.5518) on the English-Hindi dataset.
Moving Toward High Precision Dynamical Modelling in Hidden Markov Models

Hidden Markov Model (HMM) is often regarded as the dynamical model of choice in many fields and applications. It is also at the heart of most state-of-the-art speech recognition systems since the 70's. However, from Gaussian mixture models HMMs (GMM-HMM) to deep neural network HMMs (DNN-HMM), the underlying Markovian chain of state-of-the-art models did not changed much. The "left-to-right" topology is mostly always employed because very few other alternatives exist. In this paper, we propose that finely-tuned HMM topologies are essential for precise temporal modelling and that this approach should be investigated in state-of-the-art HMM system. As such, we propose a proof-of-concept framework for learning efficient topologies by pruning down complex generic models. Speech recognition experiments that were conducted indicate that complex time dependencies can be better learned by this approach than with classical "left-to-right" models.
Incorporating indigenous and crosscultural issues into an undergraduate psychology course: Experience at curtin university of technology

Abstract There has been a clear expression of the need to incorporate Indigenous and crosscultural issues into psychology curricula and to develop models to guide the process. This paper outlines the process of developing an Indigenous and crosscultural psychology unit at Curtin University of Technology. A conceptual framework that includes foundational, professional, and socially responsive knowledge, which has guided the development and implementation of the unit, is presented. A description of the course content and processes of delivery follow this. Observations based on informal evaluation of the unit and our perceptions of what it is achieving and where it may need to be modified are offered. For example, the ways in which the unit helped to validate the experiences of members of different social and cultural groups are highlighted. Finally, some recommendations are made, and challenges in dealing with increasing cultural diversification in tertiary education are discussed.
A Physically Based Colour Model

We propose an intuitively simple way of representing colour which has the additional virtue that, it permits mixing and overlaying of transparent and opaque paints to an arbitrary degree. Our approach is related to the earlier alpha channel model used for compositing. It includes this as a special case but has applications in many other areas, especially animation, paint programs and graphics libraries.
Left-ventricular hypertrophy is associated better with 24-h aortic pressure than 24-h brachial pressure in hypertensive patients: the SAFAR study

Objective: To test the hypothesis that left-ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is better associated with aortic, than brachial, 24-h average blood pressure (BP) in individuals with hypertension. Background: The office aortic BP is associated better with organ damage, such as LVH, than the office brachial BP; whether the 24-h average aortic BP associates better with LVH, than the 24-h average brachial BP, has never been tested. Methods: Aortic ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) was performed with a novel validated oscillometric cuff-based BP recording device, also used for simultaneous brachial ABPM, and the application of pulse wave analysis method. Office brachial and aortic BP were assessed with validated oscillometric recording device and pulse wave analysis, respectively; left-ventricular mass was measured by ultrasound. Results: Regression analysis performed in 229 individuals (aged 54.3 ± 14.6 years; 56% men; 75% hypertensive patients) showed that the 24-h average aortic SBP was significantly better associated with left-ventricular mass index and LVH than the 24-h average brachial, as well as, office (brachial or aortic) SBP, independently of age, sex, obesity or treatment. Receiver operator characteristics curve analysis showed a higher discriminatory ability of 24-h average aortic than brachial SBP to detect the presence of LVH (area under the curve: 0.73 versus 0.69; P = 0.007). A high degree of interindividual overlap regarding aortic 24-h average SBP level was found in individuals in whom the corresponding brachial measurements denoted different hypertension levels. Conclusion: These data suggest that aortic ABPM, when compared to brachial ABPM, improves the individualized assessment of the BP-associated heart damage.
3D Localization with Conical Vision

This paper deals with an absolute mobile robot self-localization algorithm in an indoor environment. Until now, localization methods based on conical omnidirectional vision sensors uniquely used radial segments from vertical environment landmarks projection. The main motivation of this work is to demonstrate that the SYCLOP sensor can be used as a vision sensor rather than a goniometric one. We will show how the calibration allows us to know the omnidirectional image formation process to compute a synthetic image base. Then, we will present the spatial localization method using a base of synthetics images and one real omnidirectional image. Finally, some experimental results obtained with real noisy omnidirectional images are shown.
DataTags, Data Handling Policy Spaces and the Tags Language

Widespread sharing of scientific datasets holds great promise for new scientific discoveries and great risks for personal privacy. Dataset handling policies play the critical role of balancing privacy risks and scientific value. We propose an extensible, formal, theoretical model for dataset handling policies. We define binary operators for policy composition and for comparing policy strictness, such that propositions like "this policy is stricter than that policy" can be formally phrased. Using this model, The policies are described in a machine-executable and human-readable way. We further present the Tags programming language and toolset, created especially for working with the proposed model. Tags allows composing interactive, friendly questionnaires which, when given a dataset, can suggest a data handling policy that follows legal and technical guidelines. Currently, creating such a policy is a manual process requiring access to legal and technical experts, which are not always available. We present some of Tags' tools, such as interview systems, visualizers, development environment, and questionnaire inspectors. Finally, we discuss methodologies for questionnaire development. Data for this paper include a questionnaire for suggesting a HIPAA compliant data handling policy, and formal description of the set of data tags proposed by the authors in a recent paper.
Noninvasive Imaging of Cycling Hypoxia in Head and Neck Cancer Using Intrinsic Susceptibility MRI

Purpose: To evaluate intrinsic susceptibility (IS) MRI for the identification of cycling hypoxia, and the assessment of its extent and spatial distribution, in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) xenografts and patients. Experimental Design: Quantitation of the transverse relaxation rate, R2*, which is sensitive to paramagnetic deoxyhemoglobin, using serial IS-MRI acquisitions, was used to monitor temporal oscillations in levels of paramagnetic deoxyhemoglobin in human CALR xenografts and patients with HNSCC at 3T. Autocovariance and power spectrum analysis of variations in R2* was performed for each imaged voxel, to assess statistical significance and frequencies of cycling changes in tumor blood oxygenation. Pathologic correlates with tumor perfusion (Hoechst 33342), hypoxia (pimonidazole), and vascular density (CD31) were sought in the xenografts, and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI was used to assess patient tumor vascularization. The prevalence of fluctuations within patient tumors, DCE parameters, and treatment outcome were reported. Results: Spontaneous R2* fluctuations with a median periodicity of 15 minutes were detected in both xenografts and patient tumors. Spatially, these fluctuations were predominantly associated with regions of heterogeneous perfusion and hypoxia in the CALR xenografts. In patients, R2* fluctuations spatially correlated with regions of lymph nodes with low Ktrans values, typically in the vicinity of necrotic cores. Conclusions: IS-MRI can be used to monitor variations in levels of paramagnetic deoxyhemoglobin, associated with cycling hypoxia. The presence of such fluctuations may be linked with impaired tumor vasculature, the presence of which may impact treatment outcome. Clin Cancer Res; 23(15); 4233–41. ©2017 AACR.
Did Political Constraints Bind During Transition? Evidence from Czech Elections 1990-2002

Many theoretical models of transition are driven by the assumption that economic decision making is subject to political constraints. In this paper we empirically test whether the winners and losers of economic reform determined voting behaviour in the first five national elections in the Czech Republic. We propose that voters, taking stock of endowments from the planning era, could predict whether they would become "winners" or "losers" of transition. Using survey data we measure the percentage of individuals by region who were "afraid" and "not afraid" of economic reform in 1990. We define the former as potential "winners" who should vote for pro-reform parties, while latter are potential "losers" who should support left-wing parties. Using national election results and regional economic indicators, we demonstrate that there is persistence in support for pro-reform and communist parties driven by prospective voting based on initial conditions in 1990. As a result, we show that regional unemployment rates in 2002 are good predictors of regional voting patterns in 1990.
Rural Nonfarm Employment and Incomes in the Himalayas

Nonfarm activities generate, on average, about 60% of rural households’ incomes in the Himalayas. This article analyzes the determinants of participation in nonfarm activities and of nonfarm incomes across rural households. A unique data set collected in the Himalayan region of India allows us to deal with the heterogeneity of rural nonfarm activities by using aggregations into categories that are useful both analytically and for policy purposes. We conduct an empirical inquiry that reveals that education plays a major role in accessing more remunerative nonfarm employment. Other household assets and characteristics such as land, social status, and geographical location also play a role.
Expression of a Tolerizing Tumor Antigen in Peripheral Tissue Does Not Preclude Recovery of High-Affinity CD8+ T Cells or CTL Immunotherapy of Tumors Expressing the Antigen1

Transgenic (TG) mice were generated selectively expressing the gag protein of Friend murine leukemia virus (FMuLV) in the liver. FMuLVgag is also expressed by the FBL leukemia, and is the immunodominant tumor Ag of the CD8+ T cell response in C57BL/6 mice. gag-TG mice expressing FMuLVgag in the liver were tolerant to the protein and failed to generate a CTL response to either FBL or FMuLVgag. This tolerance reflected anergy rather than deletion, as CTL responsiveness could be recovered after four cycles of in vitro stimulation. Adoptively transferred gag-specific T cells were not anergized in gag-TG recipients, as revealed by antitumor activity in vivo. Also, such T cells did not induce detectable autoimmune injury in gag-TG liver cells. These results suggest that the requirements for a tissue Ag to provide a tolerizing stimulus are distinct from those for being the target of a T cell-mediated autoimmune response and that the requirements for induction and maintenance of peripheral tolerance are distinct for naive and primed T cells. That anergic T cells reactive with tumor-associated Ags can be recovered by repetitive in vitro stimulation and can mediate tumor therapy suggests strategies that use such Ags to generate CTL for adoptive immunotherapy should be further developed.
Optimality and Robustness in Multi-Robot Path Planning with Temporal Logic Constraints

In this paper we present a method for automatic planning of optimal paths for a group of robots that satisfy a common high-level mission specification. The motion of each robot is modeled as a weighted transition system, and the mission is given as a linear temporal logic (LTL) formula over a set of propositions satisfied at the regions of the environment. In addition, an optimizing proposition must repeatedly be satisfied. The goal is to minimize a cost function that captures the maximum time between successive satisfactions of the optimizing proposition while guaranteeing that the formula is satisfied. When the robots can follow a given trajectory exactly, our method computes a set of optimal satisfying paths that minimize the cost function and satisfy the LTL formula. However, if the traveling times of the robots are uncertain, then the robots may not be able to follow a given trajectory exactly, possibly violating the LTL formula during deployment. We handle such cases by leveraging the communication capabilities of the robots to guarantee correctness during deployment and provide bounds on the deviation from the optimal values. We implement and experimentally evaluate our method for various persistent surveillance tasks in a road network environment.
On the Role of Abstraction in Global and Local Processing Phenomena

In their target article, Förster and Dannenberg (this issue) review empirical findings from diverse lines of research that highlight the importance of understanding global and local processing differences in psychology. Importantly, the authors then attempt to integrate these findings under a unitary theoretical framework. We are excited to see Förster and Dannenberg draw much needed attention to the distinction between global and local processing. Although conceptual frameworks such as action identification theory (Vallacher & Wegner, 1987), the linguistic category model (Semin & Fiedler, 1988), and construal level theory (Trope & Liberman, 2003) have discussed related constructs, to our knowledge this is the first comprehensive review of global and local processing phenomena, specifically. Förster and Dannenberg describe an impressive array of findings that connect these two modes or types of processing to important outcomes and triggers, and they review provocative research suggesting a relationship between perceptual and conceptual global and local processing. As with all innovative advances, this work raises a number of questions. In what follows, we highlight several such questions that we see as central to understanding the basic principles of GLOMOsys. Given the potential of GLOMOsys as an integrative framework, we hope that the subsequent discussion serves as a starting point for further endeavors to refine and advance Förster and Dannenberg’s model, which we believe to be an ambitious and important approach toward understanding the widely relevant distinction between local and global processing.
Temporal Order Memory Assessed during Spatiotemporal Navigation As a Behavioral Cognitive Marker for Differential Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis

Episodic memory impairment is a hallmark for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Most actual tests used to diagnose Alzheimer's disease do not assess the spatiotemporal properties of episodic memory and lead to false-positive or -negative diagnosis. We used a newly developed, nonverbal navigation test for Human, based on the objective experimental testing of a spatiotemporal experience, to differentially Alzheimer's disease at the mild stage (N = 16 patients) from frontotemporal lobar degeneration (N = 11 patients) and normal aging (N = 24 subjects). Comparing navigation parameters and standard neuropsychological tests, temporal order memory appeared to have the highest predictive power for mild Alzheimer's disease diagnosis versus frontotemporal lobar degeneration and normal aging. This test was also nonredundant with classical neuropsychological tests. As a conclusion, our results suggest that temporal order memory tested in a spatial navigation task may provide a selective behavioral marker of Alzheimer's disease.
Cultural consonance in leisure activities and self-rated health in six cities in China

The purpose of this study is to examine leisure constraints, a new variable termed cultural consonance in leisure (CCL), and leisure satisfaction as possible mediators in the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and self-rated health in six large cities in China. The hypothesis is that SES has a negative relationship with leisure constraints, that leisure constraints negatively influence CCL, that CCL positively affects leisure satisfaction, and that leisure satisfaction positively affects self-rated health. Structural equation modelling is used to evaluate the hypothesised relationships, and all but one of the relationships is supported. The results suggest that CCL may be a valuable construct to employ in future studies of constraints, leisure satisfaction and health.
Left‐hand rule for synoptic eddy feedback on low‐frequency flow

In this study, scale interaction between synoptic eddies and low‐frequency flow is investigated. The synoptic eddy feedback is a key process in sustaining the low‐frequency flow. We show clear evidence using NCEP reanalysis data that there is a general underlying rule—the “left‐hand rule”, governing the synoptic eddy feedback onto low‐frequency flow. This rule states that eddy‐vorticity fluxes are directed preferentially about 90 degrees toward their left‐hand side, so that they converge into cyclonic flow and diverge from anticyclonic flow. Therefore, the eddy vorticity flux plays a positive role in reinforcing low‐frequency flow.
Carlyle, Freud, and the Great Man Theory more fully considered

Contemporary surveys of leadership scholarship will occasionally mention the Great Man theory before moving on to more rigorous academic categories. Less a theory than a statement of faith, the Great Man theory does not fit into the rigorous scholarly theory and research that makes up the contemporary canon of leadership discourse. My goal in this article is to treat the Great Man theory seriously and to present a fuller notion of the theory. My intent is not to offer a defense of the theory or to “redeem” Thomas Carlyle as a leadership theorist. Rather, I will add a hitherto unacknowledged dimension: the element of Freudian psychology. In Freud's case, the Great Man was articulated not a moral proscription for how to act, but rather an analytic description of the elemental forces that lead people to seek heroes. The article suggests that the Great Man theory is worth considering because of its contemporary relevance. To consider the theory in full, however, Freud's work on leadership needs to be examined alongside that of Carlyle. It is Freud's description of the impulses that drive us toward authority figures, more than Carlyle's proselytizing for hero worship that can, and should offer valuable insights into how we—scholars, observers, and participants in the business world—react to corporate saviors.
The Case for Early, Targeted Interventions to Prevent Academic Failure

The persistent achievement gaps among children of different race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status in the United States represent an issue that has commanded public, policy, and research attention on and off for about 100 years now, and it is once again in the forefront of policy-making agendas. Debates nevertheless abound on the most promising and cost-effective strategies to address the problem. We examine critically the available evidence on the benefits and costs of early childhood education and conclude that early, vigorous interventions targeted at disadvantaged children offer the best chance to substantially reduce gaps in school readiness and increase the productivity of our educational systems. The available evidence fails to provide a complete road map for future investments, however. Hence, we propose a program of challenge grants to states and their subunits, coupled with waivers from regulation, to spur innovation and experimentation within this important research area. We provide examples of the types of experiments that could be funded and discuss important considerations in the development and implementation of such a research grants program.