Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effective Learning Strategies for College Students with Asperger's Syndrome

EFFECTIVE LEARNING STRATEGIES FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH ASPERGER’S SYNDROME by Jamie Susanne Gilbert July 2014 More and more students with Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) are being accepted into college without having the proper foundation in place to successfully graduate with a Bachelor’s degree. Students with AS need support systems in place to properly prepare them to face the challenges of college. The purpose of this study is to discuss the current research in regards to effective learning strategies that lead to academic success for college students with AS and to further discuss how to implement the learning strategies in higher education institutions. A single-subject study, using both qualitative and quantitative analysis, was performed. It involved one male participant, who was over the age of 18, currently enrolled as a college student, and who had a diagnosis of AS since 2011. The study identified which learning strategies are the most effective for him and what barriers could be standing in the way of his success.
Automatic Lifelog media annotation based on heterogeneous sensor fusion

Personal Lifelog media system involves capturing of great amount of personal experiences in the form of digital multimedia during an entire lifespan. However, the usefulness of those data is limited by lack of adequate methods for accessing and indexing such a large database. It is important to manage those data systematically so that user can efficiently retrieve useful experiences whenever they need. In this paper, we focus on presenting how to create metadata, which is the core of the systematical approach, by the fusion of sensor data from a set of heterogeneous sensors. With this metadata, we can support users to find their life history efficiently in our system.
A Comparison Study on the Coordination Between Developers and Users in FOSS Communities

Recent studies have been trying to better understand geographically distributed software development which is increasing from year to year. Analyzing Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) communities would help us obtain useful insights for distributed software development, because some FOSS communities already have tremendous success in a distributed environment. Our prior study analyzed an informal social structure in the Apache community. In this paper, we describe a comparison study which analyzes informal social structures in the Apache community and the Netscape community, with a focus on participants who belong to both developer and user groups and who assist the collaboration between them. We perform a static analysis for looking at an informal social structure in a single period and a dynamic analysis for observing the transition of the structure over time. As a result, we have found that one of the key factors for the success of distributed software development such as FOSS development was the existence of highly motivated participants who help developers and users collaborate closely with each other.
Spectrum-based stability analysis and stabilisation of systems described by delay differential algebraic equations

An eigenvalue-based framework is developed for the stability analysis and stabilisation of coupled systems with time-delays, which are naturally described by delay differential algebraic equations. The spectral properties of these equations are analysed and a numerical method for computing characteristic roots and stability assessment is presented, thereby taking into account the effect of small delay perturbations on stability. Subsequently, the design of stabilising controllers with a prescribed structure or order is addressed, based on a direct optimisation approach. The effectiveness of the approach is illustrated with numerical examples. All algorithms have been implemented in publicly available software.
Optimization of glycosidases production by Pseudoalteromonas issachenkonii KMM 3549T

Aims: The present work aimed to design an optimized medium to yield a higher production of glycosides by Pseudoalteromonas issachenkonii KMM 3549T. Methods and Results: Higher levels of fucoidan hydrolase, alginase, laminaranase and b‐N‐acetylglucosaminidase production were obtained with peptone concentrations ranging from 2·5 g l−1 to 10 g l−1, while the presence of both yeast extract and glucose did not affect enzyme production. The activity of fucoidan hydrolase and laminaranase increased up to 4·83 µM h−1 mg−1 and 19·23 µM h−1 mg−1 protein, respectively, in growth media containing xylose (1·0 g l−1), laminarin (0·5 g l−1) or alginate (0·5 g l−1), and production of b‐N‐acetylglucosaminidase substantially increased in the presence of fucoidan (0·5 g l−1) or galactose (1 g l−1). All polysaccharides tested in concentrations of 0·5 g l−1 fucoidan and 0·2 g l−1 fucose induced production of alginase (up to 5·06 µM h−1 mg−1 protein). Conclusions: The production of glycosidases is not only stimulated by the presence of algal polysaccharides, but may also be stimulated by monosaccharides (e.g. xylose). Significance and Impact of the Study: The production of glycosidases by Pseudoalteromonas issachenkonii KMM 3549T was significantly improved by using a simple nutrient medium containing peptone (2·5 g l−1) and xylose (5·0 g l−1) in 100% natural seawater.
Occurrence of Strongyloides stercoralis in Yunnan Province, China, and Comparison of Diagnostic Methods

Background Strongyloides stercoralis is a neglected soil-transmitted helminth species, and there is a lack of parasitologic and epidemiologic data pertaining to this parasite in China and elsewhere. We studied the local occurrence of S. stercoralis in a village in Yunnan province, China, and comparatively assessed the performance of different diagnostic methods. Methodology/Principal Findings Multiple stool samples from a random population sample were subjected to the Kato-Katz method, an ether-concentration technique, the Koga agar plate method, and the Baermann technique. Among 180 participants who submitted at least 2 stool samples, we found a S. stercoralis prevalence of 11.7%. Males had a significantly higher prevalence than females (18.3% versus 6.1%, p = 0.011), and infections were absent in individuals <15 years of age. Infections were only detected by the Baermann (highest sensitivity) and the Koga agar plate method, but neither with the Kato-Katz nor an ether-concentration technique. The examination of 3 stool samples rather than a single one resulted in the detection of 62% and 100% more infections when employing the Koga agar plate and the Baermann technique, respectively. The use of a mathematical model revealed a ‘true’ S. stercoralis prevalence in the current setting of up to 16.3%. Conclusions/Significance We conclude that S. stercoralis is endemic in the southern part of Yunnan province and that differential diagnosis and integrated control of intestinal helminth infections needs more pointed emphasis in rural China.
Development and production of transgenic livestock

The first transgenic animals were produced back in the mid-80s. This involved the introduction of foreign DNA into fertilised mouse eggs producing transgenic mice for studies of the biological systems regulating growth and development. Since that time, transgenic mice, rats, rabbits, sheep, pigs, goats and cattle have been produced. The use of transgenic animals for novel biomedical applications, such as the production of biologically important molecules or therapeutics, has now progressed to near-commercialisation. With the biological revelation that a cell taken from an adult animal can be developmentally-reprogrammed and, following transfer to an enucleated egg, produce a copy of the original donor animal came a new approach to the production of transgenic animals. This procedure, commonly referred to as nuclear transfer or ‘cloning’ now provides a new exciting and more sophisticated approach to the production of transgenic animals. These technologies and the livestock produced will have a significant impact on agriculture, livestock production, medicine and society as a whole. The current debate in our society about genetic engineering and genetically modified foods is indicative of the need to carefully identify the issues, and fully assess the benefits relative to the risks before embarking on commercial transgenic livestock production.
Alterations in cardiac gene expression during the transition from stable hypertrophy to heart failure. Marked upregulation of genes encoding extracellular matrix components.

The failing heart is characterized by impaired cardiac muscle function and increased interstitial fibrosis. Our purpose was to determine whether the functional impairment of the failing heart is associated with changes in levels of mRNA encoding proteins that modulate parameters of contraction and relaxation and whether the increased fibrosis observed in the failing heart is related to elevated expression of genes encoding extracellular matrix components. We studied hearts of 18- to 24-month-old spontaneously hypertensive rats with signs and symptoms of heart failure (SHR-F) or without evidence of failure (SHR-NF) and of age-matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Compared with WKY rats, SHR-NF exhibited left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (2.2-fold) and right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy (1.5-fold), whereas SHR-F were characterized by comparable LV hypertrophy (2.1-fold) and augmented RV hypertrophy (2.4-fold; all P < .01). Total RNA was isolated from ventricles and subjected to Northern blot analysis. In SHR-F hearts, the level of alpha-myosin heavy chain mRNA was decreased in both ventricles to 1/3 and 1/5 of the SHR-NF and WKY values, respectively (both P < .01). Levels of beta-myosin heavy chain, alpha-cardiac actin, and myosin light chain-2 mRNAs were not significantly altered in hearts of SHR-NF or SHR-F. Levels of alpha-skeletal actin were twofold greater in SHR-NF hearts compared with WKY hearts and were intermediate in SHR-F hearts. Levels of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) mRNA were elevated threefold in the LV of SHR-NF (P < .05) but were not significantly increased in the RV of SHR-NF compared with WKY rats. During the transition to failure (SHR-F versus SHR-NF), ANF mRNA levels increased an additional 1.6-fold in the LV and were elevated 4.7-fold in the RV (both P < .05). Levels of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SRCA) mRNA were maintained in the LV of hypertensive and failing hearts at levels not significantly different from WKY values. In contrast, the level of RV SRCA mRNA was 24% less in SHR-NF compared with WKY rats, and during the transition to failure, this difference was not significantly exacerbated (29% less than the WKY value). The levels of fibronectin and pro-alpha 1(I) and pro-alpha 1(III) collagen mRNAs were not significantly elevated in either ventricle of the SHR-NF group but were fourfold to fivefold higher in both ventricles of SHR-F (all P < .05). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Testing the Predictive Ability of Technical Analysis Using a New Stepwise Test Without Data Snooping Bias

In the finance literature, statistical inferences for large-scale testing problems usually suffer from data snooping bias. In this paper we extend the "superior predictive ability" (SPA) test of Hansen (2005, JBES) to a stepwise SPA test that can identify predictive models without potential data snooping bias. It is shown analytically and by simulations that the stepwise SPA test is more powerful than the stepwise Reality Check test of Romano and Wolf (2005, Econometrica). We then apply the proposed test to examine the predictive ability of technical trading rules based on the data of growth and emerging market indices and their exchange traded funds (ETFs). It is found that technical trading rules have significant predictive power for these markets, yet such evidence weakens after the ETFs are introduced.
Scalable and fault‐tolerant key agreement protocol for dynamic groups

With the widespread use of the Internet, the popularity of group communication‐based applications has grown considerably. Since most communications over the Internet involve the traversal of insecure networks, basic security services are necessary for these collaborative applications. These security services can be facilitated if the authorized group members share a common secret. In such distributed applications, key agreement protocols are preferred to key distribution protocols. In the past two decades, there have been many proposals for key agreement protocols. Most of these protocols are not efficient and limit the size of the underlying group. In this paper, we consider the scalability problem in group key agreement protocols. We propose a novel framework based on extension of the Diffie–Hellman key exchange protocol. The efficiency of our protocol comes from the clustering of the group members, where the common session key is established collaboratively by all participants. We present the auxiliary protocols needed when the membership changes. We show that our protocol is superior in complexity in both communication and computation overheads required to generate the session key. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
EnBlogue: emergent topic detection in web 2.0 streams

Emergent topics are newly arising themes in news, blogs, or tweets, often implied by interesting and unexpected correlations of tags or entities. We present the enBlogue system for emergent topic detection. The name enBlogue reflects the analogy with emerging trends in fashion often referred to as en Vogue. EnBlogue continuously monitors Web 2.0 streams and keeps track of sudden changes in tag correlations which can be adjusted using personalization to reflect particular user interests. We demonstrate enBlogue with several real-time monitoring scenarios as well as with time lapse on archived data.
Cost Management of Medical Equipment Maintenance

In the present study we combine Activity Based Costing (ABC) with a microprocess-based custom-made management system used to control of the medical equipment maintenance service performed by a clinical engineering group in a public health institution in Brazil. Results show the cost of service orders calculated through the allocation of the expenditure per cost center to activities performed during the year 2003. As this model can estimate how the activities affect profitability, managers can use ABC information to interpret possible strategies needed to investigate the viability of cost minimization.
Lac z Histochemistry and Immunohistochemistry Reveal Ephrin-B Ligand Expression in the Inner Ear

Immunostaining in transgenic mice carrying the lac z gene can be used to map gene and protein distribution in a single tissue. In this study, we examined inner ears from ephrin-B3 homozygous and ephrin-B2 heterozygous mice. Ephrin-B3 lac z expression was limited in these mice. However, immunostaining revealed ephrin-B3 throughout cochlear and vestibular regions. Immunoreactivity was absent in ephrin-B3-homozygous null mutants, demonstrating the specificity of the antibody. Ephrin-B2 lac z reactivity was detected in a limited number of cells in cochlear and vestibular regions. Different immunostaining patterns were found with different antibodies. Comparison with lac z expression indicated which antibody was specific for the transmembrane-bound ephrin-B2 ligand.
Cs/cns/ee 253: Advanced Topics in Machine Learning Topic: Dealing with Partial Feedback #1 Lecturer: 7.1 Dealing with Partial Feedback

This is a natural model for some applications, including many applications in which we use an online algorithm as a streaming algorithm to solve problems on massive data sets, as in online support vector machines. However in some applications you are unable to pose these counterfactual, “what would be the reward if” queries to the world. Instead you only get to see the reward of what you chose to do. We call this the partial information or bandit feedback models1.
An empirical study of the effect of agent competence on user performance and perception

We studied the role of the competence of an interface agent that helped users to learn and use a text editor. Participants in the study made a set of changes to a document with the aid of one of four interface agents. The agent would respond to participantsý spoken questions as well as make proactive suggestions using a synthesized voice. The agents varied in the quality of responses and suggestions. One group of participants could also access a help screen. Results revealed that the perceived utility of the agent was influenced by the types of errors it made, while participants' subjective impressions of the agent related to the perceptions of its embodiment. Additionally, allowing participants to choose their preferred assistance styles improved objective performance. We relate quantitative findings with qualitative interview data and discuss implications for the design and the implementation of systems with interface agents.
GSK 3 is required for rapalogs to induce degradation of some oncogenic proteins and to suppress cancer cell growth

The single-agent activity of rapalogs (rapamycin and its analogues) in most tumor types has been modest at best. The underlying mechanisms are largely unclear. In this report, we have uncovered a critical role of GSK3 in regulating degradation of some oncogenic proteins induced by rapalogs and cell sensitivity to rapalogs. The basal level of GSK3 activity was positively correlated with cell sensitivity of lung cancer cell lines to rapalogs. GSK3 inhibition antagonized rapamycin’s growth inhibitory effects both in vitro and in vivo, while enforced activation of GSK3β sensitized cells to rapamycin. GSK3 inhibition rescued rapamcyin-induced reduction of several oncogenic proteins such as cyclin D1, Mcl-1 and c-Myc, without interfering with the ability of rapamycin to suppress mTORC1 signaling and cap binding. Interestingly, rapamycin induces proteasomal degradation of these oncogenic proteins, as evidenced by their decreased stabilities induced by rapamcyin and rescue of their reduction by proteasomal inhibition. Moreover, acute or short-time rapamycin treatment dissociated not only raptor, but also rictor from mTOR in several tested cell lines, suggesting inhibition of both mTORC1 and mTORC2. Thus, induction of GSK3-dependent degradation of these oncogenic proteins is likely secondary to mTORC2 inhibition; this effect should be critical for rapamycin to exert its anticancer activity.
Investigation of thyroid nodules in the female population in Cyprus and in Romania

Background and aims The most common thyroid disorders, with an increasing detection worldwide, are the thyroid nodules and thyroiditis, which leads to an increase of thyroid cancer incidence . In two different countries with a different exposure to risk factors for thyroid cancer, such as Cyprus and Romania, the rank of thyroid cancer among other neoplasms is very different: the 3rd most prevalent cancer among females in Cyprus and the 12th in Romania, respectively. Environmental chemicals, such as bisphenol A have a proven effect on the thyroid function. However, the relation between the exposure to the endocrine disruptor and the development of thyroid nodules, with a potential of malignant transformation has not been previously studied. The aim of the study was to investigate the potential factors that lead to the difference of thyroid nodules incidence in the mentioned countries. Methods A pilot case-control study has been conducted in 2014–2015 in the “Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuţă” Institute of Oncology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania and the Endocrinology Department of Archbishop Makarios III Hospital, Nicosia, Cyprus. Females older than 20 years with no medical history were recruited. Cases were women with ultrasound-confirmed thyroid nodules of size >3mm. Controls were women without thyroid nodules after ultrasound confirmation. All participants provided blood samples for measurements of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxin (FT4), anti-thyroglobulin (ATg) and anti-thyroid peroxidase (ATPO); urine samples. Demographics, anthropometrics and other relevant information were provided through the administration of a questionnaire. Results In Romania we selected 51 patients with thyroid nodules (case group) and 41 without thyroid nodules (control group) and in Cyprus 57 cases, respectively 65 controls. After the statistical analysis of the data collected we observed statistically significant differences between the populations of the two countries regarding BMI and the value of the thyroid hormones and antibodies. Conclusions Using the data observed in this study, differences were found between Cyprus and Romania among females with thyroid nodules the BMI, and the level of thyroid hormones had statistically significant differences. This study reports preliminary data, further analysis of environmental exposures to chemical factors that might have a certain influence over the thyroid in the two countries will follow.
Preventing guilt by association: Mindfulness and susceptibility to evaluative conditioning

PREVENTING GUILT BY ASSOCIATION: MINDFULNESS AND SUSCEPTIBILITY TO EVALUATIVE CONDITIONING By: LAURA KIKEN, M.S., M.P.H. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2012. Director: Natalie Shook, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Psychology West Virginia University Evaluative conditioning (EC) is a type of attitude formation in which a stimulus is evaluated as positive or negative based on repeated pairings with valenced stimuli. Emerging evidence suggests that individuals differ in susceptibility to EC and these differences may be related to various social and psychological biases. One variable that has been linked with less negative attitude formation, although not using an EC paradigm, is mindfulness. Further, mindfulness is proposed to alter dimensions of elaboration that may underlie EC, particularly conditioning of negative attitudes. Therefore, three studies were conducted to examine whether mindfulness is linked to differential susceptibility to EC, particularly less conditioning of negative attitudes, and whether aspects of elaboration mediate this proposed relation. In all three studies, participants were exposed to an EC paradigm in which positive and negative pictures were paired with neutral Chinese ideographs. Then, they completed ideograph likability ratings. In Study 1, a measure of trait mindfulness was inversely associated with conditioning of negative attitudes, but not after accounting for negative state affect. In Study 2, there was no relation between either of two measures of trait mindfulness and susceptibility to EC. In Study 3, mindfulness was experimentally manipulated by randomly assigning participants to a mindful breathing induction or a mind-wandering control condition before they completed measures of elaboration and the EC paradigm. As compared to the control condition, the mindfulness condition showed greater susceptibility to conditioning of negative attitudes, after controlling for awareness of the picture-ideograph pairings. There was no support for the proposed mediation models through elaboration in either Studies 2 or 3. However, both studies provided evidence that more mindful individuals demonstrated less cognitive elaboration on negative stimuli. Further, both studies suggested that greater cognitive elaboration in response to pictures predicted less susceptibility to conditioning of positive attitudes and possibly greater susceptibility to conditioning of negative attitudes. Altogether, the three studies provided mixed and inconclusive evidence as to the relation between mindfulness and susceptibility to EC. However, the findings regarding cognitive elaboration may help to advance both the mindfulness and EC literatures.