Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multiple Predictors of Asian American Children's School Achievement

Research Findings: A structural equation model (SEM) and multiple indicators and multiple causes (MIMIC) model were used to test family factors, parent psychological well-being, parent–child home activity, and parent school involvement in relation to children's school achievement. Data for this study were drawn from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Kindergarten (ECLS-K), conducted by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The sample for this study was 1,100 Asian American kindergartners and their parents. Practice or Policy: The results of this study are as follows: (a) Family factors, especially parental education levels and family income, were significantly associated with Asian American students' school achievement; (b) parent–child home activity was significantly related to students' school achievement but in a negative direction; (c) parental school involvement was not found to be significant in predicting students' school achievement; (d) parental psychological well-being was significantly associated with both parent–child home activity and students' school achievement; (e) family income was significantly associated with parental psychological well-being, parental school involvement, and children's school achievement; and (f) family structure was not significantly associated with school achievement.
An Industrial Case Study of Program Artifacts Viewed During Maintenance Tasks

Research on maintenance task structure modeling has so far examined only how often program artifacts are modified, and what information can be deduced from modification records. However, developers often access artifacts that they do not change, and this information is not modeled or recorded by current research systems. In this paper, we describe an exploratory industrial case study that we have conducted to investigate this issue; we found that within a given maintenance task, the software artifacts that are viewed but not changed outnumber the changed artifacts over 10% of the time. We further found that including information about which artifacts were changed and which were only viewed was key to a mature understanding of the tasks that the developers were performing. Finally, we discuss how creating a repository that captures both the viewed-only and modified artifact accesses can yield further insights into the development process, such as how developers handle interruptions and task switching in their workflow
A three-step reconstruction method for fluorescence molecular tomography based on compressive sensing

Fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) is a promising tool for real time in vivo quantification of neurotransmission (NT) as we pursue in our BRAIN initiative effort. However, the acquired image data are noisy and the reconstruction problem is ill-posed. Further, while spatial sparsity of the NT effects could be exploited, traditional compressive-sensing methods cannot be directly applied as the system matrix in FMT is highly coherent. To overcome these issues, we propose and assess a three-step reconstruction method. First, truncated singular value decomposition is applied on the data to reduce matrix coherence. The resultant image data are input to a homotopy-based reconstruction strategy that exploits sparsity via ℓ1 regularization. The reconstructed image is then input to a maximum-likelihood expectation maximization (MLEM) algorithm that retains the sparseness of the input estimate and improves upon the quantitation by accurate Poisson noise modeling. The proposed reconstruction method was evaluated in a three-dimensional simulated setup with fluorescent sources in a cuboidal scattering medium with optical properties simulating human brain cortex (reduced scattering coefficient: 9.2 cm−1, absorption coefficient: 0.1 cm−1 and tomographic measurements made using pixelated detectors. In different experiments, fluorescent sources of varying size and intensity were simulated. The proposed reconstruction method provided accurate estimates of the fluorescent source intensity, with a 20% lower root mean square error on average compared to the pure-homotopy method for all considered source intensities and sizes. Further, compared with conventional ℓ2 regularized algorithm, overall, the proposed method reconstructed substantially more accurate fluorescence distribution. The proposed method shows considerable promise and will be tested using more realistic simulations and experimental setups.
Maximum margin structure learning of Bayesian network classifiers

Recently, the margin criterion has been successfully used for parameter optimization in graphical models. We introduce maximum margin based structure learning for Bayesian network classifiers and demonstrate its advantages in terms of classification performance compared to traditionally used discriminative structure learning methods. In particular, we provide empirical results for generative structure learning and two discriminative structure learning approaches on handwritten digit recognition tasks. We show that maximum margin structure learning outperforms other structure learning methods. Furthermore, we present classification results achieved with different bitwidth for representing the parameters of the classifiers.
Violence risk assessment: Science and practice

Within the conceptual framework of the scientist-practitioner model, this paper describes how the science of risk assessment has progressed to a point where it can be of definite assistance to clinicians. Similarly, clinicians can be of marked help to researchers as they play a role in concept definition and as they design and carry out studies to determine the accuracy of their predictions. Risk assessments ought to be carried out in accord with state-of-the-discipline knowledge. Until fairly recently, it may have been argued that the state of knowledge did not provide any sort of reliable or trustworthy direction on violence risk assessment. This position seems no longer tenable. Topic areas discussed include violence and risk assessment generally, the actuarial-clinical prediction debate, the validity of violence risk assessments, predictors of violence, violence risk assessment schemes (empirically validated structured clinical decision-making), communication of risk assessment findings, and implications for training.
A Bacterial Virulence Protein Suppresses Host Innate Immunity to Cause Plant Disease

Plants have evolved a powerful immune system to defend against infection by most microbial organisms. However, successful pathogens, such as Pseudomonas syringae, have developed countermeasures and inject virulence proteins into the host plant cell to suppress immunity and cause devastating diseases. Despite intensive research efforts, the molecular targets of bacterial virulence proteins that are important for plant disease development have remained obscure. Here, we show that a conserved P. syringae virulence protein, HopM1, targets an immunity-associated protein, AtMIN7, in Arabidopsis thaliana. HopM1 mediates the destruction of AtMIN7 via the host proteasome. Our results illustrate a strategy by which a bacterial pathogen exploits the host proteasome to subvert host immunity and causes infection in plants.
Using Statistics of Natural Images to Facilitate Automatic Receptive Field Analysis

A neuron can be conceptualized as performing a function on its inputs. This stimulusresponse function characterizes “what the neuron does” and is the main object of interest for cellular-level neuroscience. Automated methods for discovering certain properties of stimulus-response functions have many advantages over traditional methods [5]. They can perform more exhaustive searches, use less-biased inputs and have tighter feedback loops for online, adaptive analysis. However, automated methods require many stimulus presentations, often many more than are feasible for a given physiology experiment. Finding ways to reduce the number of stimulus presentations is crucial for increasing the power and scope of these important techniques. We believe that one way to do this is to take advantage of the statistics of natural images. Neurons in V1 appear to be tuned to the specific statistical properties of natural images. For example, a variety of techniques like sparse coding [13, 7], independent component analysis (ICA) [1, 8] and slow feature analysis (SFA) [17, 2], when applied to natural images, yield response properties strikingly similar to both simple and complex cells in V1. That neurons are tuned to natural inputs makes sense from both an evolutionary perspective and from a developmental perspective. We can use this knowledge to more efficiently probe the response properties of visual neurons. A simple thought experiment partially illustrates our idea. Natural images can be significantly compressed using algorithms like JPEG without suffering any noticeable loss in quality. This suggests that neurons in the visual cortex ignore certain types of variation in images. If we want to somehow search for the stimulus that makes a neuron
Comparison of Mosquito Abundance From Biogents Sentinel 2.0 Traps With and Without Rain Covers1

Abstract Biogents Sentinel (BGS) traps have rapidly become a standard for adult Aedes aegypti surveillance. Several investigators have found that trap collections can be damaged easily by heavy dew or rain entering the trap intake port. In addition, water entering the trap may temporarily stop the fan, thus reducing the collection potential of the trap. We evaluated the effectiveness of a rain cover designed to minimize damage to mosquito trap collections from BGS 2.0 traps in a residential backyard in Jacksonville, FL. Rain covers consisted of white fiberglass 51-cm2 sheets positioned 19, 29, and 39 cm above the air intake of the traps. One BGS trap did not have a rain cover and was used as a control standard for comparison. All traps were baited with the BG-Lure. Generally, traps with rain covers resulted in higher mosquito counts when compared with collections from uncovered traps. Overall mosquito abundance was greater from traps with the rain cover positioned at 29 cm, but this difference was not significantly different when compared with the other cover heights. Covers spaced 29 or 39 cm collected significantly more Culex quinquefasciatus compared with traps at 19 cm and no cover. Species diversity was greatest for BGS traps with the rain cover positioned at 29 cm followed by 39 cm, 19 cm, and no cover; however, differences in diversity among the traps, with or without covers, were not significant.
Locomotion and Posture in Lagothrix lagotricha

This long-term study of woolly monkey (Lagothrix) locomotor and postural behaviour employs methods identical to those used during a previous study of the locomotion and posture of two species of Ateles, allowing a detailed comparison between the two genera, which are strong competitors in extensive parts of the Amazon basin and northern Andes. As in Ateles, Lagothrix locomotion can be divided into five patterns, based on limb usage: quadrupedal walking and running, suspensory locomotion, climbing, bipedalism (very rare in wild woolly monkeys) and leaping. Lagothrix differs from Ateles primarily in its greater reliance on quadrupedal locomotion during both travel and feeding and on its de-emphasis of the use of suspensory locomotion as compared to Ateles, while the use of climbing and leaping is roughly equal in the two genera. Lagothrix exhibits more generalised (primitive) locomotive behaviour in accordance with its morphology, in comparison to the more specialised Ateles. The generic differences reflect differences in habitat use and particularly foraging ecology.
Improved Hierarchical Syndrome Analysis of Discrete and Continuous Data

IN the isolation of statistically defined types, Hierarchical Syndrome Analysis has the advantage of being simple, brief, and applicable to both discrete and continuous data. In its original development, it does, however, have shortcomings; once Individual i has classified with Individual j then he cannot by himself classify with any individual other than j, and this is true even though j and k each have i most like them. In order to correct for this limi-
Derivatives of Generalized Distance Functions and Existence of Generalized Nearest Points

The relationship between directional derivatives of generalized distance functions and the existence of generalized nearest points in Banach spaces is investigated. Let G be any nonempty closed subset in a compact locally uniformly convex Banach space. It is proved that if the one-sided directional derivative of the generalized distance function associated to G at x equals to 1 or -1, then the generalized nearest points to x from G exist. We also give a partial answer (Theorem 3.5) to the open problem put forward by S. Fitzpatrick (1989, Bull. Austral. Math. Soc.39, 233-238).
Assessing Roles of Variables by Program Analysis

The idea of roles of variables is to provide a vocabulary for describing the way in which variables are used by experienced programmers. This paper presents work on a system that is designed to automatically check students’ role assignments in simple procedural programming. This is achieved by applying program analysis techniques, in particular program slicing and data flow analysis, to programs that students have written and annotated with role assignments.
Photogrammetric 3 D structure reconstruction using Micmac

We consider a complex image processing problem, namely the reconstruction of the 3D structure of objects pictured from different points of view. Amongst the tools available to achieve such a result, the most serious solution for achieving a quantitative model of the object (dimensions in real units, opposed to a point cloud graduated in pixels) is a software provided by the French National Geographic Institute (IGN) designed to general digital elevation and wall models : the Apero and MicMac software libraries.
Drinking and Driving among Recent Latino Immigrants: The Impact of Neighborhoods and Social Support

Latinos are disproportionately impacted by drinking and driving arrests and alcohol-related fatal crashes. Why, and how, these disparities occur remains unclear. The neighborhood environments that recent Latino immigrants encounter in their host communities can potentially influence health behaviors over time, including the propensity to engage in drinking and driving. This cross-sectional study utilizes a sample of 467 documented and undocumented adult recent Latino immigrants in the United States to answer the following research questions: (a) How do neighborhood-level factors, combined with social support, impact drinking and driving risk behaviors? ; and (b) Does acculturative stress moderate the effects of those associations? Results indicate neighborhood-level factors (informal social control and social capital) have protective effects against drinking and driving risk behaviors via the mediating mechanism of social support. Acculturative stress moderated associations between neighborhood informal social control and social support, whereby the protective effects of informal social control on social support were not present for those immigrants with higher levels of acculturative stress. Our findings contribute to the limited knowledge of drinking and driving among Latino immigrants early in the immigration process and suggest that, in the process of developing prevention programs tailored to Latino immigrants, greater attention must be paid to neighborhood-level factors.
A framework for employee appraisals based on sentiment analysis

Employee appraisal systems are widely regarded as fundamental to enhancing the success of organizations. Yet, there is evidence that employees doubt their benefits, organizations find them difficult to implement and their value is questioned. Although computing systems that support appraisals have been developed, their focus remains on recording information, thereby not providing the kind of meaningful and deeper support that could help appraisers and appraises achieve organizational goals. Hence, this paper explores the potential for utilizing sentiment analysis for developing a novel system for supporting appraisals. The paper reviews the challenges facing appraisal processes, summarizes some features of sentiment analysis and then proposes a new semantic framework for appraisal systems. The first steps in developing part of the framework using the GATE system are illustrated with an example showing the potential for using sentiment analysis for assessing whether objectives are SMART.
Connect: an exercise in research-driven development

Background Over the past five years the Multimedia Education Group (MEG) has been actively engaged in the development of connect, an online learning environment that aims to meet specific teaching and learning needs in a variety of courses at the University of Cape Town. The project is research-driven, allowing ongoing investigation into aspects of online collaboration, collaborative filtering and communities of practice (Carr et al, 2002a; Cox et al, 2002b; Cox et al, 2002c) to guide the design process.
Endogenous Presenilin-1 Targets to Endocytic Rather Than Biosynthetic Compartments

Presenilin-1 (PS1), which is linked to familial Alzheimer's disease, participates in the proteolytic processing of Notch and amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP) by an unknown mechanism. Reports of PS1 localization to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus have focused attention on the early biosynthetic pathway as the site of PS1 function. However, it is unclear how Notch cleavage and APP processing events which occur at or near the cell surface are influenced by PS1. In contrast to some earlier studies, examination of endogenously expressed PS1 in PC12 cells by subcellular fractionation and immunofluorescence microscopy revealed a distribution distinct from that of ER and Golgi markers. Rather, PS1 colocalized with transferrin receptor, a marker for early endosomes. In addition, electron microscopic examination of intact vesicles immunoisolated with PS1 antibodies allowed visualization of endocytic tracer in endosomes. These findings identify an early endosomal pool of PS1 and suggest alternative mechanisms for PS1 interactions with APP and Notch.
Politeness Phenomena in England and Greece: A Cross-Cultural Perspective

Introduction. 1: Politeness: Setting the scene. 2: Politeness: Cross-cultural perspectives. 3: Perceptions of politeness. 4: Speech act theory and politeness: Requests. 5: Requests: Form and function. 6: Requests: Modification. 7: Conclusions. Appendices. References. Index
T-Cell Receptor Gene Therapy of Established Tumors in a Murine Melanoma Model

Adoptive cell transfer therapy using tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes for patients with metastatic melanoma has demonstrated significant objective response rates. One major limitation of these current therapies is the frequent inability to isolate tumor-reactive lymphocytes for treatment. Genetic engineering of peripheral blood lymphocytes with retroviral vectors encoding tumor antigen-specific T-cell receptors (TCRs) bypasses this restriction. To evaluate the efficacy of TCR gene therapy, a murine treatment model was developed. A retroviral vector was constructed encoding the pmel-1 TCR genes targeting the B16 melanoma antigen, gp100. Transduction of C57BL/6 lymphocytes resulted in efficient pmel-1 TCR expression. Lymphocytes transduced with this retrovirus specifically recognized gp100-pulsed target cells as measured by interferon-γ secretion assays. Upon transfer into B16 tumor-bearing mice, the genetically engineered lymphocytes significantly slowed tumor development. The effectiveness of tumor treatment was directly correlated with the number of TCR-engineered T cells administered. These results demonstrated that TCR gene therapy targeting a native tumor antigen significantly delayed the growth of established tumors. When C57BL/6 lymphocytes were added to antigen-reactive pmel-1 T cells, a reduction in the ability of pmel-1 T cell to treat B16 melanomas was seen, suggesting that untransduced cells may be deleterious to TCR gene therapy. This model may be a powerful tool for evaluating future TCR gene transfer-based strategies.
Tracheobronchial Stenting for Malignant Airway Disease

The aim of this retrospective study is to investigate the immediate and long-term outcomes following the insertion of covered and uncovered self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) for the management of malignant tracheobronchial disease. A total of 49 patients (27 male, mean age 60.9 ± 15 years) underwent 77 SEMS insertions (57 uncovered). The procedure was performed in theater using combined bronchoscopic and fluoroscopic guidance. The study’s primary end points included technical success (97.9%), clinical success (91.8%), and symptom recurrence (14.2%). The mean follow-up time was 5.5 ± 5.9 months. We concluded that tracheobronchial SEMSs provide safe and effective minimally invasive long-term management of patients with symptomatic malignant airway disease.
Computer Game Addiction in Adolescents and Its Relationship to Chronotype and Personality

This study assessed the relationship between computer game addiction and computer game usage time, age, gender, BIG-5 personality, and chronotype. Seven hundred and forty-one adolescents from Turkey responded to questionnaires on these topics. We found that computer game addiction, computer game usage time, and chronotype were related with each other. Evening-oriented, younger, and male students had higher computer game addiction scores than morning-oriented, older, and female students. Furthermore, extraverted and agreeable students reported lower computer game addiction. No significant relationship was observed between students’ computer game addiction scores and openness to experience, conscientiousness. We conclude that evening types may be more prone to computer game addiction than morning types.
Accurate Load Detection Based on a New Piezoelectric Drive Principle Employing Phase-Shift Measurement

This paper introduces a technique for measuring the torque applied to a piezoelectric motor while it is operating. The technique utilizes phase measurement rather than amplitude measurement and takes advantage of the kinematical principle of a piezoelectric actuator drive (PAD) later described in the paper. Piezoelectric actuators are bidirectional converters of electrical energy into mechanical energy and vice versa. Due to the special kinematical principle of the PAD, an applied external torque and internal torque lead to a phase-shift between the driving signals (a voltage applied to actuators) and the corresponding mechanical feedback (a modulated force). The actuator acts as a sensor to the feedback force converting it into a charge signal. The charge signal is measured and converted into a voltage by a simplified Sawyer-Tower-Circuit. The dc bias of both signals the driving actuator voltage, and measured charge signal is removed by a high-pass filter. The signals are then amplified and limited to form digital signals out of the sinusoidal input signals. The phase-shift between both signals is analyzed by a phase detector based on a zero-crossing time difference measurement. By employing the theory of electromechanic conversion of the piezoelectric actuators under the marginal conditions of the drive setup, the torque value is calculated, based on the measured phase-shift. The described technique offers highly accurate real-time torque measurement and additional information that can be used for an on-line diagnosis of the piezoelectric ring motor. The theory was validated in an experiment showing typical errors of 5% and 312 to 1248 measurements per 360 deg turn of the motor shaft. The piezomotor used during the experiment offered a maximum torque of 5 Nm