Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Children's Reactions to Marital Conflict in Israel and in the United States

Objective. Gaps in cross-cultural study limit understanding of whether effects of marital discord on children are culturally universal. Design. Israeli (39 boys; 40 girls) and U.S. (97 boys; 118 girls) kindergarteners responded to analog presentations of resolved and unresolved marital conflicts. Results. Children reacted negatively to marital conflict across cultures and were sensitive to the topics of conflict, whether or not it was escalating and whether or not conflict was resolved. Modest differences in responding also emerged: U.S. children reported more happiness for resolved conflicts and more distressed emotions and coping responses to unresolved conflicts. Moreover, only the expectations of U.S. children about future marital relations were affected by resolution. Conclusions. The evidence mostly supported similarities between the United States and Israel with regard to children's responding to conflicts, extending findings based on extensive research in the U.S.
Automatic negotiated integration of services in pervasive environments

The development of many highly dynamic environments, like pervasive environments, modified the behavior of users and consequently, their expectations from systems and applications used in these environments. Thus, a user equipped with a laptop can connect to different places, and, each time, like to use his applications integrating the functionalities offered by the physically or logically close environment. In this article, we offer the architecture of a system of automatic negotiated integration of services. This integration introduces the elements of decision of the integration (negotiation, automatisation) and an interface Integrable making possible the application of different techniques of integration (parameterization, downloading/uploading - deployment, composition, weaving).
Predicting cluster tool behavior with slow down factors

Cluster tools are representatives of a special kind of tool where process times of jobs depend on the combination in which they are processed together on the tool and hence, depending on the sequence in which they are processed at a tool. To evaluate schedules of jobs to be processed at such a tool an estimation method is needed since a detailed simulation takes too long. In this paper, we present a method based on slow down factors which produces promising results and gives hints for the development of intelligent scheduling methods for this kind of tools.
Quantitative analysis of multi‐slice Gd‐DTPA enhanced dynamic MR images using an automated simplex minimization procedure

Quantitative analysis of Gd‐DTPA enhanced dynamic MR images has potential for discriminating lesions, especially because the introduction of clinical fast imaging techniques has enabled good sampling of the relatively rapid Gd‐DTPA wash‐in curves. Analysis of such data requires curve fitting to a nonlinear model, which to date has been performed using a nonlinear least squares (NLLS) fitting procedure. However, this method often fails to converge to the appropriate minima without good initial parameter estimates when multi‐exponential models are involved, making automated analysis of complete multislice or volume data sets problematic. In this report we demonstrate the robust performance of a simplex minimization procedure compared with NLLS, by the method of Marquardt, using a Monte Carlo simulation. Further, we illustrate the applicability of such a technique to the analysis of dynamic contrast enhanced images on a pixel‐by‐pixel basis. As a preliminary example, the technique is applied to a breast lesion but is expected to be suitable for examination of many lesion types.
In search of practitioner‐based social capital: a social network analysis tool for understanding and facilitating teacher collaboration in a US‐based STEM professional development program

This paper presents the first in a series of studies on the informal advice networks of a community of teachers in an in‐service professional development program. The aim of the research was to use Social Network Analysis as a methodological tool to reveal the social networks developed by the teachers, and to examine whether these networks maximized teachers’ access to practitioner‐based social capital. We define practitioner‐based social capital as the knowledge and resources for teaching practice that are accessible through a social network. Our findings indicated that teachers did not naturally build advice networks that would cultivate the highest levels of practitioner‐based social capital. This study offers new possibilities for social network research on teachers’ learning communities in understanding the dynamics of teacher networks. Further, program facilitators will use this information to strategically foster improved teacher collaboration and learning, which will be described in forthcoming studies in this series.
SLTM: A Sentence Level Topic Model for Analysis of Online Reviews

Due to large amounts of reviews for many similar online products, users often feel difficult to determine which products have the most desirable features that they want. In this paper, we propose a model-based approach to analyzing online reviews and identifying the strengths and weaknesses of a product by its product features. We propose a Sentence Level Topic Model (SLTM), which can classify review sentences into different classes corresponding to different product features. The model contains a hidden layer, called the topic layer, between corpus and words. Once a SLTM has been trained with sufficient labeled data points, it can identify the most related topic (i.e., product feature) for each sentence. To capture a reviewer’ opinion, we perform sentiment analysis for each review sentence, and derive the weighted feature preference vectors for the review. Finally, we combine the results of all review comments for a product into a review summary. The case study shows that by comparing the review summaries of similar online products, users may have a much easier time to find their desired products. Keywords-Electronic commerce; product review; product feature; topic model; feature extraction; sentiment analysis.
(A)musicality in Williams syndrome: examining relationships among auditory perception, musical skill, and emotional responsiveness to music

Williams syndrome (WS), a genetic, neurodevelopmental disorder, is of keen interest to music cognition researchers because of its characteristic auditory sensitivities and emotional responsiveness to music. However, actual musical perception and production abilities are more variable. We examined musicality in WS through the lens of amusia and explored how their musical perception abilities related to their auditory sensitivities, musical production skills, and emotional responsiveness to music. In our sample of 73 adolescents and adults with WS, 11% met criteria for amusia, which is higher than the 4% prevalence rate reported in the typically developing (TD) population. Amusia was not related to auditory sensitivities but was related to musical training. Performance on the amusia measure strongly predicted musical skill but not emotional responsiveness to music, which was better predicted by general auditory sensitivities. This study represents the first time amusia has been examined in a population with a known neurodevelopmental genetic disorder with a range of cognitive abilities. Results have implications for the relationships across different levels of auditory processing, musical skill development, and emotional responsiveness to music, as well as the understanding of gene-brain-behavior relationships in individuals with WS and TD individuals with and without amusia.
Stimulus-Response Compatibility and the Motor System

Three experiments examined stimulus-response (S—R) compatibility relationships with the stimulus array perpendicular to the response array. In Experiments I and II, stimuli indicated right and left positions, while the responses were movements up and down. The mapping right/up and left/down was preferable for the right hand, but the reverse mapping was preferable for the left hand. In Experiment III, the stimuli indicated up and down positions, while the responses were movements to the right and left. In this case, the mapping up/left and down/right was preferable for the right hand, and the reverse mapping was preferable for the left hand. The results are most easily explained by assuming that counterclockwise rotational movements are preferable for the right hand, while clockwise is preferable for the left. These preferences are manifest through combinations of implicit movements towards the stimulus and explicit movements towards the response key. This principle is shown to provide a simpler explanation for some previously reported S-R compatibility effects.
Scaling Bloom filter-based multicast via filter switching

Stateless multicast forwarding with in-packet Bloom filters (iBF) has recently been proposed as a highly scalable way for supporting a large number of multicast groups. However, iBF multicast generates redundant traffic due to false positive forwarding decisions and it also scales poorly with multicast group size. In this paper we investigate scaling iBF multicast to arbitrary multicast group sizes, by partially sacrificing the network's fully stateless operation. We propose a switched-iBF multicast scheme that places multicast forwarding state at a few network nodes, so as to minimize redundant traffic regardless of the group size. We evaluate the scheme through simulations and find that switched-iBF multicast can scale to any group size while keeping redundant traffic below 1%-4% at the (minimal) cost of placing state at no more than 0.5%-2.5% of network nodes. We also compare the state requirements of switched-iBF multicast against other multicast schemes. Our evaluation shows that switched-iBF multicast achieves a tremendous reduction of multicast state in the range of 87%-99.6%. Hence, even though the system is no more fully stateless, it remains far more scalable than other approaches.
Adaptive multicast scheduling for HSDPA networks in mobile scenarios

This paper addresses the design of an innovative scheduling algorithm which optimizes the performance of Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) in High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) networks. The proposed policy is based on the subgrouping approach which splits multicast members into subgroups and applies a subgroup-based Adaptive Modulation and Coding mechanism. The optimal number of multicast subgroups with the assigned radio resources is evaluated by solving an optimization problem. The robustness of the proposed approach has been investigated under different pedestrian mobility scenarios. Obtained results demonstrated that user mobility does not meaningfully influence the performance of our policy which allows to minimize the “user dissatisfaction” while increasing the network coverage.
Cloud computing architectures based IDS

Today, cloud computing is an attractive and cost-saving service for buyers as it provides accessibility and reliability options for users and scalable sales for providers. Before implementing this method of computing, however, it is important to consider the security of the cloud. In this paper, we will present, a classification of specific and traditional attacks to the cloud computing according to their origin and their category, as a solution to protect the cloud from these attacks, the IDS integrated in the cloud remains among the best solution, therefore we will show some existing cloud computing architecture based Intrusion Detection System (IDS), their strengths and weaknesses. For the comparative study between the architectures, we have adopted transparency, alerts analysis, authentication, accountability, dynamic reaction, centralized management, interoperability, deployability and control from front office side as criterion for comparison, as a result of this comparative study, we propose a new architecture in one hand by correcting some weaknesses and in the other hand integrating certain concept.
Identifying families at risk: exploring the potential of the McMaster Family Assessment Device

The Family Assessment Device (FAD) was given to a community sample of intact families with young children. Responses by mothers and fathers were analysed with a view to providing ways of indicating which families might benefit from preventive intervention. Mother/father agreement was significant on five of the seven scales, with a failure to reach significance on Affective Involvement and General Functioning. The highest correlation between mothers and fathers was on the Roles scale (r = 0.53). However, mothers' means for Roles were significantly higher than fathers', indicating that mothers were less satisfied with family functioning in this area. In addition to a family mean score greater than a cut-off value as an indicator of unhealthy functioning, present results suggest including those families whose respondents strongly disagree (indicated by scores lying on either side of the cut-off and a difference of more than two standard deviations). With this double criterion, Roles and Affective Involvement were the dimensions most frequently scored as unhealthy. Seventeen per cent of the families scored in the unhealthy range on four or more of the seven dimensions. This paper considers how to decide where family intervention might be helpful and raises the question of whether screening families might be more widely undertaken, for example by health visitors, to identify those families who are at risk of family dysfunction.
State Human Service Agencies: Structure and Organization

The structure of human services delivery systems in six states was studied in order to identify key issues associated with various structural arrangements. Attention was given to the degree of comprehensiveness and centralization as well as the extent to which various service integration mechanisms were used. We found that every state's organizational design has strengths as well as weaknesses, and all represent compromises among various interest groups.
Effects of Respiratory Muscle Warm-up on High-Intensity Exercise Performance

Exercise performance is partially limited by the functionality of the respiratory musculature. Training these muscles improves steady-state exercise performance. However, less is known about the efficacy of executing a respiratory muscle warm-up (RWU) immediately prior to high-intensity exercise. Our study purpose was to use a practitioner-friendly airflow restriction device to investigate the effects of a high, medium, or low intensity RWU on short, high-intensity exercise and pulmonary, cardiovascular, and metabolic function. Eleven recreationally active, males (24.9 ± 4.2 y, 178.8 ± 9.0 cm, 78.5 ± 10.4 kg, 13.4% ± 4.2% body fat) cycled at 85% peak power to exhaustion (TTE) following four different RWU conditions (separate days, in random order): (1) high; (2) medium; (3) low airflow inspiration restriction, or no RWU. When analyzed as a group, TTE did not improve following any RWU (4.73 ± 0.33 min). However, 10 of the 11 participants improved ≥25 s in one of the three RWU conditions (average = 47.6 ± 13.2 s), which was significantly better than (p < 0.05) the control trial (CON). Neither blood lactate nor perceived difficulty was altered by condition. In general, respiratory exchange ratios were significantly lower during the early stages of TTE in all RWU conditions. Our findings suggest RWU efficacy is predicated on identifying optimal inspiration intensity, which clearly differs between individuals.
Application of surface impedance approach to ultrasonic wave propagation in layered anisotropic media

Matrix methods have been extensively used for wave propagation problems in layered media. Direct application of these methods using partial waves or transfer matrix formulation result in numerical problems known as exponential dichotomy. In this paper, we use the concept of surface impedance tensor to tackle this problem. Given the surface impedance tensor along an initial surface, a recursive algorithm is used to calculate the surface impedance tensor for the other layers. The methodology inherently prevents exponential dichotomy. We present applications of the surface impedance approach to practical problems. As examples, we consider the anisotropy of SAW velocity for different electrical boundary conditions, plane wave reflection from immersed layered structures with general anisotropy, and internal field distributions for predicting defect detection sensitivity.
Reading Comprehension Problems Encountered by Foreign Language Students, Case Study: Albania, Croatia

Reading Comprehension is a crucial component of second language acquisition. As a core part of language learning it is, obviously, not an effortless process. Students often complain of not understanding a text, therefore they fail in answering to the comprehensive questions. Unfortunately, this is a reality evidenced and proven from unsatisfactory results of students in English Language Matura Exam in Albanian high schools (as these students have been the objective of this study). In this context it is very important to reveal why do students have difficulties in comprehending a text. At first, it is necessary to detect the problems that generally appear along this process. In this context, focus should be given to questionnaires as their results are good detectors of problems encountered by students. This would direct us to a proper strategy for problem solving and improving the situation. The survey in question was submitted to students from three different high schools in Albania, using questionnaires, sample texts, observations, focus groups etc. Second, theories related to these problems and strategies that could be of help should be provided. Basically, theories and approaches of Reading Comprehension are: 'bottom-up', 'top-down` and ‘the meta cognitive view’. Third, but not less important, focus should be given to questionnaires as their results are good detectors of problems encountered by students. This would direct us to a proper strategy for problem solving and improving the situation. The survey in question was submitted to students from three different high schools in Albania, using questionnaires, sample texts, observations, focus groups etc. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015. v4n1s1p91
Developing a Discrimination Rule between Breast Cancer Patients and Controls Using Proteomics Mass Spectrometric Data: A Three-Step Approach

To discriminate between breast cancer patients and controls, we used a three-step approach to obtain our decision rule. First, we ranked the mass/charge values using random forests, because it generates importance indices that take possible interactions into account. We observed that the top ranked variables consisted of highly correlated contiguous mass/charge values, which were grouped in the second step into new variables. Finally, these newly created variables were used as predictors to find a suitable discrimination rule. In this last step, we compared three different methods, namely Classification and Regression Tree (CART), logistic regression and penalized logistic regression. Logistic regression and penalized logistic regression performed equally well and both had a higher classification accuracy than CART. The model obtained with penalized logistic regression was chosen as we hypothesized that this model would provide a better classification accuracy in the validation set. The solution had a good performance on the training set with a classification accuracy of 86.3%, and a sensitivity and specificity of 86.8% and 85.7%, respectively.
Function of the Cytochrome bc1-aa3 Branch of the Respiratory Network in Mycobacteria and Network Adaptation Occurring in Response to Its Disruption

ABSTRACT The aerobic electron transport chain in Mycobacterium smegmatis can terminate in one of three possible terminal oxidase complexes. The structure and function of the electron transport pathway leading from the menaquinol-menaquinone pool to the cytochrome bc1 complex and terminating in the aa3-type cytochrome c oxidase was characterized. M. smegmatis strains with mutations in the bc1 complex and in subunit II of cyctochome c oxidase were found to be profoundly growth impaired, confirming the importance of this respiratory pathway for mycobacterial growth under aerobic conditions. Disruption of this pathway resulted in an adaptation of the respiratory network that is characterized by a marked up-regulation of cydAB, which encodes the bioenergetically less efficient and microaerobically induced cytochrome bd-type menaquinol oxidase that is required for the growth of M. smegmatis under O2-limiting conditions. Further insights into the adaptation of this organism to rerouting of the electron flux through the branch terminating in the bd-type oxidase were revealed by expression profiling of the bc1-deficient mutant strain using a partial-genome microarray of M. smegmatis that is enriched in essential genes. Although the expression profile was indicative of an increase in the reduced state of the respiratory chain, blockage of the bc1-aa3 pathway did not induce the sentinel genes of M. smegmatis that are induced by oxygen starvation and are regulated by the DosR two-component regulator.
The Role of High School Connections to Colleges in Adolescents' Transitions to Higher Education

With most adolescents now aspiring to graduate from college, assisting students in making the transition has become a key institutional function of high schools. Information about the application process is especially important for college entrance as admissions criteria are localized. Gaining access to information is one of the most important benefits of social capital. This study asks whether high schools with more connections to colleges are more successful in helping their students gain admission to college and, in particular, to selective four-year colleges. This study investigates the effects of having connections to colleges at a high school on students' college entry. This study also shows that actions taken by individual families bring about a contextual effect of a high school on the college selectivity that students attended in the same high school. These effects also mediate the relationship between school socioeconomic composition and enrollment in selective colleges.
A shrinkage-thresholding method for the inverse problem of Electrical Resistance Tomography

Image reconstruction for Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT) is an ill-posed nonlinear inverse problem. Considering the influence of the sparse measurement data on the quality of the reconstructed image, the l1-regularized least-squares program (l1 regularized LSP) is introduced to solve the inverse problem in this paper. To meet the need of high speed in ERT, the fast iterative shrinkage-thresholding algorithm (FISTA) is employed for image reconstruction in our work. Simulation results of the FISTA and l1_ls algorithm show that the l1 regularized LSP is superior to the l2 regularization method, especially in avoiding the over-smoothing of the reconstructed image. In addition, to improve the convergence speed and imaging quality in FISTA algorithm, the initial guess is calculated with the conjugate gradient method. Comparative simulation results demonstrate the feasibility of FISTA in ERT system and its advantage over the l1_ls regularization method.