Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using weblogging to develop schema-based English reading skills of Chinese students in Hong Kong secondary schools

This thesis investigates how far weblogging can be used to develop schema English reading skills of Chinese secondary school students in Hong Kong. The theoretical foundation of the research design is built on a sociocultural model originating in Constructivism within which communication through discussion or sharing of ideas is the preferred approach for second language learning. Constructivists’ theory integrates reading, schema, and weblogging that are the three core concepts to be examined in my research. The examination is facilitated by the methodological framework that adopts a mixed methods approach involving case study and experimental study methods. An experiment was conducted among eight sample case Chinese students of which four students formed an online community of practice on weblog so that they could experience reflective learning while using their schemata in reading English texts. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from the experiment and case studies. Analysis of these data had considered individual differences of Chinese students in the process of English reading skills development. The analyzed results give evidences to address the research purposes and questions on exploring the relationship between weblogging and second language textual development, in particular schema-based English reading skills of Chinese students. Major findings of the research reveal how weblogging can facilitate schema development in reading and explain to what extent weblogging can be used as a useful means to develop schema-based reading skills in the context of second language learning.
Logical Consequence and the Theory of Games

Les notions logiques de consequence sont frequemment reliees a des concepts de solution de la theorie des jeux. Dans ce contexte domine la correspondance entre une formule classiquement valide et l’existence d’une strategie gagnante pour un joueur dans un jeu a deux joueurs. Nous proposons une extension conservative de la notion classique de consequence basee sur une generalisation du concept de solution de jeu d’equilibre de Nash.
The Effects of Exercise on Cognitive Recovery after Acquired Brain Injury in Animal Models: A Systematic Review

The objective of the present paper is to review the current status of exercise as a tool to promote cognitive rehabilitation after acquired brain injury (ABI) in animal model-based research. Searches were conducted on the PubMed, Scopus, and psycINFO databases in February 2014. Search strings used were: exercise (and) animal model (or) rodent (or) rat (and) traumatic brain injury (or) cerebral ischemia (or) brain irradiation. Studies were selected if they were (1) in English, (2) used adult animals subjected to acquired brain injury, (3) used exercise as an intervention tool after inflicted injury, (4) used exercise paradigms demanding movement of all extremities, (5) had exercise intervention effects that could be distinguished from other potential intervention effects, and (6) contained at least one measure of cognitive and/or emotional function. Out of 2308 hits, 22 publications fulfilled the criteria. The studies were examined relative to cognitive effects associated with three themes: exercise type (forced or voluntary), timing of exercise (early or late), and dose-related factors (intensity, duration, etc.). The studies indicate that exercise in many cases can promote cognitive recovery after brain injury. However, the optimal parameters to ensure cognitive rehabilitation efficacy still elude us, due to considerable methodological variations between studies.
Knowledge and Human Values: A Genealogy of Nihilism

Our problem, I take it, is that many people today feel that they have lost a sense of the meaning and seriousness of their lives. Robert Bellah has given us an eloquent and chilling description of contemporary America in which the highest goal now seems to be energy or "zing. " Being a philosopher rather than a sociologist, I am now going to give this problem a name, nihilism, and talk about it in a much more abstract and general way than Professor Bellah did. I want to argue that what is at issue is not merely a sickness in American society just beginning to show up in questionnaires, but a condition of Western man that has been gradually revealing itself since Socrates subtly launched nihilism about 300 B.C. Not that our present nihilism is any particular person's fault—not even a very important person like Socrates. He was simply the first symptom. As Nietzsche says in Twilight of the Idols, Socrates was merely an Athenian degenerate, a first expression of the decadence that had come over Athens of which we are the final heirs.2
Transport of dendritic microtubules establishes their nonuniform polarity orientation

The immature processes that give rise to both axons and dendrites contain microtubules (MTs) that are uniformly oriented with their plus- ends distal to the cell body, and this pattern is preserved in the developing axon. In contrast, developing dendrites gradually acquire nonuniform MT polarity orientation due to the addition of a subpopulation of oppositely oriented MTs (Baas, P. W., M. M. Black, and G. A. Banker. 1989. J. Cell Biol. 109:3085-3094). In theory, these minus-end-distal MTs could be locally nucleated and assembled within the dendrite itself, or could be transported into the dendrite after their nucleation within the cell body. To distinguish between these possibilities, we exposed cultured hippocampal neurons to nanomolar levels of vinblastine after one of the immature processes had developed into the axon but before the others had become dendrites. At these levels, vinblastine acts as a kinetic stabilizer of MTs, inhibiting further assembly while not substantially depolymerizing existing MTs. This treatment did not abolish dendritic differentiation, which occurred in timely fashion over the next two to three days. The resulting dendrites were flatter and shorter than controls, but were identifiable by their ultrastructure, chemical composition, and thickened tapering morphology. The growth of these dendrites was accompanied by a diminution of MTs from the cell body, indicating a net transfer of MTs from one compartment into the other. During this time, minus-end-distal microtubules arose in the experimental dendrites, indicating that new MT assembly is not required for the acquisition of nonuniform MT polarity orientation in the dendrite. Minus-end-distal microtubules predominated in the more proximal region of experimental dendrites, indicating that most of the MTs at this stage of development are transported into the dendrite with their minus-ends leading. These observations indicate that transport of MTs from the cell body is an essential feature of dendritic development, and that this transport establishes the nonuniform polarity orientation of MTs in the dendrite.
Advanced GIS Exercise: Predicting Rainfall Erosivity Index Using Regression Analysis.

Graduate students from a variety of agricultural and natural resource fields are incorporating geographic information systems (GIS) analysis into their graduate research, creating a need for teaching methodologies that help students understand advanced GIS topics for use in their own research. Graduate-level GIS exercises help students understand advanced concepts that they can later apply to their research. We have developed a laboratory exercise based on a published journal article, "Predicting Rainfall Erosivity in Honduras," that introduces the concept of applying regression analysis to raster GIS. The objective of this laboratory exercise was to have students learn how standard statistical methods, in this case regression analysis, can be applied to spatial datasets to produce a GIS-based map of predicted results. By using a journal article as the framework for this exercise, students were able to both understand the analysis method and also compare their results to the published map. Students stated that this lab helped them to understand how to apply regression analysis techniques using raster analysis tools in a GIS environment.
Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: Definitions, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Role of Neuropsychological Measurement in MCI and Dementia Assessment Chapter 3: Normal Cognitive Aging Chapter 4: Mild Cognitive Impairment Chapter 5: Alzheimer's Disease Chapter 6: Vascular Dementia Chapter 7: Dementia with Lewy Bodies (With Guest Author Tanis J Ferman, PhD) Chapter 8: Frontotemporal Dementias Chapter 9: Atypical Dementias (With David P. Salmon, Ph.D.) Chapter 10: Interventions for the Behavioral Disturbances of Dementia
Nonnegative HMM for Babble Noise Derived From Speech HMM: Application to Speech Enhancement

Deriving a good model for multitalker babble noise can facilitate different speech processing algorithms, e.g., noise reduction, to reduce the so-called cocktail party difficulty. In the available systems, the fact that the babble waveform is generated as a sum of N different speech waveforms is not exploited explicitly. In this paper, first we develop a gamma hidden Markov model for power spectra of the speech signal, and then formulate it as a sparse nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF). Second, the sparse NMF is extended by relaxing the sparsity constraint, and a novel model for babble noise (gamma nonnegative HMM) is proposed in which the babble basis matrix is the same as the speech basis matrix, and only the activation factors (weights) of the basis vectors are different for the two signals over time. Finally, a noise reduction algorithm is proposed using the derived speech and babble models. All of the stationary model parameters are estimated using the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm, whereas the time-varying parameters, i.e., the gain parameters of speech and babble signals, are estimated using a recursive EM algorithm. The objective and subjective listening evaluations show that the proposed babble model and the final noise reduction algorithm significantly outperform the conventional methods.
Towards automatic detection of falls using wireless sensors

Accurate detection of falls leading to injury is essential for providing timely medical assistance. In this paper, we describe a wireless sensor network system for automatic fall detection. To detect falls, we use a combination of a body- worn triaxial accelerometer with motion detectors placed in the monitored area. While accelerometer provides information about the body motion during a fall, motion detectors monitor general presence or absence of motion. From all sensors, the data is transmitted wirelessly using the IEEE 802.15. 4 protocol to a central node for processing. We use an implementation of carrier sense multiple access - collision avoidance scheme for channel reuse. A simple forwarding scheme is used to provide an extended coverage for a home environment. Fall detection is accomplished by a two-stage algorithm that utilizes the triaxial acceleration and the motion data sequentially. In the first stage, the algorithm detects plausible falls using a measure of normalized energy expenditure computed from the dynamic acceleration values. In the second stage, falls are confirmed based on the absence of motion. Systematic evaluation on simulated falls using 15 adult subjects shows that the proposed system provides a highly promising solution for real-time fall detection.
Real-time tag recognition based on morphology and local contrast

With the development of computer and robotic technology, more and more miscellaneous work has been done by robots rather than men. In this case, robot vision, especially object recognition, which can help to locate objects in captured images and extract valuable information from those objects, becomes a significant part in robot design and realization. This process is expected to be real-time. In this paper, the aim is to find out the real-time and accurate algorithms to localize and recognize particular tags. Firstly, new special tags are designed. Then two tag corner localization methods are proposed, in which one is based on morphology and another is based on local contrast. And the character recognition based on OCR are also described. In the end, based on Library Management Robot (LMR), some experiments are taken. As a result, the two tag localization algorithms turn out to have complementary features in recognition distance. Meanwhile, comparing to other methods, the new methods can quickly and accurately extract tags and their information under various conditions including unexpected shadows, different light conditions and different backgrounds.
Controlled induction of human pancreatic progenitors produces functional beta‐like cells in vitro

Directed differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into functional insulin‐producing beta‐like cells holds great promise for cell replacement therapy for patients suffering from diabetes. This approach also offers the unique opportunity to study otherwise inaccessible aspects of human beta cell development and function in vitro. Here, we show that current pancreatic progenitor differentiation protocols promote precocious endocrine commitment, ultimately resulting in the generation of non‐functional polyhormonal cells. Omission of commonly used BMP inhibitors during pancreatic specification prevents precocious endocrine formation while treatment with retinoic acid followed by combined EGF/KGF efficiently generates both PDX1+ and subsequent PDX1+/NKX6.1+ pancreatic progenitor populations, respectively. Precise temporal activation of endocrine differentiation in PDX1+/NKX6.1+ progenitors produces glucose‐responsive beta‐like cells in vitro that exhibit key features of bona fide human beta cells, remain functional after short‐term transplantation, and reduce blood glucose levels in diabetic mice. Thus, our simplified and scalable system accurately recapitulates key steps of human pancreas development and provides a fast and reproducible supply of functional human beta‐like cells.
Adaptive Clustering : Better Representatives with Reinforcement Learning

Adaptive clustering uses reinforcement learning to learn the reward values of successive data clusterings. Adaptive clustering applies when external feedback exists for a clustering task. It supports the reuse of clusterings by memorizing what worked well in a previous context. It explores multiple paths in a reinforcement learning environment when the goal is to find better cluster representatives based on arbitrary environmental feedback. Our experiments apply adaptive clustering to instance-based learning relying on a distance function modification approach. The results show that adaptive clustering can find better representatives, if compared with traditional instance-based learning, such as k-nearest neighbor classifiers. Moreover, we introduce as a by-product a new instance-based learning technique that classifies examples by solely using cluster representatives; the technique shows high promise in our experimental evaluation.
“We’re all thrown in the same boat … ”: A qualitative analysis of peer support in dementia care

Peer support is well established in fields such as the disability movement and mental health and is increasingly recognised as one way of enabling support by and for people with a diagnosis of dementia and their immediate carers. It was central to the implementation of the National Dementia Strategy (NDS) for England, when 40 demonstration sites were established. This mixed-methods study included in-depth qualitative interviews with people living with dementia (n = 101) and staff/stakeholders (n = 82) at 8 of the 40 sites. Data analysis was a five-stage process: coding framework developed (using 25 transcripts); further development of the framework (using a further 70 transcripts); development of emerging themes; modelling of themes and verification of models based on the entire data set. Peer support had positive emotional and social impact that was rooted in identification with others, a commonality of experience and reciprocity of support. There was also a contrast between the quality of peer support and support from professionals. This emphasises the significance of lived experience and promoting a strength-based approach to interpersonal support that is enabling and challenges a deficit approach to understanding dementia.
AN EXAMINATION OF FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE FRIENDSHIPS IN YOUNG ADULTS FROM INTACT AND DIVORCED FAMILIES

AN EXAMINATION OF FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE FRIENDSHIPS IN YOUNG ADULTS FROM INTACT AND DIVORCED FAMILIES By Stephanie Susanne Genser Wolf, J.D. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2010 Major Director: Arnold L. Stolberg, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology Department of Psychology Specific factors effecting young adult friendship development have been identified by the literature with little focus on which are most influential in determining friendship composition. Hierarchical regression was used to examine such factors. Participants included 400 undergraduate Psychology students at a state university in the mid-Atlantic region. Findings indicated parental relationships were the strongest predictor of friendship quality. Parent-child bonds, conflict between parents, and emotion regulation skills best predicted levels of intimacy. Parent-child bond-especially with mother-best predicted satisfaction with friendship network as did conflict between parents. In addition, parent-child bond with mother and conflict between parents were found more important than emotion regulation skills although such skills were still found significant. Contrary to predictions life events were not significant to all outcome variables. Instead life events were found significant only to satisfaction with friendship networks. Finally, parental marital status was found significant, but minimally, only for friendship intimacy.
The influence of motor function on processing speed in preterm and term-born children

This study investigates the relationship between motor function and processing speed in preterm children. Processing speed was compared in 145 adolescents, born 25–41 weeks gestational age, utilizing tasks including differing motor demands. The influence of motor cortex excitability and functional motor skills on task performance was assessed. For tasks with motoric demands, differences in performance between preterm and term-born children were mediated by the relationship between gestational age, corticomotor excitability, and motor function. There were no differences in non-motor processing speed task performance between preterm and term-born children. Measures of processing speed may be confounded by a timed motor component.
An experimental study on the informational and grounding functions of prosodic features of Japanese

Echoic responses, which reuse portions of the texts uttered in the preceding turns, abound in dialogues, although semantically they contribute little new information. Earlier, we conducted a corpus-based analysis on echoic responses occurring in real-life dialogues, and examined their informational and dialogue-coordinating functions in connection with their temporal/prosodic features. The present study attempts to complement this observational approachwith an experimental approach, where particular prosodic/temporal features of echoic responses can be studied in a more controlled and focused manner. In combination, the two lines of analyses provide an evidence that (1) echoic responses with different timings, intonations, pitches, and speeds signal different degrees in which the speakers have integrated the repeated information into their prior knowledge, and (2) the dialogue-coordinating functions of echoic responses vary with the speaker's integration rates signaled by these prosodic/temporal cues.
Spontaneous Speech Collection for the ATIS Domain with an Aural User Feedback Paradigm

This paper describes the AT&T ATIS data collection system, with emphasis on the development of the speech-in, speechout interaction paradigm. The ATIS task involves providing air travel information to a user in the context of a interactive dialogue. Under the AT&T interaction paradigm, information retrieved from a travel information database in tabular form is automatically transformed into sentences, which are spoken to a user by a speech synthesizer. To date, we have collected over 1800 sentences from subjects who used the system to solve travel planning scenarios. We present a comparison of the ATIS data collected at AT&T with the ATIS data collected at other sites (BBN, CMU, MIT, and SRI), and discuss what we have learned in this preliminary effort.
Channel Model for MIMO Polarized Antennas

We propose a three-dimensional (3D) polarized MIMO channel model, which takes into account 3D power angular spectrum and comprehensive propagation characteristics of electromagnetic waves excited by polarized antennas. Based on the model, we derive a close form expression of the spatial correlation as a function of the physical parameters representing both characteristics of arbitrary antennas and propagation environment in 3D space. The spatial correlation expression allows to use the Von Mises Fisher (VMF) distribution, resulting in a more accurate and general channel model. Through simulation, we evaluate and compare performance, in terms of the spatial correlation and capacity, of 2 × 2 MIMO antenna configurations with different polarizations, i.e. V/V, V/H, and slanted ±45 polarizations. The effect of the parameters is analyzed, and verified in certain cases through the literature.
Managing interference

The construction of a complex software system involves many agents with different perspectives or views of the system they are trying to describe or model. This gives rise to many partial specifications Ð viewpoints. These viewpoints may "interfere" with each other that is the goals of the agents may be mutually interdependent. This interference is inevitable and acceptable in system development. In this paper we examine how interference can be "managed" and the tasks that this entails. We summarise ongoing research and suggest new research directions.
Differentially expressed genes in L6 rat skeletal muscle myoblasts after incubation with inflammatory cytokines.

OBJECTIVE The mechanism underlying exercise intolerance in chronic heart failure is still unclear. An increased concentration of inflammatory cytokines could be detected in the serum of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) exhibiting a correlation with the severity of the disease. The variety of molecular alterations triggered by these cytokines in the skeletal muscle is almost unknown. The study was designed to analyze the differential gene expression in skeletal muscle myoblasts after stimulation with inflammatory cytokines. METHODS L6 rat skeletal muscle myoblasts were incubated for 24 h with a combination of IL-1beta/IFN-gamma and the differential gene expression profile was determined by a PCR-based subtractive hybridization method. RESULTS Out of 173 picked clones 141 different sequences could be identified. By comparison with Genebank, the identity of 73 genes (51.7%) could be confirmed, whereas the rest did not show a homology to any known gene. Some of the identified genes are known to be altered in patients with CHF. CONCLUSION In summary, the results of this study provide information about changes in gene expression after exposure of skeletal muscle cells to inflammatory cytokines. This information may yield a new gene pool, worthwhile to be analyzed in skeletal muscle of patients with chronic heart failure.