Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential Development of Children’s Understanding of the Cardinality of Small Numbers and Zero

Counting and the understanding of cardinality are important steps in children’s numerical development. Recent studies have indicated that language and visuospatial abilities play an important role in the development of children’s cardinal knowledge of small numbers. However, predictors for the knowledge about zero were usually not considered in these studies. Therefore, the present study investigated whether the acquisition of cardinality knowledge on small numbers and the concept of zero share cross-domain and domain-specific numerical predictors. Particular interest was paid to the question whether visuospatial abilities – in addition to language abilities – were associated with children’s understanding of small numbers and zero. Accordingly, we assessed kindergarteners aged 4 to 5 years in terms of their understanding of small numbers and zero as well as their visuospatial, general language, counting, Arabic number identification abilities, and their finger number knowledge. We observed significant zero-order correlations of vocabulary, number identification, finger knowledge, and counting abilities with children’s knowledge about zero as well as understanding of the cardinality of small numbers. Subsequent regression analyses substantiated the influences of counting abilities on knowledge about zero and the influences of both counting abilities and finger knowledge on children’s understanding of the cardinality of small numbers. No significant influences of cross-domain predictors were observed. In sum, these results indicate that domain-specific numerical precursor skills seem to be more important for children’s development of an understanding of the cardinality of small numbers as well as of the concept of zero than the more proximal cross-domain abilities such as language and visuospatial abilities.
Genotype-Environment Interaction Shapes the Microbial Assemblage in Grapevine’s Phyllosphere and Carposphere: An NGS Approach

Plant surface or phyllosphere is the habitat of hyperdiverse microbial communities and it is always exposed to the fluctuating environmental factors, which is thought to be one of the potential drivers of microbial community structuring. Impact of grapevine genotypes in variable environmental factors (i.e., at different geographic locations) on the phyllosphere has never been studied and is the main objective of this report. Using high throughput short amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA genes and internal transcribed spacer (ITS), we analyzed the impacts of genotypes of Vitis Vinifera (coming from three genetic pool), on the microbial (bacterial and fungal) assemblage in the phyllosphere. First, we performed the analysis of the phyllosphere microbiome while using fifteen genotypes that were chosen to maximize intra-specific diversity and grown in two Mediterranean vineyards. Then, the same analysis was performed on five commercially important varieties of Vitis vinifera that were sampled from three different French agro-climatic zones (or terroir: a combination of climate, soils, and human practices). Our study revealed that, at a particular geographic location, genotypes have an impact on microbial assemblage in the phyllosphere and carposphere of leaf and fruit (or berries), respectively, which is more prominent on the carposphere but the effect of terroir was much stronger than the genotype when the leaf phyllosphere of five grapevine varieties grown in different agro-climatic zones was compared. Impacts of the season and exterior plant organs (leaf and berries) on microbial taxa structuring in the phyllosphere was also assessed and presented in this report.
Feasibility of lung ultrasound to assess pulmonary overflow in congenital heart disease children

Pulmonary overflow (PO) is one of the most common complications in congenital heart disease (CHD) children with an incidence of 48‐60% approximately. This study explored the feasibility of using lung ultrasound (LUS) to assess pulmonary overcirculation in CHD children and compare the diagnostic performance of LUS and chest radiography (CXR) for the detection of pulmonary overcirculation.
Evaluating mapping designs for conveying data through tactons

Tactons are structured vibrotactile messages which can be used to transmit information solely through the cutaneous sense. These are particularly useful in situations where visual or auditory displays are unavailable or inappropriate. Most data:vibration mappings do not consider the user's perceptions of the mappings being used, which can lead to confusion and Tactons which are difficult to interpret. To explore this issue, we conducted a magnitude estimation experiment to map how a number of vibrotactile parameters such as duration and frequency relate to the perceived magnitude of data variables that may be used in a real-world context such as error and danger. Results from this study show that when tempo and duration are used to convey data, they are perceived in the same polarity, regardless of the type of data being conveyed. This study provides polarity and scaling values which may be directly utilised by Tacton designers when creating new sets of vibrotactile messages.
Detecting Bombs in X-Ray Images of Hold Baggage: 2D Versus 3D Imaging

Objective: This study compared the visual inspection performance of airport security officers (screeners) when screening hold baggage with state-of-the-art 3D versus older 2D imaging. Background: 3D imaging based on computer tomography features better automated detection of explosives and higher baggage throughput than older 2D X-ray imaging technology. Nonetheless, some countries and airports hesitate to implement 3D systems due to their lower image quality and the concern that screeners will need extensive and specific training before they can be allowed to work with 3D imaging. Method: Screeners working with 2D imaging (2D screeners) and screeners working with 3D imaging (3D screeners) conducted a simulated hold baggage screening task with both types of imaging. Differences in image quality of the imaging systems were assessed with the standard procedure for 2D imaging. Results: Despite lower image quality, screeners’ detection performance with 3D imaging was similar to that with 2D imaging. 3D screeners revealed higher detection performance with both types of imaging than 2D screeners. Conclusion: Features of 3D imaging systems (3D image rotation and slicing) seem to compensate for lower image quality. Visual inspection competency acquired with one type of imaging seems to transfer to visual inspection with the other type of imaging. Application: Replacing older 2D with newer 3D imaging systems can be recommended. 2D screeners do not need extensive and specific training to achieve comparable detection performance with 3D imaging. Current image quality standards for 2D imaging need revision before they can be applied to 3D imaging.
The Avian Basal Ganglia Are a Source of Rapid Behavioral Variation That Enables Vocal Motor Exploration

The basal ganglia (BG) participate in aspects of reinforcement learning that require evaluation and selection of motor programs associated with improved performance. However, whether the BG additionally contribute to behavioral variation (“motor exploration”) that forms the substrate for such learning remains unclear. In songbirds, a tractable system for studying BG-dependent skill learning, a role for the BG in generating exploratory variability, has been challenged by the finding that lesions of Area X, the song-specific component of the BG, have no lasting effects on several forms of vocal variability that have been studied. Here we demonstrate that lesions of Area X in adult male zebra finches (Taeniopygia gutatta) permanently eliminate rapid within-syllable variation in fundamental frequency (FF), which can act as motor exploration to enable reinforcement-driven song learning. In addition, we found that this within-syllable variation is elevated in juveniles and in adults singing alone, conditions that have been linked to enhanced song plasticity and elevated neural variability in Area X. Consistent with a model that variability is relayed from Area X, via its cortical target, the lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior nidopallium (LMAN), to influence song motor circuitry, we found that lesions of LMAN also eliminate within-syllable variability. Moreover, we found that electrical perturbation of LMAN can drive fluctuations in FF that mimic naturally occurring within-syllable variability. Together, these results demonstrate that the BG are a central source of rapid behavioral variation that can serve as motor exploration for vocal learning. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Many complex motor skills, such as speech, are not innately programmed but are learned gradually through trial and error. Learning involves generating exploratory variability in action (“motor exploration”) and evaluating subsequent performance to acquire motor programs that lead to improved performance. Although it is well established that the basal ganglia (BG) process signals relating to action evaluation and selection, whether and how the BG promote exploratory motor variability remain unclear. We investigated this question in songbirds, which learn to produce complex vocalizations through trial and error. In contrast with previous studies that did not find effects of BG lesions on vocal motor variability, we demonstrate that the BG are an essential source of rapid behavioral variation linked to vocal learning.
BurstRadar: Practical Real-time Microburst Monitoring for Datacenter Networks

Microbursts can degrade application performance in datacenters by causing increased latency, jitter and packet loss. The detection of microbursts and identification of the contributing flows is the first step towards mitigating this problem. Unfortunately, microbursts are unpredictable and typically last for 10's or 100's of μs and the high line rates (> 10 Gbps) in modern datacenter networks further exacerbate the problem. In this paper, we show that modern programmable switching ASICs have made it practical to detect and characterize microbursts at high line rates. Our system, called BurstRadar, operates in the dataplane and monitors microbursts by capturing the telemetry information for only the packets involved in microbursts. We have implemented a prototype of BurstRadar on a Barefoot Tofino switch using the P4 programming language. Our evaluation on a multi-gigabit testbed using microburst traffic distributions from Facebook's production network shows that BurstRadar incurs 10 times less data collection and processing overhead than existing solutions. Furthermore, BurstRadar can handle simultaneous microburst traffic on multiple egress ports while consuming very few resources in the switching ASIC.
Co-designing smart home technology with people with dementia or Parkinson's disease

Involving users is crucial to designing technology successfully, especially for vulnerable users in health and social care, yet detailed descriptions and critical reflections on the co-design process, techniques and methods are rare. This paper introduces the PERCEPT (PERrsona-CEntred Participatory Technology) approach for the co-design process and we analyse and discuss the lessons learned for each step in this process. We applied PERCEPT in a project to develop a smart home toolset that will allow a person living with early stage dementia or Parkinson's to plan, monitor and self-manage his or her life and well-being more effectively. We present a set of personas which were co-created with people and applied throughout the project in the co-design process. The approach presented in this paper will enable researchers and designers to better engage with target user groups in co-design and point to considerations to be made at each step for vulnerable users.
STyLuS*: A Temporal Logic Optimal Control Synthesis Algorithm for Large-Scale Multi-Robot Systems

This article proposes a new highly scalable and asymptotically optimal control synthesis algorithm from linear temporal logic specifications, called STyLu S * for large-Scale optimal Temporal Logic Synthesis, that is designed to solve complex temporal planning problems in large-scale multi-robot systems. Existing planning approaches with temporal logic specifications rely on graph search techniques applied to a product automaton constructed among the robots. In our previous work, we have proposed a more tractable sampling-based algorithm that builds incrementally trees that approximate the state space and transitions of the synchronous product automaton and does not require sophisticated graph search techniques. Here, we extend our previous work by introducing bias in the sampling process that is guided by transitions in the Büchi automaton that belong to the shortest path to the accepting states. This allows us to synthesize optimal motion plans from product automata with hundreds of orders of magnitude more states than those that existing optimal control synthesis methods or off-the-shelf model checkers can manipulate. We show that STyLu S * is probabilistically complete and asymptotically optimal and has exponential convergence rate. This is the first time that convergence rate results are provided for sampling-based optimal control synthesis methods. We provide simulation results that show that STyLu S * can synthesize optimal motion plans for very large multi-robot systems, which is impossible using state-of-the-art methods.
Classify, predict, detect, anticipate and synthesize: Hierarchical recurrent latent variable models for human activity modeling

Human activity modeling operates on two levels: high-level action modeling, such as classification, prediction, detection and anticipation, and low-level motion trajectory prediction and synthesis. In this work, we propose a semi-supervised generative latent variable model that addresses both of these levels by modeling continuous observations as well as semantic labels. We extend the model to capture the dependencies between different entities, such as a human and objects, and to represent hierarchical label structure, such as high-level actions and sub-activities. In the experiments we investigate our model's capability to classify, predict, detect and anticipate semantic action and affordance labels and to predict and generate human motion. We train our models on data extracted from depth image streams from the Cornell Activity 120, the UTKinect-Action3D and the Stony Brook University Kinect Interaction Dataset. We observe that our model performs well in all of the tasks and often outperforms task-specific models.
CryptZip: Squeezing out the Redundancy in Homomorphically Encrypted Backup Data

Ideal homomorphic encryption is theoretically achievable but impractical in reality due to tremendous computing overhead. Homomorphically encrypted databases, such as CryptDB, leverage replication with partially homomorphic encryption schemes to support different SQL queries over encrypted data directly. These databases reach a balance between security and efficiency, but incur considerable storage overhead, especially when making backups. Unfortunately, general data compression techniques exhibit inefficiency on encrypted data. We present CryptZip, a backup and recovery system that could highly reduce the backup storage cost of encrypted databases. The key idea is to leverage the metadata information of encryption schemes and selectively backup one or several columns among semantically redundant columns. The experimental results show that CryptZip could reduce up to 90.5% backup storage cost on TPC-C benchmark.
Bone morphogenetic protein and activin membrane-bound inhibitor suppress bone cancer progression in MG63 and SAOS cells via regulation of the TGF-β-induced EMT signaling pathway

Bone cancer is one of the most common tumor types that occurs in bones and their affiliated tissues. The prognosis remains poor due to the limited number of effective therapeutic targets. Downregulation of bone morphogenetic protein and activin membrane-bound inhibitor (BAMBI) has been observed in human cancer cells and BAMBI reconstitution can inhibit growth and metastasis of human cancer cells. In the present study, a potential mechanism mediated by BAMBI in osteosarcoma cells was investigated. The data demonstrated that BAMBI reconstitution suppressed the cell growth, migration and invasion of the osteosarcoma cell lines SAOS2 and MG63. Alterations to the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker expression were observed in BAMBI-treated osteosarcoma SAOS2 and MG63 cells. The apoptosis rate of SAOS2 and MG63 cells induced by cisplatin were increased in BAMBI-treated osteosarcoma SAOS2 and MG63 cells via downregulation of the anti-apoptosis genes P16, P21 and B-cell lymphoma 2. The potential mechanism investigated indicated that BAMBI administration downregulated the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway, whilst knockdown of BAMBI upregulated the TGF-β signaling pathway in SAOS2 and MG63 cells. Reconstitution of BAMBI in SAOS2 and MG63 cells resulted in a notable reduction of TGF-β-induced EMT, cell growth, migration and invasion in vitro. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that BAMBI reconstitution inhibited growth and invasiveness of osteosarcoma, as well as promoted the apoptotic sensibility, which indicated that the TGF-β-induced EMT signaling pathway may be regarded as a potential target for osteosarcoma therapy.
Human fetal adrenal cells retain age‐related stem‐ and endocrine‐differentiation potential in culture

The adrenal gland is a multiendocrine organ with a steroidogenic mesenchymal cortex and an inner catecholamine‐producing medulla of neuroendocrine origin. After embryonic development, this plastic organ undergoes a functional postnatal remodeling. Elucidating these complex processes is pivotal for understanding the early bases of functional endocrine disorders and tumors affecting the mature gland. We developed an in vitro human adrenal cell model derived from fetal adrenal specimens at different gestational ages, consisting of neuroendocrine and cortical components and expressing the zona and functional markers of the original fetal organ. These cortical and neuroendocrine progenitor cells retain in vitro an intrinsic gestational‐age–related differentiation and functional program. In vitro these cells spontaneously form 3‐dimensional structure organoids with a structure similar to the fetal gland. The organoids show morphofunctional features and adrenal steroidogenic factor, steroid acute regulatory, cytochrome‐P450‐17A1, dosage‐sensitive, sex‐reversal, adrenal hypoplasia–critical region on chromosome X protein, NOTCH1, and nephroblastoma overexpressed/cysteine‐rich protein 61/connective tissue growth factor/nephroblastoma overexpressed gene‐3; stem (BMI1, nestin); and chromaffin (chromogranin A, tyrosine hydroxylase) markers similar to those of the populations of origin. This in vitro human adrenal system represents a unique but preliminar model for investigating the pathophysiological processes underlying physiologic adrenal remodeling and pathologic alterations involved in organ hypo‐ and hyperplasia and cancer. —Poli, G. , Sarchielli, E. , Guasti, D. , Benvenuti, S. , Ballerini, L. , Mazzanti, B. , Armignacco, R. , Cantini, G. , Lulli, M. , Chortis, V. , Arlt, W. , Romagnoli, P., Vannelli, G. B. , Mannelli, M. , Luconi, M. Human fetal adrenal cells retain age‐related stem‐and endocrine‐differentiation potential in culture. FASEB J. 33, 2263–2277 (2019). www.fasebj. org
Developmental changes of sleep spindles and their impact on sleep‐dependent memory consolidation and general cognitive abilities: A longitudinal approach

Abstract Sleep spindles are related to sleep‐dependent memory consolidation and general cognitive abilities. However, they undergo drastic maturational changes during adolescence. Here we used a longitudinal approach (across 7 years) to explore whether developmental changes in sleep spindle density can explain individual differences in sleep‐dependent memory consolidation and general cognitive abilities. Ambulatory polysomnography was recorded during four nights in 34 healthy subjects (24 female) with two nights (baseline and experimental) at initial recording (age range 8–11 years) and two nights at follow‐up recording (age range 14–18 years). For declarative learning, participants encoded word pairs with a subsequent recall before and after sleep. General cognitive abilities were measured by the Wechsler Intelligence Scale. Higher slow (11–13 Hz) than fast (13–15 Hz) spindle density at frontal, central, and parietal sites during initial recordings, followed by a shift to higher fast than slow spindle density at central and parietal sites during follow‐up recordings, suggest that mature spindle topography develops throughout adolescence. Fast spindle density increases from baseline to experimental night were positively related to sleep‐dependent memory consolidation. In addition, we found that the development of fast spindles predicted the improvement in memory consolidation across the two longitudinal measurements, a finding that underlines a crucial role for mature fast spindles for sleep‐dependent memory consolidation. Furthermore, slow spindle changes across adolescence were related to general cognitive abilities, a relationship that could indicate the maturation of frontal networks relevant for efficient cognitive processing. A video abstract of this article can be viewed at: https://www.youtube. com/watch? v=7NXJzm8HbIw and https://www.youtube. com/watch? v=iuMQY1OIJ0s
Supporting the design of sharing economy services: learning from technology-mediated sharing practices of both digital and physical artifacts

Sharing personal digital information online has been a common activity for many years. However, the recent rise of sharing economy services has since expanded the set of "things" one can share. How does the sharing of such physical artifacts differ from "traditional" sharing practices of photos and status updates? This paper attempts to consolidate the existing body of work on both sharing personal digital content (e.g., social networking) and personal physical artifacts (e.g., apartment, car sharing), and attempts to identify both commonalities and differences between them. We summarize existing research on the diversity of shared content, users' motivations to share, audience management, privacy & trust issues, and user experience requirements. We also conduct 16 semi-structured interviews with both design practitioners and sharing economy domain experts to formulate a set of design implications for devising novel sharing economy services.
Disubstituted 4-Chloro-3-nitrophenylthiourea Derivatives: Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Studies

4-Chloro-3-nitrophenylthioureas 1–30 were synthesized and tested for their antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. Compounds exhibited high to moderate antistaphylococcal activity against both standard and clinical strains (MIC values 2–64 μg/mL). Among them derivatives with electron-donating alkyl substituents at the phenyl ring were the most promising. Moreover, compounds 1–6 and 8–19 were cytotoxic against MT-4 cells and various other cell lines derived from human hematological tumors (CC50 ≤ 10 μM). The influence of derivatives 11, 13 and 25 on viability, mortality and the growth rate of immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT) was observed.