Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effectiveness of parent-implemented language interventions: a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE The purpose of this meta-analysis was to systematically evaluate the effects of parent-implemented language interventions on the language skills of children between 18 and 60 months of age with primary and secondary language impairments. METHOD A systematic literature search yielded 18 studies that met the predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Effect sizes for each study were calculated for 7 language outcome variables and analyzed using a random effects model. Separate analyses were conducted for each language outcome and for each comparison group. Outcomes were compared for children with and without intellectual disabilities and for parent report and direct observational language measures. RESULTS The results indicate that parent-implemented language interventions have a significant, positive impact on receptive and expressive language skills of children with and without intellectual disabilities. Effect sizes (g) for child measures ranged from -0.15 to 0.82 depending on the outcome measure and comparison group. CONCLUSION The results of this review indicate that parent-implemented language interventions are an effective approach to early language intervention for young children with language impairments. Critical features of parent-implemented interventions are discussed in terms of implications for practice and future research.
A Simple Unsupervised Color Image Segmentation Method based on MRF-MAP

Color image segmentation is an important topic in the image processing field. MRF-MAP is often adopted in the unsupervised segmentation methods, but their performance are far behind recent interactive segmentation tools supervised by user inputs. Furthermore, the existing related unsupervised methods also suffer from the low efficiency, and high risk of being tra pped in the local optima, because MRF-MAP is currently solved by iterative frameworks with inaccurate initial color distribution models. To address these problems, the letter designs an efficient method to cal culate the energy functions approximately in the non-iteration style, and proposes a new binary segmentation algorithm based on the slightly tuned Lanczos eigensolver. The experiments demonstrate that the new algorithm achieves competitive performance compared with two state-of-art segmentation methods.
Heartbeat-induced axial motion artifacts in optical coherence tomography measurements of the retina.

PURPOSE To investigate the cause of axial eye motion artifacts that occur in optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging of the retina. Understanding the cause of these motions can lead to improved OCT image quality and therefore better diagnoses. METHODS Twenty-seven measurements were performed on 5 subjects. Spectral domain OCT images at the macula were collected over periods up to 30 seconds. The axial shift of every average A-scan was calculated with respect to the previous average A-scan by calculating the cross-correlation. The frequency spectrum of the calculated shifts versus time was determined. The heart rate was determined from blood pressure measurements at the finger using an optical blood pressure detector. The fundamental frequency and higher order harmonics of the axial OCT shift were compared with the frequency spectrum of blood pressure data. In addition, simultaneous registration of the movement of the cornea and the retina was performed with a dual reference arm OCT setup, and movements of the head were also analyzed. RESULTS A correlation of 0.90 was found between the fundamental frequency in the axial OCT shift and the heart rate. Cornea and retina move simultaneously in the axial direction. The entire head moves with the same amplitude as the retina. CONCLUSIONS Axial motion artifacts during OCT volume scanning of the retina are caused by movements of the whole head induced by the heartbeat.
The Food Price Spikes of 2008/09 and 2010/11: Impacts and Policies in African Countries

This paper explores the varied impacts during the two spikes in food prices in 2007/08 and 2010/11 and the differences in the policy responses among African countries. It first links changes in international food prices, the impact on domestic prices, and the range of responses available to national policy makers. Policy responses by African governments to food price increases are then surveyed and characterized according to their macro, micro or structural focus, and the countryspecific circumstances. The paper also discusses the impact of rising food prices on household welfare and underscores the importance of timely and effective mitigating policies.
Canonical functions for dispersal-induced synchrony

Two processes are universally recognized for inducing spatial synchrony in abundance: dispersal and correlated environmental stochasticity. In the present study we seek the expected relationship between synchrony and distance in populations that are synchronized by density–independent dispersal. In the absence of dispersal, synchrony among populations with simple dynamics has been shown to echo the correlation in the environment. We ask what functional form we may expect between synchrony and distance when dispersal is the synchronizing agent. We formulate a continuous–space, continuous–time model that explicitly represents the time evolution of the spatial covariance as a function of spatial distance. Solving this model gives us two simple canonical functions for dispersal–induced covariance in spatially extended populations. If dispersal is rare relative to birth and death, then covariances between nearby points will follow the dispersal distance distribution. At long distances, however, the covariance tails off according to exponential or Bessel functions (depending on whether the population moves in one or two dimensions). If dispersal is common, then the covariances will follow the mixture distribution that is approximately Gaussian around the origin and with an exponential or Bessel tail. The latter mixture results regardless of the original dispersal distance distribution. There are hence two canonical functions for dispersal–induced synchrony.
The tumor suppressor APC differentially regulates multiple &bgr;-catenins through the function of axin and CKI&agr; during C. elegans asymmetric stem cell divisions

ABSTRACT The APC tumor suppressor regulates diverse stem cell processes including gene regulation through Wnt–&bgr;-catenin signaling and chromosome stability through microtubule interactions, but how the disparate functions of APC are controlled is not well understood. Acting as part of a Wnt–&bgr;-catenin pathway that controls asymmetric cell division, Caenorhabditis elegans APC, APR-1, promotes asymmetric nuclear export of the &bgr;-catenin WRM-1 by asymmetrically stabilizing microtubules. Wnt function also depends on a second &bgr;-catenin, SYS-1, which binds to the C. elegans TCF POP-1 to activate gene expression. Here, we show that APR-1 regulates SYS-1 levels in asymmetric stem cell division, in addition to its known role in lowering nuclear levels of WRM-1. We demonstrate that SYS-1 is also negatively regulated by the C. elegans homolog of casein kinase 1&agr; (CKI&agr;), KIN-19. We show that KIN-19 restricts APR-1 localization, thereby regulating nuclear WRM-1. Finally, the polarity of APR-1 cortical localization is controlled by PRY-1 (C. elegans Axin), such that PRY-1 controls the polarity of both SYS-1 and WRM-1 asymmetries. We propose a model whereby Wnt signaling, through CKI&agr;, regulates the function of two distinct pools of APC – one APC pool negatively regulates SYS-1, whereas the second pool stabilizes microtubules and promotes WRM-1 nuclear export.
$2+1$ Covariant Lattice Theory and t'Hooft's Formulation

We show that 't Hooft's representation of (2+1)-dimensional gravity in terms of flat polygonal tiles is closely related to a gauge-fixed version of the covariant Hamiltonian lattice theory. 't Hooft's gauge is remarkable in that it leads to a Hamiltonian which is a linear sum of vertex Hamiltonians, each of which is defined modulo $2 \pi$. A cyclic Hamiltonian implies that ``time'' is quantized. However, it turns out that this Hamiltonian is {\it constrained}. If one chooses an internal time and solves this constraint for the ``physical Hamiltonian'', the result is not a cyclic function. Even if one quantizes {\it a la Dirac}, the ``internal time'' observable does not acquire a discrete spectrum. We also show that in Euclidean 3-d lattice gravity, ``space'' can be either discrete or continuous depending on the choice of quantization. Finally, we propose a generalization of 't Hooft's gauge for Hamiltonian lattice formulations of topological gravity dimension 4.
Blood Sampling Seasonality as an Important Preanalytical Factor for Assessment of Vitamin D Status

Summary Background: The measurement of vitamin D is now commonplace for preventing osteoporosis and restoring an appropriate concentration that would be effective to counteract the occurrence of other human disorders. The aim of this study was to establish whether blood sampling seasonality may influence total vitamin D concentration in a general population of Italian unselected outpatients. Methods: We performed a retrospective search in the laboratory information system of the University Hospital of Parma (Italy, temperate climate), to identify the values of total serum vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) measured in outpatients aged 18 years and older, who were referred for routine health check-up during the entire year 2014. Results: The study population consisted in 11,150 outpatients (median age 62 years; 8592 women and 2558 men). The concentration of vitamin D was consistently lower in samples collected in Winter than in the other three seasons. The frequency of subjects with vitamin D deficiency was approximately double in samples drawn in Winter and Spring than in Summer and Autumn. In the multivariate analysis, the concentration of total vitamin D was found to be independently associated with sex and season of blood testing, but not with the age of the patients. Conclusions: According to these findings, blood sampling seasonality should be regarded as an important preanalytical factor in vitamin D assessment. It is also reasonable to suggest that the amount of total vitamin D synthesized during the summer should be high enough to maintain the levels > 50 nmol/L throughout the remaining part of the year.
Testing Models of Low-Frequency Variability

We develop a framework to assess how successfully standard time series models explain low-frequency variability of a data series. The low-frequency information is extracted by computing a finite number of weighted averages of the original data, where the weights are low-frequency trigonometric series. The properties of these weighted averages are then compared to the asymptotic implications of a number of common time series models. We apply the framework to twenty U.S. macroeconomic and financial time series using frequencies lower than the business cycle.
A plug-and-work tool for cloud system reconfiguration with single command

Infrastructure-as-a-Service (SaaS) has been a widely adopted service for system owners to build their systems in the clouds. The reconfiguration is an important issue in the life cycle of the cloud system. This paper proposes a Plug-and-Work tool for helping the system managers to reconfigure their system easily. The work first gives a complete definition on reconfiguration command. This definition covers the common requirements in the reconfiguration issue, such as scaling direction and scaling policy. Second, the work implements the tool following that definition. Besides, the proposed tool is designed in the manner of several principles, such as cross-cloud, plug-and-work, and discontinuity avoidance.
Computing the volume, counting integral points, and exponential sums

We design polynomial-time algorithms for some particular cases of the volume computation problem and the integral points counting problem for convex polytopes. The basic idea is a reduction to the computation of certain exponential sums and integrals. We give elementary proofs of some known identities between these sums and integrals and prove some new identities.
Property Values and Highway Expansions : An Investigation of Timing , Size , Location , and Use Effects

This research examines commercial property responses to a major capacity expansion of a roadway facility in Austin, Texas, by analyzing parcel-level real estate assessment data over an 18-year period (1982-1999). A land value model, an improvement or structure value model, and a total property value model were each estimated separately. Since total land values are fundamentally related to parcel acreages and improvement values are related to improvement size, parcel and improvement areas were interacted with appropriate access variables and structural variables. Empirical results suggest that improvement type, freeway proximity, parcel location at key network points (e.g., corner parcels), and timing of construction and completion play key roles in property valuation. The estimates of impacts should prove very helpful in comprehensive cost-benefit assessments of projects of this nature by public agencies and corridor property owners.
AN INTEGRATED GENETIC -BASED MODEL OF NAIVE BAYES NETWORKS FOR CREDIT SCORING

Inappropriate management in some fields such as credit allocation has imposed too many losses to financial institutions and even has forced some of them to go bankrupt. Moreover, large volume data sets collected by credit departments has necessitated utilizing highly accurate models with less complexities. Credit scoring models with classification and forecasting customers into two groups good and bad can dramatically reduce risks of granting credits to customers. In this paper, a novel integrated approach for credit scoring problem is presented. This approach utilizes rough sets for feature selection during the data pre-processing phase and also adopts two hybrid sequences, Naive Bayes networks and genetic algorithm, to classify customers. In order to assess the competitive performance of the proposed approach, it has been executed on three credit scoring datasets from the University of California Irvine Machine Learning Repository. Computational results demonstrate that our approach has superior performance in terms of classification accuracy and achieves higher overall classification rate as compared to several other previous studies.
Decomposition of branching volume data by tip detection

We present an approach to decomposing branching volume data into sub-branches. First, a metric is proposed for evaluating local convexities in volumetric data, and it is a criterion for global selection of tip points. Second, a multi-path growing strategy is adopted to segment the volumes based on a DFS transformation starting from the tips. Experiments show that this approach is capable of generating desirable components and reasonable segmentation boundaries of a volume.
Combining Simulation with Heuristics to solve Stochastic Routing and Scheduling Problems

Many real-world problems in the production and logistics business are NPhard even in their deterministic representation, and actually also show stochastic behaviour, where even the mathematical description of the – frequently empirical – distributions is difficult or even impossible. Therefore, an approach is acquired that enables the search for valid and reasonably good solutions under representation of the stochastic system behaviour. A suitable approach is to combine heuristic optimization with simulation techniques. This paper discusses how Monte-Carlo simulation can be combined with heuristics and meta-heuristics in order to efficiently solve such stochastic combinatorial optimization problems. The application is illustrated with examples in two different fields, including logistics and transportation – e.g. vehicle routing problems and inventory problems – as well as manufacturing and production – e.g. scheduling problems.
The HdpH DSLs for scalable reliable computation

The statelessness of functional computations facilitates both parallelism and fault recovery. Faults and non-uniform communication topologies are key challenges for emergent large scale parallel architectures. We report on HdpH and HdpH-RS, a pair of Haskell DSLs designed to address these challenges for irregular task-parallel computations on large distributed-memory architectures. Both DSLs share an API combining explicit task placement with sophisticated work stealing. HdpH focuses on scalability by making placement and stealing topology aware whereas HdpH-RS delivers reliability by means of fault tolerant work stealing. We present operational semantics for both DSLs and investigate conditions for semantic equivalence of HdpH and HdpH-RS programs, that is, conditions under which topology awareness can be transparently traded for fault tolerance. We detail how the DSL implementations realise topology awareness and fault tolerance. We report an initial evaluation of scalability and fault tolerance on a 256-core cluster and on up to 32K cores of an HPC platform.
Are Twins and Singletons Comparable? A Study of Disease-related and Lifestyle Characteristics in Adult Women

Abstract The classic twin study is sometimes described as “the perfect natural experiment” for the investigation of the aetiology of complex disease, but assumptions of the twin design need to be empirically tested if their results are to be considered unbiased and representative of singleton populations. In this study comparisons of disease and prevalence of lifestyle characteristics have been made between twin participants in the St Thomas' Hospital UK adult twin registry, the largest twin volunteer register in the UK for the study of diseases of ageing, and a parallel population-based study of singleton women. The only differences found were for weight, where monozygotic (MZ) twins were lighter and had a smaller variance than dizygotic (DZ) twins and singletons. For the other variables studied, volunteer twins were not found to differ from age-matched singleton women in distribution or prevalence of: bone mineral density, osteoarthritis, blood pressure, hypertensive drug use, height, history of hysterectomy and ovariectomy, menopausal status and current alcohol and overall tobacco consumption. We conclude that the results of twin studies can be generalised to singleton populations for these measures and disease outcomes.
Detection and tracking of threats in aerial infrared images by a minimal path approach

The goal of this paper is to develop an algorithm for extracting point features from sequences of aerial infrared images. We propose an efficient method for the detection of threats in a sequence of infrared images by looking for a trajectory which optimizes a regularized criterion. The regularity is introduced by a new concept of total curvature which eliminates too oscillating trajectories while allowing those with ponctual changes of direction. In practice the research of an optimal trajectory is performed with an algorithm of dynamical programming type. Experimental results are also presented.
Species richness among birds: body size, life history, sexual selection or ecology?

Why do some avian families contain so many more species than other families? We use comparisons between sister taxa to test predictions arising from six explanations to this puzzle: that differences between families are due to chance, body size, life history, sexual selection, intrinsic ecological factors or extrinsic abiotic factors, respectively. In agreement with previous analyses, we find no support for the idea that differences in species richness are simply due to chance. However, contrary to most previous work, we also find no support for the hypotheses that high species richness is correlated with small body size and fast life history. Rather, high species diversity is strongly associated with pronounced plumage dichromatism, generalist feeding habits and good dispersal capabilities as well as large and fragmented geographical ranges. In addition, all of these relationships are robust to the removal of the two most speciose avian lineages, the Ciconiiformes and the Passeriformes. The supposed relationships between species richness and both body size and life history are, however, due to phylogenetic non–independence. Together with previous work showing that differences between avian lineages in extinction risk are associated with variation in body size and life history, these results indicate that extinction rates and speciation rates are not necessarily determined by the same factors. Hence, high extinction rates are not inevitably associated with low speciation rates. Extinction–prone lineages may, in fact, have a high rate of speciation. In such lineages a high proportion of ‘vulnerable’species would be a natural, ongoing phenomenon.
2 Safe state abstractions in the Taxi domain

When they are available, safe state abstractions improve the efficiency of reinforcement learning algorithms by allowing an agent to ignore irrelevant distinctions between states while still learning an optimal policy. Prior work investigated how to incorporate state abstractions into existing algorithms, but most approaches required the user to provide the abstraction. How to discover this kind of domain knowledge automatically remains a challenging open problem. In this paper, we introduce a general approach for testing the validity of a potential state abstraction. We reduce the problem to one of determining whether an action is optimal in every state in a given set. To decide optimality we give two statistical methods, which trade off between computational and sample complexity. One of these methods applies statistical hypothesis testing directly to learned state-action values, and the other applies Monte Carlo sampling to a learned Bayesian model. Finally, we demonstrate the ability of these methods to discriminate between safe and unsafe state abstractions in the familiar Taxi domain.
Word stress perception in European Portuguese

Previous research has reported stress "deafness" for languages with predictable stress, like French, contrary to languages with non-predictable stress, like Spanish ([1], [2], [3], [4]). The contrastive nature of stress appears to inhibit stress "deafness", but segmental and/or suprasegmental cues may also enhance stress discrimination ([5], [6]). In this study we carried out two experiments aiming to investigate stress perception in European Portuguese (EP), a language with non-predictable stress that utilizes duration and vowel reduction as main cues to stress. We used nonsense words that differed only in stress location, thus removing vowel reduction as a cue to stress. Experiment 1 was an ABX discrimination task ([1]). Experiment 2 was a sequence recall task ([2]). In both experiments, the stress contrast condition was compared with a phoneme control condition, in nuclear and post-nuclear position. Results of both experiments strongly suggest a stress "deafness" effect in EP. Despite its variable nature, word stress is hardly perceived by EP native-speakers in the absence of vowel reduction. These findings have implications for claims on prosodic-based cross-linguistic perception of word stress in the absence of vowel quality, and for stress "deafness" as a consequence of a predictable stress grammar.