Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Of Rats and Humans

Abstract This article presents the acceptance speech given on behalf of Dr. D. Chris Anderson, the posthumous winner of the 2004 OBM Network Lifetime Achievement Award. The talk describes how the award winner first became involved in applied behavioral work, amidst a productive career as an experimental psychologist at the University of Notre Dame. The ways in which these initial applied efforts led to a long-term involvement in OBM research are described. The award winner also reflects on his goals for pursuing this line of research, his commitment to graduate training in OBM, and some of the lessons learned along the way. The talk concludes with a discussion of the award winner's vision of certain challenges and promises that lie ahead for the field of OBM.
One-third probability embedding: Less detectable LSB steganography

This paper introduces a new method for the least significant bit (LSB) steganography in spatial domain. The new method, called one-third LSB embedding, reduces the probability of change per pixel to one-third without sacrificing the embedding capacity, as compared to previous LSB steganography techniques. This improvement results in a better imperceptibility and higher robustness against well known LSB detectors. Each bit of the message is carried through a function of three adjacent cover pixels and it is shown that no significant improvement is achieved by increasing the length of the pixel sequence employed.
Video-based Feedback for Assisting Physical Activity

In this paper, we explore the concept of providing feedback to a user moving in front of a depth camera so that he is able to replicate a specific template action. This can be used as a home based rehabilitation system for stroke survivors, where the objective is for patients to practice and improve their daily life activities. Patients are guided in how to correctly perform an action by following feedback proposals. These proposals are presented in a human interpretable way. In order to align an action that was performed with the template action, we explore two different approaches, namely, Subsequence Dynamic Time Warping and Temporal Commonality Discovery. The first method aims to find the temporal alignment and the second one discovers the interval of the subsequence that shares similar content, after which standard Dynamic Time Warping can be used for the temporal alignment. Then, feedback proposals can be provided in order to correct the user with respect to the template action. Experimental results show that both methods have similar accuracy rate and the computational time is a decisive factor, where Subsequence Dynamic Time Warping achieves faster results.
Optimal Motion Plans for Cooperating Nonholonomic Mobile Manipulators in an Environment with Obstacles

We address the motion planning problem for multiple cooperating manipulators on nonholonomic carts. The mobile manipulators possess the ability to manipulate and transport objects while holding them in a stable grasp. We present a general approach that allows the generation of optimal trajectories and actuator inputs for any given maneuver in the presence of obstacles. We assume a meaningful integral cost function and formulate the planning problem as a problem in the calculus of variations. Geometric constraints such as joint limits and obstacles, kinematic constraints such as nonholonomic velocity constraints and constraints on the turning radii of the mobile carts can be easily incorporated into the planning scheme. Numerical simulations for several maneuvers in cluttered environments including abrupt turns, parallel parking and changes in formation from \march abreast" to \march in a single (cid:12)le" are computed. Experimental results with open-loop control are presented for several motion plans.
Shift-left testing

Shift left testing is a highly effective and innovative approach to software testing. It involves commencing testing activities earlier in the software development lifecycle (SDLC). Unlike the traditional method, where testing is performed after the development process is completed, the shift left approach involves running testing in parallel with the development process. The purpose of embarking on a shift-left journey is to improve the overall quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of software development. By identifying and addressing issues at an earlier stage, the ultimate objective is to enhance the quality of software, reduce time-to-market, and promote better collaboration among development teams.
Processing Distance Join Queries with Constraints

Distance join queries are used in many modern applications, such as spatial databases, spatiotemporal databases and data mining. One of the most common distance join queries is the closest-pair query (CPQ). Given two datasets $${\mathcal{D}}_{\mathcal{A}}$$ and $${\mathcal{D}}_{\mathcal{B}}$$ the CPQ retrieves the pair (a, b), where a ∈ $${\mathcal{D}}_{\mathcal{A}}$$ and b ∈ $${\mathcal{D}}_{\mathcal{B}}$$, having the smallest distance between all pairs of objects. An extension to this problem is to generate the k closest pairs of objects (k-CPQ). In several cases spatial constraints are applied, and object pairs that are retrieved must also satisfy these constraints. Although the application of spatial constraints seems natural towards a more focused search, only recently they have been studied for the CPQ problem with the restriction that $${\mathcal{D}}_{\mathcal{A}}$$ = $${\mathcal{D}}_{\mathcal{B}}$$. In this work, we focus on constrained closest-pair queries, between two distinct datasets $${\mathcal{D}}_{\mathcal{A}}$$ and $${\mathcal{D}}_{\mathcal{B}}$$, where objects from $${\mathcal{D}}_{\mathcal{A}}$$ must be enclosed by a spatial region R. Several algorithms are presented and evaluated using real-life and synthetic datasets. Among them, a heap-based method enhanced with batch capabilities outperforms the other approaches as it is demonstrated by an extensive performance evaluation.
Las elecciones presidenciales de Colombia en 1930

El 16 de enero de 1930, el ministro británico en Bogotá observaba en su informe anual sobre las elecciones colombianas: ". como por lo general el Partido Liberal no se une para lanzar candidato propio a la presidencia, el candidato del Partido Conservador se convierte en la práctica en presidente electo; las elecciones son así apenas una formalidad". No pudo estar más equivocado. El Partido Liberal se unió y, como lo había hecho en 1922, decidió apoyar un candidato propio, bajo el movimiento de Concentración Nacional: Enrique Olaya Herrera. No hubo uno sino dos candidatos conservadores: Guillermo Valencia y Alfredo Vásquez Cobo. El Partido Socialista Revolucionario (PSR), antecedente del Partido Comunista, también decidió lanzar candidato propio -Alberto Castrillón-, aunque su participación en las urnas fue más bien simbólica. Pero lejos de ser una mera formalidad, la elección de 1930 demostró ser altamente competitiva, cuyos resultados tuvieron un significativo impacto en la política colombiana. Con el triunfo de Olaya Herrera, el 9 de febrero de 1930, se daba fin a 45 años de hegemonía conservadora. El significado de estas elecciones no ha pasado inadvertido en la historiografía colombiana. Las divisiones internas que condujeron a la derrota conservadora, así como la recomposición del Liberalismo alrededor de la candidatura de Olaya Herrera han sido destacadamente analizadas en varios trabajos, aunque tal vez ninguno con el detalle de la monografía aún inédita de Terence Horgan. Entre todos los aspectos de la campaña, la intervención errática del clero ha
Form and Function-Group Style Differencesbetween Computer Mediated andForm and Function-Group Style Differences between Computer Mediated and Fact-To-Face Teams

Face-to-face (F2F) teams form and function differently than computer mediated (virtual) teams. The social processes associated with effective team work are different in F2F and virtual teams. These differences affect the ability of groups of people to successfully form a team that can function effectively. This study found that computer mediated teams differ significantly from F2F teams along important group style dimensions as measured by the Group Style Inventory.
T-regulatory lymphocytes and chronic viral hepatitis

Both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) can cause persistent viral infection in humans. Chronic infection is associated with a risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The cause of chronic infection is unknown. A large body of evidence suggests that a failure of the adaptive immune response is critical in the establishment of chronic infection. Recently a new group of T cells (T-regulatory cells), that express CD4+CD25+ and Foxp3, which can inhibit the cellular (CD4+/CD8+) immune response have been described. In this review the authors explore the thoughts regarding immune responses to HBV and HCV infections and the role of these T-regulatory cells in relation to the pathogenesis of chronic HBV and HCV infection and the potential for therapeutic intervention.
Trends in the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in children's hospitals in the United States.

BACKGROUND The incidence of and outcomes associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in hospitalized children have been incompletely characterized. METHODS We performed a retrospective, observational study using the Pediatric Health Information System, a database of clinical and financial data from >40 freestanding US children's hospitals. Using discharge coding data, we characterized S. aureus infections in children <18 years of age who were hospitalized during the period from 1 January 2002 through 31 December 2007. RESULTS During this 6-year study period, we identified 57,794 children with S. aureus infection, 29,309 (51%) of whom had MRSA infection. The median age of patients with S. aureus infection was 3.1 years (interquartile range, 0.8-11.2 years), and less than one-third of these patients had complex, chronic medical conditions. Over time, there was a significant increase in cases of MRSA infection (from 6.7 cases per 1000 admissions in 2002 to 21.1 cases per 1000 admissions in 2007; P = .02, by test for trend), whereas the incidence of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus infection remained stable (14.1 cases per 1000 patient-days in 2002 to 14.7 cases per 1000 patient-days in 2007; P = .85, by test for trend). Of the 38,123 patients whose type of infection was identified, 23,280 (61%) had skin and soft-tissue infections. The incidences of skin and soft-tissue infection, pneumonia, osteomyelitis, and bacteremia that were caused by S. aureus increased over time, and these increases were due exclusively to MRSA. The mortality rate for hospitalized children with MRSA infection was 1% (360 of 29,309 children). CONCLUSIONS There has been a recent increase in the number of hospitalized children with MRSA infection. This increase is largely driven by, but is not limited to, an increase in skin and soft-tissue infections. The mortality rate for hospitalized children with MRSA infection is low.
Myocardial Perfusion and Left Ventricular Function Early after Successful PTCA in 1-Vessel Coronary Artery Disease

Summary Myocardial perfusion (201TI-ECT) and contractile function (99mTc-Ventriculography) were studied during exercise and rest 3 to 6 days after PTCA in 20 patients (11 with stable and 9 with unstable angina pectoris). All patients had single vessel disease and no previous myocardial infarction. During exercise after PTCA the ejection fraction increased for 3 to 5% and no regional wall motion abnormalities, ST-segment depression or perfusion defects occurred (with exception in one patient with very early restenosis). Therefore, perfusion and wall motion were completely normalized at rest and during exercise within days after technically successful PTCA even in patients with previously unstable angina pectoris. Pathological stress test results after this time should thus be attributed to other causes e.g. early restenosis, multivessel disease, false positive tests) and are not due to the specific situation early after PTCA. Zusammenfassung Myokardperfusion (201TI-ECT) und kontraktile Funktion (99mTc-Ventrikulogra-phie) wurden 3-6 Tage nach PTCA bei 20 Patienten (11 mit stabiler und 9 mit instabiler Angina pectoris) in Ruhe und unter Belastung untersucht. Alle Patienten hatten eine 1-Gefäßerkrankung und keinen Myokardinfarkt in der Vorgeschichte. Unter Belastung nach PTCA stieg die Ejektionsfraktion um 3-5% an, regionale Wandbewegungsstörungen, deutliche ST-Segment-Absenkungen im EKG oder Perfusionsdefekte wurden nicht mehr beobachtet (mit Ausnahme eines Patienten mit sehr früher Restenose). Die Ergebnisse zeigen, daß Myokardperfusion und linksventrikuläre Funktion sogar bei den Patienten mit vormals instabiler Angina pectoris innerhalb weniger Tage nach technisch erfolgreicher PTCA vollständig sowohl in Ruhe als auch während Belastung normalisiert sind. Pathologische Belastungstest-Ergebnisse nach diesem Zeitpunkt sollten daher eher anderen Gründen zugeordnet werden (z.B. frühe Restenose, Mehrgefäßerkrankung, falsch-positive Tests) und sind nicht Ausdruck der spezifischen Situation nach PTCA.
A new paradigm of ubiquitous home care robot using Nao and Choregraphe

Humanoid service robot designed by a combination of various application programming interfaces (APIs) has been a new trend in recent years. Based on a substantial improvement in embedded and operating systems, many theoretical recognition algorithms nowadays can be implemented on miniature robots. Today the challenge in the field of practical humanoid service robot is moving onto the employment and modification of bundled software under unfriendly developing environments. Here we introduce a framework of our home care robot Nao by making use of developing platform Choregraphe. The salience of our work is the success of integrating with face recognition, voice localization, speech recognition, wireless communication, and the other peripheral devices on Nao to fulfill a ubiquitous home care robot system.
The relationship of internalized stigma with symptoms, social behavior, and emotional responding in schizophrenia

Title of document: THE RELATIONSHIP OF INTERNALIZED STIGMA WITH SYMPTOMS, SOCIAL BEHAVIOR, AND EMOTIONAL RESPONDING IN SCHIZOPHRENIA Stephanie Grace Park, Doctor of Philosophy, 2014 Dissertation directed by: Professor Jack J. Blanchard Department of Psychology Internalized stigma refers to the process by which affected individuals endorse stereotypes about mental illness, expect social rejection, apply these stereotypes to themselves, and believe that they are devalued members of society (Corrigan et al., 2005; Corrigan et al., 2006; Ritsher & Phelan, 2004). Studies in clinical populations have found that internalized stigma is associated with a host of negative psychosocial variables, including decreased self-esteem and self-efficacy, hopelessness, demoralization, poor quality of life, and reduced motivation to work towards recovery goals (e.g., Livingston & Boyd, 2010; Ritsher, Otilingam, & Grajales, 2003). However, the relationship between internalized stigma and symptoms in schizophrenia is still unclear. Further, though evidence suggests that individuals with schizophrenia who are high in internalized stigma tend to actively avoid others, have reduced social contact, and maintain insular support networks (e.g., Yanos, Roe, Markus, & Lysaker, 2008), actual behavior and emotional responding during social interactions have not been explored. Thus, the current study examined 50 outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder on a battery of self-report measures, clinician-administered interviews, and a social affiliation interaction task to examine the associations between internalized stigma and symptoms, functioning, and emotional responding. Results showed that lower levels of Stigma Resistance were significantly correlated with greater deficits in clinician-rated experiential but not expressive negative symptoms. The present study replicated previous findings of a significant relationship between internalized stigma and other psychiatric symptoms, including depression. Using a multi-method approach to assess functioning, this study found that individuals with higher levels of internalized stigma and lower Stigma Resistance demonstrated impairments in communicative functional capacity and immediate social network relationships. Further, individuals lower in Stigma Resistance were rated as less affiliative and less overall socially skilled during a social affiliation interaction task. However, internalized stigma was not associated with positive or negative affect after the interaction controlling for affect before the task, and there were no differences in willingness to interact or reactions to partner. Importantly, these findings may ultimately contribute to the further development of psychosocial interventions that target internalized stigma. THE RELATIONSHIP OF INTERNALIZED STIGMA WITH SYMPTOMS, SOCIAL BEHAVIOR, AND EMOTIONAL RESPONDING IN SCHIZOPHRENIA
Hierarchical scheduling for predictable execution of real-time software components and legacy systems

The Multi-Resource Server (MRS) technique has been proposed toenable predictable execution of memory intensive real-time applicationson COTS multi-core platforms. It uses resource reservationapproaches in the context of CPU-bandwidth and memory-busbandwidth reservations to bound the interferences between the applicationsrunning on the same core as well as between the applicationsrunning on different cores. In this paper we present a completecompositional schedulability analysis for the Multi-ResourceServer technique. Based on the proposed analysis, we further providean experimental study that investigates the behaviour of theMRS and identify the factors that contribute mostly on the overallsystem performance.
Validation of the translation and cross-cultural adaptation into Finnish of the Abdominal Symptom Questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Complaint Score Questionnaire

Background: Epidemiological surveys require questionnaires to be validated in the native language of the participants. The aim of this study was to validate the Finnish translations of the Abdominal Symptom Questionnaire (ASQ), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) and the Complaint Score Questionnaire (CSQ). Methods: A random sample of adults (n = 3000) in a northern Swedish bilingual district was surveyed using a mailed ASQ offered in both Swedish and Finnish, and 2122 responded (239 in Finnish). A random subsample of the responders (n = 1001, 123 preferring Finish) was then surveyed once more using the ASQ, the HAD and the CSQ. The first 50 responders of the latter survey were then given the three questionnaires again within two weeks. The Finnish versions had been put through a comprehensive translation procedure Results: A factor analysis comparison between the responders using either language in the mailed survey gave a comparable factor construction, and this was also comparable with an earlier analysis of the Swedish version. The Finnish responses to the second survey were further evaluated by testing internal consistency reliability, convergent validity towards previously validated relevant instruments (ShortForm-36 and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale) and the test/re-test accuracy of the three questionnaires. These were found to be reliable, as was the correlation between the ASQ and the CSQ, for relevant domains. Conclusion: The Finnish translations of the ASQ, HAD and CSQ questionnaires all seem to be robust and usable for population-based surveys among Finnish adults.
Consumer decision making Adaptation to differences in the choice environment

The complexity of a decision environment is determined by a number of factors. These factors include number of options, number of attributes, frequency of purchase and interattribute correlations. A consumer can adapt to complex decision environments in several ways. This study examined how consumers adapt to differences in complexity of the decision environment in the natural decision situation of a supermarket. Measures derived from eye movement data shows that consumers adapt to more complex decision environments by increasing their decision time and the number of alternatives looked at. Consumers also adapt by having stronger attribute preferences for both the most complex but also the least complex decision environment. I conclude that consumers are not intimidated by a complex decision environment instead they adapt to it by processing more information and by having stronger attribute preferences.
Effect of Ergonomic Exercises in Modifying Sirtuin1 Gene Expression in Obese Down Syndrome Patients

Abstract The current study was conducted to investigate the effect of ergonomic exercise on modifying SIRT1 gene expression in obese Down syndrome patients. Forty obese Down syndrome patients (IQ level ˃ 60) were included in current study. Their age were ranged from 14 to 18 years old, their body mass index (BMI) was ranged from 30kg/m2 to 39,9 kg/m2, These patients were divided randomly and equally into two groups GI composed of twenty obese patients with down syndrome. They were received indoor ergonomic exercise two times / week for 3 months plus balanced diet and GII composed of twenty obese patients with Down syndrome. They were received balanced diet only. Data were obtained from each patient for BMI and SIRT1 level. Measurements were performed before study and after three months. Statistical analysis revealed that there was reduction of BMI within both groups after treatment in comparison to pre-treatment (p>0.05). An ergonomic exercise with balanced diet has a significant effect in reduction BMI and waist circumference (p; 0.0001* & 0.019*, respectively). Fold change as indicator for SIRT1 gene expression was changed in GII and GI respectively (40%, 27.27%). These results indicated that BMI and waist circumference reduced with exercises which may be an effective tool in modifying gene expression in Down syndrome obese patients.
Inhibition of insulin-like growth factor-I signaling by ethanol in neuronal cells.

BACKGROUND Ethanol inhibits insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) activation. However, the potency of ethanol for inhibition of the IGF-IR and other receptor tyrosine kinases varies considerably among different cell types. We investigated the effect of ethanol on IGF-I signaling in several neuronal cell types. METHODS IGF-I signaling was examined in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, primary cultured rat cerebellar granule neurons, and rat NG-108 neuroblastoma x glioma hybrids. The tyrosine phosphorylation of IGF-IR, IRS-2, Shc, and p42/p44 MAP kinase (MAPK), and the association of Grb-2 with Shc, were examined by immunoprecipitations and Western blotting. RESULTS IGF-I-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of MAPK was inhibited by ethanol in all cell lines. IGF-IR autophosphorylation was markedly inhibited by ethanol in SH-SY5Y cells, was only mildly inhibited in cerebellar granule neurons, and was unaffected in rat NG-108 cells. In vitro tyrosine autophosphorylation of immunopurified IGF-IR obtained from all cell lines was inhibited by ethanol. There was also differential ethanol sensitivity of IRS-2 and Shc phosphorylation, and the association of Shc with IRS-2, among the different cell types. CONCLUSIONS The findings demonstrate that IGF-I-mediated MAPK activation is a sensitive target of ethanol in diverse neuronal cell types. The data are consistent with ethanol-induced inhibition of IGF-IR activity, although the extent of IGF-IR tyrosine autophosphorylation per se is a poor marker of the inhibitory action of ethanol on this receptor. Furthermore, despite uniform inhibition of MAPK in the different neuronal cell types, tyrosine phosphorylation of proximal mediators of the IGF-IR are differentially inhibited by ethanol.