Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Parent Behaviors in Relation to Characteristics of Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Emotional self-regulation (ESR) challenges are well documented in the developmental profiles of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); however, less is known about the development of ESR and the role of parents in ESR development for this population. This study explored the associations between diagnostically significant characteristics of children with ASD (i.e., social communication profile and sensory processing abilities) and parent behaviors associated with development of a child’s ESR. Participants were 37 children previously diagnosed with ASD and their parents recruited throughout Southern New England. The children’s ages ranged between 3048 months. The study was a cross sectional design involving observations of parentchild dyads in their home environment during naturalistic routines: free play, social communication assessment, and snack. Observations were video recorded for subsequent coding using combined event/ time sampling procedures. Parent behaviors included physical engaging and helping, language-based engaging and helping, redirection/distraction, vocal comfort, physical comfort, language-based comfort, emotional following, and active ignoring. Children’s social communication abilities were assessed using the Communication Symbolic Behavior ScalesDevelopmental Profile (Wetherby & Prizant, 2002) and their sensory processing abilities were assessed using the Sensory Processing Measure – Preschool Home form (Ecker & Parham, 2010). A demographic questionnaire was also completed by the parent.
Designing on Efficient Resource Management for Parallel Distributed Systems by the Use of a Graph Replacement System

This paper presents a new approach to design an eecient resource management for parallel distributed systems. The basic idea is to describe the whole system with the help of a graph. The graph includes ab-stract/software objects as well as hardware objects. The nodes of the graph represent both types of objects on diierent levels of abstraction. The edges of the graph represent dependencies among the objects. Nodes and edges are labeled with attributes storing additional information. Based on this graph a graph replacement system is introduced, which deenes all resource management services. Each replacement rule is based on the graph and describes on the one hand the preconditions which are necessary to apply the rule and on the other hand the postconditions which must hold after its execution. The complete knowledge of the whole system, represented by the nodes, the attributes and the edges of the graph, allows the graph replacement system to manage the system eeciently.
Thread-Based BRDF Rendering on GPU

Rendering BRDF surfaces have been intensively studied to produce physically plausible appearance of surface materials. Illumination at a surface point is formulated as an integral of a BRDF producted with incident radiance over the hemi-sphere domain. One popular method to compute the integral is Monte Carlo integration which estimates it with a sum of the integrand evaluated at stochastically sampled rays. Although its simple nature is practically attractive, it has a serious drawback of noise artifacts in 3D rendering. In this paper, we propose a novel noise-free Monte Carlo rendering algorithm running on a GPU in real-time. The main contribution is a new importance sampling scheme providing consistent sample rays over surfaces. For each evenly spaced latitude angle of eye ray, denoted by $\theta$, incident rays are sampled with a PDF derived from the target BRDF lobe. We use a force-based update method to make sample rays consistent between consecutive $\theta$'s. Finally, corresponding sample rays are linearly connected to form a smooth curve, called a {\it sample thread}. In rendering, the sample rays for a surface point are obtained as thread points specified by $\theta$. Since the threads provide sample rays consistently varying on the surface, the estimation variance manifesting image noise is minimized. A thread set is precomputed for each BRDF before rendering so that no sampling overhead is imposed on the GPU. According to our experiments, about 100 threads are sufficient for most measured BRDFs to achieve a plausible quality, which enables the interactive performance.
Search Strategies of Library Search Experts

Search engines like Google, Yahoo or Bing are an excellent support for finding documents, but this strength also imposes a limitation. As they are optimized for document retrieval tasks, they perform less well when it comes to more complex search needs. Complex search tasks are usually described as open-ended, abstract and poorly defined information needs with a multifaceted character. In this paper we will present the results of an experiment carried out with information professionals from libraries and museums in the course of a search contest. The aim of the experiment was to analyze the search strategies of experienced information workers trying to tackle search tasks of varying complexity and get qualitative results on the impact of time pressure on such an experiment.
Did Social Safety Net Scholarships Reduce Drop-Out Rates During the Indonesian Economic Crisis?

The author uses regression and matching techniques to evaluate Indonesia's Social Safety Net Scholarships Program, which was developed to keep large numbers of children from dropping out of school as a result of the Asian crisis. It was expected that many families would find it difficult to keep their children in school and that dropout rates would be high, as they were during a recession in the 1980s. But dropouts did not increase markedly and enrollment rates remained relatively steady. The author examines the role the scholarship program played in producing this result. She found the scholarships to have been effective in reducing dropouts in the lower secondary school (where students are more susceptible to dropping out) by about 3 percentage points. They had no discernible impact in primary and upper secondary schools. The author also examines how well the program adhered to its documented targeting design and how effective that design was in reaching the poor. Committees that allocated the scholarships followed the criteria diligently, but a significant percentage of scholarships did go to students from households with high reported per capita expenditures, if household expenditure data are reliable. It is unclear how targeting can be improved, giving the scarcity of accurate local household data in most countries. Using local monitoring could help but then monitoring for accountability would be more difficult. Preliminary evidence favors focusing safety net scholarships--designed to reduce dropout rates during an economic crisis--on lower secondary schools, continuing to target children (especially older students) from large families, scaling back scholarships to private schools at the lower secondary level, or targeting the households hurt most by the crisis.
Wideband Channel Modeling and Intercarrier Interference Cancellation for Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication Systems

In this paper, we propose a new regular-shaped geometry-based stochastic model (RS-GBSM) for non-isotropic scattering wideband multiple-input multiple-output vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) Ricean fading channels. By correcting the unrealistic assumption widely used in current RS-GBSMs, the proposed model can more practically study the impact of the vehicular traffic density on channel statistics for different time delays. From the proposed model, we derive the Doppler power spectral density (PSD) and find that highly dynamic Doppler spectrum appears for V2V channels. Excellent agreement is achieved between the derived Doppler PSD and measured data, demonstrating the utility of the proposed model. To combat the intercarrier interference (ICI) caused by highly dynamic Doppler spectrum in real orthogonal frequency division multiplexing based V2V systems, this paper proposes a new type of ICI cancellation scheme, named as precoding based cancellation (PBC) scheme. The proposed scheme can be easily implemented into real V2V systems with the same ICI mitigation performance as the current best ICI cancellation scheme that has high complexity. To further improve the performance of the proposed PBC scheme, a new phase rotation aided (PRA) method, namely constant PRA (CPRA) method, is proposed. Compared with the existing PRA method, the CPRA method has better performance and much less implementation complexity. Therefore, the proposed PBC scheme with the CPRA method is the best ICI cancellation scheme for real V2V systems.
What Does It Cost to Prevent On-Duty Firefighter Cardiac Events? A Content Valid Method for Calculating Costs

Cardiac arrest is a leading cause of mortality among firefighters. We sought to develop a valid method for determining the costs of a workplace prevention program for firefighters. In 2012, we developed a draft framework using human resource accounting and in-depth interviews with experts in the firefighting and insurance industries. The interviews produced a draft cost model with 6 components and 26 subcomponents. In 2013, we randomly sampled 100 fire chiefs out of >7,400 affiliated with the International Association of Fire Chiefs. We used the Content Validity Index (CVI) to identify the content valid components of the draft cost model. This was accomplished by having fire chiefs rate the relevancy of cost components using a 4-point Likert scale (highly relevant to not relevant). We received complete survey data from 65 fire chiefs (65% response rate). We retained 5 components and 21 subcomponents based on CVI scores ≥0.70. The five main components include, (1) investment costs, (2) orientation and training costs, (3) medical and pharmaceutical costs, (4) education and continuing education costs, and (5) maintenance costs. Data from a diverse sample of fire chiefs has produced a content valid method for calculating the cost of a prevention program among firefighters.
Uptake of the Fusarium Effector Avr2 by Tomato Is Not a Cell Autonomous Event

Pathogens secrete effector proteins to manipulate the host for their own proliferation. Currently it is unclear whether the uptake of effector proteins from extracellular spaces is a host autonomous process. We study this process using the Avr2 effector protein from Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol). Avr2 is an important virulence factor that is secreted into the xylem sap of tomato following infection. Besides that, it is also an avirulence factor triggering immune responses in plants carrying the I-2 resistance gene. Recognition of Avr2 by I-2 occurs inside the plant nucleus. Here, we show that pathogenicity of an Avr2 knockout Fusarium (FolΔAvr2) strain is fully complemented on transgenic tomato lines that express either a secreted (Avr2) or cytosolic Avr2 (ΔspAvr2) protein, indicating that Avr2 exerts its virulence functions inside the host cells. Furthermore, our data imply that secreted Avr2 is taken up from the extracellular spaces in the presence of the fungus. Grafting studies were performed in which scions of I-2 tomato plants were grafted onto either a ΔspAvr2 or on an Avr2 rootstock. Although the Avr2 protein could readily be detected in the xylem sap of the grafted plant tissues, no I-2-mediated immune responses were induced suggesting that I-2-expressing tomato cells cannot autonomously take up the effector protein from the xylem sap. Additionally, ΔspAvr2 and Avr2 plants were crossed with I-2 plants. Whereas ΔspAvr2/I-2 F1 plants showed a constitutive immune response, immunity was not triggered in the Avr2/I-2 plants confirming that Avr2 is not autonomously taken up from the extracellular spaces to trigger I-2. Intriguingly, infiltration of Agrobacterium tumefaciens in leaves of Avr2/I-2 plants triggered I-2 mediated cell death, which indicates that Agrobacterium triggers effector uptake. To test whether, besides Fol, effector uptake could also be induced by other fungal pathogens the ΔspAvr2 and Avr2 transgenic lines were inoculated with Verticillium dahliae. Whereas ΔspAvr2 plants became hyper-susceptible to infection, no difference in disease development was found in the Avr2 plants as compared to wild-type plants. These data suggest that effector uptake is not a host autonomous process and that Fol and A. tumefaciens, but not V. dahliae, facilitate Avr2 uptake by tomato cells from extracellular spaces.
The Influence of Stress on the Transition From Drug Use to Addiction

Stress—that is, any type of stimulus that challenges the organism’s normal internal balance—induces a physiologic response involving a variety of hormones and other signaling molecules that act on, among other organs, the brain. This stress response also can influence the progression of alcohol and other drug (AOD) addiction through various stages. For example, AODs can directly activate the stress response. In turn, certain stress hormones (i.e., glucocorticoids and corticotrophin-releasing factor) also act on the brain system that mediates the rewarding experiences associated with AOD use (i.e., the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system). Moreover, elevated glucocorticoid levels and stress increase AOD self-administration in certain animal models. During a later stage of the addiction process, in contrast, excessive and/or prolonged stress may impair the reward system, inducing heavier AOD use to maintain the rewarding experience. During the final stage of addiction, when the addicted person experiences withdrawal symptoms if no drug is consumed, chronic AOD use results in gross impairment of the normal stress response and other signaling mechanisms in the brain, resulting in a state of anxiety and internal stress. At this stage, people continue to use AODs mainly to relieve this negative-affect state.
Author ' s personal copy VISUAL EXPERIENCE REGULATES Kv 3 . 1 b AND Kv 3 . 2 EXPRESSION IN DEVELOPING RAT VISUAL CORTEX

Among the GABAergic neocortical interneurons, parvalbumin-containing fast-spiking (FS) basket cells are essential mediators of feed-forward inhibition, network synchrony and oscillations, and timing of the critical period for sensory plasticity. The FS phenotype matures after birth. It depends on the expression of the voltage-gated potassium channels Kv3.1b/3.2 which mediate the fast membrane repolarization necessary for firing fast action potentials at high frequencies. We have now tested in rat visual cortex if visual deprivation affects the Kv3 expression. During normal development, Kv3.1b/3.2 mRNA and protein expression increased in rat visual cortex reaching adult levels around P20. Dark rearing from birth neither prevented nor delayed the upregulation. Rather unexpectedly, the expression of Kv3.1b protein and Kv3.2 mRNA and protein increased to higher levels from the third postnatal week onwards. Triple-labeling revealed that in dark-reared visual cortex Kv3.2 was upregulated in parvalbuminergic interneurons in supragranular layers which in normal animals rarely display Kv3.2 expression. Recovery from dark rearing normalized Kv3.2 expression. This showed that visual experience influences the Kv3 expression. The results suggest that an altered expression of Kv3 channels affects the functional properties of FS neurons, and may contribute to the deficits in inhibition observed in the sensory-deprived cortex. © 2009 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Frontal Brain Asymmetry and Reward Responsiveness

The influence of approach and avoidance tendencies on affect, reasoning, and behavior has attracted substantial interest from researchers across various areas of psychology. Currently, frontal electroencephalographic (EEG) asymmetry in favor of left prefrontal regions is assumed to reflect the propensity to respond with approach-related tendencies. To test this hypothesis, we recorded resting EEG in 18 subjects, who separately performed a verbal memory task under three incentive conditions (neutral, reward, and punishment). Using a source-localization technique, we found that higher task-independent alpha2 (10.5–12 Hz) activity within left dorsolateral prefrontal and medial orbitofrontal regions was associated with stronger bias to respond to reward-related cues. Left prefrontal resting activity accounted for 54.8% of the variance in reward bias. These findings not only confirm that frontal EEG asymmetry modulates the propensity to engage in appetitively motivated behavior, but also provide anatomical details about the underlying brain systems.
Rational curves of degree at most 9 on a general quintic threefold

ABSTRACT. We prove the following form of the Clemens conjecture in low degree. Let d ≤ 9, and let F be a general quintic threefold in P 4. Then (1) the Hilbert scheme of rational, smooth and irreducible curves of degree d on F is finite, nonempty, and reduced; moreover, each curve is embedded in F with normal bundle (−1) ⊕ (−1), and in P 4 with maximal rank. (2) On F, there are no rational, singular, reduced and irreducible curves of degree d, except for the 17,601,000 six-nodal plane quintics (found by Vainsencher). (3) On F, there are no connected, reduced and reducible curves of degree d with rational components.
A Cognitive and Logic Based Model for Building Glass-Box Learning Objects

In the field of e-learning, a popular solution to make teaching material reusable is to represent it as learning object (LO). However, building better adaptive educational software also takes an explicit model of the learner’s cognitive process related to LOs. This paper presents a three layers model that explicitly connect the description of learners’ cognitive processes to LOs. The first layer describes the knowledge from a logical and ontological perspective. The second describes cognitive processes. The third builds LOs upon the two first layers. The proposed model has been successfully implemented in an intelligent tutoring system for teaching Boolean reduction that provides highly tailored instruction thanks to the model.
Control Strategy Based on Worms Spread in Complex Network

Paper firstly makes clearly what is the complex network and its features, and study what is network worms and the emergence of worms and its development process, understand the current status of the worm, studying focus on the spread of the worm models(simple transmission model, Kermack-Mckendrick Model, two-factor model, BCM model-network worm confrontation model). Contact the characteristics of complex network and the worm's principle, make a little understanding of the worm detection and defense and the network-based control strategies of an important node. Give out effective strategy on the current developments in the worms, in addition to network worm suppression on each host, and by the entire network, we should comprehensivly using the important immune target and contain the virus as the virus control strategy.
Helping people to ‘make things happen’: A framework for proactivity at work

Proactivity, which involves self-initiated change in oneself or change in the environment to bring about a better future, is an increasingly important behaviour at workplace. This paper summarises a model of proactivity at work. We first discuss the importance of proactivity, presenting empirical evidence about its benefits for individual and organisational performance. We then discuss current perspectives on proactivity, explaining it as a goal-directed process that involves, first, the setting of a proactive goal (proactive goal generation), and second, striving to achieve that proactive goal (proactive goal striving). We then present three motivational pathways of proactivity and the related ‘can do,’ ‘reason to,’ and ‘energised to’ motivational states that prompt proactive goal generation and goal striving. Next we present distal antecedents of proactivity that influence the proactive motivational states and thereby lead to proactive behaviours, including contextual variations in work design, leadership, and group climate, as well as individual characteristics such as personality and learning styles. We consider the potential dark side of proactivity and propose the expanded concept of wise proactivity to articulate the type of proactivity that is likely to be truly desirable within the workplace. We conclude the paper by discussing the applications of proactivity in the coaching context.
The new definition of pulmonary hypertension

Despite the progress that has been made in the field of pulmonary hypertension (PH) 1–3, there is no unifying and globally accepted definition of the condition. The first official haemodynamic definition of PH was proposed at the First World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension which took place 1973 in Geneva, Switzerland as a World Health Organization (WHO)-sponsored meeting 4. This conference was triggered by the previous epidemic of PH associated with the appetite suppressant aminorex 5. As such, the focus of that meeting was primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), as compared to the other forms of PH. After a long and sometimes heated debate the consensus was to define PPH by a mean pulmonary artery pressure ( P pa) >25 mmHg at rest or >30 mmHg during exercise in the presence of a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ( P pcw) ≤15 mmHg. This definition was later extended to other forms of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) 6. It stood the test of time for >30 yrs, but was challenged during the Fourth World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension, which took place 2008 in Dana Point, CA, USA. There were several reasons for this: 1) the old definition did not take into account other forms of PH; 2) the threshold of P pa …
Research on animal-assisted intervention and autism spectrum disorder, 2012–2015

ABSTRACT Including animals in autism intervention is growing in both research and practice. A systematic literature review was conducted to collate and synthesize all empirical research on animal-assisted intervention (AAI) for autism published from 2012 to 2015. Findings from 28 included studies revealed that AAI programs generally include one animal per participant with a total contact time of approximately 10 hours over the course of 8 to 12 weeks. Research methodology is diverse and though limited in many cases, has improved over the last few years. The most commonly reported outcome was increased social interaction, which was unanimously significant across 22 studies. The need for further research is highlighted, calling for a focus on refining AAI techniques, identifying optimal circumstances for positive change as well as individuals who may not benefit, and independent replication of high quality studies to move AAI from an enrichment activity to an evidence-based practice for autism.
Preliminary study of Forward-Backward Time-Stepping technique with edge-preserving regularization for object detection applications

Forward-Backward Time-Stepping (FBTS) technique is used for the detection, imaging and reconstruction of an embedded object which is formulated at the time-domain utilizing Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method. In order to solve FBTS inverse scattering problem, edge-preserving regularization is integrated. Image reconstruction results illustrated that the FBTS integrated with an edge-preserving regularization technique has the potential to detect the presence of the embedded object accurately. In this paper, an extended algorithm is shown in time-domain image reconstruction.