Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Which features make illustrations in multimedia learning interesting?

How can illustrations motivate learners in multimedia learning? Which features make illustrations interesting? Beside the theoretical relevance of addressing these questions, these issues are practically relevant when instructional designers are to decide which features of illustrations can trigger situational interest irrespective of individual differences. We analysed ratings of illustrations with respect to four potentially interest-triggering features (concreteness, personal relevance, ease of comprehension and unexpected information) and to situational interest. A methodological contribution was to show how multilevel modelling can be applied to take individual differences into account in several respects. Situational interest was predicted by 957 ratings of the four features on an intra-individual level (level 1). Inter-individual differences were controlled by modelling individuals on level 2 (N = 82 high-school students). Concreteness, personal relevance and ease of comprehension of illustrations are what mainly triggered situational interest. Nearly, 55% of the situational interest variance was explained by inter-individual preferences, thus, highlighting the usefulness of multilevel modelling to control for individual differences.
A structured light-based laparoscope with real-time organs' surface reconstruction for minimally invasive surgery

In this paper we present a new 3-D laparoscopic device based on structured light for minimally invasive surgery. Real-time reconstruction of internal organs' surfaces is very challenging as the numerous geometric and photometric variabilities and disturbances (bloody parts, specularities, smokes,.) often occur during the surgical operation, sometimes with manipulations by several assistants. We then conceived a structured light vision system to illuminate a coded pattern by means of an external video projector device or miniaturized diffractive optical elements and a laser source. Among the structured light techniques, the spatial neighbourhood scheme is the most relevant class of approaches to deal with moving and deformable surfaces, then to capture the depth map with only one shot. Each neighbourhood (a (3 × 3) window) is representing a codeword of length 9, and is unique in the whole pattern, even if there is a lack of information. To do so, a monochromatic subperfect map-based pattern is computed, driven by a desired minimal Hamming distance, Hmin, between any couple of codewords. This provides patterns with high correction capabilities (Hmin >; 1). For practical considerations, each numerical codeword symbol is associated to a unique visual feature embedding the local orientation of the pattern, which is helpful for the neighbourhood retrieval during the decoding process. Together with the endoscopic device, in vivo real-time reconstructions (in mini-invasive surgical conditions) are presented to assess both the efficiency of the proposed pattern design, the decoding process and the 3-D laparoscope setup realized in the lab.
The assembly of montane biotas: linking Andean tectonics and climatic oscillations to independent regimes of diversification in Pionus parrots

The mechanisms underlying the taxonomic assembly of montane biotas are still poorly understood. Most hypotheses have assumed that the diversification of montane biotas is loosely coupled to Earth history and have emphasized instead the importance of multiple long-distance dispersal events and biotic interactions, particularly competition, for structuring the taxonomic composition and distribution of montane biotic elements. Here we use phylogenetic and biogeographic analyses of species in the parrot genus Pionus to demonstrate that standing diversity within montane lineages is directly attributable to events of Earth history. Phylogenetic relationships confirm three independent biogeographic disjunctions between montane lineages, on one hand, and lowland dry-forest/wet-forest lineages on the other. Temporal estimates of lineage diversification are consistent with the interpretation that the three lineages were transported passively to high elevations by mountain building, and that subsequent diversification within the Andes was driven primarily by Pleistocene climatic oscillations and their large-scale effects on habitat change. These results support a mechanistic link between diversification and Earth history and have general implications for explaining high altitudinal disjuncts and the origin of montane biotas.
Trustworthiness in crowd- sensed and sourced georeferenced data

This paper focuses on the trustworthiness of data gathered from different sources, including crowdsensing and crowdsourcing, in pervasive systems. The specific focus is on mPASS (mobile Pervasive Accessibility Social Sensing), a system devoted to support mobile users with accessibility needs in a smart city context. mPASS is in charge of collecting data about urban and architectural barriers and facilities, with the aim of providing mobile users with personalized paths, during their movement, computed on the basis of their preferences and accessibility needs. A trustworthiness model is presented that combines three sources of information, i.e., crowdsensed data, crowdsourced data and authoritative data. Simulations results witness the feasibility of our approach.
Simulation and learning techniques for robot control architectures

This thesis investigates techniques for the development of mobile robot control architectures. The work is split into two main parts. In the first part (Chapters 2 and 3) a simulation technique is proposed by which potential control architectures could be investigated without recourse to constructing a physical robot. In the second part (Chapter 4) a machine learning technique is developed that could eventually be incorporated into a robot’s control architecture. Neither part of this thesis represents a fully completed project, but rather the foundations from which to pursue two separate projects, both of which could contribute to our toolbox for the development of intelligent robots. Index words: Mobile Robots, Simulation, Behavior Based Control, Simulated Behaviors, Dynamical Systems, Behavior Phase Space, ALCSR, A-Life, Learning Classifier System, Reinforcement Learning, Genetic Based Machine Learning. Simulation and Learning Techniques for Robot Control Architectures
‘Issue-Based Research’ and ‘Process Methodology’: Reflections on a Postgraduate Master's Programme in Qualitative Methods

This article describes the conceptual foundation of a Master's programme in qualitative methods aimed at training professional qualitative researchers in the field of social and marketing psychology. Two principles underpin the Master's project: anchorage to research questions generated by the real social context as the driver of the entire development of the research project (i.e., ‘issue-based research’); and the adoption of what is called ‘process methodology’ as the methodological interconnection between the features of the social field (i.e., the context of the research) and of the research field (i.e., the study's scope). In practice, process methodology requires the learning of three sets of competences (content, contextual and flow) related to qualitative research. Those competences are devoted to the implementation and management of applied qualitative research able to produce situated knowledge and to enhance the transferability and usability of that knowledge. The article gives details of both the didactic structure of the programme as well as the teaching devices adopted.
Spectroscopic findings in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Review and meta-analysis

Objectives. The last decade has seen an increasing interest in the method of magnet resonance spectroscopy (MRS) since this is the only research tool that allows a non-invasive in vivo assessment of neurochemical aspects of ADHD without employing ionising radiation. In this paper we review published MRS results with respect to childhood, adolescence and adult ADHD. Method. We searched the Medline (Pub Med) database using the key words ADHD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, magnet resonance spectroscopy, MRS and spectroscopy. Citations of identified articles were also searched for relevant studies. Meta-analyses were performed for the measured metabolites and regions of assessment. Results. Sixteen studies could be identified that used MRS to investigate the neurobiology of ADHD. Two regions could be identified as the focus of spectroscopic investigations – the frontal lobe including anterior cingulate cortex and parts of prefrontal cortex and the basal ganglia, mostly striatum, alongside the fronto-striato-thalamo-frontal circuits. As for metabolites, in the majority of studies the ratios to creatine and not absolute concentrations of metabolites were estimated. Choline compounds, N-acetyl-aspartate and glutamate/glutamine (to creatine ratios) could be identified as being altered in several studies in ADHD. The meta-analysis showed increased choline compounds in several researched regions. Discussion. MRS is a promising tool for the non-invasive in vivo assessment of the cerebral neurochemistry in ADHD. More regions of interest (ROI) like amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus and cerebellum should be assessed in future studies. Further methodological improvements of MRS are desirable in order to assess the absolute metabolite concentration of several ROIs at the same time. Such developments will open novel perspectives in spectroscopic investigations of ADHD.
Rapid, Reversible Modulation of Blood–Brain BarrierP-Glycoprotein Transport Activity by Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

Increased brain expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is associated with neurological disease, brain injury, and blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction. However, the specific effect of VEGF on the efflux transporter P-glycoprotein, a critical component of the BBB, is not known. Using isolated rat brain capillaries and in situ rat brain perfusion, we determined the effect of VEGF exposure on P-glycoprotein activity in vitro and in vivo. In isolated capillaries, VEGF acutely and reversibly decreased P-glycoprotein transport activity without decreasing transporter protein expression or opening tight junctions. This effect was blocked by inhibitors of the VEGF receptor flk-1 and Src kinase, but not by inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase or protein kinase C. VEGF also increased Tyr-14 phosphorylation of caveolin-1, and this was blocked by the Src inhibitor PP2. Pharmacological activation of Src kinase activity mimicked the effects of VEGF on P-glycoprotein activity and Tyr-14 phosphorylation of caveolin-1. In vivo, intracerebroventricular injection of VEGF increased brain distribution of P-glycoprotein substrates morphine and verapamil, but not the tight junction marker, sucrose; this effect was blocked by PP2. These findings indicate that VEGF decreases P-glycoprotein activity via activation of flk-1 and Src, and suggest Src-mediated phosphorylation of caveolin-1 may play a role in downregulation of P-glycoprotein activity. These findings also imply that P-glycoprotein activity is acutely diminished in pathological conditions associated with increased brain VEGF expression and that BBB VEGF/Src signaling could be targeted to acutely modulate P-glycoprotein activity and thus improve brain drug delivery.
Cell-based systems to assess nuclear receptor activation and their use in drug development

The evolution of scientific information relating to the regulation of xenobiotic disposition has extended to the discovery of an intricate group of receptor systems now recognized as master regulators. These ligand-activated transcription factors are commonly designated as “nuclear receptors”, and include CAR (NR1I3), PXR (NR1I2), PPAR (NR1C1, NR1C2, and NR1C3) and AhR (HLHE76). As regulators of gene expression, activation of these receptors can elicit a plethora of drug-drug interactions. The aforementioned nuclear receptors bind a wide range of structurally-unrelated ligands, such as steroid hormones, bile acids, and small drug-type molecules. A pivotal nuclear receptor with regards to regulation of drug-drug interactions is the pregnane X receptor (PXR). Gene expression profiling has demonstrated that PXR regulates over 60 human genes that are involved not only in physiological functions but also in the metabolism of xenobiotics. Moreover, chemical library screening suggests that about 10% of the compounds comprising the U. S. Food and Drug Administration 1 and 2, Sigma-Aldrich LOPAC collection, Biomol, and Tocris/TimTec bioactive collection libraries exhibit some form of PXR binding. For these reasons, efficient, rapid and economical systems have been developed to identify nuclear receptor ligands. Cell-based assays encompassing transiently and stably-transfected cells and mammalian two-hybrid systems are currently being employed by the pharmaceutical industry to screen compounds for binding to and/or activation of nuclear receptors. Overall, these systems have the ability to predict in vivo responses to receptor activation that culminate in drug-drug interactions and adverse drug effects.
Do women prefer “nice guys”? The effect of male dominance behavior on women’s ratings of sexual attractiveness

We examined whether or not different behavioral expressions of dominance by a male affected how introverted and extraverted women rated his sexual attractiveness. We assessed 81 women on the extraversion scale of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised Short Scale (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1991), and they then watched a 1-minute silent video of a male confederate in 3 dominance conditions (closed body posture [low], open body posture [medium], and open body posture with gesticulation [high]) and rated the male for sexual attractiveness. Results showed that higher dominance behavior significantly increased the confederate’s attractiveness, accounting for 10% of the variance in attractiveness ratings. However, the women’s personalities appeared to have no significant effect on these ratings. These results are discussed in relation to extant literature on the phenomenon that women do not select “nice guys” in preference to other men.
A New Approach for Assessing Sleep Duration and Postures from Ambulatory Accelerometry

Interest in the effects of sleeping behavior on health and performance is continuously increasing–both in research and with the general public. Ecologically valid investigations of this research topic necessitate the measurement of sleep within people’s natural living contexts. We present evidence that a new approach for ambulatory accelerometry data offers a convenient, reliable, and valid measurement of both people’s sleeping duration and quality in their natural environment. Ninety-two participants (14–83 years) wore acceleration sensors on the sternum and right thigh while spending the night in their natural environment and following their normal routine. Physical activity, body posture, and change in body posture during the night were classified using a newly developed classification algorithm based on angular changes of body axes. The duration of supine posture and objective indicators of sleep quality showed convergent validity with self-reports of sleep duration and quality as well as external validity regarding expected age differences. The algorithms for classifying sleep postures and posture changes very reliably distinguished postures with 99.7% accuracy. We conclude that the new algorithm based on body posture classification using ambulatory accelerometry data offers a feasible and ecologically valid approach to monitor sleeping behavior in sizable and heterogeneous samples at home.
A Chemogenomic Screen in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Uncovers a Primary Role for the Mitochondria in Farnesol Toxicity and Its Regulation by the Pkc1 Pathway*

The isoprenoid farnesol has been shown to preferentially induce apoptosis in cancerous cells; however, the mode of action of farnesol-induced death is not established. We used chemogenomic profiling using Saccharomyces cerevisiae to probe the core cellular processes targeted by farnesol. This screen revealed 48 genes whose inactivation increased sensitivity to farnesol. The gene set indicated a role for the generation of oxygen radicals by the Rieske iron-sulfur component of complex III of the electron transport chain as a major mediator of farnesol-induced cell death. Consistent with this, loss of mitochondrial DNA, which abolishes electron transport, resulted in robust resistance to farnesol. A genomic interaction map predicted interconnectedness between the Pkc1 signaling pathway and farnesol sensitivity via regulation of the generation of reactive oxygen species. Consistent with this prediction (i) Pkc1, Bck1, and Mkk1 relocalized to the mitochondria upon farnesol addition, (ii) inactivation of the only non-essential and non-redundant member of the Pkc1 signaling pathway, BCK1, resulted in farnesol sensitivity, and (iii) expression of activated alleles of PKC1, BCK1, and MKK1 increased resistance to farnesol and hydrogen peroxide. Sensitivity to farnesol was not affected by the presence of the osmostabilizer sorbitol nor did farnesol affect phosphorylation of the ultimate Pkc1-responsive kinase responsible for controlling the cell wall integrity pathway, Slt2. The data indicate that the generation of reactive oxygen species by the electron transport chain is a primary mechanism by which farnesol kills cells. The Pkc1 signaling pathway regulates farnesol-mediated cell death through management of the generation of reactive oxygen species.
New teacher and mentor political literacy: reading, navigating and transforming induction contexts

New teachers are unprepared for school politics and the conflicts they experience with administrators, colleagues and policies. Research and practice on mentorlog often ignore organizational contexts. This artide explores these under-examined contexts, asking: (1) W'hat do mentors need to know and be able to do in relation to school and district contexts to advocate on behalf of their induction work? ; (2) W'hat are the challenges mentors face in their school and district contexts? Drawing on practitioner expertise and an intensive case study, this artide highlights three critical domains ofmentors' politicalliteracy: reading, navigating and advocating. Analyses delineate challenges and promising practices in tapping this knowledge base in action. Mentors' politicalliteracy offers novices a way to act in schools' political climates, to address conflicts and, ultimately, to define a professional identity. Rather than viewing politics as negative, this artide reveals how
HUMAN LIVER S9 FRACTIONS: METABOLISM OF DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE, EPIANDROSTERONE, AND RELATED 7-HYDROXYLATED DERIVATIVES

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and 3β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-17-one (epiandrosterone, EpiA) are both precursors for 7α- and 7β-hydroxylated metabolites in the human brain. These 7-hydroxylated derivatives were shown to exert anti-glucocorticoid and neuroprotective effects. When these steroids are administered per os to humans, the first organ encountered is the liver, where extensive metabolism takes place. The objective of this work was to assess the cofactor dependence and metabolism of DHEA, EpiA, and their 7-hydroxylated derivatives in S9 fractions of human liver, using a radiolabeled steroid substrate for quantification and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for identification. The best transformation yields were obtained with NADPH and were larger in female than in male. Results showed that both DHEA and EpiA mainly transformed into their 17β-hydroxylated derivatives, 7- or 16α-hydroxylated metabolites under NAD(P)H conditions, and 5α-androstane-3,17-dione for EpiA under NAD(P)+ conditions. In turn, 7α-hydroxy-DHEA and 7β-hydroxy-DHEA were partly transformed into each other via a 7-oxo-DHEA intermediate and were reduced into the 17β-hydroxy derivative, respectively. The same type of transformations occurred for 7α-hydroxy-EpiA and 7β-hydroxy-EpiA, except that no 7-oxo-EpiA intermediate was obtained. These findings determine the presence of enzymes responsible for the 7α- and 16α-hydroxylation in the human liver, the 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 responsible for the oxidoreduction of the 7-hydroxylated substrates, and the 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase responsible for the reduction of 17-oxo-steroids into 17β-hydroxysteroids.
Does a year make a difference? The classroom management practices of primary student teachers before and after a one-year teacher education programme

The purpose of this study was to examine primary student teachers' use, confidence and success in various classroom management strategies at the start and at the end of a one-year teaching programme and ascertain any significant differences between the two time periods. One hundred and twenty-four English primary student teachers were surveyed at both time periods. Student teachers indicate that they would employ mostly preventative and lower-level corrective strategies at the start and at the end of the programme. Over the one year there was a significant increase in the use, confidence and success of preventative and relatively more intrusive corrective strategies, while the use and confidence of lower-level corrective strategies remained the same. The study tentatively highlights the cumulative impact of a one-year teaching programme on some but not all classroom management skills.
Consequences of Voluntary Settlement: Normative Beliefs Related to Independence in Hokkaido

Voluntary settlement is linked to the ethos of independence. However, it is unclear whether initial cultural contexts in frontier areas influence this ethos. The present study focused on Hokkaido, a Japanese island with a history of voluntary settlement, and predicted that while the predominant mainland-Japanese ethos of interdependence is prevalent in Hokkaido, the idea of independence fostered by settlement emerges mainly in the normative beliefs of people living there. The study examined the degree of interdependence measured by attention to vocal affect. Participants listened to emotional utterances and judged the verbal meaning while ignoring the vocal affect. During the process, about half of the participants were presented with schematic faces that activate normative beliefs. Overall, Japanese were more sensitive to vocal affect than were North Americans. Nevertheless, consistent with the prediction, the interference effect in the face condition was less in both North Americans and Hokkaido-born Hokkaido Japanese than in mainland Japanese.