Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A context-sensitive device to help people with autism cope with anxiety

We describe a smartphone application that helps people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) cope with anxiety attacks. Our prototype provides a one-touch interface for indicating a panic level. The device's response - to instruct, soothe, and/or contact carers - is sensitive to the user's context, consisting of time, location, ambient noise, and nearby friends. Formative evaluation unearths a critical challenge to building assistive technologies for ASD sufferers: can regimented interfaces foster flexible behaviour? Our observations suggest that a delicate balance of design goals is required for a viable assistive technology.
Markers rectifying in the motion capture system

In the passive optical motion capture system, occlusion caused by the hidden markers occurs between whiles. A method based on least square for detecting and estimating of such lost points is proposed in this paper. First, we give an algorithm to find the abnormal markers by detecting the extra large derivatives of the markers' trajectories. Second, two models for estimating the abnormal markers, the rigid one and the linear transformation one, are discussed. The results of the experiments shows the validity of our method.
Using systemising to facilitate social competence in autism: an evaluation of The Transporters DVD and LEGO® therapy

___________________________________________________________________ IV ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS_________________________________________________________ V TABLE OF CONTENTS___________________________________________________________ 1 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO AUTISM ________________________________________ 1 1.1 DESCRIPTION AND DIAGNOSIS OF AUTISM ______________________________________ 2 1.2 HISTORICAL DESCRIPTIONS OF AUTISM ________________________________________ 3 1.3 CURRENT DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA _____________________________________________ 4 1.4 ASPERGER SYNDROME AND HIGH FUNCTIONING AUTISM ___________________________ 5 1.5 CO-MORBIDITIES AND NON-DIAGNOSTIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ASC__________________ 5 1.6 THE AETIOLOGY OF AUTISM _________________________________________________ 6 1.6. 1 Genetics of ASC_______________________________________________________ 6 1.6. 2 Neurochemistry _______________________________________________________ 8 1.6. 3 Brain structure ________________________________________________________ 8 1.7 COGNITIVE THEORIES OF AUTISM____________________________________________ 12 1.7. 1 Impaired theory of mind________________________________________________ 12 1.7. 2 Executive dysfunction _________________________________________________ 16 1.7. 3 Weak central coherence ________________________________________________ 20 1.7. 4 Empathising-systemising _______________________________________________ 23 CHAPTER 2: SOCIAL COMPETENCE IN ASC _____________________________________ 31 2.
A Hidden Markov Model for Single Particle Tracks Quantifies Dynamic Interactions between LFA-1 and the Actin Cytoskeleton

The extraction of hidden information from complex trajectories is a continuing problem in single-particle and single-molecule experiments. Particle trajectories are the result of multiple phenomena, and new methods for revealing changes in molecular processes are needed. We have developed a practical technique that is capable of identifying multiple states of diffusion within experimental trajectories. We model single particle tracks for a membrane-associated protein interacting with a homogeneously distributed binding partner and show that, with certain simplifying assumptions, particle trajectories can be regarded as the outcome of a two-state hidden Markov model. Using simulated trajectories, we demonstrate that this model can be used to identify the key biophysical parameters for such a system, namely the diffusion coefficients of the underlying states, and the rates of transition between them. We use a stochastic optimization scheme to compute maximum likelihood estimates of these parameters. We have applied this analysis to single-particle trajectories of the integrin receptor lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) on live T cells. Our analysis reveals that the diffusion of LFA-1 is indeed approximately two-state, and is characterized by large changes in cytoskeletal interactions upon cellular activation.
Route and Regulation of Zinc, Cadmium, and Iron Transport in Rice Plants (Oryza sativa L.) during Vegetative Growth and Grain Filling: Metal Transporters, Metal Speciation, Grain Cd Reduction and Zn and Fe Biofortification

Zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) are essential but are sometimes deficient in humans, while cadmium (Cd) is toxic if it accumulates in the liver and kidneys at high levels. All three are contained in the grains of rice, a staple cereal. Zn and Fe concentrations in rice grains harvested under different levels of soil/hydroponic metals are known to change only within a small range, while Cd concentrations show greater changes. To clarify the mechanisms underlying such different metal contents, we synthesized information on the routes of metal transport and accumulation in rice plants by examining metal speciation, metal transporters, and the xylem-to-phloem transport system. At grain-filling, Zn and Cd ascending in xylem sap are transferred to the phloem by the xylem-to-phloem transport system operating at stem nodes. Grain Fe is largely derived from the leaves by remobilization. Zn and Fe concentrations in phloem-sap and grains are regulated within a small range, while Cd concentrations vary depending on xylem supply. Transgenic techniques to increase concentrations of the metal chelators (nicotianamine, 2′-deoxymugineic acid) are useful in increasing grain Zn and Fe concentrations. The elimination of OsNRAMP5 Cd-uptake transporter and the enhancement of root cell vacuolar Cd sequestration reduce uptake and root-to-shoot transport, respectively, resulting in a reduction of grain Cd accumulation.
A natural explanation for periodic X-ray outbursts in Be/X-ray binaries

When applied to Be/X-ray binaries, the viscous decretion disc model, which can successfully account for most properties of Be stars, naturally predicts the truncation of the circumstellar disc. The distance at which the circumstellar disc is truncated depends mainly on the orbital parameters and the viscosity. In systems with low eccentricity, the disc is expected to be truncated at the 3:1 resonance radius, for which the gap between the disc outer radius and the critical lobe radius of the Be star is so wide that, under normal conditions, the neutron star cannot accrete enough gas at periastron passage to show periodic X-ray outbursts (type I outbursts). These systems will display only occasional giant X-ray outbursts (type II outbursts). On the other hand, in systems with high orbital eccentricity, the disc truncation occurs at a much higher resonance radius, which is very close to or slightly beyond the critical lobe radius at periastron unless the viscosity is very low. In these systems, disc truncation cannot be ecient, allowing the neutron star to capture gas from the disc at every periastron passage and display type I outbursts regularly. In contrast to the rather robust results for systems with low eccentricity and high eccentricity, the result for systems with moderate eccentricity depends on rather subtle details. Systems in which the disc is truncated in the vicinity of the critical lobe will regularly display type I outbursts, whereas those with the disc signicantly smaller than the critical lobe will show only type II outbursts under normal conditions and temporary type I outbursts when the disc is strongly disturbed. In Be/X-ray binaries, material will be accreted via the rst Lagrangian point with low velocities relative to the neutron star and carrying high angular momentum. This may result in the temporary formation of accretion discs during type I outbursts, something that seems to be conrmed by observations.
A Bayesian Hybrid Approach to Unsupervised Time Series Discretization

Discretization is a key preprocessing step in knowledge discovery to make raw time series data applicable to symbolic data mining algorithms. To improve the comprehensibility of the mined results, or to help the induction step of the mining algorithms, in discretization, it is natural to prefer having discrete levels which can be mapped into intuitive symbols. In this paper, we aim to make smoothing of the data points along with the time axis, and make binning or clustering at the measurement axis. In particular, we propose a hybrid discretization method based on variational Bayes, in which the output of one discretization method is smoothly exploited as hyper parameters of another probabilistic discretization model such as a continuous hidden Markov model. The experiments with artificial and real datasets exhibit the usefulness of this hybrid approach.
Low-ammonia niche of ammonia-oxidizing archaea in rotating biological contactors of a municipal wastewater treatment plant

The first step of nitrification is catalysed by both ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA), but physicochemical controls on the relative abundance and function of these two groups are not yet fully understood, especially in freshwater environments. This study investigated ammonia-oxidizing populations in nitrifying rotating biological contactors (RBCs) from a municipal wastewater treatment plant. Individual RBC stages are arranged in series, with nitrification at each stage creating an ammonia gradient along the flowpath. This RBC system provides a valuable experimental system for testing the hypothesis that ammonia concentration determines the relative abundance of AOA and AOB. The results demonstrate that AOA increased as ammonium decreased across the RBC flowpath, as indicated by qPCR for thaumarchaeal amoA and 16S rRNA genes, and core lipid (CL) and intact polar lipid (IPL) crenarchaeol abundances. Overall, there was a negative logarithmic relationship (R2 = 0.51) between ammonium concentration and the relative abundance of AOA amoA genes. A single AOA population was detected in the RBC biofilms; this phylotype shared low amoA and 16S rRNA gene homology with existing AOA cultures and enrichments. These results provide evidence that ammonia availability influences the relative abundances of AOA and AOB, and that AOA are abundant in some municipal wastewater treatment systems.
Organization Science Evaluative Schemas and the Mediating Role of Critics

H ow do critics enable producers and consumers to come to mutually agreeable terms of trade? We propose that critics offer more guidance to those who set prices when their quality assessments are structured by clearer evaluative schemas. Schema clarity enables producers to accurately anticipate the quality assessments that critics will disseminate to the market. This allows their posted prices to center more faithfully on prevailing conceptions of quality. We then argue that the position of a producer within the market's social structure—in terms of its prior coverage, reputation, and niche width—influences the degree to which it is guided by clear evaluative schemas. We test these predictions in the market for U.S. wines. After elaborating a novel approach to inferring the clarity of evaluative schemas within different varietal categories, we demonstrate that list prices are less variable around expected levels when the schemas used to evaluate quality are clearer. Moreover, this effect is stronger among more relevant and more focused producers in each category.
Exploring the understanding and experience ofcognitive impairment in chronic opiate users :an interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Introduction: Cognitive difficulties are evidenced in opiate-dependent populations, whether they are caused by drug use per se, or other associated life-style factors. To date no research exists which explores the subjective experience of cognitive impairment in opiate-dependent populations attending drug and alcohol services. In comparable fields such as brain injury and dementia, the subjective experience of cognitive impairment has been explored with important and beneficial results. Method: Using a qualitative design, data were collected from in-depth interviews with six working-age adults with a diagnosis of opiate-use disorder, attending a service for opiate-substitution therapy, who self-identified as experiencing memory and thinking difficulties. Transcripts were analysed in accordance with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results: Three superordinate themes emerged: “a damaged brain and mind” which included the extent of the impairment and how participants made sense of such difficulties; “perceptions of the self as spoiled” which explored the perceived changes in independence and dependence and resultant negative feelings about the self; and “coping with a lesser self” which included acceptance and adaptation, and familiar but maladaptive coping strategies. Conclusions: Participants’ understanding and experience of their cognitive difficulties contributed to their sense of well-being, and further impacted on chosen coping strategies. Consideration of cognitive impairment is important to effectively support individuals attending drug and alcohol services.
Cultural Impacts on Electronic Publishing: Experience in Serbia

Discusses the linguistic influences on an electronic publishing infrastructure in an environment with unstable linguistic standardization from the computational point of view. Essentially, in Serbia in the last half of the century (at least) publishing is based on the following facts: two alphabetic systems are regularly in use with the possibility to mix both alphabets in the same document; the various dialects are accepted as a part of a linguistic norm; orthography is unstable ‐ presently, several linguistic attitudes that have different views of the orthographic norm are under discussion; and, in Serbia, many minority languages are in use, which makes it difficult to provide efficient contact between different communities through electronic publishing. In this context, a systematic solution that responds to this complex situation has not been developed in the frame of traditional Serbian linguistics and lexicography in a way that enables the adequate incorporation of the new publishing technologies. Owing to these constraints, the direct application of electronic publishing tools frequently causes the degradation of the linguistic message. In such an environment, the promotion of electronic publishing therefore needs specific solutions. The paper discusses the general frame based on the specifically encoded system of electronic dictionaries that makes electronic texts independent of some of the mentioned constraints. The objective of such a frame is to enable the linguistic normalization of texts at the level of their internal representation, and to establish bridges for communicating with other language societies. Some aspects of electronic text representation that ensures its correct interpretation in different graphical systems and in different dialects are described. This also allows text indexing and retrieval using the same techniques that are available for languages not burdened with these problems.
Manipulated time and eating behavior.

By the use of doctored clocks, the external, food-relevant cue, "dinner time," is manipulated so that some Ss entered an experimental eating situation believing it to be later than their regular dinner time and others believing it to be before dinner time. Obese Ss ate more when they thought that they were eating after their regular dinner hour than they did when they thought that they were eating before their dinner hour. There is no such effect for normal Ss. Additional data relevant to the hypotheses are presented from a questionnaire study of the eating routine and regularity of obese and normal Ss.
Why do programmers avoid metrics?

Software process improvement initiatives such as metrics programs have a high failure rate during their assimilation in a software organization. Social and organizational issues are some of the factors affecting the adoption and acceptance of metrics, and these issues have not been discussed in detail in existing metrics literature. We undertook an interview-based study with the purpose of studying factors that influence the buy-in of metrics. We interviewed 12 members of the metrics team of a large multi-national corporation, with a thriving metrics program. We found that there was some resistance to standardization of corporate metrics processes introduced by the metrics team. This resistance centered on the metrics data collection and reporting processes. One cause of resistance was the presence of sub-cultures and native data collection and reporting processes within organizational units that were independent businesses before they were acquired. Some of the pushback manifested itself through begrudging compliance, and avoidance activities like scripting and gaming of metrics. In this paper, we present the perspectives of developers, managers and upper-level management to emphasize that each stakeholder in the metrics initiative has a valid viewpoint that should be taken into account while implementing a metrics program and that each metrics effort is inextricably enmeshed with the organizational context. We provide actionable recommendations to understand the different perspectives and to adapt the metrics effort accordingly.
AQuASys : A Question-Answering System For Arabic

In this paper, we present an Arabic Question-Answering system called AQuASys «Arabic QuestionAnswering System». The proposed system is composed of three modules: A question analysis module, a sentence filtering module and an answer extraction module. The question analysis phase is crucial and plays an essential role in the answer finding phase. Unlike most of the existing Arabic Q-A, our system gives more attention to the question analysis in order to extract, from it, valuable and informative features. These features are decisive for the answer filtering process and consequently have a strong impact on answer finding accuracy performance. The answers relatedness scoring phase serves to find the most accurate answer. Our system attained scores and results are very encouraging. They are presented and discussed in the end of this paper. Key-Words: Arabic language, factoid questions, Information retrieval, Morphological analysis, Natural language processing, Question-Answering system.
Process Configuration Framework Tool

Organizations considering the adoption of new methods, techniques, or tools often face the problem of how to evaluate these systematically, thoroughly, and completely. In this work we present the Process Configuration Framework Tool, a web application based on the Reference Technology platform and aimed at helping organizations find empirical evidence in a specific context. These results will help decision makers to easily find existing methods, techniques, and tools in the appropriate context and make decisions based on empirical evidence.
When alien catfish meet—Resource overlap between the North AmericanIctalurus punctatusand immature EuropeanSilurus glanisin the Arno River (Italy)

Due to the increasing globalisation and ongoing introduction of alien species specifically regarding European freshwater ecosystems, native and already present alien species will be confronted with competitors with unknown outcomes. One such case is the situation of the European catfish Silurus glanis introduced in the Arno River (Central Italy), a species sought after by anglers, which is facing competition from the later introduced alien North American channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus. Large catfish species are highly valued among anglers, but their interspecific interactions and potential ecosystem‐level impacts are still poorly known. We used stomach contents and stable isotope analyses to study niche partitioning between these two alien catfish species, coexisting in the Arno River. The results suggest partial niche segregation, with immature S. glanis showing a narrower dietary and isotopic niche and a slightly higher trophic position than I. punctatus. Monitoring the catfish population sizes, trophic niches and effects on lower trophic levels are essential for future management and mitigation of their potential impacts on invaded freshwater ecosystems.
A low rank structural large margin method for cross-modal ranking

Cross-modal retrieval is a classic research topic in multimedia information retrieval. The traditional approaches study the problem as a pairwise similarity function problem. In this paper, we consider this problem from a new perspective as a listwise ranking problem and propose a general cross-modal ranking algorithm to optimize the listwise ranking loss with a low rank embedding, which we call Latent Semantic Cross-Modal Ranking (LSCMR). The latent low-rank embedding space is discriminatively learned by structural large margin learning to optimize for certain ranking criteria directly. We evaluate LSCMR on the Wikipedia and NUS-WIDE dataset. Experimental results show that this method obtains significant improvements over the state-of-the-art methods.
The Lcn 972-bacteriocin plasmid pBL 1 impairs cellobiose metabolism in 1 Lactococcus lactis 2

27 pBL1 is a Lactococcus lactis theta-replicating 10.9-kbp plasmid that encodes the 28 synthetic machinery of the bacteriocin Lcn972. In this work, the transcriptomes of 29 exponentially growing L. lactis with and without pBL1 were compared. A discrete 30 response was observed with a total of ten genes showing significantly changed 31 expression. Up-regulation of the lactococcal oligopeptide uptake system (opp) was 32 observed, likely linked to a higher nitrogen demand required for Lcn972 biosynthesis. 33 Strikingly, celB coding for the membrane porter IIC of the cellobiose-PTS and the 34 upstream gene llmg0186 were down-regulated. Growth profiles for L. lactis strains 35 MG1363, MG1363/pBL1 and MG1363ΔcelB grown in CDM-cellobiose confirmed 36 slower growth of pBL1 and ΔcelB while no differences were scored on glucose. The 37 presence of pBL1 shifted the fermentation products towards a mixed acid profile and 38 promoted substantial changes in intracellular pool sizes for glycolytic intermediates in 39 cellobiose-growing cells as determined by HPLC and NMR. Overall, these data support 40 the genetic evidence of a constriction in cellobiose uptake. Notably, several cell wall 41 precursors accumulated, while other UDP-activated sugars pools were lower, which 42 could reflect rerouting of precursors towards the production of structural or storage 43 polysaccharides. Moreover, slow cellobiose-growing cells and those lacking celB were 44 more tolerant to Lcn972 than cellobiose adapted cells. Thus, down-regulation of celB 45 could help to build-up a response against the antimicrobial activity of Lcn972 46 enhancing self-immunity of the producer cells. 47 48 49
DEVELOPMENT OF A BROADBAND HORIZONTALLY POLARIZED OMNIDIRECTIONAL PLANAR ANTENNA AND ITS ARRAY FOR BASE STATIONS

A novel broadband horizontally polarized (HP) omnidi- rectional planar antenna is developed for mobile communications. The proposed antenna consists of four printed arc dipoles that form a cir- cular loop for HP omnidirectional radiation. A broadband feeding net- work which includes four broadband baluns and an impedance match- ing circuit is designed to excite the four arc dipoles. An eight-element linear antenna array is developed for 2G/3G base stations. A broad- band power divider is used to feed the antenna array. Experimental results show that the HP omnidirectional antenna element has a band- width of 31% (1.66{2.27GHz) while its array has a bandwidth of 34% (1.67{2.35GHz) and an omnidirectional antenna gain of » 8dBi. Both of the antenna element and its array have good omnidirectivity over the 10-dB return loss bandwidth. Simulated and measured results for the antenna element and its array are presented.