Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Accurate FMM-CG-FFT algorithm for efficient analysis of large-scale periodic structures with finite sizes

In this paper, a new fast and accurate algorithm is specially designed to solve the scattering and radiation problem of large-scale periodic structures with finite sizes, in which the unit cell has an arbitrary shape. The new method which is referred as FMM-CG-FFT employs the priority of both the fast multiple method (FMM) and the conjugate-gradient fast Fourier transform (CG-FFT). Numerical results prove the efficiency and accuracy of the new algorithm.
Monolithically Integrated High-Extinction-Ratio MZM With a Segmented Driver in Photonic BiCMOS

In this letter, a dual-drive Si depletion-type Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) monolithically integrated with a segmented driver using 0.25-μm SiGe:C photonic bipolar complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology is demonstrated. The phase shifter on each MZM arm has a total length of 6.048 mm and is divided into 16 sections, driven by the driver segments. Extinction ratio (ER) higher than 11 dB is shown at 28 and 32 Gb/s at ON-OFF keying with a differential input voltage swing of 800 mVpp (3.5 Vpp on the phase shifters). The power consumption equals to 64 pJ/b at 28 Gb/s. This is one of the highest ER values shown by a monolithically integrated Si MZM at this data rate.
The Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Academic Engagement in Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Purpose: To determine whether participation in aerobic exercise before classroom activities improves academic engagement and reduces stereotypic behaviors in young children with autism spectrum disorder. Methods: This study employed a within-subjects crossover design, using a treatment condition (aerobic exercise) and a control condition, across 4 classrooms. The treatment condition included 15 minutes of running/jogging followed by a classroom task. The control condition included a classroom task not preceded by exercise. The number of stereotypic behaviors, percentage of on-task behavior, and correct/incorrect responses were measured. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare differences between conditions. Results: Statistically significant improvements were found in correct responding following exercise (P < .05). No significant differences were found for on-task behavior or stereotypic behaviors. Conclusions: Consistent with findings in older children, these results indicate that aerobic exercise prior to classroom activities may improve academic responding in young children with autism spectrum disorder.
Estimating the Positions and Postures of Non-Rigid Objects Lacking Sufficient Features based on the Stick and Ellipse Model

We propose a method for tracking non-rigid objects, using an object model generated automatically from a set of sample images. Our model consists of multiple sticks and ellipses which represent the skeleton and the areas of an object, respectively. Because appearance features have to be extracted, previous methods cannot estimate the whole area and posture for 2-D image of a non-rigid object lacking sufficient characteristic features (e.g., texture patterns, shape and so on) to be detected easily. With the proposed model, on the other hand, our method can work well because (1) each component of the model can fit each rigid part of a non-rigid object and (2) the reliability of each component is evaluated. To confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method, we conducted several experiments with goldfish. The tracking system automatically generated a model of the goldfish, and could then track goldfish even when they were partially occluded.
Simulated presence therapy, attachment and separation amongst people with dementia

This article examines the impact of Simulated Presence Therapy (SPT) on the behaviour of six people with moderate or severe levels of dementia. Twenty-one sessions involving both SPT and a control condition (usual care) were carried out. SPT interventions were associated with lowered levels of both distressed behaviour and efforts to return home.
Model for the regulation of Arabidopsis thaliana leaf margin development

Biological shapes are often produced by the iterative generation of repeated units. The mechanistic basis of such iteration is an area of intense investigation. Leaf development in the model plant Arabidopsis is one such example where the repeated generation of leaf margin protrusions, termed serrations, is a key feature of final shape. However, the regulatory logic underlying this process is unclear. Here, we use a combination of developmental genetics and computational modeling to show that serration development is the morphological read-out of a spatially distributed regulatory mechanism, which creates interspersed activity peaks of the growth-promoting hormone auxin and the CUP-SHAPED COTYLEDON2 (CUC2) transcription factor. This mechanism operates at the growing leaf margin via a regulatory module consisting of two feedback loops working in concert. The first loop relates the transport of auxin to its own distribution, via polar membrane localization of the PINFORMED1 (PIN1) efflux transporter. This loop captures the potential of auxin to generate self-organizing patterns in diverse developmental contexts. In the second loop, CUC2 promotes the generation of PIN1-dependent auxin activity maxima while auxin represses CUC2 expression. This CUC2-dependent loop regulates activity of the conserved auxin efflux module in leaf margins to generate stable serration patterns. Conceptualizing leaf margin development via this mechanism also helps to explain how other developmental regulators influence leaf shape.
Assessment of Sensorimotor Abilities of Severely Retarded Children and Adolescents

Sensorimotor cognition has been used successfully as a general framework for describing performance of severely retarded children. Only limited information is available, however, concerning specific patterns of acquisition across different domains of sensorimotor functioning. The current study is an investigation of the order of acquisition of domains by severely retarded children and adolescents. Results indicated that Performance in the object permanence domain always equaled or exceeded means-ends, which in turn always equaled or exceeded gestural imitation, which equaled or exceeded causality for 23 of 25 subjects. Congruence between domains (the degree to which performance was similar) ranged from 28% to 100%. Those domains that include a high percentage of social items were performed less well than those domains containing few social items. Differences between nonretarded infants and retarded infants and adolescents are reviewed.
Compulsory ‘foreign language activities’ in Japanese primary schools

From 2011, the new curriculum for introducing English to Japanese primary schools will be fully implemented in the form of ‘foreign language activities’. This innovation forms part of the government's plan to cultivate ‘Japanese with English abilities’, a development based on the awareness, particularly in the business sector, that equipping Japanese citizens with English skills is imperative if Japan is to remain competitive in the international market. Although Teaching English as a Foreign Language has been a key element of Japan's internationalisation and one of the most hotly debated educational issues in Japan since the 1980s, the new curriculum is not a straightforward matter of early education in foreign language acquisition. Using critical discourse analysis as a methodological tool, this study analyses language policy documents, including the Course of Study for primary schools and junior high schools, to argue that it is rather an elaborate scheme to foster a particular attitude towards communication with foreigners by emphasising the differences between foreign languages and cultures and Japanese language and culture in the name of international understanding.
Providing multimodal context-sensitive services to mobile users

In this paper, we describe a framework designed to provide multimodal context-sensitive services to mobile users. This work is part of the CHAT project, which aims at developing a general-purpose infrastructure for multimodal situation- adaptive user assistance. We specifically describe two conceptual corner stones of the project: a) a multimodal interaction framework targeted at providing service access through different modalities for different real-world situations and for improving interaction with mobile devices in general, b) an "egocentric interaction" model for framing interaction with objects in the vicinity of a mobile user, including also other real-world and/or computational entities than the mobile device itself, ranging from computationally "stupid" everyday objects to more advanced interactive devices such as desktop PCs. The final section of the paper is devoted to open issues in the design of the CHAT infrastructure related to the topic of user assistance in intelligent environments.
Signalling networks associated with urokinase‐type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its inhibitor PAI‐1 in breast cancer tissues: new insights from protein microarray analysis

The urokinase‐type plasminogen activator (uPA) and the main uPA inhibitor PAI‐1 play important roles in cell migration and invasion in both physiological and pathological contexts. Both factors are clinically applicable predictive markers in node‐negative breast cancer patients that are used to stratify patients for adjuvant chemotherapy. In addition to their classical functions in plasmin regulation, both factors are key components in cancer‐related cell signalling. Such signalling cascades are well described in cell culture systems, but a better understanding of uPA‐ and PAI‐1‐associated signalling networks in clinical tissues is needed. We examined the expression of uPA, PAI‐1, and 21 signalling molecules in 201 primary breast cancer tissues using protein microarrays. Expression of uPA was significantly correlated with the expression of ERK and Stat3, while expression of PAI‐1 was correlated with the uPA receptor and Akt activation, presumably via integrin and HER‐receptor signalling. Analysis of uPA expression did not reveal any significant correlation with staging, grading or age of the patients. The PAI‐1 expression was correlated with nodal stage. Network monitoring for uPA and PAI‐1 in breast cancer reveals interactions with main signalling cascades and extends the findings from cell culture experiments. Our results reveal possible mechanisms underlying cancer development. Copyright © 2010 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pursuing Social Justice or Social Cohesion?: Coercion in Street Homelessness Policies in England

This article contends that the New Labour government's current policies on street homelessness in England prioritise ‘social cohesion’ over ‘social justice’ objectives. While the government has implemented substantial improvements in services for street homeless people in recent years, and has achieved a significant reduction in the numbers sleeping rough, a strong ‘social control’ emphasis has now emerged in this policy agenda, as those remaining on the streets are increasingly viewed as an ‘anti-social behaviour’ problem. The article argues that coercive or forceful measures aimed at street homeless people cannot be justified from a social justice perspective, unless it can be demonstrated that they have a positive impact on the welfare of this marginalised group. The evidence presently available, although not definitive, indicates that such measures are more likely to undermine than promote the well-being of street homeless people.
Theoretical Modeling and Simulation of Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) for Clock Data Recovery (CDR)

Modern communication and computer systems require rapid (Gbps), efficient and large bandwidth data transfers. Agressive scaling of digital integrated systems allow buses and communication controller circuits to be integrated with the microprocessor on the same chip. The Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) protocol handles all communcation between the central processing unit (CPU) and hardware devices. PCIe buses require efficient clock data recovery circuits (CDR) to recover clock signals embedded in data during transmission. This paper describes the theoretical modeling and simulation of a phase-locked loop (PLL) used in a CDR circuit. A simple PLL architecture for a 5 GHz CDR circuit is proposed and elaborated in this work. Simulations were carried out using a Hardware Description Language, Verilog-AMS. The effect of jitter on the proposed design is also simulated and evaluated in this work. It was found that the proposed design is robust against both input and VCO jitter. ABSTRAK: Sistem komunikasi dan komputer moden memerlukan pemindahan data yang cekap (Gbps), dan bandwidth yang besar. Pengecilan agresif menggunakan teknik sistem digital bersepadu membenarkan bas dan litar pengawal komunikasi disatukan dengan mikroprocessor dalam cip yang sama. Protokol persisian komponen sambung tara ekspres (PCIe) mengendalikan semua komunikasi antara unit pemprosesan pusat (CPU) dan peranti perkakasan. Bas PCIe memerlukan litar jam pemulihan data (CDR) yang cekap untuk mendapatkan kembali isyarat jam yang tertanam dalam data semasa transmisi. Karya ini menerangkan teori pemodelan dan simulasi gelung fasa terkunci (PLL) untuk CDR. Rekabentuk 5 GHz PLL yang mudah telah dicadangkan dalm kertas kerja ini. Simulasi telah dijalankan menggunakan perisian verilog-AMS. Simulasi mengunnakan kesan ketar dalam reka bentuk yang dicadangkan telah dinilai. Reka bentuk yang dicadangkan terbukti teguh mengatasi ganguan ketar di input dan VCO. KEY WORDS : phase-locked loop (PLL); jitter; phase detector; low-pass filter; voltage-controlled oscillator
Arguing Challenges to Validity in Field Research

Despite increasing popularity of the case study in government-commissioned policy research and evaluation, doubts about the validity of field research methods remain widespread in the academic literature. The new scientific realism challenges research based on conceptions of prediction and control and supports the development of explanatory approaches. In this article, a rationale for the central importance of field methods in education and social research is offered, a conception of threats to validity as rebuttals in a socially transacted argument about the plausibility of a knowledge claim is developed, and seven groups of threats to the validity of explanatory inferences are suggested
Acute phencyclidine neurotoxicity in rat forebrain: induction of haem oxygenase‐1 and attenuation by the antioxidant dimethylthiourea

Phencyclidine and other N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor antagonists are toxic to pyramidal neurons in the posterior cingulate/retrosplenial cortex of rat brain. Previous studies have shown induction of heat shock protein 70 in affected neurons. In this study, expression of haem oxygenase‐1, a heat shock protein induced by oxidative stress, was examined in rat forebrain after administration of a single intraperitoneal dose of phencyclidine (50 mg/kg). Northern and Western blot analyses of brain tissue extracts from phencyclidine‐treated rats revealed a marked induction of haem oxygenase‐1 mRNA and protein, respectively. Immunohistochemistry studies revealed that phencyclidine increased haem oxygenase‐1 immunoreactivity primarily in posterior cingulate/retrosplenial, piriform and entorhinal cortices, striatum and hippocampus. Haem oxygenase‐1 protein was induced in non‐neuronal cells, mainly astrocytes. Some microglia expressing haem oxygenase‐1 protein were also found in the posterior cingulate/retrosplenial cortex. Haem oxygenase‐1 immunoreactive astrocytes and microglia were present in close proximity to the heat shock protein 70‐positive neurons in the posterior cingulate/retrosplenial cortex following phencyclidine. Pretreatment of rats with 1,3‐dimethylthiourea, an antioxidant, significantly reduced haem oxygenase‐1 protein induction by phencyclidine. Thus, induction of haem oxygenase‐1 in glia by phencyclidine appears to be mediated mostly by oxidative stress. Experiments with the amino cupric silver stain for neuronal degeneration revealed phencyclidine‐induced neurotoxicity in the posterior cingulate/retrosplenial cortex. The number of affected neurons was significantly reduced after 1,3‐dimethylthiourea pretreatment. This suggests that the neurotoxicity of N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate antagonists is due in part to the oxidative stress and may be amenable to therapeutic interventions.
On event-based PI control of first-order processes

In this paper the design of an event-based proportional-integral (PI) control scheme for stable first-order processes is considered. A novel triggering mechanism which decides the transmission instants based on an estimate of the PI control signal is proposed. This mechanism addresses some side-effects that have been discovered in previous event-triggered PI proposals, which trigger on the process output. In the proposed scheme, the classic PI controller is further replaced with PIDPLUS, a promising version of PI controller for networked control systems. Although PIDPLUS has been introduced to deal with packet losses and time delays, and, to the best of our knowledge, a stability analysis of the closed-loop system where such a controller is used has never been performed, here the performance of such a controller in an event-based fashion are analyzed, and a stability analysis is further provided. The proposed event-based scheme ensures set-point tracking and disturbance rejection as in classic time-periodic implementations of PI controller, while greatly reducing the number of sensor transmissions. The theoretical results are validated by simulations, where the benefits in using PIDPLUS in combination with the proposed PI event-based triggering rule are shown.
Processamento temporal, localização e fechamento auditivo em portadores de perda auditiva unilateral

PURPOSE: To assess the behaviors of temporal resolution and temporal ordering, sound localization, and auditory closure, and to investigate possible associations with complaints of learning, communication and language difficulties in individuals with unilateral hearing loss. METHODS: Participants were 26 individuals with ages between 8 and 15 years, divided into two groups: Unilateral hearing loss group; and Normal hearing group. Each group was composed of 13 individuals, matched by gender, age and educational level. All subjects were submitted to anamnesis, peripheral hearing evaluation, and auditory processing evaluation through behavioral tests of sound localization, sequential memory, Random Detection Gap test, and speech-in-noise test. Nonparametric statistical tests were used to compare the groups, considering the presence or absence of hearing loss and the ear with hearing loss. RESULTS: Unilateral hearing loss started during preschool, and had unknown or identified etiologies, such as meningitis, traumas or mumps. Most individuals reported delays in speech, language and learning developments, especially those with hearing loss in the right ear. The group with hearing loss had worse responses in the abilities of temporal ordering and resolution, sound localization and auditory closure. Individuals with hearing loss in the left ear showed worse results than those with hearing loss in the right ear in all abilities, except in sound localization. CONCLUSION: The presence of unilateral hearing loss causes sound localization, auditory closure, temporal ordering and temporal resolution difficulties. Individuals with unilateral hearing loss in the right ear have more complaints than those with unilateral hearing loss in the left ear. Individuals with hearing loss in the left ear have more difficulties in auditory closure, temporal resolution, and temporal ordering.
Exercise reverses metabolic syndrome in high-fat diet-induced obese rats.

PURPOSE Chronic consumption of a high-fat diet induces obesity. We investigated whether exercise would reverse the cardiometabolic disorders associated with obesity without it being necessary to change from a high- to normal-fat diet. METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats were placed on a high-fat (HFD) or control diet (CD) for 12 wk. HFD rats were then divided into four groups: sedentary HFD (HFD-S), exercise trained (motor treadmill for 12 wk) HFD (HFD-Ex), modified diet (HFD to CD; HF/CD-S), and exercise trained with modified diet (HF/CD-Ex). Cardiovascular risk parameters associated with metabolic syndrome were measured, and contents of aortic Akt, phospho-Akt at Ser (473), total endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and phospho-eNOS at Ser (1177) were determined by Western blotting. RESULTS Chronic consumption of HFD induced a metabolic syndrome. Exercise and dietary modifications reduced adiposity, improved glucose and insulin levels and plasma lipid profile, and exerted an antihypertensive effect. Exercise was more effective than dietary modification in improving plasma levels of thiobarbituric acid-reacting substance and in correcting the endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine and insulin. Furthermore, independent of the diet used, exercise increased Akt and eNOS phosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS Metabolic syndrome induced by HFD is reversed by exercise and diet modification. It is demonstrated that exercise training induces these beneficial effects without the requirement for dietary modification, and these beneficial effects may be mediated by shear stress-induced Akt/eNOS pathway activation. Thus, exercise may be an effective strategy to reverse almost all the atherosclerotic risk factors linked to obesity, particularly in the vasculature.
Nonlinear least squares optimisation of unit quaternion functions for pose estimation from corresponding features

Pose estimation from an arbitrary number of 2D to 3D feature correspondences is often done by minimising a nonlinear criterion function using one of the minimal representations for the orientation. However, there are many advantages in using unit quaternions to represent the orientation. However, a straight forward formulation of the pose estimation problem based on quaternions results in a constrained optimisation problem. In this paper we propose a new method for solving general nonlinear least squares optimisation problems involving unit quaternion functions based on unconstrained optimisation techniques. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach for pose estimation from 2D to 3D line segment correspondences.
What is the object of design?

In this paper we reflect upon design at a conceptual level, discussing how creativity can be coupled with participation and experience, dialoguing with philosophers and social theorists, and looking for the experiential grounds of our understanding of the very nature of design. Three words: 'drawing', 'thing' and 'together', are at the center of our discourse. We propose a view of design as accessing, aligning, and navigating among the 'constituents' of the object of design. People interact with the object of design through its constituents. The object of design is to draw things together.