Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of Cognitive Competence Among Students with Cognitive Disability Through Multimedia Agent

Students with Cognitive Disability remain unreached in terms of web accessibility with respect to elearning tools. Usage of technology is limited while making them to adapt to standardized education. A person with Cognitive Disability has greater difficulty to learn with peer group than the “average” person and needs special education where individual attention proves significant. With the invent of many e-learning tools around, now there is an opportunity for such underserved category of people to enhance their cognitive competence. This paper presents a multimedia agent which can be used for developing e-learning tool. The paper also discusses the need for such tools to assist learning among student with Cognitive Disability. Various web technologies which can be used for content development are also discussed. The system relies on animated audio-visual material for imparting education to such students. Keywords—Cognitive Disability, Multimedia Agent, Profile Manager, Profile Evaluator, Audio-visual e-learning material, External Web services. Asha V Department of MCA New Horizon College of Engineering Bangalore, India The Multimedia Agent proposed here is specially designed keeping the needs of students with Cognitive Disability and overcomes the lack of such design in the architecture proposed by Silvia Mirri, Daniele Pantieri, Marco Roccetti and Paola Salomoni for students with general disability [2]. The following some points are what this paper intends to address: • To design a learning tool for cognitively disabled students that helps them to grasp the contents easily. • To set up a flexible learning framework. • To allow student to actively participate in the learning process. • To provide an agent to the student in order to motivate his/her learning ability.
Replacement of the Human Topoisomerase Linker Domain with the Plasmodial Counterpart Renders the Enzyme Camptothecin Resistant

A human/plasmodial hybrid enzyme, generated by swapping the human topoisomerase IB linker domain with the corresponding domain of the Plasmodium falciparum enzyme, has been produced and characterized. The hybrid enzyme displays a relaxation activity comparable to the human enzyme, but it is characterized by a much faster religation rate. The hybrid enzyme is also camptothecin resistant. A 3D structure of the hybrid enzyme has been built and its structural-dynamical properties have been analyzed by molecular dynamics simulation. The analysis indicates that the swapped plasmodial linker samples a conformational space much larger than the corresponding domain in the human enzyme. The large linker conformational variability is then linked to important functional properties such as an increased religation rate and a low drug reactivity, demonstrating that the linker domain has a crucial role in the modulation of the topoisomerase IB activity.
3D Human Sensing

The development of 3D video in recent years realizes 3D surface capturing of human in motion as is. In this paper, we introduce 3D human sensing algorithms based on 3D video. Since 3D video capturing does not require the object to attach special markers, we can capture the original information such as body motion or viewing directions without any disturbance caused by the sensing system itself.
Enhancement of radioresponse of a mouse mammary carcinoma to combined treatments with hyperthermia and radiosensitizer misonidazole.

The regrowth delay of a transplanted syngeneic mouse mammary carcinoma designated MT2 was used to estimate the effects of three-fold combination treatments: X-irradiation; hyperthermia and radiosensitizer; and misonidazole (Ro-07-0582). The experiment entailed five groups of experimental mice: untreated control; X-rays alone; X-rays plus hyperthermia (42--43 degrees); X-rays plus misonidazole; and X-rays plus hyperthermia plus misonidazole. X-Ray treatments consisted of 4000 rads administered locally to the tumors in two equal fractions at a 48-hr interval. Misonidazole (0.67 mg per g body weight) was injected i.p. 30 min before exposure to X-irradiation. Hyperthermia was administered 10 min prior to and for 17 min during irradiation. The regrowth delay factor of 3.9 was obtained by administering combined treatments of the three agents (X-rays plus hyperthermia plus misonidazole). The enhancing effect on a syngeneic mouse mammary adenocarcinoma by the modality of treatment herein described lends support to the usefulness of combining X-rays with other agents in the treatment of neoplasms.
Matrix-MCE based fuzzy neural network for speech recognition

Matrix-MCE (MMCE) based fuzzy neural network (FNN) for speech recognition is proposed in this paper. The environment noises usually degrade the performance of speech recognition. To reduce the effect of noises, MMCE is applied to minimize the classification error of two-dimension-cepstrum (TDC). Then the template matching employs FNN. To evaluate the performance, the speech data used for our experiments are a set of isolated Mandarin digits. Experimental results indicate that MMCE-based FNN works better than the other methods.
Motion by anisotropic mean curvature as sharp interface limit of an inhomogeneous and anisotropic Allen–Cahn equation

We consider the spatially inhomogeneous and anisotropic reaction–diffusion equation ut = m(x)−1 div[m(x)ap(x,∇u)] + ε−2f(u), involving a small parameter ε > 0 and a bistable nonlinear term whose stable equilibria are 0 and 1. We use a Finsler metric related to the anisotropic diffusion term and work in relative geometry. We prove a weak comparison principle and perform an analysis of both the generation and the motion of interfaces. More precisely, we show that, within the time-scale of order ε2|ln ε|, the unique weak solution uε develops a steep transition layer that separates the regions {uε ≈ 0} and {uε | 1}. Then, on a much slower time-scale, the layer starts to propagate. Consequently, as ε → 0, the solution uε converges almost everywhere (a.e.) to 0 in Ω−t and 1 in Ω+t , where Ω−t and Ω+t are sub-domains of Ω separated by an interface Гt, whose motion is driven by its anisotropic mean curvature. We also prove that the thickness of the transition layer is of order ε.
Democracy and Income Inequality: An Empirical Analysis

While standard political economy theories suggest a moderating effect of democratization on income inequality, empirical literature has failed to uncover any such robust relationship. Here we take yet another look at this issue arguing first, that prevailing ideology may be an important determinant of inequality and, second, that the democratization effect “works through” ideology. In societies where equality is highly valued there is less of a distributional conflict across income groups, hence democratization may have only a negligible effect on inequality. On the other hand, in societies where equality is not valued as much, democratization reduces inequality through redistribution as the poor outvote the rich. Our cross-country empirical analysis, covering the period 1960-98 and 126 countries, confirms the hypothesis: ideology – as proxied by a country’s dominant religion – seems to be related to inequality. But in addition, in Judeo-Christian societies increased democratization appears to lead to lower inequality, while in Muslim and Confucian societies democratization has only an insignificant effect on inequality. We hypothesize that in the latter group of countries, desired level of inequality is reached through informal transfers, while in Judeo-Christian societies where family ties are weaker, desired outcome is achieved by political action.
A 2.4 Vpp, 60-Gb/s, mm-Wave DAC-Based CMOS Driver with Adjustable Amplitude and Peaking Frequency

A 60-Gb/s CMOS driver employing mm-wave DACs to achieve broadband waveshape control and pre-emphasis at different peaking frequencies is presented. It features a modified distributed amplifier (DA) architecture that achieves low-voltage and high- speed summation of both low-pass and reactively- coupled bandpass signal paths along an output transmission line. Using binary-weighted MOSFET gate fingers in Gilbert-cell based DACs, the circuit can supply variable output swing up to 1.2V peak-to-peak per side in a 50Ω load and independent digital pre- emphasis control at 25 GHz, 35 GHz and 45 GHz, respectively. S-parameter measurements of the entire retimed transmitter show 60dB of differential gain, while the standalone DA exhibits approximately 10 dB of peaking control in each of the three frequency bands. Input and output return loss is better than - 10 dB up to 60 GHz. The entire circuit, including the transimpedance-limiting-amplifier-retimer, operates from 1.2V and 2V supplies and achieves a throughput efficiency of 12.2 mW/Gb/s.
The valuation of American options with the method of lines

The valuation of American Options can often be reduced to the study of a free boundary value problem for a partial differential equation. This paper will discuss how the Method of Lines (MOL) can be used to study the numerical valuation of American Options and to determine the early exercise frontier. This method is flexible, accurate and computationally fast.
Avoidant personality disorder and social phobia: distinct enough to be separate disorders?

Objective: Existing evidence from anxiety disorder research indicates that social phobics (SP) with avoidant personality disorder (AVPD) experience more anxiety and show more impairment than patients with SP alone. The purpose of this study was to examine whether in patients diagnosed with AVPD, the co‐occurrence of SP adds to its severity. We hypothesized that the addition of SP will not add to the severity of AVPD alone.
On dually flat $(\alpha,\beta)$-metrics

In this paper, I will show how to use $\beta$-deformations to deal with dual flatness of $(\alpha,\beta)$-metrics. It is a natural continuation of the research on dually flat Randers metrics(see arxiv:1209.1150). $\beta$-deformations is a new method in Riemann-Finsler geometry, it is introduced by the author(see arxiv:1209.0845).
Networks of the Pooling Type and Optimal Quantization

We study the link between networks of the pooling type and the problem of quantification. Pooling networks consist in parallel processors that are summed after having processed the same information. If the processors are simple threshold model of noisy neurons, the behavior of the network has the behavior of a quantizer. Using the compander approach to quantizers as well as the notion of density of levels, we study these networks and show that they are asymptotically equivalent to quantizers. Furthermore, we show how these devices can be infomax processors
Evidence for a temperature acclimation mechanism in bacteria: an empirical test of a membrane‐mediated trade‐off

Summary 1. Shifts in bacterial community composition along temporal and spatial temperature gradients occur in a wide range of habitats and have potentially important implications for ecosystem functioning. However, it is often challenging to empirically link an adaptation or acclimation that defines environmental niche or biogeography with a quantifiable phenotype, especially in micro-organisms. 2. Here we evaluate a possible mechanistic explanation for shifts in bacterioplankton community composition in response to temperature by testing a previously hypothesized membrane mediated trade-off between resource acquisition and respiratory costs. 3. We isolated two strains of Flavobacterium sp. at two temperatures (cold isolate and warm isolate) from the epilimnion of a small temperate lake in North Central Minnesota. 4. Compared with the cold isolate the warm isolate had higher growth rate, higher carrying capacity, lower lag time and lower respiration at the high temperature and lower phosphorus uptake at the low temperature. We also observed significant differences in membrane lipid composition between isolates and between environments that were consistent with adjustments necessary to maintain membrane fluidity at different temperatures. 5. Our results suggest that temperature acclimation in planktonic bacteria is, in part, a resource-dependent membrane-facilitated phenomenon. This study provides an explicit example of how a quantifiable phenotype can be linked through physiology to competitive ability and environmental niche.
Faint U-Band Dropouts in the WFPC2 Parallels of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field

We combine data from the extremely deep Hubble Space Telescope U (F300W) image, obtained using WFPC2 as part of the parallel observations of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field campaign, with BVi images from the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey to identify a sample of Lyman break galaxies in the redshift range 2.0 ≲ z ≲ 3.5. We use recent stellar population synthesis models with a wide variety of ages, metallicities, redshifts, and dust content, and a detailed representation of the H I cosmic opacity as a function of redshift to model the colors of galaxies in our combination of WFPC2 and ACS filters. Using these models, we derive improved color selection criteria that provide a clean selection of relatively unobscured star-forming galaxies in this redshift range. Our WFPC2 F300W image is the deepest image ever obtained at that wavelength. The 10 σ limiting magnitude measured over 0.2 arcsec2 is 27.5 mag in the WFPC2 F300W image, about 0.5 mag deeper than the F300W image in the Hubble Deep Field (HDF)-North. This extra depth relative to the HDFs allows us to directly probe the luminosity function about 0.5 mag deeper than the depth accessible with the HDF data along an independent line of sight. Our sample of star-forming galaxies with 2.0 ≲ z ≲ 3.5 includes 125 objects, the majority of which show clumpy morphologies. We measure a star formation rate density of 0.18 M⊙ yr-1 Mpc-3, marginally higher than the value measured for the HDFs.
Der Body Image Disturbance Questionnaire

Zusammenfassung. Eine Körperbildstörung ist ein Symptom unterschiedlicher psychischer Störungen. Im deutschen Sprachraum fehlt ein Instrument, das die Körperbildstörung transdiagnostisch, global und unter Einbezug des Ausmaßes des Leidens und der Beeinträchtigung erfasst. Der aus dem Englischen übersetzte Body Image Disturbance Questionnaire (BIDQ) wurde in mehreren Teilstudien zusammen mit inhaltlich verwandten Instrumenten bei erwachsenen Männern und Frauen eingesetzt ( N = 997). In einer Studie wurde der BIDQ erneut nach 4 Wochen von einem Anteil der Teilnehmenden ( n = 68) ausgefüllt. Die bestätigte einfaktorielle Struktur des BIDQ zeigte eine exzellente interne Konsistenz (α = .92) und kurzfristige Stabilität ( r = .89, p < .001). Er korrelierte signifikant mit spezifischen Körperbildkomponenten, körperbildassoziierter Psychopathologie und psychosozialem Wohlbefinden (BMI: .16 ≤ r ≤ .70; Essstörungspsychopathologie: alle p < .001). Der deutsche BIDQ erfasst erfolgreich transdiagnostisch die Schwere einer Körperbildstörung. Nach erwiesener Veränderungssensitivität kann er auch im Rahmen der Verlaufsdiagnostik bei der Behandlung unterschiedlicher psychischer Störungen eingesetzt werden.
Internal multiple suppression by adaptive Marchenko redatuming

Recently, a novel iterative scheme was proposed to retrieve Green's functions in an unknown medium from its single-sided reflection response and an estimate of the propagation velocity. In Marchenko imaging, these Green's functions are used for seismic imaging with complete wavefields, including internal multiple reflections. In this way, common artifacts from these internal reflections are avoided and illumination of the subsurface can potentially be improved. However, Marchenko imaging requires accurate input data, with correct amplitudes, a deconvolved source signature, without free-surface multiples and source / receiver ghosts. Hence, a significant amount of preprocessing is required, which should be done accurately. To relax these requirements, we propose a scheme to remove artifacts due to internal multiples from inverse-extrapolated wavefields, by adaptively subtracting an estimate of these artifacts that is constructed with the Marchenko equation.
The impact of HIV exposure and maternal Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection on infant immune responses to bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination

Objective:The objective of this study is to assess the effect of maternal HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection on cellular responses to bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunization. Design:A mother–infant cohort study. Methods:Samples were collected from mother–infant pairs at delivery. Infants were BCG-vaccinated at 6 weeks of age and a repeat blood sample was collected from infants at 16 weeks of age. BCG-specific T-cell proliferation and intracellular cytokine expression were measured by flow cytometry. Secreted cytokines and chemokines in cell culture supernatants were analysed using a Multiplex assay. Results:One hundred and nine (47 HIV-exposed and 62 HIV-unexposed) mother–infants pairs were recruited after delivery and followed longitudinally. At birth, proportions of mycobacteria-specific proliferating T cells were not associated with either in-utero HIV exposure or maternal Mtb sensitization. However, in-utero HIV exposure affected infant-specific T-cell subsets [tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-&agr;) single positive proliferating CD4+ T cells and interferon-gamma (IFN-&ggr;), TNF-&agr; dual-positive CD4+ T cells]. Levels of TNF-&agr; protein in cell culture supernatants were also significantly higher in HIV-exposed infants born to Mtb-sensitized mothers. In the presence of maternal Mtb sensitization, frequencies of maternal and newborn BCG-specific proliferating CD4+ T cells were positively correlated. Following BCG vaccination, there was no demonstrable effect of HIV exposure or maternal Mtb infection on infant BCG-specific T-cell proliferative responses or concentrations of secreted cytokines and chemokines. Conclusion:Effects of maternal HIV and Mtb infection on infant immune profiles at birth are transient only, and HIV-exposed, noninfected infants have the same potential to respond to and be protected by BCG vaccination as HIV-unexposed infants.
Cooperative Solving of a Children ’ s Jigsaw Puzzle between Human and Robot : First Results

Intelligent human robot cooperation still is a challenging field of research. At the Institute of Process Control and Robotics at the University of Karlsruhe we intend to use an anthropomorphic robot to learn how to solve a children’s jigsaw puzzle together with a human tutor. Instead of choosing a straight forward engineer’s approach, we have decided to combine a psychologist’s and a computer scientist’s views; the first results are presented in this paper.
Sorafenib in metastatic MTC – a case report and minireview of the literature

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a rare and only surgically treatable disease with early development of metastases and bad prognosis. Due to the lack of efficient systemic treatment, new strategies and approaches are needed to better the patients’ outcome. One of the most promising treatment options is the use of tyrosine multikinase inhibitors, which appear to have some effect on the disease progression with tolerable toxicity. Most of them affect many key pathways in the cancer genesis and have proven their effect in different malignancies. We report a case of a young patient with metastatic MTC treated successfully for two months with sorafenib.
EFFECT OF TRANSIENT EVENT FREQUENCY CONTENT AND SCALE ON THE HUMAN DETECTION OF ROAD SURFACE TYPE

This paper describes two laboratory-based experiments which evaluate the effect of transient event frequency content and scale on the human detection of road surface type by means of steering wheel vibration. This study used steering wheel tangential direction acceleration time histories which had been measured in a mid-sized European automobile that was driven over two different types of road surface. The steering acceleration stimuli were manipulated by means of the mildly non-stationary mission synthesis (MNMS) algorithm in order to produce test stimuli which were selectively modified in terms of the number, and size, of transient vibration events they contained. Fifteen test participants were exposed to both unmanipulated and manipulated steering wheel rotational stimuli by means of a steering wheel vibration simulator. For each road surface type a total of 45 vibration test stimuli were presented to each participant. Each participant was asked to state, by means of a simple "yes" or "no" answer, whether each individual stimuli was from a road surface which was being presented in front of the simulator as a picture on a large board. Using Signal Detection Theory as the analytical framework the results were summarized by means of the detectability index d' and by means of receiver operating curve (ROC) points. Improvements of up to 20 percentage points in the rate of correct detection were achieved by means of selective manipulation of the steering vibration stimuli. The results suggested that no single setting of the MNMS algorithm proved optimal for both two road surface types that were investigated.
Communicating about overdiagnosis: Learning from community focus groups on osteoporosis

Background Overdiagnosis is considered a risk associated with the diagnosis of osteoporosis–as many people diagnosed won’t experience harm from the condition. As yet there’s little evidence on community understanding of overdiagnosis outside cancer- where it is an established risk of some screening programs–or effective ways to communicate about it. We examined community understanding around overdiagnosis of osteoporosis, to optimise communication strategies about this problem. Methods and findings Using a qualitative design we recruited a community sample of women, 50–80 years, from the Gold Coast community around Bond University, Australia, using random digit dialing, and conducted 5 focus groups with 41 women. A discussion guide and 4-part presentation were developed and piloted, with independent review from a consumer and clinical experts. Initial discussion had 4 segments: osteoporosis; bone density vs. other risk factors; medication; and overdiagnosis. The second half included the 4 short presentations and discussions on each. Analysis used Framework Analysis method. Initially participants described osteoporosis as bone degeneration causing some fear, demonstrated imprecise understanding of overdiagnosis, had a view osteoporosis couldn’t be overdiagnosed as bone scans provided “clear cut” results, expressed belief in early diagnosis, and interest in prevention strategies enabling control. Following presentations, participants expressed some understanding of overdiagnosis, preference for describing osteoporosis as a “risk factor” not “disease”, concern about a poor risk-benefit ratio for medications, and surprise and unease the definition of osteoporosis decided bone density of young women was “normal”, without age adjustment. Limitations include English-speaking backgrounds of the sample and complex materials. Conclusions Our findings suggest a gap between community expectations and how experts sometimes arbitrarily set low diagnostic thresholds which label those at risk as “diseased”. Optimal communication about overdiagnosis could build on community scepticism about treatments, encouraging weighing up benefits and harms of tests and diagnoses, and framing this information as positively adding to knowledge.