Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mapping eye movements to cognitive processes

Eye movements provide a rich and informative window into a personOs thoughts and intentions. In recent years researchers have increasingly employed eye movements to study cognition in psychological experiments, to understand behavior in user interfaces, and even to control computers through eye-based input devices. Unfortunately, like speech and handwriting, eye movements generate vast amounts of data with significant individual variability and equipment noise. Thus, the analysis of eye-movement dataNthat is, determining what people are thinking based on where they are lookingNcan be extremely tedious and time-consuming. Typical eye-movement data sets are simply too large and complex to be analyzed by hand or by naive automated methods. This thesis formalizes a new class of algorithms that provide fast and robust analysis of eye-movement data. Specifically, the thesis describes three novel algorithms for tracing eye movementsNmapping eye-movement protocols to the sequential predictions of a cognitive process model. Two algorithms, fixation tracing and point tracing, employ hidden Markov models to determine the best probabilistic interpretation of the data given the model. The third algorithm, target tracing, extends an existing tracing algorithm based on sequence matching to eye movements. The thesis also formalizes several algorithms for identifying fixations in raw eye-movement protocols and provides a working system, EyeTracer, that embodies the proposed tracing and fixation-identification algorithms. To demonstrate the power of the proposed algorithms, the thesis applies them in three real-world domains: equation solving, reading, and eye typing. The equation-solving studies show how the algorithms can code, or interpret, eye-movement protocols as accurately as expert human coders in significantly less time. The studies also illustrate how the algorithms facilitate the prototyping and refinement of cognitive models. The reading study demonstrates how the algorithms help to evaluate and compare two existing computational models of reading and clear up temporal aspects of reading data using sequential aspects of the data. The eye-typing study shows how the algorithms can interpret eye movements in real time and help eliminate usability restrictions imposed by existing eye-based interfaces.
Acitve projection ar using high-speed optical axis control and appearance estimation algorithm

Augmented reality (AR) allows us to experience real-world objects onto which some extra visual information has been added by illumination from a projector. Most of the projected objects in AR research remain stationary, such as a white figure mounted on a desk, a wall, a screen, and so on. We have proposed, and successfully demonstrated, an AR system for dynamic objects, such as a flying ball, a moving object held in a person's hand, and so on. In the work described in this paper, we introduced a high-speed optical axis controller (a mirror-based device that we have developed) and an original target tracking algorithm for dynamic objects, which is based on HSV color detection.
Lupus nephritis in black and Hispanic children.

We studied the long-term outcome of lupus nephritis in 23 black and Hispanic children. The follow-up period ranged from two to 16.5 years, with a mean follow-up of 5.4 years. The mean age at onset was 10.1 years, which is younger than that described in recent series of children with lupus nephritis. All patients had renal involvement, including four normotensive patients with normal renal function and normal urinary sediment. When children whose disease started before the age of 10 years were compared with patients older at onset, there were no significant differences regarding the type of lesion or duration of therapy, but a higher incidence of renal death (.02 less than P less than .05) was noted in younger children. Overall, 25% of our patients have died of renal causes, and another 25% have been undergoing dialysis, receiving transplants, or in chronic renal failure. The mortality in our series was higher than that reported in other series of children with lupus nephritis in recent years. Age and race may be acting synergistically to produce the higher mortality and morbidity.
Revision of Bem Sex Role Inventory

Objective:To test the validity and reliability of BSRI (Bem Sex Role Inventory) in Chinese culture Method:340 undergraduates from three universities in two cities were collected as the subjects They all completed the BSRI Item analysis and factor analysis were done followed by item revision making the inventory more suitable to Chinese culture Result:The new brief scale was composed of 14 masculine items and 12 feminine items The reliability and validity were improved after the revision Conclusion:The new brief scale is more suitable to Chinese culture
A new TV recommendation algorithm based on interest quantification and item clustering

Recommender Systems(RSs) are software tools and techniques providing suggestions for items to be of use to a user. With the increasing development of Internet and explosion of information, recommender system has been an indispensable component in many applications. In this paper, a recommendation algorithm based on factorization model is proposed, which is applied to TV system. To quantize users' interest/preference to programs, a novel and rational notation, user interest index, is defined and helps improve recommendation effect. The vectorization of users and programs are derived from item clustering. Finally, we adopted top-K recommendation strategy, and evaluated the performance of our algorithm. According to experiment results, we found that the algorithm performs well on precision and recall rate.
Secure MMU: Architectural support for memory isolation among virtual machines

In conventional virtualized systems, a hypervisor can access the memory pages of guest virtual machines without any restriction, as the hypervisor has a full control over the address translation mechanism. In this paper, we propose Secure MMU, a hardware-based mechanism to isolate the memory of guest virtual machines from unauthorized accesses even from the hypervisor. The proposed mechanism extends the current nested paging support for virtualization with a small hardware cost. With Secure MMU, the hypervisor can flexibly allocate physical memory pages to virtual machines for resource management, but update nested page tables only through the secure hardware mechanism, which verifies each mapping change. With the hardware-rooted memory isolation among virtual machines, the memory of a virtual machine in cloud computing can be securely protected from a compromised hypervisor or co-tenant virtual machines.
Whodunnit? Electrophysiological Correlates of Agency Judgements

Sense of agency refers to the feeling that “I” am responsible for those external events that are directly produced by one's own voluntary actions. Recent theories distinguish between a non-conceptual “feeling” of agency linked to changes in the processing of self-generated sensory events, and a higher-order judgement of agency, which attributes sensory events to the self. In the current study we explore the neural correlates of the judgement of agency by means of electrophysiology. We measured event-related potentials to tones that were either perceived or not perceived as triggered by participants' voluntary actions and related these potentials to later judgements of agency over the tones. Replicating earlier findings on predictive sensory attenuation, we found that the N1 component was attenuated for congruent tones that corresponded to the learned action-effect mapping as opposed to incongruent tones that did not correspond to the previously acquired associations between actions and tones. The P3a component, but not the N1, directly reflected the judgement of agency: deflections in this component were greater for tones judged as self-generated than for tones judged as externally produced. The fact that the outcome of the later agency judgement was predictable based on the P3a component demonstrates that agency judgements incorporate early information processing components and are not purely reconstructive, post-hoc evaluations generated at time of judgement.
A new sampling algorithm used in multilevel UV factorization method for scattering from random rough surface

In this paper, we propose a new sampling algorithm combined with multilevel UV(MLUV) factorization method to calculate the scattering from Gaussian random rough surface with exponential correlation function. The new sampling algorithm is based on the steepness of patch pairs which support the basis functions. The numerical analyses in this paper show that the proposed algorithm significantly improves the accuracy of the UV approximation of matrix ZK.
Le coping des enseignants de maternelle face au défi de l'inclusion scolaire : l'exemple des autismes

L'evolution du systeme educatif vers une logique d'inclusion scolaire oblige les enseignants du milieu ordinaire a accueillir les enfants en situation de handicap. Or, les symptomes comportementaux d'enfants, particulierement ceux qui presentent des troubles du spectre autistique (TSA), peuvent generer nombre de difficultes pour leurs enseignants, d'autant plus que ces derniers ne recoivent pas de formation specifique pour y faire face. La litterature internationale montre que les enseignants du milieu specialise accueillant des enfants avec un TSA subissent un stress lie a la symptomatologie des troubles (problemes de conduites ; manque de comportements pro-sociaux) (Hastings et al., 2002 ; Lecavalier et al., 2006 ; Probst et al., 2008). Par ailleurs, ces professionnels utilisent des strategies de coping centrees sur l'emotion pour faire face au stress lie aux comportements violents, ce qui peut les conduire au " burn-out ". Dans le cadre d'une etude exploratoire menee en maternelle ordinaire, nous avons voulu etudier le stress et les strategies de coping des enseignants accueillant un enfant presentant les comportements symptomatiques d'un TSA. Notre hypothese generale infere que la presence en classe d'un enfant presentant un TSA genererait un stress pour son enseignant. Pour repondre a cette question, nous avons propose un questionnaire visant a evaluer leur niveau de stress face aux comportements symptomatiques presents dans l'autisme, puis le Brief Cope de Carver (1997), permettant de determiner les strategies de coping auxquelles ils ont preferentiellement recours dans cette situation. Nous avons ajoute a ces questionnaires un entretien clinique. Les resultats deja obtenus font apparaitre que ces enseignants subissent effectivement un stress essentiellement du aux troubles du comportement lorsqu'ils sont violents ou perturbateurs. Les donnees qualitatives montrent que, au-dela de ces comportements, la difficulte a comprendre l'enfant est egalement une source de stress. Enfin, il ressort que l'" acceptation " est la premiere strategie d'ajustement utilisee par les enseignants. Il s'agit selon Carver d'une strategie fonctionnelle centree sur l'emotion. Face aux evolutions reglementaires, les enseignants sont contraints d'accepter la loi tout en acceptant simultanement de n'avoir ni les connaissances, ni meme parfois les moyens materiels et humains de l'appliquer dans des conditions satisfaisantes. L'acceptation temoignerait alors d'une resignation face a un cadre legal qu'aucun des enseignants interroges ne conteste sur le fond et la reconnaissance de leur impuissance, face a un enfant qu'ils n'arrivent pas a comprendre et a accompagner. Elle permettrait en outre, d'apres nos resultats, l'amorce d'un coping centre sur le probleme.
Intrathoracic Schwannoma: Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment. The Challenge Remains

Schwannoma is a benign neoplasm derived from Schwann cells. It is usually located in intracranial nerves, however intrathoracic presentation is possible, leadings to compression of adjacent structures and symptoms. Its diagnosis is challenging and is achieved by imaging tests. Treatment consists of surgical resection by thoracotomy or thoracoscopy. This study aimed to review the subject, with an emphasis on the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches currently available. Articles were selected by searching the Scopus, Scielo, PubMed and Web of Science databases using the keywords: schwannoma, neurinoma, neurilemmoma, nerve tissue neoplasm, thoracotomy, thoracoscopy and mediastinal neoplasms. Intrathoracic schwannoma often presents as asymptomatic and is identified during routine imaging tests. The recommended treatment is surgical resection by thoracoscopy or
Angiotensin- Converting Enzyme Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism and Its Association with Coronary Artery Disease in an Iranian Population

Background: The study of the association between genotype and phenotype is of great importance for the prediction of many diseases and pathophysiological conditions. The relationship between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/ deletion (I/D) polymorphism and pathological processes such as coronary artery disease (CAD) has been investigated previously with discordant results. This study was designed to determine the association between ACE gene I/D polymorphism and CAD in an Iranian population. Methods: A total of 1050 individuals who were referred to Tehran Heart Center for coronary angiography were recruited. Six hundred seventy-six CAD-positive patients (documented by coronary angiography and Gensini scores higher than 6) and 374 CAD-negative patients were evaluated for ACE gene I/D polymorphism via the Polymerase Chain Reaction Amplification method. The patients’ age, sex, smoking status and its duration as well as familial history of CAD, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were recorded. Results: Five hundred four (74.6%) of the CAD-positive patients were male, and the mean age of this group was 60 (60 ± 10). In the CAD-negative individuals, the mean age was 56 (56 ± 10) and 196 of them were male (52.4%). After the analysis of all the groups and gender subgroups, neither genotype nor allele frequency was significantly different between the CAD-positive and CAD-negative groups (p values for genotypes and allele frequencies were 0.494 and 0.397, respectively). Conclusion: ACE gene I/D polymorphism was not associated with an increased risk of CAD in an Iranian population.
Poliovirus survival and movement in a sandy forest soil

Movement of poliovirus I (Chat) through nonsterile core samples of a sandy forest soil was monitored, using several regimens of loading with either dechlorinated final effluent from an operating activated sludge treatment plant or distilled water. Stimulated cycles of rainfall and effluent applications, resulting in ionic gradients, were shown to affect virus movement. Such studies indicate that poliovirus applied in effluents may move considerable distances through this soil after rainfall. Survival of poliovirus in the soil at 4 and 20 C has been monitored for 84 days. During this period, the capacity of the virus to migrate is unchanged.
Workload Generation by Modelling User Behavior in an ISP Subnet

In this paper the user-oriented BISANTE workload generator for network traffic simulation is presented. It enables the analyst to model both the behavior of network users interacting with applications or services and the network traffic at the packet level itself. This way, workload at different levels of abstraction can be constructed. Currently the workload generator is available for the simulation tools OPNET and NS.
Substance P and Prostaglandin E2 Release After Shock Wave Application to the Rabbit Femur

The biologic action of extracorporeal shock wave application on the musculoskeletal system is poorly understood. To prove the hypothesis that alterations of tissue concentrations of substance P and prostaglandin E2 are involved in the biologic action of shock waves, extracorporeal shock waves with energy flux density of 0.9 mJ/mm2 (1500 pulses at 1/second) were applied in vivo to the distal femur of rabbits. The concentrations of substance P and prostaglandin E2 eluted from the periosteum of the femur were measured. Compared with the untreated contralateral hindlimbs, substance P release from the periosteum from the femur was increased 6 hours and 24 hours after extracorporeal shock wave application, but was decreased 6 weeks after extracorporeal shock wave application. By contrast, extracorporeal shock wave application did not result in altered prostaglandin E2 release from the periosteum from the femur. Remarkably, there was a close relationship between the time course of substance P release found here, and the well-known clinical time course of initial pain occurrence and subsequent pain relief after extracorporeal shock wave application to tendon diseases. Accordingly, substance P might be involved in the biologic action of extracorporeal shock wave application on tissue of the musculoskeletal system. This is the first study providing insights into the molecular mechanisms of extracorporeal shock wave application to the musculoskeletal system.
Complex fuzzy logic

A novel framework for logical reasoning, termed complex fuzzy logic, is presented in this paper. Complex fuzzy logic is a generalization of traditional fuzzy logic, based on complex fuzzy sets. In complex fuzzy logic, inference rules are constructed and "fired" in a manner that closely parallels traditional fuzzy logic. The novelty of complex fuzzy logic is that the sets used in the reasoning process are complex fuzzy sets, characterized by complex-valued membership functions. The range of these membership functions is extended from the traditional fuzzy range of [0,1] to the unit circle in the complex plane, thus providing a method for describing membership in a set in terms of a complex number. Several mathematical properties of complex fuzzy sets, which serve as a basis for the derivation of complex fuzzy logic, are reviewed in this paper. These properties include basic set theoretic operations on complex fuzzy sets - namely complex fuzzy union and intersection, complex fuzzy relations and their composition, and a novel form of set aggregation - vector aggregation. Complex fuzzy logic is designed to maintain the advantages of traditional fuzzy logic, while benefiting from the properties of complex numbers and complex fuzzy sets. The introduction of complex-valued grades of membership to the realm of fuzzy logic generates a framework with unique mathematical properties, and considerable potential for further research and application.
The use and trends of information and communication technology (ICT) during middle childhood

Objective: Information and communication technologies (ICT) have become an integral part of people's lives. Trends suggest that the age when technology is used for the first time is rapidly decreasing and that children are exposed to ICT daily. However, the focus of the existing research has been on adolescents, and there is a dearth of knowledge about the use of ICT amongst children in middle childhood in South Africa. The objective of this study was to address this issue. Method: The research participants included 12 children aged between 6 and 12 years old from two private schools (a boys’ school and a girls’ school) in the Gauteng region. A phenomenological approach was used to explore the use and trends of ICT among this age group. A semi-structured interview approach was employed for the data collection and each interview was tape-recorded and transcribed by the researcher. The Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyse and interpret the data collected. Results: Various themes were identified. While all the participants had been exposed to and used ICT, a clear developmental trend was observed: not only were younger children less sophisticated users of ICT, but they were also less informed about the dangers of ICT usage. The participants were generally not supervised but some rules were implemented by the parents. Although the children did not experience cyber bullying, they did report exposure to pornography. Conclusion: The results suggest various implications for developmental trends and protection of children.
Theory of Mind: Did Evolution Fool Us?

Theory of Mind (ToM) is the ability to attribute mental states (e.g., beliefs and desires) to other people in order to understand and predict their behaviour. If others are rewarded to compete or cooperate with you, then what they will do depends upon what they believe about you. This is the reason why social interaction induces recursive ToM, of the sort “I think that you think that I think, etc.”. Critically, recursion is the common notion behind the definition of sophistication of human language, strategic thinking in games, and, arguably, ToM. Although sophisticated ToM is believed to have high adaptive fitness, broad experimental evidence from behavioural economics, experimental psychology and linguistics point towards limited recursivity in representing other’s beliefs. In this work, we test whether such apparent limitation may not in fact be proven to be adaptive, i.e. optimal in an evolutionary sense. First, we propose a meta-Bayesian approach that can predict the behaviour of ToM sophistication phenotypes who engage in social interactions. Second, we measure their adaptive fitness using evolutionary game theory. Our main contribution is to show that one does not have to appeal to biological costs to explain our limited ToM sophistication. In fact, the evolutionary cost/benefit ratio of ToM sophistication is non trivial. This is partly because an informational cost prevents highly sophisticated ToM phenotypes to fully exploit less sophisticated ones (in a competitive context). In addition, cooperation surprisingly favours lower levels of ToM sophistication. Taken together, these quantitative corollaries of the “social Bayesian brain” hypothesis provide an evolutionary account for both the limitation of ToM sophistication in humans as well as the persistence of low ToM sophistication levels.
Optimal activation policies for continuous scanning observations in parameter estimation of distributed systems

The problem of determining an optimal measurement scheduling for identification of unknown parameters in distributed systems described by partial differential equations is discussed. The discrete-scanning observations are performed by an optimal selection of measurement data from spatially fixed sensors. In the adopted approach, the sensor scheduling problem is converted to a constrained optimal control problem. In this framework, the control value represents the selected sensor configuration. Thus the control variable is constrained to take values in a discrete set and switchings between sensors may occur in continuous time. By applying the control parameterization enhancing transform technique, a computational procedure for solving the optimal scanning measurement problem is obtained. The numerical scheme is then tested on a computer example regarding an advection-diffusion problem.
On Completeness and Equivalence of Some Dynamic Priority Schemes

This paper identifies various parametrized dynamic priority queue disciplines from literature which are complete in two class M/G/1 queue. Equivalence between these queue disciplines is established by obtaining non linear transformation in closed form. Motivation behind these completeness and equivalence results is discussed from optimal control perspective. Some comments on global FCFS policy are made. Further, an alternative proof of optimality of c/ρ rule is given using completeness ideas. keywords: parametrized dynamic priority, optimal control, multi-class queue, achievable region