Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prosodic Entrainment in Conversations of Verbal Children and Teens on the Autism Spectrum

Unusual speech prosody has long been recognized as a characteristic feature of the speech of individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). However, research to determine the exact nature of this difference in speech prosody is still ongoing. Many individuals with verbal autism perform well on tasks testing speech prosody. Nonetheless, their expressive prosody is judged to be unusual by others. We propose that one aspect of this perceived difference in speech prosody in individuals with ASD may be due to a deficit in the ability to entrain—or become more similar—to their conversation partners in prosodic features over the course of a conversation. In order to investigate this hypothesis, 24 children and teens between the ages of 9 and 15 years participated in our study. Twelve of the participants had previously been diagnosed with ASD and the other 12 participants were matched to the ASD participants in age, gender, and non-verbal IQ scores. All participants completed a goal-directed conversation task, which was subsequently analyzed acoustically. Our results suggest (1) that youth diagnosed with ASD entrain less to their conversation partners compared to their neurotypical peers—in fact, children and teens diagnosed with ASD tend to dis-entrain from their conversation partners while their neurotypical peers tend to converge to their conversation partners’ prosodic features. (2) Although age interacts differently with prosodic entrainment in youth with and without ASD, this difference is attributable to the entrainment behavior of the conversation partners rather than to those with ASD. (3) Better language skill is negatively correlated with prosodic entrainment for both youth with and without ASD. The observed differences in prosodic entrainment in children and teens with ASD may not only contribute to the perceived unusual prosody in youth with ASD but are also likely to be indicative of their difficulties in social communication, which constitutes a core challenge for individuals with ASD.
Candida tropicalis in the tropics: A rare fungal cause of perinephric abscess

Perinephric and renal abscess are very rare entities with insidious presentation and pose a great diagnostic challenge, common etiology being bacterial. Only less than 30 cases of fungal etiology have been reported in literature. Herein, we report first case of fungal perinephric abscess caused by Candida tropicalis in a young diabetic female who presented with right flank pain and vomiting. Diagnosis made by CT imaging and culture of USG guided aspiration of perinephric abscess revealed growth of Candida tropicalis. Candida tropicalis perinephric abscess requires a very high index of suspicion for diagnosis. Associated high morbidity and mortality rates are likely due to misdiagnosis, therefore fungal perinephric and renal abscess must be kept as differential diagnosis in cases of fever with abdominal pain. Prompt diagnosis and early treatment are important for better outcome. Imaging and microbiological investigations are required for diagnosis, and drainage is indicated for successful therapy.
MPI Detach - Asynchronous Local Completion

When aiming for large scale parallel computing, waiting time due to network latency, synchronization, and load imbalance are the primary opponents of high parallel efficiency. A common approach to hide latency with computation is the use of non-blocking communication. In the presence of a consistent load imbalance, synchronization cost is just the visible symptom of the load imbalance. Tasking approaches as in OpenMP, TBB, OmpSs, or C++20 coroutines promise to expose a higher degree of concurrency, which can be distributed on available execution units and significantly increase load balance. Available MPI non-blocking functionality does not integrate seamlessly into such tasking parallelization. In this work, we present a slim extension of the MPI interface to allow seamless integration of non-blocking communication with available concepts of asynchronous execution in OpenMP and C++.
Don't Trigger Me! A Triggerless Backdoor Attack Against Deep Neural Networks

Backdoor attack against deep neural networks is currently being profoundly investigated due to its severe security consequences. Current state-of-the-art backdoor attacks require the adversary to modify the input, usually by adding a trigger to it, for the target model to activate the backdoor. This added trigger not only increases the difficulty of launching the backdoor attack in the physical world, but also can be easily detected by multiple defense mechanisms. In this paper, we present the first triggerless backdoor attack against deep neural networks, where the adversary does not need to modify the input for triggering the backdoor. Our attack is based on the dropout technique. Concretely, we associate a set of target neurons that are dropped out during model training with the target label. In the prediction phase, the model will output the target label when the target neurons are dropped again, i.e., the backdoor attack is launched. This triggerless feature of our attack makes it practical in the physical world. Extensive experiments show that our triggerless backdoor attack achieves a perfect attack success rate with a negligible damage to the model's utility.
Chaos, Fractal and Quantum Poincare Recurrences in Diamagnetic Kepler Problem

The statistics of quantum Poincar´e recurrences in Hilbert space for diamagnetic hydrogen atom in strong magnetic ﬁeld has been investigated. It has been shown that quantities characterizing classical chaos are in a good agreement with the ones that are used to describe quantum chaos. The equality of classical and quantum Poincar´e recurrences has been shown. It has been proved that one of the signs of the emergence of quantum chaos is the irreversible transition from a pure quantum mechanical state to the mixed one.
Why is MPI (perceived to be) so complex?: Part 1—Does strong progress simplify MPI?

Strong progress is optional in MPI. MPI allows implementations where progress (for example, updating the message-transport state machines or interaction with network devices) is only made during certain MPI procedure calls. Generally speaking, strong progress implies the ability to achieve progress (to transport data through the network from senders to receivers and exchange protocol messages) without explicit calls from user processes to MPI procedures. For instance, data given to a send procedure that matches a pre-posted receive on the receiving process is moved from source to destination in due course regardless of how often (including zero times) the sender or receiver processes call MPI in the meantime. Further, nonblocking operations and persistent collective operations work ‘in the background’ of user processes once all processes in the communicator’s group have performed the starting step for the operation. Overall, strong progress is meant to enhance the potential for overlap of communication and computation and improve predictability of procedure execution times by eliminating progress effort from user threads. This paper posits that strong progress is desirable as an MPI implementation property and examines whether strong progress: This paper explores such possibilities and sets forth principles that underpin MPI and interactions with normal and fault modes of operation. The key contribution of this paper is the conclusion that, whether measured by absolute performance, by performance portability, or by interface simplicity, strong progress in MPI is no worse than weak progress and, in most scenarios, has more potential to fulfil the aforementioned desirable attributes.
Effects of organic material on the bioavailability, toxicokinetics and toxicity of xenobiotics in freshwater organisms

Nikkilä, Anna Effects of organic material on the bioavailability, toxicokinetics and toxicity of xenobiotics in freshwater organisms Jyväskylä: University of Jyväskylä, 2001, 49 p. (Jyväskylä Studies in Biological and Environmental Science, ISSN 1456-9701;103) ISBN 951-39-1295-7 Yhteenveto: Orgaanisen aineksen vaikutus vierasaineiden biosaatavuuteen, toksikokinetiikkaan ja toksisuuteen vesieliöillä Diss. The effects of organic carbon, as dissolved in water (DOC) or in sediment (SOC), on the binding, bioavailability, toxicokinetics and toxicity of organic xenobiotics were studied. The binding of pyrene (log Kow 5.2) to DOC was fairly low, but mainly related to the amount of DOC. Pyrene uptake by the waterflea Daphnia magna decreased by 17 % in the high-DOC water (17.4 mg DOC/l) compared to that in DOC-free water. Pyrene also became less bioconcentrated in D. magna in DOC-rich waters than in the DOC-free reference water. Atrazine (log Kow 2.7) uptake and elimination, in turn, were not affected by the amount of DOC. Both the uptake and elimination of atrazine were higher in the multispecies periphyton communities than in D. magna. The atrazine bioconcentration was low, both in the periphyton and D. magna, but again, higher in the periphyton. A substantial concentration of SOC also decreased the bioavailability and uptake of retene (log Kow ~ 6), 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (2,4,5TCP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) (log Kow values 3.8 and 5.0, respectively) for the oligochaete worm Lumbriculus variegatus. Retene was chronically non-toxic to the worms at 200 μg retene/g sediment dry weight. DOC and SOC can thus decrease the bioavailability of the lipophilic pyrene, retene and PCP as well as the relatively lipophilic 2,4,5-TCP. The bioavailability of a more hydrophilic atrazine is not affected by DOC. The periphyton community structure and factors related to organisms affected the bioconcentration of atrazine more than the quantity or quality of DOC did. The lethal body residues for both the chlorophenols in L. variegatus were practically the same in freshwater and sediments, expressing the usefulness of this end point for more accurate predictions on the bioavailability and toxicity of chemicals. Coexposure to UV-B radiation enhanced the acute toxicity of pyrene to D. magna but DOC decreased the photomodification of the freely dissolved pyrene by diminishing the amount of light coming into contact with the parent compound.
Learning Mesh-Based Simulation with Graph Networks

Mesh-based simulations are central to modeling complex physical systems in many disciplines across science and engineering. Mesh representations support powerful numerical integration methods and their resolution can be adapted to strike favorable trade-offs between accuracy and efficiency. However, high-dimensional scientific simulations are very expensive to run, and solvers and parameters must often be tuned individually to each system studied. Here we introduce MeshGraphNets, a framework for learning mesh-based simulations using graph neural networks. Our model can be trained to pass messages on a mesh graph and to adapt the mesh discretization during forward simulation. Our results show it can accurately predict the dynamics of a wide range of physical systems, including aerodynamics, structural mechanics, and cloth. The model's adaptivity supports learning resolution-independent dynamics and can scale to more complex state spaces at test time. Our method is also highly efficient, running 1-2 orders of magnitude faster than the simulation on which it is trained. Our approach broadens the range of problems on which neural network simulators can operate and promises to improve the efficiency of complex, scientific modeling tasks.
Studies on the exaggerated inflammatory response caused by streptococcus suis at systemic and central nervous system levels

Streptococcus suis, an important swine and human pathogen, causes septic shock and meningitis. The pathogenesis of both systemic and central nervous system (CNS) infections caused by S. suis is poorly understood. A hematogenous model of infection in CD1 mice was developed to study the systemic release of cytokines during the septic shock phase and the pro-inflammatory events in the CNS associated with this pathogen. Using a liquid array system, high levels of systemic TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12, IFN-γ, CCL2, CXCL1 and CCL5 were observed 24 h after infection and might be responsible for the sudden death of 20% of animals. Infected mice that survived the early sepsis later developed clinical signs of meningitis and exhibited lesions in the meninges and in numerous regions of the brain, such as the cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus and corpus callosum. Bacterial Ags were found in association with microglia residing only in the affected zones. In situ hybridization combined with immunocytochemistry showed transcriptional activation of TLR2 and TLR3 as well as CD14, NF-κB, IL-1β, CCL2 and TNF-α, mainly in myeloid cells located in affected cerebral structures. Early transcriptional activation of TLR2, CD14 and inflammatory cytokines in the choroid plexus and cells lining the brain endothelium suggests that these structures are potential entry sites for the bacteria into the CNS. Our data indicate an important role of the inflammatory response in the pathogenesis of S. suis infection in mice. This experimental model may be useful for studying the mechanisms underlying sepsis and meningitis during bacterial infection.
A Framework for Applying Educational Psychology Principles to the Design and Assessment of Learning Technology

Nowadays, it is safe to say that technology is involved directly or indirectly in all professions and academic fields. Therefore it is common for software engineers to find themselves in multidisciplinary projects that require knowledge and skills different than their own. In this paper, a novel framework for designing and evaluating learning applications is proposed. It is intended for software engineers who may not have the assistance of educators to apply the basic principles of educational psychology while developing an edtech solution. This framework is presented as a ready-to-use questionnaire to guide anyone who wants to evaluate a learning technology, thus leveraging collaboration between experts with diverse backgrounds. In order to assess its suitability, we present a use case showing the application of this framework on an actual educational software.
Unidirectional CI and the consequences of Wolbachia for gene flow and reinforcement

The intracellular bacterial parasites of the genus Wolbachia are widespread among arthropod species. In many hosts, they induce a reproductive incompatibility between uninfected females and infected males. The potential role of this cytoplasmic incompatibility in speciation processes of the bacteria’s hosts has long been debated. In this thesis, we analyze common criticisms of such a role by means of mathematical models, combining Wolbachia infection dynamics and host population genetics. In particular, we are concerned with the following: (i) In order to measure the stability of infection patterns within host metapopulations, we derive critical migration rates. (ii) We evaluate the impact of cytoplasmic incompatibility on gene flow between populations by calculating effective migration rates. (iii) We determine the conditions that favor the evolution of female mating preferences through reinforcement. Finally, (iv) we apply our models to a particular realworld speciation process of two sibling Drosophila species in North America, discuss emerging problems, and suggest future directions of research. In summary, our results implicate that Wolbachia might be a frequent factor in host speciation, but usually only by contributing to overall reproductive isolation among other factors. Reinforcement of premating isolation is selected for only under stringent conditions.
Wild Turkey Nesting Ecology in the Lower Coastal Plain of South Carolina

A population of eastern wild turkeys {Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) was studied in the lower coastal plain of South Carolina to determine if intensively managed short-rotation pine plantations have a detrimental effect on reproductive success. Reproductive parameters including nesting chronology, nest success, hen success, clutch size, and hatchability were estimated from 50 radio-instrum ented hens monitored during 1988-1990. Predation during nesting and brooding periods was the major cause of nest and adult hen losses (55%). However, illegal kills were as high (45%). Median dates for incubation initiation and hatching were 8 May and 3 June, respectively. Nest success (% hatched >1 egg) was 57.9%. Proportion of hens in the population expected to produce poults was 50%. Clutches averaged 9.8 eggs with 82% hatchability. Number of poults produced/hen averaged 4.0. Nest sites were located in all stand types in proportion to their availability. Stand age or basal area did not affect nest site selection. Most nests (61%) occurred in stands controlled burned within 2 years and 62% of nests were located within 30 m of a road, trail or firebreak. Reproductive parameters were similar to values reported in other studies and did not indicate a negative effect from intensive forest manage- ment practices. Proc. Annu. Conf. Southeast. Assoc. Fish and Wildl. Agencies 49:454-465
A case study on particulate emissions from a gasoline plug-in hybrid electric vehicle during engine warm-up, taking into account start–stop operation

Concerning the discussions about emissions caused by individual mobility, it is foreseeable that future vehicle concepts will increasingly be based on hybrid powertrains. These systems lead to more complex operating scenarios, which have a significant influence on the resulting emissions of the engine. This work shows a case study and the results in the operation and emission behavior of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with a direct injection gasoline engine when operated in an internationally recognized driving cycle. The vehicle’s exhaust aftertreatment system consists of a three-way catalytic converter; a particulate filter is not installed. The emissions are analyzed with a focus on particulate number emissions (from soot), especially during the warm-up phase and the frequent start–stop events (in total, there are 12 internal combustion engine operating phases), which are typical for hybrid vehicles. The results show that approximately 50% of the emitted particulates have a smaller size, 23 nm (a very high number of particulates with a mean size of 10 to 15 nm are present), which are currently not regulated, but are expected to have a high risk of adverse health effects.
Proliferative Signals in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia; What Are We Missing?

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells cycle between lymphoid tissue sites where they actively proliferate, and the peripheral blood (PB) where they become quiescent. Strong evidence exists for a crucial role of B cell receptor (BCR) triggering, either by (self-)antigen or by receptor auto-engagement in the lymph node (LN) to drive CLL proliferation and provide adhesion. The clinical success of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors is widely accepted to be based on blockade of the BCR signal. Additional signals in the LN that support CLL survival derive from surrounding cells, such as CD40L-presenting T helper cells, myeloid and stromal cells. It is not quite clear if and to what extent these non-BCR signals contribute to proliferation in situ. In vitro BCR triggering, in contrast, leads to low-level activation and does not result in cell division. Various combinations of non-BCR signals delivered via co-stimulatory receptors, Toll-like receptors (TLRs), and/or soluble cytokines are applied, leading to comparatively modest and short-lived CLL proliferation in vitro. Thus, an unresolved gap exists between the condition in the patient as we now understand it and applicable knowledge that can be harnessed in the laboratory for future therapeutic applications. Even in this era of targeted drugs, CLL remains largely incurable with frequent relapses and emergence of resistance. Therefore, we require better insight into all aspects of CLL growth and potential rewiring of signaling pathways. We aim here to provide an overview of in vivo versus in vitro signals involved in CLL proliferation, point out areas of missing knowledge and suggest future directions for research.
Fine-Grained Activity of Daily Living (ADL) Recognition Through Heterogeneous Sensing Systems With Complementary Spatiotemporal Characteristics

Non-intrusive monitoring of fine-grained activities of daily living (ADL) enables various smart healthcare applications. For example, ADL pattern analysis for older adults at risk can be used to assess their loss of safety or independence. Prior work in the area of ADL recognition has focused on coarse-grained ADL recognition at the context-level (e.g., cooking, cleaning, sleeping), and/or activity duration segmentation (hourly or minutely). It also typically relies on a high-density deployment of a variety of sensors. In this work, we target a finer-grained ADL recognition at the action-level to provide more detailed ADL information, which is crucial for enabling the assessment of patients' activity patterns and potential changes in behavior. To achieve this fine-grained ADL monitoring, we present a heterogeneous multi-modal cyber-physical system, where we use (1) distributed vibration sensors to capture the action-induced structural vibrations and their spatial characteristics for information aggregation, and (2) single point electrical sensor to capture appliance usage with high temporal resolution. To evaluate our system, we conducted real-world experiments with multiple human subjects to demonstrate the complementary information from these two sensing modalities. Our system achieved an average 90% accuracy in recognizing activities, which is up to 2.6× higher than baseline systems considering each state-of-the-art sensing modality separately.
Hegselmann Krause Dynamics

For typical Hegselmann Krause model, each agent updates his opinion via taking average over his and his neighbors' opinions. Mixed Hegselmann Krause model covers both synchronous and asynchronous Hegselmann Krause models. Agents can decide the degree to play stubborn or open minded at each time step. Agents with the same opinion may depart the next time step. Delta-equilibrium may not exist or be achieved in finite time. The study is to discuss under what circumstances agents reach consensus or their opinions are asymptotically stable.
The impact of retroactivity on information exchange in molecular communications

Information exchange is a key process in all communication systems, including biological ones. This paper presents first results on the study of the impact of retroactivity, the loads that downstream modules apply on their upstream systems, on different biological signaling system models. The aim is to provide analytical tools to maximize the reliable information exchange in biomolecular circuits.
Protection effect of ginkgo albumin extract on y-ray irradiated mice

Water soluble ginkgo albumin extract (GAE), which was extracted for the first time from seeds of Ginkgo bilbo L in our laboratory, has good antioxidant and anti-aging activity. In this paper, protective effect of GAE on γ-rays irradiated mice was studied. The results showed that the mice irradiated to 8.5 Gy was zero, whereas survival rate of the high dosage GAE group was 20 percent. Blood picture of the 8.5Gy irradiated mice suffered damages of different degrees, while blood picture index of the GAE group decreased slower and recovered faster significantly than the irradiation control group. GAE and Vitamin C could significantly enhance serum SOD activity in serum and increase DNA content in bone marrow cells, and also promote recovery of damaged immunology function of the irradiated mice. These suggest that GAE may protect mice from the radiation damages by enhancement of antioxidant activity, hemopoiesis function and immunologic function of mices.