Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Talking about people who are not there: Children’s early references to absent caregivers and absent friends

Research on the development of children’s decontextualized language has focused primarily on their references to events displaced in time. Here, we examine children’s early emerging ability to talk about individuals who are elsewhere and therefore not participating in the conversation. We analyzed the references made by three Mandarin-speaking children aged 20–40 months to absent members of their social network. Even in the earliest period of the study (20–26 months), children produced a considerable number of such references, with the majority initiated either fully or partially by the children themselves. Thus, children were not simply echoing references made by their interlocutors. These early references often expressed attachment-related concerns with respect to absent family members. For example, children expressed a desire for the absent family member, called out their name, or asked about their location. Over time, however, they talked about absent individuals, including family members, in a more neutral or reflective fashion, commenting on their characteristics and activities. The findings highlight the early emergence of references that are displaced in space from the utterance context.
Fingerprints of brain disease: Connectome identifiability in cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease

In analogy to the friction ridges of a human finger, the functional connectivity patterns of the human brain can be used to identify a given individual from a population. In other words, functional connectivity patterns constitute a marker of human identity, or a ‘brain fingerprint’. Yet remarkably, very little is known about whether brain fingerprints are preserved in brain ageing and in the presence of cognitive decline due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Using fMRI data from two independent datasets of healthy and pathologically ageing subjects, here we show that individual functional connectivity profiles remain unique and highly heterogeneous across early and late stages of cognitive decline due to AD. Yet, the patterns of functional connectivity making subjects identifiable, change across health and disease, revealing a functional reconfiguration of the brain fingerprint. We observed a fingerprint change towards between-functional system connections when transitioning from healthy to dementia, and to lower-order cognitive functions in the earliest stages of the disease. These findings show that functional connectivity carries important individualised information to evaluate regional and network dysfunction in cognitive impairment and highlight the importance of switching the focus from group differences to individual variability when studying functional alterations in AD. The present data establish the foundation for clinical fingerprinting of brain diseases by showing that functional connectivity profiles maintain their uniqueness, yet go through functional reconfiguration, during cognitive decline. These results pave the way for a more personalised understanding of functional alterations during cognitive decline, moving towards brain fingerprinting in personalised medicine and treatment optimization during cognitive decline.
Multiscale feature U-Net for remote sensing image segmentation

Abstract. The segmentation and extraction of buildings in high-resolution remote sensing images has good application prospects in military, civil, and other fields. With a depth encoder–decoder structure, U-Net is a frequently used model for high-precision image segmentation. However, the design of U-Net makes it hard to retain the detailed information of edges when processing the building segmentation. Specifically, the low-level features extracted from the shallow layer and the abstract features extracted from the deep layer cannot be completely merged, resulting in inaccurate segmentation. In response to this problem, we design a new multiscale feature extraction module that extracts target information through three convolution kernels of different scales. Taking U-Net as the baseline, by replacing skip connections with this module, we propose a multiscale feature extraction U-Net. This method can perform secondary feature extraction on the shallow feature information in the skip connection, refine the detailed information, and narrow the semantic gap between the low-level features and high-level features. It can not only improve the ability of the network to extract multiscale feature information, from a larger range to more layers to extract the edge detail information of the building in the remote sensing image, but also increase the number of skip connections to reduce network overfitting. Experimental results on Massachusetts remote sensing data and Massachusetts building data show that the method proposed offers significant improvement in terms of precision and accuracy compared with the methods full convolutional network, U-Net, SegNet, and high-resolution network, with an F1 score of 88.73%, mean IoU of 91.15%, precision of 89.74%, accuracy of 97.36%, and recall of 87.74%.
Chemical and microbial quality of whey from cow milk using calf rennet, microbial rennet, lactic acid and papaya latex

The purpose of the study was to determine the quality of whey obtained from cow milk using different types of coagulants (microbial rennet, calf rennet, lactic acid and papaya latex). The quality of whey was evaluated with the help of chemical and microbial tests. Results revealed that maximum whey yield (765 mL/L milk) was obtained from lactic acid coagulation which was 17 mL higher than that of the microbial rennet coagulation (p=0.000). The pH was found significantly (p<0.05) higher when the microbial rennet was used as coagulants. Whey obtained by the lactic acid coagulation was superior in terms of chemical quality compared to the whey obtained by coagulating action of other coagulating agents (p=0.000-0.001). Total solids and lactose content was found highest (7.2% and 4.8%, respectively) in lactic acid whey which was significantly higher (≈1%) than that of the other types of whey (p=0.000). In addition, protein content was also found higher (p<0.05) in whey obtained by lactic coagulation. On the other hand, efficiency of fat and ash recovery in curd was found lowest in calf rennet (p=0.000) among the studied coagulants. However, phosphorus content was highest (p=0.005) in calf rennet whey and the whey obtained by microbial rennet coagulation had the lowest (p=0.000) calcium concentration. Microbial load was found maximum (117 cfu × 104/mL) in whey drained out in microbial rennet coagulation, whereas, papaya latex whey had the lowest count (78 cfu × 104/ml), and the microbial count of other two whey was intermediate of them (p=0.000-0.001). In general, considering all the quality attributes, lactic acid whey was found better followed by calf rennet and papaya latex. It indicates more nutrient recovery in the curd produced by the microbial rennet. Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2021. 50 (2): 107-113
Possible Existence of Cochlear Synaptopathy in Patients Completely Recovered from Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Cochlear synaptopathy refers to a subclinical hearing pathology which could potentially explain hearing difficulties within the normal hearing threshold; it is also called “hidden hearing loss”. We hypothesized that a temporary threshold shift in sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) also affects the function in the synapse. The aim of the study was to evaluate the presence of cochlear synaptopathy in patients who had completely recovered from unilateral SSNHL Nineteen patients who had completely recovered from ISSNHL from January 2018 to June 2021 were assessed. Complete recovery was established by pure tone audiometry (PTA) 3 months after treatment, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery criteria. Subjects completed the pure tone audiometry, speech audiometry and auditory brain stem response (ABR) test, and completed a questionnaire regarding hearing loss after hearing recovery. The ABR amplitudes of wave I and wave V, and the ratio of wave I/V of both ears (recovered side and healthy side) were assessed. A visual analog scale (VAS) and a hidden hearing loss questionnaire were used to evaluate subjective hearing difficulty. The ABR waves I of the recovered ears had a significantly lower amplitude (p = 0.002) than those of the healthy side, whereas there was no difference in wave V (p = 0.985) or in the ratio of wave I/V (p = 0.107). Some patients still felt mild hearing difficulty although their PTA results were normal, but there was no clear relationship between the VAS score, wave I amplitude and speech recognition scores. The present findings point to the possible existence of cochlear synaptopathy in ears that have completely recovered from unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss. We suggest that the causes of cochlear synaptopathy and of idiopathic sudden hearing loss may have something in common.
Coding in early years education: which factors influence the skills of sequencing and plotting a route, and to what extent?

ABSTRACT Significant interest in teaching children to code since Preschool Education has arisen in recent years. This paper focuses on the benefits of preschoolers learning to code at such short age. The research questions are whether by coding they can improve skills such as sequencing and plotting a route? Which factors influence the learning? And, to what extent? To start coding, preschoolers might use robots such as Cubetto or KIBO, or other unplugged resources such as foam. Moreover, stories could be used to provide a context and a goal for the coding experience. An experiment was carried out with 192 children between 3 and 6 years old in age to gather some data. The hypothesis that the skills were improved by coding was proved; and that age, resources, and initial knowledge influence the learning process. This paper contributes more evidence of the benefits of coding in early years.
Investigation on Gas-liquid Two-phase Flow Void Fraction Across Tube Bundles Based on Images Processing Method

Digital image processing method was used to detect void fraction and study the distribution characteristics of gas-liquid two phase flow in tube bundles.High-speed camera system was employed to capture the real-time images of gas-liquid flow.Image processing technology was adopted to gray enhance,edge detection and binarization in the images.Thus,parameters of image were calculated.Experimental results show that the method has high measurement accuracy,and can be used for detection of parameters in gas-liquid flow.Comparisons with the literature available show that the Feenstra model and Dowlati model provides the best agreement with experimental data.Void fraction is low on surface position and high in center of tube bundle,which is observed by comparison of different direction of tube bundle.
Control Strategy of the Electric Power Steering System

In this paper,the stucture of the electric power steering system(EPS)is introduced and the dynamic model of EPS is also presented.In order to improve the EPS steering characteristic,the PD controller and PID controller are discussed.The simulation results show that the proposed control schemes can reduce the steering torque and improve the returnability performance.
Integrated Electrodes for Electrical Capacitance Tomography

This paper describes the design of circuitry that can be mounted directly on the electrodes in an electrical capacitance tomography system such that the effects of stray capacitance are reduced. This allows increased operating frequencies to be employed which leads to improvements isensitivity. These integrated electrodes are based on custom CMOS capacitance transducers that utilize the charge - discharge circuit with differential amplification, offset compensation and analogue -to -digital conversion. Digital, bit-serial, communications allow fast, reliable and efficient transfer of data. Data communication with the host is via a serial shift register.
Experimental Study on Carbonation Durability of Kaolin Strengthened with Slag Portland Cement

Slag Portland cement is an environmentally friendly and energy-saving product, which is widely used in cement-reinforced soil. This study used slag Portland cement-reinforced soil as the research object and P.O 42.5 + kaolin (POK) as the reference group. The carbonation depth and strength of P.S. A 42.5 + kaolin (PSK) at different curing times were analyzed using carbonation depth, uniaxial ground pressure strength, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The test results show the following: (1) The active substances in PSK samples can react with calcium hydroxide produced during cement hydration and can reduce the content of OH−. The PSK samples react with OH− and CO2 in the carbonation environment. Both processes considerably reduce the content of OH−. (2) Due to the decrease in OH− content, the carbonation durability of slag Portland cement-reinforced soil is significantly less than that of ordinary Portland cement. (3) The carbonation of slag Portland cement-reinforced soil improves its strength. (4) The results of SEM + EDS and XRD confirm the carbonation depth and strength of the POK and PSK samples. The results show that PSK has important applications in subgrade or building grouting materials and in cement-soil mixing piles (walls).
A comparative study of DC servo motor parameter estimation using various techniques

A lot of research is being carried out on the Direct Current (DC) servo motor systems due to their excessive applications in various industrial sectors owing to their superior control performance. Parameters of the DC servo motor systems to be used in the simulation software are usually unknown or change with time and have to be determined accurately for obtaining the precise simulation response. In this paper, three different estimation techniques for multi-domain DC servo motor model parameters are discussed namely the Compare Coefficient Method, MATLAB Parameter Estimation Toolbox, and System Identification Toolbox. The paper performs a comparison of these methods to identify the one that gives the most accurate results. Experimental data has been used for the comparison of the estimated response from the techniques. The results show that the parameters obtained from the parameter estimation method give the most accurate simulation results with the least error against the experimental results. The study is significant for guiding researchers to prefer this method for estimation purposes of DC servo motor simulation model parameters. The presented technique, i.e. parameter estimation technique, is relatively less complex and requires less computational cost as compared to other techniques found in the literature.
Action learning and the ambidextrous organization

PurposeThis article couples organizational theory with practice with the union of action learning and the ambidextrous organization. It aims to show how action learning contributes to the creation and sustainment of an ambidextrous (learning) organization.Design/methodology/approachA side-by-side comparison of action learning and the ambidextrous organization was used.FindingsAction learning “teaches” and promotes the framework and processes of ambidexterity and the practical creation of learning organizations. An action learning team in action performs like an ambidextrous organization to the extent that “acting” is synonymous with exploitation and “learning” with exploration.Research limitations/implicationsAction learning is a powerful tool for the ambidextrous organization, serving as a template for the practitioner to create a learning organization.Originality/valueThis paper extends the literature on organizational structure, leadership, culture and change as it relates to ambidexterity, learning organizations and action learning. It integrates learning theory through action learning with the practice of the ambidextrous organization. A synergistic theory/practice circle is created through the combination of the processes of “theory informing theory” from academia and “practice informing practice” from industry, creating a “theory informing practice and practice validating and updating better theory” circle.
Towards on Modelling Prediction of Biometric System Reliability

The development of a biometric systems is undoubtedly on the rise in the number and the application areas. Modeling of system reliability and system data analysis after failure and the time of re-establishing the operating regime is of crucial importance for users of the system and also for producers of certain components . Approaches for reliability analysis of biometric systems are subject to a review of numerous scientific papers. Most of them consider issues of reliability of component software applications. System reliability, considering hardware ,software and user influence, is of crucial importance for users and for manufacturers of biometric systems. In this paper, the authors analyzed a mathematical model to predict the reliability of biometric systems, regarding the dependence of components with exponential distribution of failure probability .
Variations in Microbial Diversity and Metabolite Profiles of Female Landrace Finishing Pigs With Distinct Feed Efficiency

To enhance pig production, feed efficiency (FE) should be improved; however, the mechanisms by which gut microbes affect FE in pigs have not been fully elucidated. To investigate the differences between the composition and functionality of the gut microbiota associated with low and high FE, microbial compositions were characterized using 16S rRNA sequencing, functional annotations were performed by shotgun metagenomics, and metabolomic profiles were created by GC-TOF-MS from female Landrace finishing pigs with low and high feed conversion ratios (FCRs). Lactobacillus was enriched in the gut microbiota of individuals with low FCRs (and thus high FE), while Prevotella abundance was significantly higher in individuals with high FCRs (and thus low FE). This may be linked to carbohydrate consumption and incomplete digestion. The activity of pathways involved in the metabolism of cofactors and vitamins was greater in pigs with lower FE. We also identified differences in pyruvate-related metabolism, including phenylalanine and lysine metabolism. This suggests that pyruvate metabolism is closely related to microbial fermentation in the colon, which in turn affects glycolysis. This study deepens our understanding of how gut microbiota are related to pig growth traits, and how regulating microbial composition could aid in improving porcine FE. However, these results need to be validated using a larger pig cohort in the future.
Oxytocin as the Neurobiological Basis of Synchronization: A Research Proposal in Psychotherapy Settings

Synchronization of physiological signals between individuals seems to originate from intra-uterine life between mother and fetus (Feldman, 2006) and continues to characterize relational events in the entire human lifespan. Although referable to a wide pattern of phenomena underpinned both by central and peripheral nervous system, the term physiological synchronization (PS) is mostly used in literature to denote the autonomic nervous system mutual modulations (Palumbo et al., 2017), of two or more people interacting [even without eye contact, e.g., only by hearing each other; Vanutelli et al. (2017)]. Even though PS seems to occur also during behavioral coordination, the great majority of studies are recently addressed to define the intriguing phenomenon of the co-occurrence of PS and emotional/affective attunement, happening even when interacting people are involved in minimal and not necessarily coordinated behaviors [e.g., eye gaze; Palumbo et al. (2017)]. The neurotransmittitorial system underpinning PS has never been investigated. Our idea is that oxytocin may be the eligible candidate to be investigated as a mediator of PS, on the basis of the following arguments: (a) Both PS and oxytocin release occur in the same affiliative processes; (b) Aggressivity and conflictual exchange are characterized by both PS and oxytocin release, an aspect that is only in ostensible contradiction with the previous one; (c) PS and oxytocin system functioning have compatible neural underpinnings; (d) PS and oxytocin have all shown an association with psychotherapy process and outcome.
Cost–Utility Analysis of a Latanoprost Cationic Emulsion (STN1013001) versus Other Latanoprost in the Treatment of Open-Angle Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension and Concomitant Ocular Surface Disease in Germany

Purpose This study aimed to estimate the cost–utility and economic value of STN1013001, a latanoprost cationic emulsion vs other latanoprost formulations (henceforth latanoprost) in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT) and concomitant ocular surface disease (OSD) in Germany. Methods An early 5-year Markov model-supported cost–utility analysis was performed to estimate costs, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and life-years saved (LYS) for STN1013001 vs latanoprost from the German health system perspective. The model included seven mutually exclusive health states and adopted a 1-year cycle length. The model was populated with pooled data derived, by means of a questionnaire, from a convenience sample of five German glaucoma specialists. Remaining data were derived from published sources. Data provided by the ophthalmologists included annual treatment adherence probabilities, utility values and resource utilization. The half-cycle correction as well as a discount rate of 3.0% per year were applied to costs (expressed in €2020), life-year saved (LYS) and QALYs. The incremental cost–utility ratio (ICUR) was contrasted against the informal willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold for incremental LYS saved or QALY gained (€30,000) proposed for Germany. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (OWSA; PSA) tested the robustness of the base case ICUR. Results Over the 5-year time horizon, STN1013001 strongly dominates latanoprost as it is less costly (€1003.65 vs €1145.37; −12.37%) and produces more QALYs (2.612 vs 2.365; +10.44%) per notional patient. Baseline findings were robust against all the variations included in OWSA. PSA shows that STN1013001 has a 100% probability of being cost-effective vs Latanoprost at each WTP threshold for incremental QALY gained. Conclusion Once on the market, STN1013001 will provide a cost-effective and possibly strongly dominant therapy vs latanoprost for OAG/OHT+OSD patients from a German health system perspective. Future empirical research should confirm these findings.
Calculation of Magnetic Field,Parameters and Performance for Axially-Laminated Anisotropic Rotor Reluctance Machines

Nonlinear and anisotropic magnetic field in the high density Axially dominated Anisotropic(ALA)rotor reluctance machine is computed by finite element method. Different position angle between stator current vector and rotor d-axis (from 0 to 90°),different pole span length(from 2/3 pitch to full pitch)and different applied current(from 0 to 2 times the rated value)arestudied. Based on numerical results,the parameters and performance of the machine are calculated and discussed. Conclusions show that in order to achieve linear parameters and high performance,the per unit value of the magnetizing current component should be less thsn 0.5 and the pole span length should be optimized.