Rate and frequency of demands on children with autism

Applied Behavior Analytic (ABA) intervention seeks to improve deficits in children with autism by providing multiple planned opportunities for learners to develop and practice skills that are useful to them, and are effective alternatives to less acceptable behaviors. Throughout a given day, teachers give instruction to children. While the rate and frequency of these instructions occur in high numbers, there is little literature on just how often they occur. This project sought to find out the frequency of demands in one-hour increments for ten children in a behavior analytic school setting, and to test for differences between male and female students. Demands were tallied for any directive that was presented to the individual in which evokes a response. Results implicated that students averaged 173.47 demands per hour. These results indicate that a high number of demands are needed to keep the students engaged and maximize their learning opportunities

A method for estimating object detection probability, lateral resolution, and errors in 3D-LiDARs

3D-LiDARs are nowadays used for many applications, the success of which certainly depends on the processing of the LiDAR output—the point cloud, PC,—but it also inexorably depends on the quality of the PC data. In this study, we propose an experimental method aimed at allowing estimating the errors and deformations that will statistically affect the LiDAR output — the PC. Taking advantage of the fact that LiDARs sample the surrounding space by observing it along divergent lines, hereinafter referred to as rays, this study proposes a simple method based on the experimental determination of the ray detection probability — the probability that a single ray detects the hit object, or a fraction of it, by adding a point in the point cloud. All other probabilities of interest are derived from such a probability. The proposed method also allows highlighting unexpected errors such as cross-talk. As will be shown by the examples given, due to cross-talk, small objects may be deformed and enlarged on a significantly greater number of points in the PC. Likewise, objects angularly separated by an angle greater than the angular resolution declared by the manufacturer may unexpectedly result in a continuum of points. Such errors may compromise the ability to perform very important tasks such as detection, classification, and tracking of dynamic and static objects, as well as the partition of the scene into drivable and non-drivable regions and the path planning around generic obstacles in 3D space

Cloning, molecular characterization and tissue exPression of an octoPamine/tyramine recePtor from sPotted wing drosoPhila (DROSOPHILA SUZUKII)

Spotted wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) is a polyphagous pest arrived in Europe in 2009 able to infest a growing number of fruit and vine species, causing considerable economic damage. D. suzukii grows very rapidly (seven to fifteen generations per year) and shows a remarkable ability to adapt to climatic conditions and to new host plants. These characteristics make its populations particularly difficult to control. Octopamine (OA) and tyramine (TA) biogenic amines are present in traces in vertebrates, while in invertebrates they act as substitutes for adrenaline and noradrenaline. Indeed, these amines regulate numerous physiological processes in insects. They exert their effects by binding to specific receptor proteins that belong to the superfamily of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). In this work, we have isolated complementary DNA (cDNA) coding for an amine receptor from Drosophila suzukii (DsTyr). The cloned cDNA is about 1.8kb long and encodes for a 601 amino acids protein. This polypeptide presents the classical seven transmembrane domains as revealed by hydropathic profile analysis. BLAST analysis of the sequence shows a high identity (>98%) to the octopamine/tyramine receptor from Drosophila melanogaster. DsTyr1 deduced sequence will be compared to the amino acid sequence of octopamine/tyramine receptors from other insects. Furthermore, the various receptor sequences will be characterized by phylogenetic analysis. The expression level of the receptor will be studied by qRT-PCR analysis in different parts of D. suzukii male and female body (head, thorax and abdomen). With this work, we present a first structural and functional description of an octopamine/tyramine receptor from Drosophila suzukii

Insieme di Kakeya

In questo elaborato di tesi viene trattato il Problema di Kakeya. Nel primo capitolo si considera il caso bidimensionale e si costruisce l'insieme di Besicovitch, anche detto insieme di Kakeya, calcolandone l'area. Nella prima parte del secondo capitolo viene sviluppato il problema utilizzando la dualità, mentre nella seconda si risolve il problema considerando la costruzione di insiemi piani di misura nulla contenenti cerchi di ogni raggio. Successivamente si sviluppa il problema in dimensione maggiore, generalizzandolo al caso n-dimensionale. Nell'ultimo capitolo si mostra la relazione del problema di Kakeya con l'analisi armonica