Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Dynamic Relay Handover Technology for the Paired Slot Relay of JTIDS under Selective Attacks

In this paper we present a novel technology named Probability Dynamic Relay Handover (PDRH) for the benefit of providing a mechanism to recover from selective attacks on some important terminals of JTIDS. The key points of PDRH are the probability model to simulate selective attacks using the theory of scale-free network and addressing for a new relay node. In simulation based on OPNET Modeler 10.5, the effect of PDRH on the network performance and survivability are estimated according to the mostly used network performance indices and some new indices proposed. The results indicate that as a candidate relay handover technology for the paired slot relay, PDRH can largely improve the survivability of JTIDS under the attacks on the important terminals, while the extra cost on the network resources is little.
Biological Crystallography Structural Analysis of Dna Binding by C.csp231i, a Member of a Novel Class of R-m Controller Proteins Regulating Gene Expression

In a wide variety of bacterial restriction–modification systems, a regulatory 'controller' protein (or C-protein) is required for effective transcription of its own gene and for transcription of the endonuclease gene found on the same operon. We have recently turned our attention to a new class of controller proteins (exemplified by C.Csp231I) that have quite novel features, including a much larger DNA-binding site with an 18 bp ($60 A ˚) spacer between the two palindromic DNA-binding sequences and a very different recognition sequence from the canonical GACT/AGTC. Using X-ray crystallography , the structure of the protein in complex with its 21 bp DNA-recognition sequence was solved to 1.8 A ˚ resolution, and the molecular basis of sequence recognition in this class of proteins was elucidated. An unusual aspect of the promoter sequence is the extended spacer between the dimer binding sites, suggesting a novel interaction between the two C-protein dimers when bound to both recognition sites correctly spaced on the DNA. A U-bend model is proposed for this tetrameric complex, based on the results of gel-mobility assays, hydro-dynamic analysis and the observation of key contacts at the interface between dimers in the crystal.
Multilevel-statistical reformulation of citation-based university rankings: The Leiden ranking 2011/2012

Since the 1990s, with the heightened competition and the strong growth of the international higher education market, an increasing number of rankings have been created that measure the scientific performance of an institution based on data. The Leiden Ranking 2011/2012 (LR) was published early in 2012. Starting from Goldstein and Spiegelhalter's (1996) recommendations for conducting quantitative comparisons among institutions, in this study we undertook a reformulation of the LR by means of multilevel regression models. First, with our models we replicated the ranking results; second, the reanalysis of the LR data showed that only 5% of the PPtop10% total variation is attributable to differences between universities. Beyond that, about 80% of the variation between universities can be explained by differences among countries. If covariates are included in the model the differences among most of the universities become meaningless. Our findings have implications for conducting university rankings in general and for the LR in particular. For example, with Goldstein-adjusted confidence intervals, it is possible to interpret the significance of differences among universities meaningfully: Rank differences among universities should be interpreted as meaningful only if their confidence intervals do not overlap.
Active Object Localization in Visual Situations

We describe a method for performing active localization of objects in instances of visual situations. A visual situation is an abstract concept---e.g., "a boxing match", "a birthday party", "walking the dog", "waiting for a bus"---whose image instantiations are linked more by their common spatial and semantic structure than by low-level visual similarity. Our system combines given and learned knowledge of the structure of a particular situation, and adapts that knowledge to a new situation instance as it actively searches for objects. More specifically, the system learns a set of probability distributions describing spatial and other relationships among relevant objects. The system uses those distributions to iteratively sample object proposals on a test image, but also continually uses information from those object proposals to adaptively modify the distributions based on what the system has detected. We test our approach's ability to efficiently localize objects, using a situation-specific image dataset created by our group. We compare the results with several baselines and variations on our method, and demonstrate the strong benefit of using situation knowledge and active context-driven localization. Finally, we contrast our method with several other approaches that use context as well as active search for object localization in images.
Factor V Leiden mutation in relation to fecundity and miscarriage in women with venous thrombosis.

BACKGROUND Factor V Leiden mutation (Arg506Gln) increases the likelihood of venous thrombosis; it may also have a positive effect through facilitation of embryo implantation. This may manifest itself as a reduced time to pregnancy (increased fecundity) and fewer miscarriages in the first trimester. METHODS From March 1999 onwards, consecutive patients with a first venous thrombosis (VT) were recruited. The first 115 female VT patients with factor V Leiden and 230 age-matched female VT patients without factor V Leiden were included. All patients, unaware of their genotype, received a structured questionnaire. RESULTS Of the 297 (86%) women who returned the questionnaire, 220 had been pregnant at least once. Time to first pregnancy was unaffected by carrier status: 58% factor V Leiden carriers reported a pregnancy within 3 months compared to 54% non-carriers. The miscarriage proportion was 14%, similar in both groups. First trimester miscarriage was less frequent among carriers (46%) than among non-carriers (95%) (relative risk 0.5, 95% confidence interval 0.3-0.9). CONCLUSIONS Factor V Leiden mutation may support embryo implantation, as factor V Leiden carriers had fewer miscarriages in the first trimester with a similar overall miscarriage rate. Miscarriage of embryos with poor viability may be postponed until the second trimester in factor V Leiden carriers. Fecundity was not influenced by factor V Leiden status.
Recent progress in tissue optical clearing

Tissue optical clearing technique provides a prospective solution for the application of advanced optical methods in life sciences. This paper gives a review of recent developments in tissue optical clearing techniques. The physical, molecular and physiological mechanisms of tissue optical clearing are overviewed and discussed. Various methods for enhancing penetration of optical‐clearing agents into tissue, such as physical methods, chemical‐penetration enhancers and combination of physical and chemical methods are introduced. Combining the tissue optical clearing technique with advanced microscopy image or labeling technique, applications for 3D microstructure of whole tissues such as brain and central nervous system with unprecedented resolution are demonstrated. Moreover, the difference in diffusion and/or clearing ability of selected agents in healthy versus pathological tissues can provide a highly sensitive indicator of the tissue health/pathology condition. Finally, recent advances in optical clearing of soft or hard tissue for in vivo imaging and phototherapy are introduced.
Eğitim Kurumlarında Stratejik Planlama Bilinç Düzeyi Ve Stratejik Yönetimde Karşılaşılan Sorunlar: Denizli İli Örneği/The Level of Consciousness in Strategic Planning in Educational Institutions and the Problems Experienced in Strategic Management: A samp

The aim of this study is to analyze principals and teachers’ levels of consciousness in strategic planning in educational institutions and the problems they experienced in strategic management. The sample of the study consisted of 3349 participants (principals and teachers) working in 150 schools-100 compulsory schools, 40 high schools and 10 special education- in the city of Denizli. The Questionnaire of Consciousness in Strategic Planning and The Questionnaire of Problems Experienced in Strategic Management were developed and delivered by the researcher. As a result of the findings, there were significant differences among compulsory school teachers, high school teachers and principals in terms of the levels of strategic consciousness. The level of consciousness in strategic planning of the principals educated and trained on strategic planning were higher than those who were not educated and trained on strategic planning and their attitudes towards strategic planning were positive. The problems experienced in strategic management were found as the dominance of classical management, insufficient performance of school development and management teams, lack of rewards to hardworking and successful teachers by principals and the intensity of workload in schools.
CONTROL OF AN UNCERTAIN THREE-TANK SYSTEM VIA ON-LINE PARAMETER IDENTIFICATION AND FAULT DETECTION

Abstract We provide fast and on-line methods for failure detection and isolation of uncertain nonlinear systems which are operating in closed-loop. They are based on accurate values of the derivatives of a time-signal, which are obtained via new algebraic estimation techniques. The applicability and efficiency of our approach are illustrated by numerical simulations for a most popular case-study namely the three-tank system.
Addressing the lack of studies in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is commonly known to occur during childhood, characterized by excessive inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity as well as lack of emotional self-control and motivation. The prevalence of adult ADHD in the general population is estimated to be between 2–5%. The aim of this review is to provide an overview regarding current controversies related to ADHD within the adult population. The concept of ADHD in adults has been questioned and criticized by professionals over the last years. Overall, adult ADHD is well evidenced based on epidemiological data, genetic data, neuroimaging, psychosocial impairment and treatment effectiveness. Although, research within this field has been significantly improved, suggestions for future research are provided, in order to be able to clarify the remaining questions regarding this disorder throughout adulthood. One of the most important changes to be made in the near future should be to increase educational training on ADHD in adults.
Urinary proteome pattern in children with renal Fanconi syndrome.

BACKGROUND The renal Fanconi syndrome (FS) is characterized by renal glucosuria, loss of electrolytes, bicarbonate and lactate, generalized hyperaminoaciduria and low-molecular-weight proteinuria. We studied the urinary low-molecular-weight proteome to identify excreted peptides indicative of a pathogenetic mechanism leading to tubular dysfunction. METHODS We established a urinary proteome pattern using capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry (CE-MS) of 7 paediatric patients with cystinosis and 6 patients with ifosfamide-induced FS as the study group, and 54 healthy volunteers and 45 patients suffering from other renal diseases such as lupus nephritis (n = 8), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (n = 27), minimal change disease (n = 7) and membranous glomerulonephritis (n = 3) as controls. Consequently, we conducted a blinded study consisting of 11 FS patients and 9 patients with renal disease other than FS. Additionally, we applied this pattern to 294 previously measured samples of patients with different renal diseases. Amino acid sequences of some marker proteins were obtained. RESULTS Specificity for detecting FS was 89% and sensitivity was 82%. The marker peptides constituting the proteome pattern are fragments derived from osteopontin, uromodulin and collagen alpha-1. CONCLUSIONS CE-MS can be used to diagnose FS in paediatric patients and might be a future tool for the non-invasive diagnosis of FS. The reduced amount of the marker proteins osteopontin and uromodulin indicates loss of function of tubular excretion in all patients suffering from FS regardless of the underlying cause. In addition, the six different fragments of the collagen alpha-1 (I) chain were either elevated or reduced in the urine. This indicates a change of proteases in collagen degradation as observed in interstitial fibrosis. These changes were prominent irrespectively of the stages of FS. This indicates fibrosis as an early starting pathogenetic reason for the development of renal insufficiency in FS patients.
Acquiring Information Technology Skills by Freshmen Students at Kuwait University: The Language Factor

The provision of academic courses for freshmen students aiming at improving their information technology skills is crucial due to the large number of students admitted every year. Kuwait University introduced a service course in information technology skills to freshman students in the College of Science to be taught in English, and a similar course to freshmen students in the College of Social Science to be taught in Arabic. This paper attempts to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching information technology skills to freshmen students at Kuwait University, compare the results between the two colleges, and ascertain whether the language of instruction played any role in achieving these results. A questionnaire was distributed at the beginning and end of the course work to measure the pre-test knowledge, post-test knowledge, and the progress of acquiring new terminology among the students in both colleges. A total of 196 students participated in the study. The findings showed that science students have more prior knowledge of information technology terminology and acquired more terms during coursework. Social science students fell short of achieving similar results
Atomic-scale observations of alloying at the Cr-Fe(001) interface.

While much progress has been made using epitaxial growth of Fe/Cr/Fe structures to study magnetic exchange coupling, a number of anomalies have arisen in studies of this model system. Using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy to investigate Cr growth on Fe(001), we have identified a potential structural cause of these anomalies. We show that Cr growth under layer-by-layer conditions on Fe(001) leads to the formation of a Cr-Fe alloy. We exploit a Cr and Fe surface state to identify single Cr impurities in Fe and evaluate the alloy concentrations with increasing Cr coverage. PACS numbers: 61.16. Ch, 68.55. -a, 75.70. Cn
University of Huddersfield Repository Assessing the Role of Longitudinal Variability of Vertical Track Stiffness in the Long-Term Deterioration

longitudinal variability of the vertical track stiffness in the long-term behaviour of the track degradation. ABSTRACT: The longitudinal variation of support stiffness is believed to be a key driver for the differential settlement of the ballast. This paper presents an innovative approach to correlate these two variables. In order to overcome the lack of input data, a statistical model is applied and the spatial correlation of the input stiffness data is controlled to generate naturally occurring variations. A large set of simulations is run and the relationship between deterioration rate and support properties is then analysed using log-linear multiple regression models. The results show that it is not only its mean value that has an impact in the long term settlement behaviour, but it is also its longitudinal variability. Also, main results suggest that the speed effect might be more crucial in localized corrective maintenance needs than in preventive maintenance needs.
Assimilation and Contrast Effects in the Priming of Asian American and African American Stereotypes through TV Exposure

This study applied theoretical propositions of the assimilation and contrast perspectives of social psychology to investigate the effects of exposure to TV portrayals of Asian Americans on judgments regarding Asian and African Americans. Experimental participants exposed to TV-mediated messages reinforcing the Asian American “model minority”‘ stereotype were more likely to positively evaluate Asian Americans and to negatively evaluate African Americans than participants exposed to messages countering the “model” stereotype or to a control stimulus. Exposure to the “model” reinforcement also led to disagreement with affirmative action.
Journey of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Homing: Strategies to Enhance Efficacy and Safety of Stem Cell Therapy

Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) communicate with other cells in the human body and appear to “home” to areas of injury in response to signals of cellular damage, known as homing signals. This review of the state of current research on homing of MSCs suggests that favorable cellular conditions and the in vivo environment facilitate and are required for the migration of MSCs to the site of insult or injury in vivo. We review the current understanding of MSC migration and discuss strategies for enhancing both the environmental and cellular conditions that give rise to effective homing of MSCs. This may allow MSCs to quickly find and migrate to injured tissues, where they may best exert clinical benefits resulting from improved homing and the presence of increased numbers of MSCs.
EhPAK, a member of the p21-activated kinase family, is involved in the control of Entamoeba histolytica migration and phagocytosis

Entamoeba histolytica migration is essential for the development of amoebiasis, a human disease characterised by invasion and destruction of tissues. Amoebic motility requires both polarisation of the cell and formation of a predominant pseudopod. As p21-activated kinases PAKs are known to regulate eukaryotic cell motility and morphology, we investigated the role of PAK in E. histolytica. We showed that the C-terminal domain of EhPAK comprised a constitutive kinase activity in vitro and that overproduction of this fragment, in E. histolytica, caused a significant reduction in amoeboid migration, as measured by dynamic image analysis, indicating an involvement of EhPAK in this process. A dramatic loss of polarity, as indicated by the increased number of membrane extensions all around E. histolytica, was also observed, suggesting that the N-terminal domain of EhPAK was necessary for maintenance of cell polarity. To support this view, we showed that despite the absence of the consensus motif to bind to Rac and Cdc42, the N-terminal domain of EhPAK bound to Rac1, suggesting that the N-terminal region was a regulatory domain. In addition, we also found an increased rate of human red blood cell phagocytosis, suggesting for the first time an active role for a PAK protein in this process. Taking together, the results suggest strongly that EhPAK is a key regulatory element in polarity, motility and phagocytosis of E. histolytica.
The Role of Extensive Margins of Exports in The Great Export Recovery in Germany, 2009/2010

Summary This paper contributes to the literature by documenting for the first time the contribution of adding (and dropping) goods and destination countries to the sharp increase in exports of goods in the German economy as a whole during the Great Export Recovery in 2009/2010. The empirical investigation finds that firms that exported in both 2009 and 2010 are much more important for the export dynamics than export starters and export stoppers. Firms that increased their exports (and that were the drivers of the export boom) exported on average more goods and to more destination countries in 2009 than firms that decreased their exports, and they increased both extensive margins of exports on average while firms with decreased exports reduced both the number of goods exported and the number of countries exported to.
Interaction with Mesenchymal Stem Cells Provokes Natural Killer Cells for Enhanced IL-12/IL-18-Induced Interferon-Gamma Secretion

Tissue injury induces an inflammatory response accompanied by the recruitment of immune cells and of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) that contribute to tissue regeneration. After stimulation with interleukin- (IL-) 12 and IL-18 natural killer (NK) cells secrete the proinflammatory cytokine interferon- (IFN-) γ. IFN-γ plays a crucial role in the defense against infections and modulates tissue regeneration. In consideration of close proximity of NK cells and MSC at the site of injury we investigated if MSC could influence the ability of NK-cells to produce IFN-γ. Coculture experiments were performed with bone marrow-derived human MSC and human NK cells. MSC enhanced the ability of IL-12/IL-18-stimulated NK cells to secrete IFN-γ in a dose-dependent manner. This activation of NK cells was dependent on cell-cell contact as well as on soluble factors. The increased IFN-γ secretion from NK cells after contact with MSC correlated with an increased level of intracellular IFN-γ. Alterations in the IL-12 signaling pathway including an increased expression of the IL-12β1 receptor subunit and an increased phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) could be observed. In conclusion, MSC enhance the IFN-γ release from NK cells which might improve the defense against infections at the site of injury but additionally might affect tissue regeneration.
ASYMPTOTIC ANALYSIS FOR LINEAR DIFFERENCE EQUATIONS

We are concerned with asymptotic analysis for linear difference equations in a locally convex space. First we introduce the profile operator, which plays a central role in analyzing the asymptotic behaviors of the solutions. Then factorial asymptotic expansions for the solutions are given quite explicitly. Finally we obtain Gevrey estimates for the solutions. In a forthcoming paper we will develop the theory of cohomology groups for recurrence relations. The main results in this paper lay analytic foundations of such an algebraic theory, while they are of intrinsic interest in the theory of finite differences.
Predicting the probability of winning sealed bid auctions: the effects of outliers on bidding models

This paper is concerned with the effect of outliers on predictions of the probability of tendering the lowest bid in sealed bid auctions. Four of the leading models are tested relative to the equal probability model by an empirical analysis of three large samples of real construction contract bidding data via all‐in (in‐sample), one‐out and one‐on (out‐of‐sample) frames. Outliers are removed in a sequence of cut‐off values proportional to the standard deviation of bids for each auction. A form of logscore is used to measure the ability to predict the probability of each bidder being the lowest. The results show that, although statistically significant in some conditions, all the models produce rather poor predictions in both one‐out and one‐on mode, with the effects of outliers being generally small.