Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gene Expression Alterations in Immune System Pathways in the Thymus after Exposure to Immunosuppressive Chemicals

Background Dysregulation of positive and negative selection, antigen presentation, or apoptosis in the thymus can lead to immunosuppression or autoimmunity. Diethylstilbestrol (DES), dexamethasone (DEX), cyclophosphamide (CPS), and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) are immunosuppressive chemicals that induce similar immunotoxic effects in the thymus, however, the mechanism of toxicity is purported to be different for each compound. Objectives We hypothesized that genomic analysis of thymus after chemical-induced atrophy would yield transcriptional profiles that suggest pathways of toxicity associated with reduced function. Methods Female B6C3F1 mice were exposed to these immunosuppressive agents and changes in gene expression and immune cell subpopulations were evaluated. Results All four chemicals induced thymic atrophy and changes in both the relative proportion and absolute number of CD3+, CD4+/CD8−, CD4−/CD8+, and CD4+/CD8+ thymocytes. The most significant impact of exposure to DEX, DES, and CPS was modulation of gene expression in the T-cell receptor (TCR) complex and TCR and CD28 signaling pathways; this could represent a common mechanism of action and play a pivotal role in lineage commitment and development of T cells. Up-regulation of genes associated with the antigen presentation and dendritic cell maturation pathways was the most distinctive effect of TCDD exposure. These elements, which were also up-regulated by DEX and DES, contribute to positive and negative selection. Conclusions Genomic analysis revealed gene expression changes in several pathways that are commonly associated with xenobiotic-induced immune system perturbations, particularly those that contribute to the development and maturation of thymic T cells.
Semi-supervised learning for packed executable detection

The term malware is coined to name any software with malicious intentions. One of the methods malware writers use for hiding their creations is executable packing. Packing consists of encrypting or hiding the real code of the executable in such a way that it is decrypted or unhidden in its execution. Widespread solutions to this issue first try to identify the packer used and next apply the corresponding unpacking routine for each packing algorithm. As it happens with malware obfuscations, this approach fails to detect new and custom packers. Generic unpacking is a technique that has been proposed to solve this issue. These methods usually execute the binary in a contained environment or sandbox to retrieve the real code of the packed executable. Because these approaches incur in a high performance overhead, a filter step is required to determine whether an executable is packed or not. Supervised machine-learning approaches have been proposed to handle this filtering step. However, the usefulness of supervised learning is far to be complete because it requires a high amount of packed and not packed executables to be identified and labelled previously. In this paper, we propose a new method for packed executable detection that adopts a well-known semi-supervised learning approach to reduce the labelling requirements of completely supervised approaches. We performed an empirical validation demonstrating that the labelling efforts are lower than when supervised learning is used while the system maintains high accuracy rates.
JDF: detecting duplicate bug reports in Jazz

Both developers and users submit bug reports to a bug repository. These reports can help reveal defects and improve software quality. As the number of bug reports in a bug repository increases, the number of the potential duplicate bug reports increases. Detecting duplicate bug reports helps reduce development efforts in fixing defects. However, it is challenging to manually detect all potential duplicates because of the large number of existing bug reports. This paper presents JDF (representing Jazz Duplicate Finder), a tool that helps users to find potential duplicates of bug reports on Jazz, which is a team collaboration platform for software development and process management. JDF finds potential duplicates for a given bug report using natural language and execution information.
Conflict management styles and personality: The effects of dominance at the individual and group level

The present study investigates the relationship between need for dominance with assertiveness and cooperativeness as conflict management styles at the individual and. group levels. The study was conducted in two sessions. In the first session, sixty one subjects were given the Manifest . Needs Questionnaire (Need for Dominance) and the Thomas-, , Kilmann MODE Instrument. , In the second session, subjects were placed into groups based on level of dominance need. Each group participated in a group conflict situation. Subjects were then ,given a revised version of the ThdmasKilmann MODE Instrument (for groups) in order to assess the conflict style of the group. They were also asked to rate their, personal conflict style by utilizing an assertiveness and cooperativeness measure. Subjects were then rotated into groups of mixed dominance levels and identical procedures were applied. As hypothesized, dominance was positively correlated with assertiveness as a conflict management style, at the individual level. No relationship was found between dominance and.cooperativeness at the individual level. No hypothesized relationships were found at the „ group level (for both homogeneous and mixed dominance groups). Implications of the results, limitations of the study, as well as future recommendations, are discussed.
An examination of early and late contributions at online contexts

User generated content is being recognized as part of the value proposition of e-commerce organizations. To make available fresh content on topics with existing contributions and first-time content on topics with little or no existing content, one needs to understand why individuals contribute early or late. Drawing upon the cognitive model of helping, this study develops and tests three hypotheses based on a survey and archival data of 235 contributors of reviews at Amazon.com. Results of an SEM analysis using LISREL indicate that self-perceived competence is positively associated with early contributions whereas an individual’s social adjustive motive toward others in general leads to late contributions. In contrast, people for whom the social adjustive motive toward specific others is salient are neither likely to contribute consistently early nor late. These findings suggest ways for site administrators to ensure a balanced coverage across topics by addressing these individual factors.
Bond Restructuring and Moral Hazard: Are Collective Action Clauses Costly?

Many official groups have endorsed the wider use by emerging market borrowers of contract clauses which allow for a qualified majority of bondholders to restructure repayment terms in the event of financial distress. Some have argued that such clauses will be associated with moral hazard and increased borrowing costs. This paper addresses this question empirically using primary and secondary market yields and finds no evidence that the presence of collective action clauses increases yields for either higher- or lower-rated issuers. By implication, the perceived benefits from easier restructuring are at least as large as any costs from increased moral hazard.
Foreign Direct Investment: Trends, TRIMs, and WTO Negotiations

Foreign direct investment (FDI) flows have increased dramatically in recent decades. As developing countries, particularly in Asia, remove restrictions and implement policies to attract FDI inflows, trade and investment have become increasingly intertwined. As such, there have been growing calls for a multilateral framework of foreign investment rules to be negotiated under the auspices of the World Trade Organization (WTO). This paper reviews recent developments in FDI flows and their impacts in developing Asia, and the importance of the policy context in which those flows occur. It discusses advantages and disadvantages of including FDI in WTO negotiations, and related policy options for developing Asian economies.
PENGARUH PEMBELAJARAN BERBASIS WEB TERHADAP MOTIVASI DAN HASIL BELAJAR SISWA KELAS X SMA NEGERI PAGUYANGAN PADA MATA PELAJARAN FISIKA POKOK BAHASAN SUHU DAN KALOR

Telah dilakukan penelitian yang bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh pembelajaran berbasis web terhadap motivasi dan hasil belajar siswa pada mata pelajaran fisika pokok bahasan suhu dan kalor. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode quasi eksperimen dengan model Non-equivalent Groups Pretest-Posttest Experimental . Populasi yang digunakan yaitu seluruh siswa kelas X SMAN Paguyangan. Sampel diambil sebanyak 48 siswa menggunakan teknik purposif sampling . Data penelitian berupa hasil belajar kognitif yang diperoleh dari tes dan skor sikap siswa yang diperoleh dari lembar observasi. Hasil uji t menunjukan peningkatan motivasi belajar kelas ekperimen sebesar 24,58 lebih tinggi daripada kelas kontrol yang hanya sebesar 15,34. Rerata nilai posttest untuk kelas ekperimen 74,03 dengan 87,5% siswa mencapai KKM sedangkan rerata nilai posttest untuk kelas kontrol 71,25 dan jumlah siswa yang mencapai KKM hanya 75%. Hasil uji t menunjukan peningkatan hasil belajar kelas eksperimen sebesar 26,66 lebih tinggi daripada kelas kontrol yang hanya 20,10. Kata Kunci: hasil belajar, motivasi, pembelajaran berbasis web Has done reseach that aims to find out the effect of web-based learning on the motivation and physics learning outcome of students in topic of temperature and heat. This research was conducted by using experimental quasi method with Non-equivalent Groups Pretest-Posttest Experimental design. The population was around the tenth grade students of Paguyangan senior high school. Samples were taken as many as 48 students using purposive sampling technique. The research data in the form of cognitive learning outcome obtained from the test and the students’ attitude scores obtained from the observation sheet. The result of t-test showed that the increasing of motivation to learn of experimental class at 24.58 is higher than the control class which only amounted to 15.34. The mean value of posttest at 74.03 for the experimental class with 87.5% of students achieve the boundary value whereas the mean value for the control class 71.25 and the number of students who achieve the boundary value only 75%. The result of t-test showed that the increasing of learning outcome for the experimental class at 26.66 higher than the control class which only amounted to 20.10. Key words: learning outcome, motivation, web-based learning
Real-time video surveillance by a hybrid static/active camera mechatronic system

In this paper we present an effective real-time video surveillance system for real-life outdoor surveillance scenarios. The system is an integration of two subsystems: the static camera and moving one. The approaches employed address properly the challenges that might arise in a typical outdoor scene, such as local and global lighting changes, variations in objects' appearance and occlusions. Our aim is to detect and follow abnormal behaviors, which may occur when vehicles and pedestrians interact typical urban environment. Static camera subsystem operates multiple object tracking and classification. In case that an object of special interest is identified, the operation of the moving camera subsystem initiates, in order to track this object and record its activity.
Cluster-based user simulations for learning dialogue strategies

Abstract Good dialogue strate gies in spok en dialogue systems help to en-sure and maintain mutual understanding and thus play a crucialrole in rob ust con versational interaction. W e focus on clariÞca-tion strate gies and build user simulations which are critical forreinforcement learning, which is a cheap and principled w ay toautomatically optimise dialogue management. In this paper wepresent a no vel cluster -based technique for building user simula-tions which sho w varying , but complete and consistent beha viourwith respect to real users. W e use this technique to build usersimulations and we also introduce the S U P E R evaluation metricwhich allo ws us to evaluate user simulations with respect to thesedesiderata. W e sho w that the cluster -based user simulation tech-nique performs signiÞcantly better (at P < 0.01 ) than decisionsmade using either the one most likely action or a random base-line. The cluster -based user simulations reduce the average errorof these other models by 53% and 34% respecti vely . Index T erms : spok en dialogue, user simulation, evaluation met-rics, reinforcement learning, dialogue strate gies
The Second-Image Reversed and Climate Policy: How International Influences Helped Changing Brazil's Positions on Climate Change

International climate policy over the last 7–8 years has been characterized by the increasing involvement of developing countries. While COP-13 at Bali marked a stronger willingness to participate in mitigation efforts in principle, there are now numerous examples of domestic programs for mitigation by this group of countries. Brazil has gone furthest among developing countries, with a substantial voluntary commitment to reduce its emissions proclaimed in 2009. The dynamics behind the change in Brazil’s position are discussed, with a particular eye to the effects of international influences. In conjunction with important domestic changes, a set of interacting influences through a variety of pathways both changed preferences among important interest groups in Brazilian society towards favoring some kind of commitments and helped to change the structure of government forums and decision-making rules in a way that empowered reform-minded ministries. It is argued that this perspective, drawn from Peter Gourevitch’s idea of the “second image reversed”, is increasingly relevant for understanding the influence of the broad “regime complex” on climate change on politics in developing countries.
Ablation of vitreous tissue with erbium:YAG laser.

PURPOSE Using a noncontact erbium (Er):yttrium--aluminium--garnet (YAG) laser, ablation of vitreous was compared to distilled water in vitro. METHODS The porcine vitreous body and distilled water were ablated in vitro at different pulse lengths and pulse energies. Selected pulse energies were 25, 35, 45, 75, and 100 mJ (pulse rate: 1 Hz; laser beam diameter at the surface of the sample: 2 mm). Pulse lengths were at 140 +/- 3 microsec, 190 +/- 4 microsec, and 240 +/- 5 microsec. The loss of weight in vitreous tissue and distilled water was measured using precision scales and corrected for evaporation, respectively. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to assess the significance of differences in ablation rates of water and vitreous. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS Reproducible and constant ablation rates were found in both vitreous and distilled water in each of 10 consecutive series of 50 laser pulses at constant laser parameters. Ablation rates per pulse (microg/microsec) of vitreous tissue were as follows: 3.0 microg to 45.8 microg (140 microsec), 10.4 microg to 53.8 microg (190 microsec), and 17.9 microg to 24.2 microg (240 microsec). The ablation rates exhibited a linear correlation with increasing pulse energies and also with decreasing pulse lengths. Considering the pulse lengths of 190 microsec and 240 microsec with all pulse energies tested, the ablation rates of distilled water were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than ablation of vitreous tissue. The ablation rates at a pulse length of 140 microsec were not significantly different. The differences per pulse were as follows: 0.5 microg to 2.1 microg (140 microsec), 1.9 microg to 6.0 microg (190 microsec), and 3.5 microg to 8.7 microg (240 microsec). CONCLUSIONS Vitreous ablation is possible using Er:YAG laser. The ablation characteristics of vitreous have proved to be similar but not equal to that of water.
Multidimensional pareto optimization of touchscreen keyboards for speed, familiarity and improved spell checking

This paper presents a new optimization technique for keyboard layouts based on Pareto front optimization. We used this multifactorial technique to create two new touchscreen phone keyboard layouts based on three design metrics: minimizing finger travel distance in order to maximize text entry speed, a new metric to maximize the quality of spell correction by reducing tap ambiguity, and maximizing familiarity through a similarity function with the standard Qwerty layout. The paper describes the optimization process and resulting layouts for a standard trapezoid shaped keyboard and a more rectangular layout. Fitts' law modelling shows a predicted 11% improvement in entry speed without taking into account the significantly improved error correction potential and the subsequent effect on speed. In initial user tests typing speed dropped from approx. 21 wpm with Qwerty to 13 wpm (64%) on first use of our layout but recovered to 18 wpm (85%) within four short trial sessions, and was still improving. NASA TLX forms showed no significant difference on load between Qwerty and our new layout use in the fourth session. Together we believe this shows the new layouts are faster and can be quickly adopted by users.
A Bacterial Pathogen Displaying Temperature-Enhanced Virulence of the Microalga Emiliania huxleyi

Emiliania huxleyi is a globally abundant microalga that plays a significant role in biogeochemical cycles. Over the next century, sea surface temperatures are predicted to increase drastically, which will likely have significant effects on the survival and ecology of E. huxleyi. In a warming ocean, this microalga may become increasingly vulnerable to pathogens, particularly those with temperature-dependent virulence. Ruegeria is a genus of Rhodobacteraceae whose population size tracks that of E. huxleyi throughout the alga’s bloom–bust lifecycle. A representative of this genus, Ruegeria sp. R11, is known to cause bleaching disease in a red macroalga at elevated temperatures. To investigate if the pathogenicity of R11 extends to microalgae, it was co-cultured with several cell types of E. huxleyi near the alga’s optimum (18°C), and at an elevated temperature (25°C) known to induce virulence in R11. The algal populations were monitored using flow cytometry and pulse-amplitude modulated fluorometry. Cultures of algae without bacteria remained healthy at 18°C, but lower cell counts in control cultures at 25°C indicated some stress at the elevated temperature. Both the C (coccolith-bearing) and S (scale-bearing swarming) cell types of E. huxleyi experienced a rapid decline resulting in apparent death when co-cultured with R11 at 25°C, but had no effect on N (naked) cell type at either temperature. R11 had no initial negative impact on C and S type E. huxleyi population size or health at 18°C, but caused death in older co-cultures. This differential effect of R11 on its host at 18 and 25°C suggest it is a temperature-enhanced opportunistic pathogen of E. huxleyi. We also detected caspase-like activity in dying C type cells co-cultured with R11, which suggests that programmed cell death plays a role in the death of E. huxleyi triggered by R11 – a mechanism induced by viruses (EhVs) and implicated in E. huxleyi bloom collapse. Given that E. huxleyi has recently been shown to have acquired resistance against EhVs at elevated temperature, bacterial pathogens with temperature-dependent virulence, such as R11, may become much more important in the ecology of E. huxleyi in a warming climate.
Addressing Obesity in Schizophrenia: An Ecological Approach

Individuals with schizophrenia are at high risk for obesity. Contemporary treatment approaches have concentrated on improving diet and physical activity behaviour. Guided by the Medical Research Council Framework, this thesis aimed to identify modifiable environmental factors that may influence the dietary and physical activity behaviours of clients at a psychiatric facility and examine the efficacy of intrapersonal and environmental components of a broad ecological intervention. Study one explored what environmental factors at the facility influence diet and physical activity. Participants identified that obesogenic elements involved aspects of the social and built environments and that both intrapersonal interventions and environmental changes are needed to improve physical activity and dietary behaviour. Based on the findings of the first study, study two examined the feasibility of exercise counseling amongst individuals with schizophrenia and its effect on increasing moderate and vigorous levels of physical activity (MVPA). Findings showed that exercise counseling is feasible. Accelerometer results showed that levels of MVPA decreased Paul Gorczynski PhD Thesis iii throughout the study, but levels of mediating psychological variables of physical activity
Splice Variant-Specific Interaction of the NMDA Receptor Subunit NR1 with Neuronal Intermediate Filaments

NMDA receptors are excitatory neurotransmitter receptors critical for synaptic plasticity and neuronal development in the mammalian brain. These receptors are found highly concentrated in the postsynaptic membrane of glutamatergic synapses. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying NMDA receptor localization, we used the yeast two-hybrid system to identify proteins expressed in the brain that interact with the NMDA receptor subunit NR1. Here we report that the 68 kDa neurofilament subunit NF-L directly interacts with the NR1 subunit. This interaction occurs between the cytoplasmic C-terminal domain of NR1 and the rod domain of NF-L. However, NR1 splice variants lacking the first C-terminal exon cassette (C1) failed to associate with NF-L. Immunogold electron microscopy revealed a preferential localization of NR1 at the ends of in vitro-assembled neurofilaments. Overexpression of C1 cassette-containing NR1 constructs in fibroblast cells disrupted the assembly of recombinant neurofilaments. In addition, NR1 and NF-L cofractionated in detergent-treated rat brain synaptic plasma membranes. Furthermore, NR1 and NF-L colocalize in the dendrites and growth cones of cultured hippocampal neurons. These results demonstrate the splice variant-specific association of NR1 with neurofilaments and suggest a possible mechanism for anchoring or localizing NMDA receptors in the neuronal plasma membrane.
Value-driven Service Matching

Electronic service bundles such as Internet access and voice over IP become increasingly important for the economy. The requirements engineering problem is how to compose an e-service bundle such that consumer needs are met optimally, and the suppliers provide the services economically sustainable. We propose a technique to match a consumer need with a multi-supplier bundle of commercial e-services, which we illustrate by means of a telecommunication case study.