Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF REPRESSURIZED SAMPLES RECOVERED DURING THE 2006 NATIONAL GAS HYDRATE PROGRAM EXPEDITION OFFSHORE INDIA

As part of an international cooperative research program, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and researchers from the National Gas Hydrate Program (NGHP) of India are studying the physical properties of sediment recovered during the NGHP-01 cruise conducted offshore India during 2006. Here we report on index property, acoustic velocity, and triaxial shear test results for samples recovered from the Krishna-Godavari Basin. In addition, we discuss the effects of sample storage temperature, handling, and change in structure of fine-grained sediment. Although complex, sub-vertical planar gas-hydrate structures were observed in the silty clay to clayey silt samples prior to entering the Gas Hydrate And Sediment Test Laboratory Instrument (GHASTLI), the samples yielded little gas post test. This suggests most, if not all, gas hydrate dissociated during sample transfer. Mechanical properties of hydrate-bearing marine sediment are best measured by avoiding sample depressurization. By contrast, mechanical properties of hydrate-free sediments, that are shipped and stored at atmospheric pressure can be approximated by consolidating core material to the original in situ effective stress.
The Impact of Online Social Networking on Students’ Study (VNU Unviversity of Economics and Business)

Abstract: The online social networking site, especially Facebook, has been tremendously developing in all aspects of life and impacting students’ life. Students are using Facebook to communicate and connect with each other because of its conveniences and popularity, and students atUniversity ofEconomics and Business, Vietnam National University-Hanoi, are no exception. That is why, this study will investigate the impact of the connection with the online social networking of an individual from the viewpoint of students. The result of the analysis from the survey has proved the direct impacts of UEB students’ connection with Facebook on the process and result of their social study. For that reason, the online social networking site (Facebook) not only makes tremendous influence on the result of UEB students’ study, but also helps them adapt to the culture of the University and have close relations with their friends in the University. Both of these things play an important role in bettering their study results at the University. Besides, this study suggests some activities which may help urge both UEB lecturers and students to use Facebook as an effective learning tool. Keywords: Social networking, study, Facebook, social acceptance, cultural acceptance.
Peptides from Tetraspanin CD9 Are Potent Inhibitors of Staphylococcus Aureus Adherence to Keratinocytes

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the primary causative agents of skin and wound infections. As bacterial adherence is essential for infection, blocking this step can reduce invasion of host tissues by pathogens. An anti-adhesion therapy, based on a host membrane protein family, the tetraspanins, has been developed that can inhibit the adhesion of S. aureus to human cells. Synthetic peptides derived from a keratinocyte-expressed tetraspanin, CD9, were tested for anti-adhesive properties and at low nanomolar concentrations were shown to inhibit bacterial adhesion to cultured keratinocytes and to be effective in a tissue engineered model of human skin infection. These potential therapeutics had no effect on keratinocyte viability, migration or proliferation, indicating that they could be a valuable addition to current treatments for skin infection.
Writing in a Digital World: Self-Correction While Typing in Younger and Older Adults

This study examined how younger and older adults approach simple and complex computerized writing tasks. Nineteen younger adults (age range 21–31, mean age 26.1) and 19 older adults (age range 65–83, mean age 72.1) participated in the study. Typing speed, quantitative measures of outcome and process, and self-corrections were recorded. Younger adults spent a lower share of their time on actual typing, and demonstrated more prevalent use of delete keys than did older adults. Within the older group, there was no correlation between the total time spent on the entire task and the number of corrections, but increased typing speed was related to more errors. The results suggest that the approach to the task was different across age groups, either because of age or because of cohort effects. We discuss the interplay of speed and accuracy with regard to digital writing, and its implications for the design of human-computer interactions.
Prediction of Prolonged Postoperative Ileus After Radical Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

AbstractCurrently, there is a paucity of study investigating postoperative ileus in gastric cancer surgery. This prospective study aims to identify the risk factors for prolonged postoperative ileus (PPOI) and to use these risk factors to generate a risk stratification scoring system for the occurrence of PPOI.Patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer were included in this study. A multivariate logistic analysis was applied to identify independent risk factors for PPOI and to generate the scoring system. A receiver operating characteristic curve was generated and the area under the curve was calculated to demonstrate the predictive power of the scoring system.Finally, 296 patients were included and analyzed, of whom 96 (32.4%) developed PPOI. The multivariate analysis showed that age ≥65 years, operative duration ≥4 hours, tumor–node–metastasis (TNM) stage = III, open/converted operative technique, and total postoperative opiates dose (TOD) ≥0.3 mg/kg were independent risk factors for PPOI. Based on these factors, a risk stratification scoring system was generated, classified by low-risk (score 0–2), moderate-risk (score 3–4), and high-risk (score 5–6) groups. The incidence of PPOI increased by 7.5-fold from low-risk to high-risk group. The area under the curve of the scoring system was 0.841 (95% CI, 0.793–0.890), indicating a good predictive capability for the occurrence of PPOI.We have identified independent risk factors for the occurrence of PPOI and used these factors to construct a risk stratification scoring system.
Tuning fuzzy systems by simulated annealing to predict time series with added noise

In this paper, a combination of fuzzy system models and simulated annealing are used to predict Mackey-Glass time series with different levels of added noise by searching for the best configuration of the fuzzy system. Simulated annealing is used to optimise the parameters of the antecedent and the consequent parts of the fuzzy system rules under singleton and non-singleton fuzzifications for both Mamdani and Takagi-Sugeno (TSK). The results of the proposed methods are compared by their ability to handle uncertainty.
On the Inequality of Contributions to Wikipedia

Wikipedia is one of the most successful examples of massive collaborative content development. However, many of the mechanisms and procedures that it uses are still unknown in detail. For instance, how equal (or unequal) are the contributions to it has been discussed in the last years, with no conclusive results. In this paper, we study exactly that aspect by using Lorenz curves and Gini coefficients, very well known instruments to economists. We analyze the trends in the inequality of distributions for the ten biggest language editions of Wikipedia, and their evolution over time. As a result, we have found large differences in the number of contributions by different authors (something also observed in free, open source software development), and a trend to stable patterns of inequality in the long run.
Design of an integrated hardware interface for AOSLO image capture and cone-targeted stimulus delivery

We demonstrate an integrated FPGA solution to project highly stabilized, aberration-corrected stimuli directly onto the retina by means of real-time retinal image motion signals in combination with high speed modulation of a scanning laser. By reducing the latency between target location prediction and stimulus delivery, the stimulus location accuracy, in a subject with good fixation, is improved to 0.15 arcminutes from 0.26 arcminutes in our earlier solution. We also demonstrate the new FPGA solution is capable of delivering stabilized large stimulus pattern (up to 256x256 pixels) to the retina.
Flow Cytometry Analysis Reveals That Only a Subpopulation of Mouse Sperm Undergoes Hyperpolarization During Capacitation1

ABSTRACT To gain fertilizing capacity, mammalian sperm should reside in the female tract for a period of time. The physiological changes that render the sperm able to fertilize are known as capacitation. Capacitation is associated with an increase in intracellular pH, an increase in intracellular calcium, and phosphorylation of different proteins. This process is also accompanied by the hyperpolarization of the sperm plasma membrane potential (Em). In the present work, we used flow cytometry to analyze changes in sperm Em during capacitation in individual cells. Our results indicate that a subpopulation of hyperpolarized mouse sperm can be clearly distinguished by sperm flow cytometry analysis. Using sperm bearing green fluorescent protein in their acrosomes, we found that this hyperpolarized subpopulation is composed of sperm with intact acrosomes. In addition, we show that the capacitation-associated hyperpolarization is blocked by high extracellular K+, by PKA inhibitors, and by SLO3 inhibitors in CD1 mouse sperm, and undetectable in Slo3 knockout mouse sperm. On the other hand, in sperm incubated in conditions that do not support capacitation, sperm membrane hyperpolarization can be induced by amiloride, high extracellular NaHCO3, and cAMP agonists. Altogether, our observations are consistent with a model in which sperm Em hyperpolarization is downstream of a cAMP-dependent pathway and is mediated by the activation of SLO3 K+ channels.
Evaluation of English Students ’ Beliefs about Learning English as Foreign Language : A Case of Kerman Azad University Neda Fatehi Rad

In general term beliefs has been defined as an attitudes, opinion and viewpoint which attends in every discipline of human behavior to say that something is true or right and vice versa [1]. In academic definition it can be stated as a learners’ viewpoint, judgment or opinion about the influence of their learning in their future success. In other words it means that what would be students’ feelings about what they learn as a foreign students and how it helps them to achieve better proficiency in English. For many years researchers have attempted to examine all aspects of English language learning effects. Finally, they found that each individual student has its own perception and cognition about the strategies that has been used by teachers [3, 4 & 5]. Nowadays, English is becoming more important nowadays. More than 300 million people are speaking as native speakers and more than 400 million as second or foreign language speakers. Furthermore English is applying in majority academic situations such as instruction in publishing and international communication [6]. Therefore it can be serious issue to understand, analyze and test English language students beliefs and perception about learning English in order to intensify students’ expertise. So that, this study is developed to probe what will be English Language Major Student’s beliefs about learning English as foreign not second language. In other words this survey attempted to examine the correlation between students’ beliefs, attitudes and norms and students learning. Also, assessing the influence of gender, age and field of study was examined. In order to reach the purpose of this study a sample of 100 English students was selected randomly by researcher from both fields (Literature and Teaching). The data collection method was adapted questionnaire which has been tested before. The results of this study showed to what extend independent variables (age, gender and field of study) affects dependents variables (students beliefs about English leaning) and how learning language strategies that has been applied by teachers influence students learning. Moreover by applying those analyzed information instructors and teachers will be aware of their strengths and weaknesses to up to date and to come up with new strategies which are appropriate to their students.
MgcRacGAP restricts active RhoA at the cytokinetic furrow and both RhoA and Rac1 at cell–cell junctions in epithelial cells

MgcRacGAP's role in regulating the spatiotemporal dynamics of active RhoA and Rac1 in epithelial cells is investigated. MgcRacGAP's GAP activity down-regulates RhoA at the furrow and both RhoA and Rac1 at cell–cell junctions in dividing epithelial cells and is required for successful cytokinesis and cell–cell junction structure. MgcRacGAP's ability to regulate adherens junctions is dependent on GAP activity and signaling via the RhoA pathway.
A comparison of brain activation patterns during covert and overt paced auditory serial addition test tasks

The Paced Auditory Serial Addition test (PASAT) is a sensitive task for evaluating cognitive impairment in patients with diffuse brain disorders, such as multiple sclerosis patients. Brain areas involved in this task have been investigated in diverse fMRI studies using different methodologies to control the subjects' responses during scanning. Here, we examined the possible differences between overt and covert responses during the PASAT task in 13 volunteers. Results showed similar activations in parietal and frontal brain areas during both versions of the task. The contrast between the two conditions (overt and covert) indicated that differences in these two methodologies were minimal. Unlike the covert condition, the overt version of the task obtained significant activations in the left superior and inferior frontal gyrus, bilateral occipital cortex, caudate nucleus and cerebellum. As expected, no significant overactivations were observed in the covert when compared with the overt condition. Discussion focuses on the lower cost of using verbal responses to monitor performance during the PASAT task, which might be generalisable to other frontal lobe tasks requiring discrete responses. Hum Brain Mapp, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF A COMPLIANTMECHANISM FOR AN UAV LEADING EDGE

A description of a framework for a morphing leading edge will be given. The considered aircraft is an unmanned aerial vehicle with a span of 4 m. The first step of the framework is a skin optimisation with the main objective to realise a skin layup and a load introduction point in order to match given aerodynamic shapes. The second step is a topology optimisation to realise a kinematic inside the leading edge with a compliant mechanism. Due to ideal boundary conditions the simulation results have to be post processed for manufacturing. The experimental investigation will clarify the divergence between the simulation and the manufactured kinematic. The main objective of the experiments will be the deformation and the strain in the mechanism.
On finding consecutive test vectors in a random sequence for energy-aware BIST design

During pseudorandom testing, a significant amount of energy and test application time is wasted for generating and for applying "useless" test vectors that do not contribute to fault dropping. For low-power testing, modification logic/ROM may be used to skip the LFSR states that generate useless test patterns. The overhead of extra logic increases rapidly with the number of such jumps. Since identification of useless patterns strongly depends on the order in which incremental fault simulation is performed, an elegant solution to this problem would be to find a minimum set of segments in the LFSR sequence, where each segment corresponds to a consecutive subsequence of useful test patterns. This is formulated as consecutive test cover (CTC) problem, where the objective is to optimize a cost function combining the number of segments and the number of useful test patterns. The proposed heuristic algorithm to solve the CTC problem includes a "gap" parameter to allow a controllable number of useless patterns. Experiments on ISCAS-89 benchmark circuits reveal considerable reduction in the number of segments without any degradation of mode led fault coverage.
Walkie-Markie: Indoor Pathway Mapping Made Easy

We present Walkie-Markie - an indoor pathway mapping system that can automatically reconstruct internal pathway maps of buildings without any a-priori knowledge about the building, such as the floor plan or access point locations. Central to Walkie-Markie is a novel exploitation of the WiFi infrastructure to define landmarks (WiFi-Marks) to fuse crowdsourced user trajectories obtained from inertial sensors on users' mobile phones. WiFi-Marks are special pathway locations at which the trend of the received WiFi signal strength changes from increasing to decreasing when moving along the pathway. By embedding these WiFi-Marks in a 2D plane using a newly devised algorithm and connecting them with calibrated user trajectories, Walkie-Markie is able to infer pathway maps with high accuracy. Our experiments demonstrate that Walkie-Markie is able to reconstruct a high-quality pathway map for a real office-building floor after only 5-6 rounds of walks, with accuracy gradually improving as more user data becomes available. The maximum discrepancy between the inferred pathway map and the real one is within 3m and 2.8m for the anchor nodes and path segments, respectively.
Training itself: Mixed-signal training acceleration for memristor-based neural network

The artificial neural network (ANN) is among the most widely used methods in data processing applications. The memristor-based neural network further demonstrates a power efficient hardware realization of ANN. Training phase is the critical operation of memristor-based neural network. However, the traditional training method for memristor-based neural network is time consuming and energy inefficient. Users have to first work out the parameters of memristors through digital computing systems and then tune the memristor to the corresponding state. In this work, we introduce a mixed-signal training acceleration framework, which realizes the self-training of memristor-based neural network. We first modify the original stochastic gradient descent algorithm by approximating calculations and designing an alternative computing method. We then propose a mixed-signal acceleration architecture for the modified training algorithm by equipping the original memristor-based neural network architecture with the copy crossbar technique, weight update units, sign calculation units and other assistant units. The experiment on the MNIST database demonstrates that the proposed mixed-signal acceleration is 3 orders of magnitude faster and 4 orders of magnitude more energy efficient than the CPU implementation counterpart at the cost of a slight decrease of the recognition accuracy (<; 5%).
Inhibition of mesangial cell proliferation and matrix expansion in glomerulonephritis in the rat by antibody to platelet-derived growth factor

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), a potent mitogen for mesenchymal cells in culture, is expressed in vivo in a variety of inflammatory conditions associated with cell proliferation, including atherosclerosis, wound repair, pulmonary fibrosis, and glomerulonephritis. However, it is not known if PDGF mediates the fibroproliferative responses that characterize these inflammatory disorders. We administered neutralizing anti-PDGF IgG or control IgG to rats with mesangial proliferative nephritis. Inhibition of PDGF resulted in a significant reduction in mesangial cell proliferation, and largely prevented the increased deposition of extracellular matrix associated with the disease. This suggests that PDGF may have a central role in proliferative glomerular disease.
Consumer characteristics and their effect on accepting online shopping, in the context of different product types

Online shopping is among the most popular activities of the internet, yet the reasons why consumers buy online are still unclear. Although it is implied that consumer acceptance of online shopping is affected by different products not many studies have adopted this view. This study attempts to examine consumers’ attitude when making online purchases in the context of different product types. A theoretical framework is proposed based on the determinants of consumer behaviour and user acceptance of online shopping, as well as online product classification. The factors that were selected to be tested are Personal Innovativeness of Information Technology (PIIT), Self-efficacy, Perceived security, Privacy, Product involvement and how they affect consumer attitude towards online shopping. Correlation analysis, at first, to determine the relationships among the variables and regression analysis afterwards to verify the extent of the variable interaction were used to test the hypotheses. Based on the aforementioned analyses, results were drawn and compared to the results found by Lian and Lin (2008) in a similar study. It has been found that PIIT, perceived security and product involvement have an effect on the attitude towards online shopping, yet the results vary among the different product types.
Layout Analysis for Arabic Historical Document Images Using Machine Learning

Page layout analysis is a fundamental step of any document image understanding system. We introduce an approach that segments text appearing in page margins (a.k.a side-notes text) from manuscripts with complex layout format. Simple and discriminative features are extracted in a connected-component level and subsequently robust feature vectors are generated. Multilayer perception classifier is exploited to classify connected components to the relevant class of text. A voting scheme is then applied to refine the resulting segmentation and produce the final classification. In contrast to state-of-the-art segmentation approaches, this method is independent of block segmentation, as well as pixel level analysis. The proposed method has been trained and tested on a dataset that contains a variety of complex side-notes layout formats, achieving a segmentation accuracy of about 95%.
Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience Computational Neuroscience Hypothesis and Theory Article

cortical region, referred to as the location map (Figure 1A). The location map was assumed to project to another population of neu-rons, referred to as the summation clusters, that have monotonic numerosity tuning with various activation thresholds. Unimodal numerosity tunings then emerge in the neurons downstream of the summation clusters by receiving central excitation and lateral inhibition (Dehaene and Changeux, 1993). From a theoretical point of view, it was pointed out (Verguts and Fias, 2004) that since the mapping from the location map to the neurons with unimodal numerosity tuning is linearly inseparable, implementing this mapping requires another neural population, such as the summation clusters, in between (Minsky and Papert, 1969). In experiments, neurons having monotonic numerosity tuning have recently be found in the lateral intraparietal area (Roitman et al., 2007), in line with the prediction of the model (Dehaene and Changeux, 1993). It is unknown, however, how such a hierarchical circuitry as proposed in the model (Dehaene and Changeux, 1993) is shaped by plasticity mechanisms in the brain. Verguts and Fias (2004) have addressed this issue, and demonstrated by simulation that if there exist neurons having monotonic numerosity tuning (i.e., the summation clusters) from the beginning, then neurons showing unimodal numerosity tuning can be developed via biologically plausible unsupervised learning. They have not shown whether or not monotonic and unimodal numerosity tuning can be developed together via unsupervised learning given the location map at the