Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mastering digital materiality in immersive modelling

In theory, the potential to use virtual reality systems for creating visually rich and free-spirited models and prototypes is high. In contrast, immersive modelling is not relevant in today's design practice and design researchers are often sceptical if it will ever be possible to use virtual environments (i.e. virtual material) with the same fidelity as physical materials. The aim of this paper is to search for bridges which allow designers to use the potential of immersive modelling even though no materiality (i.e. no touchable material) is present. It describes four approaches of mastering digital materiality which emerged during a design study among four design students who used an immersive modelling system for two weeks all day long. All approaches imply different means of substituting the missing material constraints. Furthermore the results of a post-study survey among the participants are discussed. The results of this study suggest that designers can find individual ways to handle digital material in immersive environments which may satisfy their professional expectations and standards. They may possibly be able to develop a professional level of manipulative skills within virtual environments comparable to their work with physical material. It can be expected that more approaches to immersive modelling appear as the technology advances and designers become engaged with it.
Super-Scalar Database Compression between RAM and CPU Cache

A granulator is disclosed which has a housing with an entrance, an outlet and a granulation zone therewithin. A screen divides the granulation zone into inlet and outlet regions, a beater assembly passing repeatedly through the inlet region to force material within the inlet region through the screen and into the outlet region. A deflector applies low impact horizontal forces to the material to produce a desired distribution of the material at the outlet.
Analisis Karakteristik Peserta Didik Berdasarkan Dimensi Literasi Sains Pada Pengembangan Performance Assessment Berbasis Discovery Learning

Penelitian pengembangan performance assesment berbasis discovery learning menggunakan 4-D model. Tahap- tahap dalam 4-D model terdiri dari define, desain, development dan disseminate. Salah satu langkah pada tahap define adalah analisis karakteristik peserta didik. Pada penelitian ini dilakukan analisis terhadap kemampuan literasi sains peserta didik, dimana penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendapatkan gambaran mengenai tingkat kemampuan literasi sains peserta didik. Penelitian yang dilakukan termasuk jenis penelitian deskriptif kualitatif. Informan yang dipilih dalam penelitian ini adalah peserta didik kelas X MAN Kota Solok yang terdiri dari 30 orang. Objek penelitian ini adalah kemampuan literasi sains peserta didik yang terdiri dari empat dimensi yaitu : (1) konten sains (pengetahuan sains), (2) proses sains (kompetensi sains), (3) konteks sains (aplikasi sains) dan (4) sikap sains. Instrumen penelitian yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah dengan menggunakan angket. Teknik analisis data yang dilakukan berupa penskoran menggunakan skala check list ataupun rating scale. Berdasarkan analisis data yang telah dilakukan dapat dikemukakan hasil penelitian yaitu tingkat kemampuan literasi sains peserta didik pada pembelajaran Fisika di MAN Kota Solok masih rendah, dengan rata-rata 55,34 %. Dimana 60 % peserta didik pada konten sains (pengetahuan sains) menggunakan pengetahuan awalnya sebelum pembelajaran; 46,25% peserta didik pada proses sains (kompetensi sains) menggunakan kemampuan mengingat atau menghafal dan pemahaman ilmiah; 59 % konteks sains (aplikasi sains) menggunakan aplikasi pengetahuan fisika dalam kehidupan sehari-hari; 56,12% sikap sains yang meliputi minat, motivasi, pemahaman diri, lingkungan peserta didik. Saran yang dikemukakan berdasarkan hasil studi lapangan sangat cocok dan urgen untuk mengembangkan performance assesment berbasis model discovery learning untuk meningkatkan kemampuan literasi sains peserta didik
An Analysis of Factors Linked to the Decline in Maternal Mortality in Nepal

Nepal experienced a steep decline in maternal mortality between 1996 and 2006, which had again dropped by 2010. The aim of this study was to investigate any trends in factors that may be responsible for this decline. The study was based on a secondary data analysis of maternity care services and socio-demographic variables extracted from the Nepal Demographic Health Surveys (1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011). Complex sample analysis was performed to determine the trends in these variables across the four surveys. Univariate logistic regression was performed for selected maternity care service variables to calculate the average change in odds ratio for each survey. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine the trends in the health service uptake adjusting for socio-demographic variables. There were major demographic and socio-economic changes observed between 1996 and 2011: notably fewer women delivering at ‘high risk’ ages, decreased fertility, higher education levels and migration to urban areas. Significant trends were observed for improved uptake of all maternity care services. The largest increase was observed in health facility delivery (odds ratio = 2.21; 95% confidence interval = 1.92, 2.34) and women making four or more antenatal visits (odds ratio = 2.24; 95% confidence interval = 2.03, 2.47). After adjusting for all socio-demographic factors, the trends were still significant but disparities become more pronounced at the extremes of the socio-economic spectrum. The odds ratios for each maternity care service examined decreased slightly after adjusting for education, indicating that improved levels of education could partly explain these trends. The improved utilisation of maternity care services seems essential to the decline in maternal mortality in Nepal. These findings have implications for policy planning in terms of government resources for maternity care services and the education sector.
Nucleotide-Dependent Interactions within a Specialized Hsp70/Hsp40 Complex Involved in Fe–S Cluster Biogenesis

The structural mechanism by which Hsp70-type chaperones interact with Hsp40-type co-chaperones has been of great interest, yet still remains a matter of debate. Here, we used solution NMR spectroscopy to investigate the ATP-/ADP-dependent interactions between Escherichia coli HscA and HscB, the specialized Hsp70/Hsp40 molecular chaperones that mediate iron–sulfur cluster transfer. We observed that NMR signals assigned to amino acid residues in the J-domain and its “HPD” motif of HscB broadened severely upon the addition of ATP-bound HscA, but these signals were not similarly broadened by ADP-bound HscA or the isolated nucleotide binding domain of HscA complexed with either ATP or ADP. An HscB variant with an altered HPD motif, HscB(H32A,P33A,D34A), failed to manifest WT-like NMR signal perturbations and also abolished WT-like stimulation of ATP hydrolysis by HscA. In addition, residues 153–171 in the C-terminal region of HscB exhibited NMR signal perturbations upon interaction with HscA, alone or complexed with ADP or ATP. These results demonstrate that the HPD motif in the J-domain of HscB directly interacts with ATP-bound HscA and suggest that a second, less nucleotide-dependent binding site for HscA resides in the C-terminal region of HscB.
A critical evaluation of the MefarTM dosimeter

Multicentre studies of airway responsiveness (AR) are increasingly important tools in asthma epidemiology. Because comparisons of AR are made between centres it is essential that measurement techniques are accurate and standard. This study investigated the Mefar dosimeter which is currently used in the 35 centre European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) with the next phase currently being planned. Significant differences were found in driving pressures and aerosol outputs between the three Mefar dosimeters in the laboratory. A linear relationship was also found between driving pressure and aerosol output (R2=0.96). These differences are important as they may lead to variations between centres of < or =35% in the drug dose delivered in AR measurement, which could potentially diminish the power of individual study centres to accurately detect national differences in AR. Dosimeter driving pressure and nebulizer output should be standardized in future studies of airway responsiveness. With relatively simple quality control measures in place it is believed that the Mefar dosimeter can produce reliable between-centre longitudinal data with an increase in the accuracy of these important studies.
Question Classification using Maximum Entropy Models

Question Answering (QA) systems are the next generation of search technology. A QA system exploits more information about a user’s intention, returning the exact answer to a users query. A crucial component of a QA system is Question Classification (QC), which involves determining the type of information the question is requesting. QC narrows the scope of processing within a QA. For example, “Who is the fastest swimmer? ” the expected answer type (or classification) could be HUM:ind, which denotes a human individual. This project develops a new approach to QC, which involves the application of statistical methods, namely Maximum Entropy models for classification. This approach outperforms state-of-the-art accuracy.
Localisation of the Putative Magnetoreceptive Protein Cryptochrome 1b in the Retinae of Migratory Birds and Homing Pigeons

Cryptochromes are ubiquitously expressed in various animal tissues including the retina. Some cryptochromes are involved in regulating circadian activity. Cryptochrome proteins have also been suggested to mediate the primary mechanism in light-dependent magnetic compass orientation in birds. Cryptochrome 1b (Cry1b) exhibits a unique carboxy terminus exclusively found in birds so far, which might be indicative for a specialised function. Cryptochrome 1a (Cry1a) is so far the only cryptochrome protein that has been localised to specific cell types within the retina of migratory birds. Here we show that Cry1b, an alternative splice variant of Cry1a, is also expressed in the retina of migratory birds, but it is primarily located in other cell types than Cry1a. This could suggest different functions for the two splice products. Using diagnostic bird-specific antibodies (that allow for a precise discrimination between both proteins), we show that Cry1b protein is found in the retinae of migratory European robins (Erithacus rubecula), migratory Northern Wheatears (Oenanthe oenanthe) and pigeons (Columba livia). In all three species, retinal Cry1b is localised in cell types which have been discussed as potentially well suited locations for magnetoreception: Cry1b is observed in the cytosol of ganglion cells, displaced ganglion cells, and in photoreceptor inner segments. The cytosolic rather than nucleic location of Cry1b in the retina reported here speaks against a circadian clock regulatory function of Cry1b and it allows for the possible involvement of Cry1b in a radical-pair-based magnetoreception mechanism.
A performance evaluation of CP list scheduling heuristics for communication intensive task graphs

List-based priority schedulers have long been one of the dominant classes of static scheduling algorithms. Such heuristics have been predominantly based around the "critical path, most immediate successors first" (CP/MISF) priority. The ability of this type of scheduler to handle increased levels of communication overhead is examined in this paper. Three of the more popular list scheduling heuristics, HLFET and ISH and DSH, plus the mapping heuristic are subjected to a performance based comparison, with results demonstrating their inadequacies in communication-intensive cases. Performance degradation in these instances is partly due to the level alteration problem, but more significantly to conservative estimation of communication costs due to the assumption of zero link contention. The significance of this component of communication is also examined.
Characteristics of Competency Referral Defendants and Nonreferred Criminal Defendants

This study examines correlates of referral for evaluation of competency to stand trial. Two hundred and four arrestees were studied; one-half of the cases included referrals for evaluation of competency. Characteristics of referred and nonreferred cases are examined. Several variables appear to be associated with such referrals, including the defendant's marital status and age, the history of prior contact with both the mental health and criminal justice systems, and the presence or absence of impulsive or violent behavior during the commission of the crime. Defendants’ personal characteristics seem more closely associated with referral than do demographic or crime characteristics. Directions for future study are suggested.
Impaired MMN in Patients : Attention-Dependent Augmentation of Nonparanoid vs . Paranoid Schizophrenic patients : A Comparison with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Healthy Subjects

Mismatch negativity (MMN), in the deviant-minus-standard event-related potential (ERP) difference-waveform, may represent a working memory trace of the tone difference. Most but not all studies find MMN reduced in schizophrenic patients. This report investigates if differences may be attributable to experimental condition (diffuse vs. focused attention), component identification (N1like vs. N2-like), topographic distribution, and clinical condition (with/without paranoid-hallucinatory symptoms, PH/NP). Comparisons were made for 12 PH, 12 NP schizophrenic patients with 13 obsessive compulsive and 25 normal control subjects. Frontal MMN reduction in schizophrenics largely resulted from an absence of an increase in focused attention conditions as in comparison groups. But there was a marked temporal activity locus in NP patients. These features were not reflected in other components except for a visible but non-significant Nl-like temporal locus in NP patients. Further, schizophrenic patients did not show an increase in late positivity with focused attention like the comparison groups. The results show that so-called automatic processing deficits (amount and locus of MMN) are best seen in situations requiring the activation of controlled attentional processes. It is suggested that impaired processing of irrelevant stimuli and reduced frontal MMN in NP patients may reflect reduced dopaminergic responsivity.
Mobile Payment Framework Based on 3 G Network

With the development of mobile network technology and mobile commerce application, mobile payment is becoming more and more important to assist mobile users to participate in the mobile commerce. Service reliability, security authtification, payment mobility is the core improblem, which should be solve with some flexible and secure measures. After deep studying traditional payment methods in electronic commerce and some technologies in 3G network, this paper introduces a new and integrated mobile payment framework, which is combined with IC chip, mobile phone and mobile internet, and then gives some improvement measures for current settlement mechanism, which is entirely around payment channel, payment carrier, security authentication. In this way, the real time processing of information flow, capital flow and logistics can be easily achieved, forming a reliable business operation for mobile users, which can bring some great convenience and profound influence for payment industry in mobile environment.
A Survey of Computational Geometry

ly, the motion planning problem is that of computing a path between two points in the topological space FP. In the rst two of ve seminal papers on the \Piano Movers' Problem" ([220{222, 229, 223], collected in the book [131]), Schwartz and Sharir show that the boundary of FP is a semialgebraic set (assuming the original constraints of the problem are semialgebraic). This then allows the motion planning problem to be written as a decision question in the theory of real closed elds (see Tarski [241]), which can be solved by adding appropriate adjacency information to the cylindrical decomposition that is (symbolically) computed by the algorithm of Collins [67]. For any xed d and xed degree of the polynomials describing the constraints, the complexity of the resulting motion planning algorithm is polynomial in n, the combinatorial size of the problem description. Instead of computing a cell decomposition of FP, an alternative paradigm in motion planning is to compute a lower dimensional subspace, FP 0 FP, and to de ne a \retraction function" that maps FP onto FP 0 . O'D unlaing and Yap [194] and O'D unlaing, Sharir, and Yap [195, 192, 193] have computed such retractions on the basis of Voronoi diagrams, obtaining e cient solutions to several low-dimensional motion planning problems. Most recently, Canny [43] has described a method of reducing the motion planning problem to a (one-dimensional) graph search problem, by means of a \roadmap"; this is the currently best known method for general motion planning problems. The bottom line is that the motion planning problem can be solved in polynomial time (polynomial, that is, in the combinatorial complexity of the set of obstacles), for any xed number of degrees of freedom of the robot. Many lower bounds have also been established on motion planning problems. The rst such results were by Reif [213], who showed that the generalized movers' problem (with many independently movable objects) is PSPACE-hard. Hopcroft, Joseph, and Whitesides [130] give PSPACE-hardness and NP-hardness results for several planar motion planning problems. See also the recent lower bounds paper by Canny and Reif [46]. 5. Matching, Traveling Salesman, and Watchman Routes Matching and traveling salesman are among the best known problems in combinatorial optimization. In this section, we survey some results on these problems where the underlying graph is induced by a geometric input. Ch. 1. A Survey of Computational Geometry 35
Normal approximation for hierarchical structures

Given F : [a,b] k ! [a,b] and a non-constant X0 with P(X0 2 [a,b]) = 1, define the hierarchical sequence of random variables {Xn}n 0 by Xn+1 = F(Xn,1,.,Xn,k), where Xn,i are i.i. d. as Xn. Such sequences arise from hierarchical structures which have been extensively studied in the physics literature to model, for example, the conductivity of a random medium. Under an averaging and smoothness condition on non-trivial F, a upper bound of the form C n for 0 < < 1, is obtained on the Wasserstein distance between the standardized distribution of Xn and the normal. The results apply, for instance, to random resistor networks, and introducing the notion of strict averaging, to hierarchical sequences generated by certain compositions. As an illustration, upper bounds on the rate of convergence to the normal are derived for the hierarchical sequence generated by the weighted diamond lattice which is shown to exhibit a full range of convergence rate behavior.
Investigating the Effect of Team-teaching Approach on ESP Students’ English Proficiency; Evidence from Students’ Attitudes

The current study was an attempt to investigate EFL students’ attitudes regarding team-teaching approach. In addition, it explored to what extent the team-teaching approach was effective in terms of enhancing Electrical Engineering Students' English proficiency in an English for Specific Academic Purpose (ESAP) program. To this end, 60 university students studying Electrical Engineering at the faculty of Engineering in Yazd University enrolled in the ESP course participated in this study. Prior to the instruction, the students were randomly divided into two groups as control and experimental. The experimental group was instructed based on the team-teaching approach while the control group was taught based on the traditional approach. The data was gathered through a pretest, posttest, and a questionnaire. The analysis of data via independent sample t-test and descriptive analysis revealed that most of the students had a positive attitude toward utilizing team-teaching approach. Furthermore, the findings indicated that Electrical Engineering students who were taught through team teaching approach performed better than those taught by a single instructor.
Implementable MSE-optimal dynamic partial-overlapping batch means estimators for steady-state simulations

Estimating the variance of the sample mean from a stochastic process is essential in assessing the quality of using the sample mean to estimate the population mean which is the fundamental question in simulation experiments. Most existing studies for estimating the variance of the sample mean from simulation output assume simulation run length is known in advance. This paper proposes an implementable batch-size selection procedure for estimating the variance of the sample mean without requiring that the sample size or simulation run length a priori.
Propofol Reduces Lipopolysaccharide-Induced, NADPH Oxidase (NOX2) Mediated TNF-α and IL-6 Production in Macrophages

During an infection, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is mediated, in large part, by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidases (NOXs); NOX2 is the major NOX isoform found in the macrophage cell membrane. While the immunomodulatory activity of propofol is highly documented, its effect on the LPS-induced NOX2/ROS/NF-κB signaling pathway in macrophages has not been addressed. In present study, we used murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 pretreated with propofol and stimulated with LPS. IL-6 and TNF-α expression, ROS production, and NOX activity were determined. Results showed that propofol attenuated LPS-induced TNF-α and IL-6 expression. Moreover, LPS-stimulated phosphorylation of NF-κB and generation of ROS were weakened in response to propofol. Propofol also reduced LPS-induced NOX activity and expression of gp91phox and p47phox. We conclude that propofol modulates LPS signaling in macrophages by reducing NOX-mediated production of TNF-α and IL-6.
AN ACCELERATED COORDINATION OF RESOURCE UTILIZATION IN STOCHASTIC AUTONOMOUS MOVING MULTIAGENTS

This paper describes an accelerated resource allocation of autonomous moving multi-agents, whose agents stochastically move on a resource consisting of cells in accordance with transition probabilities in synchronization, depending on other agents. Then, each agent has an accelerated average moving speed for their moving directions randomly and independently. We assume interactions or coordination among agents such that the agents can not move to a destination cell occupied by agents more than the agents of a current cell. Then it is ideal that every cells are always occupied by agents, because of the efficient use of resources, and it is desirable to be the fewest expected number of cells not occupied by agents. The first result of this paper is that the resource utilization of accelerated moving multi-agents with appropriate average moving speed becomes higher than the resource utilization of moving multi-agents without average moving speed. Then the resource utilization can be accelerated to maximum by giving appropriate accelerated moving speed. The second result shows that the maximum utilization of the resources are analyzed, and we present the optimal accelerated moving speed of system-specific.