Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Wall Pass Algorithm in a Geographic Location-Based Distributed Routing System

In this paper, we propose Wall Pass Algorithm (WPA). WPA presents a function to forward the messages to a neighboring area. We evaluate the performance of a geographic location-based distributed routing (GDR) system when the mobile terminals are moving. The results show that GDR and CAN have the same mean and the variance of the path length and the relay length when storing data, while the mean and the variance of the path length and the relay length of GDR are smaller than those of Chord and Kademlia. On the other hand, when sending query, GDR, Chord and Kademlia have the same mean and the variance of the path length, while the mean and the variance of the relay length of GDR are smaller than those of Chord and Kademlia. Furthermore, while GDR and CAN have the same mean and the variance of the relay length, the mean and the variance of the path length of GDR are smaller than those of CAN. In addition, WPA can decrease the communication overhead of the system.
Complex-demand knapsack problems and incentives in AC power systems

We consider AC electrical systems where each electrical device has a power demand expressed as a complex number, and there is a limit on the magnitude of total power supply. Motivated by this scenario, we introduce the complex-demand knapsack problem (C-KP), a new variation of the traditional knapsack problem, where each item is associated with a demand as a complex number, rather than a real number often interpreted as weight or size of the item. While keeping the same goal as to maximize the sum of values of the selected items, we put the capacity limit on the magnitude of the sum of satisfied demands. For C-KP, we prove its inapproximability by FPTAS (unless P = NP), as well as presenting a (1/2-e)-approximation algorithm. Furthermore, we investigate the selfish multi-agent setting where each agent is in charge of one item, and an agent may misreport the demand and value of his item for his own interest. We show a simple way to adapt our approximation algorithm to be monotone, which is sufficient for the existence of incentive compatible payments such that no agent has an incentive to misreport. Our results shed insight on the design of multi-agent systems for smart grid.
Who directs strategic change? Director experience, the selection of new CEOs, and change in corporate strategy

We develop a theory of board‐directed strategic change in which directors (1) conceive changes in corporate strategy that reflect the strategies of their own home companies, and (2) select new CEOs who have prior experience with similar strategies to facilitate implementation. The findings show that, while the experience of new CEOs appears to predict corporate strategic change, these effects disappear after accounting for board experience. Thus, our results suggest that executive effects on strategy can mask board effects. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Aspartate taxis mutants of the Escherichia coli tar chemoreceptor

The Tar protein of Escherichia coli belongs to a family of methyl-accepting inner membrane proteins that mediate chemotactic responses to a variety of compounds. These transmembrane signalers monitor the chemical environment by means of specific ligand-binding sites arrayed on the periplasmic side of the membrane, and in turn control cytoplasmic signals that modulate the flagellar rotational machinery. The periplasmic receptor domain of Tar senses two quite different chemoeffectors, aspartate and maltose. Aspartate is detected through direct binding to Tar molecules, whereas maltose is detected indirectly when complexed with the periplasmic maltose-binding protein. Saturating levels of either aspartate or maltose do not block behavioral responses to the other compound, indicating that the detection sites for these two attractants are not identical. We initiated structure-function studies of these chemoreceptor sites by isolating tar mutants which eliminate aspartate or maltose taxis, while retaining the ability to respond to the other chemoeffector. Mutants with greatly reduced aspartate taxis are described and characterized in this report. When present in single copy in the chromosome, these tar mutations generally eliminated chemotactic responses to aspartate and structurally related compounds, such as glutamate and methionine. Residual responses to these compounds were shifted to higher concentrations, indicating a reduced affinity of the aspartate-binding site in the mutant receptors. Maltose responses in the mutants ranged from 10 to 80% of normal, but had no detectable threshold shifts, indicating that these receptor alterations may have little effect on maltose detection sensitivity. The mutational changes in 17 mutants were determined by DNA sequence analysis. Each mutant exhibited a single amino acid replacement at residue 64, 69, or 73 in the Tar molecule. The wild-type Tar transducer contains arginines at all three of these positions, implying that electrostatic forces may play an important role in aspartate detection.
About Pseudo Quarrels and Trustworthiness

Digital technology, the internet and mobile media are transforming the journalism and media landscape by influencing the sourcing process. We combined in-depth interviews and a content analysis of the 1424 Twitter “followings” of eight Belgian health journalists to clarify how they use the platform to monitor and use sources. The findings show that top-down actors are overrepresented in the journalists’ sourcing practices and that Twitter is not used to reach out to bottom-up actors, especially ordinary citizens. We found that health journalists mainly use Twitter to monitor other media actors, indicating a process of inter-media agenda setting. In line with previous studies, health experts are the second most important group of sources as they play an important role in translating complex health matters. Overall, the interviews suggest that Twitter is used in a basic fashion for news sourcing, mainly to stay up to date and search for story ideas.
A Cornucopia of Experiment at RHIC

I outline experimental results on heavy ion collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider for a non-technical audience. This includes: elliptic flow and nearly ideal hydrodynamics; the suppression of hard particles and the ratio RAA; and electromagnetic signals, including dileptons and direct photons. Especially puzzling is why the behavior of heavy (charm) quarks appears to be so similar to that of light quarks.
Nonlinear approximation

This is a survey of nonlinear approximation, especially that part of the subject which is important in numerical computation. Nonlinear approximation means that the approximants do not come from linear spaces but rather from nonlinear manifolds. The central question to be studied is what, if any, are the advantages of nonlinear approximation over the simpler, more established, linear methods. This question is answered by studying the rate of approximation which is the decrease in error versus the number of parameters in the approximant. The number of parameters usually correlates well with computational effort. It is shown that in many settings the rate of nonlinear approximation can be characterized by certain smoothness conditions which are significantly weaker than required in the linear theory. Emphasis in the survey will be placed on approximation by piecewise polynomials and wavelets as well as their numerical implementation. Results on highly nonlinear methods such as optimal basis selection and greedy algorithms (adaptive pursuit) are also given. Applications to image processing, statistical estimation, regularity for PDEs, and adaptive algorithms are discussed.
Open Access Research Article Identification of Features of Electronic Prescribing Systems to Support Quality and Safety in Primary Care Using a Modified Delphi Process

Background: Electronic prescribing is increasingly being used in primary care and in hospitals. Studies on the effects of e-prescribing systems have found evidence for both benefit and harm. The aim of this study was to identify features of e-prescribing software systems that support patient safety and quality of care and that are useful to the clinician and the patient, with a focus on improving the quality use of medicines. Methods: Software features were identified by a literature review, key informants and an expert group. A modified Delphi process was used with a 12-member multidisciplinary expert group to reach consensus on the expected impact of the features in four domains: patient safety, quality of care, usefulness to the clinician and usefulness to the patient. The setting was electronic prescribing in general practice in Australia. Results: A list of 114 software features was developed. Most of the features relate to the recording and use of patient data, the medication selection process, prescribing decision support, monitoring drug therapy and clinical reports. The expert group rated 78 of the features (68%) as likely to have a high positive impact in at least one domain, 36 features (32%) as medium impact, and none as low or negative impact. Twenty seven features were rated as high positive impact across 3 or 4 domains including patient safety and quality of care. Ten features were considered "aspirational" because of a lack of agreed standards and/or suitable knowledge bases. Conclusions: This study defines features of e-prescribing software systems that are expected to support safety and quality, especially in relation to prescribing and use of medicines in general practice. The features could be used to develop software standards, and could be adapted if necessary for use in other settings and countries. Background Medicine prescribing and health information record-keeping are changing from paper-based to computerised processes in healthcare systems all over the world. Electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) can be a stand alone process, but is usually part of an electronic health record system which may also link to pathology, radiology and patient administration systems. In the UK, Australia and some European countries the majority of prescribing in primary care is computerised, whereas uptake is less extensive in hospitals. In the United States, e-prescribing
Flexibilide Obtained from Cultured Soft Coral Has Anti-Neuroinflammatory and Analgesic Effects through the Upregulation of Spinal Transforming Growth Factor-β1 in Neuropathic Rats

Chronic neuroinflammation plays an important role in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain. The compound flexibilide, which can be obtained from cultured soft coral, possesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in the rat carrageenan peripheral inflammation model. In the present study, we investigated the antinociceptive properties of flexibilide in the rat chronic constriction injury (CCI) model of neuropathic pain. First, we found that a single intrathecal (i.t.) administration of flexibilide significantly attenuated CCI-induced thermal hyperalgesia at 14 days after surgery. Second, i.t. administration of 10-μg flexibilide twice daily was able to prevent the development of thermal hyperalgesia and weight-bearing deficits in CCI rats. Third, i.t. flexibilide significantly inhibited CCI-induced activation of microglia and astrocytes, as well as the upregulated proinflammatory enzyme, inducible nitric oxide synthase, in the ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn. Furthermore, flexibilide attenuated the CCI-induced downregulation of spinal transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) at 14 days after surgery. Finally, i.t. SB431542, a selective inhibitor of TGF-β type I receptor, blocked the analgesic effects of flexibilide in CCI rats. Our results suggest that flexibilide may serve as a therapeutic agent for neuropathic pain. In addition, spinal TGF-β1 may be involved in the anti-neuroinflammatory and analgesic effects of flexibilide.
Illustrating the Other : Autoethnographic Study on Racial Bias in the Design Process

This study seeks to find out how the awareness of the designer’s racial biases affects the design process and this can help to reduce the unintended recycling of racial stereotypes when portraying out-groups. Furthermore, the study concentrates on the role of surrounding visual culture, history and personal experiences when a European designer illustrates African characters. The study uses autoethnographic method. A micro level approach is taken to deepen understanding on the role of racial and ethnic bias in the design process by going through personal experiences from the perspective of a design student. A series of illustrations of West African characters for microstock image banks was produced as a case study. The design process was recorded in field notes accompanied by memories of events in the past that had led to the designer’s present perceptions. The field notes and memories were reconstructed as an evocative autoethnographic narrative. Through this process the designer was able to identify and reject some of the most racially biased concepts, make conscious choices regarding representation, and to claim responsibility over the decisions she made. The identified stereotypes were found to be paternalistic and envious in nature. The influences identified were the designer’s personal encounters and the Finnish and Western popular visual culture. Connections to the stereotypes of the colonial era, slavery and abolitionism were noted. It was noted that though paying attention to one’s racial biases during the design process could be beneficial in order to avoid racial stereotypes, given too much attention it could hinder the creative process.
Normative and Instrumental Perspectives on Public Participation

A normative literature in political science and public administration calls for enhanced citizen participation in public decisions. However, this approach overlooks the environment that shapes administrative behavior, an oversight likely to hamper reform efforts targeted at achieving the normative goals of participation. The administrative perspective is important because public managers shape participation forums and determine whether public input has an impact on decisions. In organizing participation, administrators are likely to be guided by an instrumental view of relative costs and benefits. Washington, D.C.’s Citizen Summit illustrates the primacy of the instrumental perspective but demonstrates conditions of compatibility with normative goals. In this case, public managers perceived administrative costs to be low relative to instrumental benefits, such as the quality of public input and a need to increase governmental legitimacy. They also applied innovative participation technologies to reduce administrative costs and raise instrumental benefits, reinvigorating the frequently criticized public hearing.
Impeding Factors in Completing a Doctoral Degree: Analysis of a Survey

This study aimed to investigate factors associated to success in completing a doctoral program, based on surveying staff members in one public university in Thailand. Initial data were obtained from the university database to select the targeted subjects of a survey. Questionnaires were provided to 700 subjects, focusing on relations with the supervisor and on difficulties experienced during the studies. Logistic regression was used to model the effects of multiple determinants on doctoral achievement, and to assess difficulties in doctoral studies. Linear regression was employed to model the association between such determinants and score assigned to the supervisor. Content analysis was employed to cluster reported types of problems. The results showed that country or region of doctoral study was the only factor significant to doctoral achievement. The difficulties in doctoral studies were classified into 8 groups; time, language, materials, research design, money and scholarship, data, supervisor availability, and academic efficiency of the supervisor. These findings provide insights for improving success rates in studies for the doctoral degree. Keywords: doctoral study, impede completion, logistic regression, linear regression
Spatial Perception is Continuously Constrained by Goals and Memories

Perceptual variables such as perceived distance contain information about future actions. Often our goals involve the integration of another’s goals, such as lifting heavy objects together. The purpose of this study was to investigate how another’s actions might influence one’s own goal-oriented perceptions, specifically, verbal distance estimates. Using a within-subject paradigm, we replicated a well-known finding that carrying a weighted backpack results in larger distance estimates relative to not carrying a backpack. In a crucial second condition, this effect was reversed: distance estimates were significantly greater when not carrying a weighted backpack than when carrying a backpack. In this condition, participants provided distance estimates while wearing a weighted backpack during the first phase and then gave estimates while not wearing a backpack, but following an experimenter wearing a weighted backpack in the second phase. Three additional conditions systematically documented how the observations of another’s actions influenced distance estimates.
DRYGIN: a database of quantitative genetic interaction networks in yeast

Genetic interactions are highly informative for deciphering the underlying functional principles that govern how genes control cell processes. Recent developments in Synthetic Genetic Array (SGA) analysis enable the mapping of quantitative genetic interactions on a genome-wide scale. To facilitate access to this resource, which will ultimately represent a complete genetic interaction network for a eukaryotic cell, we developed DRYGIN (Data Repository of Yeast Genetic Interactions)—a web database system that aims at providing a central platform for yeast genetic network analysis and visualization. In addition to providing an interface for searching the SGA genetic interactions, DRYGIN also integrates other data sources, in order to associate the genetic interactions with pathway information, protein complexes, other binary genetic and physical interactions, and Gene Ontology functional annotation. DRYGIN version 1.0 currently holds more than 5.4 million measurements of genetic interacting pairs involving ∼4500 genes, and is available at http://drygin.ccbr. utoronto.ca
Signal processing on social media : Theory and evidence from financial markets

We analyze the processing of information from social media and news media, using a unique dataset on financial markets. We find patterns consistent with a theory of social media as an “echo chamber”: Social networks repeat information, but boundedly rational investors interpret repeated signals as new information. This is based on the empirical finding that stocks with high social media coverage experience high subsequent volatility and trading activity, while high news media coverage predicts low volatility and trading activity. Alternative mechanisms based on private information, investor disagreement, uncertainty shocks, and other behavioral biases are not consistent with the data. JEL: D83, G02.
Validation for 802 . 11 b Wireless Channel Measurements

Few researchers have undertook the task of measuring the wireless channel at the frame level to understand performance issues related to frame loss and signal strength. This paper proposes a measurement procedure for terrestrial wireless networks based on cheap hardware and custom software, and validates it through experiments on real-word wireless environment. In order to validate the measurement procedure, we carry out a comprehensive measurement campaign in a rural environment and we evaluate statistics about frame loss and signal level in the IEEE 802.11b wireless channel. Frames are transmitted and received by using two cheap laptops with standard Linux drivers and purposely written software. A first validation step compares the behaviour of the received signal power level with the two-ray propagation model. A subsequent step compares the observed frame loss with the expected coding gain at various transmission rates. Graphs of the observed frame loss rate at different transmission rates are provided for a rural environment, where the two-ray propagation model is a good fit.
Identification of quadriceps-shank dynamics using randomized interpulse interval stimulation

Model structures for artificially stimulated paralyzed muscle-limb system dynamics were developed and experimentally evaluated in paraplegic patients. The examined system consisted of the quadriceps, electrically stimulated using surface electrodes, and a freely swinging shank. The interpulse interval of the stimulation sequence was randomized to obtain persistent system excitation. The outputs of the system were the angular position, velocity, and acceleration, measured by externally mounted sensors. The authors especially report on model identification of the active quadriceps dynamics and the angle prediction performance of the total quadriceps-shank model. Second-order modeling of the twitch dynamics with delay did not significantly improve the prediction results in comparison to a zero-order model with delay (/spl alpha/=0.05). Nonlinear torque-angle and torque-angular velocity relations in combination with a zero-order model (with delay) only slightly improved the prediction results for large prediction intervals (/spl alpha/=0.05). The delay between stimulation input and resulting knee joint acceleration appeared to be joint angle dependent and was estimated to be largest in the knee angle range near knee extension, i.e., when quadriceps muscle is shortest. >
MicroRNA-126 induces autophagy by altering cell metabolism in malignant mesothelioma

Autophagy favors both cell survival and cancer suppression, and increasing evidence reveals that microRNAs (MIRs) regulate autophagy. Previously we reported that MIR126 is downregulated in malignant mesothelioma (MM). Therefore, we investigated the role of MIR126 in the regulation of cell metabolism and autophagy in MM models. We report that MIR126 induces autophagic flux in MM cells by downregulating insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS1) and disrupting the IRS1 signaling pathway. This was specific to MM cells, and was not observed in non-malignant cells of mesothelial origin or in MM cells expressing MIR126-insensitive IRS1 transcript. The MIR126 effect on autophagy in MM cells was recapitulated by IRS1 silencing, and antagonized by IRS1 overexpression or antisense MIR126 treatment. The MIR126-induced loss of IRS1 suppressed glucose uptake, leading to energy deprivation and AMPK-dependent phosphorylation of ULK1. In addition, MIR126 stimulated lipid droplet accumulation in a hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF1α)-dependent manner. MIR126 also reduced pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) and acetyl-CoA-citrate lyase (ACL) expression, leading to the accumulation of cytosolic citrate and paradoxical inhibition of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activity. Simultaneous pharmacological and genetic intervention with PDK and ACL activity phenocopied the effects of MIR126. This suggests that in MM MIR126 initiates a metabolic program leading to high autophagic flux and HIF1α stabilization, incompatible with tumor progression of MM. Consistently, MIR126-expressing MM cells injected into immunocompromised mice failed to progress beyond the initial stage of tumor formation, showing that increased autophagy has a protective role in MM.