Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Moral functioning as mediated action

In this paper, I argue that it is quite useful, both theoretically and empirically, to adopt a socio‐cultural approach to the study of moral development. This entails viewing ‘moral functioning’ as a form of mediated action, and moral development as the process by which persons gradually appropriate a variety of ‘moral mediational means’. Mediated action entails two central elements: an ‘agent’, the person who is doing the acting, on the one hand, and ‘cultural tools’ or ‘mediational means’, the tools, means, or ‘instruments’, appropriated from the culture, and used by the agent to accomplish a given action, on the other. I make this argument drawing on recent work in socio‐cultural psychology, specifically the work of James Wertsch (1998). I also consider the work of both Carol Gilligan (1982) and Lawrence Kohlberg (1981, 1984) as illustrative examples, to show how their respective insights about moral functioning and the process of moral development can be interpreted from, and enriched by, a mediated action/socio‐cultural perspective.
Splenic Leukocytes Traffic to the Thyroid and Produce a Novel TSHβ Isoform during Acute Listeria monocytogenes Infection in Mice

The thyroid stimulating hormone beta-subunit (TSHβ) with TSHα form a glycoprotein hormone that is produced by the anterior pituitary in the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis. Although TSHβ has been known for many years to be made by cells of the immune system, the role of immune system TSH has remained unclear. Recent studies demonstrated that cells of the immune system produce a novel splice variant isoform of TSHβ (TSHβv), but little if any native TSHβ. Here, we show that within three days of systemic infection of mice with Listeria monocytogenes, splenic leukocytes synthesized elevated levels of TSHβv. This was accompanied by an influx of CD14+, Ly6C+, Ly6G+ cells into the thyroid of infected mice, and increased levels of intrathyroidal TSHβv gene expression. Adoptive transfer of carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE)-labeled splenic leukocytes from infected mice into non-infected mice migrated into the thyroid as early as forty-eight hours post-cell transfer, whereas CFSE-labeled cells from non-infected mice failed to traffic to the thyroid. These findings demonstrate for the first time that during bacterial infection peripheral leukocytes produce elevated levels of TSHβv, and that spleen cells traffic to the thyroid where they produce TSHβv intrathyroidally.
Comparative Study of Speaker Recognition Methods : DTW , GMM and SVM

Speaker recognition is a process where a person is recognized on the basis of his/her voice signals. The problem of speaker recognition belongs to a much broader topic in scientific and engineering so called pattern classification. In this paper we provide a brief overview for evolution of pattern classification technique used in speaker recognition. We also discussed about our propose process to modeling a speaker recognition system, which include pre-processing phase, feature extraction phase and pattern classification phase. Besides, we aim at concerns a comparison of DTW, GMM and SVM performance for speaker recognition. Topics of how we construct DTW, GMM and SVM for speaker recognition and experimental result for these 3 techniques are presented in this paper. Experiments in this study were performed using TIMIT speech database. Experimental result shows that SVM gain the worse result among 3 types of classifier. This is due to the drawback of SVM when dealing with audio data is their restriction to work with fixed-length vectors. Hence, investigation on a better normalization function will be done to ensure that the SVM classifier get the better accuracy rate.
Systems Theory as the Foundation for Understanding Systems

As currently used, systems theory is lacking a universally agreed upon definition. The purpose of this paper is to offer a resolution by articulating a formal definition of systems theory. This definition is presented as a unified group of specific propositions which are brought together by way of an axiom set to form a system construct: systems theory. This construct affords systems practitioners and theoreticians with a prescriptive set of axioms by which a system must operate; conversely, any set of entities identified as a system may be characterized by this set of axioms. Given its multidisciplinary theoretical foundation and discipline‐agnostic framework, systems theory, as it is presented here, is posited as a general approach to understanding system behavior. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 17:
Aspects of supertubes

We find supersymmetric solutions of the D4-brane Born-Infeld action describing D2 supertubes ending on an arbitrary curve inside a D4-brane. From the D4-brane point of view, these are dyonic strings. We also consider various higher dimensional extensions of the usual supertubes, involving expanded D4- and D3-brane configurations. Finally, considering the worldsheet theory for open strings on a supertube, we show that this configuration is an exact solution to all orders in α'. Further the causal structure of the open-string metric provides new insight into the arbitrary cross-section of the supertube solutions. From this point of view, it is similar to the arbitrary profile that appears for plane waves.
Superior In Vitro Stimulation of Human CD8+ T-Cells by Whole Virus versus Split Virus Influenza Vaccines

Pandemic and seasonal influenza viruses cause considerable morbidity and mortality in the general human population. Protection from severe disease may result from vaccines that activate antigen-presenting DC for effective stimulation of influenza-specific memory T cells. Special attention is paid to vaccine-induced CD8+ T-cell responses, because they are mainly directed against conserved internal influenza proteins thereby presumably mediating cross-protection against circulating seasonal as well as emerging pandemic virus strains. Our study showed that influenza whole virus vaccines of major seasonal A and B strains activated DC more efficiently than those of pandemic swine-origin H1N1 and pandemic-like avian H5N1 strains. In contrast, influenza split virus vaccines had a low ability to activate DC, regardless which strain was investigated. We also observed that whole virus vaccines stimulated virus-specific CD8+ memory T cells much stronger compared to split virus counterparts, whereas both vaccine formats activated CD4+ Th cell responses similarly. Moreover, our data showed that whole virus vaccine material is delivered into the cytosolic pathway of DC for effective activation of virus-specific CD8+ T cells. We conclude that vaccines against seasonal and pandemic (-like) influenza strains that aim to stimulate cross-reacting CD8+ T cells should include whole virus rather than split virus formulations.
Utilizing Instrumented Stand Pipe for Monitoring Drilling Fluid Dynamics for Improving Automated Drilling Operations

Abstract This paper introduces a method to enable automatic updates of the density, compressibility and frictional effects of the drilling fluid during a drilling operation. By placing pressure sensors along the circulation path from the mud pump to the connection to the drillstring, the fluid dynamics can be examined more thoroughly at various flow rates and pressures. This will help filling the gap of reliable data on drilling fluid properties, which is of great importance in automated drilling operations.
Trends in rainfall indices for six Australian regions: 1910-2005

Understanding rainfall variability, shifts and trends is of primary importance when considering the potential for biophysical, social and economic impacts. An increase in mean rainfall could enhance agricultural production and water supply. However, if this increase is associated with more extreme rainfall events, it can enhance flood frequency and intensity. Conversely, decreases in mean rainfall can lead to droughts and greater fire risk. For example, in southwest Western Australia (SWWA), a sudden and sustained 15 to 20 per cent decline in rainfall during the 1970s has resulted in a 50 per cent decline in streamAust. Met. Mag. 56 (2007) 223-239
Trichostatin A Suppresses EGFR Expression through Induction of MicroRNA-7 in an HDAC-Independent Manner in Lapatinib-Treated Cells

Lapatinib, a dual EGFR/HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been shown to improve the survival rate of patients with advanced HER2-positive breast cancers. However, the off-target activity of lapatinib in inducing EGFR expression without tyrosine kinase activity was demonstrated to render HER2-negative breast cancer cells more metastatic, suggesting a limitation to the therapeutic effectiveness of this dual inhibitor in HER2-heterogeneous tumors. Therefore, targeting EGFR expression may be a feasible approach to improve the anticancer efficiency of lapatinib-based therapy. Inhibition of HDAC has been previously reported to epigenetically suppress EGFR protein expression. In this study, however, our data indicated that treatment with HDAC inhibitors trichostatin A (TSA), but not suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) or HDAC siRNA, can attenuate both protein and mRNA expressions of EGFR in lapatinib-treated triple-negative breast cancer cells, suggesting that TSA may suppress EGFR expression independently of HDAC inhibition. Nevertheless, TSA reduced EGFR 3′UTR activity and induced the gene expression of microRNA-7, a known EGFR-targeting microRNA. Furthermore, treatment with microRNA-7 inhibitor attenuated TSA-mediated EGFR suppression. These results suggest that TSA induced microRNA-7 expression to downregulate EGFR expression in an HDAC-independent manner.
On controllability of switched bilinear systems

The controllability of switched bilinear systems (SBLS) is investigated. First, the structure of accessibility Lie algebra of SBLS is investigated. Some topological structure of (weak) controllability sub-manifolds is revealed. Then the practical controllability and the controllability of SBLS, and the controllability of state homogeneous SBLS are studied in sequence. Sets of easily verifiable sufficient conditions are obtained for each case.
Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coliCan Impair T84 Cell Structure and Function without Inducing Attaching/Effacing Lesions

ABSTRACT Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) intimately adhere to epithelial cells producing cytoskeletal rearrangement with typical attaching and effacing lesions and altered epithelial barrier and transport function. Since EPEC and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) share similar genes in the “locus for enterocyte effacement” (LEE) thought to cause these changes, it has been assumed that STEC shares similar pathogenic mechanisms with EPEC. The aims of this study were to compare the effects of EPEC and STEC on bacterial-epithelial interactions and to examine changes in epithelial function. T84 monolayers were infected with STEC O157:H7 (wild strain EDL 933 or non-toxin-producing strain 85/170), EPEC (strain E2348/69), or HB101 (nonpathogenic) and studied at various times after infection. EPEC bound more avidly than EDL 933, but both strains exhibited greater binding than HB101. Attaching and effacing lesions and severe disruption to the actin cytoskeleton were observed in EPEC by 3 h postinfection but not in EDL 933 or HB101 at any time point. EPEC and EDL 933 increased monolayer permeability to [3H]mannitol 5- to 10-fold. In contrast to EPEC, EDL 933 completely abolished secretagogue-stimulated anion secretion as assessed under voltage clamp conditions in Ussing chambers. Several other STEC strains induced changes similar to those of EDL 933. In conclusion, STEC impairs epithelial barrier function and ion transport without causing major disruption to the actin cytoskeleton. Pathogenic factors other than products of LEE may be operant in STEC.
Evaluation of the minimum overflow threshold of bayes codes for a Markov source

The objective of this research is to evaluate the ε-minimum overflow threshold of the Bayes codes for a Markov source. In the lossless variable-length source coding problem, typical criteria are the mean codeword length and the overflow probability. The overflow probability is the probability with which a codeword length per source symbol exceeds a threshold and the ε-minimum overflow threshold is defined. In the non-universal setting, the Shannon code is optimal under the mean codeword length and the ε-minimum overflow threshold for the Shannon code is derived for an i.i. d. source. On the other hand, in the universal setting, the Bayes code is one of universal codes which minimize the mean codeword length under the Bayes criterion. However, few studies have been done on the overflow probability for the Bayes codes. In this paper, we assume a stationary ergodic finite order Markov source and derive the upper and lower bounds of the ε-minimum overflow threshold of the Bayes codes.
Evaluation of the Use of Sub-Pixel Offset Tracking Techniques to Monitor Landslides in Densely Vegetated Steeply Sloped Areas

Sub-Pixel Offset Tracking (sPOT) is applied to derive high-resolution centimetre-level landslide rates in the Three Gorges Region of China using TerraSAR-X Hi-resolution Spotlight (TSX HS) space-borne SAR images. These results contrast sharply with previous use of conventional differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) techniques in areas with steep slopes, dense vegetation and large variability in water vapour which indicated around 12% phase coherent coverage. By contrast, sPOT is capable of measuring two dimensional deformation of large gradient over steeply sloped areas covered in dense vegetation. Previous applications of sPOT in this region relies on corner reflectors (CRs), (high coherence features) to obtain reliable measurements. However, CRs are expensive and difficult to install, especially in remote areas; and other potential high coherence features comparable with CRs are very few and outside the landslide boundary. The resultant sub-pixel level deformation field can be statistically analysed to yield multi-modal maps of deformation regions. This approach is shown to have a significant impact when compared with previous offset tracking measurements of landslide deformation, as it is demonstrated that sPOT can be applied even in densely vegetated terrain without relying on high-contrast surface features or requiring any de-noising process.
Heuristic Optimization: A hybrid AI/OR approach

We have developed a hybrid architecture h opt that combines Integer Pro gramming IP for global optimization and heuristic search techniques Our hybrid approach captures the most desirable features of each A heuristic local search algo rithm generates a large number of good feasible solutions quickly and the IP solver is then used to combine the elements from those solutions into a better solution than the local search approach was able to nd Preliminary experimental results are very encouraging In developing the heuristic component for h opt we have generalized several existing highly e ective scheduling algorithms The generalization is based on two principles that we have found to be key local search bene ts from the ability to make large coherent moves in the search space and good solutions can be taken apart to reveal structure in the local search space Our solver has served as a component of h opt but is also a very good scheduling algorithm in its own right The techniques we have developed are very general and should be applicable to a wide range of problems Here we report very promising results on a scheduling problem that arises in ber optic cable manufacturing The heuristic approach can generate good solutions very quickly by itself but in combination with the global IP optimization signi cant further improvement is possible The hybrid approach also produces better quality solutions than a tabu search algorithm and runs faster as well
Prediction of human errors by maladaptive changes in event-related brain networks

Humans engaged in monotonous tasks are susceptible to occasional errors that may lead to serious consequences, but little is known about brain activity patterns preceding errors. Using functional MRI and applying independent component analysis followed by deconvolution of hemodynamic responses, we studied error preceding brain activity on a trial-by-trial basis. We found a set of brain regions in which the temporal evolution of activation predicted performance errors. These maladaptive brain activity changes started to evolve ≈30 sec before the error. In particular, a coincident decrease of deactivation in default mode regions of the brain, together with a decline of activation in regions associated with maintaining task effort, raised the probability of future errors. Our findings provide insights into the brain network dynamics preceding human performance errors and suggest that monitoring of the identified precursor states may help in avoiding human errors in critical real-world situations.
Arithmetic crosscorrelations of feedback with carry shift register sequences

An arithmetic version of the crosscorrelation of two sequences is defined, generalizing Mandelbaum's (1967) arithmetic autocorrelations. Large families of sequences are constructed with ideal (vanishing) arithmetic crosscorrelations. These sequences are decimations of the 2-adic expansions of rational numbers p/q such that 2 is a primitive root module q.
Threat‐related attentional biases: an analysis of three attention systems

It is unclear how threat‐related attentional biases affect multiple attention systems. This study used a new modification of a reaction time paradigm to examine whether inter‐trial task‐irrelevant fearful faces influenced the efficiency of alerting, orienting, and executive attention, and whether effects varied with level of state anxiety. Participants, 63 non‐disordered adults (17 males and 46 females), reported on their subjective state anxiety and completed a modified version of the Attention Network Test in which fearful or neutral faces or control stimuli were presented briefly (50 ms) between trials of the task, but provided no task‐relevant information. Across all participants, state anxiety was positively correlated with alerting, whereas fearful versus neutral faces were linked to decreased alerting efficiency. Contrasting high and low anxiety groups showed that fearful versus neutral faces reduced executive attention in the low state anxiety group only, suggesting decreased distraction by irrelevant stimuli in the high state anxiety group. Results document threat‐related attentional biases that varied with attention system but failed to find enhanced bias effects among those with higher state anxiety in a typical range. This modification of the Attention Network Test, which added presentation of emotional distracters, provides a potentially useful new method for assessing the impact of task‐irrelevant emotional stimuli on three aspects of attention performance. Depression and Anxiety 0:1–10, 2007. Published 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Optimal Convolutive Filters for Real-Time Detection and Arrival Time Estimation of Transient Signals

Linear convolutive filters are fast in calculation and in application, and thus, often used for real-time processing of continuous data streams. In the case of transient signals, a filter has not only to detect the presence of a specific waveform, but to estimate its arrival time as well. In this study, a measure is presented which indicates the performance of detectors in achieving both of these tasks simultaneously. Furthermore, a new sub-class of linear filters within the class of filters which minimize the quadratic response is proposed. The proposed filters are more flexible than the existing ones, like the adaptive matched filter or the minimum power distortionless response beamformer, and prove to be superior with respect to that measure in certain settings. Simulations of a real-time scenario confirm the advantage of these filters as well as the usefulness of the performance measure.
A Unifying Approach to the Gamma Question

The Gamma question was formulated by Andrews et al. In "Asymptotic density, computable trace ability and 1-randomness" (2013, available at http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lempp/papers/traceable.pdf). It is related to the recent notion of coarse computability which stems from complexity theory. The Gamma value of an oracle set measures to what extent each set computable with the oracle is approximable, in the sense of density, by a computable set. The closer to 1 this value is, the closer the oracle is to being computable. The Gamma question asks whether this value can be strictly in between 0 and 1/2. We say that an oracle is weakly Schnorr engulfing if it computes a Schnorr test that succeeds on all computable reals. We show that each non weakly Schnorr engulfing oracle has a Gamma value of at least 1/2. Together with a recent result of Kjos-Hanssen, Stephan, and Terwijn, this establishes new examples of such oracles. We also give a unifying approach to oracles with Gamma value 0. We say that an oracle is infinitely often equal with bound h if it computes a function that agrees infinitely often with each computable function bounded by h. We show that every oracle which is infinitely equal with bound 2dn for d>1 has a Gamma value of 0. This provides new examples of such oracles as well. We present a combinatorial characterization of being weakly Schnorr engulfing via traces, which is inspired by the study of cardinal characteristics in set theory.
Going where students are: comparing faculty and student uses and perceptions of social networking in higher education

Often in education, the phrase “meet students where they are” is used as an approach to meet ever-changing needs of students. As the popularity of social networking increases, specifically among college students, the question arises: should colleges and universities utilize social networking sites (SNS) as a supplemental educational tool? This study explored this question by using survey items based on Rogers’ (2003) Diffusion of Innovation attributes to compare faculty and students’ current rate of adoption of using SNSs and their perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of using them as tools to enhance teaching and learning. The population consisted of School of Education faculty and students at a small, southern university. Quantitative data (from a Likert-scale survey) and qualitative data (from open-ended survey questions, a student focus group, and faculty interviews) revealed that less than half of faculty and most students are open to the notion of using SNSs for educational purposes. For faculty adopters, perceptions of the innovation-attribute constructs of compatibility, complexity, and observability were not significantly different from the perceptions of nonadopters, but relative advantage and trialability were significantly different between adopters and nonadopters. These results indicate that only the constructs of relative advantage and trialability, as described by Rogers (2003), helped determine faculty adoption decisions. For student adopter and nonadopter groups, results were not significantly different for perceptions of trialability, but they were different for perceptions of relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, and observability. Thus, results indicate that all innovation attributes described by Rogers (2003) except trialability contributed to students’ adoption decisions. This study also discovered the faculty and students’ perceived benefits (i.e., communication and online discussion) and disadvantages (i.e., privacy, confidentiality, and distraction issues) of using SNSs in education. The study concluded that less than half of faculty’s and most students’ willingness to adopt SNSs for educational purposes is tempered by their concerns about privacy and confidentiality.