Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lazy Associative Classification for Content-based Spam Detection

Despite all tricks and mechanisms spammers use to avoid detection, one fact is certain: spammers have to deliver their message, whatever it is. This fact makes the message itself a weak point of spammers, and thus special attention has being devoted to content-based spam detection. In this paper we introduce a novel pattern discovery approach for spam detection. The proposed approach discovers patterns hidden in the message, and then it builds a classification model by exploring the associations among the discovered patterns. The model is composed by rules, showing the relationships between the discovered patterns and classes (i.e., spam/legitimate message). Differently from typical eager classifiers which build a single model that is good on average for all messages, our lazy approach builds a specific model for each message being classified, possibly taking advantage of particular characteristics of the message. We evaluate our approach under the TREC 2005 Spam Track evaluation framework, in which a chronological sequence of messages is presented sequentially to the filter for classification, and the filter is continuously trained with incremental feedback. Our results indicate that the proposed approach can eliminate almost 99% of spam while incurring 0.4% legitimate email loss. Further, our approach is also efficient in terms of computational complexity, being able to classify more than one hundred messages per second
Proteomics-Based Characterization of the Humoral Immune Response in Sporotrichosis: Toward Discovery of Potential Diagnostic and Vaccine Antigens

Background Sporothrix schenckii and associated species are agents of human and animal sporotrichosis that cause large sapronoses and zoonoses worldwide. Epidemiological surveillance has highlighted an overwhelming occurrence of the highly pathogenic fungus Sporothrix brasiliensis during feline outbreaks, leading to massive transmissions to humans. Early diagnosis of feline sporotrichosis by demonstrating the presence of a surrogate marker of infection can have a key role for selecting appropriate disease control measures and minimizing zoonotic transmission to humans. Methodology We explored the presence and diversity of serum antibodies (IgG) specific against Sporothrix antigens in cats with sporotrichosis and evaluated the utility of these antibodies for serodiagnosis. Antigen profiling included protein extracts from the closest known relatives S. brasiliensis and S. schenckii. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and immunoblotting enabled us to characterize the major antigens of feline sporotrichosis from sera from cats with sporotrichosis (n = 49), healthy cats (n = 19), and cats with other diseases (n = 20). Principal Findings Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based quantitation of anti-Sporothrix IgG exhibited high sensitivity and specificity in cats with sporotrichosis (area under the curve, 1.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.94–1; P<0.0001) versus controls. The two sets of Sporothrix antigens were remarkably cross-reactive, supporting the hypothesis that antigenic epitopes may be conserved among closely related agents. One-dimensional immunoblotting indicated that 3-carboxymuconate cyclase (a 60-kDa protein in S. brasiliensis and a 70-kDa protein in S. schenckii) is the immunodominant antigen in feline sporotrichosis. Two-dimensional immunoblotting revealed six IgG-reactive isoforms of gp60 in the S. brasiliensis proteome, similar to the humoral response found in human sporotrichosis. Conclusions A convergent IgG-response in various hosts (mice, cats, and humans) has important implications for our understanding of the coevolution of Sporothrix and its warm-blooded hosts. We propose that 3-carboxymuconate cyclase has potential for the serological diagnosis of sporotrichosis and as target for the development of an effective multi-species vaccine against sporotrichosis in animals and humans.
Protein-matrix coupling/uncoupling in "dry" systems of photosynthetic reaction center embedded in trehalose/sucrose: the origin of trehalose peculiarity.

Trehalose is a nonreducing disaccharide of glucose found in organisms, which can survive adverse conditions such as extreme drought and high temperatures. Furthermore, isolated structures, as enzymes or liposomes, embedded in trehalose are preserved against stressing conditions [see, e.g., Crowe, L. M. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A 2002, 131, 505-513]. Among other hypotheses, such protective effect has been suggested to stem, in the case of proteins, from the formation of a water-mediated, hydrogen bond network, which anchors the protein surface to the water-sugar matrix, thus coupling the internal degrees of freedom of the biomolecule to those of the surroundings [Giuffrida, S. ; et al. J. Phys. Chem. B 2003, 107, 13211-13217]. Analogous protective effect is also accomplished by other saccharides, although with a lower efficiency. Here, we studied the recombination kinetics of the primary, light-induced charge separated state (P(+)Q(A)(-)) and the thermal stability of the photosynthetic reaction center (RC) of Rhodobacter sphaeroides in trehalose-water and in sucrose-water matrixes of decreasing water content. Our data show that, in sucrose, at variance with trehalose, the system undergoes a "nanophase separation" when the water/sugar mole fraction is lower than the threshold level approximately 0.8. We rationalize this result assuming that the hydrogen bond network, which anchors the RC surface to its surrounding, is formed in trehalose but not in sucrose. We suggest that both the couplings, in the case of trehalose, and the nanophase separation, in the case of sucrose, start at low water content when the components of the system enter in competition for the residual water.
Accent and Listening Assessment: A Validation Study of the Use of Speakers with L2 Accents on an Academic English Listening Test

Given the linguistically diverse nature of academic institutions in English-speaking contexts, a strong rationale exists for the incorporation of L2 accents of English in academic listening assessment on the grounds of authenticity and construct representation. However large-scale tests have tended to feature only native-speaker varieties in listening test input owing to concerns about the intelligibility of L2 accents, construct validity and acceptability. This book presents a mixed-methods study designed to address these concerns. Versions of the University Test of English as a Second Language (UTESL) featuring Australian English, Japanese and Mandarin Chinese accented speakers were used to explore the potential for a shared-L1 or familiarity advantage, and to investigate test-takers' attitudes towards L2 accents on a listening test. Implications are drawn for test development and for future research.
Impersonal mechanisms and personal networks in the distribution of grants in Japan

This paper shows that the distribution of grants to local governments is not significantly affected by individual political influence. Statistical analysis shows no link between the allocation of construction funds, for example, and the power of individual politicians. Instead, the distribution of such grants has tended to be stable across prefectures over time, indicating that bureaucratic formulae and historically determined entitlements dominate the distribution process.
Homosexuality and Religion: An Encyclopedia

Few issues today cause more public - and private - debate than the interaction of homosexuality and religion. From the question of gay marriage to the place of gays and lesbians within faith communities, religious leaders and lay members must deal with these issues for now and for years to come. What is the historical position of the major denominations? How are people of faith balancing their beliefs? This encyclopedia provides an overview of the various attitudes and responses that religions have had to the presence of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered persons within their communities. This is the most comprehensive volume to date on the intersections between religion and homosexuality.
Estimation of Speakers' Weight and Height from Speech: A Re-Analysis of Data from Multiple Studies by Lass and Colleagues

Research on identification of speakers' weight and height from their speech has yielded controversial results. Conclusions from a series of reports conducted by Lass and colleagues must be interpreted with caution because they are based on comparisons of only two types of data, mean of actual values and mean of estimated values. Cohen and others clearly demonstrated that this method of analysis overstated the accuracy of listeners' judgments. Following Van Dommelen's procedure, data from six of Lass's reports were re-analyzed with more appropriate statistics. Results of re-analysis show that (a) listeners are not very efficient guessing the weight or height of speakers, as only 14% of the estimations correlated significantly with actual values, (b) Judgments are highly consistent under different acoustic conditions, suggesting that listeners follow vocal stereotypes about the body size of speakers, even though these stereotypes are wrong.
Modified topological generation and load distribution factors

In this paper, a modification of the topological generation load distribution factor method of power flow tracing is reported. The modification is needed since the existing method introduces additional fictitious nodes on system lines in order to take into account the transmission losses. Due to the expansion of a system, the existing algorithm based on the augmented matrix equation requires more mathematical effort and memory and longer calculation time to obtain a solution. The new approach successfully avoids the matrix expansion by introducing matrix decoupling, which is its main improvement. The second novelty is an introduction of an equivalent model of a line that unites the nodal reactive power with the power produced by shunt admittances. Thus, the modified method can be also applied to the reactive power flows and transmission-loss allocation.
Insulin regulation of lipoprotein lipase activity and release in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Separation and dependence of hormonal effects on hexose metabolism and synthesis of RNA and protein.

Insulin regulation of lipoprotein lipase was studied in fully differentiated 3T3-Ll fat cells. Insulin at low concentrations (10e7 to 10-l’ M) elicited a rapid and maximal increase (-lo-fold) in lipoprotein lipase release from the cells to the medium within 30 min and caused a 2to lo-fold increase in total cellular lipoprotein lipase activity over a a-day period. Insulin had no effect on cell lipoprotein lipase activity during the first 4 h of treatment. Prolonged exposure to insulin (% to 4 days) resulted in additional increases in enzyme release rate, and increased the fractional release rate per h approximately lo-fold. Stimulation of cellular lipoprotein lipase activity was dependent on the presence of glucose in the incubation medium. Although half-maximal increases in cell activity required 12 h of insulin treatment in glucose-containing medium, removal of either glucose or insulin resulted in loss of more than 50% of the stimulation in enzyme activity within 90 min. Addition of glucose to cells incubated 20 h with insulin in carbohydrate-free medium elicited a rapid and full response to insulin in 2 h. Fructose, mannose, and glucosamine could substitute for glucose in supporting this rapid response in insulin-pretreated cells, but only glucose, mannose, and fructose would support the effect in 24-h incubations with hormone. Induction of the increase in lipoprotein lipase activity by glucose in insulin-pretreated cells was prevented by cycloheximide, but not by actinomycin D. In contrast, inhibitors of either protein (cycloheximide, puromycin) or RNA (a-amanitin, actinomycin D) synthesis completely blocked the response when added with insulin to cells incubated in medium containing glucose. We propose that insulin regulates lipoprotein lipase in fat cells by three major actions: 1) it elicits a rapid release of enzyme from the cell through mechanisms which are independent of energy metabolism and protein synthesis; 2) it stimulates gene expression and synthesis of RNA independently of effects on hexose and amino acid transport; 3) it stimulates expression of the nuclear effects of the hormone at the translational level by increasing hexose uptake and the levels of regulatory glycolytic metabolites within the cells. Induction of the enzyme and its release thus appear
Burnout and Associated Factors among Administrators/Mid-Managers of the Cooperative Extension Service in the North Central Region. Summary of Research 46.

ABSTRACT A study was conducted to (1) determine the level of burnout, job satisfaction, personal strain, occupational stress, and personal coping resources of associate directors, assistant directors, and district supervisors of the Cooperative Extension Service in the North Central Region; (2) determine the extent of association between burnout and personal characteristics, job satisfaction, personal strain, occupational stress, and personal coping; and (3) determine if differences in levels of burnout existed among associate directors, assistant directors, and district supervisors. The population for the study consisted of 19 associate directors, 36 assistant directors, and 67 district supervisors in the Cooperative Extension Service located in the North Central Region who answered mailed questionnaires. Some of the findings and conclusions of the study are the following: (1) administrators/mid-managers who experienced higher levels of occupational stress tended to have higher levels of personal strain, uhereas those who had high usage of personal coping strategies tended to have lower levels of stress and strain and ultimately less burnout; (2) approximately one-fifth of the administrators/mid-managers experienced high levels of burnout, and district supervisors and assistant directors had approximately the same level of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization; (3) approximately one-third of the associate directors scored high in the depersonalization category of burnout; (4) demographic variables had little relationship to the level of burnout; (5) the majority of administrators were satisfied with their jobs; and (6) the majority of administrators had low levels of occupational stress, although assistant directors had the most role overload. Recommendations were made to conduct workshops for administrators to make them aware of the problem of burnout and to suggest strategies for coping or job restructuring. (KC)
Breathe in life. Intrapersonal Determinants of Quality of Life and Smoking Behaviour in Adolescents with Asthma

The aim of this study was to test which personality traits of the Five Factor Model of personality (“the Big Five”) were related to quality of life (QOL) in adolescents with asthma. In addition, this study tested whether relations between personality and QOL might be explained by ways of coping with asthma and symptom reporting. A sample of 405 12 to 16-year-olds with asthma completed questionnaires on personality, coping with asthma, symptom reporting, and QOL (overall QOL and positive effects QOL). The direct relations between personality traits and QOL, as well as the indirect relations via coping strategies and symptom reporting were tested with structural equation modelling (SEM). Adolescents high on extraversion and low on neuroticism had better overall QOL, while adolescents high on agreeableness had better QOL related to experiencing more positive effects of asthma in their daily life. The mediation model revealed that these relations were fully mediated by coping strategies and symptom reporting. The results of this study will help to better understand what determines QOL in adolescents with asthma, and how to design interventions that could facilitate minimizing the negative effects of having asthma on the QOL of these adolescents. Suggestions for these interventions are discussed.
Repetitive Reportings in Spontaneous Mandarin Conversation

This dissertation studies a widespread yet understudied phenomenon, namely repetitive reportings in spontaneous Mandarin conversation. The practice of repeating what was previously reported seems to violate the Maxim of Quantity (Grice, 1975), which states that speakers should not make their contributions more informative than are required. Using a conversation analytic approach, this dissertation examines four types of repetitive reportings, namely immediate and distant repetitive reportings carried out by the same speaker or different interlocutors, and shows that repetitive reportings provide a rhetorical device with which a speaker creates another interactional space to accomplish additional interactional goals. Drawing evidence from the participants' verbal/nonverbal displays in talk-in-interaction, this research shows how the interlocutors themselves orient to essential issues such as the authenticity and efficacy of reported speech. Specifically, Mandarin conversationalists are shown to display fidelity to the authenticity of reported information in situations, whereby the negotiation of propositional details not only updates the audiences, but implements such interactional functions as enhancing the dramatic character of the reported matters, or challenging the prior reporter's credibility. Furthermore, interlocutors are also observed to orient to the efficacy of reported speech. Immediate repetitive reportings by the same speaker are recurrently proffered either as an encore performance to sustain the ongoing affiliation, or as a remedy to restore the temporarily lost mutual understanding among the co-participants. Immediate repetitive reportings formulated by other interlocutors, in contrast, serve to challenge the pragmatic adequacy and sequential appropriateness of the prior reporting, consequentially laying claim to the current reporter's epistemic authority. Distant repetitive reportings seem to be designed for different purposes. When a speaker quotes the same locutions in different contexts, adjustments are made to accommodate the immediate interactional needs; in retellings, upshots of report tend to be preserved, whereas peripheral components (e.g., background information) are subject to the most changes. Distant repetitive reportings performed by distinct interlocutors are deployed as resources with which interlocutors perspectivize and make sense of their shared experiences, a process accomplished through various reporting strategies. Finally, this dissertation attests to the fruitfulness of adopting a context-oriented interactive approach while examining such social phenomena as speech within speech.
Biliary Immune Response to Orally Presented Food Antigen, Ovomucoid, and its Potentiation by Cholera Toxin B Subunit

To clarify the biliary immune response against food antigen, we studied biliary antibody response lo intravenous and oral primary immunization with ovomucoid (OM)and the effects of cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) on the oral response in mice. Specific antibodies against OM were induced in biliary and serum immunoglobulin (Ig) A. IgGand IpM by intravenous (i.v.) administration of the antigen. However the antibodies were induced only in biliary Igs, but not in serum Igs, by oral intubation of the antigen. The higher levels of anti‐OM in bile than in serum observed in the oral group may favour the assumption that antigen‐stimulted lymphoid cells migrate to the liver, gall bladder or bile duct where they produce antibody. Both serum and biliary anti‐OM responses to oral immunization were potentiated remarkably by oral administration of CTB with the antigen, the IgM anti‐OM response being potentiated to the largest extent. In the CTB‐treated mice. the IgA anti‐OM level was higher in bile than in serum. Serum level of IgG anti‐OM was much lower in the CTB‐treated mice than in the i.v. ‐immunized mice, but the biliary level of IgG anti‐OM in the CTB‐treated mice was comparable to that in the i.v. ‐immunized mice. The relationship between serum and biliary IgA and IgG antibodies suggests that CTB potentiates biliary anti‐OM responses not solely through increasing systemic levels of the antibodies but through modulating the processes specific to mucosal presentation of antigen.
Personal Aesthetics for Soft Biometrics: A Generative Multi-resolution Approach

Are we recognizable by our image preferences? This paper answers affirmatively the question, presenting a soft biometric approach where the preferred images of an individual are used as his personal signature in identification tasks. The approach builds a multi-resolution latent space, formed by multiple Counting Grids, where similar images are mapped nearby. On this space, a set of preferred images of a user produces an ensemble of intensity maps, highlighting in an intuitive way his personal aesthetic preferences. These maps are then used for learning a battery of discriminative classifiers (one for each resolution), which characterizes the user and serves to perform identification. Results are promising: on a dataset of 200 users, and 40K images, using 20 preferred images as biometric template gives 66% of probability of guessing the correct user. This makes the "personal aesthetics" a very hot topic for soft biometrics, while its usage in standard biometric applications seems to be far from being effective, as we show in a simple user study.
Prostitution and Feminism: Towards a Politics of Feeling

Acknowledgements. Introduction: Socio--cultural Contexts--Renewed Methodologies for Social Research. Part I Feminist Knowledge and Social Research: Understanding Prostitution. 1 Feminism(s) and Prostitution. 2 Feminist Knowledge and Social Research: Ethno--mimesis as Perfomative Praxis. Part II Interpretive Ethnographies: Life History Work. 3 Womena s Voices, Womena s Lives. 4 Adolescent Prostitution: Runaways, Homelessness and Living in Local Authority Care. III Feminist Postmodernisms and Ethnographies of Difference: between Modernity and Postmodernity. 5 Imagining Women: Prostitution, the Aestheticization of the Whore and the Social Organization of Desire. 6 The City, Masculinity and the Social Organization of Desire: Pimps and Punters. 7 Conclusion: Towards a Politics of Feeling. Notes. References. Index.
Posttranslational modification and intracellular transport of a trypanosome variant surface glycoprotein

After synthesis on membrane-bound ribosomes, the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) of Trypanosoma brucei is modified by: (a) removal of an N-terminal signal sequence, (b) addition of N-linked oligosaccharides, and (c) replacement of a C-terminal hydrophobic peptide with a complex glycolipid that serves as a membrane anchor. Based on pulse-chase experiments with the variant ILTat-1.3, we now report the kinetics of three subsequent processing reactions. These are: (a) conversion of newly synthesized 56/58-kD polypeptides to mature 59-kD VSG, (b) transport to the cell surface, and (c) transport to a site where VSG is susceptible to endogenous membrane-bound phospholipase C. We found that the t 1/2 of all three of these processes is approximately 15 min. The comparable kinetics of these processes is compatible with the hypotheses that transport of VSG from the site of maturation to the cell surface is rapid and that VSG may not reach a phospholipase C-containing membrane until it arrives on the cell surface. Neither tunicamycin nor monensin blocks transport of VSG, but monensin completely inhibits conversion of 58-kD VSG to the mature 59-kD form. In the presence of tunicamycin, VSG is synthesized as a 54- kD polypeptide that is subsequently processed to a form with a slightly higher Mr. This tunicamycin-resistant processing suggests that modifications unrelated to N-linked oligosaccharides occur. Surprisingly, the rate of VSG transport is reduced, but not abolished, by dropping the chase temperature to as low as 10 degrees C.