Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT, BUT CAN YOU GET WHAT YOU NEED? PERSONALITY TRAITS AND SOCIAL SUPPORT IN MARRIAGE

Abstract The current study examines associations among support recipients' personality traits, social support behavior in marital interactions, and perceptions of partner social support provided during marital interactions. Sixty–six married couples participated in the study. Couples completed two measures of personality traits, and participated in two support–focused interactions. Each spouse completed ratings of satisfaction with the partner's support following discussion of an achievement-related stressor. Frequencies of four types of social support behavior were observationally coded for each spouse during his/her turn as support provider. Patterns of associations among personality traits, support behavior provided by the spouse, and satisfaction with support varied across husbands and wives. Husbands with lower levels of emotional stability and/or lower levels of conscientiousness received more esteem support from wives. Husbands with low levels of conscientiousness also received more informational s.
Being and becoming a responsible caregiver: Negotiating guidance and control in family interaction in Tanzania

This study explores how siblings in Tanzania actively engage in their own socialization through the negotiation and local design of caregiving practices and control between younger siblings (age 1–3), older siblings (age 3–13) and adults. Analyses of moment-to-moment embodied, multimodal sequences of interaction illustrate how caregiving responsibility is negotiated. The analysis is multidisciplinary drawing on concepts developed in the traditions of sociology, language socialization and applied linguistics. The findings highlight the usefulness of a concept of socialization which recognizes the agency of the child and are discussed in relation to constructions of the caregiving child as both being and becoming.
Involvement of distinct G‐proteins, Gpa2 and Ras, in glucose‐ and intracellular acidification‐induced cAMP signalling in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Adenylate cyclase activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is dependent on Ras proteins. Both addition of glucose to glucose‐deprived (derepressed) cells and intracellular acidification trigger an increase in the cAMP level in vivo. We show that intracellular acidification, but not glucose, causes an increase in the GTP/GDP ratio on the Ras proteins independent of Cdc25 and Sdc25. Deletion of the GTPase‐activating proteins Ira1 and Ira2, or expression of the RAS2val19 allele, causes an enhanced GTP/GDP basal ratio and abolishes the intracellular acidification‐induced increase. In the ira1Δ ira2Δ strain, intracellular acidification still triggers a cAMP increase. Glucose also did not cause an increase in the GTP/GDP ratio in a strain with reduced feedback inhibition of cAMP synthesis. Further investigation indicated that feedback inhibition by cAPK on cAMP synthesis acts independently of changes in the GTP/GDP ratio on Ras. Stimulation by glucose was dependent on the Gα‐protein Gpa2, whose deletion confers the typical phenotype associated with a reduced cAMP level: higher heat resistance, a higher level of trehalose and glycogen and elevated expression of STRE‐controlled genes. However, the typical fluctuation in these characteristics during diauxic growth on glucose was still present. Overexpression of Ras2val19 inhibited both the acidification‐ and glucose‐induced cAMP increase even in a protein kinase A‐attenuated strain. Our results suggest that intracellular acidification stimulates cAMP synthesis in vivo at least through activation of the Ras proteins, while glucose acts through the Gpa2 protein. Interaction of Ras2val19 with adenylate cyclase apparently prevents its activation by both agonists.
The Role of Chromosome 18 Abnormalities in the Progression of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Abstract: To date, the events that mediate tumor progression in pancreatic cancer are still poorly understood. Cytogenetic, allelotype, and somatic cell hybrid studies in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma have suggested that chromosome 18 may carry tumor suppressor genes (TSGs), including SMAD4. We previously identified that LOH of 18q at the SMAD4 locus, along with LOHs on 17p and 12q, positively associated with poor prognoses of pancreatic cancer patients. However, restoration of the SMAD4 gene did not suppress in vitro proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells that harbored homozygous deletion of this gene. An intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN ) is thought to be one of the premalignant lesions of the pancreas that progresses to carcinoma. Although there were frequent LOH (7/14, 50%) at the SMAD4 locus in IPMN samples, SMAD4 protein was observed immunohistochemically in tumor cells, and no mutations of the SMAD4 gene were observed, suggesting that it is the existence of a TSG in 18q, other than SMAD4, that suppresses cell growth. To functionally assess the activity of chromosome 18 in pancreatic cancer, we transferred a normal copy of the chromosome into pancreatic ductal carcinoma cells with and without completely inactivated SMAD4. In this study, in vitro growth of the hybrid cells was significantly suppressed compared with the parental cells, regardless of the initial SMAD4 status. To estimate the metastatic ability of the hybrids, we used a lung colonization model. At the end of the experiment, there was significant suppression of the number of surface metastases developing in mice injected with hybrids in comparison with those injected with parental cells. To identify and characterize genes that are involved in the progression of pancreatic cancer, we used micro-array expression analysis employing a 20k oligo-array system. It was revealed that there was increased expression of 4 genes relating to apoptosis in the 18 chromosome hybrids cells compared with the parental cells. We are now analyzing the function of these genes.
Modulation of AMPA/kainate receptors in cultured murine hippocampal neurones by protein kinase C.

1. The patch clamp technique, together with intracellular perfusion of the catalytic fragment of protein kinase C (PKCM), was employed to investigate the role of this enzyme in the intracellular regulation of alpha‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazole propionate (AMPA)/kainate receptors in cultured hippocampal neurones. 2. The responses evoked by near‐maximal concentrations of kainate (250 microM) and AMPA (100 microM) were potentiated by the introduction of PKCM, whilst co‐application of the inhibitory peptide fragment PKCI(19‐36) prevented this action. 3. Modulation of kainate responses by PKCM was dependent upon the concentration of agonist applied. Currents evoked by kainate were potentiated at concentrations above those which caused 50% of the maximal response (EC50) and depressed at lower concentrations. Furthermore, okadaic acid, a specific inhibitor of phosphatases 1 and 2A, had a similar effect upon concentration‐response relationships when currents activated by kainate were recorded using the perforated patch technique. 4. In addition, the mean amplitude and/or time constant of decay of miniature excitatory synaptic currents (mediated by AMPA/kainate receptors) was increased by the intracellular injection of PKCM. 5. These observations suggest that the function of postsynaptic excitatory amino acid receptors can be modulated by the activity of PKC as well as by endogenous phosphatases. This regulation may contribute to some forms of synaptic plasticity within the central nervous system.
Gain-scheduled wheel slip control in automotive brake systems

A wheel slip controller is developed and experimentally tested in a car equipped with electromechanical brake actuators and a brake-by-wire system. A gain scheduling approach is taken, where the vehicle speed is viewed as a slowly time-varying parameter and the model is linearized about the nominal wheel slip. Gain matrices for the different operating conditions are designed using an LQR approach. The stability and robustness of the controller are studied via Lyapunov theory, frequency analysis, and experiments using a test vehicle.
Multiple sequence alignment by quantum genetic algorithm

In this paper we describe a new approach for the well known problem in bioinformatics: multiple sequence alignment (MSA). MSA is fundamental task as it represents an essential platform to conduct other tasks in bioinformatics such as the construction of phylogenetic trees, the structural and functional prediction of new protein sequences. Our approach merges between the classical genetic algorithm and some principles of the quantum computing like interference, measure, superposition, etc. It differs from other genetic methods of the literature by using a small population size and a less iteration required to find good quality alignments thanks to the used quantum principles: state superposition, interference, quantum mutation and quantum crossover. Another attractive feature of this method is its ability to provide an extensible platform for evaluating different objective functions. Experiments on a wide range of data sets have shown the effectiveness of the proposed approach and its ability to achieve good quality solutions comparing to those given by other popular multiple alignment programs.
Emotion Appraisal Dimensions can be Inferred From Vocal Expressions

Vocal expressions are thought to convey information about speakers' emotional states but may also reflect the antecedent cognitive appraisal processes that produced the emotions. We investigated the perception of emotion-eliciting situations on the basis of vocal expressions. Professional actors vocally portrayed different emotions by enacting emotion-eliciting situations. Judges then rated these expressions with respect to the emotion-eliciting situation described in terms of appraisal dimensions (i.e., novelty, intrinsic pleasantness, goal conduciveness, urgency, power, self- and other responsibility, and norm compatibility), achieving good agreement. The perceived appraisal profiles for the different emotions were generally in accord with predictions based on appraisal theory. The appraisal ratings also correlated with a variety of acoustic measures related to pitch, intensity, voice quality, and temporal characteristics. Results suggest that several aspects of emotion-eliciting situations can be inferred reliably and validly from vocal expressions which, thus, may carry information about the cognitive representation of events.
The effects of entrepreneurial personality, background and network activities on venture growth*

This study investigates the effects of entrepreneurial personality traits, background and networking activities on venture growth among 168 Chinese entrepreneurs in small and medium sized businesses in Singapore. Personality traits include need for achievement, internal locus of control, self‐reliance and extroversion; background comprises education and experience; networking activities consist of size and frequency of communication networks. A structural equation modelling technique – partial least squares (PLS) – is used to estimate a path model with latent variables. The results indicate that experience, networking activities, and number of partners as well as internal locus of control and need for achievement all have positive impact on venture growth. Two other personality traits, self‐reliance and extroversion have negative impact on number of partners and positive impact on networking activities, respectively. The impact of education on venture growth, however, is moderated by firm size, positive for larger firms and negative for smaller firms. Our findings indicate that among all the factors that we have considered, an entrepreneur’s industrial and managerial experience is the dominating factor affecting venture growth.
Declarative vs rule-based control for flocking dynamics

The popularity of rule-based flocking models, such as Reynolds classic flocking model, raises the question of whether more declarative flocking models are possible. This question is motivated by the observation that declarative models are generally simpler and easier to design, understand, and analyze than operational models. We introduce a very simple control law for flocking based on a cost function capturing cohesion (agents want to stay together) and separation (agents do not want to get too close). We refer to it as declarative flocking (DF). We use model-predictive control (MPC) to define controllers for DF in centralized and distributed settings. A thorough performance comparison of our DF-based approach with Reynolds model, and with more recent flocking models that use MPC with a cost function based on lattice structures, demonstrate that DF-MPC yields the best cohesion and least fragmentation, and maintains a surprisingly good level of geometric regularity while still producing natural flock shapes similar to those produced by Reynolds model. We also show that DF-MPC has high resilience to sensor noise.
The psychological consequences of power on self-perception: implications for leadership

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore theoretical connections between the cognitive consequences of power on self-perception and the behaviours of leaders. Design/methodology/approach – A systematic literature review was carried out to investigate the psychological consequences of power in terms of self-perception, perspective taking abilities, emotions and behaviours. The literature reviewed is further integrated in a theoretical model, and a series of propositions suggesting a relation between power, perspective taking, self-construal and leadership are introduced. Findings – This paper argues that power creates both temporary and enduring cognitive changes that transform the way individuals assimilate and differentiate their self from others. This transforms the way individuals in power behave as leaders, as well as followers. Individuals’ self-construal and perspective taking seem to play a mediating role in determining the behaviours of powerful and powerless individuals. This relation is.
SONIFICATION SANDBOX: A GRAPHICAL TOOLKIT FOR AUDITORY GRAPHS

Motivated by the need for a multi-platform, multipurpose toolkit for sonifying data, the Sonification Sandbox allows users to map data to multiple auditory parameters and add context using a graphical interface. The Sonification Sandbox is a cross-platform application authored in Java, using the Java Sound API to generate MIDI output. The software allows users to independently map several data sets to timbre, pitch, volume, and pan, with full control over the default, minimum, maximum, and polarity for each attribute. It is also possible to add context to the sonification using a percussive “click track” or a constant, repeating, or notifying tone at the minimum, maximum, or mean of a given set of data. Applications for the Sonification Sandbox include auditory display for the blind, science and mathematics education, data exploration, and experimenting with the effectiveness of various sonification techniques and parameters.
Competency and deficit models in the understanding and treatment of sexual offenders

The majority of etiological models of sexual offending have tended to adopt a deficiency perspective and stressed the absence of core skills or competencies in offenders. They are based on the plausible assumption that men who sexually abuse children or rape women lack the necessary skills to meet their needs in more socially acceptable ways. In this paper the utility of adopting a competency or expertise model to complement deficit models is explored. It is argued that many sexual offenders skillfully control the behavior of women and children, and have developed an extensive knowledge base and a range of strategies in the service of the goal of sexual offending. The literature on expertise and its application to different domains is reviewed and then applied to the area of sexual offending. Finally, the research and treatment implications of the expertise perspective are considered.
New lower bound techniques for robot motion planning problems

We present new techniques for establishing lower bounds in robot motion planning problems. Our scheme is based on path encoding and uses homotopy equivalence classes of paths to encode state. We first apply the method to the shortest path problem in 3 dimensions. The problem is to find the shortest path under an Lp metric (e.g. a euclidean metric) between two points amid polyhedral obstacles. Although this problem has been extensively studied, there were no previously known lower bounds. We show that there may be exponentially many shortest path classes in single-source multiple-destination problems, and that the single-source single-destination problem is NP-hard. We use a similar proof technique to show that two dimensional dynamic motion planning with bounded velocity is NP-hard. Finally we extend the technique to compliant motion planning with uncertainty in control. Specifically, we consider a point in 3 dimensions which is commanded to move in a straight line, but whose actual motion may differ from the commanded motion, possibly involving sliding against obstacles. Given that the point initially lies in some start region, the problem of finding a sequence of commanded velocities which is guaranteed to move the point to the goal is shown to be non-deterministic exponential time hard, making it the first provably intractable problem in robotics.
A dual-task tool for quantifying normal comprehension of aphasic connected speech production: A constructive replication

Background: Deficits of attention or its control secondary to brain damage have been proposed as all or part of the underlying mechanisms for the linguistic impairments that characterise aphasia (Clark & Robin, 1995; Granier, Robin, Shapiro, Peach, & Zimba, 2000; McNeil, 1982, 1988; McNeil, Odell, & Tseng, 1991; Murray, Holland, & Beeson, 1997a; Tseng, McNeil, & Milenkovic, 1993). McNeil, Doyle, Hula, Rubinsky, Fossett, and Matthews (2004) developed a set of tasks to quantify the difficulty that normal listeners have in understanding the language production of persons with varying amounts of aphasia. In their dual-task study, a significant decrement was found in the visual–manual tracking accuracy of normal older individuals while concurrently listening to the connected language of a person with moderate, as compared to mild, aphasia. No performance costs were observed on the listening tasks across three tracking difficulty levels. Possible reasons for the unidirectional performance cost were speculated and the present study was designed to investigate one of them.Aims: Using the same story comprehension task used in the previous study and the same visual–manual tracking task, but increased in difficulty, this study sought to investigate whether the increased demands of the tracking task were sufficient to elicit a concurrent cost on story comprehension performance.Methods & Procedures: A total of 24 normal participants performed the tracking and story comprehension tasks concurrently and in isolation. Story retell performance was evaluated within subjects across two tracking difficulty levels (easy and hard) and tracking performance was evaluated between subjects across three story difficulty levels (no story, mild difficulty, and moderate difficulty). Outcomes & Results: Tracking performance varied significantly across story task difficulty in the easy tracking condition, with participants demonstrating better tracking performance in the mild story condition than in either the moderate story or no story conditions. None of the comparisons made with the harder tracking condition reached significance. There was no effect of tracking difficulty on story comprehension as measured by subsequent story retell performance.Conclusions: The findings from this study replicate the findings from the McNeil et al. (2004) study that these dual-tasks show a reliable cost of story difficulty on concurrent tracking performance. Contrary to predictions, no effect of tracking difficulty on story retell performance was found, despite the increased tracking difficulty used compared to the previous study. While this finding does diminish the probability that insufficient tracking task difficulty was the source of the unidirectional costs in the previous study, it leaves a number of alternative explanations for the findings viable and unaddressed.
Comparative study on estimation of nitrogen content in the heterogenious typical steppe using various red edge position extraction techniques

This study was conducted in the temperate typical steppe with relatively high species richness in Inner Mongolia. We extracted the red edge position from ground-based spectral data for canopy and leaf using 6 different methods, and analyzed the relationship between the red edge position extracted from canopy spectra and associated nitrogen concentration of canopy. The results showed that the red edge position substantially varied with the extraction methods, as well as the sampling sites (plant species). For nitrogen concentration estimation at the canopy scale, the linear extrapolation method had a relatively high correlation coefficient and the nitrogen concentration estimates at Stipa grandis-dominated sites were slightly better than those of the large sampling sites with multiple dominant plant species.
Mechanisms of Neuroplasticity and Ethanol’s Effects on Plasticity in the Striatum and Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis

Long-lasting changes in synaptic function (i.e., synaptic plasticity) have long been thought to contribute to information storage in the nervous system. Although synaptic plasticity mainly has adaptive functions that allow the organism to function in complex environments, it is now clear that certain events or exposure to various substances can produce plasticity that has negative consequences for organisms. Exposure to drugs of abuse, in particular ethanol, is a life experience that can activate or alter synaptic plasticity, often resulting in increased drug seeking and taking and in many cases addiction. Two brain regions subject to alcohol’s effects on synaptic plasticity are the striatum and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), both of which have key roles in alcohol’s actions and control of intake. The specific effects depend on both the brain region analyzed (e.g., specific subregions of the striatum and BNST) and the duration of ethanol exposure (i.e., acute vs. chronic). Plastic changes in synaptic transmission in these two brain regions following prolonged ethanol exposure are thought to contribute to excessive alcohol drinking and relapse to drinking. Understanding the mechanisms underlying this plasticity may lead to new therapies for treatment of these and other aspects of alcohol use disorder.
The Role of Explanations and Need for Uniqueness in Consumer Decision Making: Unconventional Choices Based on Reasons

This research investigates the interaction between a very common task, explaining decisions, and an individual difference, need for uniqueness (NFU), on buyer decision making. We propose that explaining (or providing reasons for) decisions shifts the focus from the choice of options to the choice of reasons. Furthermore, buyers who explain their decisions and have high NFU tend to select unconventional reasons and are, consequently, more likely to make unconventional choices. These predictions were supported in a series of studies involving choices between conventional and less‐conventional options, such as whether to switch to a brand on sale, whether to select a compromise option, and whether to accept a gamble with a possible loss. The findings also indicate that the effects of providing reasons are not due to attempts to act rationally or to concerns about being evaluated. Three boundary conditions on the generalization that high NFU consumers who provide reasons tend to make unconventional choices we.