Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
RDFa Editor for Ontological Annotation

One of the purposes of semantic web is to provide machine understandable content and this can be achieved by annotating information. At the moment, annotations can be created manually and also automatically, both of the approaches having advantages and disadvantages. The goal of this article is to present a new semi-automatic annotation tool, which given a text will annotate words with concepts from an ontology.
Using water as interface media in VR applications

Human Computer Interface (HCI) has changed throughout the years, and evolved to integrate reference objects and other handy tools to improve interaction. It is now possible to develop tangible interfaces, where all kinds of objects are used: strings, clay models and virtual pens as well natural elements such as water, sand and air. In Virtual Reality applications the use of tangible interfaces and virtual reference allows the user to get involved with the virtual world in a more fluid and explicit way. In this paper we describe how we use water as a HCI and how we turn a water receptacle into a self-explanatory interaction tool. In our experience touching real water has proven to be rather dramatic as a tactile interface since it involves much more than the mere skin contact with the water; the effect is magnified by the temperature and wetness which affect the perception of the user. We have used water as interface for several applications and in this paper we will also discuss our results.
Systematic Production of Inactivating and Non-Inactivating Suppressor Mutations at the relA Locus That Compensate the Detrimental Effects of Complete spoT Loss and Affect Glycogen Content in Escherichia coli

In Escherichia coli, ppGpp is a major determinant of growth and glycogen accumulation. Levels of this signaling nucleotide are controlled by the balanced activities of the ppGpp RelA synthetase and the dual-function hydrolase/synthetase SpoT. Here we report the construction of spoT null (ΔspoT) mutants obtained by transducing a ΔspoT allele from ΔrelAΔspoT double mutants into relA+ cells. Iodine staining of randomly selected transductants cultured on a rich complex medium revealed differences in glycogen content among them. Sequence and biochemical analyses of 8 ΔspoT clones displaying glycogen-deficient phenotypes revealed different inactivating mutations in relA and no detectable ppGpp when cells were cultured on a rich complex medium. Remarkably, although the co-existence of ΔspoT with relA proficient alleles has generally been considered synthetically lethal, we found that 11 ΔspoT clones displaying high glycogen phenotypes possessed relA mutant alleles with non-inactivating mutations that encoded stable RelA proteins and ppGpp contents reaching 45–85% of those of wild type cells. None of the ΔspoT clones, however, could grow on M9-glucose minimal medium. Both Sanger sequencing of specific genes and high-throughput genome sequencing of the ΔspoT clones revealed that suppressor mutations were restricted to the relA locus. The overall results (a) defined in around 4 nmoles ppGpp/g dry weight the threshold cellular levels that suffice to trigger net glycogen accumulation, (b) showed that mutations in relA, but not necessarily inactivating mutations, can be selected to compensate total SpoT function(s) loss, and (c) provided useful tools for studies of the in vivo regulation of E. coli RelA ppGpp synthetase.
Outer-loop vectorization - revisited for short SIMD architectures

Vectorization has been an important method of using data-level parallelism to accelerate scientific workloads on vector machines such as Cray for the past three decades. In the last decade it has also proven useful for accelerating multimedia and embedded applications on short SIMD architectures such as MMX, SSE and AltiVec. Most of the focus has been directed at innermost loops, effectively executing their iterations concurrently as much as possible. Outer loop vectorization refers to vectorizing a level of a loop nest other than the innermost, which can be beneficial if the outer loop exhibits greater data-level parallelism and locality than the innermost loop. Outer loop vectorization has traditionally been performed by interchanging an outer-loop with the innermost loop, followed by vectorizing it at the innermost position. A more direct unroll-and-jam approach can be used to vectorize an outer-loop without involving loop interchange, which can be especially suitable for short SIMD architectures. In this paper we revisit the method of outer loop vectorization, paying special attention to properties of modern short SIMD architectures. We show that even though current optimizing compilers for such targets do not apply outer-loop vectorization in general, it can provide significant performance improvements over innermost loop vectorization. Our implementation of direct outer-loop vectorization, available in GCC 4.3, achieves speedup factors of 3.13 and 2.77 on average across a set of benchmarks, compared to 1.53 and 1.39 achieved by innermost loop vectorization, when running on a Cell BE SPU and PowerPC970 processors respectively. Moreover, outer-loop vectorization provides new reuse opportunities that can be vital for such short SIMD architectures, including efficient handling of alignment. We present an optimization tapping such opportunities, capable of further boosting the performance obtained by outer-loop vectorization to achieve average speedup factors of 5.26 and 3.64.
Ciliary motility studies.

For measurement of ciliary activity and toxic inhalation effects it is necessary to take at least the following into consideration. Comparable effects on human beings are the primary concern. Concerning choice of animal, it is doubtful whether or not results from lower species (mussels, oysters) can be directly applied to vertebrates. Few reports in which in vivo or in vitro experiments can be compared have been published. Concerning the ciliary activity and effects upon the same, there are some indications for obtaining the same results with in vivo or in vitro preparations from the same species. Observation techniques are all very similar with observation through a microscope with vertical light. For choice of registration techniques three methods are available; filming, stroboscopy, or photoelectric cell. At present, for in vivo preparations the filming is superior.
Robust economic MPC for a power management scenario with uncertainties

This paper presents a novel incorporation of probabilistic constraints and Second Order Cone Programming (SOCP) with economic Model Predictive Control (MPC). Hereby the performance of the controller is robustyfied in the presence of both model and forecast uncertainties. Economic MPC is a receding horizon controller that minimizes an economic objective function and we have previously demonstrated its usage to include a refrigeration system as a controllable power consumer with a portfolio of power generators such that total cost is minimized. The main focus for our work is power management of the refrigeration system. Whereas our previous study was entirely deterministic, models of e.g. supermarket refrigeration systems are uncertain, as are forecasts of outdoor temperatures and electricity demand. The linear program we have formulated does not cope with uncertainties and thus it is, liable to drive an optimal solution to an infeasible or very expensive solution. The main contribution of this paper is the Finite Impulse Response (FIR) formulation of the system models, allowing us to describe and handle model uncertainties in the framework of probabilistic constraints. Our new solution using this setup for robustifying the economic MPC is demonstrated by simulation of a small conceptual example. The scenario is primarily chosen to illustrate the effect of our proposed method in that it can be compared with our previous deterministic simulations.
Experiences with Designing a Team Project Module for Teaching Teamwork to Students

Team projects play an important role in the education of engineers. This paper describes a team project module (called Team project) that is part of a postgraduate course in Informatics. Its main objective is to give students a hands-on experience with different aspects of working in team on a problem. We discuss several aspects that should be considered in designing such module as a part of a curriculum: team formation, team communication, team assessment, problem statement and assignment, development proc-ess and team supervision. We outline several different alternatives, analyse their pros and cons and de-scribe our approach and related experiences.
Simulation of Cascade Switched-Diode Multilevel Converter Fed Induction Motor Drive with Minimum Number of Power Electronic Components

This paper presents two types of multilevel inverters, known as symmetrical and asymmetrical multilevel inverter. Both types are very effective and efficient for improving the quality of the inverter output voltage. Firstly, we describe briefly the structural parts of the inverter then switching strategy and operational principles of the proposed inverter are explained and operational topologies are given.This multilevel converter requires only 50% of the number of DC sources required in conventional seven and fifteen-level cascaded Switched-Diode Multilevel converters. In addition, the three-phase output voltages of this converter can be easily balanced because they are synthesized by using the same DC sources. An active harmonic elimination method is applied to eliminate any number of specific higher order harmonics of multilevel converters with unequal dc voltages. The simulation of three phase nine level inverter fed induction motor model is done using Simulink.
Preparation and Superconductivity of a MgB2 Superconducting Tape

A MgB2 superconducting tape has been successfully prepared by a new way of boron diffusion into Mg tape. This tape superconductor has a Tc of 39 K with a sharp transition width of 0.4 K, high bulk critical current density jc of 6.7*10^5 A/cm^2 in zero field at 6 K, higher irreversibility line comparing to that of a high pressure synthesized bulk sample and very small crystalline grain with size in the scale of 10-200 nm.
Synthetic localized calcium transients directly probe signalling mechanisms in skeletal muscle

• The signal for skeletal muscle contraction is a rapid increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration, which requires the coordinated opening of ryanodine receptor (RyR) channels in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. • Channel opening is controlled by voltage‐sensing dihydropyridine receptors (DHPRs) of plasma membrane and T tubules. Whether or not their signal is amplified by Ca2+‐induced Ca2+ release (CICR) is controversial. • We used two‐photon lysis of an advanced Ca2+ cage to produce local Ca2+ concentration transients that were large, fast, reproducible and quantifiable, while monitoring the cellular response with a dual confocal laser scanner. • Single frog muscle cells in physiological solutions responded to transients greater than 0.28 μm with propagated CICR waves. • Mouse cells did not respond to stimuli up to 8 μm, unless channel opening drugs were present. • We conclude that CICR contributes to physiological Ca2+ release in frog but not mouse muscle. • Mice and presumably other mammals do have a capability for CICR that is normally inhibited. It could be manifested under special circumstances, including diseases.
Remaking Africa’s Informal Economies: Youth, Entrepreneurship and the Promise of Inclusion at the Bottom of the Pyramid

Abstract In recent years, the quest for ‘inclusive markets’ that incorporate Africa’s youth has become a key focus of national and international development efforts, with so-called bottom of the pyramid (BoP) initiatives increasingly seen as a way to draw the continent’s poor into new networks of global capitalism. SSA has become a fertile frontier for such systems, as capital sets its sights on the continents’ vast ‘under-served’ informal economies, harnessing the entrepreneurial mettle of youth to create new markets for a range of products, from solar lanterns and shampoo to cook stoves and sanitary pads. Drawing on ethnographic research with youth entrepreneurs, we trace the processes of individual and collective ‘transformation’ that the mission of (self-) empowerment through entrepreneurship seeks to bring about. We argue that, while such systems are meant to bring those below the poverty line above it, the ‘line’ is reified and reinforced through a range of discursive and strategic practices that actively construct and embed distinctions between the past and the future, valuable and valueless, and the idle and productive in Africa’s informal economies.
Investigating Retesting Effects in a Personnel Selection Context

Repeat applicants to a fire-fighter position undertook the same cognitive ability and situational judgment tests on multiple occasions and the resultant practice effects were investigated. Practice effects of approximately two fifths of a standard deviation were observed between Times 1 and 2 on timed tests of Abstract Reasoning and Mechanical Comprehension. Smaller practice effects were observed, however, on a timed test of numerical comprehension ability and the untimed Teamwork Knowledge Skills and Abilities situational judgment test. For all four tests, the additional practice effect observed at Time 3 were smaller and nonsignificant; a result supplemented by latent growth curve analyses.
The phosphoinositide-binding protein p40phox activates the NADPH oxidase during FcγIIA receptor–induced phagocytosis

Superoxide produced by the phagocyte reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase is essential for host defense. Enzyme activation requires translocation of p67phox, p47phox, and Rac-GTP to flavocytochrome b 558 in phagocyte membranes. To examine the regulation of phagocytosis-induced superoxide production, flavocytochrome b558, p47phox, p67phox, and the FcγIIA receptor were expressed from stable transgenes in COS7 cells. The resulting COSphoxFcγR cells produce high levels of superoxide when stimulated with phorbol ester and efficiently ingest immunoglobulin (Ig)G-coated erythrocytes, but phagocytosis did not activate the NADPH oxidase. COS7 cells lack p40phox, whose role in the NADPH oxidase is poorly understood. p40phox contains SH3 and phagocyte oxidase and Bem1p (PB1) domains that can mediate binding to p47phox and p67phox, respectively, along with a PX domain that binds to phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PI(3)P), which is generated in phagosomal membranes. Expression of p40phox was sufficient to activate superoxide production in COSphoxFcγR phagosomes. FcγIIA-stimulated NADPH oxidase activity was abrogated by point mutations in p40phox that disrupt PI(3)P binding, or by simultaneous mutations in the SH3 and PB1 domains. Consistent with an essential role for PI(3)P in regulating the oxidase complex, phagosome NADPH oxidase activation in primary macrophages ingesting IgG-coated beads was inhibited by phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase inhibitors to a much greater extent than phagocytosis itself. Hence, this study identifies a role for p40phox and PI(3)P in coupling FcγR-mediated phagocytosis to activation of the NADPH oxidase.
Aligning Teaching Strategies With Available Resources

In this paper we report on our experiences from aligning teaching strategies with available resources when constantly redesigning an introductory course to business information and communication technologies at a North American university. The examination results of 148 students have been analyzed to better understand the impact of redesigning the course in a way that uses fewer university resources. We have managed to adapt our teaching strategy and to create a learning environment that achieves comparable learning outcomes without jeopardizing quality.
A model for human-computer interaction in the semantic web

For the general public, the breakthrough of the Semantic Web as an important addition and further development of the WWW has not yet taken place. This is primarily due to its yet not obvious and largely still not existing benefits for the average Web user. To address this problem, we advocate a greater focus on the topic of human-computer interaction in the Semantic Web. Since to date, however, there are only fragmentary considerations on this subject, in this paper we present the first time a general model specifically designed for the human-computer interaction in the Semantic Web and propose it as a basis for work in this area. The model builds on the concept of interactive alignment, which is known from human-to-human communication. In this concept, human and computer inform each other iteratively and in short intervals in what way they understood each other's in order to be able to identify misunderstandings quickly and thus correct them early on. The model provides a comprehensive description and thus a better understanding of the processes, dependencies and ways of cooperation involved within human-computer interaction in the Semantic Web which is the key to new ideas and innovations in this area. Once the mechanism of human-computer interaction in the Semantic Web is understood, new applications can be designed and new business opportunities can be discovered more easily so that the benefits of the Semantic Web can be made available also for the wider public.
Adenosine A1 receptor down‐regulation in mothers and fetal brain after caffeine and theophylline treatments to pregnant rats

Pregnant rats were treated daily with 1 g/L of caffeine or theophylline in their drinking water during pregnancy and the effect of these methylxanthines on adenosine A1 receptor was assayed using binding and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) assays in brains from both mothers and full‐term fetuses. In plasma membranes from pregnant rat brain, caffeine and theophylline caused a significant decrease in total receptor numbers, of the same order in both cases (30%), with no significant changes on receptor affinity. The effect of these adenosine receptor antagonists on plasma membranes from fetal brains was more marked, being detected at approximately 50% of the total receptors detected in control conditions. However, in this tissue, a significant increase in the receptor affinity, of the same order in both cases, was also detected after antagonist administration. No significant variation on the potency of caffeine and theophylline as antagonists was detected after treatments in mothers; however, higher affinities were detected in fetuses. A decrease in the total receptor numbers in fetal brain was associated with an increase in the mRNA coding A1 receptor, as determined by RT–PCR assays, not having detected any mRNA difference in maternal brain. No variation in the levels of mRNA coding A2A receptor was detected in any case. These results suggest that maternal caffeine or theophylline intake modulates adenosine A1 receptor, causing a down‐regulation of adenosine A1 receptor in brain in both mothers and fetuses.
An adaptive transfer scheme based on sparse representation for figure-ground segmentation

Figure-ground segmentation benefits lots of tasks in the field of computer vision. Exemplar-based approaches are capable of performing segmenting automatically without user interaction. However, most of them adopt fixed parameters for all the target images, which blocks their segmentation performances. We present a novel sparse representation based transfer scheme to gain adaptive parameters automatically. The proposed scheme transfers the segmentation masks of some windows from training images to obtain the soft mask of the target window from any given test image, when the target window can be represented by the linear combination of those windows. On the challenging PASCAL VOC 2010 segmentation dataset, experimental results and comparisons with the state-of-the-art methods show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
INVESTIGATION OF SOCIAL SKILLS LEVEL SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS

This study aimed to determine the factors affecting teachers' level of social skills. The data in this study is a descriptive study, 40 teachers working in Morphou collected by Independence High School. This collection of research data, personal information form developed by the researcher and the "Social Skills Inventory" (SSI) were used. Analyze data, t-test for comparison of the two independent variables, the study with the teachers teaching social skills scores found significant differences between satisfaction levels of their profession. Keywords: Teacher, secondary education, social skills.
Early Steps Towards Web Scale Information Extraction with LODIE

Information extraction (IE) is the technique for transforming unstructured textual data into structured representation that can be understood by machines. The exponential growth of the Web generates an exceptional quantity of data for which automatic knowledge capture is essential. This work describes the methodology for web scale information extraction in the LODIE project (linked open data information extraction) and highlights results from the early experiments carried out in the initial phase of the project. LODIE aims to develop information extraction techniques able to scale at web level and adapt to user information needs. The core idea behind LODIE is the usage of linked open data, a very large-scale information resource, as a ground-breaking solution for IE, which provides invaluable annotated data on a growing number of domains. This article has two objectives. First, describing the LODIE project as a whole and depicting its general challenges and directions. Second, describing some initial steps taken towards the general solution, focusing on a specific IE subtask, wrapper induction.
BMC Systems Biology

Background: Complexity is a key problem when visualizing biological networks; as the number of entities increases, most graphical views become incomprehensible. Our goal is to enable many thousands of entities to be visualized meaningfully and with high performance. Results: We present a new visualization tool, Arena3D, which introduces a new concept of staggered layers in 3D space. Related data – such as proteins, chemicals, or pathways – can be grouped onto separate layers and arranged via layout algorithms, such as Fruchterman-Reingold, distance geometry, and a novel hierarchical layout. Data on a layer can be clustered via k-means, affinity propagation, Markov clustering, neighbor joining, tree clustering, or UPGMA ('unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic mean'). A simple input format defines the name and URL for each node, and defines connections or similarity scores between pairs of nodes. The use of Arena3D is illustrated with datasets related to Huntington's disease. Conclusion: Arena3D is a user friendly visualization tool that is able to visualize biological or any other network in 3D space. It is free for academic use and runs on any platform. It can be downloaded or lunched directly from http://arena3d.org. Java3D library and Java 1.5 need to be pre-installed for the
Effect of normal force dispersion on the mobility of wheeled robots operating on soft soil

A number of applications of wheeled robots, including planetary exploration rovers and rescue missions, require that the vehicle operates in a non-structured environment. Optimizing the vehicle mobility is of key importance in such applications. Reduced mobility can limit the ability of the robot to achieve the mission goals, or even render it immobile in extreme cases. In this paper, the effect of normal contact forces on mobility is reported. A performance indicator based on the force distribution is defined and used to compare different vehicle configurations. The validity of this indicator was assessed using both simulation and experimental results obtained for a six-wheel rover prototype. Results suggest that modifying the robot configuration to alter the normal force distribution can lead to increased traction force available at the wheel-terrain interfaces, thus improving the mobility.