Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Potential of Established Turf Cover for Cleaning Oily Desert Soil Using Rhizosphere Technology

The rhizosphere of two turf cover sorts; Bermuda grass and American grass contained high numbers, 8.1 to 16.8 × 106 g−1 of cultivable oil-utilizing and diazotrophic bacteria belonging predominantly to the genera Agrobacterium, Arthrobacter, Pseudomonas, Gordonia, and Rhodococcus. Those bacteria also grew on a nitrogen-free medium and demonstrated the ability to reduce acetylene to ethylene. These isolates grew on a wide range of n-alkanes (C9 to C40) and aromatic hydrocarbons, as sole sources of carbon. Quantitative determinations revealed that predominant bacteria consumed crude oil and representative aliphatic (n-octadecane) and aromatic (phenanthrene) hydrocarbons efficiently. The fact that those organisms had the combined activities of hydrocarbon-utilization and nitrogen-fixation makes them suitable tools for bioremediating oily desert areas that are normally poor in nitrogenous compounds. Phytoremediation experiments showed that spreading turf cover on oily desert soil inhibited oil volatilization and enhanced oil loss in soil by about 15%. Oil loss was also enhanced in turf free soil samples fertilized with NH4NO3. In conclusion, covering this oil-polluted soil with turf cover minimized atmospheric pollution, increased the numbers of the oil-utilizing/nitrogen-fixing bacteria by about 20 to 46% thus, encouraging oil attenuation.
Flexibly Specialized Agencies? Reflexivity, Identity, and the Advertising Industry

In this paper I examine the process of restructuring in advertising, an image-oriented industry, in the context of debates over flexible specialization and reflexive modernization. There have been far-reaching changes in the US advertising industry in the 1980s and 1990s, including the recent expansion of small, flexible, and more creatively based agencies or ‘boutiques’. The growth of creative agencies reveals a desire on the part of advertisers to reroute rising consumer skepticism of advertising by producing more reflexive, innovative work and signals a heightened apparatus of control. The case of advertising raises questions about the limits to reflexive consumer subjectivities.
Majority-rule-based preference aggregation on multi-attribute domains with CP-nets

This paper studies the problem of majority-rule-based collective decision-making where the agents' preferences are represented by CP-nets (Conditional Preference Networks). As there are exponentially many alternatives, it is impractical to reason about the individual full rankings over the alternative space and apply majority rule directly. Most existing works either do not consider computational requirements, or depend on a strong assumption that the agents have acyclic CP-nets that are compatible with a common order on the variables. To this end, this paper proposes an efficient SAT-based approach, called MajCP (Majority-rule-based collective decision-making with CP-nets), to compute the majority winning alternatives. Our proposed approach only requires that each agent submit a CP-net; the CP-net can be cyclic, and it does not need to be any common structures among the agents' CP-nets. The experimental results presented in this paper demonstrate that the proposed approach is computationally efficient. It offers several orders of magnitude improvement in performance over a Brute-force algorithm for large numbers of variables.
Direct Measurements of Field-Dependent Ordering in a Low-Field Vortex Glass State

The variation of topological defect density and hexatic order parameter were measured over a range of micro-Tesla fields in a 2-D superconducting vortex glass. This was achieved through scanning SQUID microscopy of the vortex distribution in YBa2Cu3O7-δ thin films under field-cooled conditions. It was discovered that, although the defect density decreased for increasing magnetic fields, giving the impression of a more lattice-like vortex distribution, the hexatic order parameter also decreased, showing that the distribution was less orientationally ordered.
Lessons from the Physics Education Reform Effort

In a 1998 meta-analysis I showed that “interactive engagement” (IE) courses could yield average normalized pre-toposttest gains in conceptual understanding of Newtonian mechanics that were about two standard deviations greater than traditional (T) courses. Then in 2002 I wrote a paper based on my meta-analysis entitled “Lessons From the Physics Education Reform Effort. ” There, among other things, I offered six lessons on “interactive engagement” that I had hoped might stimulate more effective high school and university education. Today five years latter, it may be worthwhile to review and update those lessons with an eye to the present status of education reform in physics and ther disciplines. o
Careers, Personality, and Adult Socialization

Adult identity is largely a function of career movement within occupations and work organizations. Mannheim's model of the bureaucratic career is too simple to apply to most occupations. Recruitment for positions exhibits typical, but not necessarily obvious, regularities. Positions offer characteristic opportunities for training for mobility or impediments to it, among which loyalty is important. The timing of change raises problems for organization and personnel. The psychological stress attendant upon mobility varies by type of career.
Organizational Ethics and Employee Level of Productivity in Nigerian Private Universities

Employee level of productivity is one of the many possible outcomes of ethical issues in an organization. An organization with strong ethical beliefs leads to a greater sense of commitment among its employees. The purpose of this research paper was to establish the relationship between organizational ethics and employee level of productivity in higher education institution (private university) in Nigeria. The researcher utilized both explorative and cross-sectional survey research method to gather the needed information. The participants of the study were faculty of Covenant University from the College of Development Studies (CDS) and College of Science and Technology (CST). The population for this study was 390 academic staff of Covenant University out of which a sample of 198 participants were determined using Yard’s formula. The gathered data were analysed with the use of frequency, percentage, standard multiple regression analysis and correlation analysis. The findings of the study revealed that Wasted Time, Leisure, Degree of Gratification, Self-Reliance, Centrality of Work, Hard Work, and Morality are not statistically significant to employee rewards and hours worked. The study recommends that: 1. ) Private universities should embark on creating leisure periods for their faculty in order to increase their level of productivity; 2. ) Private universities should continue to use reward system and increase promotion as a way of maintaining faculty loyalty. Keywords: Organizational Ethics, Productivity, Employee, Private University, Reward, and Work Hours.
Path-Goal Theory of Leadership: A Meta-Analysis.

A meta-analysis of path-goal research was undertaken in order to assess the direction and strength of the "mixed results" obtained in past research. The meta-analysis, based on 48 studies with 11,862 respondents, demonstrated that the mixed results of individual studies, when cumulated, were transformed into support for continued testing of path-goal theory.
Leisure life-styles

Glyptis S. A. (1981) Leisure life-styles, Reg. Studies 15, 311–326. This paper examines the life-styles and leisure activity patterns of a sample (595) of countryside visitors in the Hull area. Details of individuals' activities, use of time, companions and perception of pursuits as “work” or “leisure” were obtained from time budget diaries. For several activities participation rates differed significantly from the population averages shown by national and regional participation surveys, suggesting that certain elements in the life-styles of countryside visitors distinguish them from the population at large. This is further endorsed by an analysis of participant profiles and a classification of life-styles, which revealed fewer distinctions in the activity patterns of different social classes than population figures would lead one to expect. This paper concludes by discussing the implications of these findings for leisure providers and further research.
A Generalized Accelerated Proximal Gradient Approach for Total-Variation-Based Image Restoration

This paper proposes a generalized accelerated proximal gradient (GAPG) approach for solving total variation (TV)-based image restoration problems. The GAPG algorithm generalizes the original APG algorithm by replacing the Lipschitz constant with an appropriate positive-definite matrix, resulting in faster convergence. For TV-based image restoration problems, we further introduce two auxiliary variables that approximate the partial derivatives. Constraints on the variables can easily be imposed without modifying the algorithm much, and the TV regularization can be either isotropic or anisotropic. As compared with the recently developed APG-based methods for TV-based image restoration, i.e., monotone version of the two-step iterative shrinkage/thresholding algorithm (MTwIST) and monotone version of the fast IST algorithm (MFISTA), our GAPG is much simpler as it does not require to solve an image denoising subproblem. Moreover, the convergence rate of O(k-2) is maintained by our GAPG, where k is the number of iterations; the cost of each iteration in GAPG is also lower. As a result, in our experiments, our GAPG approach can be much faster than MTwIST and MFISTA. The experiments also verify that our GAPG converges faster than the original APG and MTwIST when they solve identical problems.
Efficient representation and extraction of 2-manifold isosurfaces using kd-trees

In this paper, we propose the utilization of a kd-tree based hierarchy as an implicit object representation. Compared to an octree, the kd-tree based hierarchy is superior in terms of adaptation to the object surface. In consequence, we obtain considerably more compact implicit representations especially in case of thin object structures. We describe a new isosurface extraction algorithm for this kind of implicit representation. In contrast to related algorithms for octrees, it generates 2-manifold meshes even for kd-trees with cells containing multiple surface components. The algorithm retains all the good properties of the dual contouring approach [10] like feature preservation, computational efficiency, etc. In addition, we present a simplification framework for the surfaces represented by the kd-tree based on quadric error metrics. We adapt this framework to quantify the influence of topological changes, thereby allowing controlled topological simplification of the object. The advantages of the new algorithm are demonstrated by several examples.
Lysophosphatidylcholine Acyltransferase 3 Is the Key Enzyme for Incorporating Arachidonic Acid into Glycerophospholipids during Adipocyte Differentiation

Cellular membranes contain glycerophospholipids, which have important structural and functional roles in cells. Glycerophospholipids are first formed in the de novo pathway (Kennedy pathway) and are matured in the remodeling pathway (Lands’ cycle). Recently, lysophospholipid acyltransferases functioning in Lands’ cycle were identified and characterized. Several enzymes involved in glycerophospholipid biosynthesis have been reported to have important roles in adipocytes. However, the role of Lands’ cycle in adipogenesis has not yet been reported. Using C3H10T1/2, a cell line capable of differentiating to adipocyte-like cells in vitro, changes of lysophospholipid acyltransferase activities were investigated. Lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase (LPCAT), lysophosphatidylethanolamine acyltransferase (LPEAT) and lysophosphatidylserine acyltransferase (LPSAT) activities were enhanced, especially with 18:2-CoA and 20:4-CoA as donors. Correspondingly, mRNA expression of LPCAT3, which possesses LPCAT, LPEAT and LPSAT activities with high specificity for 18:2- and 20:4-CoA, was upregulated during adipogenesis. Analysis of acyl-chain compositions of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylserine (PS) showed a change in their profiles between preadipocytes and adipocytes, including an increase in the percentage of arachidonic acid-containing phospholipids. These changes are consistent with the activities of LPCAT3. Therefore, it is possible that enhanced phospholipid remodeling by LPCAT3 may be associated with adipocyte differentiation.
An R2R3-MYB transcription factor regulates carotenoid pigmentation in Mimulus lewisii flowers.

Carotenoids are yellow, orange, and red pigments that contribute to the beautiful colors and nutritive value of many flowers and fruits. The structural genes in the highly conserved carotenoid biosynthetic pathway have been well characterized in multiple plant systems, but little is known about the transcription factors that control the expression of these structural genes. By analyzing a chemically induced mutant of Mimulus lewisii through bulk segregant analysis and transgenic experiments, we have identified an R2R3-MYB, Reduced Carotenoid Pigmentation 1 (RCP1), as the first transcription factor that positively regulates carotenoid biosynthesis during flower development. Loss-of-function mutations in RCP1 lead to down-regulation of all carotenoid biosynthetic genes and reduced carotenoid content in M. lewisii flowers, a phenotype recapitulated by RNA interference in the wild-type background. Overexpression of this gene in the rcp1 mutant background restores carotenoid production and, unexpectedly, results in simultaneous decrease of anthocyanin production in some transgenic lines by down-regulating the expression of an activator of anthocyanin biosynthesis. Identification of transcriptional regulators of carotenoid biosynthesis provides the 'toolbox' genes for understanding the molecular basis of flower color diversification in nature and for potential enhancement of carotenoid production in crop plants via genetic engineering.
Agent-Based Modeling with the JABM Toolkit

In many areas of science, agent-based models have become increasingly important. These models are often sufficiently complex that deriving closed-form solutions for quantitative aspects of their macroscopic behaviour is often impractical if not impossible, and hence they are often analysed using discrete-event simulation and Monte-Carlo methods. In this paper we give an overview of agent-based modeling with an emphasis on its application to multi-agent systems research, and show how a software design pattern called “dependency injection” can be used to implement highly configurable simulation models which are able to incorporate various assumptions about agents’ rationality and learning. We then show how these ideas have been implemented in the Java Agent-Based Modelling (JABM) toolkit — an open-source framework for building agent-based models.
Improved Differential Fault Analysis on CLEFIA

We propose a more efficient differential fault analysis (DFA) attack on CLEFIA, the 128-bit block cipher developed by Sony Corporation in 2007. In the previous study, the most efficient DFA attack on CLEFIA with a 128-bit key uses approximately 18 pairs of correct and faulty ciphertexts. We develop a new attack method and show that only 2 pairs of correct and faulty ciphertexts are needed to retrieve the 128-bit key. The proposed attack uses a characteristic of the CLEFIA algorithm,a four-branch generalized Feistel structure with four 32-bit data lines. The simulation results of the proposed attack show that it takes less than 1 minute for 74.1% of a total simulation times, and less than 1 hour for 98.1% when using a PC.
Fyn-Binding Protein (Fyb)/Slp-76–Associated Protein (Slap), Ena/Vasodilator-Stimulated Phosphoprotein (Vasp) Proteins and the Arp2/3 Complex Link T Cell Receptor (Tcr) Signaling to the Actin Cytoskeleton

T cell receptor (TCR)-driven activation of helper T cells induces a rapid polarization of their cytoskeleton towards bound antigen presenting cells (APCs). We have identified the Fyn- and SLP-76–associated protein Fyb/SLAP as a new ligand for Ena/ vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) homology 1 (EVH1) domains. Upon TCR engagement, Fyb/SLAP localizes at the interface between T cells and anti-CD3–coated beads, where Evl, a member of the Ena/VASP family, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) and the Arp2/3 complex are also found. In addition, Fyb/SLAP is restricted to lamellipodia of spreading platelets. In activated T cells, Fyb/SLAP associates with Ena/VASP family proteins and is present within biochemical complexes containing WASP, Nck, and SLP-76. Inhibition of binding between Fyb/SLAP and Ena/VASP proteins or WASP and the Arp2/3 complex impairs TCR-dependent actin rearrangement, suggesting that these interactions play a key role in linking T cell signaling to remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton.
A Preliminary Work on Symptom Name Recognition from Free-Text Clinical Records of Traditional Chinese Medicine using Conditional Random Fields and Reasonable Features

A preliminary work on symptom name recognition from free-text clinical records (FCRs) of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is depicted in this paper. This problem is viewed as labeling each character in FCRs of TCM with a pre-defined tag ("B-SYC", "I-SYC" or "O-SYC") to indicate the character's role (a beginning, inside or outside part of a symptom name). The task is handled by Conditional Random Fields (CRFs) based on two types of features. The symptom name recognition F-Measure can reach up to 62.829% with recognition rate 93.403% and recognition error rate 52.665% under our experiment settings. The feasibility and effectiveness of the methods and reasonable features are verified, and several interesting and helpful results are shown. A detailed analysis for recognizing symptom names from FCRs of TCM is presented through analyzing labeling results of CRFs.
Neural network model of visual cortex for determining surface curvature from images of shaded surfaces

The visual system can extract information about shape from the pattern of light and dark surface shading on an object. Very little is known about how this is accomplished. We have used a learning algorithm to construct a neural network model that computes the principal curvatures and orientation of elliptic paraboloids independently of the illumination direction. Our chief finding is that receptive fields developed by units of such model network are surprisingly similar to some found in the visual cortex. It appears that neurons that can make use of the continuous gradations of shading have receptive fields similar to those previously interpreted as dealing with contours (i. e. ‘bar’ detectors or ‘edge’ detectors). This study illustrates the difficulty of deducing neuronal function within a network solely from receptive fields. It is also important to consider the pattern of connections a neuron makes with subsequent stages, which we call the ‘projective field’.
Adapting Strategic Planning to the Changing Needs of a Business

If strategic planning systems have failed it is because managers have failed to adapt them to the changed contexts of their businesses. Four distinct contexts are identified: Pioneer, Expand, Reorient, and Dominate. These labels are chosen to indicate the primary challenge for the business unit in each of these contexts. The contexts vary in their risk and in the adaptation and/or integration orientation that they demand of the strategic planning system. Four key elements of the strategic planning system: direction of goal setting, time‐spending patterns in planning, the relative importance of the strategic budget, and the linkage between the financial plan and the budgets, are identified. Each can be manipulated to adapt the system to suit the firm′s business context.
The Effect of Spatial Correlation on the Capacity of Multi-Input Multi-Output Broadcast Channels with Partial Side Information

This report considers the effect of spatial correlation between transmit antennas on the sum-rate capacity of the MIMO Gaussian broadcast channel (i.e., downlink of a cellular system). Specifically, for a system with a large number of users n, we analyze the scaling laws of the sum-rate for the dirty paper coding and for different types of beamforming transmission schemes. When the channel is i.i. d. , it has been shown that for large n, the sum rate is equal to M log log n + M log P M + o(1) where M is the number of transmit antennas, P is the average signal to noise ratio, and o(1) refers to terms that go to zero as n → ∞. When the channel exhibits some spatial correlation with a covariance matrix R (non-singular with Tr(R) = M), we prove that the sum rate of dirty paper coding is M log log n + M log P M + log det(R) + o(1). We further show that the sum-rate of various beamforming schemes achieves M log log n + M log P M + M log c + o(1) where c ≤ 1 depends on the type of beamforming. We can in fact compute c for random beamforming proposed in [26] and more generally, for random beamforming with precoding in which beams are pre-multiplied by a fixed matrix. In the second part of the report, we introduce various precoding matrices to reduce the hit that results from correlation. We obtain the optimum precoding matrix and various suboptimal precoding matrices. Our theoretical results are confirmed in both parts by simulations.
Calculation of Phase Transitions of Uranium Dioxide Using Structure Factor in Molecular Dynamics

We calculate phase transitions of uranium dioxide using structure factor in molecular dynamics. Our method is based on analysis of the rate of the structure factor change with the temperature. The temperatures of melting and transition to the superionic state for the uranium dioxide obtained by this method are 3100K and 2600K, respectively. Theses temperatures much better conform to the experimental values of 3120K and 2670K than in the radial distribution function analysis method. Other methods give the melting temperatures substantially higher (3435-3600K) than the experimental value.
Designing Hybrid DRAM/PCM Main Memory Systems Utilizing Dual-Phase Compression

The last few years have witnessed the emergence of a promising new memory technology, namely Phase-Change Memory (PCM). Due to its inherent ability to scale deeply into the nanoscale regime and its low power consumption, PCM is increasingly viewed as an attractive alternative for the memory subsystem of future microprocessor architectures. However, PCM is marred by a duo of potentially show-stopping deficiencies, that is, poor write performance (especially when compared to the prevalent and ubiquitous DRAM technology) and limited durability. These weaknesses have urged designers to develop various supporting architectural techniques to aid and complement the operation of the PCM while mitigating its innate flaws. One promising such solution is the deployment of hybridized memory architectures that fuse DRAM and PCM, in order to combine the best attributes of each technology. In this article, we introduce a novel Dual-Phase Compression (DPC) scheme and its architectural design aimed at DRAM/PCM hybrids, which caters to the limitations of PCM technology while optimizing memory performance. The DPC technique is specifically optimized for PCM-based environments and is transparent to the operation of the remaining components of the memory subsystem. Furthermore, the proposed architecture is imbued with a multifaceted wear-leveling technique to enhance the durability and prolong the lifetime of the PCM. Extensive simulations with traces from real applications running on a full-system simulator demonstrate 20.4% performance improvement and 46.9% energy reduction, on average, as compared to a baseline DRAM/PCM hybrid implementation. Additionally, the multifaceted wear-leveling technique is shown to significantly prolong the lifetime of the PCM.