Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using the Cognitive Pretesting Method to Gain Insight Into Participants’ Experiences

Quantitative researchers traditionally use cognitive pretesting methods such as think-alouds to determine whether participants are interpreting close-ended survey items as intended. I applied this method to evaluate the score validity of quantitative survey instruments with a middle school and high school sample of students. Through these applications, the cognitive pretesting method also revealed to be a useful tool for cueing participants’ reflection on their experiences related to the phenomenon of interest. Qualitative researchers traditionally use more open-ended interviews guided by general “how” and “why” questions, which might not serve as sufficient prompts to elicit participants’ reflection on their experiences, especially younger participants. To date, there are no illustrative examples focused on how having participants think-aloud as they complete a quantitative survey can inform qualitative-focused or mixed research questions. Therefore, the purpose of this article was to illustrate how the cognitive pretesting method, where participants think-aloud as they complete a survey, can be used as an additional technique to gain insight into their experiences of a phenomenon. The phenomenon in this illustration was defined as the participants’ experiences with the science content that they were learning in school. Limitations and methodological challenges and recommendations for overcoming these barriers are also discussed.
Surface‐sampled simulations of turbulent flow at high Reynolds number

A new approach to turbulence simulation, based on a combination of large eddy simulation (LES) for the whole flow and an array of non–space‐filling quasi‐direct numerical simulations (QDNS), which sample the response of near‐wall turbulence to large‐scale forcing, is proposed and evaluated. The technique overcomes some of the cost limitations of turbulence simulation, since the main flow is treated with a coarse‐grid LES, with the equivalent of wall functions supplied by the near‐wall sampled QDNS. Two cases are tested, at friction Reynolds number Reτ=4200 and 20000. The total grid point count for the first case is less than half a million and less than 2 million for the second case, with the calculations only requiring a desktop computer. A good agreement with published direct numerical simulation (DNS) is found at Reτ=4200, both in the mean velocity profile and the streamwise velocity fluctuation statistics, which correctly show a substantial increase in near‐wall turbulence levels due to a modulation of near‐wall streaks by large‐scale structures. The trend continues at Reτ=20000, in agreement with experiment, which represents one of the major achievements of the new approach. A number of detailed aspects of the model, including numerical resolution, LES‐QDNS coupling strategy and subgrid model are explored. A low level of grid sensitivity is demonstrated for both the QDNS and LES aspects. Since the method does not assume a law of the wall, it can in principle be applied to flows that are out of equilibrium.
SynRace: Decentralized Load-Adaptive Multi-path Routing without Collecting Statistics

Multi-rooted trees are becoming the norm for modern data-center networks. In these networks, scalable flow routing is challenging owing to vast number of flows. Current approaches either employ a central controller that can have scalability issues or a scalable decentralized algorithm only considering local information. In this paper we present a new decentralized approach to least-congested path routing in software-defined data center networks that has neither of these issues: By duplicating the initial (or SYN) packet of a flow and estimating the data rate of multiple flows in parallel, we exploit TCP's habit to fill buffers to find the least congested path. We show that our algorithm significantly improves flow completion time without the need for a central controller or specialized hardware.
To my family

An ad hoc network, is a network that can form wherever two or more nodes using the same preferences to communicate are present. Such a network need no centralized control organ and is perfectly suited for many applications, disaster scenarios, searchand-rescue operations and police matters to mention some. This is currently an interesting research area and it is desirable to find good communication standards. Part of this standardization procedure is the evaluation of suggested routing protocols. To compare these routing protocols, useful protocol independent metrics are needed. This thesis presents two new metrics. One describes the density of the network and another describes the direct connectivity rate for the nodes in the network. Using a simulation study, it is shown that the density metric is useful when comparing ad hoc routing protocols. Direct connectivity and its close relationship to density is discussed. It is shown that the two new metrics are proportional. The conclusion is that direct connectivity is the preferable metric since no routing can take place if nodes are not connected.
Breast Cancer–Derived Bone Metastasis Can Be Effectively Reduced through Specific c-MET Inhibitor Tivantinib (ARQ 197) and shRNA c-MET Knockdown

Breast cancer exhibits a propensity to metastasize to bone, resulting in debilitating skeletal complications associated with significant morbidity and poor prognosis. The cross-talk between metastatic cancer cells and bone is critical to the development and progression of bone metastases. We have shown the involvement of the HGF/c-MET system in tumor–bone interaction contributing to human breast cancer metastasis. Therefore, disruption of HGF/c-MET signaling is a potential targeted approach to treating metastatic bone disease. In this study, we evaluated the effects of c-MET inhibition by both an oral, selective, small-molecule c-MET inhibitor, tivantinib, and a specific short hairpin RNA (shRNA) against c-MET in a mouse model of human breast cancer. Tivantinib exhibited dose-dependent antimetastatic activity in vivo, and the 120 mg/kg dose, proven to be suboptimal in reducing subcutaneous tumor growth, induced significant inhibition of metastatic growth of breast cancer cells in bone and a noteworthy reduction of tumor-induced osteolysis. shRNA-mediated c-MET silencing did not affect in vitro proliferation of bone metastatic cells, but significantly reduced their migration, and this effect was further enhanced by tivantinib. Both observations were confirmed in vivo. Indeed, more pronounced tumor growth suppression with concomitant marked decreases of lytic lesions and prolongation of survival were achieved by dual c-MET inhibition using both tivantinib and RNA interference strategies. Overall, our findings highlighted the effectiveness of c-MET inhibition in delaying the onset and progression of bone metastases and strongly suggest that targeting c-MET may have promising therapeutic value in the treatment of bone metastases from breast cancer. Mol Cancer Ther; 11(1); 214–23. ©2011 AACR.
Estimation of slip angles using a model based estimator and GPS

This paper demonstrates a method for estimating key vehicle states and sensor biases using Global Positioning System (GPS) and an Internal Navigation System (INS). Two Kalman filters, a model based filter and a kinematic filter, are used to integrate the INS sensors with GPS heading and velocity to provide a high update rate of the vehicle states and sensor biases. Additional key vehicle parameters, such as tire-cornering stiffness, are identified and used to correct the model based estimator. The vehicle estimated states compare favorable with values predicted with a theoretical model.
Thresholds and Management Strategies for Aulacorthum solani (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Greenhouse Pepper

Abstract Economic injury level (EIL) and economic threshold (ET) were established for Aulacorthum solani (Kaltenbach) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in greenhouse pepper, Capsicum annuum L. The high toxicity of the salivary secretion of A. solani produces deformation and decoloration of leaves, complete plant defoliation, and unmarketable deformed fruits at high densities. Low, high and null infestation rate treatments provided a broad range of population densities to determine the relationship between yield and the cumulative A. solani-days (CAD). In all infested compartments, A. solani reached a very high population density that eventually produced the complete defoliation of the plants and losses in total and marketable yield. At low A. solani density, pepper plants showed a tolerance response. Generalized Additive Models (GAM) and Gompertz equation were used to determine the relationship between yield and CAD. Both models explained a high proportion of the variance and described well the relationship between the two variables. However, GAM predicted the tolerance phase of the yield–CAD relationship more satisfactorily. The theoretical damage curve predicted by GAM describes a tolerance, compensation and a linearity part. EIL was estimated at 57 CAD. ET was established at 20 CAD to prevent aphid density from reaching EIL within the gap between sampling periods.
Blind Signal Separation with a Flexible Non-Linearity

In this paper a new adaptive non linear function for blind signal separation is presented. It is based on a spline approximation whose control points are adaptively changed using information maximization techniques. The monotonously increasing characteristic is obtained using suitable B-spline functions imposing simple constraints on its control points. In particular, the problem of adaptively maximizing the entropy of the output is considered in the context of blind separation of independent sources. We derive a simple form of the learning algorithm which allows not only to adapt the separation matrix coefficients but also the shape of the non linear functions. A comparison with the Mixture–OfDensities approach is also presented on some experimental data that demonstrates the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method.
Explicitly biased generalization

During incremental concept learning from examples, tentative hypotheses are formed and then modified to form new hypotheses. When there is a choice among hypotheses, bias is used to express a preference. Bias may be expressed by the choice of hypothesis language, it may be implemented as an evaluation function for selecting among hypotheses already generated, or it may consist of screening potential hypotheses prior to hypothesis generation. This paper describes the use of the third method. Bias is represented explicitly both as assumptions that reduce the space of potential hypotheses and as procedures for testing these assumptions. There are advantages gained by using explicit assumptions. One advantage is that the assumptions are meta‐level hypotheses that are used to generate future, as well as to select between current, inductive hypotheses. By testing these meta‐level hypotheses, a system gains the power to anticipate the form of future hypotheses. Furthermore, rigorous testing of these meta‐level hypotheses before using them to generate inductive hypotheses avoids consistency checks of the inductive hypotheses. A second advantage of using explicit assumptions is that bias can be tested using a variety of learning methods.
Automated Test Data Generation Using a Relational Approach

In general, test data generation techniques require an entire program path for automated test data generation. This paper presents a new way for generating test data automatically even without specifying a program path completely. The proposed method reduces the burden of selecting a program path and also makes it easy to generate test data according to various test adequacy criteria. For the ends, this paper presents a framework for transforming a program under test into Alloy which is the first-order relational logic and then producing test data via Alloy analyzer. This paper illustrates the proposed method through simple, but illustrative examples.
Combining Rigor and Relevance: The Open Electronic Archive Option

Currently IS practice abounds with application innovations, e.g. online auctions, blogs, wikis, chat, user spaces, multi-player games and reputation ratings, while over the same time few new IS academic theories have taken hold. To the practitioners who innovate, journals often seem out of date, over-rigorous and increasingly irrelevant. As IS practice innovates, IS theory seems to be if anything becoming more risk averse. If IS journals assume research rigor is research excellence, they will fall behind the cutting edge of IS progress. This would be unfortunate, as advances need to be driven by theory as well as practice. The key is recognition that good research involves two dimensions not one, namely rigor and relevance. These correspond to avoiding errors of commission (lack of rigor), and avoiding errors of omission (lack of relevance). These two dimensions suggest a selective but open IS electronic archive could increase both relevance (by electronically publishing all submissions) and rigor (by electronically supporting expert and Wiki style reviews). Since the IS community designs and creates online systems, we should be able to improve the highly successful Los Alamos physics preprint archive, and lead the way in electronic knowledge exchange systems.
Intraindustry Specialization, Fragmentation and the Gains from Trade

A reclosable container for sliced food products having a one-piece container body and integral hinge and lid. The front wall of the container body is provided with a forward protrusion to facilitate removal of a desired number of slices. A locking mechanism enables the lid to be locked in closed position, and provides an audible indication when the lid is locked. The container is reusable and may be made from a polymeric material having sufficient transparency to enable the consumer to count slices viewed through the front wall as they are being removed.
Phenotypic Screening with Human iPS Cell–Derived Cardiomyocytes

A major hurdle for cardiovascular disease researchers has been the lack of robust and physiologically relevant cell-based assays for drug discovery. Derivation of cardiomyocytes from human-induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells at high purity, quality, and quantity enables the development of relevant models of human cardiac disease with source material that meets the demands of high-throughput screening (HTS). Here we demonstrate the utility of iPS cell–derived cardiomyocytes as an in vitro model of cardiac hypertrophy. Exposure of cardiomyocytes to endothelin 1 (ET-1) leads to reactivation of fetal genes, increased cell size, and robust expression of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP). Using this system, we developed a suite of assays focused on BNP detection, most notably a high-content imaging-based assay designed for phenotypic screening. Miniaturization of this assay to a 384-well format enabled the profiling of a small set of tool compounds known to modulate the hypertrophic response. The assays described here provide consistent and reliable results and have the potential to increase our understanding of the many mechanisms underlying this complex cardiac condition. Moreover, the HTS-compatible workflow allows for the incorporation of human biology into early phases of drug discovery and development.
Probabilistic recognition of activity using local appearance

This paper addresses the problem of probabilistic recognition of activities from local spatio-temporal appearance. Joint statistics of space-time filters are employed to define histograms which characterize the activities to be recognized. These histograms provide the joint probability density functions required for recognition using Bayes rule. The result is a technique for recognition of activities which is robust to partial occlusions as well as changes in illumination. In this paper the framework and background for this approach is first described. Then the family of spatio-temporal receptive fields used for characterizing activities is presented. This is followed by a review of probabilistic recognition of patterns from joint statistics of receptive field responses. The approach is validated with the results of experiments in the discrimination of persons walking in different directions, and the recognition of a simple set of hand gestures in an augmented reality scenario.
Channel estimation for multiuser MIMO-OFDM systems based on Kalman algorithms

The use of multiple antenna's at both transmitter and receiver to form multiple input and multiple output(MIMO) channels currently hold the potential to drastically improve the spectrum efficiency and capacity of future wireless communication system. For broadband systems ,OFDM turns a frequency selective channel into a set of parallel flat channels which reduces the receiver complexity. Designing a wireless receiver is a complicated task, thereby analysis is restricted on three functions of the receiver; Channel estimation, multiuser detectors and data decoding. By using iterative receiver algorithms different combinations of multiuser detectors and channel estimators are compared . The complexity-performance tradeoff and convergence behavior of the iterative receivers with channel estimation for multi user MIMO-OFDM system is analyzed. Index Terms: MIMO,OFDM, Iterative receiver.
Fingerprint Enhancement and its features purification

It is difficult to extract only genuine minutiae from fingerprints. Enhancement techniques are being used as preprocessing methods for minutiae extraction. The fingerprint enhancement is a challenging process. To overcome the adverse effect caused by spurious minutiae in fingerprint matching, a new method for fingerprint enhancement is proposed. Since some of the spurious minutiae in the boundary region cannot be remove in the minutiae purification, we draw a region of interest in the fingerprint image to remove the remaining boundary minutiae which exists as a ridge ending. These boundary minutiae affect the accuracy in fingerprint matching. Experimental result shows that the proposed method can eliminate the effect caused by spurious minutiae. Index TermBoundary minutiae, genuine minutiae, spurious minutiae, fingerprint enhancement, FAR, FRR. ——————————  ——————————
Metabolic Abnormalities Related to Treatment With Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors in Patients With Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder

Objective The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on cardiovascular risk factors in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Method We used data from a cross-sectional study on 1301 patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, of whom 280 were treated with SSRIs. The primary outcome variable was the serum concentration of total cholesterol. Secondary outcome variables were low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose levels, body mass index, waist circumference, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Results After adjusting for potential confounders, an SSRI serum concentration in the middle of the reference interval was associated with an increase of the total cholesterol level by 14.56 mg/dL (95% confidence interval (CI) 5.27–23.85 mg/dL, P = 0.002), the LDL cholesterol level by 8.50 mg/dL (CI 0.22–16.77 mg/dL, P = 0.044), the triglyceride level by 46.49 mg/dL (CI 26.53–66.46 mg/dL, P < 0.001) and the occurrence of the metabolic syndrome by a factor of 2.10 (CI 1.21–3.62, P = 0.008). There were also significant associations between the SSRI dose and total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels. Conclusions This study is the first to reveal significant associations between SSRI use and metabolic abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Although the effects were statistically significant, alterations were small. Thus, the clinical impact of the findings is most likely limited.
A Geography for Disabled People

Disability is a critical social issue, long neglected in geography. Given this, Golledge (1993) has made an important and timely call for a geography of and for disability which hopefully will catalyse debate on this important social issue amongst geographers. This paper engages Golledge's positivistic appreciation of disablement by arguing that disability is a form of oppression which is socio-spatially produced rather than naturally given. It sketches an alternative view of disablement which draws upon both the historical-geographical materialism of Marxist geographers and the work of materialist disability scholars. In contrast to Golledge's view of disablement, the materialist position explains disability as the product of the historically and spatially specific transformation of nature by human societies. The paper concludes by reflecting critically upon Golledge's assertion that geographers can and should pursue a geography for the disabled.
A portfolio of academic, therapeutic practice and research work : including a thematic analysis of individuals' experiences of living in a material world.

General Abstract: The portfolio is introduced by charting my journey to counselling psychology and outlining the three dossiers to the portfolio. The dossiers are composed of academic, therapeutic and research work. The academic dossier consists of three essays. The essays look at how psychotherapeutic theory relates to practice and how human distress can be understood and helpfully responded to. The therapeutic dossier introduces the three placements I attended over the three and a half years of the course and outlines the nature of therapeutic work I engaged with. It also includes my final clinical paper which reflects on my development as a counselling psychologist and how it shaped how I view and work with people in distress. The portfolio finishes with the research dossier which is divided into a literature review and two empirical qualitative studies. The central theme of the research endeavour is an exploration of materialism within personal, social and cultural contexts. The literature review aims to draw together social and individual levels of analysis in understanding the effect of materialism on wellbeing. The first piece of research uses narrative analysis to explore the construct of materialism and its meanings in the context of participants’ life stories. The second piece of research uses thematic analysis from a critical realist position to explore middle class individuals’ experience of living in a material world.
Animal Models of Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases are the first leading cause of death and morbidity in developed countries. The use of animal models have contributed to increase our knowledge, providing new approaches focused to improve the diagnostic and the treatment of these pathologies. Several models have been developed to address cardiovascular complications, including atherothrombotic and cardiac diseases, and the same pathology have been successfully recreated in different species, including small and big animal models of disease. However, genetic and environmental factors play a significant role in cardiovascular pathophysiology, making difficult to match a particular disease, with a single experimental model. Therefore, no exclusive method perfectly recreates the human complication, and depending on the model, additional considerations of cost, infrastructure, and the requirement for specialized personnel, should also have in mind. Considering all these facts, and depending on the budgets available, models should be selected that best reproduce the disease being investigated. Here we will describe models of atherothrombotic diseases, including expanding and occlusive animal models, as well as models of heart failure. Given the wide range of models available, today it is possible to devise the best strategy, which may help us to find more efficient and reliable solutions against human cardiovascular diseases.