Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Contribution of a Decision Support System to Educational Decision-Making Processes

In the light of reports of bias, the present study investigated the hypothesis that administrative educational decisions assisted by Decision Support Systems (DSS) are characterized by different pedagogical and organizational orientation than decisions made without computer assistance. One hundred and ten high school teachers were asked to suggest solutions to problems that arose in two school incidents. After reaching decisions, respondents were asked to rank, in order of importance, the considerations that guided them. The data were processed by DSS software, which calculated the highest-scoring option for each incident. This option was compared with the one chosen by the respondents, taking into account variables of seniority, educational level, specialization, and self-efficacy. DSS-aided decisions promoted greater moderation and enhanced cooperation among interested parties in comparison to decisions made without computer aid. The implications of these findings for future division of decision-making tasks between people and computers is discussed.
A graph-based segmentation and feature extraction framework for Arabic text recognition

This paper presents a graph-based framework for the segmentation of Arabic text. The same framework is used to extract font independent structural features from the text that are used in the recognition. The major contribution of this paper is a new graph-based structural segmentation approach based on the topological relation between the baseline and the line adjacency graph representation of the text. The text is segmented to sub-character units that we call "scripts". A structure analysis approach is used for recognition of these units. A different classifier is used to recognize dots and diacritic signs. The final character recognition is achieved by using a regular grammar that describes how characters are composed from scripts.
Combination of Tenofovir and Emtricitabine plus Efavirenz: In Vitro Modulation of ABC Transporter and Intracellular Drug Accumulation

ABSTRACT Efflux proteins have been shown to greatly affect the uptake of antiretroviral drugs by cells and to hamper their access to the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication site. This study evaluated the factors that may lead to drug-drug interactions between emtricitabine (FTC), tenofovir (TFV), and efavirenz (EFV), including the modulation of efflux transporter expression and function. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy volunteers were used to determine whether or not an interaction between antiretroviral drugs and target cells occurred in any combination of FTC, TFV, EFV, FTC-TFV, TFV-EFV, or FTC-TFV-EFV. Following 20 h of treatment, intracellular drug concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Efflux transporter functionality and inhibitor drug properties were assessed by measuring fluorescent dye efflux. ABCB1 (P-glycoprotein), ABCC 1 to 6 (multidrug resistance-associated protein), and OAT (organic anion transporter) expression in response to the treatments was quantified by semiquantitative real-time PCR. Cells treated with a double combination (FTC-TFV or TFV-EFV) or the triple combination (FTC-TFV-EFV) produced higher FTC and TFV intracellular concentrations than cells treated with FTC or TFV alone. However, no change in the EFV intracellular concentration was observed. FTC tended to induce abcc5 mRNA expression and EFV tended to induce abcc1 and abcc6 mRNA expression, whereas TFV tended to reduce mdr1, abcc1, abcc5, and abcc6 mRNA expression. Under these conditions, a decrease in the functionality of ABCC was observed, and this decrease was associated with the direct inhibitory actions of these drugs. This in vitro study reveals a benefit of the combination FTC-TFV-EFV in terms of the intracellular FTC and TFV concentrations and highlights the pharmacological mechanisms that lead to this effect.
Design of stand alone PV system for DC-micro grid

This paper provides modeling of photovoltaic (PV) panel, designing of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control algorithm for a standalone PV based distributed generation (DG) system. A detailed mathematical model of PV panel is provided. One of the most classical MPPT (Perturb and Observe MPPT) is used to track the maximum power point of the system. SunPower PV array are considered and simulation results showcase the module characteristics and array characteristics. A detailed design technique is provided for MPPT technique and simulation are carried out with varying solar irradiance.
Femto Joule Switching for Nano Electronics

Advancement in silicon technology has led to miniaturization of devices, scaled power supply voltages and faster transistor switching speeds just to name a few. Along with these improvements came issues such as threshold voltage scaling, interconnect delays, sensitivity to variations, and increased power dissipation. Device miniaturization has also seen a rise of battery-operated electronic devices with very stringent energy requirements. Clearly, power dissipation is already a major design challenge in highly integrated systems. Leakage currents are becoming significant as the power supply and threshold voltages are scaled. Low power/energy techniques are thus very critical. This tutorial will review known techniques for reducing power/energy, focusing on recent results scaling the supply and the device threshold voltages and on bridging the divide between strong and weak inversion operations, as well as on using emerging nanoelectronic devices. These will show that GHz frequencies could be sustained in the (sub-)femto Joule per inverter energy range.
Multilingual Cognate Identification using Integer Linear Programming

The identification of cognates in natural languages is a crucial part of automatic translation lexicon construction and other multilingual lexical tasks. We present new methods for multilingual cognate identification using the global inference framework of Integer Linear Programming. While previous approaches to cognate identification have focused on pairs of natural languages, we provide a methodology that directly forms sets of cognates across groups of languages. We show improvements over simple clustering techniques that do not inherently consider the transitivity of cognate relations. Furthermore, we show that formulations that jointly link cognates across groups of natural languages achieve higher performance than traditional pairwise approaches. We also describe applications of our technique to other important problems in multilingual natural language processing.
The use and abuse of storytelling in organizations

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to introduce the manner in which storytelling has become an increasingly common part of management development, and to highlight some of the use and abuse of storytelling as a management development tool.Design/methodology/approach – The paper adopts an initial warning about the way storytelling is being used, particularly by management and leadership coaches, questioning whether the term “storytelling” is an appropriate term to use for what is occurring. The notion of “storyselling” is introduced in such a context and, in so doing, stimulates critical reflection about storytelling. A summary of key ideas of other papers is also presented to assist the reader in better understanding the broader trajectories contained in the papers as a whole.Findings – Many are now starting to question practical guidance that is emerging from organization and management literature. Multiple paradigms have yielded not complementary perspectives on management problems, but less than un.
An FPGA based architecture for complex rule matching with stateful inspection of multiple TCP connections

In this paper a novel architecture for string matching is presented. It is oriented to an FPGA implementation and, differently from other similar works, it is particularly suitable for rules matching in multiple streams. The paper presents our developed architecture able to efficiently manage different streams, discusses how to optimize the design to limit the number of FPGA logic resources and shows the obtained results.
Absence of Cx43 selectively from osteocytes enhances responsiveness to mechanical force in mice

The osteocyte network is crucial for the response of bone to mechanical force. Within this network, connexin43 (Cx43) is thought to mediate the communication of osteocytes and osteoblasts among themselves and the exchange of small molecules with the extracellular milieu. Despite recent advances in understanding Cx43 role for the response of bone cells to mechanical stimulation, the contribution of Cx43 specifically in osteocytes to mechanotransduction in vivo is not well‐known. We examined the anabolic response to ulnar axial loading of mice lacking Cx43 in osteocytes (Cx43ΔOt). Loading induced a greater increase in periosteal bone formation rate in Cx43ΔOt mice compared to control littermates, resulting from higher mineralizing surface and enhanced mineral apposition rate. Expression of β‐catenin protein, a molecule implicated in mechanotransduction, was higher in bones from Cx43ΔOt mice, compared to littermate controls. In addition, MLO‐Y4 osteocytic cells knocked‐down for Cx43 exhibited higher β‐catenin protein expression and enhanced response to mechanical stimulation. These findings suggest that osteocytes lacking Cx43 are “primed” to respond to mechanical stimulation and that absence of Cx43 in osteocytes unleashes bone formation, by a mechanism that might involve accumulation of β‐catenin. © 2013 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31:1075–1081, 2013
Delivery of time-varying stimuli using ChR2

To understand sensory processing in neuronal populations, it is necessary to deliver stimuli to the sensory organs of animals and record evoked population activity downstream. However, the pathways from sensory input to synaptic currents in cells that are several synapses removed from sensory organs are complex. Intrinsic noise and uncontrolled modulatory input from other brain regions can interfere with the delivery of well-defined stimuli. Here we investigate the ability of channelrhodopsins to deliver precise time-varying currents to neurons at any point along the sensory-motor pathway. To do this, we first deduce the amplitude response function of channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) using a three state Markov model of channel kinetics. With biophysically realistic parameters, this function supports a relatively broad signal passband and contains a resonance. We confirm the validity of our predicted amplitude response function using time-varying optical stimulation of excitatory neurons that express either wild type ChR2 or the ChR2(H134R) mutant. Together, our results indicate that ChR2-derived optogenetic tools are useful for delivering repeatable, time-varying currents to genetically-specified populations over a physiologically-relevant frequency band.
Prediction of heterosis in wheat using coefficient of parentage and RFLP-based estimates of genetic relationship.

Genetic relationship can be a useful predictor of the relative performance of hybrid combinations for a hybrid breeding program resulting in reduced time and cost of hybrid testing. Genetic relationships of 112 wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell.) lines were estimated using 41 DNA clones hybridizing to 273 DNA fragments and by calculating coefficient of parentage (COP). Heterosis was estimated for 722 hybrids grown in multiple locations, with 189 being tested in more than 1 year. The average RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) based genetic distance index (DI) was 0.35. Midparent heterosis for grain yield ranged from −20 to 57% and high-parent heterosis from −22 to 47%. The correlation between RFLP-based estimates of genetic distance and COP was nonsignificant (−0.33). Coefficient of parentage was significantly correlated with heterosis for all traits in 1991 but not in other years. Genetic distance based on RFLPs scored in this study was not correlated with heterosis in any of the years tested. Further refinement of gene pools and new prediction methods will be required to facilitate the exploitation of genetic variability for hybrid wheat improvement. Key words : wheat, heterosis, genetic distance.
Stability of learning dynamics in two-agent, imperfect-information games

One issue in multi-agent co-adaptive learning concerns convergence. When two (or more) agents play a game with different information and different payoffs, the general behaviour tends to be oscillation around a Nash equilibrium. Several algorithms have been proposed to force convergence to mixed-strategy Nash equilibria in imperfect-information games when the agents are aware of their opponent's strategy. We consider the effect on one such algorithm, the lagging anchor algorithm, when each agent must also infer the gradient information from observations, in the infinitesimal time-step limit. Use of an estimated gradient, either by opponent modelling or stochastic gradient ascent, destabilises the algorithm in a region of parameter space. There are two phases of behaviour. If the rate of estimation is low, the Nash equilibrium becomes unstable in the mean. If the rate is high, the Nash equilibrium is an attractive fixed point in the mean, but the uncertainty acts as narrow-band coloured noise, which causes dampened oscillations.
Self-Paced Operation of an SSVEP-Based Orthosis With and Without an Imagery-Based “Brain Switch:” A Feasibility Study Towards a Hybrid BCI

This work introduces a hybrid brain-computer interface (BCI) composed of an imagery-based brain switch and a steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP)-based BCI. The brain switch (event related synchronization (ERS)-based BCI) was used to activate the four-step SSVEP-based orthosis (via gazing at a 8 Hz LED to open and gazing at a 13 Hz LED to close) only when needed for control, and to deactivate the LEDs during resting periods. Only two EEG channels were required, one over the motor cortex and one over the visual cortex. As a basis for comparison, the orthosis was also operated without using the brain switch. Six subjects participated in this study. This combination of two BCIs operated with different mental strategies is one example of a “hybrid” BCI and revealed a much lower rate of FPs per minute during resting periods or breaks compared to the SSVEP BCI alone ( FP = 1.46 ± 1.18 versus 5.40 ± 0.90). Four out of the six subjects succeeded in operating the self-paced hybrid BCI with a good performance (positive prediction value PPVb > 0.70).
Music Therapy, Spirituality and Chemically Dependent Clients

Summary The purpose of this article is to discuss music therapy and how it can be used with the chemically dependent population. The article includes (a) a definition, examples, and an overview of music therapy, (b) rationale and benefits gained from using music as a therapeutic tool, (c) specific music therapy techniques such as songwriting, lyric analysis, music movement and relaxation, and creativity through music which can be used to help with spirituality issues, and (d) recommendations for clinicians who are not music therapists.
Prediction of malignant middle cerebral artery infarction by magnetic resonance imaging within 6 hours of symptom onset: A prospective multicenter observational study

Early identification of patients at risk of space‐occupying “malignant” middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction (MMI) is needed to enable timely decision for potentially life‐saving treatment such as decompressive hemicraniectomy. We tested the hypothesis that acute stroke magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) predicts MMI within 6 hours of stroke onset.
Performance evaluation of distribution network in presence of Plug-in Electric Vehicles through a new index

In recent decades, the presence of Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PEVs) has increased in the distribution networks. PEVs are probabilistic loads that can have negative effects on the performance of the distribution networks. These effects include overloads, losses, voltage drops, and unbalances that may take place in the distribution networks by PEV charging. Hence, the use of important and practical indices to assess a distribution network can be useful. It should be noted that it is very difficult to compare between the effects of different indices for the penetration level of the specified PEVs using the available indices. In order to compare the effects of different indices, the available ones are modified and then a new index is proposed based on the modified indices. The IEEE-37 node test feeder is used to assess the performance of the modified and proposed indices. Simulation results show the flexibility and precision of the proposed approach.
Insights into the residence in lipid rafts of adenylyl cyclase AC8 and its regulation by capacitative calcium entry

Adenylyl cyclases (ACs) are a family of critically important signaling molecules that are regulated by multiple pathways. Adenylyl cyclase 8 (AC8) is a Ca2+ stimulated isoform that displays a selective regulation by capacitative Ca2+ entry (CCE), the process whereby the entry of Ca2+ into cells is triggered by the emptying of intracellular stores. This selectivity was believed to be achieved through the localization of AC8 in lipid raft microdomains, along with components of the CCE apparatus. In the present study, we show that an intact leucine zipper motif is required for the efficient N-linked glycosylation of AC8, and that this N-linked glycosylation is important to target AC8 into lipid rafts. Disruption of the leucine zipper by site-directed mutagenesis results in the elimination of N-glycosylated forms and their exclusion from lipid rafts. Mutants of AC8 that cannot be N-glycosylated are not demonstrably associated with rafts, although they can still be regulated by CCE; however, raft integrity is required for the regulation of these mutants. These findings suggest that raft localized proteins in addition to AC8 are needed to mediate its regulation by CCE.
Microspatial genetic heterogeneity and gene flow in stray cats (Felis catus L.): a comparison of coat colour and microsatellite loci

We analysed levels of genetic differentiation between nine local urban colonies of stray cats using eight coat colour and nine microsatellite loci. Both types of markers revealed a strong differentiation between colonies (FST = 0.15 and 0.09 for coat colour and microsatellite loci, respectively). Three coat colour loci showed extreme levels of genetic differentiation comparatively to other loci and are strongly suspected to be under divergent selective pressures. Microsatellite loci showed significant heterozygote deficiency within colonies (FIS = 0.14), suggesting that coat colour loci are not appropriate to investigate genetic structure at a fine scale because coat colour allele frequencies are based on Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. The reported pattern conformed to that predicted from the social structuring of cat colonies: aggressive exclusion of immigrants, inbreeding and very low dispersal rate.
Modelling smartphone usage: a markov state transition model

We develop a Markov state transition model of smartphone screen use. We collected use traces from real-world users during a 3-month naturalistic deployment via an app-store. These traces were used to develop an analytical model which can be used to probabilistically model or predict, at runtime, how a user interacts with their mobile phone, and for how long. Unlike classification-driven machine learning approaches, our analytical model can be interrogated under unlimited conditions, making it suitable for a wide range of applications including more realistic automated testing and improving operating system management of resources.
Student Characteristics, Sense of Community, and Cognitive Achievement in Web-based and Lab-based Learning Environments

Abstract This study investigated differential effects of learning styles and learning orientation on sense of community and cognitive achievement in Web-based and lab-based university course formats. Students in the Web-based sections achieved higher scores at the “remember” and “understand” levels, but not at the “apply” or “analyze” levels. In terms of learning style, extrovert students outperformed introvert students in the lab-based sections, whereas introverts performed better in the Web-based sections. With regard to sense of community, students in the Web-based environment had higher scores on two of three scales. The final aspect examined was students’ variable orientation toward learning, with significant but weak results.
ASLAN: Synthesis of approximate sequential circuits

Many applications produce acceptable results when their underlying computations are executed in an approximate manner. For such applications, approximate circuits enable hardware implementations that exhibit improved efficiency for a given quality. Previous efforts have largely focused on the design of approximate combinational logic blocks such as adders and multipliers. In practice, however, designers are concerned with the quality of outputs generated by a sequential circuit after several cycles of computation, rather than an embedded combinational block. We propose ASLAN (Automatic methodology for Sequential Logic ApproximatioN), the first effort towards the synthesis of approximate sequential circuits. Given a sequential circuit and an output quality constraint, ASLAN creates an approximate version of the circuit that consumes lower energy, while meeting the specified quality bound. The key challenges in approximating sequential circuits are (i) to model how errors due to approximations are generated, re-circulate through the combinational logic over multiple cycles of operation, and eventually impact quality of the final output, and (ii) to select the most beneficial approximations, i.e., those that result in higher energy savings for smaller impact on quality. ASLAN addresses the first challenge by constructing a virtual Sequential Quality Constraint Circuit (SQCC) and utilizing formal verification techniques to ensure that the selected approximations meet the quality constraint. To address the second challenge, ASLAN identifies combinational blocks in the sequential circuit that are amenable to approximation, generates local quality-energy trade-off curves for them, and uses a gradient-descent approach to iteratively approximate the entire sequential circuit. We used ASLAN to automatically synthesize approximate versions of ten sequential benchmarks, resulting in energy reductions of 1.20X-2.44X for tight quality constraints, and 1.32X-4.42X for moderate quality constraints. We present case studies of using the approximate circuits generated by ASLAN in two popular applications - MPEG Encoding and K-Means Clustering - obtaining 1.32X energy savings with 0.5% PSNR degradation, and 1.26X energy savings with 0.8% increase in mean cluster radius, respectively.
Organizational-Level Gender Dissimilarity and Employee Commitment

This study explores the extent to which gender dissimilarity in the workplace affects employees' commitment to their organization, using data from the British (1998) Workplace Employee Relations Survey. The results showed that the effects of organizational-level gender dissimilarity on organizational commitment were more complex than has commonly been assumed in the literature. The relationship between organizational-level gender dissimilarity and employee commitment was U-shaped for women whereas it was not significant for men. The relationship was moderated by the respondents' status as measured by their level of pay. For men, the relationship between gender dissimilarity and commitment was negative for high-paid individuals but not for low-paid ones, while for women the U-shaped relationship was weaker for high-paid individuals than for low-paid individuals.