Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploring parametric BIM as a conceptual tool for design and building technology teaching

This paper discusses the adoption of BIM tools as an opportunity for design generation, validation, and implementation. It specifically focuses on parametric modeling in discussing construction details, assemblies, and generative explorations in the design context. The introduction of parametric thinking into architectural design allows for understanding the interdependencies between various elements of a building assembly and improves an architect's communication with consultants and builders. It also opens doors for "What if. " speculative exploration that allow for broader questioning of design intent. This second aspect of parametric thinking encourages students to bridge technical knowledge with creativity.
Grid and Schedule Constrained Electric Vehicle Charging Algorithm Using Node Sensitivity Approach

The growth in Plug-In Electric Vehicle (EV) poses a great challenge to utilities due to the potential impact to power distribution systems. We propose an intelligent charging method to minimize the operation cost as well as consider both constraints of power grid and customers' schedule. To address the highly non-linear behavior in the power system, a novel Node Sensitivity Approach (NSA) is proposed to approximate the sensitivity of each EV load in the grid. The simulation results show the proposed method not only achieves the minimum operation cost but also avoids violating the system constraints.
Facebook: befriending and social capital

The goal of this research paper is to give an insight into the way Dutch young adults use Facebook to create new ties and keep in contact with existing ties, thereby gaining bridging and bonding social capital. Results based on an online questionnaire among 90 Facebook users show that Facebook is mostly used to keep in touch with already existing strong-tie relations. This indicates that mostly bonding social capital is gained through the use of Facebook. However, a relationship between the amount of usage and bridging social capital was also found. The number of offline friends was a significant predictor of the number of friends added to the online network, indicating that the people in the online network are mostly existing relationships. The respondents also indicated that they knew 90% of their Facebook friends in person. These results indicate that Dutch young adults use Facebook in a different way than their American counterparts. Americans also use it with the intention to meet new people, thereby gaining bridging social capital. The difference between the two is believed to stem from the difference in users' contexts. The Dutch appear to be more inward-looking in terms of their Facebook use as opposed to their American counterparts, who are both outward-looking and inward-looking.
Protein targeting via the "constitutive-like" secretory pathway in isolated pancreatic islets: passive sorting in the immature granule compartment

We have suggested the existence of a novel "constitutive-like" secretory pathway in pancreatic islets, which preferentially conveys a fraction of newly synthesized C-peptide, insulin, and proinsulin, and is related to the presence of immature secretory granules (IGs). Regulated exocytosis of IGs results in an equimolar secretion of C- peptide and insulin; however an assay of the constitutive-like secretory pathway recently demonstrated that this route conveys newly synthesized C-peptide in molar excess of insulin (Arvan, P., R. Kuliawat, D. Prabakaran, A.-M. Zavacki, D. Elahi, S. Wang, and D. Pilkey. J. Biol. Chem. 266:14171-14174). We now use this assay to examine the kinetics of constitutive-like secretion. Though its duration is much shorter than the life of mature granules under physiologic conditions, constitutive-like secretion appears comparatively slow (t1/2 approximately equal to 1.5 h) compared with the rate of proinsulin traffic through the ER and Golgi stacks. We have examined whether this slow rate is coupled to the rate of IG exit from the trans-Golgi network (TGN). Escape from the 20 degrees C temperature block reveals a t1/2 less than or equal to 12 min from TGN exit to stimulated release of IGs; the time required for IG formation is too rapid to be rate limiting for constitutive-like secretion. Further, conditions are described in which constitutive-like secretion is blocked yet regulated discharge of IGs remains completely intact. Thus, constitutive-like secretion appears to represent an independent secretory pathway that is kinetically restricted to a specific granule maturation period. The data support a model in which passive sorting due to insulin crystallization results in enrichment of C-peptide in membrane vesicles that bud from IGs to initiate the constitutive-like secretory pathway.
Funeral Practices in Ghana and the United States: A Cultural Comparison

Across the life course, culture is never more evident than at the end of life. Due to the great variability of end-of-life practices and observed customs across the world, it is important to understand cultural differences from a variety of perspectives. This study provides a comparative analysis of death and funeral practices in three cultures: (1) Akan culture in Ghana, West Africa; (2) African-Americans born in the U.S.; and (3) European Americans in the United States. Two frameworks are used: (1) the biopsychosocial, spiritual, cultural framework; and (2) a framework of independent/interdependent cultural values, to compare the three cultural groups in a qualitative exploratory study with 20 participants from each group. The purpose is to explore whether African-American end-of-life traditions are more similar to the majority culturei¯s (European American) customs in the United States or to customs still practiced in Ghana today. This study also considers how the findings might be used to enhance culturally sensitive services in the provision of end-of-life care. Findings suggest that, although African-Americans have lived in the United States for over a century, their culture retains aspects reflective of African culture and traditions related to end-of-life activities. This study offers unique findings that address issues of cultural humility, sensitivity, and competency. An understanding of these issues is crucial for anyone working in human services and for practitioners supporting dying and bereaved families.
Measuring the Effects through Time of the Influence of Visuomotor and Visuotactile Synchronous Stimulation on a Virtual Body Ownership Illusion

Previous studies have examined the experience of owning a virtual surrogate body or body part through specific combinations of cross-modal multisensory stimulation. Both visuomotor (VM) and visuotactile (VT) synchronous stimulation have been shown to be important for inducing a body ownership illusion, each tested separately or both in combination. In this study we compared the relative importance of these two cross-modal correlations, when both are provided in the same immersive virtual reality setup and the same experiment. We systematically manipulated VT and VM contingencies in order to assess their relative role and mutual interaction. Moreover, we present a new method for measuring the induced body ownership illusion through time, by recording reports of breaks in the illusion of ownership (‘breaks’) throughout the experimental phase. The balance of the evidence, from both questionnaires and analysis of the breaks, suggests that while VM synchronous stimulation contributes the greatest to the attainment of the illusion, a disruption of either (through asynchronous stimulation) contributes equally to the probability of a break in the illusion.
Exercise in knee osteoarthritis: do treatment outcomes relate to bone marrow lesions? A randomized trial

Abstract Purpose: Exercise is effective for reducing knee osteoarthritis (OA) pain but effect sizes vary widely. Moreover, not all knee OA patients perceive beneficial effects. Tailoring specific exercises to subgroups of knee OA patients may increase effectivity. Bone marrow lesions (BMLs) have been suggested as a criterion to define such subgroups. This study aimed to investigate whether BMLs’ presence/absence is related to treatment outcomes in a group of knee OA patients who exercised for 18 weeks. Methods: Subjects with symptomatic knee OA started a strength or walking exercise program. BMLs’ presence at baseline was assessed. Pain was assessed before and after the intervention with the intermittent and constant osteoarthritis pain (ICOAP) questionnaire. Also the global perceived effect (GPE) on the patient’s complaints was rated. Results: Thirty-five patients (strength (N = 17) and walking (N = 18)) were analyzed for BMLs. BMLs were present in 25 (71%) knees. Five (14%) patients dropped out and 19 (54%) improved (GPE ≥5). All dropouts had BMLs, but no difference was seen between dropouts and retainers (p > 0.05). Pain scores did not differ between intervention groups (p > 0.05) or between patients with BMLs and without BMLs (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Pain scores and GPE was not different between knee OA patients with and without baseline BMLs in this sample. Implications for Rehabilitation Both walking and strengthening exercises are effective means of improving pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis. In a relatively small sample, this study shows that the presence or absence of subchondral bone marrow lesions, as seen on magnetic resonance images, is not related to treatment outcomes.
The Origin of Adaptation in the Auditory Pathway of Locusts Is Specific to Cell Type and Function

We investigated the origin of spike frequency adaptation within a layered sensory network: the auditory pathway of locusts. Spike frequency adaptation as observed in an individual neuron may arise because of intrinsic or presynaptic adaptation mechanisms. To separate the contribution of different mechanisms, we recorded from the same cell during acoustic and intracellular current stimulation. We studied three identified neuron types that are representative for each network layer and participate in processing auditory patterns and localizing sound sources. By comparing current and acoustic stimulation, three distinct patterns of the distribution of adaptation mechanisms within the sensory network emerged: (1) balanced influence of both intrinsic and presynaptic adaptation mechanisms in an interneuron that summates over several receptor afferents (TN1), (2) predominantly inhibiting input as the source for spike frequency adaptation in a cell that transmits both pattern representation and directional information (BSN1), (3) primarily intrinsic, spike-triggered adaptation currents within an interneuron coding exclusively for direction (AN2). The time courses of spike frequency adaptation differed significantly between the cells types. Using the adaptation time constants, we were able to predict signal transmission properties for the different cells. We conclude that the adaptation mechanisms differ greatly among interneurons within this sensory pathway and are a function of their role in information processing.
Managing social norms for persuasive impact

In order to mobilise action against a social problem, public service communicators often include normative information in their persuasive appeals. Such messages can be either effective or ineffective because they can normalise either desirable or undesirable conduct. To examine the implications in an environmental context, visitors to Arizona's Petrified Forest National Park were exposed to messages that admonished against the theft of petrified wood. In addition, the messages conveyed information either about descriptive norms (the levels of others' behaviour) or injunctive norms (the levels of others' disapproval) regarding such thievery. Results showed that focusing message recipients on descriptive normative information was most likely to increase theft, whereas focusing them on injunctive normative information was most likely to suppress it. Recommendations are offered for optimising the impact of normative messages in situations characterised by objectionable levels of undesirable conduct. This research was partially funded through grants from the United States Forest Service (PSW‐96‐0022CA) and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (No.‐98‐154C/97‐0152AI). We are grateful to Claire Champion, Paul Story, Jessica Martin, and Lorraine Baumack for their valuable assistance in our data‐collection efforts.
Potential role of 5HT1C and/or 5HT2 receptors in the mianserin-induced prevention of anxiogenic behaviors occurring during ethanol withdrawal.

A single dose of mianserin (a 5HT1C/5HT2 antagonist), administered 1 hr, 48 hr, or 7 days before testing, was evaluated for its efficacy in alleviating or preventing the occurrence of anxiogenic behaviors observed during ethanol withdrawal. Other behavioral experiments using selected drug interactions were conducted to examine whether the effect of mianserin was related to a long-term modification of 5-hydroxy-tryptamine (5HT) receptor function. Rats were fed a liquid diet containing 4.5% ethanol for 4 days. They were tested on the elevated plus-maze (EPM) 12 hr (acute withdrawal) and 5 days (protracted withdrawal) after the last ethanol dose. Ethanol withdrawal induced a pattern of "anxiogenic" behavior that consisted of reduced activity (total entries) and a reduced proportion of open arm activity. Mianserin, injected as a single dose given either 1 hr (0.16-5 mg/kg, ip) before testing or given (20 mg/kg, ip) on the morning of the 3rd day of ethanol administration, i.e., 48 hr and 7 days before testing, dose-dependently prevented or reversed the ethanol withdrawal induced reduction in open-arm activity. In contrast, the 5HT1C/5HT2 receptor agonist (+/- )-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane HCl (DOl) did not affect behaviors in the EPM in ethanol-naive rats, nor in those undergoing ethanol withdrawal. However, although there was a marked tolerance to DOl-induced body shakes (a measure of 5HT2 function) during withdrawal, DOl reversed the action of mianserin in the EPM. The 5HT1 receptor agonist, 5HT2 receptor antagonist 1-naphthyl-piperazine (1-NP) reduced open-arm activity in ethanol-naive rats and this action was enhanced during withdrawal. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Consistability: Describing Usually Consistent Systems

Current weak consistency semantics provide worst-case guarantees to clients. These guarantees fail to adequately describe systems that provide varying levels of consistency in the face of distinct failure modes, or that achieve better than worst-case guarantees during normal execution. The inability to make precise statements about consistency throughout a system's execution represents a lost opportunity to clearly understand client application requirements and to optimize systems and services appropriately. In this position paper, we motivate the need for and introduce the concept of consistability--a unified metric of consistency and availability. Consistability offers a means of describing, specifying, and discussing how much consistency a usually consistent system provides, and how often it does so. We describe our initial results of applying consistability reasoning to a keyvalue store we are developing and to other recent distributed systems. We also discuss the limitations of our consistability definition.
Intensified and shortened cyclical chemotherapy for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

PURPOSE To assess the efficacy and toxicity of a new treatment program of intensified and shortened cyclical chemotherapy (protocol 8707) in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). PATIENTS AND METHODS Previously untreated adults < or = 60 years old with ALL were treated with a four-agent induction chemotherapy regimen. This was followed by cyclical postremission therapy with high-dose cytarabine/etoposide; high-dose methotrexate/6-mercaptopurine; and daunorubicin, vincristine, prednisone, and asparaginase. Maintenance chemotherapy with oral methotrexate and 6-mercaptopurine was continued for 30 months. CNS prophylaxis was given with intrathecal methotrexate in addition to the systemic chemotherapy indicated above. RESULTS Seventy-eight of 84 patients (93%) achieved complete remission. With a median follow-up of 5.6 years, 5-year event-free survival (EFS) of all remission patients is 52%. Patients with high-risk features including adverse cytogenetics, failure to achieve remission with the first cycle of chemotherapy, and B-precursor disease with WBC counts more than 100,000/microL all relapsed unless taken off study for transplantation. For patients without these high-risk features, 5-year EFS was 60%. Compared with our previous treatment regimen, results appear to be improved for patients with standard-risk B-precursor disease (5-year EFS, 66% v 34%; P =.01). CONCLUSION Intensified and shortened chemotherapy may improve the outcome for patients with ALL with B-precursor disease lacking high-risk features. Further trials of this regimen are warranted.
Enhancing Navigation on Wikipedia with Social Tags

Social tagging has become an interesting approach to improve search and navigation over the actual Web, since it aggregates the tags added by different users to the same resource in a collaborative way. This way, it results in a list of weighted tags describing its resource. Combined to a classical taxonomic classification system such as that by Wikipedia, social tags can enhance document navigation and search. On the one hand, social tags suggest alternative navigation ways, including pivot-browsing, popularity-driven navigation, and filtering. On the other hand, it provides new metadata, sometimes uncovered by documents' content, that can substantially improve document search. In this work, the inclusion of an interface to add user-defined tags describing Wikipedia articles is proposed, as a way to improve article navigation and retrieval. As a result, a prototype on applying tags over Wikipedia is proposed in order to evaluate its effectiveness.
The POU homeodomain transcription factor POUM2 and broad complex isoform 2 transcription factor induced by 20‐hydroxyecdysone collaboratively regulate vitellogenin gene expression and egg formation in the silkworm Bombyx mori

Vitellogenin (Vg) is a source of nutrition for embryo development. Our previous study showed that the silkworm (Bombyx mori) transcription factor broad complex isoform 2 (BmBrC‐Z2) regulates gene expression of the Vg gene (BmVg) by induction with 20‐hydroxyecdysone (20E). However, the mechanism by which 20E regulates BmVg expression was not clarified. In this study, cell transfection experiments showed that the BmVg promoter containing the POU homeodomain transcription factor POUM2 (POUM2) and BrC‐Z2 cis‐response elements (CREs) showed a more significant response to 20E than that harbouring only the BrC‐Z2 or POUM2 CRE. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay showed that BmPOUM2 could bind to the POUM2 CRE of the BmVg promoter. Over‐expression of BmPOUM2 and BmBrC‐Z2 in B. mori embryo‐derived cell line (BmE) could enhance the activity of the BmVg promoter carrying both the POUM2 and BrC‐Z2 CREs following 20E induction. Quantitative PCR and immunofluorescence histochemistry showed that the expression pattern and tissue localization of BmPOUM2 correspond to those of BmVg. Glutathione S‐transferase pull‐down and co‐immunoprecipitation assays confirmed that BmPOUM2 interacts only with BmBrC‐Z2 to regulate BmVg expression. Down‐regulation of BmPOUM2 in female silkworm by RNA interference significantly reduced BmVg expression, leading to abnormal egg formation. In summary, these results indicate that BmPOUM2 binds only to BmBrC‐Z2 to collaboratively regulate BmVg expression by 20E induction to control vitellogenesis and egg formation in the silkworm. Moreover, these findings suggest that homeodomain protein POUM2 plays a novel role in regulating insect vitellogenesis.
VGG Fine-tuning for Cooking State Recognition

An important task that domestic robots need to achieve is the recognition of states of food ingredients so they can continue their cooking actions. This project focuses on a fine-tuning algorithm for the VGG (Visual Geometry Group) architecture of deep convolutional neural networks (CNN) for object recognition. The algorithm aims to identify eleven different ingredient cooking states for an image dataset. The original VGG model was adjusted and trained to properly classify the food states. The model was initialized with Imagenet weights. Different experiments were carried out in order to find the model parameters that provided the best performance. The accuracy achieved for the validation set was 76.7% and for the test set 76.6% after changing several parameters of the VGG model.
Is the heritage language like a second language

Many heritage speakers (bilinguals in a minority language context) turn to the second language (L2) classroom to expand their knowledge of the heritage language. Critical questions arise as to how their linguistic knowledge compares to that of post puberty L2 learners. Focusing on recent experimental research on grammatical domains typically affected in both L2 learners and heritage speakers, this article addresses whether exposure to the family language since birth even under reduced input conditions leads to more native-like linguistic knowledge in heritage speakers as opposed to L2 learners with a later age of acquisition of the language, how differences in input and language learning experience determine the behavioral manifestations of linguistic knowledge, and whether formal instruction in the classroom is beneficial to heritage speakers. I argue that the extension of theoretical frameworks and methodologies from SLA has significantly advanced the field of heritage language acquisition, but deeper understanding of these speakers will also need more fruitful integration of the psycholinguistic and sociolinguistic factors that contribute to the acquisition and maintenance of heritage languages.
Bioassays and field immersion tests: a comparison of the antifouling activity of copper-free poly(methacrylic)-based coatings containing tertiary amines and ammonium salt groups

This paper focuses on the activity spectrum of three dimethylalkyl tertiary amines as potential active molecules and the corresponding ammonium salt-based antifouling (AF) paints. Bioassays (using marine bacteria, microalgae and barnacles) and field tests were combined to assess the AF activity of coatings. Bioassay results demonstrated that the ammonium salt-based paints did not inhibit the growth of microorganisms (except the dimethyldodecylammonium-based coatings) and that the tertiary amines were potent towards bacteria, diatoms, and barnacle larvae at non-toxic concentrations (therapeutic ratio, LC50/EC50, < 1). The results from field tests indicated that the ammonium salt-based coatings inhibited the settlement of macrofouling and the dimethylhexadecylammonium-based coatings provided protection against slime in comparison with PVC blank panels. Thus, results from laboratory assays did not fully concur with the AF activity of the paints in the field trial.