Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Face recognition through regional weight estimation

Face recognition has become a very important field of AI, with many competing techniques, both holistic and local. Recently, a new framework for embedding holistic face recognition algorithms into a regional voting approach, has been shown to be a very stable and accurate mechanism for face recognition. A new system is proposed, which extends the regional voting concept and adds weights to each region. Several techniques for estimating the weights are discussed. The system is shown to outperform several other leading face recognition algorithms.
The Fetoprotein Transcription Factor (FTF) Gene Is Essential to Embryogenesis and Cholesterol Homeostasis and Is Regulated by a DR4 Element*

The fetoprotein transcription factor (FTF) gene was inactivated in the mouse, with a lacZ gene inserted inframe into exon 4. LacZ staining of FTF+/- embryos shows that the mFTF gene is activated at initial stages of zygotic transcription. FTF gene activity is ubiquitous at the morula and blastocyst stages and then follows expression patterns indicative of multiple FTF functions in fetal development. FTF-/- embryos die at E6.5–7.5, with features typical of visceral endoderm dysfunction. Adult FTF+/- mice are hypocholesterolemic, and express liver FTF at about 40% of the normal level. Overexpression of liver FTF in transgenic mice indicates in vivo that FTF is an activator of CYP7A1. However, CYP7A1 expression is increased in FTF+/- liver. Gene expression profiles indicate that higher CYP7A1 expression is caused by attenuated liver cell stress signaling. Diet experiments support a model where FTF is quenched both by activated c-Jun, and by SHP as a stronger feedback mechanism to repress CYP7A1. A DR4 element is conserved in the FTF gene promoter and activated by LXR-RXR and TR-RXR, qualifying the FTF gene as a direct metabolic sensor. Liver FTF increases in rats treated with thyroid hormone or a high cholesterol diet. The FTF DR4 element tightens functional links between FTF and LXRα in cholesterol homeostasis and can explain transient surges of FTF gene activities during development and FTF levels lower than predicted in FTF+/- liver. The FTF-lacZ mouse establishes a central role for FTF in developmental, nutritive, and metabolic functions from early embryogenesis through adulthood.
Depicting fire and other gaseous phenomena using diffusion processes

Developing a visually convincing model of fire, smoke, and other gaseous phenomenais among the most difficult and attractive problems in computer graphics. We have created new methods of animating a wide range of gaseous phenomena, including the particularly subtle problem of modelling “wispy” smoke and steam, using far fewer primitives than before. One significant innovation is the reformulation and solution of the advection-diffusion equation for densities composed of “warped blobs”. These blobs more accurately model the distortions that gases undergo when advected by wind fields. We also introduce a simple model for the flame of a fire and its spread. Lastly, we present an efficient formulation and implementation of global illumination in the presence of gases and fire. Our models are specifically designed to permit a significant degree of user control over the evolution of gaseous phenomena.
A New and Efficient Method for the Synthesis of Novel 3-Acetyl Coumarins Oxadiazoles Derivatives with Expected Biological Activity

This paper presents the design of some novel 3-acetylcoumarin derivatives, based on minimal inhibitory concentration values (MICs) previously obtained against some microorganism cultures, Gram positive and negative bacteria and fungi. Some of these molecules exhibited antibacterial activity against S. aureus, comparable to that of the standard used (impinem). The in vitro antioxidant activities of the novel 3-acetylcoumarin oxadiazoles were assayed by the quantitative 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity method. The compounds 5c,d proved to be the most active, showing the highest capacity to deplete the DPPH radicals. Structure elucidation of the products has been accomplished on the basis of IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, NOESY and HMBC NMR data.
CUES: Cognitive Usability Evaluation System

A Cognitive Usability Evaluation System, CUES, was constructed to allow the simple integration of cognitive data from a commercialized EEG brain scanner, with other common usability measures, such as interaction logs, screen capture, and think aloud. CUES was iteratively evaluated with a small number of participants to understand whether and how the visualisation of EEG data alongside other measures, provided value for usability evaluation. Results indicate that although there are a lot of objective measurements available from the brain scanner, the largest value came from qualitatively identifying EEG patterns, and correlating them with think aloud data. Recommendations for using CUES and for future developments are both provided.
The empirical relationship between success factors and dimensions: The perspectives of World Bank project supervisors and managers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on a PhD thesis that examined the empirical relationship between a specific set of critical success factors (CSFs), project success, and success dimensions (criteria) from the perspectives of World Bank project supervisors (task managers or task team leaders) and project managers (the national project coordinators). Also, the PhD thesis author's journey and motivation are explained.Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected by web questionnaires addressed to 1,421 World Bank task team leaders and paper‐based questionnaires delivered to 600 national project coordinators in 26 different countries in Africa. Principal component and confirmatory factor analyses, multiple correlation and regression analyses, as well as structural equation models were used for data analysis in this study.Findings – First, research findings highlight a specific set of World Bank project CSFs (monitoring, coordination, design, training) and the existence of a second‐order la.
Use of Emotional Labor in Day-to-Day Interactions with Managers and Colleagues

The emotional work has begun to be increasingly studied given some important organizational and personal outcomes such as lower job satisfaction, burnout or emotional exhaustion. In the literature, the construct is connected mainly with client interaction and rarely with leadership or group collaboration. This paper aims to fill this gap by studying the degree to which emotional work is done toward managers and colleagues. The conclusions are based on a survey conducted among employees from different enterprises regarding their experience with managing emotions in the workplace. First, they weighed the extent to which they used emotional work in relation to managers and colleagues, rating some items from the Emotional Labor Scale (ELS) developed by Brotheridge and Lee (2003). The statements were adapted to describe the regulatory processes of surface and deep acting employed by workers in front of their manager and colleagues. The respondents also evaluated themselves on some characteristics such as optimism, self-esteem, charisma, spontaneity, energy, enthusiasm, extraversion. The results of the survey suggest that Romanian employees don? t rely too much on surface and deep acting. In general, they show their true emotions to managers and colleagues. The degree to which the employees use the emotional work in relation to managers and colleagues proved to be correlated with some personal characteristics such as optimism, enthusiasm, trustworthiness, self-esteem, spontaneity and age. The manifestation of true emotions in front of colleagues is positively associated with extraversion and negatively associated with age.
A Transition in Brain State during Propofol-Induced Unconsciousness

Rhythmic oscillations shape cortical dynamics during active behavior, sleep, and general anesthesia. Cross-frequency phase-amplitude coupling is a prominent feature of cortical oscillations, but its role in organizing conscious and unconscious brain states is poorly understood. Using high-density EEG and intracranial electrocorticography during gradual induction of propofol general anesthesia in humans, we discovered a rapid drug-induced transition between distinct states with opposite phase-amplitude coupling and different cortical source distributions. One state occurs during unconsciousness and may be similar to sleep slow oscillations. A second state occurs at the loss or recovery of consciousness and resembles an enhanced slow cortical potential. These results provide objective electrophysiological landmarks of distinct unconscious brain states, and could be used to help improve EEG-based monitoring for general anesthesia.
The impact of territory of origin on product authenticity perceptions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the importance of territory of origin (TOO) associations for consumers’ perception of product authenticity and empirically tests the chain of effects, from TOO associations to perceived authenticity, and to consumers’ self-brand connections. Design/methodology/approach – An experimental method and a partial least square approach were adopted. Hypotheses were tested on data collected across 665 Chinese consumers. Findings – Results demonstrate that TOO exerts a positive impact on perceived product authenticity, which in turn leads to stronger consumers’ self-brand connections. In addition, compared with country of origin (COO) information, TOO has a unique positive impact on perceived authenticity and a direct positive effect on consumers’ self-brand connections. Also, the positive impact of TOO on perceived authenticity is enhanced through consumers’ familiarity with the TOO and through congruence between the product category and the TOO. Research limi.
Distributed multi-agent diagnosis and recovery from sensor failures

This paper presents work extending previous research in sensor fault tolerance, classification, and recovery from a single robot to a heterogeneous team of distributed robots. This approach allows teams of robots to share knowledge about the working environment, sensor and task state, to diagnose failures and also communicate to redistribute tasks in the event that a robot becomes inoperable. Our work presents several novel extensions to prior art: distributed fault handling and task management in a dynamic, distributed Java framework. This research was implemented and demonstrated on robots in a lab environment performing a simplified search operation.
A Distributed Dynamic Adaptation Model for Component-Based Applications

Adaptive software includes the necessary mechanisms to modify its behavior in order to optimize resources utilization or for software evolution issues. Dynamic adaptation is specially important on environments which resources vary over time, and which applications manage requests from users with different preferences (e.g. language). Building such adaptive software requires applications designers to include the necessary adaptation mechanisms. Moreover, when dealing with distributed applications, designers may want to distribute the adaptation mechanisms themselves. In this paper, we propose a model for dynamic adaptation that clearly separates adaptation from business logic and that can be customized by applications designers in order to satisfy adaptation needs. The model is based on a set of mandatory functionalities that manage basic adaptation operations and an optional functionality that can be used to manage adaptation mechanisms distribution. We have used our adaptation model to build an adaptive data consistency service of an ambient assistive living application.
Personality Factors and Operant Heart Rate Conditioning

The present study was concerned with certain individual differences that relate to a subject's ability to increase his heart rate on command when given appropriate external feedback. The main purpose was to extend to the operant conditioning paradigm Eysenck's theory that introverts classically condition more readily than extraverts. A second purpose was to determine which personality factors extraversion, anxiety, and ability to perceive autonomic responses contribute to heart rate control in operant conditioning. The Eysenck Personality Inventory and the Autonomic Perception Questionnaire were administered to 46 undergraduate males who attempted to accelerate their heart rates, with visual proportional feedback provided, during 20, 30-sec trials. Results indicated that heart rate acceleration did not correlate with any of the variables examined. The findings are discussed in light of previous related studies and suggestions for future research are provided.
Theorizing in information systems research: A reflexive analysis of the adaptation of theory in information systems research

In this paper we consider what it means to be an informed IS researcher by focusing attention on theory adaptation in IS research. The basic question we seek to address is: “When one borrows theory from another discipline, what are the issues that one must consider? ” After examining the role of theory in IS research, we focus on escalation theory applied to IS projects as an example. In doing so, we seek to generate increased awareness of the issues that one might consider when adapting theories from other domains to research in our field. This increased awareness may then translate to a more informed use of theories in IS. Following a self-reflexive tale of how and why escalation theory was adopted to IS research, we offer four recommendations for theory adaptation: (1) consider the fit between selected theory and phenomenon of interest, (2) consider the theory’s historical context, (3) consider how the theory impacts the choice of research method, and (4) consider the contribution of theorizing to cumulative theory.
Supporting ranking pattern-based aggregate queries in sequence data cubes

Sequence data processing has been studied extensively in the literature. In recent years, the warehousing and online-analytical processing (OLAP) of archived sequence data have received growing attentions. In particular, the concept of sequence OLAP is recently proposed with the objective of evaluating various kinds of so-called Pattern-Based Aggregate (PBA) queries so that various kinds of data analytical tasks on sequence data can be carried out efficiently. This paper studies the evaluation of ranking PBA queries, which rank the results of PBA queries and return only the top-ranked ones to users. We discuss how ranking PBA queries drastically improve the usability of S-OLAP systems and present techniques that can evaluate various kinds of ranking PBA queries efficiently.
Estrogen affects levels of Bcl‐2 protein and mRNA in medial amygdala of ovariectomized rats

The survival factor Bcl‐2 is a cyclic AMP response element‐binding protein (CREB) gene product implicated in mediating some of estrogen's effects on neuroprotection. Previously, we showed an effect of estradiol benzoate (E) on numbers of neuron‐specific protein (NeuN)‐ and phosphorylated CREB (pCREB)‐positive cells in medial (MeA), but not central (CeA), amygdala of ovariectomized rats. To determine whether these effects are accompanied by an E‐induced increase in Bcl‐2, we examined the effects of E on levels of Bcl‐2 protein and mRNA in MeA and CeA of ovariectomized rats treated with E regimens resulting in moderate (2.5 μg E for 4 or 14 days) or high (10 μg E for 14 days) plasma estradiol levels. As a physiological control, we showed that all E treatments increased uterine wet weight relative to vehicle; 10 μg E for 14 days also increased uterine weight compared with that seen with lower E levels. Western blot analysis revealed that all E groups displayed an increase in uterine Bcl‐2 protein levels compared with vehicle. We found that 2.5 μg and 10 μg E for 14 days increased levels of Bcl‐2 gold immunolabeling compared with vehicle and 2.5 μg E for 4 days in MeA, but not CeA. We measured Bcl‐2 mRNA levels in vehicle and 2.5 μg E‐treated 14‐day groups. There was a significant increase in Bcl‐2 mRNA levels in MeA, but not CeA, of E‐treated ovariectomized rats compared with vehicle controls. The E‐induced increase in protein and mRNA levels of Bcl‐2 in MeA may be important for neuroprotection in this region. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
PSO Based State Feedback Controller Design for SVC to Enhance the Stability of Power System

SVC is one of the most significant devices in FACTS technology, which is used in parallel compensation, enhancing the transient stability, limiting the low frequency oscillations and, etc. designing a proper controller is effective in operation of SVC. In this paper, a simplified analysis of the effect of a SVC on the stability of a Single Machine Infinite Bus (SMIB) system is presented. The SVC which is located at the terminal of the generator has the state feedback controller in which the coefficients of state feedback are optimized by the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm in order to damp the Low Frequency Oscillations (LFO). The equations that describe the proposed system have been linearized, and then the optimum state feedback controller has been designed for SVC which its optimal coefficients have been earned by PSO algorithm. The system with proposed controller has been simulated for a special disturbance in nominal loading condition. Thereafter, for three states viz light loading condition, normal loading condition and heavy loading condition, to show the robustness of the proposed controller, the previous disturbance has been applied again. Then the dynamic responses of the generator have been presented. The simulation results showed that the system composed with proposed controller has a suitable operation in fast damping of oscillations of the power system. to ensure stability and tracking. Simulations is carried out to verify the theoretical results.
COGNITIVE REMEDIATION IN PATIENTS WITH MOOD DISORDERS: BEHAVIOURAL AND NEURAL CORRELATES

(Clinical Neuroscience) TITLE: Cognitive remediation in patients with mood disorders: behavioural and neural correlates AUTHOR: ABSTRACT This thesis presents research documenting the effectiveness of computer-assisted cognitive remediation for patients with mood disorders. The first chapter provides an overview of cognitive impairment in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD), and a concise review of cognitive remediation in patients with schizophrenia, where the efficacy of these interventions has been reasonably well studied. The results of an analysis comparing neuropsychological test performance in patients with BD, MDD, and healthy controls is presented in Chapter 2, where we show a similar degree of deficit in both patient groups on processing speed, working memory, and mental flexibility tasks, and a greater degree of deficit in patients with BD on delayed recall and verbal fluency tasks. In Chapter 3 we present the results of our primary analysis examining the effectiveness of CACR for patients with BD and MDD; we show significant improvement on neuropsychological tests of working memory and delayed memory following remediation, and positive associations between improvement in neuropsychological test performance, and improvement in subjectively-rated cognitive and psychosocial functioning. Finally, in Chapter 4 we present functional neuroimaging evidence that shows increased activation following cognitive remediation in frontal control regions supporting working memory and in the right hippocampus supporting recollection memory. Although iv behavioural performance on the corresponding tasks was stable, the observation of increased activation in frontal and medial temporal brain regions following remediation is in line with our finding of improvement on neuropsychological tests of working memory and delayed recall post-training. Taken together, the results presented in this thesis provide convergent behavioural and neural evidence to demonstrate the efficacy of computer-assisted cognitive remediation for patients with mood disorders. These novel findings contribute to a growing body of literature that shows cognitive remediation to be an effective cognitive management strategy across a range of psychiatric and neurological disorders. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Capturing the Molecular and Biological Diversity of High-Grade Astrocytoma in Genetically Engineered Mouse Models

High-grade astrocytoma remains a significant challenge to the clinician and researcher alike. Intense study of the molecular pathogenesis of these tumors has allowed identification of frequent genetic alterations and critical core pathways in this disease. The use of novel mouse genetic tools to study the consequence of specific mutations in brain has led to the development of multiple representative genetically engineered mouse models that provided novel insights into gliomagenesis. As we learn more about the biology of high-grade astrocytoma from the study of these models, we anticipate that our improved understanding will eventually lead to greater success in clinical trials and improved outcome for patients.
Familial Clustering of Autoimmune Disorders and Evaluation of Medical Risk Factors in Autism

Autism is an age-dependent neurologic disorder that is often associated with autoimmune disorders in the patients' relatives. To evaluate the frequency of autoimmune disorders, as well as various prenatal and postnatal events in autism, we surveyed the families of 61 autistic patients and 46 healthy controls using questionnaires. The mean number of autoimmune disorders was greater in families with autism; 46% had two or more members with autoimmune disorders. As the number of family members with autoimmune disorders increased from one to three, the risk of autism was greater, with an odds ratio that increased from 1.9 to 5.5, respectively. In mothers and first-degree relatives of autistic children, there were more autoimmune disorders (16% and 21%) as compared to controls (2% and 4%), with odds ratios of 8.8 and 6.0, respectively. The most common autoimmune disorders in both groups were type 1 diabetes, adult rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Forty-six percent of the autism group reported having relatives with rheumatoid diseases, as compared to 26% of the controls. Prenatal maternal urinary tract, upper respiratory, and vaginal infections; asphyxia; prematurity, and seizures were more common in the autistic group, although the differences were not significant. Thirty-nine percent of the controls, but only 11% of the autistic group, reported allergies. An increased number of autoimmune disorders suggests that in some families with autism, immune dysfunction could interact with various environmental factors to play a role in autism pathogenesis. (J Child Neurol 1999;14:388-394).
‘You've got to trust her and she's got to trust you’: children's views on participation in the child protection system

Participation by children in child protection remains a complex area of practice. This paper presents findings from a qualitative study exploring the views of 26 children, aged 6–17 years, about their participation in the child protection system in England. All of the children were subject to a child protection plan and were living at home at the time of interview. The children's understanding of the child protection process was categorized, and the majority of children, including the youngest, were found be at least partially aware of the child protection process, often struggling to make sense of the professional intervention in their families on the basis of partial information. It is argued that decisions about children's involvement should take into account not only children's age and understanding, but be seen in the context of wider family dynamics. Participation in formal processes such as child protection conferences was experienced as difficult and emotive. The child's relationship with their social worker was central to meaningful participation.