Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mediated Contact: Reflections on a Piece of after-Adoption Intermediary Practice

Although professional intermediary work to facilitate contact between people separated by adoption is a common aspect of after-adoption work, relatively little light has been cast on the nuances of this sensitive area of practice. Hitherto a service mainly used by adopted people seeking contact with their birth relatives, it is anticipated that there will be growing numbers of people seeking the help of intermediaries as a result of the Adoption and Children Act (2002) which, from January 2006, has extended official tracing and contact services to birth relatives. This article by Gary Clapton combines a practice account of intermediary work with a critical review of the literature on the use of intermediaries. It seeks to bring together what has been publicly written about best practice and identify questions in need of further discussion.
A Fast Fuzzy Set Intrusion Detection Model

Applying the basic fuzzy theory and method into intrusion detection has achieved a series success. In this paper, an intrusion detection model base on fuzzy sets is presented to avoid the sharp boundary problem in rules mining. Considering Apriori algorithm is time-consuming as well as space-consuming; moreover, we propose a new rule mining algorithm base prefix tree (PTBA). PTBA algorithm compress the fuzzy pattern candidate set and frequent set through constructing a tree structure, thus it can save the memory cost of fuzzy pattern candidate and frequent set. Experiments prove that capability and efficiency of IDS model is obviously improved.
CQI Reporting Strategy for Multi-SIM UEs

User Equipments (UEs) which support simultaneous activity from Multiple Active Subscriber Identities (Multi-SIM) has gained popularity within the last years. Such UEs are forced to discard data on one of the SIMs when both try to access the Radio Frequency (RF) interface simultaneously, creating gaps in the data transfer. The discarded data due to Multi-SIM gaps, along with channel errors, significantly increase the probability of high latency data subframes. High latency increases the probability of data subframes being discarded. In this paper we present an algorithm with which it is possible to decrease the probability of discarded data subframes due to high latency. The algorithm takes advantage of the fact that the connections of each SIMs are unaligned and therefore gaps will only cover some timeslots partially. In such a case, it is possible to recover data using existing error correction coding, if the amount of corrupted bits corresponds to the error correction capability of the code. We investigate the performance of the algorithm using a link level simulator in respect to KPIs; overall throughput, decrease in subframe loss probability, and block error rate. The algorithm is tested in three different radio conditions as they comprise different restrictions to the algorithm. We show how the algorithm significantly decreases the subframe loss probability due to Multi-SIM, without significant impact on the overall throughput.
Maximum Power Point Tracking Employing Sliding Mode Control

A fast and unconditionally stable maximum power point tracking scheme with high tracking efficiency is proposed for photovoltaic generators. The fast dynamics and all range stability are attained by a sliding mode control and the high tracking efficiency by a maximum power point algorithm with fine step. In response to a sudden change in radiation, our experiments show a typical convergence time of 15 ms. This is the fastest convergence time reported to date. In addition we demonstrate stable convergence all across the photovoltaic curve, from short-circuit to open-circuit. The theory is validated experimentally.
Hardware implementation of boosting based object detection using a high level description

The face detection is a fundamental prerequisite step in the process of face recognition. The focus of this paper is the implementation of a real time embedded face detection system while relying on high level description language such as SystemC. Recently, the boosting based object detection algorithms proposed by have gained a lot of attention and are considered as the fastest accurate object detection algorithms today. However, the embedded implementation of such algorithms into hardware is still a challenge, since these algorithms are heavily based on memory access. We built a parallel implementation that exploits the parallelism and the pipelining in these algorithms. We show that, using a SystemC description model paired with a mainstream automatic synthesis tool, can lead to an efficient hardware implementation. We also display some of the tradeoffs and considerations, for this implementation to be effective. This implementation proves capable of increasing the speed of the detector as well as bringing regularity in time consuming. The design implementation is reasonably low on FPGA resource utilization.
Cleavage of Nidogen-1 by Cathepsin S Impairs Its Binding to Basement Membrane Partners

Cathepsin S (catS), which is expressed in normal human keratinocytes and localized close to the dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ) degrades some of major basement membrane (BM) constituents. Among them, catS readily hydrolyzed in a time and dose dependent manner human nidogen-1 (nid-1) and nidogen-2, which are key proteins in the BM structure. CatS preferentially cleaved nid-1 at both acid and neutral pH. Hydrolysis of nid-1 was hampered in murine ctss −/− spleen lysates pretreated with inhibitors of other classes of proteases. Nid-1 was cleaved within its G2 and G3 globular domains that are both involved in interactions with other BM components. Binding assays with soluble and immobilized ligands indicated that catS altered the formation of complexes between nid-1 and other BM components. Assuming that the cleavage of nid-1 impairs its ability to crosslink with BM partners and perturbs the viscoelastic properties of BM matrix, these data indicate that catS may participate in BM proteolysis, in addition to already identified proteases.
Comparative proteome analysis of metabolic proteins from seeds of durum wheat (cv. Svevo) subjected to heat stress

In Central and Southern Italy, where durum wheat represents one of the most widely cultivated crops, grain filling occurs during Spring, a period characterized by sudden increases in temperature. Wheat grain proteins are classified into albumins, globulins, and prolamins. The nonprolamin fractions include proteins with metabolic activity or structural function. In order to investigate the consequences of heat stress on the accumulation of nonprolamin proteins in mature durum wheat kernels, the Italian cultivar Svevo was subjected to two thermal regimes (heat stress versus control). The 2‐D patterns of nonprolamin proteins were monitored to identify polypeptides affected by heat stress during grain fill. This study shows that heat stress alters significantly the durum wheat seed proteome, although the changes range is only between 1.2‐ and 2.2‐fold. This analysis revealed 132 differentially expressed polypeptides, 47 of which were identified by MALDI‐TOF and MALDI‐TOF‐TOF MS and included HSPs, proteins involved in the glycolysis and carbohydrate metabolism, as well as stress‐related proteins. Many of the heat‐induced polypeptides are considered to be allergenic for sensitive individuals.
Constraint handing and stability properties of model‐predictive control

Effects of hard constraints in the stability of model-predictive control (MPC) are reviewed. Assuming a fixed active set, the optimal solution can be expressed in a general state-feedback closed form, which corresponds to a piecewise linear controller for the linear model case. Changes in the original unconstrained solution by the active constraints and other effects related to the loss of degrees of freedom are depicted in this analysis. In addition to modifications in the unconstrained feedback gain, we show that the presence of active output constraints can introduce extra feedback terms in the predictive controller. This can lead to instability of the constrained closed-loop system with certain active sets, independent of the choice of tuning parameters. To cope with these problems and extent the constraint handling capabilities of MPC, we introduce the consideration of soft constraints. We compare the use of the l 2 -(quadratic), l 1 -(exact), and l∞-norm penalty formulations. The analysis reveals a strong similarity between the control laws, which allows a direct extrapolation of the unconstrained tuning guidelines to the constrained case. In particular, the exact penalty treatment has identical stability characteristics to the correspondent unconstrained case and therefore seems well suited for general soft constraint handling, even with nonlinear models. These extensions are included in the previously developed Newton control framework, allowing the use of the approach within a consistent framework for both linear and nonlinear process models, increasing the scope of applications of the method. Process examples illustrate the capabilities of the proposed approaches
QoS-based device-to-device communication schemes in heterogeneous wireless networks

This study considers spectrum sharing problems in the heterogeneous wireless networks where different device-to-device (D2D) users coexist with the cellular users. The authors propose a novel scheme, called ‘spectrum partition-based D2D transmission’ (SPDT), to improve spectrum efficiency of the D2D and cellular networks. In SPDT, the D2D users assist the cellular transmissions to gain some spectrum released from the cellular system. Then, the obtained spectrum is divided into several frequency bands and each band is assigned to a different D2D pair for its data transmission. Under the quality-of-service (QoS) constraints of both the D2D and cellular users, the authors exploit the tradeoff in the power allocation of the D2D transmitters and show that the number of the allowed accessing D2D pairs can be maximised by optimising the D2D transmitters power for SPDT. For comparison the power optimisation problem is also investigated with the objective of maximising the number of allowed users accessing D2D pairs in the power control scheme, called ‘underlay D2D transmission’ (UDT). This is where the D2D users access the spectrum being used by the cellular users with power control while ensuring that the QoS of the cellular transmissions is satisfied. Finally, the simulation results show evident performance gains of the proposed SPDT scheme over the UDT scheme.
Sex Differences in Memory for Faces

Summary The present study replicates McKelvie's finding that a sex interaction, representing an own-sex effect for females, occurs on facial recognition when Canadian Ss view Canadian faces (Experiment 5), but not British faces (Experiments 1 and 2). In addition, it was shown (Experiments 4 and 5) that the interaction was also absent when Ss were exposed to other faces which did not belong to their peers (photographs of Canadian children, line drawings of adults and children). Finally (Experiment 3), the British faces were rated as less attractive than their Canadian counterparts as a result of the lower ratings assigned to the females. Alternative explanations for these results are considered, and it is argued that the sex-linked interaction emerges when females pay extra attention to female faces and that this is likely when the faces are familiar and relatively attractive.
Sediment dynamics below retreating cliffs

The retreat of cliffs may constitute the dominant erosional response to base‐level fall in arid settings underlain by horizontally‐bedded sedimentary rock. These vertical cliffs typically loom above a relatively straight bedrock slope (‘plinth’) that is mantled with a thin layer of sediment and perched near the angle of repose. In detail, a plinth consists of a system of quasi‐parallel ridges and channels. We ask how the sediment supplied from a retreating cliff influences the erosion of the plinth hillslopes and channels, and how this affects the rate of cliff retreat. Motivated by field observations and high‐resolution topographic data from two sites in western Colorado, we develop a two‐dimensional (2D), rules‐based numerical model to simulate the erosion of channels draining a plinth and diffusive erosion of the intervening interfluves. In this model, retreat of a cliffband occurs when the height of the vertical cliff exceeds a threshold due to incision by channels on the plinth below. Debris derived from cliff retreat is distributed over the model plinth according to the local topography and distance from the source. This debris then weathers in place, and importantly can act to reduce local bedrock erosion rates, protecting both the plinth and ultimately the cliff from erosion. In this paper, we focus on two sets of numerical model experiments. In one suite, we regulate the rate of rockfall to limit the cliff retreat rate; in most cases, this results in complete loss of the plinth by erosion. In a second suite, we do not impose a limit on the cliff retreat rate, but instead vary the weathering rate of the rockfall debris. These runs result in temporally steady cliff‐plinth forms and retreat rates; both depend on the weathering rate of the debris. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
NEURO-FUZZY SYSTEMS: Learning Models

The goal of this research is the analysis of learning models by using of arithmetic operations applied in a neuro-fuzzy system (NFS). The research integrates the concepts between artificial neural network (ANN) and the fuzzy sets theory (FST). In order to assess the validity of the proposal, an FNS is proposed to diagnose paroxysmal events involving epileptic events (EE) and non-epileptic events(NEE). This article describes the learning models showing some results obtained through the use of min/max arithmetic operation by using the NEFCLASS model (neuro fuzzy classification) with the result of Einstein's product and sum arithmetic operations through the use of a backpropagation neural network (BPNN). After the simulations had been performed, one has verified that through the use of different arithmetic operations in the fuzzy rules base, the end results may be different, resulting in a bigger or smaller rate of hits of the NFS
Clock accuracy and precision evolve as a consequence of selection for adult emergence in a narrow window of time in fruit flies Drosophila melanogaster

SUMMARY Although circadian clocks are believed to have evolved under the action of periodic selection pressures (selection on phasing) present in the geophysical environment, there is very little rigorous and systematic empirical evidence to support this. In the present study, we examined the effect of selection for adult emergence in a narrow window of time on the circadian rhythms of fruit flies Drosophila melanogaster. Selection was imposed in every generation by choosing flies that emerged during a 1 h window of time close to the emergence peak of baseline/control flies under 12 h:12 h light:dark cycles. To study the effect of selection on circadian clocks we estimated several quantifiable features that reflect inter- and intra-individual variance in adult emergence and locomotor activity rhythms. The results showed that with increasing generations, incidence of adult emergence and activity of adult flies during the 1 h selection window increased gradually in the selected populations. Flies from the selected populations were more homogenous in their clock period, were more coherent in their phase of entrainment, and displayed enhanced accuracy and precision in their emergence and activity rhythms compared with controls. These results thus suggest that circadian clocks in D. melanogaster evolve enhanced accuracy and precision when subjected to selection for emergence in a narrow window of time.
Porcupine-mediated lipid-modification regulates the activity and distribution of Wnt proteins in the chick neural tube

A long-term goal of developmental biology is to understand how morphogens establish gradients that promote proper tissue patterning. A number of reports describe the formation of the Wg (Wnt1) gradient in Drosophila and have shown that Porcupine, a predicted membrane-bound O-acyl transferase, is required for the correct distribution of Wg protein. The discovery that Wnts are palmitoylated on a conserved cysteine residue suggests that porcupine activity and Wnt palmitoylation are important for the generation of Wnt gradients. To establish the role of porcupine in Wnt gradient formation in vertebrates, we tested the role of porcupine/Wnt palmitoylation in human embryonic kidney 293T cells and in the chick neural tube. Our results lead us to conclude that: (1) vertebrate Wnt1 and Wnt3a possess at least one additional site for porcupine-mediated lipid-modification; (2) porcupine-mediated lipid-modification of Wnt proteins promotes their activity in 293T cells and in the chick neural tube; and (3) porcupine-mediated lipid-modification reduces the range of activity of Wnt1 and Wnt3a in the chick neural tube. These findings highlight the importance of porcupine-mediated lipid modifications in the formation of vertebrate Wnt activity gradients.
Improving Urban Change Detection From Multitemporal SAR Images Using PCA-NLM

Multitemporal synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images have been increasingly used in change detection studies. However, the presence of speckle is the main disadvantage of this type of data. To reduce speckle, many local adaptive filters have been developed. Although these filters are effective in reducing speckle in homogeneous areas, their use is often accompanied with the degradation of spatial details and fine structures. In this paper, we investigate a nonlocal means (NLM) denoising algorithm that combines local structures with a global averaging scheme in the context of change detection using multitemporal SAR images. First, the ratio image is logarithmically scaled to convert the multiplicative noise model to an additive model. A multidimensional change image is then constructed using image neighborhood feature vectors. Principle component analysis is then used to reduce the dimensionality of the neighborhood feature vectors. Recursive linear regression combined with fitting-accuracy assessment strategy is developed to determine the number of significant PC components to be retained for similarity weight computation. An intuitive method to estimate the unknown noise variance (necessary to run the NLM algorithm) based on the discarded PC components is also proposed. The efficiency of the method has been assessed using two different bitemporal SAR datasets acquired in Beijing and Shanghai, respectively. For comparison purposes, the algorithm is also tested against some of the most commonly used local adaptive filters. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the algorithm have demonstrated the efficiency of the algorithm in recovering the noise-free change image while preserving the complex structures in urban areas.
Connecting an Institutional Repository with a Researcher Database

This paper introduces a synergy of a researcher database and an institutional repository. We consider a problem to create hyperlinks from metadata of scholarly works in the researcher database to digital contents in the institutional repository. Normally, matching the metadata of the databases in the backend would facilitate creation of these hyperlinks. However our proposal does not require the backend matching of metadata.
Humor and ad liking: Evidence that sensation seeking moderates the effects of incongruity‐resolution humor

It is widely reported that humorous ads are better liked and therefore more effective than are non-humorous ones. This study examines whether the liking advantage associated with ads containing incongruity-resolution humor depends on sensation seeking. Higher sensation seekers are assumed to enjoy arousal induction because they are lower in base arousal level. From this it can be predicted that ads containing incongruity-resolution humor will not be liked better by such people than will equivalently arousing non-humorous ads. However, the higher base arousal assumed to characterize lower sensation seekers is claimed to be associated with a preference for reduction of induced arousal. Incongruity-resolution humor provides a mechanism for reduction of the arousal occasioned by the incongruity. As a result, it is expected that lower sensation seekers will like ads containing such humor more than non-humorous ads matched in arousal to the humorous ones. The results support those suggestions. The relevance of the findings for advertising is discussed, and requirements for further research are indicated. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Religion, demography, and politics in Lebanon

For three-quarters of a century Lebanon has remained a unique illustration of the intimate connection between religion, demography, and politics. Religious divisions prevail in Lebanese society,1 with 18 officially recognized sects, most of which belong to one of two large clusters: Muslims and Christians. Sects play a vital function in Lebanese society mainly because they are the 'primary social organization through which political security has been maintained'. 2 This political security is manifested in a balancing process at various levels, notably the sectarian,3 and particularly among the three major sects: Maronite Christians, Sunni Muslims, and Shiite Muslims. The Maronites are the largest of the Christian groups. For generations, they have been associated with the Roman Catholic Church although they have their own customs and head of church or patriarch. Sunni Muslims represent the mainstream Muslim group in the world. They comprise the majority of the population in Muslim and Arab countries with the exception of Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and Bahrain. Shiite Muslims predominate numerically in Iraq, Iran, and Bahrain and comprise a substantial minority in Lebanon. Under the French Mandate, Lebanon witnessed its one and only population census in 1932. The French found that of the six major religious groupings or sects in Lebanon, the Christian Maronites were the largest, followed by the Sunni Muslims then the Shiite Muslims. According to that census, Maronites comprised 28.8 per cent of the population, Sunnis 22.4 per cent and Shiites 19.6 per cent.4 When Lebanon gained its political independence from the French in 1943, official estimates of the size of religious groups indicated some increase in the percentage of Maronites since the 1932 census (from 28.8 per cent to 30.4 per cent) and some decrease in the percentages of Sunnis (from 22.4 per cent to 21 .3 per cent) and Shiites (from 19.6 per cent to 19.3 per cent). 5 Census findings comprised the statistical basis for the confessional political system that distributed public positions among the major religious sects in accordance with their numerical sizes. Maronites, the largest sect, were allocated the highest and most powerful position of President of the Republic. Sunnis, the second largest sect, were offered the premiership, which was the second most important political position. Third in demographic size were the Shiites who were allocated the position of Speaker of Parliament (General Assembly). In the Parliament, seats were allocated to Christians and Muslims in the ratio of six Christians to every five Muslims. Government positions were also distributed according to the 6:5 ratio.