Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nanoporous PbSe–SiO2 Thermoelectric Composites

Nanoporous architecture has long been predicted theoretically for its proficiency in suppressing thermal conduction, but less concerned as a practical approach for better thermoelectric materials hitherto probably due to its technical challenges. This article demonstrates a study on nanoporous PbSe–SiO2 composites fabricated by a facile method of mechanical alloying assisted by subsequent wet‐milling and then spark plasma sintering. Owing to the formation of random nanopores and additional interface scattering, the lattice thermal conductivity is limited to a value as low as 0.56 W m−1 K−1 at above 600 K, almost the same low level achieved by introducing nanoscale precipitates. Besides, the room‐temperature electrical transport is found to be dominated by the grain‐boundary potential barrier scattering, whose effect fades away with increasing temperatures. Consequently, a maximum ZT of 1.15 at 823 K is achieved in the PbSe + 0.7 vol% SiO2 composition with >20% increase in average ZT, indicating the great potential of nanoporous structuring toward high thermoelectric conversion efficiency.
DynaMine: finding common error patterns by mining software revision histories

A great deal of attention has lately been given to addressing software bugs such as errors in operating system drivers or security bugs. However, there are many other lesser known errors specific to individual applications or APIs and these violations of application-specific coding rules are responsible for a multitude of errors. In this paper we propose DynaMine, a tool that analyzes source code check-ins to find highly correlated method calls as well as common bug fixes in order to automatically discover application-specific coding patterns. Potential patterns discovered through mining are passed to a dynamic analysis tool for validation; finally, the results of dynamic analysis are presented to the user.The combination of revision history mining and dynamic analysis techniques leveraged in DynaMine proves effective for both discovering new application-specific patterns and for finding errors when applied to very large applications with many man-years of development and debugging effort behind them. We have analyzed Eclipse and jEdit, two widely-used, mature, highly extensible applications consisting of more than 3,600,000 lines of code combined. By mining revision histories, we have discovered 56 previously unknown, highly application-specific patterns. Out of these, 21 were dynamically confirmed as very likely valid patterns and a total of 263 pattern violations were found.
Designing a Dynamic E-learning Project Performance Evaluation Framework

A proper e-learning environment is one of the most important knowledge management tools in today's organizations. However, many of them lack a universal evaluation process to verify their e-learning project's performance. In an attempt to solve this problem, this study bases on Kirkpatrick's model and combines the balanced scorecard and the option pricing approach to provide an easy to use, easy to understand and easy to analysis framework for e-learning project's performance evaluations.
Automated Testing EJB Components Based on Algebraic Specifications

Algebraic testing is an automated software testing method based on algebraic formal specifications. It has the advantages of highly automated testing process and independence of the software's implementation details. This paper applies the method to software components. An automated testing tool called CASCAT for Java components is presented. A case study of the tool shows the high fault detecting ability.
A recombinant minigene vaccine containing a nonameric cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte epitope confers limited protection against Listeria monocytogenes infection

We have previously shown that vaccines expressing virus-derived cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes as short minigenes can confer effective protection against virus challenges, and here we extend these studies to the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. Host defense against this important human pathogen appears largely T cell mediated, and a nonamer CTL epitope from the listeriolysin O (LLO) protein has been identified in BALB/c mice. We have synthesized this nonamer as a minigene, expressed it in a recombinant vaccinia virus (VV-list), and used this to immunize mice. Memory CTLs cultured from VV-list-immunized mice specifically lyse target cells pulsed with a nonamer peptide identified at LLO amino acid residues 91 to 99. Four weeks postimmunization, mice were challenged with L. monocytogenes. By day 6 following challenge with a sublethal dose of L. monocytogenes, mice immunized with VV-list showed a approximately 2,000- to 6,000-fold reduction in bacteria CFU in the spleen and liver. At this time point, with control mice, bacterial were readily detectable by Gram stain of the liver but were undetectable in the VV-list-immunized animals. Additionally, when a normally lethal dose of bacteria was given, death was delayed in VV-list-immunized animals. This study has demonstrated that a single immunization with a recombinant vaccinia virus bearing only nine amino acids from a bacterial pathogen can induce specific CTLs able to confer partial protection against bacterial challenge.
A model of OASIS role-based access control and its support for active security

OASIS is a role-based access control architecture for achieving secure interoperation of services in an open, distributed environment. The aim of OASIS is to allow autonomous management domains to specify their own access control policies and to interoperate subject to service level agreements (SLAs). Services define roles and implement formally specified policy to control role activation and service use; users must present the required credentials, in an appropriate context, in order to activate a role or invoke a service. All privileges are derived from roles, which are activated for the duration of a session only. In addition, a role is deactivated immediately if any of the conditions of the membership rule associated with its activation becomes false. These conditions can test the context, thus ensuring active monitoring of security.To support the management of privileges, OASIS introduces appointment. Users in certain roles are authorized to issue other users with appointment certificates, which may be a prerequisite for activating one or more roles. The conditions for activating a role at a service may include appointment certificates as well as prerequisite roles and constraints on the context. An appointment certificate does not therefore convey privileges directly but can be used as a credential for role activation. The lifetime of appointment certificates is not restricted to the issuing session, so they can be used as long-lived credentials to represent academic and professional qualification, or membership of an organization.Role-based access control (RBAC), in associating privileges with roles, provides a means of expressing access control that is scalable to large numbers of principals. However, pure RBAC associates privileges only with roles, whereas applications often require more fine-grained access control. Parametrized roles extend the functionality to meet this need.We motivate our approach and formalise OASIS. We first present the overall architecture through a basic model, followed by an extended model that includes parametrization.
The P2Y2 Receptor Interacts with VE-Cadherin and VEGF Receptor-2 to Regulate Rac1 Activity in Endothelial Cells

Vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) mediates homophylic adhesion between endothelial cells and is an important regulator of angiogenesis, blood vessel permeability and leukocyte trafficking. Rac1, a member of the Rho family of GTPases, controls VE-cadherin adhesion by acting downstream of several growth factors, including angiopoietin-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Here we show that UTP-induced activation of the Gq protein-coupled P2Y2 nucleotide receptor (P2Y2R) in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) activated Rac1 and caused a transient complex to form between P2Y2R, VE-cadherin and VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2). Knockdown of VE-cadherin expression with siRNA did not affect UTP-induced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) but led to a loss of UTP-induced Rac1 activation and tyrosine phosphorylation of p120 catenin, a cytoplasmic protein known to interact with VE-cadherin. Activation of the P2Y2R by UTP also caused a prolonged interaction between p120 catenin and vav2 (a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rac) that correlated with the kinetics of UTP-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of p120 catenin and VE-cadherin. Inhibitors of VEGFR-2 (SU1498) or Src (PP2) significantly diminished UTP-induced Rac1 activation, tyrosine phosphorylation of p120 catenin and VE-cadherin, and association of the P2Y2R with VE-cadherin and p120 catenin with vav2. These findings suggest that the P2Y2R uses Src and VEGFR-2 to mediate association of the P2Y2R with VE-cadherin complexes in endothelial adherens junctions to activate Rac1.
Large-area depth recovery for RGB-D camera

In this paper, a large-area depth recovery method for RGB-D camera is proposed. Considering that pixels along edges between different regions usually share similar depth values, we first select reliable pixels along edges of large-area depth missing regions and project them into the world coordinate system. Then, by examining the distribution of these pixels, we apply a weighted least squares method to approximate the surface function. With the help of the surface function, missing depth values can be recovered correctly. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first recovery method focusing on large areas of missing depth information. Qualitative evaluation demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Trends in a Life Threatening Condition: Morbid Obesity in Dutch, Turkish and Moroccan Children in The Netherlands

Background Morbid obesity can be a life threatening condition. The aim of our study is to assess the trend in morbid obesity in The Netherlands among children of Dutch origin since 1980, and among children of Turkish and Moroccan origin since 1997. Methods and Findings Cross-sectional height and weight data of children of Dutch, Turkish and Moroccan origin aged 2–18 years were selected from three national Dutch Growth Studies performed in 1980, 1997 and 2009 (n = 54,814). Extended international (IOTF) cut-offs in childhood were used to define morbid obesity (obesity class II and III combined). The morbidity index for overweight was calculated as the prevalence of morbid obesity divided by the prevalence of overweight. Our study showed that the prevalence of morbid obesity in children of Dutch origin was 0.59% in boys and 0.53% in girls in 2009. Significant upward trends occurred since 1980 and 1997. The prevalence was three to four fold higher in Turkish children compared to Dutch children. The Turkish children also had an upward trend since 1997, but this was only statistically significant in boys. The prevalence of morbid obesity in Moroccan children was two to three fold higher than in Dutch children, but it remained almost stable between 1997 and 2009. The Dutch and Turkish children showed an upward trend in morbidity index for overweight since respectively 1980 and 1997, while the Moroccan children showed a downward trend since 1997. In 2009, children of low educated parents had the highest prevalence rates of morbid obesity; 1.06% in Dutch, 2.11% in Turkish and 1.41% in Moroccan children. Conclusions and Significance An upward trend of morbid obesity in Dutch and Turkish children in The Netherlands occurred. Monitoring and reducing the prevalence of childhood morbid obesity is of high importance for these children, health care and the community.
Formant tracking using hidden Markov models and vector quantization

This paper describes an approach to formant tracking based on hidden Markov models and vector quantization of LPC spectra. Two general classes of models are developed, differing in whether formants are tracked singly or jointly. The states of a single-formant model are scalar values corresponding to possible formant frequencies. The states of a multiformant model are frequency vectors defining possible formant configurations. Formant detection and estimation are performed simultaneously using the forward-backward algorithm. Model parameters are estimated from handmarked formant tracks. The models have been evaluated using portions of the Texas Instruments multidialect connected digits database. The most accurate configurations exhibited root-mean-square estimation errors of about 70, 95, and 140 HZ, for F 1 , F 2 , and F 3 , respectively.
Quasi-continuous high order sliding modes controllers applied to glucose-insulin regulatory system models

This paper analyzes two glucose-insulin models for diabetic patients: by Bergman and by Hovorka. Bergman¿s model is nonlinear, and has relative degree three. It offers a good approximation of the system, but omits several important physiological functions, and insulin features, that are included in Hovorka¿s Model. This is a nonlinear model with relative degree five. It includes most of physiological parameters of glucose system and insulin action. It has two glucose and insulin compartments. It describes in details the insulin action and the rate of appearance of subcutaneously injected insulin. An intestinal glucose absorption function is proposed to describe better the process of glucose production from ingested food. A renal excretion function is proposed in order to model kidneys filtration excretion. Hovorka¿s non-insulin-dependent function has been smoothed to avoid discontinuities in the system. For both models homogeneous quasi-continuous controllers of order three and five are used giving a good performance from a medical point of view.
Peer Environment Mediates Parental History and Individual Risk in the Etiology of Cannabis Use Disorder in Boys: A 10-Year Prospective Study

Previous research has shown that a trait termed neurobehavior disinhibition (ND) measured in childhood predicts substance use disorder by young adulthood. The present investigation extends these findings by determining the degree to which peer environment mediates the association between ND and development of cannabis use disorder (CUD). ND was measured in a sample of 216 boys 10–12 years of age. The peer environment was assessed at age 16. Current CUD was determined at age 22. Paternal and maternal SUD predicted son's ND which, in turn, predicted son's peer environment and, subsequently, son's cannabis use frequency and CUD. Peer environment mediated the association between ND and cannabis use and ND and CUD. Maternal and paternal SUD predicted the peer environment. Parental SUD, son's ND, and son's peer environment predicted CUD at age 22 with 84% accuracy.
Educating early childhood care and education providers to improve knowledge and attitudes about reporting child maltreatment: A randomized controlled trial

Early childhood care and education providers (CCPs) work with over 7 million young children. These children are vulnerable to physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and neglect. However, CCPs make less than 1% of all reports of suspected child abuse and neglect that are made to child protective services. CCPs are therefore an untapped resource in the public health response to child maltreatment. However, their knowledge and attitudes about duties to report child maltreatment are poorly understood. Moreover, no rigorous research has tested whether their knowledge and attitudes about reporting child maltreatment can be improved. These gaps in knowledge are important because knowledge of the duty and positive attitudes towards it produce more effective reporting, and little evidence exists about how to enhance cognitive and affective attributes. Using the CONSORT approach, we report a single-blind test-retest randomized controlled trial evaluating iLook Out for Child Abuse, a customized online educational intervention for CCPs to increase knowledge and attitudes towards the reporting duty. 762 participants were randomized with results analyzed for 741 participants (372 in the intervention group; 369 in the control). Knowledge of the reporting duty increased in the intervention group from 13.54 to 16.19 out of 21 (2.65 increase, 95% CI: (2.37, 2.93); large effect size 0.95, p < 0.001); the control group remained stable, moving from 13.54 to 13.59 (0.05 increase, 95% CI: (-0.12, 0.22); negligible effect size 0.03, p = 0.684). Attitudes were enhanced on all 13 items for the intervention group, remaining stable in the control, with significant differences between groups on all items (p < 0.05). Gains were largely sustained at four month follow-up. Findings support education for CCPs and other professions. Future research should also explore effects of education on reporting behavior. Trial registration: US National Institutes of Health NCT02225301
Finding an improved amorphous-silicon x-ray flat-panel detector configuration for the in-line geometry

We have previously investigated the use of a conventional amorphous-silicon flat-panel detector (FPD) for intrafractional image guidance in the in-line geometry. In this configuration, the FPD is mounted between the patient and the treatment head, with the front of the FPD facing towards the patient. By geometrically separating signals from the diagnostic (kV) and treatment (MV) beams, it is possible to monitor the patient and treatment beam at the same time. In this study, we propose an FPD design based on existing technology with a 70% reduced up-stream areal density that is more suited to this new application. We have investigated our FPD model by means of a validated Monte Carlo simulation. Experimentally, simple rectangular fields were used to irradiate through the detector and observe the impact of removing detector components such as the support structure or the phosphor screen on the measured signal. The proposed FPD performs better than the conventional FPD: (i) attenuation of the MV beam is decreased by 60%; (ii) the MV signal is reduced by 20% for the primary MV field region which can avoid saturation of the FPD; and (iii) long range scatter from the MV into the kV region of the detector is greatly reduced.
Real Smiles vs. Faked Smiles: How Emotional Labor Impacts Service Behaviors

800x600 This study investigates how emotional labor impacts service behaviors. Unlike previous research which has mostly focused on the customer’s experience during a service encounter, this paper focuses on service employees and their performance during the service encounter. In particular, this study looks at how the emotional labor strategies of surface acting and deep acting impact (1) customer service, (2) job performance, and (3) job satisfaction. The results from the Partial Least Squares analyses show that surface acting has a negative impact on customer service and job satisfaction and deep acting has a positive impact on customer service, job performance, and job satisfaction. Overall, the results show that a real smile instead of a faked smile helps the service employee to be successful in their job. In addition to providing the results of this study, this article also provides many managerial implications and guidelines for managers. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:. 0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
Dynamic Human Body Modeling Using a Single RGB Camera

In this paper, we present a novel automatic pipeline to build personalized parametric models of dynamic people using a single RGB camera. Compared to previous approaches that use monocular RGB images, our system can model a 3D human body automatically and incrementally, taking advantage of human motion. Based on coarse 2D and 3D poses estimated from image sequences, we first perform a kinematic classification of human body parts to refine the poses and obtain reconstructed body parts. Next, a personalized parametric human model is generated by driving a general template to fit the body parts and calculating the non-rigid deformation. Experimental results show that our shape estimation method achieves comparable accuracy with reconstructed models using depth cameras, yet requires neither user interaction nor any dedicated devices, leading to the feasibility of using this method on widely available smart phones.
Narrow genetic base in forest restoration with holm oak ( Quercus ilex L . ) in 1 Sicily 2 3

23 24 In order to empirically assess the effect of actual seed sampling strategy on genetic 25 diversity of holm oak (Quercus ilex) forestations in Sicily, we have analysed the 26 genetic composition of two seedling lots (nursery stock and plantation) and their 27 known natural seed origin stand by means of six nuclear microsatellite loci. 28 Significant reduction in genetic diversity and significant difference in genetic 29 composition of the seedling lots compared to the seed origin stand were detected. The 30 female and the total effective number of parents were quantified by means of 31 maternity assignment of seedlings and temporal changes in allele frequencies. 32 Extremely low effective maternity numbers were estimated (Nf e ≈ 2–4) and estimates 33 accounting for both seed and pollen donors give also low values (N e ≈ 35–50). These 34 values can be explained by an inappropriate forestry seed harvest strategy limited to a 35 small number of spatially close trees. 36 37 Quercus ilex / plantation / genetic diversity / effective population size / 38 microsatellite 39 40 41
Scantegrity II: End-to-End Verifiability for Optical Scan Election Systems using Invisible Ink Confirmation Codes

We introduce Scantegrity II, a practical enhancement for optical scan voting systems that achieves increased election integrity through the novel use of confirmation codes printed on ballots in invisible ink. Voters mark ballots just as in conventional optical scan but using a special pen that develops the invisible ink. Verifiability of election integrity is end-to-end, allowing voters to check that their votes are correctly included (without revealing their votes) and allowing anyone to check that the tally is computed correctly from the included votes. Unlike in the original Scantegrity, dispute resolution neither relies on paper chits nor requires election officials to recover particular ballot forms. Scantegrity II works with either precinct-based or central scan systems. The basic system has been implemented in open-source Java with off-the-shelf printing equipment and has been tested in a small election. An enhancement to Scantegrity II keeps ballot identification and other unique information that is revealed to the voter in the booth from being learned by persons other than the voter. This modification achieves privacy that is essentially equivalent to that of ordinary paper ballot systems, allowing manual counting and recounting of ballots.
A Framework for Reputation Bootstrapping Based on Reputation Utility and Game Theories

Using reputation system to help determine trustworthiness of online entities is a widely adopted method in the current web environment. Reputation bootstrapping, known as determining a default reputation value for a newcomer, is an important issue which currently is short of a proper solution. In this paper, we introduce a new concept, marginal reputation utility, based on which we discuss the relationship between trust and reputation and construct a reputation bootstrapping framework that is universally applicable to different reputation models and systems. We use experiments to test the effectiveness of the proposed framework upon different reputation models, which shows satisfactory results.