Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cross-linguistic activation of implicit causality biases in Korean learners of English

This study investigates how the strength of referential biases associated with implicit vs explicit causality predicates in Korean affects Korean-speaking learners’ reference choices in English. Sentence-completion experiments with Korean (Experiment 1a) and English (1b) native speakers showed that Korean speakers referred to the subject more following predicates with explicit vs implicit causality marking, whereas English speakers showed no difference in referential bias for the English translation correspondents of these predicates, which did not contain explicit causality marking. In Experiment 2, Korean learners of English completed an English sentence-completion task, either preceded or followed by a translation task, to test whether strength of referential bias in Korean would affect their referential choices in English. After factoring in individual differences in cross-linguistic associations, results provided evidence that cross-language activation at the word level affects reference processing at a discourse level, with the predicted effect somewhat enhanced by translation priming.
Diet-Induced Obesity Modulates Epigenetic Responses to Ionizing Radiation in Mice

Both exposure to ionizing radiation and obesity have been associated with various pathologies including cancer. There is a crucial need in better understanding the interactions between ionizing radiation effects (especially at low doses) and other risk factors, such as obesity. In order to evaluate radiation responses in obese animals, C3H and C57BL/6J mice fed a control normal fat or a high fat (HF) diet were exposed to fractionated doses of X-rays (0.75 Gy ×4). Bone marrow micronucleus assays did not suggest a modulation of radiation-induced genotoxicity by HF diet. Using MSP, we observed that the promoters of p16 and Dapk genes were methylated in the livers of C57BL/6J mice fed a HF diet (irradiated and non-irradiated); Mgmt promoter was methylated in irradiated and/or HF diet-fed mice. In addition, methylation PCR arrays identified Ep300 and Socs1 (whose promoters exhibited higher methylation levels in non-irradiated HF diet-fed mice) as potential targets for further studies. We then compared microRNA regulations after radiation exposure in the livers of C57BL/6J mice fed a normal or an HF diet, using microRNA arrays. Interestingly, radiation-triggered microRNA regulations observed in normal mice were not observed in obese mice. miR-466e was upregulated in non-irradiated obese mice. In vitro free fatty acid (palmitic acid, oleic acid) administration sensitized AML12 mouse liver cells to ionizing radiation, but the inhibition of miR-466e counteracted this radio-sensitization, suggesting that the modulation of radiation responses by diet-induced obesity might involve miR-466e expression. All together, our results suggested the existence of dietary effects on radiation responses (especially epigenetic regulations) in mice, possibly in relationship with obesity-induced chronic oxidative stress.
A BOUND ON LIBOR FUTURES PRICES FOR HJM YIELD CURVE MODELS

We prove that for a large class of widely used term structure models there is a simple theoretical upper bound for value of LIBOR futures prices. When this bound is compared to observed futures prices, one nevertheless finds that the theoretical bound is sometimes violated by market prices. The main consequence of this observation is that virtually all of the important fixed income models have theoretical implications that are sometimes at odds with market realities, at least when they are applied to futures markets.
The ETS family member GABPα modulates androgen receptor signalling and mediates an aggressive phenotype in prostate cancer

In prostate cancer (PC), the androgen receptor (AR) is a key transcription factor at all disease stages, including the advanced stage of castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). In the present study, we show that GABPα, an ETS factor that is up-regulated in PC, is an AR-interacting transcription factor. Expression of GABPα enables PC cell lines to acquire some of the molecular and cellular characteristics of CRPC tissues as well as more aggressive growth phenotypes. GABPα has a transcriptional role that dissects the overlapping cistromes of the two most common ETS gene fusions in PC: overlapping significantly with ETV1 but not with ERG target genes. GABPα bound predominantly to gene promoters, regulated the expression of one-third of AR target genes and modulated sensitivity to AR antagonists in hormone responsive and castrate resistant PC models. This study supports a critical role for GABPα in CRPC and reveals potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
Design and Evaluation of a CMOS Contact-Imaging System for Microfluidics

Design and Evaluation of a CMOS Contact-Imaging System for Microfluidics Andrés Moroni Galán Cherrez Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, BYU Master of Science A CMOS contact-imaging system for microfluidics is presented. The microsystem integrates a five-layer PDMS microfluidic network and a CMOS image sensor fabricated in a standard 0.18 μm technology. The CMOS image sensor consists of two 10×1-pixel array, an amplifier, and a control logic. The imager is able to achieve a low dark signal of 1.67 mV/s, a maximum integration time of 514 s, and a high dynamic range of 75.2 dB at 1 s integration time. The microfluidic device integrates several actuated valve to achieve a fully automated lab-on-achip. This work also presents a quantitative comparison of the photomultiplier tube (PMT) and the CMOS contact-imaging system. The CMOS-microfluidic device is validated using an on-chip chemiluminescent analyte.
Relative translucency of ceramic systems for porcelain veneers

ii To Gustavo, for his love, patience and support, and for always making me move forward. To my parents, for their unconditional love and encouragement. To all my family and friends, who in one way or another participated in this journey. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my mentor, Dr. Cathia Bergeron, an example as a person and a professional, who I had an immense pleasure to work with. Throughout my thesis project, she guided me to the best path and helped me to take the most appropriate decisions. My sincere thankfulness also goes to my thesis committee which support, encouragement and insightful comments were fundamental to the completion of my work. I would like to deeply thank Dr. Marcos Vargas, my co-mentor in this project, for sharing his phenomenal knowledge in translucency studies and color science with me. Thanks for helping me developing the methodology of my research project and my critical thinking throughout these years. Special thanks go to Dr. Fang Qian for providing excellent and detailed statistical analysis. Thanks for the significant guidance on how to report the results in my thesis and for the suggestions on my presentation. I am also very thankful to Dr. Saulo Geraldeli for his friendship and suggestions in my thesis project, and to Dr. David Gratton for sharing his extensive knowledge in ceramics. Thanks also to Dr. Deborah Cobb, who as program director was always supportive and willing to help not only in my thesis project but also in the entire master program.
Tools and techniques for memory system design and analysis

As processor cycle times decrease, memory system performance becomes ever more critical to overall performance. Continually changing technology and workloads create a moving target for computer architects in their effort to design cost-effective memory systems. Meeting the demands of ever changing workloads and technology requires the following: (1) Efficient techniques for evaluating memory system performance, (2) Tuning programs to better use the memory system, and (3) New memory system designs. This thesis makes contributions in each of these areas. Hardware and software developers rely on simulation to evaluate new ideas. In this thesis, I present a new interface for writing memory system simulators--the active memory abstraction--designed specifically for simulators that process memory references as the application executes and avoids storing them to tape or disk. Active memory allows simulators to optimize for the common case, e.g., cache hits, achieving simulation times only 2-6 times slower than the original uninstrumented application. The efficiency of the active memory abstraction can be used by software designers to obtain information about their program's memory system behavior--called a cache profile. In this thesis, using the CProf cache profiling system, I show that cache profiling is an effective means of improving uniprocessor program performance by focusing a programmer's attention on problematic code sections and providing insight into the type of program transformation to apply. Execution time speedups for the programs studied range from 1.02 to 3.46, depending on the machine's memory system. The third contribution of this thesis is dynamic self-invalidation (DSI), a new technique for reducing coherence overhead in shared-memory multiprocessors. The fundamental concept of DSI is for processors to automatically replace a block from their cache before another processor wants to access the block, allowing the directory to immediately respond with the data. My results show that, under sequential consistency DSI can reduce execution time by as much as 41% and under weak consistency by as much as 18%. Under weak consistency, DSI can also exploit tear-off blocks--which eliminate both invalidation and acknowledgment messages--for a total reduction in messages of up to 26%.
Dialysis modality-dependent changes in serum metabolites: accumulation of inosine and hypoxanthine in patients on haemodialysis.

BACKGROUND The body metabolism of patients with end-stage renal disease may be altered in response to long-term dialysis treatment. Moreover, the pattern of serum metabolites could change depending on the type of dialysis modality used. However, dialysis modality-dependent changes in serum metabolites are poorly understood. Our aim was to profile comprehensively serum metabolites by exploiting a novel method of (1)H-NMR-based metabonomics and identify the differences in metabolite patterns in subjects receiving haemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD). METHODS Anuric and non-diabetic HD patients were matched to PD patients for age, sex and dialysis duration. Accurate concentrations of serum metabolites were determined using the target-profiling procedure, and differences in the levels of metabolites were compared using multivariate analysis. RESULTS Principal Components Analysis score plots showed that the metabolic patterns could be discriminated by dialysis modalities. Hypoxanthine and inosine were present only with HD, whereas serum xanthine oxidase activity and uric acid levels were not different. In contrast, PD was associated with higher levels of lactate, glucose, maltose, pyruvate, succinate, alanine, and glutamate linked to glucose metabolism and the tri-carboxylic acid cycle. Maltose appeared only in patients using icodextrin solution for PD. Known uraemic retention solutes such as urea, creatinine, myo-inositol and trimethylamine-N-oxide were increased in both dialysis groups. CONCLUSIONS Metabonomics shows apparent differences in the profiles of serum metabolites between HD and PD, which were influenced by dialysis-related processes. Inosine and hypoxanthine are present only in HD patients, which is likely to represent more hypoxic and oxidative stress.
Sentiment analysis on tweets in a financial domain

This paper investigates whether sentiment analysis of public mood derived from large-scale Twitter feeds can be used to identify important events and predict movements of stock prices. We used the volume and sentiment polarity of Apple financial tweets to identify important events and predict future movements of Apple stock prices. Statistical analysis using the Granger causality test showed that we were able to predict the rise or fall in closing price of Apple stocks two days before the change happens.
VNGuard: An NFV/SDN combination framework for provisioning and managing virtual firewalls

Network Function Virtualization (NFV) together with cloud technology enables users to request creating flexible virtual networks (VNs). Users also have specific security requirements to protect their VNs. Especially, due to changeable network perimeters, constant VM migrations, and user-centric security needs, VNs require new security features that traditional firewalls fail to provide, because traditional firewalls rely greatly on restricted network topology and entry points to provide effective security protection. To address this challenge, we propose VNGuard, a framework for effective provision and management of virtual firewalls to safeguard VNs, leveraging features provided by NFV and Software Defined Networking (SDN). VNGuard defines a high-level firewall policy language, finds optimal virtual firewall placement, and adapts virtual firewalls to VN changes. To demonstrate the feasibility of our approach, we have implemented core components of VNGuard on top of ClickOS. Our experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of virtual firewalls built on VNGuard.
Modified I–V model for delay analysis of UDSM CMOS circuits

This paper presents an I-V model for estimating the drain current of a sub-90nm MOSFET in the linear and saturation regions. The proposed model employs the dependencies of drain current on channel width and the gate voltage. It is the modification of nth-power law model introduced by Sakurai and Newton. Our model provides more accurate relationship between the channel length modulation and gate voltage in the saturation region. New parameters are introduced for better characterization of MOSFET drain current at lower VGS and VDS. The new model is compared with Modified Sakurai-Newton (MSN) current model and Extended-Sakurai-Newton (ESN) compact MOSFET model and it is found that the proposed model is much more accurate. The model provides precise estimation of drain current as well as the delay of CMOS inverter. The drain characteristics predicted by our model match with BSIM4 simulation with an average error of 1.33% for 90nm technology. The delay estimations of CMOS inverter using Tanner EDA tool in 90nm technology have an average error of 0.00867% and a maximum error of 0.00945%.
A novel approach for the probabilistic computation of Time-To-Collision

Reliability and fault tolerance are very important criteria in the design and development of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Modern driver assistance systems rely on several sources of information such as radar or image processing. A reliable system has to handle the uncertainty with the information it receives as input, in order to make robust and reliable decisions. In the situation analysis the Time metrics such as Time-To-Collision (TTC), Time-To-Brake (TTB), Time-To-React (TTR) are criticality measures assessing the risk potential of traffic situation. Such measures can be used to trigger warnings and emergency maneuvers in driver assistance systems. This paper presents an efficient algorithm to compute the probability distribution of TTC induced by an uncertain system input and thus allows to use TTC as a more robust and reliable probabilistic activation condition. The accuracy of the presented method was proven in the simulation using the example of several types of crossing scenarios.
Modeling Similarity in Incentivized Interaction : A Longitudinal Case Study of StackOverFlow

Multiple dimensions of Question Answering (Q&A) communities are indispensable to understanding its components, benchmarking success and catalyzing improvement. Gamification is one such dimension that has been shown to leverage user’s natural desires for socializing, learning, achievement and altruism by providing opportunities for incentivized interaction. In this work we focus on dynamics of how much the community values a user, which is quantified via one salient instantiation of Q&A incentives reputation. As research contributions, we first operationalize latent aspects of user participatory intent in a popular programming Q&A community (StackOverflow), and show that they significantly predict how much the community values the user. We then exploit underlying structure behind the online community to illuminate participatory patterns reflecting diverse user needs and preferred participation styles, and show how similarity in these patterns of interaction between users predict their reputation similarity over time. Our results, which differentiate underlying aspects of user interaction and their variations over time via a generic network analytic approach, have implications for community moderators in unmasking aggregated outcome measures such as reputation that look similar on a surface level. Modeling similarity in incentivized interaction is a step towards fine-grained tailoring of motivational affordances towards different participating classes of users in order to sustain their interest and engagement.
Collaborative bridge game: A comparative study on User Interface design

User Interface (UI) is an interaction medium of human and computers for performing different tasks. It is also referred to as Human Computer Interaction (HCI), a discipline under Social Science and Behavioral Science that deals with human factors. How well human can interact with the computers determines how well users are able to communicate and perform their desired tasks. In a collaborative environment, many activities are running concurrently among people who are communicating from different physical locations. Therefore, it is crucial to have a good user interface that supports the information exchange and at the same time being user friendly and easy to use. In this paper, a comparative study was conducted on user interface of several bridge game applications, which one of those game applications was developed under JACIE (Java-based Authoring language for Collaborative Interactive Environment) Graphic User Interface (GUI) output. JACIE is a scripting language, designed to support rapid prototyping and implementation of distributed interactive collaborative applications. While focusing on various accessibility features and HCI rules, we compare different elements of each feature in an attempt to improve the usability of JACIE's interface. The study serves as an initial effort towards developing a new UI model that can be applied to JACIE or any collaborative medium or products.
Experimental and Computational Analysis of a Large Protein Network That Controls Fat Storage Reveals the Design Principles of a Signaling Network

An approach combining genetic, proteomic, computational, and physiological analysis was used to define a protein network that regulates fat storage in budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). A computational analysis of this network shows that it is not scale-free, and is best approximated by the Watts-Strogatz model, which generates “small-world” networks with high clustering and short path lengths. The network is also modular, containing energy level sensing proteins that connect to four output processes: autophagy, fatty acid synthesis, mRNA processing, and MAP kinase signaling. The importance of each protein to network function is dependent on its Katz centrality score, which is related both to the protein’s position within a module and to the module’s relationship to the network as a whole. The network is also divisible into subnetworks that span modular boundaries and regulate different aspects of fat metabolism. We used a combination of genetics and pharmacology to simultaneously block output from multiple network nodes. The phenotypic results of this blockage define patterns of communication among distant network nodes, and these patterns are consistent with the Watts-Strogatz model.
Formation of an engineering identity : industrial role models & problem based learning

In vocational disciplines such as engineering, industrialists can provide students with access to real-life projects and artefacts that expose them to practice knowledge and employability skills. Assistance from Alumni role models can help students to imagine and reflect on their future self as graduate engineers. In this paper, two initiatives that aid the students’ transition from ‘novice to becoming’ civil engineering graduates are examined. (1) Graduate mentoring of student mentees during their third-year of studies and (2) a hybrid problem/ project-based series of workshops know as Civil Engineering 4 Real (CE4R). Both initiatives fostered a collaborative academic-industry partnership whereby undergraduates were introduced to an engineering practitioner community of practice. Both initiatives have exposed students to the breadth of civil engineering practice and sub-disciplines within the profession. Whilst the feedback from the students is overwhelmingly positive, there is a need to ensure both initiatives are considered with respect to the wider course curriculum.
FXR Promotes Endothelial Cell Motility Through Coordinated Regulation of FAK and MMP-9

Objective—Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) mediates important signaling functions of bile acids in diverse cell types including those residing in the vascular wall. Indeed, recent work has identified FXR as a potential regulator of vascular structure and function in part through transcriptional activation of MMP-9. However, the signal transduction pathways linking bile acids to changes in actin cytoskeleton that are responsible for bile acid–induced vascular cell migration remain unexplored. Methods and Results—The FXR agonist and prototypical bile acid, chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), significantly increased endothelial cell (EC) motility, as analyzed by time lapse video microscopy, and tube formation, an in vitro correlate for angiogenesis. Increased cell motility was associated with prominent increases in focal adhesion (FA) plaques and was inhibited by FXR or MMP-9 siRNA, indicating a FXR–MMP-9–dependency of this signaling pathway. Mechanistically, incubation of cells with CDCA was associated with phosphorylation of a key FA protein, Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) at Y397 but not at Y576/577, or Y925. Studies using a site-specific phosphorylation mutant (phosphodeficient) of FAK revealed that FAK phosphorylation at tyrosine residue −397 was required for CDCA induced activation of the downstream FA assembly protein, paxillin. Lastly, siRNA-based silencing of FAK as well as phosphodeficient FAK mutant inhibited CDCA induced upregulation of MMP-9, cell motility, and vascular tube formation. Conclusion—Thus, this study demonstrates a pivotal role for FAK in the process of FXR-induced and MMP-9–dependent EC motility and vascular tube formation.
Detecting objects in complex urban area using depth information

Vision-based driver assistance system in complex urban area is highly demanding. The basic requirement for the system is the capacity of detecting potential obstacles. In particular, the automobile, it is more dangerous than other objects. Facing the sensitive area called as “interesting area” in front of the driver within a certain range, this paper presents an object detection method fully using depth information of the scene, which based on the fact that potential obstacles may overlap in original image and could be separated in depth map in terms of their lateral and longitudinal positions. The testing result and related process details are described intensively in the paper, and our work is testified effective.