Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of role stressors on workplace bullying in both victims and perpetrators, controlling for personal vulnerability factors: A longitudinal analysis

Abstract Although it has been suggested that a poor work environment can be related to the incidence of bullying, little work with robust research designs has been conducted on the matter. By drawing on the concept of hindrance stressors and using a longitudinal research design, we investigated whether role conflict and role ambiguity predicted being a victim of bullying twelve months later, over and above personal vulnerability factors. With a parallel analysis we also investigated whether the same role stressors predicted the enactment of bullying. The sample consisted of 234 employees of a National Health Service agency in Italy, including medical, nursing and administrative staff. The results indicated that role conflict positively affected both being bullied and bullying enactment, with personal vulnerability (reporting a doctor's diagnosis of depression at baseline) affecting only the first of the two outcomes. However, some evidence also emerged of reciprocal relationships between role stressors and bullying. Directions for future research on the relations between working conditions and bullying are discussed.
The Alpha 21264 microprocessor architecture

The 21264 is the third generation Alpha microprocessor from Compaq Computer (formerly Digital Equipment) Corporation. This microprocessor achieves the industry-leading performance levels of 30+ Specint95 and 50+ Specfp95. In addition to the aggressive 600 MHz cycle time in a 0.35 /spl mu/m CMOS process, there are also many architectural features that enable the outstanding performance level of the 21264. This paper discusses many of these architectural techniques, which include an out-of-order and speculative execution pipeline coupled with a high-performance memory system.
Heterogeneous Sensor Fusion for Accurate State Estimation of Dynamic Legged Robots

—In this paper we present a system for the state estimation of a dynamically walking and trotting quadruped. The approach fuses four heterogeneous sensor sources (inertial, kinematic, stereo vision and LIDAR) to maintain an accurate and consistent estimate of the robot’s base link velocity and position in the presence of disturbances such as slips and missteps. We demonstrate the performance of our system, which is robust to changes in the structure and lighting of the environment, as well as the terrain over which the robot crosses. Our approach builds upon a modular inertial-driven Extended Kalman Filter which incorporates a rugged, probabilistic leg odometry component with additional inputs from stereo visual odometry and LIDAR registration. The simultaneous use of both stereo vision and LIDAR helps combat operational issues which occur in real applications. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the ﬁrst to discuss the complexity of consistent estimation of pose and velocity states, as well as the fusion of multiple exteroceptive signal sources at largely different frequencies and latencies, in a manner which is acceptable for a quadruped’s feedback controller. A substantial experimental evaluation demonstrates the robustness and accuracy of our system, achieving continuously accurate localization and drift per distance traveled below 1cm / m .
Detecting Copy Number Variations from Array CGH Data Based on a Conditional Random Field Model

Array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) allows identification of copy number alterations across genomes. The key computational challenge in analyzing copy number variations (CNVs) using aCGH data or other similar data generated by a variety of array technologies is the detection of segment boundaries of copy number changes and inference of the copy number state for each segment. We have developed a novel statistical model based on the framework of conditional random fields (CRFs) that can effectively combine data smoothing, segmentation and copy number state decoding into one unified framework. Our approach (termed CRF-CNV) provides great flexibilities in defining meaningful feature functions. Therefore, it can effectively integrate local spatial information of arbitrary sizes into the model. For model parameter estimations, we have adopted the conjugate gradient (CG) method for likelihood optimization and developed efficient forward/backward algorithms within the CG framework. The method is evaluated using real data with known copy numbers as well as simulated data with realistic assumptions, and compared with two popular publicly available programs. Experimental results have demonstrated that CRF-CNV outperforms a Bayesian Hidden Markov Model-based approach on both datasets in terms of copy number assignments. Comparing to a non-parametric approach, CRF-CNV has achieved much greater precision while maintaining the same level of recall on the real data, and their performance on the simulated data is comparable.
Comparing and combining classifiers for self-taught vocal interfaces

An attractive approach to enable the use of vocal interfaces by impaired users with dysarthric speech is the use of a system which learns from the end-user. To enable such technology, it is imperative that the learning is fast to reduce the time spent training the interface. In this paper we investigate to what extend various machine learning techniques are able to learn from only a single or a few spoken training samples. Additionally, we explore whether these techniques can be combined through boosting to improve the performance. Our evaluations on a small, but highly realistic home automation database reveal that nonnegative matrix factorization seems best suited for fast learning and that some of the boosting approaches can indeed improve performance, especially for small amounts of training data. Index Terms: vocal user interface, self-taught learning, machine learning, boosting
Treating Socially Phobic Youth with CBT: Differential Outcomes and Treatment Considerations

Abstract Social phobia (SP) is characterized by a fear of one or more social or performance situations. Studies of comorbidity in SP youth find anxiety and affective disorders co-occurring. The present study examined children with primary SP and compared them to children with primary Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD) or Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) prior to treatment and in response to treatment. The groups differed significantly on self-, parent- and teacher-rated pretreatment measures. Additionally, the two groups showed differential treatment outcomes. When the SP youth with comorbid Affective Disorder were excluded in treatment outcome analyses, there were non significant differences, indicating that comorbid affective disorders likely contributed to differential treatment outcome. Results are discussed in terms of treatment recommendations for socially phobic youth.
Self-regulation is ubiquitous but its forms vary with knowledge

Six eminent educational psychologists raised significant issues about my hypotheses concerning inherent details in self-regulated learning (SRL). In this rejoinder, I address sewn broad questions: Is social interaction intrinsic to SRL? Do novices self-regulate learning? What is effort's role in SRL? What roles do goals play in SRL? How does SRL develop? What role does affect have in SRL? What can be done with models and principles? My answers to these questions are partial and provisional, pending further empirical studies, but they align with my initial theses that SRL (a) is inherent in learning, (b) is more alike than different from cognition in general, and (c) need not involve deliberation once procedural knowledge that comprises self-regulation has become thoroughly automated.
Form and Function in Motor Mimicry Topographic Evidence that the Primary Function Is Communicative

Motor mimicry is behavior by an observer that is appropriate to the situation of the other person, for example, wincing at the other's injury or ducking when the other does. Traditional theories of motor mimicry view this behavior as an indicator of a vicarious cognitive or empathic experience, that is, of taking the role of the other or of “feeling oneself into” the other person. However, Bavelas, Black, Lemery, and Mullett (1986) have shown that motor mimicry of pain is affected by communicative variables and acts as a nonverbal message indicating that the observer is aware of and concerned about the other's situation. This raises a more general question: Is communication its primary or secondary function? We propose (i) that motor mimicry functions as a nonverbal, analogic, relationship message about similarity between observer and other and (ii) that this message is encoded according to Gestalt principles of form, in that the observer physically mirrors the other. In other words, the observer maintains a relationship with the other. The special case of left/right leaning when observer and other are facing each other permits a test of our theory against two theories that treat motor mimicry as an indicator of vicarious experience. The results of three experiments showed that when motor mimicry by an observer facing someone who is leaning left or right occurs, it is both displayed and decoded in the form consistent with a communication theory; this form is called reflection symmetry. We conclude that, because of the topography of the response, the primary function of motor mimicry must be communicative and that any relationship to vicarious processes is secondary. A similar analysis of other nonverbal behaviors may well reveal that they are also expressions to another person rather than expressions of infrapsychic states.
LQG optimal control strategies for an electro pneumatic actuator

High performance control of fluid actuator system depends on several important choices, like the model on which the synthesis is based and the control criteria. In the case of the optimal LQG control design, the choice of the weighting matrices determines the closed-loop performances and robustness. In the present paper a methodology of LQG synthesis inspired from the literature is applied on an electro-pneumatic actuator, which is known to be hard to control.
A Web-based isosurface extraction system for heterogeneous clients

We present a practical approach to the design of a Web system for 3D and volumetric data interrogation and visualization. This Web application provides different functionalities including isosurface extraction, mesh simplification, output file production in a standard format, and data compression. The application is designed in a modular way, and its services are suitable for heterogeneous clients, including wireless and diskless personal digital assistant. The use, as much as possible, of widely available public domain software and standard data format are important characteristics of the presented architecture.
Indispensable Role for the Eukaryotic-Like Ankyrin Domains of the Ankyrin B Effector of Legionella pneumophila within Macrophages and Amoebae

ABSTRACT The Dot/Icm-translocated ankyrin B (AnkB) effector of Legionella pneumophila exhibits molecular mimicry of eukaryotic F-box proteins and is essential for intracellular replication in macrophages and protozoa. In addition to two eukaryotic-like ankyrin (ANK) domains, AnkB harbors a conserved eukaryotic F-box domain, which is involved in polyubiquitination of proteins throughout the eukaryotic kingdom. We have recently shown that the F-box domain of the AnkB effector is essential for decoration of the Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV) with polyubiquitinated proteins within macrophages and protozoan hosts. To decipher the role of the two ANK domains in the function of AnkB, we have constructed in-frame deletion of either or both of the ANK domain-encoding regions (ankBΔA1, ankBΔA2, and ankBΔA1A2) to trans-complement the ankB null mutant. Deletion of the ANK domains results in defects in intracellular proliferation and decoration of the LCV with polyubiquitinated proteins. Export of the truncated variants of AnkB was reduced, and this may account for the observed defects. However, while full-length AnkB ectopically expressed in mammalian cells trans-rescues the ankB null mutant for intracellular proliferation, ectopic expression of AnkBΔA1, AnkBΔA2, and AnkBΔA1A2 fails to trans-rescue the ankB null mutant. Importantly, ectopically expressed full-length AnkB is targeted to the host cell plasma membrane, where it recruits polyubiquitinated proteins. In contrast, AnkBΔA1, AnkBΔA2, and AnkBΔA1A2 are diffusely distributed throughout the cytosol and fail to recruit polyubiquitinated proteins. We conclude that the two eukaryotic-like ANK domains of AnkB are essential for intracellular proliferation, for targeting AnkB to the host membranes, and for decoration of the LCV with polyubiquitinated proteins.
Experimental shift in hosts' acceptance threshold of inaccurate-mimic brood parasite eggs

Hosts are expected to evolve resistance strategies that efficiently detect and resist exposure to virulent parasites and pathogens. When recognition is not error-proof, the acceptance threshold used by hosts to recognize parasites should be context dependent and become more restrictive with increasing predictability of parasitism. Here, we demonstrate that decisions of great reed warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceus to reject parasitism by the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus vary adaptively within a single egg-laying bout. Hosts typically accept one of their own eggs with experimentally added spots and the background colour left visible. In contrast, hosts reject such spotted eggs when individuals had been previously exposed to and rejected one of their own eggs whose background colour had been entirely masked. These results support patterns of adaptive modulation of antiparasitic strategies through shifts in the acceptance threshold of hosts and suggest a critical role for experience in the discrimination decisions between inaccurate-mimic parasite eggs and hosts' own eggs.
Quantum Hypercomputation—Hype or Computation?*

A recent attempt to compute a (recursion‐theoretic) noncomputable function using the quantum adiabatic algorithm is criticized and found wanting. Quantum algorithms may outperform classical algorithms in some cases, but so far they retain the classical (recursion‐theoretic) notion of computability. A speculation is then offered as to where the putative power of quantum computers may come from.
Scan Matching Without Odometry Information

We present an algorithm for merging two partial maps obtained with a laser range scanner into a single map. The most unique aspect of our algorithm is that it does not require any information on the position where the scans were collected. The algorithm operates by performing a geometric match of the two scans and returns the best fused map obtained by merging the two partial maps. The algorithm attempts to reduce the number of segments in the fused map, by replacing overlapping segments with a single segment. We present heuristics to speed up the computation, and experimental results obtained with a mobile robot in an indoor environment.
Pathways to Self-Sufficiency: Successful Entrepreneurship for Refugees

ABSTRACT This study examined the successes and challenges of refugee entrepreneurs by interviewing 50 refugees, service providers, and technical assistance providers. Qualitative data analyses revealed that successes and challenges occurred both at the individual and family levels as well as at the community and agency levels. The findings underscore the need to acknowledge the importance of the personal characteristics of the individual entrepreneurs, to deal with the competing factors revolved around family commitments, to encourage agencies to provide sufficient literacy and financial training, and to have community collaborations for capacity-building.
Draft Genome Sequence of Hexachlorohexane (HCH)-Degrading Sphingobium lucknowense Strain F2T, Isolated from an HCH Dumpsite

ABSTRACT Sphingobium lucknowense F2T, isolated from the hexachlorocylcohexane (HCH) dumpsite located in Ummari village, Lucknow, India, rapidly degrades HCH isomers. Here we report the draft genome of strain F2 (4.4 Mbp), consisting of 4,910 protein coding genes with an average G+C content of 64.3%.
Imbalance of autonomic nervous systems involved in ventricular arrhythmia after splenectomy in dogs

The role of cardiac autonomic modulation on ventricular arrhythmia, known as ventricular premature complexes (VPC), after splenectomy was investigated. Twelve dogs undergoing splenectomy were divided into 2 groups: low VPC (<1,000/day, n=6) and high VPC groups (≥1,000/day, n=6). Electrocardiograph recording was performed prior to (D0), during the first three days (D1–3) and on day 9 (D9) after surgery. Arrhythmic indices, Tpeak-Tend, corrected QT interval and short-term variability of QT interval as well as heart rate variability (HRV) were evaluated. Plasma concentrations of norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) were measured. In the high VPC group, the occurrences of VPC were significantly increased (P<0.05) after surgery, and reached the levels higher than those in the low VPC group. For the arrhythmic indices, only Tp-Te in the high VPC group increased significantly (P<0.05) after surgery. For HRV analysis, enhancement of both time and frequency domains were found postoperatively in both groups. On D2, however, the high VPC group showed significantly lower total power and high frequency with higher low to high frequency ratio (P<0.05) than the low VPC group. Plasma NE concentration significantly increased in the high VPC group after surgery. Dogs in the high VPC group had shorter survival time than those in the low VPC group. In conclusion, dogs with imbalance cardiac autonomic modulation accompanied with high circulating NE concentration after splenectomy are prone to ventricular arrhythmia, which leads to short survival time.
Duality in stochastic binary systems

A stochastic binary system is a mathematical model for reliability analysis. There is a logical function, called structure, that tells us whether the system survived or not after random failures on its components. The concept of duality in stochastic binary systems is here introduced. As corollary, the computational complexity of combinatorial problems from stochastic binary systems is fully characterized, and the reliability of special stochastic binary systems is found. The main results are supported in decision theory and network reliability analysis.
Non-Equilibrium Dynamics in the Evolution of Industries : A Computational Study *

This study attempts to explain many well-documented aspects of the evolution of industries over time. It uses an agent-based computational model in which artificial industries are created and grown to maturity in silico. While the firms in the model are assumed to have bounded rationality, they are nevertheless adaptive in the sense that their experience-based R&D efforts allow them to search for improved technologies. Given a technological environment subject to persistent and unexpected external shocks, the computationallygenerated industry remains in a perennial state of flux. The main objective of the study is to identify patterns that exist in the movements of firms as the industry evolves over time along the steady state in which the measured behavior of the firms and the industry stochastically fluctuate around steady means. The computational model developed here is able to replicate many of the stylized facts from the empirical industrial organization literature, particularly as the facts pertain to the dynamics of firm entry and exit. Furthermore, the model allows examination of cross-industry variations in entry and exit patterns by systematically varying the characteristics of the market and the technological environment within which the computationally-generated industry evolves. The model demonstrates that the computational approach based on boundedly rational agents in a dynamic setting can be useful and effective in carrying out both positive and normative economic analyses. * This is a condensed version of the manuscript for a forthcoming book, A Computational Model of Industry Dynamics (Routledge). Please do not circulate without the author’s permission.
Extraction of line properties based on direction fields

The authors present a new set of algorithms for segmenting lines, mainly blood vessels in X-ray images, and extracting properties such as their intensities, diameters, and center lines. The authors developed a tracking algorithm that checks rules taking the properties of vessels into account. The tools even detect veins, arteries, or catheters of two pixels in diameter and with poor contrast. Compared with other algorithms, such as the Canny line detector or anisotropic diffusion, the authors extract a smoother and connected vessel tree without artifacts in the image background. As the tools depend on common intermediate results, they are very fast when used together. The authors' results will support the 3-D reconstruction of the vessel tree from stereoscopic projections. Moreover, the authors make use of their line intensity measure for enhancing and improving the visibility of vessels in 3-D X-ray images. The processed images are intended to support radiologists in diagnosis, radiation therapy planning, and surgical planning. Radiologists verified the improved quality of the processed images and the enhanced visibility of relevant details, particularly fine blood vessels.
Mcl-1 mediates cytokine deprivation induced apoptosis of human myeloma cell line XG-7.

OBJECTIVE To investigate apoptosis in XG-7, a human myeloma cell line, induced by IL-6 deprivation and the function of three anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins (Bcl-2, Bcl-kappa(L), Mcl-1) in the apoptotic process. METHODS Apoptosis in XG-7 myeloma cells induced by IL-6 withdrawal was determined by flow cytometry with propidium iodide (PI) nuclear staining. Expressions of three Bcl-2 proteins in XG-7 cells were monitored by immunoblotting assay. RESULTS In the absence of IL-6 for a certain time, a significant percentage of apoptiotic XG-7 cells can be observed, as well as down-regulated expression of one of the three anti-apoptotic proteins (Mcl-1) in XG-7 cells. IL-6 re-stimulation in XG-7 cells following cytokine removal up-regulated the expression of Mcl-1 and inhibited cell apoptosis. CONCLUSION Mcl-1,instead of Bcl-2 and Bcl-kappa(L), plays an important role in IL-6 deprivation induced apoptosis in XG-7 human myeloma cells.
Context‐aware scheduling in MapReduce: a compact review

It is a fact that the attention of research community in computer science, business executives, and decision makers is drastically drawn by big data. As the volume of data becomes bigger, it needs performance‐oriented data‐intensive processing frameworks such as MapReduce, which can scale computation on large commodity clusters. Hadoop MapReduce processes data in Hadoop Distributed File System as jobs scheduled according to YARN fair scheduler and capacity scheduler. However, with advancement and dynamic changes in hardware and operating environments, the performance of clusters is greatly affected. Various efforts in literature have been made to address the issues of heterogeneity (i.e., clusters consisting of virtual machines and machines with different hardware), network communication, data locality, better resource utilization, and run‐time scheduling. In this paper, we present a survey to discuss various research efforts made so far to improve Hadoop MapReduce scheduling. We classify scheduling algorithms and techniques proposed in the literature so far based on their addressing areas and present a taxonomy. Furthermore, we also discuss various aspects of open issues and challenges in the scheduling of MapReduce to improve its performance. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.