Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Relationship Between Personality Traits, Self-Esteem, and Attachment at Work

This study explores the relationships between the Big Five personality traits, self-esteem, and attachment orientation at work. A total of 248 working adults (165 female and 83 male) completed the revised form of the Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness-Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R; Costa & McCrae, 1992), a self-esteem scale (Rosenberg, 1965) and a self-report measure of attachment at work (Neustadt, Chamorro-Premuzic, & Furnham, in press). Principal component analysis identified two major attachment factors, namely secure/autonomous and insecure, which were significantly correlated with self-esteem and all five personality factors (as well as specific subfacets). Regression analyses showed that between 15–20% of the variance in secure and insecure attachment at work could be explained by personality traits and self-esteem. Self-esteem partly mediated the link between Neuroticism and insecure attachment; however, most associations between personality and attachment could not be explained by self-esteem. Theoretical and applied implications are discussed.
A proposal for cooperative robot "Gunryu" composed of autonomous segments

This paper proposes the concept, and explains the characteristics, of a new group robot "Gunryu", each segment of which has autonomy but at the same time moves and operates cooperatively with the other segments. Next, the mechanisms of a primary model, GR-1, which is comprised of two prototype robot units, are introduced and the conditions for operational experiments are given. <<ETX>>
Visual Role Mining: A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Roles

This paper offers a new role engineering approach to Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), referred to as visual role mining. The key idea is to graphically represent user-permission assignments to enable quick analysis and elicitation of meaningful roles. First, we formally define the problem by introducing a metric for the quality of the visualization. Then, we prove that finding the best representation according to the defined metric is a NP-hard problem. In turn, we propose two algorithms: ADVISER and EXTRACT. The former is a heuristic used to best represent the user-permission assignments of a given set of roles. The latter is a fast probabilistic algorithm that, when used in conjunction with ADVISER, allows for a visual elicitation of roles even in absence of predefined roles. Besides being rooted in sound theory, our proposal is supported by extensive simulations run over real data. Results confirm the quality of the proposal and demonstrate its viability in supporting role engineering decisions.
Test automation of distributed embedded systems based on test object structure information

The integration of distributed embedded systems is error-prone even though the components themselves are error-free. Test automation is getting more and more common in industry to find errors in such complex systems. Our approach uses time-dependent cause-and-effect graphs to describe test cases considering distribution and real-time properties. The use of test object structure benefits better testing depth. We suggest neutral description of test object to decouple proprietary CAE tools for test object management from test automation tools. A simple language describing test objects consisting of modules and connections was defined and realized. It enables graphical documentation and context-sensitive protocol analysis. Symbolic representation of received messages facilitates better comprehension of system behaviour. All concepts are tried and evaluated in the laboratory with building security equipment.
An unsupervised framework for sensing individual and cluster behavior patterns from human mobile data

Human behavior understanding is a fundamental problem in many ubiquitous applications. It aims to automatically uncover and quantify characteristic behavior patterns in users' daily lives as well as disclose behavior clustering structure among multiple users. The key challenge is how to define a naturally interpreted representation for users' daily behavior patterns, which can be easily exploited to not only uncover the behavior similarity among multiple users but also predict users' future activities. In this paper, we define such a representation, and propose a probabilistic framework which can automatically learn it from mass amount of mobile data in unsupervised setting and exploit it to predict user activities. By an appropriate information sharing among multiple users, this framework overcomes single-user data sparsity problem and effectively identifies behavior clustering structures in a set of users. Experiments conducted on a public reality mining data set demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of our methods.
Rate controlled servers for very high-speed networks

Future high-speed networks are expected to carry traffic with a wide range of performance requirements. Two queue service disciplines, rate-based scheduling and hierarchical round robin scheduling, are described. These disciplines allow some connections to receive guaranteed rate and jitter performance, while others receive best-effort service. Rate based scheduling is designed for fast packet networks, while hierarchical round robin is an extension of round robin scheduling suitable for use in networks based on the asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) being defined in CCITT. Both schemes are feasible at rates of 1 Gb/s. The schemes allow strict bounds on the buffer space required for rate controlled connections and can provide efficient utilization of transmission bandwidth. <<ETX>>
Naturally Occurring Ehrlichia chaffeensis Infection in Two Prosimian Primate Species: Ring-tailed Lemurs (Lemur catta) and Ruffed Lemurs (Varecia variegata)

A naturally occurring infection of Ehrlichia chaffeensis in lemurs is described. DNA of Ehrlichia chaffeensis was identified by polymerase chain reaction in peripheral blood from six of eight clinically ill lemurs. Organisms were cultured from the blood of one lemur exhibiting clinical and hematologic abnormalities similar to those of humans infected with E. chaffeensis.
Agent-based systems for human learners

Abstract Applying intelligent agent technologies to support human learning activities has been the subject of recent work that reaches across computer science and education disciplines. This article discusses agent-based approaches that have been designed to address a range of pedagogical and/or curricular tasks. Three types of agents are identified in the literature: pedagogical agents, peer-learning agents, and demonstrating agents. Features of each type are considered, as well as the systems in which these agents are incorporated, examining common and divergent goals, system and agent architectures, and evaluation methodologies. Open issues are highlighted, and future directions for this burgeoning interdisciplinary field are suggested.
Glycogen synthase kinase 3 regulates acrosomal exocytosis in mouse spermatozoa via dynamin phosphorylation

The dynamin family of GTPases has been implicated as novel regulators of the acrosome reaction, a unique exocytotic event that is essential for fertilization. Dynamin activity during the acrosome reaction is accompanied by phosphorylation of key serine residues. We now tested the hypothesis that glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) is the protein kinase responsible for dynamin phosphorylation at these phosphosites in mouse spermatozoa. Pharmacologic inhibition of GSK3 in mature mouse spermatozoa (CHIR99021: IC50 = 6.7 nM) led to a significant reduction in dynamin phosphorylation (10.3% vs. 27.3%; P < 0.001), acrosomal exocytosis (9.7% vs. 25.7%; P < 0.01), and in vitro fertilization (53% vs. 100%; P < 0.01). GSK3 was shown to be present in developing germ cells where it colocalized with dynamin in the peri‐acrosomal domain. However, additional GSK3 was acquired by maturing mouse spermatozoa within the male reproductive tract, via a novel mechanism involving direct interaction of sperm heads with extracellular structures known as epididymal dense bodies. These data reveal a novel mode for the cellular acquisition of a protein kinase and identify a key role for GSK3 in the regulation of sperm maturation and acrosomal exocytosis. —Reid, A.T. , Anderson, A.L. , Roman, S. D. , McLaughlin, E. A. , McCluskey, A. , Robinson, P. J., Aitken, R. J., Nixon, B. Glycogen synthase kinase 3 regulates acrosomal exocytosis in mouse spermatozoa via dynamin phosphorylation. FASEB J. 29, 2872‐2882 (2015). www.fasebj. org
Active learning of affordances for robot use of household objects

Learning to perform household tasks is a key step towards developing cognitive service robots. This requires that robots are capable of discovering how to use human-designed products. In this paper, we propose an active learning approach for acquiring object affordances and manipulation skills in a bottom-up manner. We address affordance learning in continuous state and action spaces without manual discretization of states or exploratory motor primitives. During exploration in the action space, the robot learns a forward model to predict action effects. It simultaneously updates the active exploration policy through reinforcement learning, whereby the prediction error serves as the intrinsic reward. By using the learned forward model, motor skills are obtained to achieve goal states of an object. We demonstrate through real-world experiments that a humanoid robot NAO is able to autonomously learn how to manipulate two types of garbage cans with lids that need to be opened and closed by different motor skills.
Attenuation of monocyte adhesion and oxidised LDL uptake in luteolin-treated human endothelial cells exposed to oxidised LDL

Oxidative modification of LDL is causally involved in the development of atherosclerosis and occurs in vivo in the blood as well as within the vascular wall. The present study attempted to explore whether polyphenolic flavonoids influence monocyte-endothelium interaction and lectin-like oxidised LDL receptor 1 (LOX-1) expression involved in the early development of atherosclerosis. The flavones luteolin and apigenin inhibited THP-1 cell adhesion onto oxidised LDL-activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), while the flavanols of ( − )epigallocatechin gallate and (+)catechin, the flavonols of quercetin and rutin, and the flavanones of naringin, naringenin, hesperidin and hesperetin did not have such effects. Consistently, Western blot analysis revealed that the flavones at 25 μm dramatically and significantly abolished HUVEC expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin evidently enhanced by oxidised LDL; these inhibitory effects were exerted by drastically down regulating mRNA levels of these cell adhesion molecules. In addition, quercetin and luteolin significantly attenuated expression of LOX-1 protein up regulated in oxidised LDL-activated HUVEC with a fall in transcriptional mRNA levels of LOX-1. In addition, quercetin and luteolin clearly blunted oxidised LDL uptake by HUVEC treated with oxidised LDL. The results demonstrate that the flavones luteolin and apigenin as well as quercetin were effective in the different initial steps of atherosclerosis process by inhibiting oxidised LDL-induced endothelial monocyte adhesion and/or oxidised LDL uptake. Therefore, certain flavonoids qualify as anti-atherogenic agents in LDL systems, which may have implications for strategies attenuating endothelial dysfunction-related atherosclerosis.
Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Profiling in Cultured Eutopic and Ectopic Endometrial Stromal Cells

The objective of this study was to characterize the genome-wide DNA methylation profiles of isolated endometrial stromal cells obtained from eutopic endometria with (euESCa) and without endometriosis (euESCb) and ovarian endometrial cysts (choESC). Three samples were analyzed in each group. The infinium methylation array identified more hypermethylated and hypomethylated CpGs in choESC than in euESCa, and only a few genes were methylated differently in euESCa and euESCb. A functional analysis revealed that signal transduction, developmental processes, immunity, etc. were different in choESC and euESCa. A clustering analysis and a principal component analysis performed based on the methylation levels segregated choESC from euESC, while euESCa and euESCb were identical. A transcriptome analysis was then conducted and the results were compared with those of the DNA methylation analysis. Interestingly, the hierarchical clustering and principal component analyses showed that choESC were segregated from euESCa and euESCb in the DNA methylation analysis, while no segregation was recognized in the transcriptome analysis. The mRNA expression levels of the epigenetic modification enzymes, including DNA methyltransferases, obtained from the specimens were not significantly different between the groups. Some of the differentially methylated and/or expressed genes (NR5A1, STAR, STRA6 and HSD17B2), which are related with steroidogenesis, were validated by independent methods in a larger number of samples. Our findings indicate that different DNA methylation profiles exist in ectopic ESC, highlighting the benefits of genome wide DNA methylation analyses over transcriptome analyses in clarifying the development and characterization of endometriosis.
RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS AND VIOLENCE: A FRIENDLY CRITIQUE OF THE INTERPRETIVE APPROACH

ABSTRACT: The analysis of episodes of violence associated with religious movements is becoming a key sub-area in the study of new religious movements. An influential method which we term the "interpretive" approach has produced important insights. This approach focuses on how messianic movements interpret the behavior of persons and groups which they perceive as deeply hostile. However, some scholars may have placed too much emphasis on the reactive quality of movement violence as a response to the hasty actions of authorities influenced by distorted or self-fulfilling stereotypes of deviant groups. Some movements are capable of violence that does not appear to be elicited by forceful and dynamic provocations against them, although some leaders may perceive a demonic quality underlying any criticism or opposition or blockage of their aspirations. While hasty or overbearing actions by authorities may lead to violence with respect to some groups in some situations, the withholding or slow pace of intervention may enhance the potential for violence relative to other groups in other contexts. The view of fringe movements as victims may often be valid, but sometimes it may inhibit legitimate criticism of some movements9 problematic practices or repugnant beliefs. Objective scholars should consider relinquishing permanent investments in images of alternative religions as either victims or destructive demons.
The Use Of Knowledge Management Methodologies To Improve The Practice Of Supply Chain Management: The Case Of The Bullwhip Effect

Supply Chain Management is a critically important approach toward producing and delivering goods and services in a cost-effective, timely manner. However, many SCM systems in practice exhibit the bullwhip effect, a tendency towards increasing variability in demand as this type of information migrates downwards in the producing supply chain. We argue that one can reduce the size of the bullwhip effect through the judicious use of knowledge management technologies. We have advanced our arguments through several propositions, and we have derived a set of testable hypotheses from two of these propositions in order to demonstrate how one would go about verifying these arguments. We have identified two different general research methodologies in order to provide a multiple methodological approach to gaining greater confidence in the propositions. It now remains to carry out this plan of research.
Synthesis, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of a New Phloridzin Derivative for Dermo-Cosmetic Applications

The phenolic compound phloridzin (phloretin 2′-O-glucoside, variously named phlorizin, phlorrhizin, phlorhizin or phlorizoside) is a prominent member of the chemical class of dihydrochalcones, which are phenylpropanoids. Phloridzin is specifically found in apple and apple juice and known for its biological properties. In particular we were attracted by potential dermo-cosmetic applications. Here we report the synthesis, stability studies and antimicrobial activity of compound F2, a new semi-synthetic derivative of phloridzin. The new derivative was also included in finished formulations to evaluate its stability with a view to a potential topical use. Stability studies were performed by HPLC; PCL assay and ORAC tests were used to determine the antioxidant activity. F2 presented an antioxidant activity very close to that of the parent phloridzin, but, unlike the latter, was more stable in formulations. To further explore potential health claims, antifungal activity of phloridzin and its derivative F2 were determined; the results, however, were rather low; the highest value was 31,6% of inhibition reached by F2 on Microsporum canis at the highest dose.
The relationship between epicardial fat tissue thickness and frequent ventricular premature beats.

BACKGROUND Ventricular premature beats (VPBs) are one of the most common rhythm abnormalities. Structural heart diseases such as myocardial hypertrophy and left ventricular dysfunction are associated with VPBs. However, the exact mechanism of VPBs in patients without structural heart disease has not been revealed yet. Epicardial fat tissue (EFT) is a visceral fat around the heart. Increased EFT thickness is associated with myocardial structural and ultrastructural myocardial abnormalities, which may play a role in the development of VPBs. AIMS To evaluate the possible relationship between EFT thickness and frequent VPBs. METHODS AND RESULTS The study population consisted of 50 patients with VPBs and 50 control subjects. Frequent VPBs were defined as the presence of more than 10 beats per hour assessed by 24-h Holter electrocardiography monitoring. EFT thickness was measured by transthoracic echocardiography. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess factors related with frequent VPBs. Baseline demographic and biochemical features including age, gender, and rates of hypertension and diabetes mellitus were similar in both groups. EFT thickness was significantly higher in patients with frequent VPBs than in controls (3.3 ± 1.3 mm vs. 2.2 ± 0.8 mm, p < 0.001). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, EFT thickness was independently associated with VPB frequency (B = 1.030, OR = 2.802, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Patients with frequent VPBs had increased EFT thickness compared to control subjects. EFT thickness was independently associated with frequent VPBs.
Palmitoylation Regulates Epidermal Homeostasis and Hair Follicle Differentiation

Palmitoylation is a key post-translational modification mediated by a family of DHHC-containing palmitoyl acyl-transferases (PATs). Unlike other lipid modifications, palmitoylation is reversible and thus often regulates dynamic protein interactions. We find that the mouse hair loss mutant, depilated, (dep) is due to a single amino acid deletion in the PAT, Zdhhc21, resulting in protein mislocalization and loss of palmitoylation activity. We examined expression of Zdhhc21 protein in skin and find it restricted to specific hair lineages. Loss of Zdhhc21 function results in delayed hair shaft differentiation, at the site of expression of the gene, but also leads to hyperplasia of the interfollicular epidermis (IFE) and sebaceous glands, distant from the expression site. The specific delay in follicle differentiation is associated with attenuated anagen propagation and is reflected by decreased levels of Lef1, nuclear β-catenin, and Foxn1 in hair shaft progenitors. In the thickened basal compartment of mutant IFE, phospho-ERK and cell proliferation are increased, suggesting increased signaling through EGFR or integrin-related receptors, with a parallel reduction in expression of the key differentiation factor Gata3. We show that the Src-family kinase, Fyn, involved in keratinocyte differentiation, is a direct palmitoylation target of Zdhhc21 and is mislocalized in mutant follicles. This study is the first to demonstrate a key role for palmitoylation in regulating developmental signals in mammalian tissue homeostasis.
DNN-based stochastic postfilter for HMM-based speech synthesis

In this paper we propose a deep neural network to model the conditional probability of the spectral differences between natural and synthetic speech. This allows us to reconstruct the spectral fine structures in speech generated by HMMs. We compared the new stochastic data-driven postfilter with global variance based parameter generation and modulation spectrum enhancement. Our results confirm that the proposed method significantly improves the segmental quality of synthetic speech compared to the conventional methods. Index Terms: HMM, speech synthesis, DNN, modulation spectrum, postfilter, segmental quality
Training Teachers for Primary Schools: the question of subject study

Abstract The education of intending primary school teachers in England and Wales has increased the amount of academic subject specialist study in response to governmental pressure. (Primary means children between 7 and 11 years.) This paper seeks to show that the Department of Education and Science's (DES) requirement of initial teacher training courses at primary level that it should include the application of subject study to the learning and developmental needs of young children is problematical, begging questions of ideology, epistemology, psychology and curriculum organisation. An attempt to meet the DES requirement is made through the adoption of two models of subject study and their application to young children; their implications for subject study at the level of higher education are drawn. Content and pedagogy are examined in the light of the two models. The suggestion is examined that together they constitute analytical tools to examine subject study at primary school and higher education level.