Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Brief Introduction into Transrational Peace Research and Elicitive Conflict Transformation

This article is a summary of the author’s `Many Peaces´ trilogy, which comprises in its original version more than 1200 pages. It has been published by Palgrave Macmillan in London 2012, 2013 with the third volume still to be issued. It presents a broad range of peace interpretations in history and culture, which are divided into the so called five peace families – the energetic, the moral, the modern, the post-modern and the transrational perceptions and understandings of peace(s). It further elaborates the transrational peace philosophy and derives from John Paul Lederach’s famous pyramid of conflict (work) a broader systemic understanding of conflict as relational phenomenon. It offers a tool for analysis of these complex processes that happen at human “contact boundaries at work” – the enlarged pyramid-model of themes, levels and layers. Finally, it introduces resonance, correspondence and homeostasis as principles of elicitiv conflict mapping, the methodological toolkit for applied conflict work.
Inhibition of myostatin promotes myogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells.

BACKGROUND AIMS Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have been thought to be attractive candidates for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), but the rate of MSC myogenesis is very low. Thus MSC treatment for DMD is restricted. Myostatin (Mstn), a negative regulator of myogenesis, is known to be responsible for limiting skeletal muscle regeneration. We hypothesized that inhibition of Mstn by using anti-Mstn antibody (Ab) would ameliorate the myogenic differentiation of MSC in vitro and in vivo. METHODS MSC were isolated from rat bone marrow. Induced rat MSC (rMSC) were treated with various concentrations of anti-Mstn Ab. The expression of myogenic differentiation antigen (MyoD), myogenin and myosin heavy chain-type alpha (MHC-alpha) were estimated by immunofluorescence analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Adipogenic differentiation of rMSC inhibited by anti-Mstn Ab was evaluated by Oil Red O staining. The expression of dystrophin was detected 16 weeks after anti-Mstn Ab injection and rMSC transplantation by immunofluorescence staining, RT-PCR and Western blot. Motor function, serum creatine kinase (CK) and histologic changes were also evaluated. RESULTS Five-azacytidine-mediated myogenic differentiation induced significant endogenous Mstn expression. Anti-Mstn Ab improved the expression of MyoD, myogenin and MHC-alpha and inhibited adipocyte formation. Sixteen weeks after transplantation, the inhibition of Mstn had improved motor function and muscle mass. In accordance with the increased motor function and muscle mass, dystrophin expression had increased. Furthermore, serum CK and centrally nucleated fiber (CNF) levels decreased slightly, suggesting specific pathologic features of the dystrophic muscle were partially restored. CONCLUSIONS Using anti-Mstn Ab, we found that inhibition of Mstn improved myogenic differentiation of rMSC in vitro and in vivo. A combination of Mstn blockade and MSC transplantation may provide a pharmacologic and cell-based strategy for the treatment of DMD.
Toward Intentional, Reflective, and Assimilative Classroom Practices with Students with FASD

The value of research-informed classroom practices is well recognized and thus this qualitative study was designed to explore, from multiple perspectives, the experiences and influences of classroom practices for students with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). The inductive analysis of 11 focus groups and three interviews involving 60 individuals working closely with this student population—31 teachers, seven administrators, 16 allied professionals, and six caregivers—generated three themes: understanding the whole student, responding within dynamic environments, and optimizing student-centered programming. This study provides an essential step toward better-prepared educators for meeting the learning and developmental needs of students with FASD as well as other complex populations. The implications for developing professional learning opportunities reflective of intentional, reflective, and assimilative classroom practices are discussed.
Making interview transcripts real: the reader’s response

This research note considers how we interact with verbatim interview transcripts. Drawing on reader-response theory, the note examines the possible effect of readers’ engagement with this often dysfluent talk-as-text. Lessons from the reader-response literature suggest that in realizing verbal transcripts we may be convincingly representing changed worlds to our audiences – specifically, our world and not their world. As a result of this potential hazard, this note alerts qualitative researchers to be mindful of the possible impact of engaging with talk-as-text and offers strategies to retain robustness in their research.
UTCNN: a Deep Learning Model of Stance Classification on Social Media Text

Most neural network models for document classification on social media focus on text information to the neglect of other information on these platforms. In this paper, we classify post stance on social media channels and develop UTCNN, a neural network model that incorporates user tastes, topic tastes, and user comments on posts. UTCNN not only works on social media texts, but also analyzes texts in forums and message boards. Experiments performed on Chinese Facebook data and English online debate forum data show that UTCNN achieves a 0.755 macro average f-score for supportive, neutral, and unsupportive stance classes on Facebook data, which is significantly better than models in which either user, topic, or comment information is withheld. This model design greatly mitigates the lack of data for the minor class. In addition, UTCNN yields a 0.842 accuracy on English online debate forum data, which also significantly outperforms results from previous work, showing that UTCNN performs well regardless of language or platform.
An Ontology for Open Government Data Business Model

Despite the existence of number of well-known conceptualization in e-Business and e-Commerce, there have been no efforts so far to develop a detailed, comprehensive conceptualization for business model. Current business literature is replete with fragmented conceptualizations, which only partially describe aspects of a business model. In addition, the existing conceptualizations do not explicitly support the emerging phenomenon of open government data -- an increasingly valuable economic and strategic resource. Consequently, no comprehensive, formal, executable open government data business model ontology exists, that could be directly leveraged to facilitate the design, development of an operational open data business model. This paper bridges this gap by providing a parsimonious yet sufficiently detailed, conceptualization and formal ontology of open government data business model for open data-driven organizations. Following the design science approach, we developed the ontology as a 'design artefact' and validate the ontology by using it to describe an open data business model of an open data-driven organization.
Adam Smith’s Bourgeois Virtues in Competition

ABSTRACT: Whether or not capitalism is compatible with ethics is a long standing dispute. We take up an approach to virtue ethics inspired by Adam Smith and consider how market competition influences the virtues most associated with modern commercial society. Up to a point, competition nurtures and supports such virtues as prudence, temperance, civility, industriousness and honesty. But there are also various mechanisms by which competition can have deleterious effects on the institutions and incentives necessary for sustaining even these most commercially friendly of virtues. It is often supposed that if competitive markets are good, more competition must always be better. However, in the long run competition enhancing policies that neglect the nurturing and support of the bourgeois virtues may undermine the continued flourishing of modern commercial society.
Subspace-Based Blind Channel Estimation by Separating Real and Imaginary Symbols for Cyclic-Prefixed Single-Carrier Systems

Blind channel estimation based on a subspace-based algorithm for single-input single-output cyclic-prefixed single-carrier systems is proposed in this brief. The proposed method is different from conventional subspace-based approaches, which exploit the original complex structure of the received data symbols. In contrast, we separate the real part and the imaginary part of the received complex symbols and then exploit these two kinds of symbols to construct the signal model. The noise subspace can then be established to estimate the channel impulse response (CIR) using a subspace algorithm when real symbols, such as binary phase shift keying or pulse amplitude modulation symbols, are applied. The real part and the imaginary part of the CIR can be estimated individually and simultaneously with only a sign ambiguity. With the aid of repetition index, the proposed method is workable even if few data blocks are available. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed approach outperforms conventional methods in normalized mean-squared error under static channel environments.
Qualitative Research: Recent Developments in Case Study Methods

▪ Abstract This article surveys the extensive new literature that has brought about a renaissance of qualitative methods in political science over the past decade. It reviews this literature's focus on causal mechanisms and its emphasis on process tracing, a key form of within-case analysis, and it discusses the ways in which case-selection criteria in qualitative research differ from those in statistical research. Next, the article assesses how process tracing and typological theorizing help address forms of complexity, such as path dependence and interaction effects. The article then addresses the method of fuzzy-set analysis. The article concludes with a call for greater attention to means of combining alternative methodological approaches in research projects.
Private and censorship-resistant communication over public networks

Society’s increasing reliance on digital communication networks is creating unprecedented opportunities for wholesale surveillance and censorship. This thesis investigates the use of public networks such as the Internet to build robust, private communication systems that can resist monitoring and attacks by powerful adversaries such as national governments. We sketch the design of a censorship-resistant communication system based on peer-to-peer Internet overlays in which the participants only communicate directly with people they know and trust. This ‘friend-to-friend’ approach protects the participants’ privacy, but it also presents two significant challenges. The first is that, as with any peer-to-peer overlay, the users of the system must collectively provide the resources necessary for its operation; some users might prefer to use the system without contributing resources equal to those they consume, and if many users do so, the system may not be able to survive. To address this challenge we present a new game theoretic model of the problem of encouraging cooperation between selfish actors under conditions of scarcity, and develop a strategy for the game that provides rational incentives for cooperation under a wide range of conditions. The second challenge is that the structure of a friend-to-friend overlay may reveal the users’ social relationships to an adversary monitoring the underlying network. To conceal their sensitive relationships from the adversary, the users must be able to communicate indirectly across the overlay in a way that resists monitoring and attacks by other participants. We address this second challenge by developing two new routing protocols that robustly deliver messages across networks with unknown topologies, without revealing the identities of the communication endpoints to intermediate nodes or vice versa. The protocols make use of a novel unforgeable acknowledgement mechanism that proves that a message has been delivered without identifying the source or destination of the message or the path by which it was delivered. One of the routing protocols is shown to be robust to attacks by malicious participants, while the other provides rational incentives for selfish participants to cooperate in forwarding messages.
Copula-Based Semiparametric Models for Multivariate Time Series

The authors extend to multivariate contexts the copula-based univariate time series modeling approach of Chen & Fan [X. Chen, Y. Fan, Estimation of copula-based semiparametric time series models, J. Econometrics 130 (2006) 307-335; X. Chen, Y. Fan, Estimation and model selection of semiparametric copula-based multivariate dynamic models under copula misspecification, J. Econometrics 135 (2006) 125-154]. In so doing, they tackle simultaneously serial dependence and interdependence between time series. Their technique differs from the usual approach to time series copula modeling in which the series are first modeled individually and copulas are used to model the dependence between their innovations. The authors discuss parameter estimation and goodness-of-fit testing for their model, with emphasis on meta-elliptical and Archimedean copulas. The method is illustrated with data on the Canadian/US exchange rate and the value of oil futures over a ten-year period.
“I Would Not Consider Myself a Homophobe”

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the written reflections of aspiring principals in two principal-preparation courses where social justice is at the core of the content and which address sexual orientation as part of the responsibility of a social justice leader. Data Collection: Two instructors in a leadership-preparation program incorporated reflection assignments into their respective social-justice-related courses. One course was offered at the beginning of the program; the other offered at the end. Aspiring principals from two different cohorts of students participated in the study. The students’ reflections were coded to identify themes and patterns that were found in their reflections and to see if any of their reflections changed over time. Findings: The authors found that students had varied experiences with people who identified as LGBTQ. Second, we found that discussion of sexual orientation was complicated by students’ Christian beliefs. Third, we found that there was some change in the way in which students responded to sexual orientation, from a more passionate to a more analytical stance. We discuss these findings in light of the need for better assessment of future leaders’ attitudes and actions and of our own heteronormativity and heterosexism. We discuss implications for our own teaching as well as for other teachers in preparation programs.
Endogenous origin of the lymphatics in the avian chorioallantoic membrane

The lymphatics of the intestinal organs have important functions in transporting chyle toward the jugulosubclavian junction, but the lymphangiogenic potential of the splanchnic mesoderm has not yet been tested. Therefore, we studied the allantoic bud of chick and quail embryos. It is made up of endoderm and splanchnic mesoderm and fuses with the chorion to form the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) containing both blood vessels and lymphatics. In day 3 embryos (stage 18 of Hamburger and Hamilton [HH]), the allantoic mesoderm consists of mesenchymal cells that form blood islands during stage 19 (HH). The endothelial network of the allantoic bud, some intraluminal and some mesenchymal cells express the hemangiopoietic marker QH1. The QH1‐positive endothelial cells also express the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor‐3 (VEGFR‐3), whereas the integrating angioblasts and the round hematopoietic cells are QH1‐positive/VEGFR‐3–negative. The ligand, VEGF‐C, is expressed ubiquitously in the allantoic bud, and later predominantly in the allantoic epithelium and the wall of larger blood vessels. Allantoic buds of stage 17–18 (HH) quail embryos were grafted homotopically into chick embryos and reincubated until day 13. In the chimeric CAMs, quail endothelial cells are present in blood vessels and lymphatics, the latter being QH1 and VEGFR‐3 double‐positive. QH1‐positive hematopoietic cells are found at many extra‐ and intraembryonic sites, whereas endothelial cells are confined to the grafting site. Our results show that the early allantoic bud contains hemangioblasts and lymphangioblasts. The latter can be identified with Prox1 antibodies and mRNA probes in the allantoic mesoderm of day 4 embryos (stage 21 HH). Prox1 is a specific marker of the lymphatic endothelium throughout CAM development. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Modified Local Binary Pattern (MLBP) for Robust Face Recognition

This paper presents an improvement of Local Binary Pattern (LBP) for robust face representation under varying lighting conditions. Original LBP operator compares pixels in a local neighbourhood with the centre pixel and converts the resultant binary string to 8-bit integer value. So, it is less effective under difficult lighting conditions where variation between pixels is negligible. Our proposed MLBP uses two stage encoding procedure which is more robust in detecting this variation in a local patch. The performance of the proposed method is compared with the baseline LBP under different illumination conditions.
An allograft inflammatory factor 1 (AIF1) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is associated with anticentromere antibody positive systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE To identify genetic associations between allograft inflammatory factor 1 (AIF1) and systemic sclerosis (SSc), or its subsets, using a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in a replicate case-control study. METHODS The frequencies of alleles and genotypes of an SNP, rs2269475, for the AIF1 gene were examined in two large independent cohorts of SSc patients (n = 1015 total), and compared with two groups of normal controls (n = 893 total). Both cases and controls were stratified by ethnicity (Caucasian, African American and Hispanic) and by autoantibody status [anti-centromere antibodies (ACA) and anti-topoisomerase I antibody (ATA)]. RESULTS The minor T allele and CT/TT genotype frequencies of the AIF1 SNP were not observed more frequently in SSc patients of the three ethnic groups (individually or combined) when compared with controls. On the other hand, T and CT/TT frequencies were significantly increased in ACA-positive Caucasian SSc patients, and all ACA-positive SSc patients (the three ethnic groups combined), when compared with ACA-negative SSc patients and with normal controls, with odds ratios of approximately 1.5. CONCLUSION The data demonstrate a genetic association between AIF1 and the ACA-positive subset of SSc. This polymorphism is a non-synonymous substitution and therefore likely to represent an important functional change in AIF1. Since vascular pathology is a prominent feature in ACA-positive SSc patients, the observed association with a vasculotrophic inflammatory gene is biologically plausible and warrants further research.
Validation of an immunohistochemical signature predictive of 8‐year outcome for patients with breast carcinoma

We recently reported that standardized quantitative immunohistochemical (IHC) assays allowed prediction of an adverse outcome among 572 node negative (N−) patients with breast carcinoma (BrCa). To further validate our prior findings, we repeated the IHC stains including a second series of BrCa diagnosed at Yale University. Tissue microarrays (TMAs) of two cohorts of patients with BrCa (418 Marseille University and 303 Yale University) were respectively investigated for IHC expression of 15 markers (HIF‐1α, PI3K, pAKT, pmTOR, moesin, P21, 4EBP‐1, P27, Ker5‐6, pMAPKAPK‐2, SHARP2, claudin‐1, ALDH, AF6 and CD24). Quantitative measurements of immunoprecipitates densitometry assessed with an image analyzer were correlated with 8‐year patients' outcome and compared in the two cohorts. The best predictive signature consisted of a combination of five markers that included HIF‐1α, PI3K, claudin‐1, AF6 and pAKT in N− BrCa. This combination permitted an accurate prediction of outcome in 92.34% (386/418) of N− patients in the first set (Marseille) and 89.8% (158/176) in the second set (Yale). The close results in both cohorts confirmed the validity of this original IHC signature predictive of prognosis in node negative BrCa. This validation suggests that in clinical practice, it would be possible with standardized kits (i) to identify patients with poor prognosis at diagnosis time, particularly in the N− BrCa subset, who would require more aggressive adjuvant therapy and (ii) to avoid useless expensive therapies and their side effects in N− patients with favorable prognosis.
Coordinated Energy Management for Emergency Demand Response in Mixed-Use Buildings

Both buildings and datacenters have emerged as critical resources for demand response, especially for emergency demand response (EDR) that helps avoid cascading failures during emergency events. Nonetheless, although the majority of datacenters are physically located in mixed-use buildings (MUBs) and share the main electrical power line with other operation (e.g., office) in the same MUB, the existing studies on demand response by buildings and datacenters have been largely isolated to date and resulted in uncoordinated energy management: research on building demand response treats datacenter operation as "miscellaneous loads", whereas datacenter demand response considers dedicated datacenters. To overcome the uncoordination between datacenter and non-datacenter operation, we propose a first-of-its-kind coordinated approach to enabling EDR in MUBs, such that the total incurred loss (e.g., latency performance degradation for datacenter, thermal discomfort for office) is minimized for energy shedding during EDR. We present a distributed and coordinated energy management (DCEM) solution that can optimally control indoor temperature for non- datacenter space, server provisioning and load balancing in datacenter, and usage of diesel generation. We also conduct a case study to validate our coordinated approach and the results show that DCEM can reduce the MUB cost up to 41 % compared to the standard EDR approach using only backup genearator.
Evaluating Optimization Strategies for HMMer Acceleration on GPU

Comparing a biological sequence to a family of sequences is an important task in Bioinformatics, commonly performed using tools such as HMMer. The Viterbi algorithm is applied as HMMer main step to compute the similarity between the sequence and the family. Due to the exponential growth of biological sequence databases, implementations of the Viterbi algorithm on several high performance platforms have been proposed. Nevertheless, few implementations of the Viterbi algorithm use GPUs as main platform. In this paper, we present the development and optimization of an accelerator for the Viterbi algorithm applied to biological sequence analysis on GPUs. Some of the optimizations analyzed are applied to the sequence comparison problem for the first time in the literature and others are evaluated in more depth than in related works. Our main contributions are: (a) an accelerator that achieves speedups up to 102.90 and 60.46, with respect to HMMer2 and HMMer3 execution on a general purpose computer, respectively, (b) the use of the multi-platform OpenCL programming model for the accelerator, (c) a detailed evaluation of several optimizations such as memory, control flow, execution space, instruction scheduling, and loop optimizations, and (d) a methodology of optimizations and evaluation that can also be applied to other sequence comparison algorithms, such as the HMMer3 MSV.