Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantum breaking of elastic string.

Breaking of an atomic chain under stress is a collective many-particle tunneling phenomenon. We study classical dynamics in imaginary time by using a conformal mapping technique, and derive an analytic formula for the probability of breaking. The result covers a broad temperature interval and interpolates between two regimes: tunneling and thermal activation. Also, we consider the breaking induced by an ultrasonic wave propagating in the chain, and propose to observe it in a scanning tunneling microscopy experiment.
Tactics to deter deviant consumer behavior: a research agenda

Purpose Deviant consumer behavior (DCB) has serious negative effects on organizations, employees and other customers. While research to date has largely focused on understanding why consumers engage in deviant behaviors, less focus has been placed on exploring how to deter them. This paper aims to shift the conversation from research exploring why consumers engage in deviant behaviors to understanding how DCB could be deterred. Design/methodology/approach In this conceptual paper, a research agenda of deterrence tactics is provided with associated propositions to guide future research in the field of DCB. Findings A deterrence–neutralization–behavior (DNB) framework is proposed to underpin the seven deterrence tactics outlined in this research agenda. The DNB framework illustrates the positive relationship between neutralization techniques and engagement in DCB, because the techniques reduce the level of cognitive dissonance associated with performing a deviant act beyond an individual’s deviance threshold. The framework adds a new proposed moderating role of deterrence tactics. Deterrence tactics are mechanisms that will reintroduce cognitive dissonance, previously reduced through a neutralization technique, by presenting the consumer with a competing piece of information that challenges their attitudes, beliefs or behavior. Therefore, the authors propose that certain deterrence tactics could diminish the positive effect of different neutralization techniques on DCB if the tactics challenge the justifications consumers are using to excuse their actions – subsequently reintroducing cognitive dissonance. Practical implications Practically, this paper is the next step in an effort to provide evidence-based solutions for managers seeking to reduce the negative impact that deviance has on the organization. Originality/value To date, research has focused on understanding why DCB occurs with limited attention on how it can be deterred. The value in this paper is in proposing a series of deterrence tactics that are theoretically matched to established antecedents and neutralization techniques associated with DCB. Overall, this paper provides a future research agenda with propositions to build knowledge on effective deterrence tactics for curbing instances of DCB.
Serological Charac ter iza t ions

Recent evidence indicates that determinants controlled by a locus (Ia-4 locus) mapped in I-J subregion of mouse H-2 major histocompatibility complex are selectively expressed on a functional subpopulation of peripheral T lymphocyte, which is endowed with a role to suppress the antibody and immunoglobulin production (1-3). 1 Unlike other/-region associated (Ia) antigens, which are primarily detectable on B cells, the products of Ia-4 locus are not found on B cells, but are uniquely expressed on T cells (1, 4). In addition, the same locus in I-J subregion appears to control the determinants found on the antigenspecific suppressive T-cell factor (3), and thus I-J subregion products provide an important clue for studying the nature of both the Ia antigen and the antigen-receptor which are unique to T cells. However, the presence of such/-region determinants on T cells has been mainly determined by functional analyses in which the activity of suppressor T-cell and suppressive T-cell factor is removed by anti-Ia antisera (1, 3, 5, 6), and no direct serological affirmation for the T-cell Ia antigen is yet available using standard cytotoxic assays. This is probably due to the fact that only a very small portion of T cells among total lymphoid cells express such Ia antigens, and this imposes a great limitation in determining the specificity, function, and biochemical structure of T-cell Ia antigens. We have reported in a preliminary form a simple technique to enrich the antigen-specific suppressor T cell which carries I-J subregion determinants (7). We confirmed further that this method is highly effective in obtaining antigenspecific T cells and in analyzing their phenotypic expressions by the usual serological procedures. This report will describe the detailed method to enrich the I-J-bearing suppressor T cell, and the serological and functional analyses of the purified suppressor T cell and its products. We also present our recent results concerning the relationship between the I-J determinants, Lyt phenotype, and Fc receptor (FcR) ~ expressed on the specifically purified suppressor T cell.
FK228 Analogues Induce Fetal Hemoglobin in Human Erythroid Progenitors

Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) improves the clinical severity of sickle cell disease (SCD), therefore, research to identify HbF-inducing agents for treatment purposes is desirable. The focus of our study is to investigate the ability of FK228 analogues to induce HbF using a novel KU812 dual-luciferase reporter system. Molecular modeling studies showed that the structure of twenty FK228 analogues with isosteric substitutions did not disturb the global structure of the molecule. Using the dual-luciferase system, a subgroup of FK228 analogues was shown to be inducers of HbF at nanomolar concentrations. To determine the physiological relevance of these compounds, studies in primary erythroid progenitors confirmed that JMA26 and JMA33 activated HbF synthesis at levels comparable to FK228 with low cellular toxicity. These data support our lead compounds as potential therapeutic agents for further development in the treatment of SCD.
Insulators Target Active Genes to Transcription Factories and Polycomb-Repressed Genes to Polycomb Bodies

Polycomb bodies are foci of Polycomb proteins in which different Polycomb target genes are thought to co-localize in the nucleus, looping out from their chromosomal context. We have shown previously that insulators, not Polycomb response elements (PREs), mediate associations among Polycomb Group (PcG) targets to form Polycomb bodies. Here we use live imaging and 3C interactions to show that transgenes containing PREs and endogenous PcG-regulated genes are targeted by insulator proteins to different nuclear structures depending on their state of activity. When two genes are repressed, they co-localize in Polycomb bodies. When both are active, they are targeted to transcription factories in a fashion dependent on Trithorax and enhancer specificity as well as the insulator protein CTCF. In the absence of CTCF, assembly of Polycomb bodies is essentially reduced to those representing genomic clusters of Polycomb target genes. The critical role of Trithorax suggests that stable association with a specialized transcription factory underlies the cellular memory of the active state.
A Kalman Filter based Fast Noise Suppression Algorithm

We have proposed a robust noise suppression algorithm with Kalman filter theory [7]. In this paper, we propose a fast noise suppression algorithm by modifying the canonical state space model in [7]. The algorithm aims to achieve robust noise suppression with reduced computational complexity without sacrificing high quality of speech signal. The remarkable features of the proposed algorithm are that it can be realized by 3 multiplications and that it has the same performances or better ones compared with [7] despite the reduction of computational complexity under the same environments, using only the Kalman filter algorithm for the proposed canonical state space model with the colored driving source: (i) a vector state equation is composed of the only speech signal, and (ii) a scalar observation equation is composed of speech signal and additive noise. We have confirmation of validity of the proposed canonical state space model with the colored driving source, and also show the effectiveness through numerical results and subjective evaluation results.
Combined Fuzzy-Petri nets hybrid model for power system performability analysis

Power systems performability evaluation becomes a very important task. Because the problem is complex we propose a performance-dependability model, taking in account the power system together with its protections and automations. We propose, for the fault-tolerant power system performability analysis, a complex Markov reward model. We take in account to save the operational state of the system and we combine dependability and safety measures. The paper implements the Stochastic Petri Nets and Fuzzy Logic in power system performability model. The fuzzy sets are used for safety analysis of the electric power protection/automation system. The Markov model uses an instantaneous reward (IR) which depends of the fuzzy Safety Transition (ST), due to the electric-power protection/automation system action. The performability comparative study is presented for a fault tolerant electrical power isolated system (EP). The purpose of the paper is to compute the performability measures with respect of the energy saving. To minimize the energy loss cost, due to system defaults is a main objective.
An Analysis of Some Models Used in Image Segmentation

This report describes an investigation into the characteristics of a number of image models and algorithms used for the segmentation of SPOT images. The initial goals were the problems of phase transition in the model, and parameter estimation. The experimental tools used encompass a great deal of modern Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methodology, from the Gibbs sampler/Metropolis-Hastings algorithm, to the Swendsen-Wang algorithm and Monte Carlo Maximum Likelihood. One result of this work has been the demonstration of the importance of in-depth studies of the image models being considered -- some common models are shown to be inadequate for the purposes to which they are commonly put. Outlines of future areas of research aimed at overcoming some of the problems identified are given.
Journal of Theoretical and Applied Information Technology Deriving Cluster Knowledge Using Rough Set Theory

Clustering algorithms gives general description of the clusters listing number of clusters and member entities in those clusters. It lacks in generating cluster description in the form of pattern. Deriving pattern from clusters along with grouping of data into clusters is important from data mining perspective. In the proposed approach reduct from rough set theory is employed to generate pattern. Reduct is defined as the set of attributes which distinguishes the entities in a homogenous cluster. It is observed that most of the remaining attributes in the cluster has same value for their attribute value pair. Reduct attributes are removed to formulate pattern by concatenating most contributing attributes. Proposed approach is demonstrated using benchmarking mushroom dataset from UCI repository.
Realtime 3 D Motion Estimation on Graphics Hardware

3D motion estimation in image sequences is a major task in artificial intelligence systems such as robot navigation or driver assistance systems. This involves the estimation of the optical flow between consecutive image frames and also the 3D geometry of the scene. Several solution techniques for this problem have already been presented in the literature. They can be divided into feature and energy-based methods. Feature-based methods provide sparse results and are preferred in timecritical applications because of their computational benefits. Energybased methods usually provide more accurate and dense results but are considered to be unusable in realtime applications since they require the solution of large systems of nonlinear equations. In this work a highly ranked dense method for 3D motion estimation from stereo images is analyzed and modified for realtime realization. The derived algorithm is implemented on programmable graphic hardware via the parallel computing environment CUDA, to achieve dense and accurate velocity fields at 30 Hz on 640× 480 images.
Auction-based multi-robot task allocation in COMSTAR

Over the past few years, swarm based systems have emerged as an attractive paradigm for building large scale distributed systems composed of numerous independent but coordinating units. In our previous work, we have developed a protoype system called COMSTAR (Cooperative Multi-agent Systems for automatic TArget Recognition) using a swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs) that is capable of identifying targets in software simulations of reconnaissance operations. Experimental results from the simulations of the COMSTAR system show that task selection among the UAVs is a crucial operation that determines the overall efficiency of the system. Previously described techniques for task selection among swarm units use a centralized server such as a ground control station to coordinate the activities of the swarm units. However, such systems are not truly distributed since the behavior of the swarm units is predominantly directed by the centralized server's task allocation algorithm. In this paper we focus on the problem of distributed task selection in a swarmed system where each swarm unit decides on the tasks it will execute by sharing information and coordinating its actions with other swarm units without the intervention of a centralized ground control station supervising its activities. Specifically, we build our task selection algorithm on an auction-based algorithm for task selection in robotic swarms described by Kalra et al. We report experimental results in a simulated environment with 18 robots and 20 tasks and compare the performance of our auction-based algorithm with other heuristic-based task selection strategies in multi-agent swarms. Our simulation results show that the auction-based algorithm improves the task completion times by 30-60% and reduces the communication overhead by as much as 90% with respect to other heuristic-based strategies maintaining similar performance in load balancing.
Deep Phylogenetic Analysis of Haplogroup G1 Provides Estimates of SNP and STR Mutation Rates on the Human Y-Chromosome and Reveals Migrations of Iranic Speakers

Y-chromosomal haplogroup G1 is a minor component of the overall gene pool of South-West and Central Asia but reaches up to 80% frequency in some populations scattered within this area. We have genotyped the G1-defining marker M285 in 27 Eurasian populations (n= 5,346), analyzed 367 M285-positive samples using 17 Y-STRs, and sequenced ~11 Mb of the Y-chromosome in 20 of these samples to an average coverage of 67X. This allowed detailed phylogenetic reconstruction. We identified five branches, all with high geographical specificity: G1-L1323 in Kazakhs, the closely related G1-GG1 in Mongols, G1-GG265 in Armenians and its distant brother clade G1-GG162 in Bashkirs, and G1-GG362 in West Indians. The haplotype diversity, which decreased from West Iran to Central Asia, allows us to hypothesize that this rare haplogroup could have been carried by the expansion of Iranic speakers northwards to the Eurasian steppe and via founder effects became a predominant genetic component of some populations, including the Argyn tribe of the Kazakhs. The remarkable agreement between genetic and genealogical trees of Argyns allowed us to calibrate the molecular clock using a historical date (1405 AD) of the most recent common genealogical ancestor. The mutation rate for Y-chromosomal sequence data obtained was 0.78×10-9 per bp per year, falling within the range of published rates. The mutation rate for Y-chromosomal STRs was 0.0022 per locus per generation, very close to the so-called genealogical rate. The “clan-based” approach to estimating the mutation rate provides a third, middle way between direct farther-to-son comparisons and using archeologically known migrations, whose dates are subject to revision and of uncertain relationship to genetic events.
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Implementation in Secure Care Juvenile Justice Schools: Results of a National Survey of School Administrators

Despite the prevalence of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) for addressing student behavior in public schools, little information exists on the extent and consistency of implementation efforts in secure juvenile justice (JJ) schools. Reports of fidelity to core PBIS processes and components are needed to determine the ubiquity of comprehensive efforts and link implementation to outcomes. All 301 JJ schools in the United States were sent a survey and we report on responses from 143 (47.5%) principals. The survey focused on (a) use of multitiered systems of behavior supports; (b) organizational leadership and training; (c) expectations and consequences; (d) behavior response, monitoring, and oversight; and (e) crisis prevention and management. Approximately 84% of respondents identified alignment with a multitiered framework for behavioral supports. However, fewer supports were available to youth with more serious behavioral needs (i.e., at Tiers 2 and 3). Additional results, implications, and recommendations are provided.
Signal Processing for Wireless Communications II

PART I of this special issue on signal processing for wireless communications, published in October 1998, contained 21 papers on diversity and antenna arrays, blind techniques, and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)-related techniques. In this issue, we present 22 papers on equalization and signal detection and multiuser detection and code division multiple access (CDMA)-related techniques
Developing a secure remote patient monitoring system

Cloud computing offers and allows users to use infrastructure, platforms, and software as services. With the advent of mobile computing, and cloud computing supporting mobile services, a merger of both these computing has opened a new domain of mobile cloud computing. Predictably, this has given way to a large number of issues coming forward, first and foremost among them, being, security. This paper develops a protocol suite that takes care of an entire mobile cloud computing (MCC) system with respect to a specific application area. Patient monitoring and providing subsequent medical care in remote areas is a problem. The proposal presented here considers the application of remote patient monitoring. The protocol considers remote user authentication and subsequently develop secure access to data retained using cloud infrastructure. A cloud service provider is considered that manages users and their requests.
Flow Experience and Self-Traits as Antecedents of Facebook Addiction: Factorial Validity of the Daily Facebook Addiction Scale

Facebook has become indispensable in social interactions. Unmarried users may find a date or life partner by uploading attractive photos of themselves or messaging their crushes. This study developed the Daily Facebook Addiction Scale (DFAS), which focuses on using mobile devices to access Facebook. The aims were explored how flow experience is created based on the self-traits of Facebook users and analyzed the relationship between flow experience and Facebook addiction. Data was obtained 401 participants through the Internet, in total, 231 were addicted to Facebook, that is, they accessed it for >2 hours a day. This study indicated: (1) users’ concentration and interactivity had a positive effect on creating flow experience but enjoyment did not. (2) Respondents’ flow experiences had a significant effect on Facebook addiction. (3) The subfactors of a respondent’s self-traits individually had positive effects on flow experience and Facebook addiction, and self-control generated the most significant effect. Three antecedents, namely self-traits, flow experience, and Facebook addiction, do indeed affect each other.
Online novelty-based visual obstacle detection for field robotics

This paper presents a novel online unsupervised vision system for obstacle detection in field environments which detects many obstacles pathological to appearance- or structure-only obstacle detection systems. Robust obstacle detection in field environments is challenging as it is infeasible to train on all possible obstacles in all conditions, and many obstacles are camouflaged in their appearance or structure. The proposed system combines novelty in structure and appearance cues to detect obstacles, can adapt over time to changes in the environment, and is suitable for long-term operation over changing lighting conditions in various environments. After an initial learning period the method exhibits very few false positives, while successfully detecting most obstacles over both daytime and nighttime datasets including challenging obstacles such as a person lying down in grass.
Loss Investigation of Interior Permanent-Magnet Motors Considering Carrier Harmonics and Magnet Eddy Currents

In this paper, we investigate losses of interior permanent-magnet motors driven by pulsewidth-modulated inverters using 3D finite-element analysis, which can estimate the Eddy-current loss in the permanent magnet accurately. The calculated losses are compared with the measured results and the theoretical solution to verify the validity of the analysis. The variation of the magnet Eddy-current loss due to the division of the magnet is also investigated. It is clarified that the Eddy-current loss in the permanent magnet is mainly produced by the carrier harmonics of the inverter and that the axial length of the divided magnet should be smaller than the skin depth of the eddy currents produced by the major harmonics for the loss reduction.
SYNTHESIS AND SECRETION OF LYSOZYME BY PHAGOCYTES

In 1922 Alexander Fleming described the remarkable bacteriolytic activity of an enzyme, lysozyme, which was widely distributed in tissues and secretions (1). Lysozyme (muramidase) is a cationic enzyme, tool wt 14,307, which hydrolyses N-acetyl muramic /3-1, 4 N-acetyl glucosamine linkages in the bacterial cell wall (2). Although a great deal is known about its structure and enzymology its function other than in host defence is still poorly understood. High concentrations of lysozyme are found in leukocytes, especially the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) 1 and rabbit alveolar macrophage (3). Fractionation studies of the rabbit P M N show that 70 % of its intracellular lysozyme is sedimentable and, unlike other hydrolases, it is found in both the azurophil and specific granules of the cell (4). The BCG-induced rabbit alveolar macrophage is able to release a large fraction of its intracellular lysozyme into the medium during phagocytosis (5) and may secrete lysozyme during cultivation in vitro (6). Large amounts of lysozyme accumulate in the serum and urine of patients (7) and animals (8) bearing monocytic leukemia. In this paper we report that mouse peritoneal macrophages and human monocytes synthesize and secrete substantial amounts of lysozyme in culture. We also study factors which influence the rate of lysozyme production and examine the effect of phagocytosis on its secretion.