Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Balanced Cost Cluster-Heads Selection Algorithm for Wireless Sensor Networks

This paper focuses on reducing the power consumption of wireless sensor networks. Therefore, a communication protocol named LEACH (Low-Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy) is mod- ified. We extend LEACHs stochastic cluster-head selection algorithm by a modifying the probability of each node to become cluster-head based on its required energy to transmit to the sink. We present an efficient energy aware routing algorithm for the wireless sensor networks. Our contribution consists in rotation selection of cluster- heads considering the remoteness of the nodes to the sink, and then, the network nodes residual energy. This choice allows a best distri- bution of the transmission energy in the network. The cluster-heads selection algorithm is completely decentralized. Simulation results show that the energy is significantly reduced compared with the previous clustering based routing algorithm for the sensor networks.
Analysis of a Novel Mechanism of Neuronal Toxicity Produced by an Apolipoprotein E‐Derived Peptide

Abstract : The apolipoprotein E (apoE)‐derived peptide (141‐155)2 has a neurotoxic effect, implying that apoE itself could be a source of toxicity in Alzheimer's disease brain. We characterized the toxicity of this peptide on superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons and compared the death with the apoptotic death that occurs after nerve growth factor (NGF) deprivation in these cells. A dose of 10 μM apoE (141‐155)2 resulted in the death of ~50% of the neurons within 24 h. Nuclear condensation and DNA fragmentation preceded the death. However, most inhibitors of NGF deprivation‐induced death, including the caspase inhibitor Boc‐aspartyl(O‐methyl)fluoromethyl ketone and genetic deletion of bax‐1‐, had no effect on the toxicity. Inclusion of depolarizing levels of potassium did block the toxicity. Receptor‐associated peptide (RAP), an antagonist for apoE receptors, did not protect cells in either SCG or hippocampal cultures. In addition, RAP had no effect on internalization of the apoE peptide. These data support the observation that apoE (141‐155)2 is neurotoxic but suggest that the neurotoxicity is distinct from classical apoptosis or necrosis. Furthermore, these results indicate that the toxic effect may occur independently of members of the low‐denśity lipoprotein receptor gene family.
A NEW SPECIES OF NEOTROPICAL LAELAPINE MITE (ACARI: PARASITIFORMES, LAELAPIDAE) FROM THE MARSUPIAL MONODELPHIS AMERICANA

Androlaelaps ilhacardosoi, a new species of Laelapinae, is described from the pelage of a 3-lined marsupial, Monodelphis americana, collected on Ilha Cardoso, São Paulo State, Brazil. The description is based on the female, and the systematics of laelapine mites associated with neotropical marsupials is discussed.
A novel approach for tumor volume quantification based on the local dissimilarity volume

Evaluating the variations of lesion volume plays an important role in many medical applications. It helps radiologists to follow up patients and examine the effects of therapy. Several approaches were being proposed to come up with medical expectations. This work comes within this context. We present a new approach based on the local dissimilarity volume (LDV) that is a 3D representation of the local dissimilarity map (LDM). This map presents a useful means to compare two images offering a localization of information. We proved the reproducibility of this method (LDV) compared to medical techniques used by radiologists. The result of simulations shows that we can quantifying lesion volume by using LDV method which is an efficient way to calculate and localize volume variation of anomalies. It allowed a time-saver with a compete satisfaction of an expert during the medical treatment.
A Negotiation-Style Recommender Based on Computational Ecology in Open Negotiation Environments

The system described herein represents the first example of a recommender system in digital ecosystems where agents negotiate services on behalf of small companies. The small companies compete not only with price or quality but also with a wider service-by-service composition by subcontracting with other companies. The final result of these offerings depends on negotiations at the scale of millions of small companies. This scale requires new platforms for supporting digital business ecosystems (DBEs), as well as related services like open-id, trust management, monitors, and recommenders. This is done in the Open Negotiation Environment (ONE), which is an open-source platform that allows agents, on behalf of small companies, to negotiate and use the ecosystem services, and enables the development of new agent technologies. The methods and tools of cyber engineering are necessary to build up ONEs that are stable, a basic condition for predictable and reliable business environments. Aiming to build stable DBEs by means of improved collective intelligence, we introduce a model of negotiation-style dynamics from the point of view of computational ecology. This model inspires an ecosystem monitor and a novel negotiation-style recommender (NSR). The ecosystem monitor provides hints to the NSR to achieve greater stability of ONE in a DBE. The greater stability provides the small companies with higher predictability and, therefore, better business results. The NSR is implemented with a simulated-annealing algorithm at a constant temperature, and its impact is shown by applying it to a real case of ONE populated by Italian companies.
Diketopyrrolopyrrole‐Based Conjugated Polymer Entailing Triethylene Glycols as Side Chains with High Thin‐Film Charge Mobility without Post‐Treatments

Side chain engineering of conjugated donor–acceptor polymers is a new way to manipulate their optoelectronic properties. Two new diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)‐terthiophene‐based conjugated polymers PDPP3T‐1 and PDPP3T‐2, with both hydrophilic triethylene glycol (TEG) and hydrophobic alkyl chains, are reported. It is demonstrated that the incorporation of TEG chains has a significant effect on the interchain packing and thin‐film morphology with noticeable effect on charge transport. Polymer chains of PDPP3T‐1 in which TEG chains are uniformly distributed can self‐assemble spontaneously into a more ordered thin film. As a result, the thin film of PDPP3T‐1 exhibits high saturated hole mobility up to 2.6 cm2 V−1 s−1 without any post‐treatment. This is superior to those of PDPP3T with just alkyl chains and PDPP3T‐2. Moreover, the respective field effect transistors made of PDPP3T‐1 can be utilized for sensing ethanol vapor with high sensitivity (down to 100 ppb) and good selectivity.
The impact of structuring information in a patient decision aid

Two computer based studies examined the correspondence between decision outcomes from two different types of decision support and the decision derived from a ‘reasoned choice’ model. In Study 1 (N = 72), the impact of presentation (alternative-tree or linear) on participants’ decision, satisfaction with decision and their expectancy-vale (EV) ratings was examined for a hypothetical scenario about a decision to have a heart operation or not. In the alternative-tree format, attributes associated with each alternative were set out either as ‘pros’ or ‘cons’ and participants could click on these headings to receive more information. In the ‘linear’ format participants read through the same information in a similar fashion to a leaflet. There was significantly greater correlation (p <0.05) between the decision and participants’ summed EV ratings in the alternative-tree condition (r = 0.63, p <0.01) than in the linear condition (r = 0.29, ns). Study 2 (N = 216) replicated these findings comparing the alternative-tree (r = 0.43, p <0.05) to an attribute-tree format (r = 0.19, ns) thus controlling for the interactive searching for information on a computer. Furthermore, process tracing measures reflected the use of more complex, systematic processing of information in the alternative-tree condition, consistent with an increased correspondence between participants’ decision and values. Health professionals need to consider more closely the structuring of information about treatment options to allow patients to process information and make decisions in line with their expectations and values.
The relation between mathematical achievement and gender differences in spatial abilities: A suppression effect.

Three experiments were conducted to determine whether mathematical achievement acted as a suppressor variable on gender differences in spatial performance. In this context, a suppressor variable should produce an increase in the magnitude of gender differences in spatial abilities when it is partialed out from gender and the spatial test score. In 3 experiments, undergraduate students completed the Mental Rotations Test (MRT; S.G. Vandenberg & A. R. Kuse, 1978) and indicated how many mathematics courses they took in high school (Experiment 1) or their mean grade in high-school mathematics (Experiments 2 and 3). In Experiment 3, the Water Level Task (M. Robert & P. Morin, 1993) was administered in addition to the MRT. In all 3 experiments, support was found for the notion that mathematical achievement acted as a suppressor variable. Results are discussed with regard to their implications in the study of the relations among gender, performance in mathematics courses, and spatial performance.
Traffic sign detection and analysis: Recent studies and emerging trends

Traffic sign recognition (TSR) is a research field that has seen much activity in the recent decade. This paper introduces the problem and presents 4 recent papers on traffic sign detection and 4 recent papers on traffic sign classification. It attempts to extract recent trends in the field and touch upon unexplored areas, especially the lack of research into integrating TSR with a driver-in-the-loop system and some of the problems that presents. TSR is an exciting field with great promises for integration in driver assistance systems and that particular area deserves to be explored further.
Evaluating Efficiency in the Implementation of Structural Funds Operations

This article proposes a methodology to assess the efficiency of the European Union Structural Funds (SF) operations using two alternative approaches: first, by a unit cost analysis of the programme’s output indicators; second, by the comparative study of the tendering, contract-awarding and implementation costs of a sample of projects. This methodology has been applied to the mid-term evaluation of the 2000—2006 Integrated Operational Programme of Andalusia, employing the information provided by the programme’s monitoring system and using primary data obtained from the interventions’ direct managers. This process of accessing data sources itself provides useful insights into programme assessment given that — by requesting data regarding programmed and effective unit costs for each indicator from the direct managers — their capacity to programme can be verified as well as the reliability of the data provided to the monitoring system, promoting a culture of evaluation and accountability.
The Drug Resistance Strategies Project as Translational Research

This paper tells the story of the multi-layered translational process of the Drug Resistance Strategies Project. The Drug Resistance Strategies Project provides an exemplar of translational scholarship, translating adolescent narratives about their substance use experiences into an efficacious, substance abuse prevention middle school curriculum. The curriculum, called keepin’ it REAL, was developed using the principle of cultural grounding and translational performances and has been found to reduce adolescent substance use. The authors tell the story of this project from its inception to its current role as a model substance abuse prevention program.
'Mirroring' Association and the Correspondence Problem

Mirror phenomena are behavioral and neurophysiological reactions to social stimuli in which the stimulus and the response match or correspond; they share distinctive features. For example, observation of face-touching and foot-wagging elicit similar, overt behaviors from the observer (Chartrand and Bargh, 1999); observation of arm and hand movements selectively enhance motor-evoked potentials from the muscles involved in performing the same hand and arm movements (Strafella and Paus, 2000); facial expressions of disgust activate the insular cortex, which is also active during presentation of a disgusting smell (Wicker et al., 2003); and the sight of a needle pricking a model’s hand activates areas of the anterior cingulated cortex and anterior insula involved in pain processing (Morrison et al., 2004; Avenanti et al., 2005). In this chapter we consider the extent to which mirror phenomena can be explained in terms of very simple associative processes. We will focus on motoric mirror phenomena, those in which action observation provokes the execution of similar overt or covert motor responses. The first section locates associative accounts of these phenomena among other ‘mirror theories’, and the second outlines one particular associative hypothesis, the associative sequence learning (ASL) model. The third section reviews evidence that the ASL model is applicable, not only to ‘automatic’ imitative responses, but also to cases of imitation learning and instructed imitation. In the final section we discuss extension of the ASL model to non-motoric mirror phenomena, and effects that may appear to be beyond its explanatory reach.
Disruption of the Homogentisate Solanesyltransferase Gene Results in Albino and Dwarf Phenotypes and Root, Trichome and Stomata Defects in Arabidopsis thaliana

Homogentisate solanesyltransferase (HST) plays an important role in plastoquinone (PQ) biosynthesis and acts as the electron acceptor in the carotenoids and abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis pathways. We isolated and identified a T-DNA insertion mutant of the HST gene that displayed the albino and dwarf phenotypes. PCR analyses and functional complementation also confirmed that the mutant phenotypes were caused by disruption of the HST gene. The mutants also had some developmental defects, including trichome development and stomata closure defects. Chloroplast development was also arrested and chlorophyll (Chl) was almost absent. Developmental defects in the chloroplasts were consistent with the SDS-PAGE result and the RNAi transgenic phenotype. Exogenous gibberellin (GA) could partially rescue the dwarf phenotype and the root development defects and exogenous ABA could rescue the stomata closure defects. Further analysis showed that ABA and GA levels were both very low in the pds2-1 mutants, which suggested that biosynthesis inhibition by GAs and ABA contributed to the pds2-1 mutants' phenotypes. An early flowering phenotype was found in pds2-1 mutants, which showed that disruption of the HST gene promoted flowering by partially regulating plant hormones. RNA-sequencing showed that disruption of the HST gene resulted in expression changes to many of the genes involved in flowering time regulation and in the biosynthesis of PQ, Chl, GAs, ABA and carotenoids. These results suggest that HST is essential for chloroplast development, hormone biosynthesis, pigment accumulation and plant development.
Cause-Related Marketing: Ethics and the Ecstatic

This article evaluates the ethical implications of the practice of cause-related marketing (CRM). The authors note howCRMis consistent with a contemporary rhetoric that argues that consumers are displaying a developing interest in the social commitments of the corporate world. However, following the work of Zygmunt Bauman, the authors suggest that CRM actually threatens these sentiments. Of particular significance is its incorporation of a charitable act within an act of exchange that is mediated by marketing technique. This serves to prevent any encounter with Bauman’s “Other. ” Instead, the pretense of engagement has to be preserved by increasingly vociferous avowals of concern. These become examples of the ecstatic, a seductive force that renders the extreme meaningless and amoral. Finally, the authors argue that the nature of ethical commitment produced by CRM cannot be divorced from the instrumental benefits that are generated.
Neck soft tissue and fat distribution: comparison between normal men and women by magnetic resonance imaging

BACKGROUND Obesity and increased neck circumference are risk factors for the obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (SAHS). SAHS is more common in men than in women, despite the fact that women have higher rates of obesity and greater overall body fat. One factor in this apparently paradoxical sex distribution may be the differing patterns of fat deposition adjacent to the upper airway in men and women. A study was therefore undertaken to compare neck fat deposition in normal men and women. METHODS Using T1 weighted magnetic resonance imaging, the fat and tissue volumes in the necks of 10 non-obese men and 10 women matched for age (men mean (SE) 36 (3) years, women 37 (3) years, p = 0.7), body mass index (both 25 (0.6) kg/m2, p>0.9), and Epworth Sleepiness Score (both 5 (1), p = 0.9) were assessed; all denied symptoms of SAHS. RESULTS Total neck soft tissue volume was greater in men (1295 (62) vs 928 (45) cm3, p<0.001), but the volume of fat did not differ between the sexes (291 (29) vs 273 (18) cm3, p = 0.6). The only regions impinging on the pharynx which showed a larger absolute volume of fat in men (3.2 (0.7) vs 1.1 (0.3) cm3, p = 0.01) and also a greater proportion of neck fat in men (1.3 (0.3)% vs 0.4 (0.1)%, p = 0.03) were the anterior segments inside the mandible at the palatal level. CONCLUSIONS There are differences in neck fat deposition between the sexes which, together with the greater overall soft tissue loading on the airway in men, may be factors in the sex distribution of SAHS.
Organizational Anomie and Worker Consent

The normative basis of organizational life is often overlooked in contemporary workplace studies. Current models of the workplace more frequently stress forms of workplace control as determinants of workplace relations. The current article analyzes data taken from the population of organizational ethnographies to illuminate the role of organizational anomie in influencing citizenship and resistance at work. The results indicate that anomic management behavior has greater negative consequences for worker consent than the specific system of workplace control used. A greater focus on the role of normative orders in conditioning workplace behaviors and experiences may help to explain anomalies in the contemporary workplace, such as the simultaneous expansion of worker participation and workforce marginalization, by showing how each evolves from different normative orders.
Stability of Art Preference in Frontotemporal Dementia

We examined aesthetic preference for reproductions of paintings among frontotemporal dementia (FTD) patients, in two sessions separated by 2 weeks. The artworks were in three different styles: representational, quasirepresentational, and abstract. Stability of preference for the paintings was equivalent to that shown by a matched group of Alzheimer’s disease patients and a group of healthy controls drawn from an earlier study. We expected that preference for representational art would be affected by disruptions in language processes in the FTD group. However, this was not the case and the FTD patients, despite severe language processing deficits, performed similarly across all three art styles. These data show that FTD patients maintain a sense of aesthetic appraisal despite cognitive impairment and should be amenable to therapies and enrichment activities involving art.
METROPOLITAN AREA DEFINITION IN THE UNITED STATES

Since 1905 the Bureau of the Census has devised and applied concepts and criteria for delineating metropolitan areas and has published statistics describing them. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and its predecessor, the Bureau of the Budget, have defined metropolitan areas for use by federal agencies since introducing standard metropolitan areas (SMAs) for the 1950 census. In the late 20th century, new national United States settlement forms emerged, and distinctions between urban and rural areas or between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas lost both their theoretical and practical significance. A proposed system of national settlement areas, applied experimentally to eight diverse states, uses counties (towns and cities in New England) as basic statistical units, with each categorized by its population density as ranked within both its state and the nation. Relative population density alone is an adequate and appropriate surrogate for activity patterns and interaction among geographic unit.
Multi-Substrate Terpene Synthases: Their Occurrence and Physiological Significance

Terpene synthases are responsible for synthesis of a large number of terpenes in plants using substrates provided by two distinct metabolic pathways, the mevalonate-dependent pathway that is located in cytosol and has been suggested to be responsible for synthesis of sesquiterpenes (C15), and 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate pathway located in plastids and suggested to be responsible for the synthesis of hemi- (C5), mono- (C10), and diterpenes (C20). Recent advances in characterization of genes and enzymes responsible for substrate and end product biosynthesis as well as efforts in metabolic engineering have demonstrated existence of a number of multi-substrate terpene synthases. This review summarizes the progress in the characterization of such multi-substrate terpene synthases and suggests that the presence of multi-substrate use might have been significantly underestimated. Multi-substrate use could lead to important changes in terpene product profiles upon substrate profile changes under perturbation of metabolism in stressed plants as well as under certain developmental stages. We therefore argue that multi-substrate use can be significant under physiological conditions and can result in complicate modifications in terpene profiles.
Trends in the Policing Industry

Fairness and Effectiveness in Policing: The Evidencedoes a terrific job of discussing the limited research on trends in the policing industry, but what it does not include is perhaps as informative. Large gaps in the body of research limit our ability to make definitive inferences about how the policing industry is changing. These gaps result in part from a lack of systematic, standardized, longitudinal data collection and analysis on the nature and outputs of police organizations in the United States. As a result, we know little about basic descriptive features of policing and how these features are changing over time. Lacking the ability to track even the most basic descriptive trends, the police research industry is at even more of a loss in developing careful empirical explanations of these trends. This article discusses some of these trends, summarizes what we know and what we do not know about them, and provides some recommendations for how the police research industry can do a better job of describing and explaining trends in the police industry.