Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The semiotics of autopoiesis. A catastrophe-theoretic approach

This paper has a dual purpose. On the one hand, it suggests ways of making autopoietic theory more precise and more operational for concrete communication analysis. I discuss concepts such as distinction, system, boundary, environment, perturbation, and compensation. The explication of the concepts is based on catastrophe theory, and in order to make them operational I emphasise their affinity to traditional semiotics and communication theory. On the other hand I propose changes to the semiotic tradition in order to incorporate insights from autopoietic theory, namely that the human condition is characterised by the phenomenon of self-reference and therefore also by the unavoidability of paradoxes. Firstly, this means that truth cannot be a basic semiotic concept; instead the notion of stability is suggested. Secondly, in order to act in a paradoxical context, we need to unfold the paradox in time, which again calls for a dynamic theory of meaning. Science and experience The humanities and the social sciences are cleft by a deep dichotomy which can be labelled “science” versus “experience”. The scientist (e.g. a structuralist) tries to put himself in an observer’s position, and seeks to discover regularities and laws that are objective in the sense that they belong more to his environment than to himself, and in the sense that other researchers applying the same methods to the same material would discover the same patterns; in opposition to this, the experiencer (e.g. a phenomenologist) claims that all knowledge is basically a subjective phenomenon: knowledge presupposes a knower and since this knower is already immersed in the world he tries to analyse, it is impossible to assume an objective observer’s position, which makes objective knowledge an illusion. Whereas the scientist will typically believe in a world with laws that exist independently of the observer and will focus on discovering these laws, the experiencer will favour a constructivist view where the world, in so far as it is ac-
A new indirect adaptive control strategy for a synchronous direct drive motor

This paper presents a new model reference adaptive control method to control motor torque in direct drive reluctance motors in an accurate and ripple-free fashion. It is based on the motor's voltage equation and requires only measurements of motor angle, winding voltages and currents. In addition, we introduce a new optimal torque-to-current conversion which minimizes copper losses. Simulations of a reluctance motor with magnetically coupled phases demonstrate fast parameter convergence and accurate torque tracking.
Carvacrol, a Food-Additive, Provides Neuroprotection on Focal Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Mice

Carvacrol (CAR), a naturally occurring monoterpenic phenol and food additive, has been shown to have antimicrobials, antitumor, and antidepressant-like activities. A previous study demonstrated that CAR has the ability to protect liver against ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of CAR on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in a middle cerebral artery occlusion mouse model. We found that CAR (50 mg/kg) significantly reduced infarct volume and improved neurological deficits after 75 min of ischemia and 24 h of reperfusion. This neuroprotection was in a dose-dependent manner. Post-treatment with CAR still provided protection on infarct volume when it was administered intraperitoneally at 2 h after reperfusion; however, intracerebroventricular post-treatment reduced infarct volume even when the mice were treated with CAR at 6 h after reperfusion. These findings indicated that CAR has an extended therapeutic window, but delivery strategies may affect the protective effects of CAR. Further, we found that CAR significantly decreased the level of cleaved caspase-3, a marker of apoptosis, suggesting the anti-apoptotic activity of CAR. Finally, our data indicated that CAR treatment increased the level of phosphorylated Akt and the neuroprotection of CAR was reversed by a PI3K inhibitor LY-294002, demonstrating the involvement of the PI3K/Akt pathway in the anti-apoptotic mechanisms of CAR. Due to its safety and wide use in the food industry, CAR is a promising agent to be translated into clinical trials.
Towards a further understanding of the development of market orientation in the firm: a conceptual framework based on the market-sensing capability

While the relationship between market orientation and performance has been examined extensively in the literature, relatively little attention has been given to the antecedents of market orientation. So the basic question of how to develop a market-driven organisation remains to a large extent unanswered. The capabilities framework provides a useful conduit through which this issue can be approached, since it recognises that firms are innately heterogeneous because the different resources or capabilities they possess. However, this area has been accused of being tautological in nature, and requires further extensive empirical analysis. This paper presents a theoretical framework that uses the decomposition of the market-sensing capability as a way to facilitate understanding of the creation of market orientation. Thus it will not only add to the literature on the antecedents of market orientation, but also offers an empirical analysis of a significant capability. Furthermore, this model addresses the question of the relationship between market orientation and learning orientation, and proposes that a learning orientation precedes a market orientation.
An FLP-Style Answer-Set Semantics for Abstract-Constraint Programs with Disjunctions

We introduce an answer-set semantics for abstract-constraint programs with disjunction in rule heads in the style of Faber, Leone, and Pfeifer (FLP). To this end, we extend the definition of an answer set for logic programs with aggregates in rule bodies using the usual FLP-reduct. Additionally, we also provide a characterisation of our semantics in terms of unfounded sets, likewise generalising the standard concept of an unfounded set. Our work is motivated by the desire to have simple and rule-based definitions of the semantics of an answer-set programming (ASP) language that is close to those implemented by the most prominent ASP solvers. The new definitions are intended as a theoretical device to allow for development methods and methodologies for ASP, e.g., debugging or testing techniques, that are general enough to work for different types of solvers. We use abstract constraints as an abstraction of literals whose truth values depend on subsets of an interpretation. This includes weight constraints, aggregates, and external atoms, which are frequently used in real-world answer-set programs. We compare the new semantics to previous semantics for abstract-constraint programs and show that they are equivalent to recent extensions of the FLP semantics to propositional and first-order theories when abstract-constraint programs are viewed as theories.
A Functional Microstrip Circuit Module for Annular Slot Antenna

A functional microstrip circuit module for annular slot antenna is proposed. This module consists of an annular microstrip line component, two PIN diodes and a DC bias circuit. Reconflgurable circular polarizations can be simply controlled by this functional module. Axial ratio is adjustable by changing the clip angle of the notch made by the annular microstrip line component. Simulated and experimental results have shown good impedance bandwidth for return loss and antenna gains in circularly polarized states.
Experiencing affective interactive art

The progress in the field of affective computing enables the realization of affective art. This paper describes the affective interactive art system Mood Swings, which interprets and visualizes affect expressed by a person. Mood Swings is founded on the integration of a framework for affective movements and a color model. This enables Mood Swings to recognize affective movement characteristics as expressed by a person and display a color that matches the expressed emotion. With that, a unique interactive system is introduced, which can be considered as art, a game, or a combination of both, as becomes apparent from evaluations.
ISICIL: Information Semantic Integration through Communities of Intelligence onLine

this is a collective position paper presenting the vision, motivations and approaches of the ISICIL project. This project proposes to study and to experiment with the usage of new tools to assist tasks of corporate intelligence and technical watch. These tools rely on web 2.0 advanced interfaces (blog, wiki, social bookmarking) for interactions and on semantic web technologies for interoperability and information processing.
Sodium Valproate Exerts Neuroprotective Effects In Vivo through CREB-Binding Protein-Dependent Mechanisms But Does Not Improve Survival in an Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Mouse Model

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by motoneuron (MN) degeneration, generalized weakness, and muscle atrophy. The premature death of MNs is thought to be a determinant in the onset of this disease. In a transgenic mouse model of ALS expressing the G86R mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (mSOD1), we demonstrated previously that CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein)-binding protein (CBP) and histone acetylation levels were specifically decreased in nuclei of degenerating MNs. We show here that oxidative stress and mSOD1 overexpression can both impinge on CBP levels by transcriptional repression, in an MN-derived cell line. Histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) treatment was able to reset proper acetylation levels and displayed an efficient neuroprotective capacity against oxidative stress in vitro. Interestingly, HDACi also upregulated CBP transcriptional expression in MNs. Moreover, when injected to G86R mice in vivo, the HDACi sodium valproate (VPA) maintained normal acetylation levels in the spinal cord, efficiently restored CBP levels in MNs, and significantly prevented MN death in these animals. However, despite neuroprotection, mean survival of treated animals was not significantly improved (<5%), and they died presenting the classical ALS symptoms. VPA was not able to prevent disruption of neuromuscular junctions, although it slightly delayed the onset of motor decline and retarded muscular atrophy to some extent. Together, these data show that neuroprotection can improve disease onset, but clearly provide evidence that one can uncouple MN survival from whole-animal survival and point to the neuromuscular junction perturbation as a primary event of ALS onset.
A model for resource allocation using operational knowledge assets

Purpose – The paper seeks to develop a business model that shows the impact of operational knowledge assets on intellectual capital (IC) components and business performance and use the model to show how knowledge assets can be prioritized in driving resource allocation decisions.Design/methodology/approach – Quantitative data were collected from 84 high‐tech federal contractors in the Washington DC metro area. Respondents in the target population were middle‐level and operations managers of business sectors holding positions as presidents, vice‐presidents, directors, engineering managers, operations managers, and analysts. Partial least squares (PLS) analysis was performed to develop a structural model between operational knowledge assets and IC components that maximizes explained variance for business performance. Operational assets were specified as formative constructs and IC and business performance were specified as reflective constructs.Findings – A parsimonious conceptually sound model with signifi.
Scene Segmentation with Low-Dimensional Semantic Representations and Conditional Random Fields

This paper presents a fast, precise, and highly scalable semantic segmentation algorithm that incorporates several kinds of local appearance features, example-based spatial layout priors, and neighborhood-level and global contextual information. The method works at the level of image patches. In the first stage, codebook-based local appearance features are regularized and reduced in dimension using latent topic models, combined with spatial pyramid matching based spatial layout features, and fed into logistic regression classifiers to produce an initial patch level labeling. In the second stage, these labels are combined with patch-neighborhood and global aggregate features using either a second layer of Logistic Regression or a Conditional Random Field. Finally, the patch-level results are refined to pixel level using MRF or over-segmentation based methods. The CRF is trained using a fast Maximum Margin approach. Comparative experiments on four multi-class segmentation datasets show that each of the above elements improves the results, leading to a scalable algorithm that is both faster and more accurate than existing patch-level approaches.
Effects of Release Contingencies on Bout-like Responding

Problem behavior is a concern for individuals with developmental disabilities. Research suggests that a release contingency time-out is effective to reduce problem behavior, but may increase the duration of time-out. Other sources recommend including a release contingency to avoid reinforcing problem behavior. It is possible clinicians generalize this concept to other domains, such as differential reinforcement with discrete-trial-training. Such a modification may be conceptualized as a tandem ratio requirement. Evidence from basic literature suggests that a tandem ratio requirement may increase a bout of responding. The current study examined effects of applied behavior analytic procedures using a bout analysis. The purpose was to identify a best-practice recommendation for clinicians to use when patterns of bout-like responding are evident, in order to efficiently decrease the duration of a bout. Three children with ASD participated. Results showed that release contingencies influenced bout-like responding in two participants. Social validity was assessed on the feasibility, efficacy, and likeability of the study. Social validity measures indicated the study had appreciable effects on problem behavior.
Intrathecal Upregulation of Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor and Its Neuroprotective Actions on Motor Neurons in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Abstract To investigate cytokine/chemokine changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we simultaneously measured 16 cytokine/chemokines (interleukin [IL]-1&bgr;, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 [p70], IL-13, IL-17, interferon-&ggr;, tumor necrosis factor-&agr;, granulocyte colony stimulating factor [G-CSF], macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 [MCP-1], and macrophage inflammatory protein-1&bgr;) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and sera from 37 patients with sporadic ALS and 33 controls using a multiplexed fluorescent bead-based immunoassay. We also conducted immunohistochemical analyses from 8 autopsied ALS cases and 6 nonneurologic disease controls as well as cell culture analyses of relevant cytokines and their receptors. We found that concentrations of G-CSF and MCP-1 were significantly increased in ALS CSF compared with controls. In spinal cords, G-CSF was expressed in reactive astrocytes in ALS cases but not controls, whereas G-CSF receptor expression was significantly decreased in motor neurons of spinal cords from ALS cases. Biologically, G-CSF had a protective effect on the NSC34 cell line under conditions of both oxidative and nutritional stress. We suggested that G-CSF has potentially neuroprotective effects on motor neurons in ALS and that downregulation of its receptor might contribute to ALS pathogenesis. On the other hand, MCP-1 correlated with disease severity, which may aggravate motor neuron damage.
A Comparative Analysis of Exemplar Based Image Inpainting Algorithms

Image inpainting refers to the task of filling in the missing or damaged regions of an image in an undetectable manner. Many researchers have proposed a large variety of exemplar based image inpainting algorithms to restore the structure and texture of damaged images. However no recent study has been undertaken for a comparative evaluation of these algorithms. In this paper, we are comparing various exemplar based image inpainting algorithms which do not have diffusion related blur in the result image. The analyzed algorithms are Antonio Criminisi et al’s Region filling algorithm, Jiying Wu et al’s Hybrid algorithm and Zhaolin Lu et al’s Image completion algorithm. Both theoretical analysis and experiments have made to analyze the results of these exemplar based image inpainting algorithms on the basis of Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR).
Multi-aided Inertial Navigation for Ground Vehicles in Outdoor Uneven Environments

A good localization ability is essential for an autonomous vehicle to perform any functions. For ground vehicles operating in outdoor, uneven and unstructured environments, the localization task becomes much more difficult than in indoor environments. In urban or forest environments where high buildings or tall trees exist, GPS sensors also fail easily. The main contribution of this paper is that a multi-aided inertial based localization system has been developed to solve the outdoor localization problem. The multi-aiding information is from odometry, an accurate gyroscope and vehicle constraints. Contrary to previous work, a kinematic model is developed to estimate the inertial sensor’s lateral velocity. This is particularly important when cornering at speed, and side slip occurs. Experimental results are presented of this system which is able to provide a vehicle’s position, velocity and attitude estimation accurately, even when the testing vehicle runs in outdoor uneven environments.
Image resolution enhancement by using interpolation followed by iterative back projection

In this paper, we propose a new super resolution technique based on the interpolation followed by registering them using iterative back projection (IBP). Low resolution images are being interpolated and then the interpolated images are being registered in order to generate a sharper high resolution image. The proposed technique has been tested on Lena, Elaine, Pepper, and Baboon. The quantitative peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity index (SSIM) results as well as the visual results show the superiority of the proposed technique over the conventional and state-of-art image super resolution techniques. For Lena's image, the PSNR is 6.52 dB higher than the bicubic interpolation.
Children's implicit understanding of the stress—illness link: Testing development of health cognitions

Objective Innate knowledge and developmental stage theory have been used to explain children's understanding of concepts relating to health, illness, and stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the degree to which children demonstrate unconscious cognitive associations between the concepts of stress and illness. Design The study employed an experimental design using an age appropriate implicit association task. Methods Thirty‐two children (5–11 years of age) completed the Preschool Implicit Association Test (PSIAT), a computer‐based measure of reaction time to consistent (stress and illness) and inconsistent (stress and health) concept pairings. Results Whilst age group had a significant effect on reaction times (older children generally displaying faster reaction times than younger children), those as young as 5–6 years of age were able to demonstrate implicit associations between stress and illness using the PSIAT. There was also some indication that this association peaks at around 7–8 years of age. Conclusions Findings support a combination of developmental stage theory and the innate theory of children's understanding. Whilst sample size is small, this study is the first to apply the PSIAT to the context of implicit cognitive associations between stress and illness in children. Findings have potential implications for the delivery of interventions to facilitate health promotion and development of positive health behaviours in children and indicate that even children as young as 5–6 years have some ability to relate to the concept that stress may influence illness. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? The way in which children understand health and illness is commensurate with their developmental stage and experience of illness. Children also appear to have a degree of innate understanding of health and illness and their causes. Furthermore, recent work suggests children have some innate understanding and knowledge of the concept of stress. What does this study add? This is the first study to use an implicit association task to assess children's understanding of stress and illness. Implicit stress–illness associations were seen in children as young as 5–6 years of age. Whilst sample size was small, this proof‐of‐concept study bridges disciplines to further understanding of health.
Bayesian multifractal signal denoising

This work presents an approach for signal/image denoising in a semi-parametric frame. Our model is a wavelet-based one, which essentially assumes a minimal local regularity. This assumption translates into constraints on the multifractal spectrum of the signals. Such constraints are in turn used in a Bayesian framework to estimate the wavelet coefficients of the original signal from the noisy ones. Our scheme is well adapted to the processing of irregular signals, such as (multi-)fractal ones, and is potentially useful for the processing of e.g. turbulence, bio-medical or seismic data.
Soft Edges and Burning Things: Enhanced Real-Time Rendering of Particle Systems

This paper describes two methods that can be used to enhance the looks of particle systems. These methods (cid:2)t applications that use modern graphics hardware for rendering. The (cid:2)rst method removes clipping artifacts. These artifacts often appear when a fuzzy particle texture intersects solid geometry, resulting in a visible, undesireable edge in the rendered graphics. This problem can be overcome by softening the edges with proper shading algorithms. The second method of this paper presents the use of a (cid:2)ve-component color model. The parameters of the model are: red, green, blue, alpha and burn. The (cid:2)rst four color components have their usual meaning while the (cid:148)burn(cid:148) parameter is used to control the additivity of the color. This color model allows particles’ alpha blending to range from pure additive (useful for rendering (cid:3)ames) to normal smoke-style rendering. This method can be implemented on most graphics hardware, even without shader support.
Strategies for Leveraging IT-enabled Service Innovation in Intensively Competitive Market

Many studies have explored service innovations regarding the use of information technologies, yet few have addressed the strategic leveraging in IT investment for sustaining competitiveness. The objective of this paper is to examine different strategies that firms have applied in leveraging advanced information technologies for service innovation in highly competitive market. The analysis of strategy is developed based on two dimensions: (1) IT capability, referring to a firm’s ability to deploy IT-based resources, combined with (2) the firm’s complementary resources including customer and supplier relationships, financial capital. We investigate the convenience-store industry in Taiwan, where the intensity of convenience stores is ranked as the highest in the world and is observed to be in the intensive competitive market. The case analysis reveals that there are four types of strategies firms apply in leveraging IT for competitiveness: predator, inventor, follower, and hedger. Firms may apply multiple strategies toward different innovation initiatives.