Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Cyber-Ethnographic (Re)Construction of Two Feminist Online Communities

The aim of the paper is to demonstrate that cyber-ethnography is the most appropriate tool in reaching an understanding of the online community. I argue that cyber-ethnography's reflexive qualities allow the characteristics of the online community to emerge. I demonstrate, through the cyber-ethnographic exploration of two feminist online communities, how the participants define their own perimeters. I suggest that the online community has two main characteristics. Through its convergence with the physical, the online community's existence is apparent, though not unconditionally virtual. Indeed, the online community does not compete with, or supersede physical space, rather a hybrid space emerges that is neither absolutely physical or virtual. Secondly, I depict the participants as having a transitory, unconditional relationship with the online community. That is; they will only participate for short periods when they require use of the resources that the online community has to offer.
Blind RSSD-Based Indoor Localization with Confidence Calibration and Energy Control

Indoor localization based on wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is an important field of research with numerous applications, such as elderly care, miner security, and smart buildings. In this paper, we present a localization method based on the received signal strength difference (RSSD) to determine a target on a map with unknown transmission information. To increase the accuracy of localization, we propose a confidence value for each anchor node to indicate its credibility for participating in the estimation. An automatic calibration device is designed to help acquire the values. The acceleration sensor and unscented Kalman filter (UKF) are also introduced to reduce the influence of measuring noise in the application. Energy control is another key point in WSN systems and may prolong the lifetime of the system. Thus, a quadtree structure is constructed to describe the region correlation between neighboring areas, and the unnecessary anchor nodes can be detected and set to sleep to save energy. The localization system is implemented on real-time Texas Instruments CC2430 and CC2431 embedded platforms, and the experimental results indicate that these mechanisms achieve a high accuracy and low energy cost.
Miniaturized-Element Offset-Feed Planar Reflector Antennas Based on Metasurfaces

In this letter, we propose a low-profile planar reflector antenna based on metasurfaces. Metasurfaces are planar version of metamaterials, which are composed of 2-D arrays of subwavelength elements. Due to the subwavelength nature, metasurface-based reflector antenna can be made much thinner and grating lobes can be further suppressed. As an example, a 400 × 400-mm<sup>2</sup> offset-fed planar reflector with a focal length <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$F$</tex-math></inline-formula> = 300 mm is designed to mould spherical wavefronts into planar ones at 10.0 GHz. The thickness and element spacing is less than λ<sub>0</sub> /15 and λ<sub>0</sub>/6, respectively. Moreover, due to symmetry of the element, the planar reflector is polarization-independent. A prototype was fabricated and measured. Both the simulated and measured results show that the planar reflector antenna can achieve a narrow main lobe and operate over 9.5–10.5 GHz with gain larger than 23 dB.
A Compliance-Based Microflow Stabilizer

This paper presents a microfluidic device that can passively reduce fluctuations in an upstream fluid flow and generate a largely steady flow in a microfluidic system. The device features a series of compliant membranes that form deformable walls of a microchannel. For an incoming pulsatile flow, passive vibrations of the membranes allow the fluid to be accumulated for an overflow and discharged for an underflow, resulting in drastically reduced fluctuations in flow rate and pressure. A lumped-parameter model is developed to simulate the device characteristics, in which the coupling of membrane vibrations and fluid flow in individual channel sections associated with a single membrane is first represented by squeeze-film theory and inertia-free structural dynamics. The entire device is next represented as a system by connecting individual channel sections in series. The model is numerically solved, and the results agree with experiments. The theoretical and experimental results both show that a five-membrane device can stabilize a pulsating flow by a factor of about 20. These results also reveal that smaller average flow rate, smaller fluctuation, and higher fluctuation frequency lead to more effective flow stabilization. With these characteristics, the flow stabilizer can be used to obtain steady flow in microfluidic systems.
Novel Probiotic Bifidobacterium bifidum CECT 7366 Strain Active against the Pathogenic Bacterium Helicobacter pylori

ABSTRACT Helicobacter pylori is considered one of the major risk factors underlying the development of gastritis and gastric and duodenal ulcers. Moreover, 50% of the population carries this bacterium, and consequently, when it is detected, eradication of H. pylori is strongly recommended. Regarding the use of probiotics as functional agents, several studies have shown that there is a direct relationship between the addition of certain probiotic bacteria and in vitro inhibition of H. pylori; however, in vivo studies showing bifidobacterial activity against H. pylori remain scarce. In this study, a Bifidobacterium bifidum strain which proved active in vitro against H. pylori has been isolated, with inhibition levels reaching 81.94% in the case of the supernatant and even 94.77% inhibition for supernatant purified by cationic exchange followed by an inverse phase. In vivo studies using a BALB/c mouse model have proved that this strain partially relieves damage to gastric tissues caused by the pathogen and also decreases the H. pylori pathogenicity ratio. This novel strain fulfills the main properties required of a probiotic (resistance to gastrointestinal juices, biliary salts, NaCl, and low pH; adhesion to intestinal mucus; and sensitivity to antibiotics). Furthermore, the absence of undesirable metabolites has been demonstrated, and its food safety status has been confirmed by acute ingestion studies in mice. In summary, the results presented here demonstrate that Bifidobacterium bifidum CECT 7366 can be considered a probiotic able to inhibit H. pylori both in vitro and in vivo.
Adaptive configuration of wpans and wlans communications using multi-scale statistical process control

Quality of communication in wireless systems is heavily dependent on several factors including interference on the radio signal and mobility of the communicating devices. However, it is very difficult to assess the transmitted signal and predict when a bad quality signal is being caused by interference or mobility. This work presents a new method for monitoring and analyzing wireless communications on two types of networks: IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth. This technique uses a multi-scale control chart approach known as MCEWMA - Moving Centerline Exponential Weighted Moving Average - associated with multi-resolution analysis. The implementation of this control chart allows the description of the transmitted signal on each wireless channel with low cost and, more important, it can be used on on-line applications. To prove the efficiency of this method, a simple application was developed and tested and the results proved the efficiency of the proposed method.
Convergence of Igf2 expression and adhesion signalling via RhoA and p38 MAPK enhances myogenic differentiation

Cell-cell contact is essential for appropriate co-ordination of development and it initiates significant signalling events. During myogenesis, committed myoblasts migrate to sites of muscle formation, align and form adhesive contacts that instigate cell-cycle exit and terminal differentiation into multinucleated myotubes; thus myogenesis is an excellent paradigm for the investigation of signals derived from cell-cell contact. PI3-K and p38 MAPK are both essential for successful myogenesis. Pro-myogenic growth factors such as IGF-II activate PI3-K via receptor tyrosine kinases but the extracellular cues and upstream intermediates required for activation of the p38 MAPK pathway in myoblast differentiation are not known. Initial observations suggested a correlation between p38 MAPK phosphorylation and cell density, which was also related to N-cadherin levels and Igf2 expression. Subsequent studies using N-cadherin ligand, dominant-negative N-cadherin, constitutively active and dominant-negative forms of RhoA, and MKK6 and p38 constructs, reveal a novel pathway in differentiating myoblasts that links cell-cell adhesion via N-cadherin to Igf2 expression (assessed using northern and promoter-reporter analyses) via RhoA and p38α and/or β but not γ. We thus define a regulatory mechanism for p38 activation that relates cell-cell-derived adhesion signalling to the synthesis of the major fetal growth factor, IGF-II.
The Cross-Lingual Dimensions of Language Proficiency: Implications for Bilingual Education and the Optimal Age Issue.

It is argued that a dimension of cognitive/academic language proficiency (CALP) can be empirically distinguished from interpersonal communicative skills such as accent and oral fluency in both Li and L2, and that cognitive/ academic proficiencies in both L1 and L2 are manifestations of the same underlying dimension. This analysis of language proficiency and its crosslingual dimensions is applied to the interpretation of data on the effects of bilingual education programs and on the age issue in second language learning.
SCAP is required for timely and proper myelin membrane synthesis

Myelination requires a massive increase in glial cell membrane synthesis. Here, we demonstrate that the acute phase of myelin lipid synthesis is regulated by sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) cleavage activation protein (SCAP), an activator of SREBPs. Deletion of SCAP in Schwann cells led to a loss of SREBP-mediated gene expression involving cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis. Schwann cell SCAP mutant mice show congenital hypomyelination and abnormal gait. Interestingly, aging SCAP mutant mice showed partial regain of function; they exhibited improved gait and produced small amounts of myelin indicating a slow SCAP-independent uptake of external lipids. Accordingly, extracellular lipoproteins partially rescued myelination by SCAP mutant Schwann cells. However, SCAP mutant myelin never reached normal thickness and had biophysical abnormalities concordant with abnormal lipid composition. These data demonstrate that SCAP-mediated regulation of glial lipogenesis is key to the proper synthesis of myelin membrane, and provide insight into abnormal Schwann cell function under conditions affecting lipid metabolism.
A Biological Stereo Vision Model Based on Markov Random Field

Human can obtain 3D percept from 2D images on the retinas. However, the neural mechanism of biological stereo vision is largely unknown. On the other hand, Markov random field and belief propagation algorithm have given birth to stereo algorithms with top performance. I propose that brain may employ similar neural network to perceive depth. I design a model combining Markov network with known physiological and psychological findings. Complex cells are considered as disparity encoders in brain, and their response can be predicted by the disparity energy model. In my model the likelihood function (also known as the data cost function) is based on response of complex cells. Furthermore, the likelihood function has connection to several psychological findings. The model is tested on two kinds of stereo images and compared with other models. The simulation demonstrates that Markov network can solve ambiguities in responses of complex cells quite well. This result lays the computational foundation for my proposal.
Picture Exchange Communication (PECS) Training for Young Children: Does Training Transfer at School and to Home?

Abstract The limited communicative abilities of young children with autism and developmental disabilities may be enhanced by augmentative communication systems such as the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). Both children and adults can learn to use PECS, but research is inconsistent in establishing the degree to which PECS training transfers reliably from the training setting to other settings, for example, regular classrooms, and home. Three 5–6 year-old children, diagnosed as autistic and/or developmentally disabled, were given 1:1 PECS training at school, structured to enhance generalisation and transfer. Concurrent observations were made in their regular classroom and at home to probe the extent of generalisation. All three acquired the ability to request a preferred object or activity by exchanging a picture symbol with a communicative partner. In tests of transfer and generalisation, a multiple-baseline across subjects design showed no use of PECS symbols either in the classroom or at home prior to training, with spontaneous initiations of picture exchange (transfer) occurring to a slight to moderate degree in the classroom and to a slight degree at home. Even with PECS training structured to enhance transfer, functionally significant degrees of generalisation of training may be difficult to achieve, and cannot be assumed to occur.
Targeted delivery of thymosin beta 4 to the injured myocardium using CREKA-conjugated nanoparticles

Purpose Thymosin beta 4 (Tβ4) has multiple beneficial facets for myocardial injury, but its efficiency is limited by the low local concentration within the infarct. Here, we established a Tβ4 delivery system for cardiac repair based on the interaction between the abundant fibrin in the infarct zone and the fibrin-targeting moiety clot-binding peptide cysteine–arginine–glutamic acid–lysine–alanine (CREKA). Methods and results CREKA and Tβ4 were conjugated to nanoparticles (CNP–Tβ4). In vitro binding test revealed that CNP–Tβ4 had a significant binding ability to the surface of fibrin clots when compared to the control clots (NP–Tβ4). Based on the validation of fibrin expression in the early stage of ischemia injury, CNP–Tβ4 was intravenously administered to mice with acute myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury. CNP–Tβ4 revealed a stronger fibrin-targeting ability than the NP–Tβ4 group and accumulated mainly in the infarcted area and colocalized with fibrin. Subsequently, treatment with CNP–Tβ4 resulted in a better therapeutic effect. Conclusion CRKEA modification favored Tβ4 accumulation and retention in the infarcted region, leading to augmented functional benefits. Fibrin-targeting delivery system represents a generalizable platform technology for regenerative medicine.
Transnational Families and Social Technologies: Reassessing Immigration Psychology

Social technologies—mobile phones, the wide availability of international phone calls, and the mainstreaming of Internet connectivity and social media—are becoming a cornerstone of the immigrant family experience. Information communication technologies (ICTs) are supporting the transformation of family networks into transnational ones, with potentially significant consequences in the psychology of immigration and family mental health. Social technologies may be influencing and mainstreaming the transnational experiences while families are finding resilient ways to confront the difficulties posed by immigration. Computer-mediated communications among transnational families are a source of compelling opportunities and a challenge for clinicians to adopt an ecosystemic perspective and address these new circumstances.
Independent EEG Sources Are Dipolar

Independent component analysis (ICA) and blind source separation (BSS) methods are increasingly used to separate individual brain and non-brain source signals mixed by volume conduction in electroencephalographic (EEG) and other electrophysiological recordings. We compared results of decomposing thirteen 71-channel human scalp EEG datasets by 22 ICA and BSS algorithms, assessing the pairwise mutual information (PMI) in scalp channel pairs, the remaining PMI in component pairs, the overall mutual information reduction (MIR) effected by each decomposition, and decomposition ‘dipolarity’ defined as the number of component scalp maps matching the projection of a single equivalent dipole with less than a given residual variance. The least well-performing algorithm was principal component analysis (PCA); best performing were AMICA and other likelihood/mutual information based ICA methods. Though these and other commonly-used decomposition methods returned many similar components, across 18 ICA/BSS algorithms mean dipolarity varied linearly with both MIR and with PMI remaining between the resulting component time courses, a result compatible with an interpretation of many maximally independent EEG components as being volume-conducted projections of partially-synchronous local cortical field activity within single compact cortical domains. To encourage further method comparisons, the data and software used to prepare the results have been made available (http://sccn.ucsd.edu/wiki/BSSComparison).
Synthetic parameters for handwriting classification

In this paper, we present a new family of parameters for handwriting analysis based on the fractal behavior of writing. These parameter allow the classification of writing into different families which could be used as a preliminary step for recognition methods. They also constitute a way to quantify some legibility properties, and we show that they can be useful for cognitive approaches to handwriting analysis.
Characterization of the flamenco region of the Drosophila melanogaster genome.

The flamenco gene, located at 20A1-3 in the beta-heterochromatin of the Drosophila X chromosome, is a major regulator of the gypsy/mdg4 endogenous retrovirus. As a first step to characterize this gene, approximately 100 kb of genomic DNA flanking a P-element-induced mutation of flamenco was isolated. This DNA is located in a sequencing gap of the Celera Genomics project, i.e., one of those parts of the genome in which the "shotgun" sequence could not be assembled, probably because it contains long stretches of repetitive DNA, especially on the proximal side of the P insertion point. Deficiency mapping indicated that sequences required for the normal flamenco function are located >130 kb proximal to the insertion site. The distal part of the cloned DNA does, nevertheless, contain several unique sequences, including at least four different transcription units. Dip1, the closest one to the P-element insertion point, might be a good candidate for a gypsy regulator, since it putatively encodes a nuclear protein containing two double-stranded RNA-binding domains. However, transgenes containing dip1 genomic DNA were not able to rescue flamenco mutant flies. The possible nature of the missing flamenco sequences is discussed.
Occupational Therapists' Perceptions of Important Practitioner Competencies for Handwriting Evaluation and Intervention in School-age Children

The study purpose was to identify practitioner competencies occupational therapists perceive as important for handwriting evaluation and intervention in school-age children. Examination of the influence of practice setting and years of experience were also investigated. A national sample of 376 occupational therapists participated via survey. A total of 68 of 80 items were perceived to be of high importance. The top five identified items were eye-hand coordination, motor planning, review of work samples/direct observation, visual motor integration, and provision of education to teachers, parents and administrators. Analysis indicated minimal difference due to practice setting in the domains of handwriting and assessment of legibility. No significant differences based on practitioner experience were revealed. Eighty-five percent of the items were perceived as highly important. Practitioner perceptions of competency were mainly similar regardless of practice setting or experience.
Emotion Regulation in Borderline Personality Disorder: Examining the Consequences of Spontaneous and Instructed Use of Emotion Suppression and Emotion Acceptance when Viewing Negative Films

Central to models of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is the notion that dysfunctional application of avoidant emotion regulation strategies results in elevated emotional reactivity. To test this account, participants (N = 87) with varying severity of BPD underwent two negative mood inductions, the first with no particular instructions and the second following suppress or accept instructions. BPD severity was associated with greater negative affect at baseline. While BPD severity was associated with greater avoidance, this did not lead to differential reactivity or recovery when viewing the uninstructed film. Both instructed suppression and acceptance reduced emotional reactivity and accelerated recovery in the second film. While BPD severity did not influence how effectively instructed regulation could manage self- reported affect, those with more marked symptoms were trend less effective at regulating electrodermal response. Overall, these data provide little support for the notion that avoidant regulation strategies might lead to emotional hyper-reactivity in BPD, inconsistent with emotional dysregulation accounts of the disorder.
Beady

We introduce the interactive system "Beady" to assist the design and construction of customized 3D beadwork. The user first creates a polygonal mesh model called the design model that represents the overall structure of the beadwork. Each edge of the mesh model corresponds to a bead in the beadwork. We provide two methods to create the design model. One is interactive modeling from scratch. The user defines the mesh topology with gestural interaction and the system continuously adjusts edge lengths by considering the physical constraints among neighboring beads. The other is automatic conversion that takes an existing polygonal model as input and generates a near-hexagonal mesh model with a near-uniform edge length as output. The system then converts the design model into a beadwork model with the appropriate wiring. Computation of an appropriate wiring path requires careful consideration, and we present an algorithm based on face stripification of the mesh. The system also provides a visual step-by-step guide to assist the manual beadwork construction process. We show several beadwork designs constructed by the authors and by test users using the system.
Use of Slots to Improve Performance of Patch in Terms of Gain and Sidelobes Reduction

From last decade, the use of slots is generally associated with widening the bandwidth of the patch antenna. In this letter, a set of slots including pi, triangular, and circular slots is proposed. It is shown through two design examples that this set of slots can be used to enhance the gain of the patch antenna, reduce sidelobe levels, and/or stabilize the radiation patterns by removing null from broadside.