Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Viscous Populations and Their Support for Reciprocal Cooperation

Viscous populations (those whose members are spatially distributed and have limited mobility and locality of interaction and mating) have been proposed to support the evolution of reciprocal cooperation among self-interested individuals. Here we present a model of such a population and describe how its examination yielded the realization that different classes of viscous populations exist with differing levels of support for reciprocal cooperation. Specifically we find from our model that, in a spatially distributed population with increased viscosity, the reciprocally cooperative tit-for-tat strategy may not be globally stable due to a corresponding increase in local population density.
Towards a biomimetic EAP robot

This paper describes preliminary experiments with an EAP (electroactive polymer) robot. The research reported here serves two purposes. First, we aim at building a testbed to investigate control methods of EAP actuators. Second, we wish to build an underwater robot that mimics undulating motions of pectoral fins. The prototype described in this paper has two pectoral fins. The tests confirm that the fins are able to generate thrust and move the robot forward. The mechanical design of the fins is reliable but the results largely depend on the properties of the electroactive polymers.
Examining the Relationships Among Coaching, Trustworthiness, and Role Behaviors

There is little evidence regarding what makes managerial coaching effective. To explore this topic more deeply, we looked at coaching relationship and performance behavior. We examined the associations between managerial coaching and employee in-role performance, organizational citizenship behavior–individual (OCBI), and organizational citizenship behavior–organization (OCBO), with the mediating effect of manager’s trustworthiness as perceived by employees. Using 280 dyad surveys, we found that managerial coaching had a direct impact on employee performance behavior of OCBI and OCBO as well as employee perception of manager’s trustworthiness. Bootstrapping analytic findings revealed that managerial coaching also indirectly influenced employee in-role performance, OCBI, and OCBO through employee perception of manager’s trustworthiness. The current study findings offer an initial endorsement for coaching effectiveness in this largely uncharted topic area and further provide empirical support to the theoretical underpinnings of managerial coaching based on social exchange theory. Limitations are discussed and directions for future studies are suggested.
Best-Response Mechanisms

Under many protocols—in computerized settings and in economics settings—participants repeatedly “best respond” to each others’ actions until the system “converges” to an equilibrium point. We ask when does such myopic “local rationality” imply “global rationality”, i.e., when is it best for a player, given that the others are repeatedly best-responding, to also repeatedly best-respond? We exhibit a class of games where this is indeed the case. We identify several environments of interest that fall within our class: models of the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) [7], that handles routing on the Internet, and of the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) [5], and also stable-roommates [3] and cost-sharing [9, 10], that have been extensively studied in economic theory.
Faculty Life at Community Colleges

This article explores the dynamics of how female faculty members at 2-year colleges balance the demands of their faculty jobs with motherhood. Results suggest that the community college appears to be a place that offers women the opportunity to balance their interests in teaching at the postsecondary level with the demands of having a family. This is not to say, however, that academic life at the community college is devoid of challenges for women faculty with young children. Some of these challenges include not having enough time, feeling guilty about not being able to give 100% to all of one's roles, concerns about tenure, inequity at work, and inequity at home.
iDamIDseq and iDEAR: an improved method and computational pipeline to profile chromatin-binding proteins

DNA adenine methyltransferase identification (DamID) has emerged as an alternative method to profile protein-DNA interactions; however, critical issues limit its widespread applicability. Here, we present iDamIDseq, a protocol that improves specificity and sensitivity by inverting the steps DpnI-DpnII and adding steps that involve a phosphatase and exonuclease. To determine genome-wide protein-DNA interactions efficiently, we present the analysis tool iDEAR (iDamIDseq Enrichment Analysis with R). The combination of DamID and iDEAR permits the establishment of consistent profiles for transcription factors, even in transient assays, as we exemplify using the small teleost medaka (Oryzias latipes). We report that the bacterial Dam-coding sequence induces aberrant splicing when it is used with different promoters to drive tissue-specific expression. Here, we present an optimization of the sequence to avoid this problem. This and our other improvements will allow researchers to use DamID effectively in any organism, in a general or targeted manner. Summary: Critical improvements to the DamID protocol improve specificity and sensitivity in determining genome-wide protein-DNA interactions in transient or stable transgenic animal lines.
Effect of Age on Handedness in Brazilian Adults is Sex-Dependent

The hand preference of 357 men (20 to 69 yr.) and 332 women (20 to 68 yr.) was assessed by the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory. Analysis showed that (i) 20- to 29-yr. -old men have a higher frequency of left-and mixed-handedness and a lower frequency of right-handedness than women; (ii) 40+-yr. -old men have a lower frequency of mixed-handedness and a higher frequency of right-handedness; (iii) the manual preference of women was not related to age.
Neural Activation Constellations: Unsupervised Part Model Discovery with Convolutional Networks

Part models of object categories are essential for challenging recognition tasks, where differences in categories are subtle and only reflected in appearances of small parts of the object. We present an approach that is able to learn part models in a completely unsupervised manner, without part annotations and even without given bounding boxes during learning. The key idea is to find constellations of neural activation patterns computed using convolutional neural networks. In our experiments, we outperform existing approaches for fine-grained recognition on the CUB200-2011, Oxford PETS, and Oxford Flowers dataset in case no part or bounding box annotations are available and achieve state-of-the-art performance for the Stanford Dog dataset. We also show the benefits of neural constellation models as a data augmentation technique for fine-tuning. Furthermore, our paper unites the areas of generic and fine-grained classification, since our approach is suitable for both scenarios.
I4E: interactive investigation of iterative information extraction

Information extraction systems are increasingly being used to mine structured information from unstructured text documents. A commonly used unsupervised technique is to build iterative information extraction (IIE) systems that learn task-specific rules, called patterns, to generate the desired tuples. Oftentimes, output from an information extraction system may contain unexpected results which may be due to an incorrect pattern, incorrect tuple, or both. In such scenarios, users and developers of the extraction system could greatly benefit from an investigation tool that can quickly help them reason about and repair the output. In this paper, we develop an approach for interactive post-extraction investigation for IIE systems. We formalize three important phases of this investigation, namely, explain the IIE result, diagnose the influential and problematic components, and repair the output from an information extraction system. We show how to characterize the execution of an IIE system and build a suite of algorithms to answer questions pertaining to each of these phases. We experimentally evaluate our proposed approach over several domains over a Web corpus of about 500 million documents. We show that our approach effectively enables post-extraction investigation, while maximizing the gain from user and developer interaction.
Convergence of hypervolume-based archiving algorithms I: effectiveness

The core of hypervolume-based multi-objective evolutionary algorithms is an archiving algorithm which performs the environmental selection. A (μ+λ)-archiving algorithm defines how to choose μ children from μ parents and λ offspring together. We study theoretically (μ+λ)-archiving algorithms which never decrease the hypervolume from one generation to the next. Zitzler, Thiele, and Bader (IEEE Trans. Evolutionary Computation, 14:58--79, 2010) proved that all (μ+1)-archiving algorithms are ineffective, which means there is an initial population such that independent of the used reproduction rule, a set with maximum hypervolume cannot be reached. We extend this and prove that for λ<μ all archiving algorithms are ineffective. On the other hand, locally optimal algorithms, which maximize the hypervolume in each step, are effective for λ=μ and can always find a population with hypervolume at least half the optimum for λ < μ. We also prove that there is no hypervolume-based archiving algorithm which can always find a population with hypervolume greater than 1 / (1 + 0.1338, ( 1/λ - 1/μ) ) times the optimum.
Control of bacterial biofilm growth on surfaces by nanostructural mechanics and geometry

Surface-associated communities of bacteria, called biofilms, pervade natural and anthropogenic environments. Mature biofilms are resistant to a wide range of antimicrobial treatments and therefore pose persistent pathogenic threats. The use of surface chemistry to inhibit biofilm growth has been found to only transiently affect initial attachment. In this work, we investigate the tunable effects of physical surface properties, including high-aspect-ratio (HAR) surface nanostructure arrays recently reported to induce long-range spontaneous spatial patterning of bacteria on the surface. The functional parameters and length scale regimes that control such artificial patterning for the rod-shaped pathogenic species Pseudomonas aeruginosa are elucidated through a combinatorial approach. We further report a crossover regime of biofilm growth on a HAR nanostructured surface versus the nanostructure effective stiffness. When the ‘softness’ of the hair-like nanoarray is increased beyond a threshold value, biofilm growth is inhibited as compared to a flat control surface. This result is consistent with the mechanoselective adhesion of bacteria to surfaces. Therefore by combining nanoarray-induced bacterial patterning and modulating the effective stiffness of the nanoarray—thus mimicking an extremely compliant flat surface—bacterial mechanoselective adhesion can be exploited to control and inhibit biofilm growth.
Endogenous angiogenesis inhibitors

When the FDA commissioner announced in February 2004 the approval of Avastin for the treatment of patients with colon cancer, he called angiogenesis inhibitors a fourth modality of anti‐cancer therapy. Because angiogenesis inhibitors are relatively less toxic than conventional chemotherapy and have a lower risk of drug resistance, they may also represent a new class of anti‐cancer agents, some of which have sufficiently reduced toxicity that they may be safely used long term. These include immunotherapy, vaccines, telomerase inhibitors, apoptosis inducers, low dose metronomic chemotherapy, novel hormonal therapies, gene therapy and others. However, at least 16 endogenous angiogenesis inhibitors have been discovered in the circulation, and/or in the extracellular matrix. These may become the safest and least toxic of anti‐cancer therapies. Four are already being administered by injection in clinical trials for cancer. Recently, it has been reported that at least two endogenous angiogenesis inhibitors can be significantly increased in humans (endostatin), and in mice (thrombospondin), by oral administration of small molecules which themselves are already FDA approved for other uses. This finding suggests several new clinical applications for the future, including the possibility of guiding the use of angiogenesis inhibitors by blood or urinary biomarkers, currently being developed, that may detect the presence of cancer before it is symptomatic, or before it can be located by conventional methods.
Paid work, life-work and leisure: a study of wellbeing in the context of academic lives in higher education

Living, working, leisure, and well-being are of increasing concern to educators, policy-makers, governments and people generally. The aim of this research note is to investigate the relationships between paid work, life work and leisure in terms of well-being associated with activity. The research used a modified experience sampling method for a one-week period with a staff group based in an educational institution. The data collection period included a bank holiday (three days holiday and four days work). A mobile phone was used to collect data eight times a day, over seven days, on activity, enjoyment, interest, visual interest, challenge, skill and happiness. Data analysis showed a significant correlation between enjoyment and happiness; enjoyment and interest; and visual interest, which also correlated with happiness. Enjoyment and happiness were experienced more in leisure than in paid work and life work. Level of enjoyment was greatest when skills were greater than moderate challenge in activity, though high enjoyment was more frequent when moderate and high challenge were met with equal skills (satisfying conditions of ‘flow’). High enjoyment came as much from paid work as from leisure. The findings replicate and extend earlier research, and the research note emphasises the importance of measures of enjoyment in the investigation of national wellbeing.
Cooperative Information Services Based on Predictable Trajectories in Bus-VANETs

As a special yet important part of vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs), Bus-VANETs have attracted much research attention in recent years. Most of existing studies focused on developing routing protocols in Bus-VANETs based on the predictable bus route. In this work, we embark a study on information services in Bus-VANETs, where bus information is provided via the hybrid of infrastructure-to-vehicle (I2V) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications. In particular, we consider the scenario where buses on different routes request different information from roadside units (RSUs), which are the static infrastructures installed along the road, and provide information services to passing buses via I2V communication. Furthermore, buses are also able to share information with each other via V2V communications. On this basis, we formulate the cooperative data sharing problem by considering the requested information and the encounter probability of buses. Then, we put forward an offline Integer Linear Programming (ILP) solution based on the knowledge of bus traces to obtain the optimal performance. Moreover, we propose an on-line Prediction-based Data Sharing (PDS) algorithm by analyzing the encounter probability of buses. Based on the analysis, each RSU computes the utility of broadcasting data items and makes the scheduling decision with the cooperation of other RSUs. Finally, we build the simulation model and implement the proposed solution for performance comparison. The experiment results demonstrate that PDS can achieve near-optimal performance with much lower computational overhead, and it can outperform other alternative on-line scheduling algorithms significantly.
On the Logarithmic Backoff Algorithm for MAC Protocol in MANETs

In wireless communication environments, backoff is traditionally based on the IEEE binary exponential backoff (BEB). Using BEB results in a high delay in message transmission, collisions and ultimately wasting the limited available bandwidth. As each node has to obtain medium access before transmitting a message, in dense networks, the collision probability in the MAC layer becomes very high when a poor backoff algorithm is used. The Logarithmic algorithm proposes some improvements to the backoff algorithms that aim to efficiently use the channel and to reduce collisions. The algorithm under study is based on changing the incremental behavior of the backoff value. The Binary Exponential Backoff (BEB) is used by IEEE 802.11 Medium Access Control (MAC). BEB uses a uniform random distribution to choose the backoff value; this often leads to reducing the effect of window size increment. This paper carries out a deeper study and analysis of the logarithmic backoff algorithm that uses logarithmic increment instead of exponential extension of window size to eliminate the degrading effect of random number distribution. Results from simulation experiments reveal that the algorithm subject to study achieves higher throughput and less packet loss when in a mobile ad hoc environment.
Cell-free receptor-based biosensors

The ability to express and purify modified recombinant signalling proteins such that they retain their biological function in a cell-free context has provided a basis for production of molecular biosensors. Here the authors utilise G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and their G-proteins to detect various binding partners in a cell-free environment. Molecular biology approaches were employed to express these proteins using baculovirus and bacteria, and to alter their characteristics to improve surface-attachment and fluorescent labelling capabilities. Ligand-mediated signalling of a GPCR could be measured (using [35S]GTPgammaS-binding assays) in a reconstituted system with recombinant proteins either free in solution or attached to Ni2+-coated beads. Affinity of histidine-tagged proteins for a Ni2+-coated surface was significantly enhanced by addition of extra histidine residues to the tag, as determined by surface plasmon resonance. This was due to the longer tag occupying, on average, a greater number of available histidine-binding sites. Further, a novel homogeneous fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based assay has been developed to detect rearrangements in the G-protein heterotrimer. Investigation of small peptides that can be fused to G-protein subunits, allowing for site-specific fluorescent labelling, was undertaken in order to improve the resolution of the "first generation" FRET assay. By utilizing this improved G-protein heterotrimer "molecular switch", we are developing a generic technology such that a range of GPCRs could be assayed for ligand-mediated activation while attached to surfaces (e.g. on beads or as microarrays) or in solution (e.g. multi-well plates), with increased throughput.
A general model of organizational values in educational administration

Values theorists in educational administration agree that understanding organizational values is integral to organizational effectiveness. However, research in this area tends to be superficial, and a review of pertinent literature reveals no clear definition of organizational values or consequent implications for practical application. One of the substantive issues in current organizational values discourse is the lack of agreement around descriptors pertaining to the phenomenon; additionally, participants in the discussion frequently assume common understanding. What, then, does “organizational values” consist of conceptually, and how can it be defined? In this article the author summarizes a study conducted to clarify understanding of the organizational values phenomenon, and offers a general model of organizational values based on the results.
Dependence of the Yield of DNA Double-Strand Breaks in Chinese Hamster V79-4 Cells on the Photon Energy of Ultrasoft X Rays

Abstract de Lara, C. M. , Hill, M. A. , Jenner, T. J., Papworth, D. and O'Neill, P. Dependence of the Yield of DNA Double-Strand Breaks in Chinese Hamster V79-4 Cells on the Photon Energy of Ultrasoft X Rays. Induction of DNA DSBs by low-LET radiations reflects clustered damage produced predominantly by low-energy, secondary electron “track ends”. Cell inactivation and induction of DSBs and their rejoining, assayed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, were determined in Chinese hamster V79-4 cells irradiated as a monolayer with characteristic carbon K-shell (CK) (0.28 keV), aluminum K-shell (AlK) (1.49 keV), and titanium K-shell (TiK) (4.55 keV) ultrasoft X rays under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Relative to 60Co γ rays, the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for cell inactivation at 10% survival and for induction of DSBs increases as the photon energy of the ultrasoft X rays decreases. The RBE values for cell inactivation and for induction of DSBs by CK ultrasoft X rays are 2.8 ± 0.3 and 2.7 ± 0.3, respectively, and by TiK ultrasoft X rays are 1.5 ± 0.1 and 1.4 ± 0.1, respectively. Oxygen enhancement ratios (OERs) of ∼2 for cell inactivation and induction of DSBs by ultrasoft X rays are independent of the photon energy. The time scale for rejoining of DNA DSBs is similar for both ultrasoft X rays and 60Co γ rays. From the size distribution of small DNA fragments down to 0.48 kbp, we concluded that DSBs are induced randomly by CK and AlK ultrasoft X rays. Therefore, ultrasoft X rays are more efficient per unit dose than γ radiation at inducing DNA DSBs, the yield of which increases with decreasing photon energy.
Performance dependence of InGaP/InGaAs/GaAs pHEMTs on gate metallization

The performance of InGaP-based pHEMTs as a function of gate metallization is examined for Mo/Au, Ti/Au, and Pt/Au gates. DC and microwave performance of pHEMT's with 0.7-/spl mu/m gate lengths is evaluated. Transconductance, threshold voltage, f/sub t/, and f/sub max/ are found to depend strongly on gate metallization. High-speed performance is achieved, with f/sub t/ of 41.3 GHz and f/sub max/ of 101 GHz using Mo/Au gates. The difference in performance between devices with different gate metallizations is postulated to be due to a combination of the difference in Schottky barrier heights and different gate-to-channel spacings due to penetration of the gate metal into the InGaP barrier layer.
Psicologia e inclusão escolar: novas possibilidades de intervir preventivamente sobre problemas comportamentais

In an inclusive school environment, an important aspect of the role of educational psychologists that seems promising for educational psychologists is that of rendering Collaborative Consultation in Schools, in partnerships with teachers and families. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a preventive intervention program, based on the principles of the Collaborative Consultation in Schools and the Positive Behavior Support models, designed to prevent and minimize behavior problems. The study was conducted in three 1st grade classrooms in a public elementary school located in the state of Sao Paulo, involving participation of three teachers of these classrooms and their fifty-five pupils. The study was carried out in four phases. In Phase 1, the ethical procedures were carried out. In Phase 2, teachers were requested to complete the Child and Youth Behavior Inventory (6-18 years)/Teacher Report Form (TRF). In Phase 3, the preventive intervention program was implemented, targeting and focusing on teachers and pupils. Finally, in Phase 4, the TRF instrument was repeated. In order to assess the impact of the intervention, the MANOVA test was applied to the results. Regarding student behavior, there was a statistically significant decrease in internalizing, externalizing problems, and in total problems. Besides indicating that the implementation of the Collaborative Consultation in Schools and the Positive Behavior Support models can be effective, this result points to the fact that these models can be used by educational psychologists in preventive interventions that target preventing and minimizing behavior problems in school.