Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Uncovering the Social Dynamics of Online Elections

Past work analysing elections in online domains has largely ignored the underlying social networks present in such environments. Here, the Wikipedia Re- quest for Adminship (RfA) process is studied within the context of a social network and several factors influencing different stages of the voting process are pinpointed. Machine-learning problems were formulated to test the identified factors. The different facets explored are: election participation, decision making in elections, and election outcome. Our results show that voters tend to participate in elections that their con- tacts have participated in. Furthermore, there is evidence showing that an individual's decision-making is influenced by his contacts' actions. The properties of voters within the social graph were also studied; results reveal that candidates who gain the support of an influential coalition tend to succeed in elections. Additionally, detailed analy- ses on different classes of voters and candidates were made. Finally, the structural properties corresponding to networks of election participants were analysed and these networks were found to exhibit higher degrees of community structure versus graphs of participants selected at random. Much like institutions in the real world, social media sites are often guided by a group of dedicated users who are engaged in various administrative duties. Although these sites are shaped and driven by the aggregate contributions of their users, a smaller group of dedicated users usually wield most of the power and are responsible for making decisions on issues of critical importance to these sites. One such media site is Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia which has seen significant growth in terms of its content and community of users over the years of its development. Although it is collaboratively edited, its quality, based on evidences, is comparable to that of the Encyclopedia Britannica (Giles 00). This quality is maintained by its administrators who perform various maintenance tasks on its content. The administrators act as custodians of the encyclopedia A preliminary version of this work titled "Voting Behavior Analysis in the Election of Wikipedia Admins" appeared in proceedings of the 3rd IEEE International Conference on Advances in Social Networks Analysis and Mining (ASONAM '11), 2011.
Organisational and individual support for nurses’ ethical competence: A cross-sectional survey

Background: Nurses’ ethical competence has been identified as a significant factor governing high quality of care. However, nurses lack support in dealing with ethical problems, and therefore managerial support for nurses’ ethical competence is needed. Research questions: This study aimed to analyse, from the perspective of nurse and nurse leaders, the level of nurses’ and nurse leaders’ ethical competence, perceptions of support for nurses’ ethical competence at the organisational and individual levels and background factors associated with this support. Research design: A descriptive, cross-sectional study design was employed. The Ethical Competence and Ethical Competence Support questionnaires were used to measure the main components. Descriptive statistics and multifactor analysis of variance were used for data analysis. Participants: The participants were 298 nurses and 193 nurse leaders working in specialised (48%/52%), primary (43%/36%) or private healthcare (5%/7%) in Finland. Ethical considerations: Ethical approval was obtained from the university ethics committee. Results: Nurses estimated their own ethical competence to be at an average level, whereas nurse leaders estimated their own competence at a high level. Nurses’ and nurse leaders’ perceptions of provided support for nurses’ ethical competence was not at a high level. The positive agreement percentage related to organisational support was 44% among nurses and 51% among nurse leaders. The positive agreement percentage related to individual support was lower, that is, 38% among nurses and 61% among nurse leaders. University education had a positive association with some items of individual support. Conclusion: Despite the findings that ethical competence was estimated at a high level among nurse leaders, perceptions of support for nurses’ ethical competence were not at a satisfactory level. At the organisational level, nurse leaders need to inform of ethical procedures and practices in orientation; encourage multidisciplinary ethics discussions and collaboration; and support nurses at an individual level to participate in ethics education, multidisciplinary ethics discussions and in solving ethical problems.
Generalization of Negatively Reinforced Mands in Children with Developmental Disabilities.

Everyone, including children with developmental disabilities, encounters stimuli they find aversive every day (e.g., the sound of a classmate tapping their pencil). These aversive stimuli may not be problematic for typically developing individuals, because they learn to behave in ways that allow them to escape or avoid this aversive stimulation. They could, for example, mand (i.e., request) for something to be changed in the environment (e.g., ask their classmates to stop tapping their pencils). A child with developmental disabilities, however, may not have the communication skills necessary to request the termination of aversive stimuli, which may result in frequent exposure to aversive situations. For these children, it may be useful to acquire a general mand (e.g., saying, "No, thank you") which could be used to avoid or terminate a variety of aversive stimuli. Previous researchers teaching mands for negative reinforcement have focused on replacing problem behavior maintained by escape from task demands. The current study extended the literature on teaching mands for negative reinforcement by teaching children with developmental disabilities to mand for escape from a variety of nonpreferred stimuli, while assessing generalization to untrained stimuli and settings. Participants were two school-aged boys with autism who engaged in problem behavior when they encountered nonpreferred stimuli, and did not use an appropriate mand for negative reinforcement. First, we employed a non-preferred stimulus assessment to identify stimuli for subsequent use in mand training. Next, we conducted mand training sequentially across nonpreferred stimuli until sufficient exemplars were trained for generalization to untrained stimuli to occur. Finally, we conducted probes to assess generalization of the mand response to nontraining contexts outside of the experimental setting. For both participants, training was required across two stimuli before cross-stimulus generalization was observed. Because generalization did not bring the mand to criterion levels with the third stimulus, for either participant, training was introduced to facilitate acquisition. The mand response was acquired with a fourth stimulus in the absence of training. Through the inclusion of appropriate control conditions, we showed that the stimulus control of the mand response was appropriate, occurring almost exclusively in the presence of nonpreferred stimuli. In addition, we showed decreases in problem behavior, for both participants, which corresponded to acquisition of the mand response. We also provided evidence of generalization to nontraining contexts. We discuss limitations of the current study and present suggestions for future research.
Feature Extraction Methods Based on Linear Predictive Coding and Wavelet Packet Decomposition for Recognizing Spoken Words in Malayalam

Speech signals are one of the most important means of communication among the human beings. In this paper, a comparative study of two feature extraction techniques are carried out for recognizing speaker independent spoken isolated words. First one is a hybrid approach with Linear Predictive Coding (LPC) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and the second method uses a combination of Wavelet Packet Decomposition (WPD) and Artificial Neural Networks. Voice signals are sampled directly from the microphone and then they are processed using these two techniques for extracting the features. Words from Malayalam, one of the four major Dravidian languages of southern India are chosen for recognition. Training, testing and pattern recognition are performed using Artificial Neural Networks. Back propagation method is used to train the ANN. The proposed method is implemented for 50 speakers uttering 20 isolated words each. Both the methods produce good recognition accuracy. But Wavelet Packet Decomposition is found to be more suitable for recognizing speech because of its multi-resolution characteristics and efficient time frequency localizations.
Optimized Data Fusion for Kernel k-Means Clustering

This paper presents a novel optimized kernel k-means algorithm (OKKC) to combine multiple data sources for clustering analysis. The algorithm uses an alternating minimization framework to optimize the cluster membership and kernel coefficients as a nonconvex problem. In the proposed algorithm, the problem to optimize the cluster membership and the problem to optimize the kernel coefficients are all based on the same Rayleigh quotient objective; therefore the proposed algorithm converges locally. OKKC has a simpler procedure and lower complexity than other algorithms proposed in the literature. Simulated and real-life data fusion applications are experimentally studied, and the results validate that the proposed algorithm has comparable performance, moreover, it is more efficient on large-scale data sets. (The Matlab implementation of OKKC algorithm is downloadable from http://homes.esat.kuleuven.be/~sistawww/bio/syu/okkc.html.).
Temporal Dynamics of Norovirus GII.4 Variants in Brazil between 2004 and 2012

Noroviruses (NoVs) are the major cause of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks, and, despite a wide genetic diversity, genotype II.4 is the most prevalent strain worldwide. Mutations and homologous recombination have been proposed as mechanisms driving the epochal evolution of the GII.4, with the emergence of new variants in 1–3-year intervals causing global epidemics. There are no data reporting the dynamics of GII.4 variants along a specific period in Brazil. Therefore, to improve the understanding of the comportment of these variants in the country, the aim of this study was to evaluate the circulation of NoV GII.4 variants during a 9-year period in 3 out of 5 Brazilian regions. A total of 147 samples were sequenced, and a phylogenetic analysis of subdomain P2 demonstrated the circulation of six GII.4 variants, Asia_2003, Hunter_2004, Den Haag_2006b, Yerseke_2006a, New Orleans_2009, and Sydney_2012, during this period. The most prevalent variant was Den Haag_2006b, circulating in different Brazilian regions from 2006 to 2011. A Bayesian coalescent analysis was used to calculate the mean evolutionary rate of subdomain P2 as 7.3×10−3 (5.85×10−3–8.82×10−3) subst. /site/year. These analyses also demonstrated that clade Den Haag_2006b experienced a rapid expansion in 2005 and another in 2008 after a period of decay. The evaluation of the temporal dynamics of NoV GII.4 in Brazil revealed a similar pattern, with few exceptions, to the worldwide observation. These data highlight the importance of surveillance for monitoring the emergence of new strains of NoV GII.4 and its impact on cases of acute gastroenteritis.
Do supine oblique views provide better imaging of the cervicothoracic junction than swimmer's views?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a swimmer's view or supine (trauma) oblique views are more likely to visualise the lower cervical spine when a lateral view fails to show the cervicothoracic junction. DESIGN: A prospective study comparing two 20 week periods. In the first phase the swimmer's view was performed as an additional view when the cervicothoracic junction was not demonstrated. In the second phase paired supine oblique views replaced the swimmer's view. RESULTS: 230 patients were included in the first phase, of whom 60 required swimmer's views. In the second phase 62 of 197 patients required supine oblique views. Radiology analysis of 53 pairs of supine oblique views showed that the vertebral bodies were adequately demonstrated at the cervicothoracic junction in only 20 patients (38%) compared with 22 in the swimmer's group (37%). The facet joints and posterior elements were, however, clearly seen in 37 (70%) of the supine oblique patients compared with 22 (37%) of the swimmer's group (p < 0.001, chi2 test). Exposure dose calculations showed a substantial reduction for a pair of supine oblique views (1.6 mGy) over a single swimmer's view (7.2 mGy). CONCLUSIONS: In injured patients for whom the standard three view series fails to demonstrate the cervicothoracic junction, swimmer's views and supine oblique views show the alignment of the vertebral bodies with equal frequency. However, supine oblique films are safer, expose patients to less radiation, and are more often successful in demonstrating the posterior elements.
A question of complexity: measuring the maturity of online enquiry communities

Online enquiry communities such as Question Answering (Q&A) websites allow people to seek answers to all kind of questions. With the growing popularity of such platforms, it is important for community managers to constantly monitor the performance of their communities. Although different metrics have been proposed for tracking the evolution of such communities, maturity, the process in which communities become more topic proficient over time, has been largely ignored despite its potential to help in identifying robust communities. In this paper, we interpret community maturity as the proportion of complex questions in a community at a given time. We use the Server Fault (SF) community, a Question Answering (Q&A) community of system administrators, as our case study and perform analysis on question complexity, the level of expertise required to answer a question. We show that question complexity depends on both the length of involvement and the level of contributions of the users who post questions within their community. We extract features relating to askers, answerers, questions and answers, and analyse which features are strongly correlated with question complexity. Although our findings highlight the difficulty of automatically identifying question complexity, we found that complexity is more influenced by both the topical focus and the length of community involvement of askers. Following the identification of question complexity, we define a measure of maturity and analyse the evolution of different topical communities. Our results show that different topical communities show different maturity patterns. Some communities show a high maturity at the beginning while others exhibit slow maturity rate.
Charge-domain FIR sampler with programmable filtering coefficients

A charge-domain sampling technique for integrating an arbitrary FIR filtering function into high-frequency signal sampling is presented. The impulse response of the sampler's built-in FIR filtering function is implemented by weighting signal current samples integrated into a sampling capacitor with a discrete-time current multiplier unit, which is constructed from sets of parallel current-mode switches, each carrying a unit current element. The fine achievable resolution and digital controllability of the multiplier values, and hence the filter tap coefficients, allows realization of advanced programmable mixed-mode FIR filtering functions. Circuit simulation results of an example 50-MHz IF-sampler with a built-in 22-tap complex bandpass sinc/sup 3/ FIR function in 0.35-/spl mu/m CMOS are shown, demonstrating the feasibility of the presented method.
Ontology-Based Data Integration System for Conservation-Restoration Data (OBDIS-CR)

In this paper, we present a semantic based approach for integrating heterogeneous data sources, and we implement our approach on the scientific domain of Cultural Heritage Conservation-Restoration. First, we evaluate the context and the current needs; the observations confirmed the critical need of a data integration system taking advantage of semantics. Second, we describe the process that we followed in order to build an ontology dedicated to provide a unified understanding of the data. Third, we describe the ontology-based mediator system designed for effectively querying the heterogeneous distributed sources.
Register pressure aware scheduling for high level synthesis

Variations of list scheduling became the de-facto standard of scheduling straight line code in software compilers, a trend faithfully inherited by high-level synthesis solutions. Due to its nature, list scheduling is oblivious of the tightly coupled register pressure; a dangling fundamental problem that has been attacked by the compiler community for decades, and which results, in case of highlevel synthesis, in excessive instantiations of registers and accompanying steering logic. To alleviate this problem, we propose a synthesis framework called soft scheduling, which acts as a resource unconstrained pre-scheduling stage that restricts subsequent scheduling to minimize register pressure. This optimization objective is formulated as a live range minimization problem, a measure shown to be proportional to register pressure, and optimally solved in polynomial time using minimum cost network flow formulation. Unlike past solutions in the compiler community, which try to reduce register pressure by local serialization of subject instructions, the proposed solution operates on the entire basic block or hyperblock and systematically handles instruction chaining subject to the same objective. The application of the proposed solution to a set of real-life benchmarks results in a register pressure reduction ranging, on average, between 11% and 41% depending on the compilation and synthesis configurations with minor 2% to 4% increase in schedule latency.
Narcissistic and service-oriented leadership: Contrasting perspectives

Leadership writing has tended to present a positive picture about leadership practice yet, in recent times, researchers have highlighted the ‘dark side’ of leadership. In this exploratory conceptual paper, we juxtapose two contrasting forms of leadership: narcissistic leadership and service-oriented leadership (that draws heavily upon servant leadership) in order to provide a better understanding of both of these forms. In particular, we explore four core constructs of leadership: service, power, role of followers, and morality, to provide a constrast. Given that little empirical works exists on narcissistic and servant leadership in educational contexts, the paper concludes by arguing for further research in the field.
The UL84 protein of human cytomegalovirus acts as a transdominant inhibitor of immediate-early-mediated transactivation that is able to prevent viral replication

The 86-kilodalton immediate-early (IE) 2 protein (IE2-p86) of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a multifunctional regulator of HCMV gene expression which appears to be essential for triggering the lytic replicative cycle. IE2-p86 functions as a promiscuous transactivator of both viral and cellular gene expression and can repress transcription from its own promoter. In this study we demonstrate that a viral early protein, termed pUL84, which is able to interact with IE2-p86 both in vivo and in vitro, modulates IE2-p86 in a specific manner. First, pUL84 acts as a transdominant inhibitor of IE2-p86-mediated transactivation of both homologous and heterologous promoters. Second, negative autoregulation by IE2-p86 is augmented in the presence of pUL84. Using two in vivo assays, we obtained evidence that expression of pUL84 during the IE phase of the viral replicative cycle leads to an inhibition of viral early gene expression which prevents replication of HCMV and results in a persistent infection of UL84-positive cell lines. Transdominant inhibition of a viral IE function by a protein expressed during the later phases of replication appears to be a novel principle used by herpesviruses which could account for the slow replication of HCMV and may be useful in the development of new antiviral strategies.
Negative cross‐talk between p53 and the glucocorticoid receptor and its role in neuroblastoma cells

The tumour suppressor p53 and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) respond to different types of stress. We found that dexamethasone‐activated endogenous and exogenous GR inhibit p53‐dependent functions, including transactivation, up‐ (Bax and p21WAF1/CIP1) and down‐ (Bcl2) regulation of endogenous genes, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. GR forms a complex with p53 in vivo, resulting in cytoplasmic sequestration of both p53 and GR. In neuroblastoma (NB) cells, cytoplasmic retention and inactivation of wild‐type p53 involves GR. p53 and GR form a complex that is dissociated by GR antagonists, resulting in accumulation of p53 in the nucleus, activation of p53‐responsive genes, growth arrest and apoptosis. These results suggest that molecules that efficiently disrupt GR–p53 interactions would have a therapeutic potential for the treatment of neuroblastoma and perhaps other diseases in which p53 is sequestered by GR.
Flash/no-flash image fusion using dictionary learning

An image captured in dark environment usually has ambient illumination, but the image looks dark and noisy. However, the use of flash can introduce unwanted artifacts such as sharp shadows at silhouettes, red eyes, and non-uniform brightness in the image. We propose a new framework to enhance photographs captured in dark environments by combining the best features from a flash and a no-flash image. We use sparse and redundant dictionary learning based approach to denoise the no-flash image. A weighted least squares framework is used to transfer sharp details from the flash image into the no-flash image. We show that our approach is simple and able to generate better images than that of the state-of-the-art flash/no-flash fusion method.
Automatic Synthesis of Fault Detection Modules for Mobile Robots

In this paper, we present a new approach for automatic synthesis of fault detection modules for autonomous mobile robots. The method relies on the fact that hardware faults typically change the flow of sensory perceptions received by the robot and the subsequent behavior of the control program. We collect data from three experiments with real robots. In each experiment, we record all sensory inputs from the robots while they are operating normally and after software-simulated faults have been injected. We use back- propagation neural networks to synthesize task-dependent fault detection modules. The performance of the modules is evaluated in terms of false positives and latency.