Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Progress toward construct validation of the self-presentation in exercise questionnaire (SPEQ)

Self-presentation has become an increasingly popular topic in exercise and sport psychology, yet few instruments exist to measure this construct. This paper describes two validation studies conducted on the Self-Presentation in Exercise Questionnaire (SPEQ), a paper-and-pencil instrument based on Leary and Kowalski’s (1990) two-component model of impression management. The SPEQ was designed to assess impression motivation (IM) and impression construction (IC) in exercise environments. The first study employed exploratory factor analysis to reduce a pool of 125 content-representative items to a subset of 41 items forming the hypothesized two-factor model of IM and IC. In the second study, the 41 items were further reduced using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses in separate samples, and the reduced SPEQ also conformed to the IM and IC factor structure. The second study also provided initial evidence to support the convergent and discriminant validity of the SPEQ with theoretically salient constru.
Multiple license plate detection for complex background

This paper presents a wavelet transform based method for extracting license plates from cluttered images. The proposed system consists of three major stages. First, a wavelet transform based method is used for extracting important contrast features as guides to search for desired license plates. Then, finding a reference line in HL subimage plays an important role to locate the desired license plate region roughly. According to the reference line we can decrease the searching region of license plate and speed up the execution time. The last stage of the method is to locate the license plate accurately by license plate adjustment. More importantly, the proposed detection method can locate multiple plates with different orientations in one image. Since the feature extracted is robust to complex backgrounds, the proposed method works well in extracting differently illuminated and oriented license plates. The average accuracy of detection is 92.4%.
- 1-SUPER-RESOLUTION RESTORATION OF CONTINUOUS IMAGE SEQUENCE-ADAPTIVE FILTERING

In this paper, we propose computationally efficient super-resolution restoration algorithms for blurred, noisy and down-sampled continuous image sequences. The proposed approach is a generalization of the stochastic estimation based methods (the ML and the MAP estimators) for the restoration of single blurred and noisy images. The blur, decimation, and noise degredations are modeled as a sparse matrices linear equation connecting the measurements to the ideal required image. A second linear equation can be added in order to include a localy adaptive spatial smoothness prior, similar to the way it is done in the Constrained Least Squares method. Based on these two equations, a classic super-resolution restoration approach can be suggested as a by-product of the above formulation. This way, a single improved resolution image can be restored from several warped, blurred, noisy and down-sampled versions of it. The adaptive spatial regularization term is shown to improve the restored image sequence quality by forcing smoothness, while preserving edges. When attempting to treat continuous image sequences, the temporal axis is to included into the model. This is done by using temporal smoothness assumption along motion trajectories, resulting with a calssic state-space equations model. The obtained model can serve as a basis for the application of the Kalman filter (KF), but a direct application of the KF is far to complex to imlement. The state-space equations model are thus further simplified, yielding a Least Squares (LS) model an instantaneous squared error quality measure which is to be minimized over time. The RLS and LMS adaptive algorithms can be applied directly to the new simplified model. This way, simple yet very effective two recursive algorithms for the estimation of the restored improved resolution image sequence in time are composed. The computation complexity of the obtained algorithms is of the order O L L { log } 2 ( ) per one output image, where L2 is the number of pixels in the output image. Simulations carried out on test sequences prove these methods to be applicable, efficient, and with very promising results.
Comparative study of boosting and non-boosting training for constructing ensembles of acoustic models

This paper compares the performance of Boosting and nonBoosting training algorithms in large vocabulary continuous speech recognition (LVCSR) using ensembles of acoustic models. Both algorithms demonstrated significant word error rate reduction on the CMU Communicator corpus. However, both algorithms produced comparable improvements, even though one would expect that the Boosting algorithm, which has a solid theoretic foundation, should work much better than the non-Boosting algorithm. Several voting schemes for hypothesis combining were evaluated, including weighted voting, un-weighted voting and ROVER.
A multichannel CSMA MAC protocol with receiver-based channel selection for multihop wireless networks

We propose a CSMA-based medium access control protocol for multihop wireless networks that uses multiple channels and a dynamic channel selection method. The proposed protocol uses one control channel and N data channels, where N is independent of the number of nodes in the network. The source uses an exchange of control packets on the control channel to decide on the best channel to send the data packet on. Channel selection is based on maximizing the signal-to-interference plus noise ratio at the receiver. We present performance evaluations obtained from simulations that demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed protocol.
Expression of a mutant opsin gene increases the susceptibility of the retina to light damage

Abstract The question of whether the expression of mutant opsin predisposes the retina to light damage was addressed using transgenic mice that express rhodopsin with three point mutations near the N-terminus of the molecule. The mutations involve the substitution of histidine for proline at position 23 (P23H), glycine for valine at position 20 (V20G), and leucine for proline at position 27 (P27L). These mice express equal amounts of mutant and wild-type transcripts, and develop a progressive photoreceptor degeneration that is similar to that seen in human retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The P23H mutation is associated with the most frequently occurring form of human autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP) in the United States. Transgenic and normal littermates were exposed to illuminance of 300 foot-candles (ft-c) for 24 h, then placed in darkness for either 6 h, 6 days, or 14 days. Histological and biochemical techniques were used to evaluate the outer retina in light-exposed and control animals reared on 12-h light/12-h dark cycle. The results indicate that light exposure accelerates the pathological changes associated with the transgene expression. Compared with transgenic animals reared in ambient cyclic light, retinas from light-exposed mice had a reduced rhodopsin content, fewer photoreceptor cell bodies, and less preservation of retinal structure. Data obtained from normal mice did not differ for the lighting regimens used. These findings suggest that the expression of VPP mutations in the opsin gene predisposes the transgenic photoreceptors to be more susceptible to light damage. The data also suggest that reducing photic exposure may be beneficial to any patient with RP mediated by an opsin mutation.
Bilingual and monolingual processing of competing lexical items

Performance of bilingual Russian–English speakers and monolingual English speakers during auditory processing of competing lexical items was examined using eye tracking. Results revealed that both bilinguals and monolinguals experienced competition from English lexical items overlapping phonetically with an English target item (e.g., spear and speaker). However, only bilingual speakers experienced competition from Russian competitor items overlapping crosslinguistically with an English target (e.g., spear and spichki, Russian for matches). English monolinguals treated the Russian competitors as they did any other filler items. This difference in performance between bilinguals and monolinguals tested with exactly the same sets of stimuli suggests that eye movements to a crosslinguistic competitor are due to activation of the other language and to between-language competition rather than being an artifact of stimulus selection or experimental design.
Block, Multistride Vector, and FFT Accesses in Parallel Memory Systems

A discussion is presented of the use of dynamic storage schemes to improve parallel memory performance during three important classes of data accesses: vector accesses in which multiple strides are used to access a single vector, block accesses, and constant-geometry FFT accesses. The schemes investigated are based on linear address transformations, also known as XOR schemes. It has been shown that this class of schemes can be implemented more efficiently in hardware and has more flexibility than schemes based on row rotations or other techniques. Several analytical results are shown. These include: quantitative analysis of buffering effects in pipelined memory systems; design rules for storage schemes that provide conflict-free access using multiple strides, blocks, and FFT access patterns; and an analysis of the effects of memory bank cycle time on storage scheme capabilities. >
Analysis of bipolar disorder using affected relatives

We have analyzed the GAW10 data from several studies of bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) using the software packages SimIBD and SIMWALK2. SimIBD implements a simulation‐based affected‐pedigree‐member (APM) statistic, called SimAPM, as well as an APM‐like statistic, also called SimIBD, that measures identical‐by‐descent (IBD) sharing. SIMWALK2 uses Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques to compute several IBD‐based statistics on the degree of marker‐allele clustering among all affected relatives. We have found no strong evidence of linkage to either chromosome 5 or 18. However, we did find that several markers showed p‐values less than 0.01 and may deserve further study. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Relationship of instrumental and affectional behaviors and self-esteem to marital satisfaction in distressed and nondistressed couples.

This study examined the relationship of instrumental and affectional behavioral events to short- and long-term marital satisfaction. Eleven distressed and 11 nondistressed couples made daily observations of their spouses' pleasurable and displeasurable behavior over a 14-day period. These behavioral ratings were also related to several personality variables pertaining to sex role orientation and to reported activity during the 4 weeks prior to the study. Results showed a significant negative relationship between the frequency of displeasurabl e instrumental events and both overall and daily ratings of marital satisfaction. Affectional events were not significantly related to long-term satisfaction, contrary to expectation. Rates of displeasurabl e affectional events correlated negatively with daily ratings of satisfaction at a significant level. The most important finding of the study was the degree to which wives' self-esteem correlated with couple-rated marital satisfaction. The results are discussed with regard to the need for further research that examines marriage as a source of mutual support and benefit for both partners. Interest in the application of behavioral technology to marriage has been demonstrated by a number of recent studies (Liberman, 1970; Patterson, Weiss, & Hops, 1974; Stuart, 1969; R. L. Weiss, Hops, & Patterson, 1973). The social-learning approach to marital conflict and accord is concerned with the occurrence of overt behaviors by persons in the particular situations of interest (e.g., Royce & Weiss, 1975). The behavioral view sees marital happiness as ultimately based on the actual interactions of the marriage partners. Findings that are not readily related to this interaction are not seen as particularly helpful for developing solutions to marital conflict. One important issue raised by the behavioral perspective involves the relative contributions of pleasur
Exploring Biological Intelligence through Artificial Intelligence and Radical Reimplementation

An important goal in artiﬁcial intelligence and biology is to uncover general principles that underlie intelligence. While artiﬁcial intelligence algorithms need not relate to biology, they might provide a synthetic means to investigate biological intelligence in particular. Importantly, a more complete understanding of such biological intelligence would profoundly impact society. Thus, to explore biological hypotheses some AI researchers take direct inspiration from biology. However, nature’s implementations of intelligence may present only one facet of its deeper principles, complicating the search for general hypotheses. This complication motivates the approach in this paper, called radical reimple-mentation , whereby biological insight can result from purposefully unnatural experiments. The main idea is that biological hypotheses about intelligence can be investigated by reimplementing their main principles intentionally to explicitly and maximally diverge from existing natural examples. If such a reimplementation successfully exhibits properties similar to those seen in biology it may better isolate the underlying hypothesis than an example implemented more directly in nature’s spirit. Two examples of applying radical reimple-mentation are reviewed, yielding potential insights into biological intelligence despite including purposefully unnatural underlying mechanisms. In this way, radical reimplementation provides a principled methodology for intentionally artiﬁcial investigations to nonetheless achieve biological relevance.
The Good Block: Hardware/Software Design for Composable, Block-Atomic Processors

Power consumption, complexity, and on-chip latency are forcing computer systems to exploit more parallelism efficiently. Explicit Dataflow Graph Execution (EDGE) architectures seek to expose parallelism by dividing programs into blocks of efficient dataflow operations, exposing inter and intra-block concurrency. This paper studies the balance of complexity and capability between EDGE architectures and compilers. We address three main questions. (1) What are the appropriate block granularities for achieving high performance efficiently? (2) What are good block instruction selection policies? (3) What architecture and compiler support do these designs require? Our results show that the compiler requires multiple block sizes to adapt applications to block-atomic hardware and achieve high performance. Although the architecture for a single size is simpler, the additions for variable sizes are modest and ease hardware configuration. We propose hand-crafted and learned compiler policies for block formation. We find the best policies provide significant advantages of up to a factor of 3 in some configurations. Policies vary based on (1) the amount of parallelism inherent in the application, e.g., for integer and numerical applications, and (2) the available parallel resources. The resulting configurable architecture and compiler efficiently expose and exploit software and hardware parallelism.
An orbivirus of mosquitoes which induces CO2 sensitivity in mosquitoes and is lethal for rabbits

An orbivirus, JKT-7400, isolated from Culex mosquitoes in Indonesia, replicated to a high titer and induced cytopathic effects in Aedes albopictus cell cultures. The virus produced lethal sensitivity to carbon dioxide in Culex and Aedes mosquitoes as well as in Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies but was not the agent of the hereditary sensitivity to carbon dioxide previously described for Culex quinquefasciatus. When injected intravenously in high doses, JKT-7400 virus was lethal for rabbits, apparently without replicating to a significant extent. It was not pathogenic for adult mice inoculated intravenously or for adult or suckling mice inoculated intracerebrally and intraperitoneally. Unlike an orbivirus isolated from Culex mosquitoes in China, JKT-7400 did not interfere with the replication of Japanese encephalitis virus in mosquitoes.
Enhancing Teachers’ Application of Inquiry‐Based Strategies Using a Constructivist Sociocultural Professional Development Model

This two‐year school‐wide initiative to improve teachers’ pedagogical skills in inquiry‐based science instruction using a constructivist sociocultural professional development model involved 30 elementary teachers from one school, three university faculty, and two central office content supervisors. Research was conducted for investigating the impact of the professional development activities on teachers’ practices, documenting changes in their philosophies, instruction, and the learning environment. This report includes teachers’ accounts of philosophical as well as instructional changes and how these changes shaped the learning environment. For the teachers in this study, examining their teaching practices in learner‐centered collaborative group settings encouraged them to critically analyze their instructional practices, challenging their preconceived ideas on inquiry‐based strategies. Additionally, other factors affecting teachers’ understanding and use of inquiry‐based strategies were highlighted, such as self‐efficacy beliefs, prior experiences as students in science classrooms, teacher preparation programs, and expectations due to federal, state, and local mandates. These factors were discussed and reconciled, as they constructed new understandings and adapted their strategies to become more student‐centered and inquiry‐based.
CULTURE AND KNOWLEDGE CO-CREATION : Research Collaboration in the Chinese MNC context

The paper examines the role of home country culture in university-industry research collaboration and knowledge interaction in the Chinese MNC context. We approach the issue by conducting a critical literature review with interviews from Finland and China. The previous studies on university-industry collaboration focus primarily on technology and knowledge transfer. The present study, however, argues that in the Chinese MNC context more interactive types of knowledge interaction like knowledge co-creation should be of key concern, so are various challenges in terms of local culture and interpersonal relationship (Chinese guanxi) that includes for example important organizational processes of interpersonal relationship and trust, intensive communication and interaction, mutual commitment and learning, and being well aware of cultural and knowledge-related differences between collaboration partners.
High-resolution structure of podovirus tail adaptor suggests repositioning of an octad motif that mediates the sequential tail assembly

Significance Many dsDNA bacteriophages possess a tail that encodes functions essential for viral life cycles. Assembly of such a molecular machine has been shown to occur in a sequential manner. Here, we report the high-resolution crystal structure of the tail adaptor protein gp7 from Shigella phage Sf6. Comparative structural studies reveal that the N-terminal portion undergoes structural rearrangement by repositioning two consecutive repeats of a conserved octad sequence motif, turning the molecule from the preassembly state to the postassembly state, which creates the binding site for the next tail component to attach to. These results provide a structural basis for a mechanism of repositioning of sequence motifs by which the adaptor protein mediates the sequential assembly of the phage tail. The sophisticated tail structures of DNA bacteriophages play essential roles in life cycles. Podoviruses P22 and Sf6 have short tails consisting of multiple proteins, among which is a tail adaptor protein that connects the portal protein to the other tail proteins. Assembly of the tail has been shown to occur in a sequential manner to ensure proper molecular interactions, but the underlying mechanism remains to be understood. Here, we report the high-resolution structure of the tail adaptor protein gp7 from phage Sf6. The structure exhibits distinct distribution of opposite charges on two sides of the molecule. A gp7 dodecameric ring model shows an entirely negatively charged surface, suggesting that the assembly of the dodecamer occurs through head-to-tail interactions of the bipolar monomers. The N-terminal helix-loop structure undergoes rearrangement compared with that of the P22 homolog complexed with the portal, which is achieved by repositioning of two consecutive repeats of a conserved octad sequence motif. We propose that the conformation of the N-terminal helix-loop observed in the Sf6-gp7 and P22 portal:gp4 complex represents the pre- and postassembly state, respectively. Such motif repositioning may serve as a conformational switch that creates the docking site for the tail nozzle only after the assembly of adaptor protein to the portal. In addition, the C-terminal portion of gp7 shows conformational flexibility, indicating an induced fit on binding to the portal. These results provide insight into the mechanistic role of the adaptor protein in mediating the sequential assembly of the phage tail.
Actin Reorganization Is Required for the Formation of Polarized B Cell Receptor Signalosomes in Response to Both Soluble and Membrane-Associated Antigens

B cells encounter both soluble Ag (sAg) and membrane-associated Ag (mAg) in the secondary lymphoid tissue, yet how the physical form of Ag modulates B cell activation remains unclear. This study compares actin reorganization and its role in BCR signalosome formation in mAg- and sAg-stimulated B cells. Both mAg and sAg induce F-actin accumulation and actin polymerization at BCR microclusters and at the outer rim of BCR central clusters, but the kinetics and magnitude of F-actin accumulation in mAg-stimulated B cells are greater than those in sAg-stimulated B cells. Accordingly, the actin regulatory factors, cofilin and gelsolin, are recruited to BCR clusters in both mAg- and sAg-stimulated B cells but with different kinetics and patterns of cellular redistribution. Inhibition of actin reorganization by stabilizing F-actin inhibits BCR clustering and tyrosine phosphorylation induced by both forms of Ag. Depolymerization of F-actin leads to unpolarized microclustering of BCRs and tyrosine phosphorylation in BCR microclusters without mAg and sAg, but with much slower kinetics than those induced by Ag. Therefore, actin reorganization, mediated via both polymerization and depolymerization, is required for the formation of BCR signalosomes in response to both mAg and sAg.
Language, Learning, and Color Perception

People perceive colors categorically. But what is the role of the environment (or nurture)—specifically, language—in color perception? The effects of language on the way people categorize and perceive colors have been considered to be minimal, but recent evidence suggests that language may indeed change color perception. Speakers of languages with different color-name repertoires show differences in the way they perceive color. Research shows that categorical effects on color perception can be induced through laboratory training and suggests language can similarly change color perception through the mechanism of perceptual learning.
No Citizen Left Behind

Bridgeport work for Chinese-owned businesses (pp. 120–121). She even says that ‘‘the labor of undocumented immigrants in the city helps provide a comfortable life for the model minority, middle-class Chinese Americans in the suburbs’’ (p. 120). Surprisingly, the author has not examined to what extent working-class Chinese immigrants’ class-related anger and complaints were directed against their co-ethnic employers.