Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A New Look at Campaign Advertising and Political Engagement

Exposure to cross-cutting versus like-minded political advertising is highly relevant in terms of deliberative democratic theory. However, few efforts have been made to shed light on the effects of such opinion-incongruent and -congruent political advertisements. By analyzing data from a representative panel survey, and hence identifying effects over time, we found that exposure to opinion-congruent advertising enhanced political participation. Opinion-congruent advertising also accelerated the timing of voting decisions when citizens were low in ideological strength. However, contrary to our expectations, exposure to opinion-incongruent political advertising had no effects on political participation and the timing of voting decisions. These findings suggest that opinion-congruent advertising is a strong mobilizer, whereas opinion-hostile advertising is a weak cross-pressure. Implications of these findings for the study of political advertising effects are discussed.
Physics of ultracold Fermi gases revealed by spectroscopies

This article provides a brief review of how various spectroscopies have been used to investitage many-body quantum phenomena in the context of ultracold Fermi gases. In particular, work done with RF spectroscopy, Bragg spectroscopy and lattice modulation spectroscopy is considered. The theoretical basis of these spectroscopies, namely linear response theory in the many-body quantum physics context is briefly presented. Experiments related to the BCS-BEC crossover, imbalanced Fermi gases, polarons, possible pseudogap and Fermi liquid behaviour and measuring the contact are discussed. Remaining open problems and goals in the field are sketched from the perspective how spectroscopies could contribute.
Vers l'immersion mobile en réalité augmentée : une approche basée sur le suivi robuste de cibles naturelles et sur l'interaction 3D . (Toward mobile immersion in augmented reality: An approach based on robust natural feature tracking and 3D interaction. )

L’estimation de pose et l’interaction 3D sont les fondements de base d’un systeme de realite augmentee (RA). L’objectif de cette these etant de traiter ces deux problematiques, nous presentons dans ce memoire un etat de l’art qui regroupe : approches, techniques et technologies relatives a l’estimation de pose et a l’interaction 3D en RA. Puis nous faisons le bilan sur les travaux menes jusqu'a aujourd’hui. A cet effet, nos contributions dans ce vaste domaine sont dans les deux parties : vision et interaction 3D. Nous avons propose un nouveau detecteur et descripteur binaire nomme MOBIL qui effectue une comparaison binaire des moments geometriques. Par la suite nous avons propose deux ameliorations de notre descripteur. MOBIL_2B et POLAR_MOBIL. En outre, nous avons utilise notre descripteur avec l’approche PTAM (Parallel tracking and Mapping) afin d’assurer le recalage des objets virtuels en immersion mobile de l’utilisateur en RA. Nous avons egalement propose une technique d’interaction pour la RA, appelee « Zoom-in » qui facilite la selection et la manipulation des objets virtuels distants. Cette technique est basee sur le zoom de l’image et des objets virtuels recale sur l’image. Les objets virtuels sont mis a la portee de l’utilisateur en gardant le recalage par rapport a la scene. Ce memoire se termine par une conclusion generale qui fait le point sur l’essentiel de ce travail et ouvre de nouvelles perspectives.
Identification of the Ah Receptor Nuclear Translocator Protein (Arnt) as a Component of the DNA Binding Form of the Ah Receptor

The Ah (dioxin) receptor binds a number of widely disseminated environmental pollutants, including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and mediates their carcinogenic effects. The ligand-bound receptor activates Cyp1a1 gene transcription through interaction with specific DNA sequences, termed xenobiotic responsive elements (XREs). The Ah receptor nuclear translocator protein (Arnt) is required for Ah receptor function. Arnt is now shown to be a structural component of the XRE binding form of the Ah receptor. Furthermore, Arnt and the ligand-binding subunit of the receptor were extracted as a complex from the nuclei of cells treated with ligand. Arnt contains a basic helix-loop-helix motif, which may be responsible for interacting with both the XRE and the ligand-binding subunit.
Perceptual recognition as a function of meaninfulness of stimulus material.

The present study evaluates a class of models of human information processing made popular by Broadbent. A brief tachistoscopic display of one or two single letters, four-letter common words, or four-letter nonwords was immediately followed by a masking field along with two single-letter response alternatives chosen so as to minimize informational differences among the tasks. Giving 5s response alternatives before the stimulus display as well as after it caused an impairment of performance. Performance on single words was clearly better than performance on single letters. The data suggest that the first stages of information processing are done in parallel, but scanning of the resultant highly processed information is done serially.
Hemophagocytic lymphohstiocytosis: A Case Report

Hemophagocytic syndrome with special mention to its secondary form is a rare syndrome which occurs after strong immunologic activation and release of cytokines characterized by unrestricted activation of T lymphocytes and macrophages invariably leading to death in absence of treatment [1,2]. It is associated with certain clinical and hematological abnormalities of which pancytopenia, hyper ferritinaemia, hepatosplenomegaly, fever and hemophagocytosis in bone marrow were observed in our case.
Construction of an Electronic Timbre Dictionary for Environmental sounds by Timbre symbol

This paper introduces an electronic timbre dictionary, a search or synthesis system for user desired timbre. Timbre is represented by timbre symbols newly defined here. The method for designing timbre symbols is discussed. The timbre dictionary is designed to open to network users, so that these symbols can be defined and edited by many of network users. Thus the number of timbre symbols will increase. However, they are expected to converge and become stable as entries in Wikipedia have. The system is designed to ease manipulation of timbre symbols and linked sound data using a newly-defined graphical user interface (GUI) interaction mode: snaked path listening. This paper reports the total system configuration in detail. The system is intended for use in automatic sound media content creation and electronic music score-making and performance.
An area-optimized implementation for AES with hybrid countermeasures against power analysis

Since its adoption as a new encryption standard by NIST, the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) has become the default choice for various applications. On the other hand, a straightforward implementation of the AES is vulnerable to different forms of side channel attacks. In this paper, we explore several countermeasure techniques against power analysis attacks. In particular, we present an area optimized design that combines shuffling, as a hiding countermeasure, with some recently proposed masking techniques. The developed power analysis resistant AES-128 ECB encryption/decryption engine requires 3090 slices of a Xilinx Virtex-II xc2v1000-6-bg575 FPGA, runs at a maximum clock speed of 51.75 MHz and produces a throughput of up to 15.33 Mbps.
A Stepwise Analysis of Aggregated Crowdsourced Labels Describing Multimodal Emotional Behaviors

Affect recognition is a difficult problem that most often relies on human annotated data to train automated systems. As humans perceive emotion differently based on personality, cognitive state and past experiences, it is important to collect rankings from multiple individuals to assess the emotional content in corpora, which are later aggregated with rules such as majority vote. With the increased use of crowdsourcing services for perceptual evaluations, collecting large amount of data is now feasible. It becomes important to question the amount of data needed to create well-trained classifiers. How different are the aggregated labels collected from five raters compared to the ones obtained from twenty evaluators? Is it worthwhile to spend resources to increase the number of evaluators beyond those used in conventional/laboratory studies? This study evaluates the consensus labels obtained by incrementally adding new evaluators during perceptual evaluations. Using majority vote over categorical emotional labels, we compare the changes in the aggregated labels starting with one rater, and finishing with 20 raters. The large number of evaluators in a subset of the MSP-IMPROV database and the ability to filter annotators by quality allows us to better understand label aggregation as a function of the number of annotators.
Power aware routing protocols for wide area ad hoc networks

Most of the existing routing protocols for a large ad hoc networks are specifically planned to offer the maximum scalability and efficiency in message delivering. However, they do not properly face the problem of resource optimization at each node, in particular, the battery consumption issues. In this paper a solution to maximize the node lifetime is presented, jointly with saving the energetic resources of the most solicited terminals by means of an efficient selection of messages to be forwarded.
Factors Affecting Mobile Phone Use Among Undergraduate Students in Turkey: An Exploratory Analysis

Mobile phones are one of the fastest-adopted innovations in history. Globally, mobile phones have rapidly become widespread in most parts of the world, especially among the young generation. Young people constitute an important and significant part of mobile phone users. In this study, the author examined the factors affecting mobile phone use among undergraduate students in a developing country. The research data was collected through a convenience sample of undergraduate students in a public university in Turkey. Exploratory factor analysis was used to examine the underlying factors in mobile phone use. Nine factors are identified from the results of factor analysis such as “Information,” “Attitude,” “Mobility,” “Functional service,” “Entertainment/Relaxation,” “Convenience,” “Fashion,” “Sense of security,” and “Multimedia service”. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-1939-5.ch013
An Analysis of University Students' Online Shopping Behavior: A Case of 4-Year Technical University in Northern Taiwan

Online shopping has been quickly growing because of the fast development of internet technology. It has been now recognized as a fashion of new product distribution and logistics. As more online shoppers are tended to be these young adults who are capable to make their decisions on purchasing desired products. A model with four constructs (web feature, service feature, purchasing behavior, and customer satisfaction) is used to study the online-shopping issues. Survey analysis is used to study the participants on their varied purchase motivations affecting on the online shopping behavior. The 49-item survey was given to all the sixteen departments at a four-year technical university in Taiwan during the spring semester of 2014. A total number of 800 valid surveys were collected in May and June 2014.Statistical procedures of descriptive, correlation and CFA were used to analyze the collected data. The proposed six proposed hypotheses were all being proven statistically significant, and they have been listed and discussed in the article.The study intended to provide the needed information to understand the purchasing behaviors and motivations among the young adult at a university in Taiwan.
Differential effects of vasopressin and endothelin‐1 on vascular contractile and calcium responses in pressurized small arteries from spontaneously hypertensive rats

Objective To investigate the effects of vasopressin and endothelin-1 on the intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and on contractile responses in endothelium-denuded resistance vessels of prehypertensive (5-week-old) and adult hypertensive (17-week-old) spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and age-matched Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Methods Segments (2 mm long) of third-order branches of small mesenteric arteries were mounted in a perfusion myograph and maintained at 60mmHg pressure. Endothelium was removed by intraluminal passage of air. The vessel [Ca2+]i was measured by fura-2 fluorescence and contraction was determined using a video imaging system to record lumen diameter. Results Lumen diameter was significantly smaller in 5-and 17-week-old SHR than it was in age-matched WKY rats (5 week-old SHR versus WKY rats: 178 ± 4.0 versus 195 ± 4.3 μm; 17-week-old SHR versus WKY rats: 168 ± 7.0 versus 230 ± 3.1 μm). The basal [Ca2+]i was significantly higher in 5− and 17-week-old SHR than it was in age-matched WKY rats. Infusions of vasopressin and endothelin-1 increased [Ca2+]i and contractile responses in a dose-dependent manner in all groups. The vasopressin-induced change in [Ca2+]i was significantly greater in 5− and 17-week-old SHR than in age-matched controls. The sensitivity of [Ca2+]i to vasopressin was increased in adult SHR compared with WKY rats (pD2 9.0 ± 0.1 in SHR, 8.2 ± 0.3 in WKY rats). Vasopressin-stimulated contractile responses were increased in adult SHR. The endothelin-1-induced change in [Ca2+]i did not differ between WKY rats and SHR. The contractility of vessels in response to endothelin-1 infusion was similar in age-matched groups. Conclusions Endothelin-1-induced changes in [Ca2+]i and contractile responses in small arteries are similar in age-matched WKY rats and SHR, whereas responses to vasopressin are significantly enhanced in SHR compared with WKY rats. Thus [Ca2+]j signalling for vasopressin is more active than is that for endothelin-1. Vasopressin but not endothelin-1 might play a role in the development of hypertension in SHR.
Obestatin regulates adipocyte function and protects against diet‐induced insulin resistance and inflammation

The metabolic actions of the ghrelin gene‐derived peptide obestatin are still unclear. We investigated obestatin effects in vitro, on adipocyte function, and in vivo, on insulin resistance and inflammation in mice fed a high‐fat diet (HFD). Obestatin effects on apoptosis, differentiation, lipolysis, and glucose uptake were determined in vitro in mouse 3T3‐L1 and in human subcutaneous (hSC) and omental (hOM) adipocytes. In vivo, the influence of obestatin on glucose metabolism was assessed in mice fed an HFD for 8 wk. 3T3‐L1, hSC, and hOM preadipocytes and adipocytes secreted obestatin and showed specific binding for the hormone. Obestatin prevented apoptosis in 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes by increasing phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K)/Akt and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 signaling. In both mice and human adipocytes, obestatin inhibited isoproterenol‐induced lipolysis, promoted AMP‐activated protein kinase phosphorylation, induced adiponectin, and reduced leptin secretion. Obestatin also enhanced glucose uptake in either the absence or presence of insulin, promoted GLUT4 translocation, and increased Akt phosphorylation and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) protein expression. Inhibition of SIRT1 by small interfering RNA reduced obestatin‐induced glucose uptake. In HFD‐fed mice, obestatin reduced insulin resistance, increased insulin secretion from pancreatic islets, and reduced adipocyte apoptosis and inflammation in metabolic tissues. These results provide evidence of a novel role for obestatin in adipocyte function and glucose metabolism and suggest potential therapeutic perspectives in insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunctions. —Granata, R. , Gallo, D. , Luque, R. M. , Baragli, A. , Scarlatti, F. , Grande, C. , Gesmundo, I. , Córdoba‐Chacón, J., Bergandi, L. , Settanni, F. , Togliatto, G. , Volante, M. , Garetto, S. , Annunziata, M. , Chanclón, B. , Gargantini, E. , Rocchietto, S. , Matera, L. , Datta, G. , Morino, M. , Brizzi, M. F. , Ong, H. , Camussi, G. , Castaño, J. P., Papotti, M. , Ghigo, E. Obestatin regulates adipocyte function and protects against diet‐induced insulin resistance and inflammation. FASEB J. 26, 3393–3411 (2012). www.fasebj. org
LESS MONEY LESS FOOD: VOICES FROM WOMEN IN URBAN POOR FAMILIES IN THAILAND

Food insecurity is a public health problem. Information on how cultures perceive the experience of a financial crisis and resultant food insecurity is limited. Our purpose in this study was to understand how poor families residing in urban slums in Thailand perceive their food situation. Interviews were conducted with 30 women aged 20–65 years who were household food providers. Content analysis revealed three themes: experiencing changes, being vulnerable to not having enough food, and getting support. Policy changes to address access to social and health services and development of additional welfare programs must be made to achieve food security.
A Case Study of the NCRP 156 Wound Model of Embedded DU Using Data From Urine Uranium Concentrations of Wounded Veterans

Abstract Depleted uranium (DU) munitions were initially used by the United States (U.S.) military during the first Persian Gulf War in 1991 in order to penetrate heavily armored vehicles. However, as a result of friendly fire, several U.S. military personnel received intakes from DU munitions. One of the ongoing concerns for these wounded veterans is the potential long-term exposure received from DU embedded fragments. The United States Army Institute of Public Health (AIPH) is the first laboratory that analyzes the urine bioassays from Army Soldiers that are injured with DU fragments. The United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine also evaluates bioassays from DU injuries. The urine bioassay data collected by AIPH was evaluated using the NCRP 156 wound model coefficients for the DU-Wafer, Fragment, and Particle models. The maximum likelihood method was used in the Integrated Modules for Bioassay Analysis (IMBA-PPAE) to calculate the estimates of intake and tissue doses. Evaluating the three models for wound retention, the DU-Wafer and Fragment model yielded a credible fit to the bioassay data. Comparing the two models, the DU-Wafer model fits the data better than the Fragment model when comparing their autocorrelation coefficient and chi-squared values of (P 1.73 × 10−1, c2 4.83 × 10−1), (P 2.01 × 10−2, c2 1.09), respectively. This evaluation supports the validity of both the DU-wafer model as well as the default fragmentation model proposed by NCRP 156.
Power assist control for walking aid with HAL-3 based on EMG and impedance adjustment around knee joint

This paper describes the power assist control for walking aid based on EMG and impedance adjustment with HAL-3 we have developed. Virtual torque derived from EMG is adopted as a basic control method, and the motion assist control as to operator's intention can be realized by this method. And we suggest the impedance adjustment around knee joint for more effective power assist control. Experiments for simple motion and walking motion were performed to verify the proposed approach, with impedance parameters found by RLS (recursive least square) method. The evaluation of assisted motion was done by a calculation based on EMG in nearly proportion to the operator's muscle force. The results showed the amplitudes of EMG were reduced significantly, the operator was able to swing the leg lighter by reducing the inertia around knee, and the strain of knee in foot-grounding could be alleviated by adding the stiffness to joint.
Location of Irritative Zone in Epileptic Brains of Schizencephalic Patients

Although many schizencephaly patients suffer from epilepsy, the relationship between schizencephalic lesions and epileptic foci remains unclear. Previous studies have shown that schizencephalic lesions may be associated with, rather than contain, epileptogenic zones. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the current source distribution (CSD) of epileptiform discharges in schizencephalic patients and to correlate this activity with existing structural lesions. A consecutive series of 30 schizencephalic patients who were diagnosed using brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were selected retrospectively and prospectively. Of the original 30 subjects selected, 13 had epilepsy, and 6 of these patients exhibited schizencephaly, epilepsy, and interictal spikes on electroencephalograms (EEG) and were enrolled in the present study investigating the current source analysis of interictal spikes. The CSDs of the initial rising phases and the peak points of the interictal spikes were obtained using standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA). Five patients exhibited a single focus of interictal spikes, while 1 patient showed 2 foci. Relative to the structural brain lesions, 5 patients displayed extrinsically localized CSDs, while 1 patient showed a partially intrinsically localized CSD. The present findings demonstrate that the CSDs of interictal spikes in schizencephalic patients are in general anatomically distinct from the cerebral schizencephalic lesions and that these lesions may display an extrinsic epileptogenicity.
Training Through Serious Games: The Relationship Between Travel Agent Engagement, Knowledge of Cruise Products and Cruise Sales

OF THE DISSERTATION TRAINING THROUGH SERIOUS GAMES: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRAVEL AGENT ENGAGEMENT, KNOWLEDGE OF CRUISE PRODUCTS AND CRUISE SALES by Lizette C. Pabon Florida International University, 2016 Miami, Florida Professor Thomas G. Reio Jr., Major Professor Research is limited on the role game-based training has on the engagement of learners. The following study was conducted to further advance research on engagement and game-based training in businesses by studying the engagement of travel agents in the game. Engagement is the manner in which a learner's cognitive and motor skills are motivated when participating in a game. Engaged learners will often push through challenging tasks and will concentrate on improving their skills due to their excitement about playing. The present study examined the engagement of travel agents as they played a serious game. The serious game, Adventures Game, was designed to provide a fun and memorable format for learning for travel agents who sell cruise tickets for a