Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A general framework for cultivating innovations in higher education curriculum

ABSTRACT Systematic changes to higher education curriculum typically occur within the extended timeframes of formal curriculum review processes. Programmes need to be reviewed periodically for internal and external accountability or to determine whether the curriculum has lost its coherence due to the accumulative effect of continual small-scale changes. These programme reviews often lend themselves to the introduction of innovations in teaching and learning however experiences suggest that these innovations are often short-lived. Even with well-thought-through project plans, adequate funding and staffing, and robust project evaluations, a curriculum innovation may fail to take hold and continue beyond the short-term. In this article we work towards developing a general framework that identifies the various factors and drivers that are essential to sustain important curriculum innovation beyond the short-term. The framework is developed from an analysis of several curriculum innovations related to the embedding of graduate attributes to highlight the important factors necessary to ensure longevity in important developments in teaching and learning.
A Large Number of Nuclear Genes in the Human Parasite Blastocystis Require mRNA Polyadenylation to Create Functional Termination Codons

Termination codons in mRNA molecules are typically specified directly by the sequence of the corresponding gene. However, in mitochondria of a few eukaryotic groups, some mRNAs contain the termination codon UAA deriving one or both adenosines from transcript polyadenylation. Here, we show that a similar phenomenon occurs for a substantial number of nuclear genes in Blastocystis spp. , divergent unicellular eukaryote gut parasites. Our analyses of published genomic data from Blastocystis sp. subtype 7 revealed that polyadenylation-mediated creation of termination codons occurs in approximately 15% of all nuclear genes. As this phenomenon has not been noticed before, the procedure previously employed to annotate the Blastocystis nuclear genome sequence failed to correctly define the structure of the 3′-ends of hundreds of genes. From sequence data we have obtained from the distantly related Blastocystis sp. subtype 1 strain, we show that this phenomenon is widespread within the Blastocystis genus. Polyadenylation in Blastocystis appears to be directed by a conserved GU-rich element located four nucleotides downstream of the polyadenylation site. Thus, the highly precise positioning of the polyadenylation in Blastocystis has allowed reduction of the 3′-untranslated regions to the point that, in many genes, only one or two nucleotides of the termination codon are left.
Performance Analysis of Workload Effects over Motorway Wireless Ad Hoc Camera Networks

Packet size and packet rate are two important parameters that need to be considered when using wireless networks in any application. Different values of these parameters provide different network performance. Sending large packets over wireless networks leads to reduce packet header overhead, but may have adverse impact on the number of lost packets due to collisions or corruptions in a wireless channel which leads to degrade in network performance. Therefore the values of these parameters must be chosen carefully. This paper presents an investigation and analysis of using different packet sizes and different packet rates on the performance of a motorway surveillance system comprised of wireless cameras placed along a roadway. The investigation and analysis were performed under varying network environments and for several different evaluation metrics. It is a conclusion of this study that the small packet size results in better network performance as compared to the larger packet size. Moreover, the slow packet rate can provide better network performance than using faster packet rate in motorway surveillance system camera networks.
Fuzzy control for two-link arm robot via LPV T-S fuzzy models

This paper presents the stabilization conditions for designing fuzzy controller of two-link arm robot via Linear Parameter Varying (LPV) Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy models. With the movable supportive base, the stochastic behavior of concerned system is considered in this paper for investigating the real environment. As mentioned above, combining the LPV system with T-S fuzzy model can approximate better the nonlinear two-link arm robot. Besides, the multiplicative noise term is introduced in the consequent part of fuzzy model to represent the stochastic behaviors. Based on the Lyapunov stability theory, the stability conditions are derived into Linear Matrix Inequality (LMI) problems that can be solved by using the convex optimal algorithm. Finally, simulation results are given to demonstrate the usefulness and applicability of the proposed fuzzy controller design approach.
Successful Reconstruction of Nerve Defects Using Distraction Neurogenesis with a New Experimental Device

Introduction: Repair of peripheral nerve injuries is an intensive area of challenge and research in modern reconstructive microsurgery. Intensive research is being carried out to develop effective alternatives to the standard nerve autografting, avoiding its drawbacks. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a newly designed mechanical device for the reconstruction of the sciatic nerve in rats in comparison to nerve autografting and to assess the pain during the period of distraction neurogenesis. Methods: Fourteen Sprague Dawley rats were used and randomly assigned into 2 groups with 7 rats in each group; group A (Nerve Autografting group) in which a 10-mm segment of the sciatic nerve was resected and rotated 180 degrees, then primary end-to-end neurorrhaphy was performed in the reverse direction; group B (Nerve Lengthening group) in which the mechanical device was inserted after surgical resection of 10 mm of the sciatic nerve, then secondary end-to-end neurorrhaphy was performed after completing the nerve lengthening. Thirteen weeks later, assessment of the functional sciatic nerve recovery using static sciatic index (SSI) was performed. Furthermore, fourteen weeks after the nerve resection, assessment of the nerve regeneration with electrophysiological study and histological analysis were performed. Also, gastrocnemius wet weight was measured. For pain assessment in group B, Rat Grimace Scale (RGS) score was used. Results: Significantly better functional recovery rate (using the SSI) was reported in the nerve lengthening group in comparison to autografting group. Also, a statistically significant higher nerve conduction velocity was detected in the nerve lengthening group. On histological analysis of the distal nerve section at 3 mm distal to the nerve repair site, significant myelin sheath thickness was detected in the nerve lengthening group. Discussion: Distraction neurogenesis with the new experimental device is a reliable therapeutic method for the reconstruction of nerve defects.
Analysis and Design of a Decision Tree Based on Entropy Reduction and Its Application to Large Character Set Recognition

Based on a recursive process of reducing the entropy, the general decision tree classifier with overlap has been analyzed. Several theorems have been proposed and proved. When the number of pattern classes is very large, the theorems can reveal both the advantages of a tree classifier and the main difficulties in its implementation. Suppose H is Shannon's entropy measure of the given problem. The theoretical results indicate that the tree searching time can be minimized to the order O(H), but the error rate is also in the same order O(H) due to error accumulation. However, the memory requirement is in the order 0(H exp(H)) which poses serious problems in the implementation of a tree classifier for a large number of classes. To solve these problems, several theorems related to the bounds on the search time, error rate, memory requirement and overlap factor in the design of a decision tree have been proposed and some principles have been established to analyze the behaviors of the decision tree. When applied to classify sets of 64, 450, and 3200 Chinese characters, respectively, the experimental results support the theoretical predictions. For 3200 classes, a very high recognition rate of 99.88 percent was achieved at a high speed of 873 samples/s when the experiment was conducted on a Cyber 172 computer using a high-level language.
MAPT expression and splicing is differentially regulated by brain region: relation to genotype and implication for tauopathies

The MAPT (microtubule-associated protein tau) locus is one of the most remarkable in neurogenetics due not only to its involvement in multiple neurodegenerative disorders, including progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, Parksinson's disease and possibly Alzheimer's disease, but also due its genetic evolution and complex alternative splicing features which are, to some extent, linked and so all the more intriguing. Therefore, obtaining robust information regarding the expression, splicing and genetic regulation of this gene within the human brain is of immense importance. In this study, we used 2011 brain samples originating from 439 individuals to provide the most reliable and coherent information on the regional expression, splicing and regulation of MAPT available to date. We found significant regional variation in mRNA expression and splicing of MAPT within the human brain. Furthermore, at the gene level, the regional distribution of mRNA expression and total tau protein expression levels were largely in agreement, appearing to be highly correlated. Finally and most importantly, we show that while the reported H1/H2 association with gene level expression is likely to be due to a technical artefact, this polymorphism is associated with the expression of exon 3-containing isoforms in human brain. These findings would suggest that contrary to the prevailing view, genetic risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases at the MAPT locus are likely to operate by changing mRNA splicing in different brain regions, as opposed to the overall expression of the MAPT gene.
Digital Restoration of Deteriorated Mural Images

In this paper, an integrated methodology is proposed to virtually enhance the mural images by taking the weighted average of original image with the mean image. The algorithm consists of four major steps as described in the paper. A new line detection and extraction technique using correlation followed by convolution with different templates is implemented and explained. The synthesis of the templates is also explained in detail. Toggle filter is used to enhance the lines. This step is followed by K-means clustering, averaging pixels and weighted average. An idea on recovery of degraded patch is also presented. The results of our experiment are found to be good and may be used to restore deteriorated digital mural images.
Stepping behaviors in chronic spinal cats with one hindlimb deafferented

Adult cats develop spontaneous airstepping (walking motions without ground contact) 4–6 weeks after spinal transection (Giuliani and Smith, 1985). This unique preparation provides an in vivo model for studying the effects of hindlimb deafferentation on stepping behaviors without rostral input to lumbosacral segments. The primary purpose of this study was to characterize airstepping and, to a lesser extent, bipedal treadmill locomotion in chronic spinal cats after deafferentation. Five cats were spinalized at T12, and EMG electrodes were implanted in selected knee and ankle muscles. After spontaneous airstepping developed, one hindlimb was deafferented extensively. Movements of both hindlimbs were depressed following unilateral deafferentation. By the third week, spontaneous airstepping recovered in the normal hindlimb (N- Limb), but in the deafferented limb (D-Limb) airstepping was not spontaneous during the 3–4 months of testing. By the seventh week, bilateral airstepping was facilitated by tonic exteroceptive simulation (tail-pinch). During bouts of bilateral airstepping, assessed during the third month of deafferentation, D-Limb airstep cycles were characterized by erratic rhythm. Further, cycle periods and extensor burst durations were prolonged, but flexor burst durations were unmodified. In contrast, N-Limb cycles were rhythmic and of normal duration, but extensor burst durations were short and unrelated to cycle periods. Interlimb coordination was markedly unstable, showing only brief periods of alternating steps. When erratic bilateral airstepping was accompanied by micturition, rhythmic and alternate stepping emerged, with normalized intralimb synergies. During hindlimb treadmill locomotion, tested in 2 cats, the N-Limb took weight-bearing steps and followed changes in the belt speed. The D-Limb, however, stepped erratically, making contact on the dorsum of the paw; consistent bouts by bilateral stepping were not obtained. Lumbosacral afference of some type, either from the hindlimb or from regions remote from the limb, such as the bladder, appears to be essential for stabilizing the coupling between hindlimb generators for stable interlimb coordination. Future modeling of interlimb coordination should consider the role of afference.
Application of Fast-Marching method on mammograms for breast skin-line estimation

Breast skin-line estimation and breast segmentation from its background is an important pre-process in mammogram image processing and computer-aided diagnosis of breast cancer. Ultimate goal of this pre-processing task is to recognize the breast tissue region on a mammogram and limit the area to be processed into a specific target region. This will increase the efficiency and accuracy of computer-aided diagnosis of breast cancer using mammograms. Also, the Fast-Marching is a method developed by J.A. Sethian. Fast-marching is a partial differential equation based numerical technique to track evolution of interfaces. This method has a higher potential of handling topological changes of evolving fronts naturally. In this paper we are discussing possibility of using fast-marching method for estimating breast skin-line and segmenting breast tissue region from its background. We have introduced some modifications to the traditional fast-marching method, specifically to improve the accuracy of skin-line estimation and breast tissue segmentation. In this experiment we have used 30 mammogram images from mini-MIAS mammogram image database to evaluate the results.
Quantitative transcription factor analysis of undifferentiated single human embryonic stem cells.

BACKGROUND Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) require expression of transcription factor genes POU5F1 (POU class 5 homeobox 1), NANOG (Nanog homeobox), and SOX2 [SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 2] to maintain their capacity for self-renewal and pluripotency. Because of the heterogeneous nature of cell populations, it is desirable to study the gene regulation in single cells. Large and potentially important fluctuations in a few cells cannot be detected at the population scale with microarrays or sequencing technologies. We used single-cell gene expression profiling to study cell heterogeneity in hESCs. METHODS We collected 47 single hESCs from cell line SA121 manually by glass capillaries and 57 single hESCs from cell line HUES3 by flow cytometry. Single hESCs were lysed and reverse-transcribed. Reverse-transcription quantitative real-time PCR was then used to measure the expression POU5F1, NANOG, SOX2, and the inhibitor of DNA binding genes ID1, ID2, and ID3. A quantitative noise model was used to remove measurement noise when pairwise correlations were estimated. RESULTS The numbers of transcripts per cell varied >100-fold between cells and showed lognormal features. POU5F1 expression positively correlated with ID1 and ID3 expression (P < 0.05) but not with NANOG or SOX2 expression. When we accounted for measurement noise, SOX2 expression was also correlated with ID1, ID2, and NANOG expression (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate an accurate method for transcription profiling of individual hESCs. Cell-to-cell variability is large and is at least partly nonrandom because we observed correlations between core transcription factors. High fluctuations in gene expression may explain why individual cells in a seemingly undifferentiated cell population have different susceptibilities for inductive cues.
Designing information-abundant web sites: issues and recommendations

“Gradually I began to feel that we were growing something almost organic in a new kind of reality, in cyberspace, growing it out of information? a pulsing tree of data that I loved to climb around in, scanning for new growth. ”(Mickey Hart,Drumming at the Edge of Magic: A Journey into the Spirit of Percussion, 1990)“Look at every path closely and deliberately.Try it as many times as you think necessary.Then ask yourself, and yourself alone, one question? Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good; if it doesn? t it is of no use. ”(Carlos CastanedaThe Teachings of Don Juan)The abundance of information on the World Wide Web has thrilled some, but frightened others. Improved web site design may increase users? successful experiences and positive attitudes. This review of design issues identifies genres of web sites, goals of designers, communities of users and a spectrum of tasks. Then an Objects/Actions Interface Model is offered as a way to think about designing and evaluating web sites. Finally, search and navigation improvements are described to bring consistency, comprehensibility and user control.
Effect of hippocampal and amygdala volumes on clinical outcomes in major depression: a 3-year prospective magnetic resonance imaging study.

OBJECTIVE According to the stress-toxicity hypothesis of depression, hippocampal volumes may diminish as the disease progresses. We sought to examine the changes in hippocampal and amygdala volumes at baseline and at 3 years after an acute depressive episode, and the impact of reduced hippocampal volumes on the outcome. METHODS In a prospective, longitudinal study, we examined the hippocampus and amygdala of 30 inpatients with major depression from the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy and 30 healthy participants from the community (control group) using high-resolution magnetic resonance images at baseline and after 3 years. Psychopathology was assessed at baseline, weekly during the inpatient phase and then after 1, 2 and 3 years. RESULTS During the 3-year follow-up period, neither hippocampal nor amygdala volumes changed significantly among patients or participants in the control group. However, in the subgroup of patients who took antidepressants over the full 3 years, the left hippocampal volumes increased significantly. Patients with small hippocampal volumes and previous depressive episodes had a worse clinical outcome compared with patients with large hippocampal volumes and previous depressive episodes. CONCLUSION Overall, our results suggest that a relatively small hippocampal volume may be a vulnerability factor for a bad treatment response in major depression. Subtle changes in hippocampal volumes may be detectable during continuous antidepressant therapy. Such changes may be the result of neuroplastic processes.
On the Present Value Model in a Cross Section of Stocks

We construct a cross-section of stock prices and their corresponding present values of future cash flows. A regression of present value on the initial stock price should have a slope coefficient equal to 1.0. For short horizons, this is a cross-section version of checking the random walk model and the present value model holds up well. In contrast, using three different samples that go as far back as 1926, the present value model is rejected decisively at moderate and long horizons. We can rule out the possibility that the failure of the present value relationship is due to a misunderstanding of the dividend process. The remaining possibilities are either that agents do not discount very far into the future in a manner consistent with the present value model, or that models of discount rates are too limited to allow the present value model to be a good fit to the data for most firms. We find that the present value works much better, albeit still imperfectly, for larger firms. We also find that stocks that appear on the exchanges for fewer years than longer-lasting stocks deviate even more from the present value model. Our results can be interpreted as a cross-section version of the variance-bounds test, with the result that prices are very much more variable than they ought to be.
Large pulse attack as a method of conventional optical eavesdropping in quantum cryptography

Abstract In this paper so-called ‘large pulse attack’ is investigated. This attack is one of the possible methods of conventional optical eavesdropping, a new strategy of eavesdropping on quantum cryptosystems, which eliminates the need of immediate interaction with transmitted quantum states. It allows the eavesdropper to avoid inducing transmission errors that disclose her presence to the legal users. As an object of the eavesdropping, phase-state fibre optic schemes are considered. With large pulse attack, settings of transmitting and/ or receiving apparatus are interrogated by external high-power light pulses. Applicability conditions of this method are given. Type and amount of information learned by the eavesdropper is estimated, depending on parameters of the interrogating pulse and apparatus. An experimental set-up for an eavesdropping experiment is proposed and results of successful preliminary measurements are presented. It is concluded that additional protection is necessary for currently implemented quantum key distribution systems. The paper suggests several security measures against this kind of attack.
European Conference on Information Systems ( ECIS ) 2007 Expectations between Parties Playing Similar Roles in Global Software Development : A Psychological Contract Perspective

Global software development (GSD), as a mode of information systems development, surfaces various challenges and benefits that are not always present in co-located t eams. A psychological contract reflects the written and unwritten expectations, or obligations, of c ollaborating parties in a transaction. This paper uncovers a set of candidate obligations that make up the psychological contract of parties collaborating in global software development efforts (the GSD psychological contract). Particular focus is applied to certain development rol es: business analyst, designer, developer and development-support. A qualitative research approach is emp loy d against various incidents that occurred in development projects performed by a globa l s ftware product development organization. Finally, opportunities for future research are presented.
An Active Model of Agent Mind: The Model of Agent's Lived Experience

This paper first points out the importance of experience mechanism in agent mental model, as well as the non-complete autonomy of agents resulted from the non-active mental model of BDI. Then, based on non-computing paradigm and some research results from psychology, both a structural model and a dynamic model of agent’s lived experience are proposed and, moreover, the related factors in the dynamic model and their calculation methods are provided. Finally, the application of our proposed model is introduced briefly combined with a case of open agent society. Keywordsagent;mental model;lived experience; complexity