Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A method to the martyrdom

Employees have an enduring concern with how they appear to others, and will seek to claim certain attributions to strengthen their workplace image. In this research, a model of exemplification is presented. This model is an impression management strategy, whereby employees seek to claim the attributions of dedicated, moral, or generous by strategically displaying for audiences a willingness to do more or better than is necessary at work. This model draws from the literature on identity and impression management, and applies an interpersonal-perception framework to make predictions about exemplifying performances or the behaviors employees may act out to earn these attributions, potential audience reactions to those performances, and the influence those reactions might have on subsequent exemplifying performances.
Genetic basis of Parkinson’s disease: inheritance, penetrance, and expression

Parkinson’s disease can be caused by rare familial genetic mutations, but in most cases it is likely to result from an interaction between multiple genetic and environmental risk factors. Over recent years, many variants in a growing number of genes involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease have been identified. Mutations in several genes have been shown to cause familial parkinsonism. In this review, we discuss 12 of them (SNCA, LRRK2, Parkin, PINK1, DJ1, ATP13A2, PLA2G6, FBXO7, UCHL1, GIGYF2, HTRA2, and EIF4G1). Additionally, six genes have been shown conclusively to be risk factors for sporadic Parkinson’s disease, and are also discussed (GBA, MAPT, BST1, PARK16, GAK, and HLA). Many more genes and genetic loci have been suggested, but need confirmation. There is evidence that pathways involved in the rare familial forms also play a role in the sporadic form, and that the respective genes might also be risk factors for sporadic Parkinson’s disease. The identification of genes involved in the development of Parkinson’s disease will improve our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms, and will hopefully lead to new drug targets and treatment strategies.
The Philadelphia Brief Assessment of Cognition (PBAC): A Validated Screening Measure for Dementia

The Philadelphia Brief Assessment of the Cognition (PBAC) is a brief dementia-screening instrument. The PBAC assesses five cognitive domains: working memory/executive control; lexical retrieval/language; visuospatial/visuoconstructional operations; verbal/visual episodic memory; and behavior/social comportment. A revised version of the PBAC was administered to 198 participants including patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) (n = 46) and four groups of patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) syndromes: behavioral-variant FTD (bvFTD; n = 65), semantic-variant primary progressive aphasia (PPA) (svPPA; n = 22), non-fluent/agrammatic-variant PPA (nfaPPA; n = 23), and corticobasal syndrome (CBS; n = 42), and a group of normal controls (n = 15). The total PBAC score was highly correlated with the MMSE. The criterion validity of the PBAC was assessed relative to standard neuropsychological test performance. Using standard neuropsychological test performance as a criterion, the total PBAC score accurately identified the presence and severity of dementia. Intra-class correlations between PBAC subscales and standard neuropsychological tests were highly significant. PBAC subscales demonstrated good clinical utility in distinguishing AD and FTD subtypes using receiver operating characteristic analysis and standard diagnostic performance statistics to determine optimal subscale cut scores. The PBAC is a valid tool and able to assesses differential patterns neuropsychological/behavioral impairment in a broad range of neurodegenerative conditions.
CEPT: Collaborative Editing Tool for Non-Native Authors

Due to language deficiencies, individual non-native speakers (NNS) face many difficulties while writing. In this paper, we propose to build a collaborative editing system that aims to facilitate the sharing of language knowledge among non-native co-authors, with the ultimate goal of improving writing quality. We describe CEPT, which allows individual co-authors to generate their own revisions as well as incorporating edits from others to achieve mutual inspiration. The main technical challenge is how to aggregate edits of multiple co-authors and present them in an easy-to-understand way. After iterative design, CEPT highlights three novel features: 1) cross-version sentence mapping for edit tracking, 2) summarization of edits from multiple co-authors, and 3) a collaborative editing interface that enables co-authors to examine, comment on, and borrow edits of others. A preliminary lab study showed that CEPT could significantly improve both the language quality and collaboration experience of NNS writers, due to its efficacy for sharing language knowledge.
The Axiomatic Usability Evaluation Method

This chapter introduces a new usability evaluation method, the axiomatic evaluation method, which is developed based on the axiomatic design theory – a formalized design methodology that can be used to solve a variety of design problems. This new evaluation method examines three domains of a product: customer domain, functional domain, and control domain. This method investigates not only usability problems reported by the users, but also usability problems related to customer requirements and usability problems related to control through checking the mapping matrix between the three domains. To determine how well this new usability evaluation method works, a between-subject experiment was conducted to compare the axiomatic evaluation method with the think aloud method. Sixty participants were randomly assigned to use either method to evaluate three popular consumer electronic devices (music player, digital camera, mobile phone) that represented different levels of complexity. Number of usability problems discovered, completion time, and overall user satisfaction were collected. Results show that the axiomatic evaluation method performed better in finding usability problems for the mobile phone. The axiomatic evaluation method was also better at finding usability problems about user expectation and control than the think aloud method. Benefits and drawbacks of using the axiomatic evaluation method are discussed.This chapter introduces a new usability evaluation method, the axiomatic evaluation method, which is developed based on the axiomatic design theory – a formalized design methodology that can be used to solve a variety of design problems. This new evaluation method examines three domains of a product: customer domain, functional domain, and control domain. This method investigates not only usability problems reported by the users, but also usability problems related to customer requirements and usability problems related to control through checking the mapping matrix between the three domains. To determine how well this new usability evaluation method works, a between-subject experiment was conducted to compare the axiomatic evaluation method with the think aloud method. Sixty participants were randomly assigned to use either method to evaluate three popular consumer electronic devices (music player, digital camera, mobile phone) that represented different levels of complexity. Number of usability problems discovered, completion time, and overall user satisfaction Yinni Guo Purdue University, USA
Nondopaminergic prefrontocortical efferent fibers modulate D1 receptor denervation supersensitivity in specific regions of the rat striatum

A unilateral injection of 6-OHDA (6 microgram/1.5 microliter) was made into the fields of Forel in order to estimate the effects of the destruction of ascending dopaminergic (DA) pathways on the denervation supersensitivity of DA D1 receptors in the rat striatum. DA-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity was markedly enhanced in the anteromedian part of the striatum 3 weeks after the lesion (+68%) and remained elevated for several weeks thereafter (+36%). A different response occurred in the laterodorsal striatum, where the increase in DA- sensitive adenylate cyclase activity was less pronounced after 3 weeks (+40%) and no longer present after 7 weeks. Estimations of catecholamine levels indicated that the lesion made destroyed not only nigrostriatal DA neurons but other ascending catecholaminergic fibers projecting into the cerebral cortex as well. In addition, retrograde transport experiments made with wheat germ agglutinin coupled to horseradish peroxidase indicated that the anteromedian part of the striatum, but not the laterodorsal one, receives both an ipsi- and contralateral cortical projection originating in the prefrontocortical DA field. When the destruction by 6-OHDA of this contralateral DA innervation was combined to the unilateral lesion of the fields of Forel, the increase in DA-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity in each striatal area 3 or 7 weeks postlesion was prevented. This effect was due to DA denervation of the prefrontal cortex since striatal D1 denervation supersensitivity was still observed when contralateral ascending noradrenergic fibers were selectively destroyed by a 6-OHDA lesion made laterally to the pedunculus cerebellaris superior. These results suggest that, by controlling the activity of corticostriatal neurons, the mesocorticoprefrontal DA neurons exert a permissive role on the development of D1-receptor denervation supersensitivity in specific areas of the striatum.
Indirect measurement of brain activation using fNIRS

Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an emerging non-invasive brain imaging technique based on estimation of blood chromosomes. The change in the concentration of oxy-hemoglobin (HbO) and de-oxy hemoglobin (HbR) gives indirect measure of brain activation. fNIRS measures the change in HbO and HbR depending on the absorption of near infrared (NIR) light. It uses the NIR light of two wave lengths, 760 nm and 830 nm. NIRS is a newly developed neuro imaging modality with high temporal resolution. NIRS systems have great potential for brain computer interface due to its low cost, portability and safety. The scalp remains intact throughout the experiment. In this study we present a method for estimation of brain activation by using fNIRS data collected during arithmetic task. The general linear model has been used in this study with predicted hemodynamic response function, its derivatives and physiological noises as regressors. The normalized least mean square (NLMS) algorithm has been used for estimation of activity strength parameters in the model recursively. A one way t-test has been performed for detection of brain activation at different channels.
Searching For Predictors Of Success In Community College Online Courses

The continuous growth of online learning in higher education has created a demand for more sections of more course offerings than ever before, particularly true in the community college system. Online courses can meet the needs of students who are unable to enroll in traditional courses because of outside conflicts such as work, family, class schedule or distance from the institution. Many of these students enroll in online courses with no way of knowing if they can persist or be successful in the online learning environment. This lack of knowledge has caused many students to fail or withdraw. The problem addressed in this study is the need to find predictors of persistence (completion of course) and success (performance grade of “C” or higher) for online community college students.Employing a quantitative research design and examining logistic regressions to determine if externally validated instruments measuring levels of self-efficacy, and social presence could be significant in predicting persistence and success for students enrolled in online coursework. The findings showed that measurements of learner self-efficacies were valid predictors of persistence, and that technology self-efficacy predicted both persistence and success. However, the findings showed measurements of social presence were insignificant.
Scalar Quantizat ion Based Robust Mult iple Image Watermarking

With respect to the general information hiding problem, a tradeoff is involved between robustness, visibility and capacity. Security of digital multimedia content has become an important issue for content owners and service providers. As watermarking is identified as a major technology to achieve copyright protection. There are many watermarking techniques for data hiding and each of them has some advantages and disadvantages. The robust method for data hiding is embedding the hidden data in the choice of quantizer for the host data. A quality factor is determined to get an appropriate quantization matrix. To modify the bit streams directly during embedding cause unacceptable distortions to cover images. We had developed DCT based entropy Threshold method which determines threshold for each block and only those blocks are selected for whose entropy exceeds by a predetermined threshold for embedding the data. The experimental results show that the proposed scheme has good imperceptibility.
Instructional improvement and student engagement in post-secondary engineering courses: the complexity underlying small effect sizes

Abstract The current study leveraged a professional development programme for engineering faculty at a large research university to examine the impact of instructional improvement on student engagement. Professors who participated in the professional development were observed three times and rated using an existing observation protocol. Students in courses with instructors who participated and did not participate in the professional development were surveyed about their classroom engagement. The responses were used to conduct quasi-experimental comparisons. Results indicated that students in courses with professors who participated in the professional development self-reported 3% more behavioural and 2% more cognitive engagement than students with professors who did not participate. Within professional development group, follow-up comparisons showed that students in courses with the highest rated instructors self-reported 7% more cognitive engagement than students with lower ranked professors. Thematic coding of the qualitative data suggests that the highest rated instructors may have achieved these gains through the use of three domain general instructional strategies: activating prior knowledge, facilitating classroom interaction and promoting reflection. Findings are contextualised within extant literature reporting similar effect sizes, and implications for future engagement research from a classroom systems perspective are discussed.
Quantification of siRNA using competitive qPCR

We have developed a PCR-based short interfering RNA (siRNA) quantification method based on competition between siRNA and a homologous DNA primer for annealing to template DNA, avoiding the requirement for prior conversion of RNA to cDNA. Primers and probe were designed to amplify regions of the human papillomavirus E6 or enhanced green fluorescent protein genes. Having confirmed siRNA could not act as primer for amplicon generation, the lowest competing primer concentration yielding a linear relationship between template DNA amount (0.1–50 ng) and cycle of threshold (Ct) was determined (6.25 nM). Under these conditions addition of sequence-specific siRNA to the competitive quantitative PCR (cqPCR), resulted in a dose-dependent linear increase in Ct value. 2′-O-methyl ribose-modified siRNA retained an ability to inhibit template amplification in serum, unlike unmodified siRNAs that were susceptible to endonucleases. Mismatch-bearing or truncated siRNAs failed to inhibit template amplification confirming sequence specificity and an ability to discriminate between degraded and non-degraded siRNA sequences. Following delivery of E6 siRNA to C33-A cells using oligofectamine or His6 reducible polymers, siRNA uptake was quantified by cqPCR, revealing dose-dependent uptake. We anticipate that cqPCR will allow accurate determination of siRNA pharmacokinetics following in vivo delivery, greatly facilitating development of therapeutic siRNA delivery strategies.
Research on SEO strategies of university journal websites

University Journals are an important platform for universities' resource sharing and management, so far the construction of University Journal Websites developed rapidly. After the establishment of the sites, University Journals facing the problem of how to promote the sites, and search engine promotion is a good choice. But then we should consider how to do search engine optimization(SEO). In this paper, consindering the features of university journal websites, doing the SEO strategies from those aspects: directory structure, keyword strategy, URL pseudo-static, code optimization and inbound links.
The Effects of Diabetic Retinopathy and Pan-Retinal Photocoagulation on Photoreceptor Cell Function as Assessed by Dark Adaptometry

Purpose The pathophysiology of vision loss in persons with diabetic retinopathy (DR) is complex and incompletely defined. We hypothesized that retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and rod and cone photoreceptor dysfunction, as measured by dark adaptometry, would increase with severity of DR, and that pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP) would exacerbate this dysfunction. Methods Dark adaptation (DA) was measured in subjects with diabetes mellitus and healthy controls. Dark adaptation was measured at 5° superior to the fovea following a flash bleach, and the data were analyzed to yield cone and rod sensitivity curves. Retinal layer thicknesses were quantified using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). Results The sample consisted of 23 controls and 73 diabetic subjects. Subjects with moderate nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) exhibited significant impairment of rod recovery rate compared with control subjects (P = 0.04). Cone sensitivity was impaired in subjects with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) (type 1 diabetes mellitus [T1DM]: P = 0.0047; type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM]: P < 0.001). Subjects with untreated PDR compared with subjects treated with PRP exhibited similar rod recovery rates and cone sensitivities. Thinner RPE as assessed by OCT was associated with slower rod recovery and lower cone sensitivity, and thinner photoreceptor inner segment/outer segment layer was associated with lower cone sensitivity. Conclusions The results suggest that RPE and photoreceptor cell dysfunction, as assessed by cone sensitivity level and rod- and RPE-mediated dark adaptation, progresses with worsening DR, and rod recovery dysfunction occurs earlier than cone dysfunction. Function was preserved following PRP. The findings suggest multiple defects in retinoid function and provide potential points to improve visual function in persons with PDR.
Patterns of viral replication correlate with outcome in simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected macaques: effect of prior immunization with a trivalent SIV vaccine in modified vaccinia virus Ankara

The dynamics of plasma viremia were explored in a group of 12 simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) that had received prior immunization with either nonrecombinant or trivalent (gag-pol, env) SIV-recombinant vaccinia viruses. Three distinct patterns of viral replication observed during and following primary viremia accounted for significant differences in survival times. High-level primary plasma viremia with subsequently increasing viremia was associated with rapid progression to AIDS (n = 2). A high-level primary plasma virus load with a transient decline and subsequent progressive increase in viremia in the post-acute phase of infection was associated with progression to AIDS within a year (n = 6). Low levels of primary plasma viremia followed by sustained restriction of virus replication were associated with maintenance of normal lymphocyte subsets and intact lymphoid architecture (n = 4), reminiscent of the profile observed in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected long-term nonprogressors. Three of four macaques that showed this pattern had been immunized with an SIV recombinant derived from the attenuated vaccinia virus, modified vaccinia virus Ankara. These data link the dynamics and extent of virus replication to disease course and suggest that sustained suppression of virus promotes long-term, asymptomatic survival of SIV-infected macaques. These findings also suggest that vaccine modulation of host immunity may have profound beneficial effects on the subsequent disease course, even if sterilizing immunity is not achieved.
Real shape inner iris boundary segmentation using active contour without edges

Research and development in biometric recognition systems must respond to the industrial and experimental reported problems. When considering the iris recognition system, segmentation of the iris is considered as its most difficult step. Classic methodologies determine the inner and outer borders of the iris region using circular or elliptical boundary. These border shapes succeed to delimit correctly the iris region for ideal iris images it fails with non ideal images. In this paper we propose a method to detect the inner iris boundary in its real shape whatever its geometry. First circular Hough transform is used to define the pupil's region of interest, and, second active contour without edges is used to exactly segment the inner iris boundary. The method is tested on CASIA-V3 and UBIRIS databases and results are compared to Wildes' model. Visible improvements show the efficiency of the proposed method to adapt to the inner iris boundary real shape.
COTS and Design Pattern Based High Fidelity Flight Simulator Prototype System

Flight simulator is among the most sophisticated software systems in existence. It is highly distributed, has rigorous timing requirements, and must be amenable to frequent updates to maintain high fidelity with the ever- changing vehicle and environment it is simulating. Current flight simulation framework and software developing pattern are complicated to use and time consuming. We have accomplished a flight simulator prototype system based on a new distributed real-time simulation framework and non-flight-certified Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions and have proved its fidelity and coordination characters as a flight training device. The distributed real- time simulation framework uses mediator design pattern as an information "broker" among flight simulation models of a sub-system which minimizes model interdependencies, improves the extendibility for the simulator and makes the maintenance easier. Meanwhile, the simulation models and executable code in the simulator were generated through COTS software and run on a PC cluster by which the difficulties of programming tasks are descend. The simulation modeling process and virtual prototype of the motion system are also expatiated. The validation methods and contrasting simulation results are presented finally to show the feasible design to carry out flight simulation with high quality.