Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does Holding Beliefs with Conviction Prevent Policy Actors from Adopting a Compromising Attitude?

Much of the political science literature argues that commitment to beliefs renders the attitudes of policy actors inflexible. Belief commitment encourages alliances among actors who think alike and creates a distance with those whose beliefs differ. As it cuts the flow of information between disagreeing actors, belief commitment constrains the attitudes of actors to consistency across a variety of objects and over time, preventing policy compromises. This article examines the possibility that different beliefs have different effects on attitude. Specifically, it hypothesizes that actors holding purposive beliefs have more consistent attitudes than actors holding material beliefs. Thanks to a survey of North American and European biotechnology policy actors, conducted twice between 2006 and 2008, it is shown that a strong commitment to purposive beliefs encourages attitude consistency across objects and over time, while equal commitment to material beliefs enables more attitude flexibility. Implications for democracy and policy-making compromises are discussed.
A General Edge Detection Method Based on the Shear Transform

In this paper, we propose an edge detection method for detecting edges by combining a traditional edge detection operator with shear transform utilizing the fact that the shearing operation provides a more favorable treatment of directions. The shearing operation makes the directional edges easy to be detected by traditional operators. Moreover, we can consider the proposed method as a general method for it is applicable to other edge detection operators. The experiment results have indicated that our method is superior to the traditional ones in the effectiveness of edge detection and the ability of noise rejection.
The Use of Virtual Reality in the Study of People's Responses to Violent Incidents

This paper reviews experimental methods for the study of the responses of people to violence in digital media, and in particular considers the issues of internal validity and ecological validity or generalisability of results to events in the real world. Experimental methods typically involve a significant level of abstraction from reality, with participants required to carry out tasks that are far removed from violence in real life, and hence their ecological validity is questionable. On the other hand studies based on field data, while having ecological validity, cannot control multiple confounding variables that may have an impact on observed results, so that their internal validity is questionable. It is argued that immersive virtual reality may provide a unification of these two approaches. Since people tend to respond realistically to situations and events that occur in virtual reality, and since virtual reality simulations can be completely controlled for experimental purposes, studies of responses to violence within virtual reality are likely to have both ecological and internal validity. This depends on a property that we call ‘plausibility’ – including the fidelity of the depicted situation with prior knowledge and expectations. We illustrate this with data from a previously published experiment, a virtual reprise of Stanley Milgram's 1960s obedience experiment, and also with pilot data from a new study being developed that looks at bystander responses to violent incidents.
PHY-Authentication Protocol for Spoofing Detection in Wireless Networks

We propose a PHY-authentication protocol to detect spoofing attacks in wireless networks, exploiting the rapid-decorrelation property of radio channels with distance. In this protocol, a PHY-authentication scheme that exploits channel estimations that already exist in most wireless systems, cooperates with any existing---either simple or advanced---higher-layer process, such as IEEE 802.11i. With little additional system overhead, our scheme reduces the workload of the higher-layer process, or provides some degree of spoofing protection for ``naked" wireless systems, such as some sensor networks. We describe the performance of our approach as a function of the spoofing pattern and the snapshot performance that can be easily measured through field tests. We discuss the implementation issues of the authentication protocol on 802.11 testbeds and verify its performance via field tests in a typical office building.
A Parallel I/O Behavior Model for HPC Applications Using Serial I/O Libraries

Analyzing and understanding an application's Input/Output (I/O) access patterns provides key information to gain insight into how the behavior of an application affects its performance in different systems. In this paper, we propose a portable model to represent the I/O behavior of parallel applications that use serial I/O libraries, as part of a more holistic model for I/O of parallel applications. The model allows actions such as replication of the application behavior on different HPC systems and evaluation of the I/O performance without running the real application. In this paper, we evaluate the portability of the proposed model for MADbench2 and ABYSS- P in four HPC systems. We analyze the impact of the parallel system configuration in a Cloud environment for the ABYSS-P application by using the proposed I/O behavior model.
Novel structure and nucleotide binding properties of HI1480 from Haemophilus influenzae: A protein with no known sequence homologues

The crystal structure of the Haemophilus influenzae protein HI1480 was determined at 2.1‐Å resolution. The amino acid sequence of HI1480 is unique, having no homology with other known protein sequences. The protein adopts a novel α+β fold, and associates into a dimer of tightly associated dimers. The tight dimers are formed by intermolecular interactions that are mediated by an antiparallel β‐barrel involving both monomers. Helical regions of two dimers mediate the tetramer formation. The helical region contains a four‐helix bundle that has been seen only in the anticodon binding domains of class I tRNA synthetases. A cluster of four residues, Tyr18, Arg134, Glu26, and Lys12 is located in a depression formed at the four‐helix bundle/ β‐barrel interface. The arrangement is suggestive of an active center, possibly a catalytic site. The HI1480 gene is located within the Mu‐like prophage region of H. influenzae, has no homology to bacteriophage genes, and is flanked by transposases. Hence, this is an example of horizontal transfer from an unknown organism. Gel mobility shift assays revealed that HI1480 binds DNA and RNA molecules. Double‐stranded DNA is favored over single‐stranded DNA, and longer DNA molecules are bound better than shorter ones. Proteins 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Optimization of Enhanced Surfaces for High Flux Chip Cooling by Pool Boiling

A high flux electronic chip was numerically and experimentally simulated to investigate pool boiling capabilities of enhanced metallic surface attachments built upon a 12.7 x 12.7 mm base area. It is shown how experimental nucleate boiling data for aflat chip and for chips with low-profile microstructures can be used as input boundary conditions in the numerical prediction of boiling performances of high flux, smooth and microstructured extended cylindrical surfaces. A technique for extending the applicability of the numerical results to cylindrical fin arrays is demonstrated with the aid of experimental data obtained for these surfaces. Surface enhancement resulted in chip planform heat fluxes of 105.4 and 159.3 fV/cm, for saturated and 35°C subcooled FC-72, respectively.
The Influence of Cultural Differences on the Use of Social Network Services and the Formation of Social Capital

With the advent of Web 2.0, social network services (SNSs), such as Facebook and MySpace, have grown explosively and globally as one of core Web 2.0 applications. However, as revealed in other cultural comparison studies in the field of human–computer interaction, it is believed that cultural differences profoundly impact on how people use SNSs. Unfortunately, the differences in using SNSs have not been systematically investigated, so this study presents a web-based survey study among three nations: Republic of Korea, People's Republic of China, and the United States of America. It was assumed that SNS users form bridging and bonding social capital (borrowed from social capital theory) through the five functions of SNS that were categorized: Identity, Expert Search, Connection, Communication, and Contents Sharing. A correlation between social capital-related activities and usage patterns of SNS was expected. A total of 489 responded to the web-based survey through the three counties. Although the theory of cultural differences turned out to be insufficient to explain diverse usage patterns of SNSs, the results showed that Korean and Chinese users form bridging and bonding social capital mainly through Expert Search and Connection functions, but American users mainly use the Communication function to form bonding Social Capital. Various implications of these results for researchers and practitioners who work on and for SNSs are described as well.
Applying Social Statistics: An Introduction to Quantitative Reasoning in Sociology

Chapter 1. Statistics and Sociology: Computation and Application Part 2 Part I. An Overview of Applied Social Statistics Chapter 3 Chapter 2. Statistics: What It Is and Why Sociologists Use It Chapter 4 Chapter 3. Measurement in Sociology: Quantity, Quality, and Social Aggregates Part 5 Part II. Tools and Techniques of Description Chapter 6 Chapter 4. Frequency Distributions and Public Sociology Chapter 7 Chapter 5. Central Tendency in Microsociology Chapter 8 Chapter 6. Dispersion and the Analysis of Social Deviance Part 9 Part III. The Logic of Statistical Induction Chapter 10 Chapter 7. Generalizations and Social Justice Chapter 11 Chapter 8. Induction: Using Sample Means in the Study of Diversity Chapter 12 Chapter 9. Hypothesis Testing: The Foundation of Sociological Theory Part 13 Part IV. Bivariate Applications: Using Induction and Association in Sociological Research Chapter 14 Chapter 10. Two Sample t-tests and an Application to the Study of Altruism Chapter 15 Chapter 11. Comparing Three or More Samples in Small-Group Research Chapter 16 Chapter 12. Association and Induction in Qualitative Sociology: From Private Problems to Public Issues Chapter 17 Chapter 13. Correlation Description and Induction in Comparative Sociology Chapter 18 Chapter 14. Regression Description and Induction in the Sociological Study of Globalization Chapter 19 Chapter 15. Supplemental Material Online
Charge‐Carrier Density Independent Mobility in Amorphous Fluorene‐Triarylamine Copolymers

A charge‐carrier density dependent mobility has been predicted for amorphous, glassy energetically disordered semiconducting polymers, which would have considerable impact on their performance in devices. However, previous observations of a density dependent mobility are complicated by the polycrystalline materials studied. Here charge transport in field‐effect transistors and diodes of two amorphous, glassy fluorene‐triarylamine copolymers is investigated, and the results explored in terms of a charge‐carrier density dependent mobility model. The nondispersive nature of the time‐of‐flight (TOF) transients and analysis of dark injection transient results and transistor transfer characteristics indicate a charge‐carrier density independent mobility in both the low‐density diode and the high‐density transistor regimes. The mobility values for optimized transistors are in good agreement with the TOF values at the same field, and both have the same temperature dependency. The measured transistor mobility falls two to three orders of magnitude below that predicted from the charge‐carrier density dependent model, and does not follow the expected power‐law relationship. The experimental results for these two amorphous polymers are therefore consistent with a charge‐carrier density independent mobility, and this is discussed in terms of polaron‐dominated hopping and interchain correlated disorder.
A perception based integrative theory of individual behavior in organizations

A PERCEPTION BASED INTEGRATIVE THEORY OF INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR IN ORGANIZATIONS John Edward Mathieu Old Dominion University, 1985 Director: Dr. Albert S. Glickman The purpose of this study was to develop an integrative theoretical approach to the study of individuals' behavior in organizations, and to present an application of the approach to understanding the performance of Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets. Individuals' perceptions of the environment were proposed to exist at three levels of analysis: 1) psychological climate (i.e., individual); 2) group climate; and organizational climate. Further, climate perceptions were proposed to result from the simultaneous influence of objective (i.e., actual) situational characteristics, and individuals' needs and characteristics. The underlying dimensions that linked climate perceptions operationalized at the three levels of analysis with objective situational characteristics were refered to as life space dimensions and used in a causal model of three forms of affective responses: 1) a valence-instrumentality-expectancy motivation composite; 2) organizational commitment; and 3) general satisfaction, intention to remain in the service, and performance. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Performance was examined both with self-ratings and with supervisor ratings. Army (N=456) and Navy (N=132) ROTC cadets from three universities in the Southeast participated in the study. The results provided support for the existence of aggregate climate perceptions and their relationship both to objective situational characteristics and to individual needs and characteristics. A causal model of life space dimensions, affective responses, intention to remain, and performance was proposed and tested with the Army sample. The hypothesized model was disconfirmed by the observed correlations of the Army sample using either self of supervisor performance ratings. Revised causal models for both self and supervisor rated performance were developed from the observed correlations of the Army sample and the earlier developed theory. The revised models were assessed using the Navy sample. The Army sample revised supervisor rated performance model exhibited a reasonable fit with the Navy sample. The revised self rated performance model failed to generalize to the Navy sample. Several differences between, and similarities among the findings from the two samples were highlighted. The results were discussed in terms of their application to the recruitment, selection, and training of ROTC cadets. In addition, limitations of the study were Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. identified and an agenda for future applications of the theoretical approach to the study of individuals* behavior in organizations was offered. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
A genome-wide scan for genes involved in primary vesicoureteric reflux

Background: Vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) is the retrograde flow of urine from the bladder into the ureters. It is the most common urological anomaly in children, and a major cause of end-stage renal failure and hypertension in both children and adults. VUR is seen in approximately 1–2% of Caucasian newborns and is frequently familial. Objective and methods: In order to search for genetic loci involved in VUR, we performed a genome-wide linkage scan using 4710 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 609 individuals from 129 Irish families with >1 affected member. Results: Nonparametric linkage (NPL) analysis of the dataset yielded moderately suggestive linkage at chromosome 2q37 (NPLmax = 2.67, p<0.001). Analysis of a subset without any additional features, such as duplex kidneys, yielded a maximum NPL score of 4.1 (p = 0.001), reaching levels of genome-wide statistical significance. Suggestive linkage was also seen at 10q26 and 6q27, and there were several smaller peaks. Conclusion: Our results confirm the previous conclusion that VUR is genetically heterogeneous, and support the identification of several disease-associated regions indicated by smaller studies, as well as indicating new regions of interest for investigation.
Effect of freeze–thaw cycles on serum measurements of AFP, CEA, CA125 and CA19‐9

AFP, CEA, CA125 and CA19‐9 are commonly used serum tumour markers (TMs) in clinical practice, although their quantification by immunoassay may be influenced by pre‐analytical sample handling. Though the effect of repetitive freeze–thaw cycles is generally recognized, it is not clear in detail. The present study measured (CLIA) these TMs in serum samples freshly separated and after each of five freeze–thaw cycles, in which the samples were frozen at −40°C for 10 months at cycle 4 and 2 h at other cycles. Statistical analysis with the General Linear Model for Repeated Measures revealed significant decreases in the measurements of the four TMs, with the least decrease of 6.8 % for CA125 and the most decrease of 18.2 % for CA19‐9 after the last cycle, and an overwhelming single cycle decrease of mean 7.7 % at cycle 4 for AFP, CEA and CA125, of 7.5 % and 9.3 % at cycles 4 and 5 for CA19‐9. So it seems that measurements of AFP, CEA and CA125 are more readily affected by long‐term frozen storage compared with frequent freezing–thawing, while CA19‐9 is relatively unstable under both conditions.
Adaptive Dynamic Programming: An Introduction

In this article, we introduce some recent research trends within the field of adaptive/approximate dynamic programming (ADP), including the variations on the structure of ADP schemes, the development of ADP algorithms and applications of ADP schemes. For ADP algorithms, the point of focus is that iterative algorithms of ADP can be sorted into two classes: one class is the iterative algorithm with initial stable policy; the other is the one without the requirement of initial stable policy. It is generally believed that the latter one has less computation at the cost of missing the guarantee of system stability during iteration process. In addition, many recent papers have provided convergence analysis associated with the algorithms developed. Furthermore, we point out some topics for future studies.
Simulation Of Inventory Control System For Supply Chain "Producer - Wholesaler - Client" In ExtendSim Environment

There is considered a two-level single-product inventory control system which controls correspondingly the wholesale’s warehouse and the customers’ warehouses. For delivering the product there has been organized a supply chain “producer – wholesaler – customer”. It is assumed that the customers and the wholesaler shape their stocks having in mind the minimization of the total costs of the product ordering, holding and losses from deficit per time unit. The customers’ demands for the product and the time of delivering the cargo from the producer to the wholesaler and from the wholesaler to each of the customers are random values with known laws of distribution. The wholesaler orders the goods at the fixed, equally distant, moments of time. The order of goods is performed by the customer at a random moment of time, when the remains of the goods in his warehouse have reduced up to a fixed level called the reorder point. In the given paper there is suggested a simulation model of the above inventory control. The ExtendSim 8 package has been used as the means of simulation. The numerical examples of the problem solving are presented.
A high-level target-precise model for designing reconfigurable HW tasks

The increasing complexity of embedded digital HW/SW systems, rising chip development and fabrication costs, and a shortened time-to-market require system-level design methods and the use of reconfigurable architectures. Our design method concerns the modelling of a system and its HW tasks at a high abstraction level. Using design patterns and macros, our library-based approach provides a consistent flow from an executable specification to its implementation. These templates ease the efficient application of partially run-time reconfigurable architectures. A case study depicts the high-level modelling of a HW task and its implementation in detail
Flow cytometry measurement of the labile iron pool in human hematopoietic cells

Iron is important for many biological processes, and its deficiency or excess is involved in pathological conditions. Although most iron is firmly bound (e.g., in hemoglobin), some, the labile iron pool (LIP), is bound to low‐affinity ligands. The level of LIP is regulated to meet the cell's requirements for iron but prevent excess. We describe herein a multiparameter flow cytometry procedure for measuring LIP in various human hematopoietic cells. Peripheral blood and bone marrow (BM) cells were loaded with calcein‐AM, washed, and then incubated with or without the high‐affinity iron‐chelator Deferiprone (L1). Specific cell subpopulations were identified based on side‐light scattering and expression of surface antigens. LIP was determined based on the ability of L1 to bind and remove iron from calcein and thereby increase the fluorescence emitted by the cells. Blood cells differ in their LIP content in the order monocytes > PMN > RBC > lymphocytes. Analysis of BM cells indicated a similar tendency among precursors of the different lineages. The results also showed that among myeloid precursors, LIP increases along cell maturation. Flow cytometry might be useful for evaluating LIP in various diseases and for studying the efficacy of iron‐chelators. © 2007 International Society for Analytical Cytology
Entrainment is sparse

Entrained behavior coordinates, predicts, and modulates multi-scale rhythmic gestures with high spatio-temporal precision even as it shows flexible adaptation in response to perturbation (Clayton et al., 2005; Altenmuller et al., 2006; Phillips-Silver et al., 2010). The capacity for this split-second, multi-scale timing is often viewed as a highly-complex, specialized virtuosity that emerged in the forges of natural selection for evolutionary advantage (Mithen, 2005; Knoblich and Sebanz, 2008; Merker et al., 2009). Entrainment has found compelling mathematical models in the interaction of multiple dynamic oscillators (Large, 2010) and convincing neurological substrata in the electrophysiological resonance patterns that support cognition (Nozaradan et al., 2011; Schaefer et al., 2011). Further, entrainment-based therapeutic interventions have been validated in both quantative (Thaut and Abiru, 2010) and qualitative (Aigen, 2008) studies. This paper aims to bolster the theoretical case for the transformational potential of entrainment therapy by casting it in the framework of contemporary engineering mathematics, in particular applying the concepts of change of basis, Fourier transform, and most importantly, the growing body of work on Joint Sparse Representation (JSR) (Bruckstein et al., 2009). The paper aims to be a conceptual introduction in the hopes of reaching a wider audience that may want to make use of the relationship between entrainment and sparsity, and apply more engineering mathematics to their analyses of entrainment in therapy and performance.