Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Backward highlighting: enhancing faceted search

Directional faceted browsers, such as the popular column browser iTunes, let a person pick an instance from any column-facet to start their search for music. The expected effect is that any columns to the right are filtered. In keeping with this directional filtering from left to right, however, the unexpected effect is that the columns to the left of the click provide no information about the possible associations to the selected item. In iTunes, this means that any selection in the Album column on the right returns no information about either the Artists (immediate left) or Genres (leftmost) associated with the chosen album. Backward Highlighting (BH) is our solution to this problem, which allows users to see and utilize, during search, associations in columns to the left of a selection in a directional column browser like iTunes. Unlike other possible solutions, this technique allows such browsers to keep direction in their filtering, and so provides users with the best of both directional and non-directional styles. As well as describing BH in detail, this paper presents the results of a formative user study, showing benefits for both information discovery and subsequent retention in memory.
ICU nurses and physicians dialogue regarding patients clinical status and care options—a focus group study

ABSTRACT Nurses and physicians work side-by-side in the intensive care unit (ICU). Effective exchanges of patient information are essential to safe patient care in the ICU. Nurses often rate nurse-physician communication lower than physicians and report that it is difficult to speak up, that disagreements are not resolved and that their input is not well received. Therefore, this study explored nurses’ dialogue with physicians regarding patients’ clinical status and the prerequisites for effective and accurate exchanges of information. We adopted a qualitative approach, conducting three focus group discussions with five to six nurses and physicians each (14 total). Two themes emerged. The first theme highlighted nurses’ contributions to dialogues with physicians; nurses’ ongoing observations of patients were essential to patient care discussions. The second theme addressed the prerequisites of accurate and effective dialogue regarding care options, comprising three subthemes: nurses’ ability to speak up and present clinical changes, establishment of shared goal and clinical understanding, and open dialogue and willingness to listen to each other. Nurses should understand their essential role in conducting ongoing observations of patients and their right to be included in care-related decision-making processes. Physicians should be willing to listen to and include nurses’ clinical observations and concerns.
WHO DO I HELP? AN EXPERIMENTAL EXAMINATION OF DOMINANT IDEOLOGY THREAT, GROUP MEMBERSHIP, AND PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR

The American dream ideology (ADI) consists of working hard, taking responsibility for oneself, and being rewarded for those efforts. Therefore, the ADI precludes asking for help. The current project investigated the possibility that if a victim violates the ADI (in this case by asking for help), this violation may result in others withholding resources. Additionally, the current project investigated whether characteristics of the victim (e.g., a victim‘s ingroup (American) or outgroup (international) membership) and characteristics of the helper (as someone who had violated the ADI or not) influenced amount of help offered to a victim. In Study 1, participants (n = 60) were reminded of the ADI, then read about and rated a fellow ingroup or outgroup victim who was violating the ADI by asking for help (or not). Participants then reported willingness to help that victim. Results showed that men participants were relatively unwilling to help the victim regardless of condition, whereas women were only willing to help a victim who did not violate the ADI. Unexpectedly, the victim‘s group membership had no effect on amount of help offered. By including a control prime, Study 2 (n = 61) extended these findings by testing whether a reminder of the ADI was necessary to inflict the withholding of positive resources to a victim who violated the ADI. Additionally, to explore a way to increase helping to a victim asking for help, participants were made to perceive themselves as violating the ADI (or not). Results showed that again women were more likely to help the victim than were men, but only when women were not reminded of the ADI. Results further showed that women were more likely to derogate the victim when they were both primed with the ADI and perceived themselves as violating the ADI. Taken together, results suggest that although women may be willing to help an ingroup and outgroup member equally, they will still enact subtle prejudice (e.g., the withholding of positive resources) against victims who ask for help if the American dream ideology is salient. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Path‐space Motion Estimation and Decomposition for Robust Animation Filtering

Renderings of animation sequences with physics‐based Monte Carlo light transport simulations are exceedingly costly to generate frame‐by‐frame, yet much of this computation is highly redundant due to the strong coherence in space, time and among samples. A promising approach pursued in prior work entails subsampling the sequence in space, time, and number of samples, followed by image‐based spatio‐temporal upsampling and denoising. These methods can provide significant performance gains, though major issues remain: firstly, in a multiple scattering simulation, the final pixel color is the composite of many different light transport phenomena, and this conflicting information causes artifacts in image‐based methods. Secondly, motion vectors are needed to establish correspondence between the pixels in different frames, but it is unclear how to obtain them for most kinds of light paths (e.g. an object seen through a curved glass panel).
A variable step-size frequency-domain adaptive filtering algorithm for stereophonic acoustic echo cancellation

In this paper a gradient adaptive step-size algorithm for frequency domain adaptive filtering is proposed: the step-size adaptation is performed by differentiating the time-domain block error at the output of the block adaptive filter with respect to the step-size. By using the results obtained through a rigorous mathematical treatment in the single-channel situation and in the presence of a partitioned adaptive filter, an adaptation rule valid for two-channel adaptive algorithms, which may be easily extended to multi-channel adaptive algorithms, is derived. Experimental results concerning stereophonic acoustic echo cancellation are reported, in order to validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Narrative of a pre-service teacher

This article demonstrates the value of narrative as a research tool, using a pre-service teacher's story as an example. The focus of this article is the role that narrative inquiry can play in illuminating the relationship between past experiences and the development of professional knowledge. The data comprise one pre-service teacher's stories of past and present learning experiences, recorded as narrative accounts. These narrative accounts will be explored for their potential impact on the professional knowledge that is ultimately constructed.
Pricing and revenue sharing strategies for Internet service providers

One of the challenges facing the networking industry today is to increase the profitability of Internet services. This calls for economic mechanisms that can enable providers to charge more for better services and collect a fair share of the increased revenues. In this paper, we present a generic pricing model for Internet services jointly offered by a group of providers. We show that noncooperative pricing strategies may lead to unfair distribution of profit and may even discourage future upgrades to the network. As an alternative, we propose a fair revenue-sharing policy based on the weighted proportional fairness criterion. We show that this fair allocation policy encourages collaboration among providers, and hence can produce higher profits for all providers. Based on the analysis, we suggest a scalable algorithm for providers to implement this policy in a distributed way and study its convergence property.
O poder do direito e o poder do feminismo: revisão crítica da proposta teórica de Carol Smart

The power of Law and the power of feminism: a critical revision of Carol Smart’s theoretical proposal This article develops a critical dialogue with Carol Smart’s theses, questioning the positions of this feminist author on the relationship between women, feminism and Law. More specifically, it discusses two of the theses developed in Carol Smart’s books Feminism and the Power of Law and Law, Crime and Sexuality: (1) the thesis about the power of Law to disqualify women's experience and feminist knowledge and to define women as gendered subjects; and (2) the author's proposal for a reorientation of the feminist strategy, in order to decentralize and deconstruct Law.
LRN / R-MAUDE BASED APPROACH FOR MODELING AND SIMULATION OF MOBILE CODE SYSTEMS

Code mobility technologies attract more and more developers and consumers. Numerous domains are concerned, many platforms are developed and interest applications are realized. However, developing good software products requires modeling, analyzing and proving steps. The choice of models and modeling languages is so critical on these steps. Formal tools are powerful in analyzing and proving steps. However, poorness of classical modeling language to model mobility requires proposition of new models. The objective of this paper is to provide a formal approach based on LRN and R-Maude. LRN (Labeled Reconfigurable Nets) is a specific formalism that we propose to model different kinds of code mobility. R-Maude (Reconfigurable Maude) is a system that we devlop to encode and simulate LRN-models.
Question identification in Chinese micro-texts

Micro-blogs have become very convenient places to ask questions and seek information. In this paper, we focus on automatically identifying questions (the micro-texts which are asked to seek information or help) from Chinese micro-texts. Based on the characters of Chinese question, we investigate various rule-based and learning-based methods to recognize questions. In addition to identify the questions, we also distinguish whether a question can be answered with sufficient conditions. The experimental results on Chinese micro-texts show that our proposed dependency tree pattern is effective for question identification.
What has high fertility got to do with the low birth weight problem in Africa

High parity tends to be associated with socioeconomic disadvantage, which is widely believed to be a risk factor for low birth weight. Using a fixed-effects approach (comparing children of the same mother born within the five-year period preceding Demographic and Health Surveys), this paper examines whether a woman’s high parity might increase her risks of having a baby with low birth weight net of any effect of personal, household or community characteristics that are constant over the period of analysis, including the average amount of socioeconomic resources during that period. The analysis is based on Demographic and Health Surveys from several sub-Saharan countries. There is no adverse effect of increasing parity on the odds of having a child with low birth weight at normative ranges; such effects only manifest at extremely high parities - nine or more children. At moderately high parities, the chance of low birth weight is actually lower than at very low parities. While high fertility appears to be unimportant, the analysis supports the notion that socioeconomic factors underpin the problem of low birth weight in sub-Saharan Africa.
A Fourier Transform Method for Spread Option Pricing

Spread options are a fundamental class of derivative contracts written on multiple assets and are widely traded in a range of financial markets. There is a long history of approximation methods for computing such products, but as yet there is no preferred approach that is accurate, efficient, and flexible enough to apply in general asset models. The present paper introduces a new formula for general spread option pricing based on Fourier analysis of the payoff function. Our detailed investigation, including a flexible and general error analysis, proves the effectiveness of a fast Fourier transform implementation of this formula for the computation of spread option prices. It is found to be easy to implement, stable, efficient, and applicable in a wide variety of asset pricing models.
Solving Fuzzy DCSPs with Naming Games

In this paper we focus on solving Fuzzy Distributes Constraint Satisfaction Problems (Fuzzy DCSPs) with an algorithm for Naming Games (NGs): each word on which the agents have to agree on is associated with a preference represented as a fuzzy score. The solution is the agreed word associated with the highest preference value. The two main features that distinguish this methodology from Fuzzy DCSPs methods are that the system can react to small instance changes and and it does not require pre-agreed agent/variable ordering.
Softwarization of networks, clouds, and internet of things

The IEEE International Conference on Network Softwarization (IEEE NetSoft) was established in 2015, and the second edition (IEEE NetSoft 2016) was organized in Seoul, Korea, during June 6 to 10, 2016. NetSoft 2016 builds further on the successful first edition, held in London, UK, in April 2015 and is the flagship conference established as part of the IEEE software‐defined networks (SDN) initiative of the IEEE Future Directions Committee. NetSoft is the primary IEEE forum for publication and technical exchange of the latest research and innovation results in this challenging area and brings together academia and industry to evaluate and ponder maturing developments related to all aspects of network softwarization. NetSoft 2016 focused on the theme, “Softwarization of Networks, Clouds, and Internet of Things,” presenting recent, emerging approaches and technical solutions for dealing with future softwarized networks, clouds, and IoT infrastructures, as well as with novel services provided on top of these infrastructures. Software‐defined networks, Network Function Virtualization (NFV), and SDN‐based cloud computing (SDNCC) are different expressions of software‐defined infrastructures (SDI). This transformation trend towards softwarization is deeply impacting telecom and ICT industries. In addition, this trend is also transforming several other industries, bringing softwarization to optimize costs and processes and to bring new values in the infrastructures. In particular, SDN, NFV, and network programmability are creating the conditions to reinvent network and service architectures.
The role of the exercise instructor in older adults? uptake and adherence to exercise classes.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTERABSTRACT OF THESIS submitted by Helen Hawley for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy and entitled: The role of the exercise instructor in older adults? uptake and adherence to exercise classes. September 2011Encouraging older adults to become more active and maintain that activity is critical to the promotion of their health and well-being, social networks and independence. Leadership behaviour and quality of instruction is important in influencing engagement of older adults in exercise classes. Instructors? attitudes could influence older adults? uptake and adherence to classes, but little is known about the relationship between attitudes and characteristics of instructors and their delivery in relation to uptake and adherence of older adults to exercise classes. Methods: Underpinned by the Theory of Planned Behaviour and using a mixed methods approach this thesis uses three studies to:1) Survey 731 United Kingdom exercise instructors with Level 3 older adults exercise qualification to investigate instructors? characteristics and attitudes towards older-adults? participation in exercise. 2) Interview 19 instructors to further explore instructors? attitudes, experiences and beliefs in relation to their exercise classes for older adults and how their attitudes, experiences and beliefs are influenced by their training and characteristics.3) Follow up a cohort of 16 instructors and 193 of their class participants over 6 months to explore what characteristics of exercise instructors, the group and class participants influence adherence and also whether instructors influence uptake and adherence to home exercise.Results and Conclusion: The first study establishes that there is a relationship between instructors? training, experience, characteristics and their attitudes. The second study supports these findings and demonstrates how instructors? think that these factors and others not only influence how they deliver and promote their classes but also influence older adults? uptake and adherence to exercise classes. The final study enables us to look at the relationship between instructor variables and the participant within the exercise class setting. Class participants? mental well-being, education and housing were key factors related to their attendance. Having attended the class for more than six months at baseline was an important factor related to adherence. Individual factors such as participants? attitudes, beliefs about group cohesion and instructor variables such as personality traits and experience emerged in the final models both in relation to participant attendance and adherence. There are a series of complex interactions between the instructor, participant, the group and others which influences beliefs and attitudes. It is clear that the instructor can influence participants and they have an important role to play in creating an atmosphere and environment of which participants want to be a part of.
TEACHING NATURE OF SCIENCE THROUGH CONCEPTUAL CHANGE APPROACH: CONCEPTUAL CHANGE TEXTS AND CONCEPT CARTOONS

The study investigated the influence of conceptual change approach on elementary students’ views of certain aspects of nature of science (NOS). In this study, conditions of conceptual change were provided through the use of conceptual change texts and concept cartoons. In addition, this study compared the influence of the conceptual change approach to that of the explicit reflective inquiry-oriented and implicit instructional approaches in the teaching of NOS. The research was conducted with seventh-grade students (aged 12-13 years) at a school in Turkey’s Aegean region. A total of 69 students participated in the study. The students’ views of NOS were assessed using a questionnaire, (the Views of Nature of Science Elementary Level Scale) as pre-test and post-test in conjunction with data from semi-structured interviews. This study reveals that the best way to remedy the naïve views of students on NOS is a conceptual change framework. Key words: conceptual change text, concept cartoon, explicit reflective approach, implicit approach, nature of science.
Powder-metallurgy steel article with high vanadium-carbide content

In this powder metallurgy steel article having the excellent toughness, workability and wear-resistance, and alloy containing 0.2-1.5wt% Mn, maximum 2wt% Si, 1.5-6 wt% Cr, 0.50-6wt% Mo, maximum 0.3wt% S, 6-11 wt% V, 1.6-8wt% C, and iron residue is compacted and is formed from the powder alloying. Type MC vanadium carbide containing 10-18 capacity % is distributed uniformly as sphere. During heat treatment, in order that the hardness is 56 RC at least, and sufficient carbon is supplied, article is characteristic of containing carbon which is balanced with chromium, molybden, vanadium.
Placebo effects in cognitive training

Significance Placebo effects pose problems for some intervention studies, particularly those with no clearly identified mechanism. Cognitive training falls into that category, and yet the role of placebos in cognitive interventions has not yet been critically evaluated. Here, we show clear evidence of placebo effects after a brief cognitive training routine that led to significant fluid intelligence gains. Our goal is to emphasize the importance of ruling out alternative explanations before attributing the effect to interventions. Based on our findings, we recommend that researchers account for placebo effects before claiming treatment effects. Although a large body of research shows that general cognitive ability is heritable and stable in young adults, there is recent evidence that fluid intelligence can be heightened with cognitive training. Many researchers, however, have questioned the methodology of the cognitive-training studies reporting improvements in fluid intelligence: specifically, the role of placebo effects. We designed a procedure to intentionally induce a placebo effect via overt recruitment in an effort to evaluate the role of placebo effects in fluid intelligence gains from cognitive training. Individuals who self-selected into the placebo group by responding to a suggestive flyer showed improvements after a single, 1-h session of cognitive training that equates to a 5- to 10-point increase on a standard IQ test. Controls responding to a nonsuggestive flyer showed no improvement. These findings provide an alternative explanation for effects observed in the cognitive-training literature and the brain-training industry, revealing the need to account for confounds in future research.
Crystal Structure of a Thermostable Alanine Racemase from Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis MB4 Reveals the Role of Gln360 in Substrate Selection

Pyridoxal 5’-phosphate (PLP) dependent alanine racemase catalyzes racemization of L-Ala to D-Ala, a key component of the peptidoglycan network in bacterial cell wall. It has been extensively studied as an important antimicrobial drug target due to its restriction in eukaryotes. However, many marketed alanine racemase inhibitors also act on eukaryotic PLP-dependent enzymes and cause side effects. A thermostable alanine racemase (AlrTt) from Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis MB4 contains an evolutionarily non-conserved residue Gln360 in inner layer of the substrate entryway, which is supposed to be a key determinant in substrate specificity. Here we determined the crystal structure of AlrTt in complex with L-Ala at 2.7 Å resolution, and investigated the role of Gln360 by saturation mutagenesis and kinetic analysis. Compared to typical bacterial alanine racemase, presence of Gln360 and conformational changes of active site residues disrupted the hydrogen bonding interactions necessary for proper PLP immobilization, and decreased both the substrate affinity and turnover number of AlrTt. However, it could be complemented by introduction of hydrophobic amino acids at Gln360, through steric blocking and interactions with a hydrophobic patch near active site pocket. These observations explained the low racemase activity of AlrTt, revealed the essential role of Gln360 in substrate selection, and its preference for hydrophobic amino acids especially Tyr in bacterial alanine racemization. Our work will contribute new insights into the alanine racemization mechanism for antimicrobial drug development.