Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular Cloning of a cDNA Coding for Copper/Zinc Superoxide Dismutase from Zebrafish and Its Expression in Escherichia coli

A full-length complementary DNA (cDNA) clone encoding a putative copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) was amplified by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based technique from cDNA synthesized from zebrafish (Danio rerio) mRNA. Nucleotide sequence analysis of this cDNA clone revealed that it comprised a complete open reading frame coding for 154 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence showed higher identity (73.5-74.3%) with swordfish and shark Cu/Zn-SOD than with Cu/Zn-SOD from mammals (69.6-70.9%) and plants (55.8-56.2%). The amino acid residues required for coordinating copper and zinc are conserved, as they are present in all reported Cu/Zn-SOD sequences. It lacks a targeting sequence, which suggests that the zebrafish cDNA clone encodes a cytosolic Cu/Zn-SOD. Furthermore, the coding region of Cu/Zn-SOD from zebrafish was introduced into an expression vector, pET-23a(+)-thioredoxin, and transformed into Escherichia coli AD494(DE3)pLysS. A predominant achromatic zone was detected by activity staining of native PAGE, and the expression pattern was shown by Coomassie blue staining of SDS-PAGE. This indicates that the Cu/Zn-SOD cDNA clone can be expressed in E. coli.
Precomputed & Hybrid Variants of Lightcuts

Our extensions to multidimensional lightcuts improve rendering performance using precomputation and hierarchial approaches. The first approach precomputes static illumination of static geometry, but defers the remaining light path computations until render time. Once the dynamic content of a scene is known, the remaining light paths are resolved and a final image is computed. The impact of precomputation impacts performance in a view and scene-dependent manner. We also explore a hierarchial approach that computes coarse regional approximations for lighting, then progressively refines these approximations to an error-bounded threshold as necessary. Performance improvements for this hybrid method depend on the realization of fast visibility-testing, either through the use of hardware shadow mapping or packetized ray tracers.
The Relationship Between Psychological Contract Breach and Organizational Cynicism

Psychological contract is composed of employees’ beliefs about what they owe to the organization and what does the organization owe to them in return. However, the psychological contract which is supposed to be between employee and employer and exists in employee’s mind as mutual obligations; is sometimes broken and damaged. When the employer does not fulfill or delayed in fulfilling some obligations, these obligations being either obviously promised or implied, the employee thinks that psychological contract is breached. Organizational cynicism is seen at the employee who perceives a psychological contract breach as a reaction behavior. Organizational cynicism is defined as the negative attitude of an employee towards the organizations (s)he is employed by; which is composed of believing that the organization lacks integration, negative feelings towards the organization, and consistently, humiliating and hypercritical behavior tendency. Organizational cynicism has three dimensions called cognitive, affective and behavioral. In this context, the objective of the research is to reveal the effects of psychological contract breach which is gaining importance for organizations; on organizational cynicism and its dimensions. The data collection method of the research is determined as a survey, and the universe is restricted as research assistants working in a state university. According to the descriptive analysis results, the level of psychological contract breach and organizational cynicism levels of research assistants are low. According to analysis results, psychological contract breach effects both organizational cynicism and its dimensions. Consequently, organizational cynicism increases while psychological contract breach increases.
Transcription of mitochondrial and chloroplast related genes in rice plants under anoxic stress

Most of mitochondrial and chloroplast proteins are encoded by nuclear genes and their import into organelles of destiny involve protein complexes located in the mitochondria (TIM and TOM) and chloroplast (TIC and TOC) membranes. Any damage in mitochondrial and chloroplast membranes impair the movement of important nuclear genome encoded proteins by these complexes, leading to plants death. The aim of this study was to evaluate the gene expression of TIM/TOM and TIC/TOC complexes in rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants under anoxic as well as other abiotic stresses, seeking to associate the expression of these genes with membrane integrity and transport of proteins into mitochondria and chloroplast under stress conditions. Expression data obtained from Genevestigator for 16 genes showed that the transcript levels of most TIM/TOM and TIC/TOC genes are increased when rice is under abiotic stress. The results from qRT-PCR analyses for the genes TIM17/22-Os03g0305600, TIM17/22-Os04g0376100 and TIM17/22-Os10g0519700 presented high levels of expression 24 h after anoxic conditions, suggesting a role in the primary response to anoxic stress adaptation. After 72 h under anoxia, most genes were inhibited, suggesting that an interruption in protein transport into mitochondria and chloroplast does occur after this period of stress.
Identity dimensions versus proactive coping in late adolescence while taking into account biological sex and psychological gender

The aim of study was to investigate the relationship between proactive coping strategies and the dimensions of identity formation, along with the role of biological sex and psychological gender as moderators for this relationship. We conducted analyses aimed at showing differences in terms of identity dimensions levels and proactive coping strategies used by a group of individuals with different biological sex and psychological gender. A group of 101 students from upper secondary schools (47 females, 54 males) from Pomeranian Voivodeship took part in the study. We used in our research The Dimensions of Identity Development Scale; The Psychological Gender Inventory and The Proactive Coping Inventory for Adolescents. We found, among others, that in the case of a proactive strategy, biological sex turned out to be a significant moderator in the relationship between this variable and identity dimensions: ruminative exploration, commitment-making and identification with commitment. In the case of instrumental support seeking, psychological gender turned out to be a significant moderator for the relationship between these variables and a part of identity dimensions. The obtained results show that, regardless of whether young people, in terms of characteristics that are stereotypically associated with biological sex, are described as aschematic (undifferentiated individuals) or schematic (sex-typed) when entering adulthood and attempting to constitute themselves, more often cope in a task-oriented manner by trying to create a set of information useful in difficult situations and aspire to obtain informational support from individuals in one’s own social network, who are regarded as safe people.
Potato seed dressing with Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain RZ9 enhances yield and reduces black scurf.

A rhizospheric strain RZ9 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was assessed for in-vitro growth inhibition of Rhizoctonia solani and effectiveness to control black scurf on potatoes ( Solanum tuberosum L.) of the cultivars Spunta and Nicola, in greenhouse and field experiments. The strain RZ9 inhibited R. solani mycelial growth by more than 60% and completely inhibited the germination of sclerotia from infested potato tubers in in-vitro tests. In greenhouse assays, seed potato treatment with RZ9 cell suspension increased stem length, decreased the relative weight of infected potato tubers (by 67%), and increased the potato yield (by 16%) compared to pathogen-inoculated plants for both potato cultivars. In field trials conducted on sandy soils during 2012 and 2013, strain RZ9 reduced black scurf incidence and increased potato yield by an average of 5.3 t ha -1 for ′Spunta′ and 5 t ha -1 for ′Nicola′. This study showed that the selected strain of P. aeruginosa is an efficient bacterium for enhancing yield and reducing black scurf of field-grown potatoes.
A Tapered Metallic Baffle ${\rm TM}_{01}$ to ${\rm TE}_{11\rm Y}$  Mode Converter With ${\rm TE}_{11\rm X}$  Mode Transmission Capability

A compact TM01 to TE11Y mode converter having a linear shape and high conversion efficiency is proposed. A tapered metallic baffle at the centre and rectangular ridges on both sides of the baffle at the inner walls of waveguide are placed to achieve wide mode conversion bandwidth. The mode converter is designed and simulated for an operating frequency of 3.2 GHz. The TM01 mode is converted to TE11Y mode over the 2.95-3.24 GHz frequency band and the TE11X mode is transmitted through the waveguide over the same frequency range, both with efficiency higher than 90%. Electric field calculations show that the mode converter is capable of handling Giga-Watt level input signals. The mode conversion was verified experimentally by measuring the far-field radiation pattern at the output. The proposed mode converter has the advantage of compactness and wide bandwidth and is also useful for the case when the input to the mode converter has a TE11 mode component in addition to the TM01 mode.
PAYING FOR A PUBLIC GOOD IN MONEY OR TIME: IS THERE A FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE? AN INVESTIGATION OF CONSUMERS' PREFERENCES FOR COMMUNITY-WIDE RECYCLING

This paper investigates consumers willingness to pay money (WTPM) and willingness to pay time (WTPT) for an improvement in a public good. Joint estimation of WTPM, WTPT, and the value of time, in the context of an increase in community-wide recycling, suggests that consumers have a higher money-equivalent WTP when they are directly involved in the provision of the public good, through their time effort. We conclude that the "payment currency" matters. This may have important implications for the design and promotion of public programs aimed at producing improved public good provision.
Characterizing the Inter-Thread Interference of Multi-Core Architectures for Accurate WCET Estimations of Real-Time Applications

Worst-Case Execution Time (WCET) estimation of an application in a real-time system becomes more difficult due to inter-thread interference in shared resources multi-core architectures. This paper proposes an iterative approach to analyze cache interference based on circular dependencies between inter-thread interference and instruction fetch time. Our experiments indicate that the proposed approach can reasonably estimate inter-thread interference in shared caches and improve the tightness of WCET estimation by an average of 17.5%.
The Effectiveness of the Modified Expanded Rational Expectations Model to Explore Adult Consumers’ Functional Foods Consumption Behavior

Since knowledge and health consciousness have been claimed to have a great influence on dietary behavior, subjective knowledge and health consciousness constructs were added to the ERE model in order to develop Modified ERE (MERE) model. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the MERE model in order to explain adult consumers’ functional foods consumption behavior. A convenience sample of 465 adults from a Southwestern university completed the final online survey questionnaire during April and May, 2010. A series of confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation modeling were conducted. Validity and reliability of the measurement model of MERE were confirmed. Results from structural equation modeling revealed that the MERE is a viable model to explain functional foods intention to consume and actual eating behavior. The two new constructs, subjective knowledge and health consciousness, had significant relationships with other constructs of the ERE. In detail, subjective knowledge was a better predictor than objective knowledge in the functional foods context. Health consciousness was a significant predictor of attitude and intention to consume functional foods but not a significant predictor of behavior. However, health consciousness influenced behavior through attitude and intention.
Performance analysis of knock detectors

This paper examines performance of the knock detection technique typically used in engine control systems, and the margin for possible improvement. We introduce a knock signal model and obtain an analytical result for the associated receiver operating characteristic of the standard knock detector. To show the improvement potential, we derive the theoretical upper bound of performance. A special case with unknown model parameters is also considered. Numerical results stimulate the research of improved detectors.
Planification de mouvement pour systèmes anthropomorphes

L'objet de cette these est le developpement et l'etude des algorithmes de planification de mouvement pour les systemes hautement dimensionnes que sont les robots humanoides et les acteurs virtuels. Plusieurs adaptations des methodes generiques de planification de mouvement randomisees sont proposees et discutees. Une premiere contribution concerne l'utilisation de techniques de reduction de dimension lineaire pour accelerer les algorithmes d'echantillonnage. Cette methode permet d'identifier en ligne quand un processus de planification passe par un passage etroit de l'espace des configurations et adapte l'exploration en fonction. Cet algorithme convient particulierement bien aux problemes difficiles de la planification de mouvement pour l'animation graphique. La deuxieme contribution est le developpement d'algorithmes randomises de planification sous contraintes. Il s'agit d'une integration d'outils de cinematique inverse hierarchisee aux algorithmes de planification de mouvement randomises. On illustre cette methode sur differents problemes de manipulation pour robots humanoides. Cette contribution est generalisee a la planification de mouvements corps-complet necessitant de la marche. La derniere contribution presentee dans cette these est l'utilisation des methodes precedentes pour resoudre des tâches de manipulation complexes par un robot humanoide. Nous presentons en particulier un formalisme destine a representer les informations propres a l'objet manipule utilisables par un planificateur de mouvement. Ce formalisme est presente sous le nom d'« objets documentes ». ABSTRACT : This thesis deals with the development and analysis of motion planning algorithms for high dimensional systems: humanoid robots and digital actors. Several adaptations of generic randomized motion planning methods are proposed and discussed. A first contribution concerns the use of linear dimensionality reduction techniques to speed up sampling algorithms. This method identifies on line when a planning process goes through a narrow passage of some configuration space, and adapts the exploration accordingly. This algorithm is particularly suited to difficult problems of motion planning for computer animation. The second contribution is the development of randomized algorithms for motion planning under constraints. It consists in the integration of prioritized inverse kinematics tools within randomized motion planning. We demonstrate the use of this method on different manipulation planning problems for humanoid robots. This contribution is generalized to whole-body motion planning with locomotion. The last contribution of this thesis is the use of previous methods to solve complex manipulation tasks by humanoid robots. More specifically, we present a formalism that represents information specific to a manipulated object usable by a motion planner. This formalism is presented under the name of "documented object".
Complaints and disputes among occupants within apartment developments

Large apartment developments are like mini-communities – there are a wide variety of relationships and networks within, and both complaints and disputes are common. Such situations come at a significant emotional and financial cost to the individuals involved. There is also an overflow effect on both the collective apartment owners and the broader community – especially where disputes escalate to formal tribunal and court hearings. The purpose of this study was to investigate the underlying features of complaint and dispute behaviour including the proximity between disputing parties, the situational context and the residual triggers causing complaint and disputes to occur. The emphasis was on an exploratory pilot study, aimed at determining if predictable patterns existed and if so, whether these were worth pursuing on a broader scale, or not. The methodology utilised a case study of a large apartment complex of 108 separate apartments, where complaint and dispute records were analysed over a 10 year period. These were then mapped onto the apartment layout. Data arising from this was coded into thematically consistent categories and then quantitatively analysed using descriptive statistics. With regard to the proximity of complaints and disputes there was an occasional pattern whereby noise can be attributed to close proximity complaints, but there is no evidence that this leads to formal dispute. The originality of the research is in providing quantitative insight into the current gap in knowledge concerning complaint and dispute behaviour amongst residents living in higher density housing in Australia. Revealed patterns create the ability to use more targeted dispute resolution methods with a view to maintaining harmony within higher density residential complexes.
The use of a digital narrative as a scaffolding remedy in a classical science centre

This article examines an educational design experiment which aimed to support young people’s involvement and reflection in the exhibition at a Danish science centre. The experiment consisted in the examination of the design and implementation of a mobile phone facilitated narrative, which was planned as a so-called scaffolding remedy in the hands-on based exhibition. The digital narrative, called EGO-TRAP, was developed using Design-Based Research as the overall methodological framework. The study of students’ interactions in the exhibition suggests, among other things, that because of its quality as a digital narrative, EGO-TRAP scaffolds pleasurable engagement and counteracts the tendency of “random button pressing” that often occurs in classical science centre exhibitions. In this connection, the mobile phone plays an essential role due to the fact that it, as the favoured media by the young students, offers an experience which they describe as both personal and flexible.
Income Statement Effects of Derivative Fair Value Accounting: Evidence from Bank Holding Companies

SFAS 133 requires most types of hedge ineffectiveness to be measured on a fair value basis and reported in earnings. This earnings recognition requirement was the focal point of controversy surrounding the adoption of SFAS 133. The debate also reflects the more general controversy over whether to recognize fair-value-based gains or losses into earnings. Using a sample of bank holding companies, I find evidence inconsistent with the widely held notion that the fair-value-based hedging performance measure represents a form of transitory income. I find that the earnings measure in the post-SFAS 133 period that includes the fair-value-based hedging performance measure outperforms a constructed income measure that excludes this component in terms of ability to explain concurrent stock returns. Additionally, I find that the fair-value-based hedging performance measure has incremental explanatory power over stock returns with hedging losses being given a higher weight than hedging gains. Finally, I document a positive association between the volatility of the fair-value-based hedging performance measure and idiosyncratic stock return volatility. Taken together, the results from this study suggest that the recognition of the fair-value-based hedging performance measure under SFAS 133 improves the value and risk relevance of accounting earnings. These findings are relevant to the evaluation of SFAS 133 as well as the ongoing debate on the income statement treatment of net asset changes due to the application of fair value accounting.
SIFT and Preserving Topology Structures of Local Neighborhood: Matching Feature Point in Deformation Measurement of Nonrigid Biological Tissues from Magnetic Resonance Images

In this paper, we propose an integrated method SPTSLN (SIFT and Preserving Topology Structures of Local Neighborhood) for feature point matching in MR images of nonlinear and nonuniform deformation of nonrigid tissues. First, from the template and deformed images, the DoG detector and SIFT descriptor are used to extract and describe the feature points. Then the matching probability matrix of relaxation labeling is initialized according to the SIFT matching results of the feature points between the template and deformed images. Subsequently, the relaxation labeling is adopted to update the probability matrix and refine the matching based on preserving topology structures of local neighborhood of the feature points. Finally, the mismatching elimination method based on affine transformation and distance measurement is used to eliminate the residual mismatched points. The experimental results showed that the proposed SPTSLN method outperformed the single SURF and SIFT methods.
Extraction and evaluation of transportation network grammars for efficient planning applications

Grammars, with their generic approach and broad application potential in many planning fields, are accepted as adaptable and efficient tools for design and planning applications, bridging design rules and technical planning requirements. This paper provides a formal introduction of grammars for effective consolidation and application, including a rule-based notation and required specification information. Two proposed grammar evaluation methods – based on technical planning knowledge and using recent computational development – foster understanding of a grammar’s effects, often missing in other definitions. Knowledge gained enables efficient grammar rule application, e.g. in burgeoning planning software. This research focuses particularly on urban network design and road intersection grammars to validate proposed grammar evaluation methods. Results are specified in the proposed grammar notation with corresponding application specifications. Results generally show that network topology and intersection type choice both depend on transport mode characteristics and flow. Specifically, medium-dense gridiron networks are car-efficient in terms of travel costs and reliability at urban densities, when combined with high road and intersection capacities. Pedestrian networks ideally have higher intersection and road densities with lower capacities than car networks. Highly meshed networks improve overall travel cost efficiencies for all transport modes at various flow levels.
Rural Environmental Concern: Effects of Position, Partisanship, and Place

The social bases of environmental concern in rural America resemble those for the nation as a whole, but also reflect the influence of place. Some general place characteristics, such as rates of population growth or resource-industry employment, predict responses across a number of envi- ronmental issues. Other unique or distinctive aspects of local society and environment matter as well. We extend earlier work on both kinds of place effects, first by analyzing survey data from northeast Oregon. Results empha- size that "environmental concern" has several dimensions. Second, we contextualize the Oregon results using surveys from other regions. Analysis of an integrated dataset (up to 12,000 interviews in 38 U.S. counties) shows effects from respondent characteristics and political views, and from county rates of population growth and resource-based employment. There also are significant place-to-place variations that are not explained by variables in the