Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cooperation for reputation: Wasteful contributions as costly signals in public goods

Why do people persistently contribute to public goods and does it matter to them if their donation makes a difference? A costly signalling perspective suggests that donors might be more concerned about their reputation than the utility of their helping act. We report data on two step-level public goods experiments. We find that in public (vs. private) conditions, contributions go up even when the public good is already provided (Experiment 1) or is unattainable (Experiment 2). Furthermore, these conspicuous donations appear to enhance the status and prestige of the donor because they signal some hidden quality. This research suggests that a public good contribution can be a self-presentation strategy and that the benefits of these contributions to society are sometimes of secondary importance.
Progressive sheet-to-tubule transformation is a general mechanism for endoplasmic reticulum partitioning in dividing mammalian cells

During mitosis, ER network reorganization can lead to packing of the ER into tight concentric layers at the cell cortex and occurs in tandem with rounding of the cell. Morphometric and 3D EM analysis shows that in addition to reorganization, ER sheets undergo transformation toward more fenestrated and tubular forms before anaphase in mammalian cells.
Some Methods Are More Effective Than Others

Many different methods have been developed to remediate problems of students with disabilities. Research studies evaluating the relative effectiveness of such practices can be overwhelming to educators because of the sheer number of studies—hundreds—as well as the conflicting results produced by some investigations. In this article, we use meta-analyses to make sense of this research, offering general guidelines for best practice in special education.
Video and Audio Editing for Mobile Applications

Video content creation and consumption have been increasingly available for the masses with the emergence of handheld devices capable of shooting, downloading, and playing videos. Video editing is a natural and necessary operation that is most commonly employed by users for finalizing and organizing their video content. With the constraints in processing power and memory, conventional spatial domain video editing is not a solution for mobile applications. In this paper, we present a complete video editing system for efficiently editing video content on mobile phones using compressed domain editing algorithms. A critical factor from usability point of view is the processing speed of the editing application. We show that with the proposed compressed domain editing system, typical video editing operations can be performed much faster than real-time on today's S60 phones
Big Data System Development: An Embedded Case Study with a Global Outsourcing Firm

Big data system development is dramatically different from small (traditional, structured) data system development. At the end of 2014, big data deployment is still scarce and failures abound. Outsourcing has become a main strategy for many enterprises. We therefore selected an outsourcing company who has successfully deployed big data projects for our study. Our research results from analyzing 10 outsourced big data projects provide a glimpse into early adopters of big data, illuminates the challenges for system development that stem from the 5Vs of big data and crystallizes the importance of architecture design choices and technology selection. We followed a collaborative practice research (CPR) method to develop and validate a new method, called BDD. BDD is the first attempt to systematically combine architecture design with data modeling approaches to address big data system development challenges. The use of reference architectures and a technology catalog are advancements to architecture design methods and are proving to be well-suited for big data system architecture design and system development.
A novel architecture of regional energy interconnected distribution grid based on power router technology

Traditional distribution networks have been faced with more and more challenges in recent years. To provide a system-level solution to achieve regional energy optimization scheduling, distribution generation connection, power quality improvement, custom power requirements and so on, this paper proposes a hierarchical system of regional energy interconnection distribution network based on power router technology for the newly incremental distribution network, which may be a transition formation between the traditional and future intelligent distribution networks. The proposed regional energy interconnection distribution network is divided into three different layer based on different functions. The first layer is centralized energy optimization layer to achieve original energy optimization scheduling. The second layer is distributed autonomous layer to connect different AC/DC voltage levels. The third layer is energy interface layer to provide multiple interfaces with plug and play functions. Based on the function and voltage level of different layers, structures of power routers used in different layers are also given.
A novel partially insulated Schottky source/drain MOSFET: Short channel and self heating effects

In this paper short channel and self heating effects in dopant segregated Schottky barrier (DSSB) silicon-on-insulator (SOI) MOSFET are investigated in sub-30 nm regime using two dimensional MEDICI simulator. In order to suppress these effects novel structures having dopant segregated Schottky source/drain (S/D) with buried oxide (BOX) only under S/D (DSSB Pi-OX) and DSSB Pi-OX with p-type delta doping in the oxide window formed under channel (DSSB Pi-OX-δ) have been proposed. The DSSB Pi-OX MOSFET is found better for reducing self heating effect but has worst short channel effects (SCE). On the other hand, DSSB Pi-OX-δ MOSFET not only reduces the self heating effect but also has SCE suppression better than DSSB SOI MOSFET. The extracted parasitic capacitances and S/D series resistance of DSSB SOI MOSFET and DSSB Pi-OX-δ MOSFET are found comparable to DSSB SOI MOSFET which shows that the performance advantages of DSSB SOI MOSFET are not affected with the proposed modification. The detailed fabrication flow of these novel devices is also proposed.
Cataracts associated with long‐term topical steroids

1 Mason RM, Barnes CG. Behcet's syndrome with arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 1969; 28: 95-103. 2 Kirsner JB, Shorter RG. Recent developments in nonspecific infiammatory bowel disease. N EnglJ Med 1982; 306: 775-85, 837-48. 3 Willoughby CP, Piris J, Truelove SC. The effect of topical N-acetyl-5-aminosalicylic-acid in ulcerative colitis. Scand Gastroenterol 1980; 15; 715-9. 4 Basilisco G, Ranzi T, Campanini M et al. 5-aminosalicylic acid or sulfasalazine retention enemas in distal ulcerative colitis. A randomized therapeutic trial. Current Therapeutic Research 1987; 42: 910-915.
Remembering and the Archaeology Metaphor

Freud used archaeological excavation as a metaphor for the remembering of previous experiences in therapy. This metaphor for memory has recently come under attack on the grounds that modern psychology of memory has cast doubt on whether memories preserve "historical truths. " In particular, it seems that information about later events-including verbalizations and narrativizations of the original event-are integrated with and thus change the memory. This contrasts with the solid, immutable objects that are supposedly uncovered by archaeologists. However, it is now recognized that the nature of archaeological evidence does not fit this naive view. Not only do objects change over time, but the process of excavation inevitably disturbs and destroys contextual evidence decisive for interpretation. It is argued here that with this richer contemporary understanding of archaeology, Freud's metaphor of memory is still quite appropriate. Some epistemological implications are discussed as examples of interesting issu.
Die Erforschung der Verständlichkeit von normativen Texten. Eine kritische Darstellung von Modellen, Methoden und Ergebnissen

This article is a state-of-the-art report on research in the comprehensibility of legal texts, introducing reader, reader-text, and comprehensibility models and the results obtained on the basis of such models. It is argued that research in this field is largely characterised by the exclusion of the role of the reader and his/her interaction with the text. In general, existing claims about the comprehensibility of legal texts are poorly supported by the findings due to the application of inadequate research methodologies. It is concluded that - in spite of the proliferance of pertinent studies - our knowledge about the comprehensibility of legal texts is still very limited. Three basic research questions for future studies are suggested
School Improvement Processes and Practices: Professional Learning for Building Instructional Capacity

The belief that the school is the key unit of change has become something of a mantra among scholars and practitioners over the past 20 years. Hence, efforts to understand the process of school improvement, as well as a variety of interventions that focus on school improvement, have flourished. Our goal in this paper is not to undertake an exhaustive review of the literature on school improvement, but rather to frame or perhaps reframe this work. Specifically, we stand back from scholarship that falls under the school improvement rubric and develop a conceptual scaffold for thinking about this line of research and its relation to teaching and learning in schools. We begin by arguing that the bottom line for school improvement initiatives is student learning. Hence, school improvement has to be about improving students’ opportunities to learn in order to improve both easily measurable and subtler achievement. While that may be an obvious point, in much of the literature relations between the process of school improvement and students’ opportunities to learn remain implicit or blurred. Our central task in this chapter is to develop a framework for making relations between the process and practice of school improvement and students’ opportunities to learn more explicit. Because classroom instruction is the proximal cause of students’ opportunities to learn, we begin by adopting a perspective on instruction that anchors our model of the school improvement process. We argue that absent such a framework, it is difficult to explicate relations between school improvement and students’ opportunities to learn. Next, adopting a “backward mapping” strategy (Elmore, 1979) we work backwards
A Projective Thermostatting Dynamics Technique

A dynamical framework is developed with several variations for modeling multiple timescale molecular dynamics at constant temperature. The described approach can be adapted to various applications, including mixtures of heavy and light particles and models with stiff potentials. Canonical sampling properties are proved under the ergodicity assumption. Implications for numerical method development are discussed, and the technique is validated in numerical experiments with model problems, including a simple model of a diatomic gas with anharmonic weak interaction.
Thesis Proposal Towards a More Principled Compiler: Progressive Backend Compiler Optimization

As we reach the limits of processor performance and architectural complexity increases, more principled approaches to compiler optimization are necessary to fully exploit the performance potential of modern architectures. Existing compiler optimizations are typically heuristic-driven and lack a detailed model of the target architecture. In this proposal I develop the beginnings of a framework for a principled backend optimizer. Ideally, a principled compiler would consist of tightly integrated, locally optimal, optimization passes which explicitly and exactly model and optimize for the target architecture. Towards this end this proposal investigates two pivotal backend optimizations: register allocation and instruction selection. I propose to tightly integrate these optimizations in an expressive model which can be solved progressively, approaching optimality as more time is allowed for compilation. I present an expressive model for register allocation based on multi-commodity network flow that explicitly captures the important components of register allocation such as spill code optimization, register preferences, coalescing, and rematerialization. I also describe a progressive solution technique for this model that utilizes the theory of Lagrangian relaxation and domain-specific heuristics to approach the optimal solution and provide optimality-bound guarantees on solutions. As future work, I discuss some improvements that can be made to this model and solution technique to improve their performance and usefulness, and I sketch how I believe this model and solution technique can be extended to incorporate instruction selection and present some preliminary results that indicate the benefit achievable from such an integration.
Effects of tacrolimus ( FK 506 ) on human insulin gene expression , insulin mRNA levels , and insulin secretion in HITT 15 cells

FK506 (tacrolimus) is an immunosuppressive drug which interrupts Ca 2 1 -calmodulin–calcineurin signaling pathways in T lymphocytes, thereby blocking antigen activation of T cell early activation genes. Regulation of insulin gene expression in the b cell may also involve Ca 2 1 -signaling pathways and FK506 has been associated with insulin-requiring diabetes mellitus during clinical use. The purpose of this study was to characterize the effects of FK506 on human insulin gene transcription, insulin mRNA levels, and insulin secretion using as a model the HIT-T15 b cell line. FK506 had no acute effect on insulin secretion in the HIT cell, but caused a reversible timeand dose-dependent (10 2 9 –10 2 6 M) decrease in HIT cell insulin secretion. Decreased insulin secretion in the presence of FK506 was also accompanied by a dosedependent decrease in HIT cell insulin content, insulin mRNA levels, and expression of a human insulin promoterchloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter gene. FK506 decreased HIT cell expression of the human insulin promoter-CAT reporter gene by 40% in the presence of both low (0.4 mM) at high (20 mM) glucose concentrations. Western blot analysis of HIT cell proteins gave evidence for the presence of calcineurin in the HIT cell. These findings suggest that FK506 may have direct effects to reversibly inhibit insulin gene transcription, leading to a decline in insulin mRNA levels, insulin synthesis, and ultimately insulin secretion. ( J. Clin. Invest. 1996. 98:2786–2793.)
Comparative study on altered hepatic metabolism of CYP3A substrates in rats with glycerol‐induced acute renal failure

To examine the mechanism accounting for the diverse alteration of hepatic metabolism of CYP3A substrates observed with renal function being severely impaired, the hepatic drug metabolizing activity was evaluated using liver microsomes prepared from rats with glycerol‐induced acute renal failure (ARF). Midazolam, nifedipine and rifabutin were employed as representative CYP3A substrates. When the Michaelis‐Menten parameters, Km and Vmax, were examined in the incubation study, the Km values of midazolam and nifedipine in ARF rats were shown to decrease by 50.9% and 29.9% compared with the normal value, respectively. The Vmax values of midazolam and nifedipine in ARF rats also decreased by 49.3% and 28.0%, respectively, showing that their decreased Km values accompanied the decreased Vmax values. The parameters of nifedipine seemed to alter to a lesser extent than those of midazolam. As for rifabutin metabolism, the decrease in the Km value was observed in ARF rats, but it did not accompany the decrease in the Vmax value. Then, the hepatic expressions of the CYP3A subfamily were examined with western blotting using anti‐CYP3A1 and anti‐CYP3A2 antibodies. It was revealed that the hepatic expression of CYP3A2 decreased, while that of CYP3A1 was unaffected. Additionally, a band signal deduced to originate from CYP3A9 was clearly detected in ARF, but not in normal rats. Considering each substrate having different specificities for CYP3A subfamily member proteins, individual alterations of hepatic CYP3A subfamily expression seem to underlie the diverse alterations of hepatic metabolism of CYP3A substrates in ARF rats. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Karyotyping of Cryptococcus neoformans as an epidemiological tool

Karyotyping of Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans can be used as an epidemiological tool for C. neoformans infections. In this study of over 40 isolates from both clinical and environmental sources, 90% had a unique chromosome banding by pulsed-field electrophoresis. There was no conserved pattern associated with body site of infection, geographical location of the isolate, or human immunodeficiency virus status. Karyotypes of individual isolates remained stable during both in vitro passage and in vivo infections. Karyotype was used to exclude the possibility of nosocomial spread of C. neoformans in one clinical situation and supported relapse in two other cases. Because of its variable sizes between isolates, karyotyping of C. neoformans is a convenient method for molecular identification of different strains.
Predictors of worry

In recent years there has been increased interest into the nature of worry. While closely related to neuroticism, worry is considered to be a separate construct. However, few studies have been conducted which investigate the combination of factors, in addition to neuroticism, that best predict worry. Using a hierarchical regression procedure, the present study attempted to determine which factors best predict worry after differences in levels of neuroticism have been taken into consideration. One hundred twenty-five adults completed the Worry Domains Questionnaire, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, Spheres of Control scale, Self-consciousness scale and the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire. Interpersonal control, public self-consciousness and number of cognitive failures were found to add significantly to the prediction of worry. The implications of these results are discussed in light of current theories of worry and future research.
Creating meaningful multimedia presentations

Finding relevant information is one step in the chain of understanding information. Presenting material to a user in a suitable way is a further step. Our research focuses on using semantic annotations of multimedia elements to increase the "presentability" of retrieved information. We investigate the use of domain semantics and discourse semantics for improving information presentation. In particular, we present work showing the use of domain semantics for grouping search results, the combined use of domain and discourse semantics for creating a particular genre of multimedia presentation (biography) and finally show the combination of argumentation structures and domain semantics for generating coherent sequences of video material. We provide comments and insights into the viability of these techniques
Genetic dissection of neural circuits underlying sexually dimorphic social behaviours

The unique hormonal, genetic and epigenetic environments of males and females during development and adulthood shape the neural circuitry of the brain. These differences in neural circuitry result in sex-typical displays of social behaviours such as mating and aggression. Like other neural circuits, those underlying sex-typical social behaviours weave through complex brain regions that control a variety of diverse behaviours. For this reason, the functional dissection of neural circuits underlying sex-typical social behaviours has proved to be difficult. However, molecularly discrete neuronal subpopulations can be identified in the heterogeneous brain regions that control sex-typical social behaviours. In addition, the actions of oestrogens and androgens produce sex differences in gene expression within these brain regions, thereby highlighting the neuronal subpopulations most likely to control sexually dimorphic social behaviours. These conditions permit the implementation of innovative genetic approaches that, in mammals, are most highly advanced in the laboratory mouse. Such approaches have greatly advanced our understanding of the functional significance of sexually dimorphic neural circuits in the brain. In this review, we discuss the neural circuitry of sex-typical social behaviours in mice while highlighting the genetic technical innovations that have advanced the field.
Phase II Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Green Tea Extract in Patients with High-Risk Oral Premalignant Lesions

Epidemiologic and preclinical data support the oral cancer prevention potential of green tea extract (GTE). We randomly assigned patients with high-risk oral premalignant lesions (OPL) to receive GTE at 500, 750, or 1,000 mg/m2 or placebo thrice daily for 12 weeks, evaluating biomarkers in baseline and 12-week biopsies. The OPL clinical response rate was higher in all GTE arms (n = 28; 50%) versus placebo (n = 11; 18.2%; P = 0.09) but did not reach statistical significance. However, the two higher-dose GTE arms [58.8% (750 and 1,000 mg/m2), 36.4% (500 mg/m2), and 18.2% (placebo); P = 0.03] had higher responses, suggesting a dose-response effect. GTE treatment also improved histology (21.4% versus 9.1%; P = 0.65), although not statistically significant. GTE was well tolerated, although higher doses increased insomnia/nervousness but produced no grade 4 toxicity. Higher mean baseline stromal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) correlated with a clinical (P = 0.04) but not histologic response. Baseline scores of other biomarkers (epithelial VEGF, p53, Ki-67, cyclin D1, and p16 promoter methylation) were not associated with a response or survival. Baseline p16 promoter methylation (n = 5) was associated with a shorter cancer-free survival. Stromal VEGF and cyclin D1 expression were downregulated in clinically responsive GTE patients and upregulated in nonresponsive patients at 12 weeks (versus at baseline). An extended (median, 27.5 months) follow-up showed a median time to oral cancer of 46.4 months. GTE may suppress OPLs, in part through reducing angiogenic stimulus (stromal VEGF). Higher doses of GTE may improve short-term (12-week) OPL outcome. The present results support longer-term clinical testing of GTE for oral cancer prevention.