Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Attitude and usage of collaboration tools in GSE: A practitioner oriented theory

Collaboration tools support global software engineering (GSE) by providing relevant information and work context to developers, essentially seeking to provide a local context for developers working globally. Although many collaborative tools have been developed, we have insufficient knowledge of how they are used in practice. In this paper, we review the recent empirical studies on collaboration tools for GSE. Then we theorize a conceptual framework that aims to explain how the unique contextual dimensions of GSE (e.g. culture diversity and adaptation, etc.) influence practitioners' attitudes toward, and usage of, the tools. The conceptual framework will guide our future empirical studies, and it will be refined by the empirical evidence collected in these studies.
A focal adhesion factor directly linking intracellularly motile Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria ivanovii to the actin‐based cytoskeleton of mammalian cells.

The surface‐bound ActA polypeptide of the intracellular bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes is the sole listerial factor needed for recruitment of host actin filaments by intracellularly motile bacteria. Here we report that following Listeria infection the host vasodilator‐stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP), a microfilament‐ and focal adhesion‐associated substrate of both the cAMP‐ and cGMP‐dependent protein kinases, accumulates on the surface of intracytoplasmic bacteria prior to the detection of F‐actin ‘clouds’. VASP remains associated with the surface of highly motile bacteria, where it is polarly located, juxtaposed between one extremity of the bacterial surface and the front of the actin comet tail. Since actin filament polymerization occurs only at the very front of the tail, VASP exhibits properties of a host protein required to promote actin polymerization. Purified VASP binds directly to the ActA polypeptide in vitro. A ligand‐overlay blot using purified radiolabelled VASP enabled us to identify the ActA homologue of the related intracellular motile pathogen, Listeria ivanovii, as a protein with a molecular mass of approximately 150 kDa. VASP also associates with actin filaments recruited by another intracellularly motile bacterial pathogen, Shigella flexneri. Hence, by the simple expedient of expressing surface‐bound attractor molecules, bacterial pathogens effectively harness cytoskeletal components to achieve intracellular movement.
A Theory of <0 1981 by Car

Technical Monograph PRG-16 May 1981 Oxford University Computing Laboratory. Programming Research Group. 45 Banbury Road. Oxford. OX2 6PE A mathematical model for communicating sequential processes Is given. and a number of Its Interesting and useful properties are stated. The possibilities of non-determinism are fully taken into account.
A 10 MHz Bandwidth, 70 dB SNDR Continuous Time Delta-Sigma Modulator With Digitally Improved Reconfigurable Blocker Rejection

This paper presents a continuous-time third-order low-pass delta-sigma modulator (DSM) with digitally enhanced out-of-band (OOB) signal filtering for enhanced blocker rejection in receiver analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). It is well known that strong OOB interferers define the required dynamic range (DR) of a receiver. Usually, a channel-select filter (CSF) is therefore required, together with the succeeding ADC. The feedback-compensated DSM can relax the CSF with its signal transfer characteristic. In this work, this is improved with a reconfigurable digital filter, which modifies the feedback signal of the outer-loop DAC to increase the OOB blocker rejection of the modulator. As a proof of concept, the digitally improved blocker rejection is shown in a prototype design. Additionally, a reconfigurable excess loop delay compensation technique based on an adaptive delay-locked-loop (DLL) has been implemented. The prototype is realized in a 90 nm CMOS technology, works at 480 MHz clock frequency, requires an area of 0.17 mm2, and achieves an in-band (IB) SNDR of 70 dB in a bandwidth of 10 MHz with a power consumption less than 14.4 mW. In the prototype, a digitally reconfigurable blocker rejection is realized achieving 6 dB additional suppression from 20 or 40 MHz on, or even 25 dB at the specific frequency of 20 MHz.
Chills in different sensory domains: Frisson elicited by acoustical, visual, tactile and gustatory stimuli

‘Chills’ (frisson manifested as goose bumps or shivers) have been used in an increasing number of studies as indicators of emotions in response to music (e.g., Craig, 2005; Guhn, Hamm, & Zentner, 2007; McCrae, 2007; Panksepp, 1995; Sloboda, 1991). In this study we present evidence that chills can be induced through aural, visual, tactile, and gustatory stimulation. Additionally, chills were elicited by mere mental self-stimulation — even without any external stimulus. Subjective ratings and physiological responses (i.e., skin conductance response, heart rate, breathing rate) of 36 participants reporting chills were recorded in response to stimuli of the named sensory domains. Chills in response to all external stimuli showed similar physiological correlates. However, they differed in the subjective affective perception: more chills occurred in response to negative valent and arousing sounds and pictures, while more chills were reported for positive valent music independent of arousal. These findings suggest that the chill phenomenon could be a valuable indicator of strong emotions. However, the measurement of chills should be combined with other methods of emotion measurement, since chills can be a response to psychological events of different affective value.
Visualization of Single Escherichia coli FtsZ Filament Dynamics with Atomic Force Microscopy*

FtsZ, the prokaryotic homologue of tubulin, is an essential cell division protein. In the cell, it localizes at the center, forming a ring that constricts during division. In vitro, it binds and hydrolyzes GTP and polymerizes in a GTP-dependent manner. We have used atomic force microscopy to study the structure and dynamics of FtsZ polymer assembly on a mica surface under buffer solution. The polymers were highly dynamic and flexible, and they continuously rearranged over the surface. End-to-end joining of filaments and depolymerization from internal zones were observed, suggesting that fragmentation and reannealing may contribute significantly to the dynamics of FtsZ assembly. The shape evolution of the restructured polymers manifested a strong inherent tendency to curve. Polymers formed in the presence of non-hydrolyzable nucleotide analogues or in the presence of GDP and AlF3 were structurally similar but showed a slower dynamic behavior. These results provide experimental evidence supporting the model of single-strand polymerization plus cyclization recently proposed to explain the hydrodynamic behavior of the polymers in solution.
La enseñanza de la gramática inglesa en los Diseños Curriculares de la Provincia de Buenos Aires: Una mirada crítica desde la neurolingüística

En las ultimas decadas, los avances de las neurociencias promovieron un nuevo ambito interdisciplinar para la investigacion educativa: la neuroeducacion. Su principal objetivo es detectar problemas en las practicas escolares y proponer soluciones guiadas por evidencia neurocognitiva. En este sentido, la acumulacion de conocimientos sobre el cerebro bilingue permite reflexionar sobre las propuestas de ensenanza de lenguas extranjeras. El presente articulo aborda dicha tematica mediante una lectura critica de los Disenos Curriculares (DCs) para la Educacion Basica de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Especificamente, se consideran hallazgos neurolinguisticos para analizar los DCs en lo concerniente a la ensenanza de la gramatica inglesa. Para ello, se procura (i) sintetizar los principios didacticos enunciados en los DCs sobre la ensenanza de dicho dominio linguistico; (ii) especificar sus implicancias neurocognitivas; y (iii) evidenciar las contradicciones entre los principios enunciados y las practicas docentes estipuladas para su consecucion. Finalmente, se sugieren modificaciones generales para superar las inconsistencias advertidas.
Determining a minimal and independent set of image processing operations for a multimedia database system

Instead of saving multiple versions of a large multimedia data file, it is more efficient to store only the instructions used by the editors to create the different versions. To uncompress files stored in this manner, the editor would simple perform the listed instructions. For these files to be portable, however, the set of operations used in the instructions must be standardized. To standardize a set of operations, there must be some criteria developed for the inclusion of each operation. This paper describes two desired properties of a set of image processing operations, namely minimality and independence. In addition, this paper demonstrates methods for testing for each of them. 1. MOTIVATION Multimedia data can be categorized into various types such as audio, video, still images, text, and graphics. The one common attribute of all of these data types is that they all require large amounts of space (Khoshafian and Baker, 1996). For example, CD quality audio uses 1.4 Mb per second, NTSC quality video uses 1.92 Mb per frame, and an image stored as a bitmap can require 4,000,000 bytes (Aberer and Klas, 1992, Woelk, et. al, 1990). One of the functions of a Multimedia Database Management System (MMDBMS) is to allow users to arbitrarily edit multimedia data (Grosky, 1994). The enormous size of the multimedia data described above causes problems for the database systems that must maintain it. To illustrate these problems, we will consider three example applications. The first application is one for an interior designer. This application would allow the designer to decorate a room by editing a photo of it. Among the changes the designer could make are changing the color of the walls and carpet; adding, removing, or rearranging the furniture; and, finally, changing the lighting in the room. The designer will also want to save several different versions of the room and be able to retrieve them to show to the customer. The second example application is one for a recording studio. This application would allow producers to enhance a recording by adding different sound effects to it. In addition, the producers could add other voices or sample from other songs to the recordings. The producers, of course, will want to save several different versions of the recordings to determine the ones that are the best to sell. The final example is an application for the development of large scale software. During the coding and testing phases of the development, several modifications will be made to the source code. While debugging, the programmers will need to
A Comparison of Desflurane Versus Propofol: The Effects on Early Postoperative Lung Function in Overweight Patients

BACKGROUND: In this study, we evaluated the influence of propofol versus desflurane anesthesia in overweight patients on postoperative lung function and pulse oximetry values. METHODS: We prospectively studied 134 patients with body mass indices of 25 to 35 kg/m2 undergoing minor peripheral surgery lasting 40 to 120 minutes. Patients were randomly assigned to receive propofol (total IV anesthesia) or desflurane anesthesia via a tracheal tube targeting bispectral index values of 40 to 60. Premedication, adjuvant drug usage, and ventilation were standardized. We measured oxyhemoglobin saturation and lung function preoperatively (baseline), and at 10 minutes, 0.5 hour, 2 hours, and 24 hours after tracheal extubation. All values were measured with the patient supine, in a 30° head-up position. Changes from preoperative baseline values were first analyzed for the impact of body mass index and type of anesthesia using univariate methods, followed by linear regression and multivariate analysis of variance. RESULTS: Within the first 2 hours after surgery, the propofol group displayed lower oxyhemoglobin saturation (at 2 hours, mean ± SD, 93.8% ± 2.0% vs 94.6% ± 2.1%; P < 0.007) and lung function (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume exhaled in 1 second [FEV1], peak expiratory flow, midexpiratory flow [MEF], forced inspiratory vital capacity, and peak inspiratory flow; between 11% and 20% larger reduction from baseline in the propofol group, all P < 0.001) compared with the desflurane group. Even 24 hours after surgery, FEV1, peak expiratory flow, MEF, forced inspiratory vital capacity, and peak inspiratory flow were reduced more in the propofol group (all P < 0.01). At 2 hours after extubation, increasing obesity was associated with decreasing FEV1 and MEF in patients anesthetized with propofol but not desflurane (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: We conclude that, for superficial surgical procedures of up to 120 minutes, maintenance of anesthesia with propofol impairs early postoperative lung function and pulse oximetry values more than with desflurane. Furthermore, increasing obesity decreases pulmonary function at 2 hours after propofol anesthesia but not after desflurane anesthesia.
Islamizing the “Feminine, feminist and Female” voices in three Malaysian Short Stories by Anglophone Women Writers

There has been a great concern among Muslim teachers of English on the need to study English literary texts from the Islamic perspectives. But how does one Islamize literary texts written in English by non-Muslims? Will this not be another hegemony of one ideology over the other? There also are concerns among Muslim scholars about the position of Western literary criticisms among which is feminism, which is seen as a Western import, out to corrupt the Muslim world. What is clear here is the existence of distrust of one cultural force against the other. This paper aims to explore the impact of creative encounters between Islamic criticism and feminism. The Islamic reading of English literary texts (Malaysian Anglophone women's writing) serves as a model to deconstruct meanings in the texts to suit local sensibility and sensitivity. It is also to dispel the popular belief that Islam will clash with any ideology, and civilisation. This paper illustrates how meeting of Islam and Western feminism brings a deeper understanding of human experiences and the nature of being of mankind.
Robust Overnight Monitoring of Human Vital Signs by a Non-contact Respiration and Heartbeat Detector

A positive answer is given to the question intrigued by our previous work reported in EMBC 2005: whether it is possible for a non-contact physiological movement detector to detect vital signs from four sides of a human body. In addition to the proof from measured data, theoretical analysis confirms the surprising advantage of detection from the back of the body. Based on this observation, a non-contact system was set up to perform overnight monitoring of vital signs using low power radio waves. Measurement data is presented and analyzed. The challenges and key technologies that improved the performance of our system for overnight monitoring are discussed
Genetic parameters for carcass traits estimated from Angus field records.

The American Angus Association has sponsored a carcass evaluation since 1974. The carcass data collected as a part of this program are used by the association to conduct a biannual sire evaluation for carcass merit. This paper presents age-adjustment factors and genetic parameter estimates for carcass traits to be used in the Angus carcass genetic evaluation program. Because of the large range in slaughter ages, age classes were defined as all those animals slaughtered at an age of < or = 480 d and those with a slaughter age > 480 d. Linear and quadratic partial regressions on slaughter age for hot carcass weight (HCW), USDA marbling score (MS), 12th rib longissimus muscle area (LMA), and 12th-rib fat thickness (FT) were estimated within sex and age class. Quadratic age regressions were not significant, nor was the linear age regression coefficient for FT in steers in the > 480-d age class. Heritability estimates for age-constant HCW, MS, LMA, and FT were . 31, . 26, . 32, and . 26, respectively. The estimated genetic correlation (rg) between HCW and LMA was . 47. The estimated rg between HCW and FT was . 38 and between MS and FT was -. 13. The linear genetic trends for CWT and LMA were significantly positive at . 414 kg/yr and . 075 cm2/yr, respectively. The genetic trends for FT and MS were very small but significantly negative at -. 004 cm/yr and -. 003 units/yr, respectively.
A 27-Level asymmetric multilevel converter for harmonic currents compensation

This paper presents a 27-Level asymmetric multilevel shunt active power filter topology that allows the compensation of a nonlinear load, as well as the DC voltage regulation thanks to a comprehensive control strategy. The topology considers the ratio 9∶3∶1 in order to generate the AC waveform with a simple staircase modulation algorithm. The dynamic model of the proposed topology is obtained and validated with a simple open loop simulation. A suitable linear master-slave control scheme is presented in order to ensure the current tracking and the DC voltage regulation. The properness of the proposal is verified trough dynamic and stationary tests.
Cartilage ultrastructure after high pressure freezing, freeze substitution, and low temperature embedding. I. Chondrocyte ultrastructure--implications for the theories of mineralization and vascular invasion

Electron microscopic examination of epiphyseal cartilage tissue processed by high pressure freezing, freeze substitution, and low temperature embedding revealed a substantial improvement in the preservation quality of intracellular organelles by comparison with the results obtained under conventional chemical fixation conditions. Furthermore, all cells throughout the epiphyseal plate, including the terminal chondrocyte adjacent to the region of vascular invasion, were found to be structurally integral. A zone of degenerating cells consistently observed in cartilage tissue processed under conventional chemical fixation conditions was not apparent. Hence, it would appear that cell destruction in this region occurs during chemical processing and is not a feature of cartilage tissue in the native state. Since these cells are situated in a region where tissue calcification is taking place, the implication is that the onset and progression of cartilage calcification are, at least partially, controlled by the chondrocytes themselves. The observation that the terminal cell adjacent to the zone of vascular invasion is viable has important implications in relation to the theory of vascular invasion. This may now require reconceptualization to accommodate the possibility that active cell destruction may be a precondition for vascular invasion.
The liver and the kidney: two critical organs influencing the atherothrombotic risk in metabolic syndrome

Summary The increased atherothrombotic risk in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been classically explained by the multiplicative effect of systemic concomitant pro-atherosclerotic factors. In particular, centripetal obesity, dyslipidaemia, glucose intolerance, hypertension (differently combined in the diagnosis of the disease) would be expected to act as classical cardiovascular risk conditions underlying accelerated atherogenesis. In order to better understand specific atherosclerotic pathophysiology in MetS, emerging evidence focused on the alterations in different organs that could serve as both pathophysiological targets and active players in the disease. Abnormalities in adipose tissue, heart and arteries have been widely investigated in a variety of basic research and clinical studies in MetS. In this narrative review, we focus on pathophysiological activities of the liver and kidney. Considering its key role in metabolism and production of soluble inflammatory mediators (such as C-reactive protein [CRP]), the liver in MetS has been shown to be altered both in its structure and function. In particular, a relevant amount of the fat accumulated within this organ has been shown to be associated with different degrees of inflammation and potential insulin resistance. In humans, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been described as the hepatic manifestation of MetS. In an analogous manner, epidemiological evidence strongly suggested a “guilty“ association between MetS and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Some biomarkers of hepatic (such as C-reactive protein, TNF-alpha or other cytokines) and renal diseases (such as uric acid) associated with MetS might be particularly useful to better manage and prevent the atherothrombotic risk.
El desarrollo territorial a partir de la construcción de capital sinergético

El documento plantea como hipotesis principal la existencia de una incoherencia logica en la implicita ecuacion del desarrollo (territorial en este caso) que ha respaldado los intentos de intervenir a favor precisamente de ese desarrollo. Tal incoherencia queda establecida en la diferente dimensionalidad de las variables, independientes (factores causales del desarrollo) y dependientes (el desarrollo mismo) de dicha implicita ecuacion. En terminos simples, el desarrollo bien entendido es un fenomeno de orden cualitativo en tanto que se le trata de alcanzar mediante acciones de orden cuantitativo. El autor propone apoyarse en el concepto de capital sinergetico para potenciar y articular nueve formas de capital, casi todas de caracter intangible, a fin de colocar a un territorio en el sendero virtuoso del desarrollo. Se trata de cuestiones cognitivas, simbolicas, culturales, sociales, civicas, etc., que parecen vincularse mas estrechamente con una contemporanea concepcion del desarrollo que la construccion de infraestructura u otras acciones materiales, que, valiosas en si mismas, no ecuacionan con el desarrollo.
Gene therapy with extracellular superoxide dismutase attenuates myocardial stunning in conscious rabbits.

BACKGROUND Administration of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) without catalase fails to alleviate myocardial stunning, but extracellular SOD (Ec-SOD) may be more effective because it binds to heparan sulfate proteoglycans on the cellular glycocalyx. We therefore used in vivo gene transfer to increase systemic levels of Ec-SOD and determined whether this gene therapy protects against myocardial stunning. METHODS AND RESULTS The cDNA for human Ec-SOD was cloned behind the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter and incorporated into a replication-deficient adenovirus (Ad5/CMV/Ec-SOD). Injection of this virus (2x10(8) pfu/kg IV) produced high levels of Ec-SOD in the liver, which could be redistributed to the heart and other organs by injection of heparin. Conscious rabbits underwent a sequence of six 4-minute coronary occlusion/4-minute reperfusion cycles for 3 consecutive days starting 3 days after intravenous injection of Ad5/CMV/Ec-SOD or Ad5/CMV/nls/LacZ (negative control). Both groups were given heparin (2000 U/kg IV) 2 hours before the first sequence of occlusions. The severity of myocardial stunning was measured as the total deficit of LV wall thickening after the last reperfusion. On day 1, the total deficit of wall thickening was markedly decreased in Ad5/CMV/Ec-SOD rabbits versus controls and similar to that seen on days 2 and 3 in controls. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrate that in vivo gene transfer of the cDNA encoding Ec-SOD provides the heart with substantial protection against myocardial stunning without the need for concomitant administration of catalase. The present observations provide the basis for controlling gene therapy at the posttranslational level and for simultaneously protecting multiple organs from oxidant stress.