Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Computational Models of Players' Physiological-Based Emotional Reactions: A Digital Games Case Study

Emotionally adaptive games are one of the holy grails of modern affective game research. However, current state of the art affective games rely on static game adaptation mechanics that assume a fixed emotional reaction from players every time. Not only this, most commercial titles have no affective adaptation loop whatsoever and their design is based on game design optimizations via typical beta-testing procedures, which falls short of ideal both in the level design and long-term game play experience fronts. In this paper, we demonstrate a generalizable approach for building predictive models of players' emotional reactions across different games and game genres. We describe a physiological approach for modelling players' emotional reactions, which relies on features extracted from players' emotional responses to game events, which were collected and extrapolated through their physiological data during actual game play sessions. Based on the optimal feature sets found by three feature selection algorithms (best first, sequential feature selection and genetic search), the collected features are used to create computational models of players' emotional reactions on the arousal and valence dimensions of emotion, using several machine learning algorithms. We expect this approach will allow both a more objective and quicker prototyping for digital games, as well as foster a future generation of affective games capable of modelling players' affective profiles over time, thus adapting to their changing preferences and needs.
A Study on the Mechanisms of Policy-Based Grid Authorization

Grid security is a key issue in Grid computing and often considered one of the most challenging aspects, which consequently attracts current research to the Grid authorization, an essential part of Grid security. In this paper, we briefly describe the drawbacks of the ordinary Grid authorization system in complex Grid environments and perform a detailed analysis on several latest Grid authorization mechanisms in terms of structure, policy, engines features and related applications. Finally we present an example concerning how a policy-based authorization mechanism is able to be easily integrated into Grid Security Infrastructure (GSI).
Phenotypic and genotypic detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in hunting dogs in Maiduguri metropolitan, Borno State, Nigeria

Aim: To determine the presence of MRSA in hunting dogs in Maiduguri metropolitan. Materials and Methods: Phenotypic methods used includes microscopic technique, colony morphology study, catalase-coagulase tests, and the use of mannitol salt agar test, oxacillin resistance screening agar base, and antibiotic susceptibility testing methods. Genotypic approach was used for deoxyribonucleic acid extraction, and the presence of nuc and mecA gene was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. Results: Examination of 416 swab samples from nasal and perineal region of dogs revealed a total of 79.5% of S. aureus, where 62.5% of the isolates were MRSA. Molecular analysis revealed that 7nuc genes specific for S. aureus from 20 presumptive MRSA assay were all mecA PCR negative. The isolates were sensitive to gentamicin and ciprofloxacin but proved resistant to cefoxitin and oxacillin. Conclusion: High isolation rate of MRSA was found in hunting dogs. Significant level (p<0.05) of MRSA was isolated in the nasal cavity of hunting dogs than its perineum. Only nuc genes were detected from the MRSA isolates.
A singing voice synthesis system based on sinusoidal modeling

Although sinusoidal models have been demonstrated to be capable of high-quality musical instrument synthesis, speech modification, and speech synthesis, little exploration of the application of these models to the synthesis of singing voice has been undertaken. We propose a system framework similar to that employed in concatenation-based text-to-speech synthesizers, and describe its extension to the synthesis of singing voice. The power and flexibility of the sinusoidal model used in the waveform synthesis portion of the system enables high-quality, computationally-efficient synthesis and the incorporation of musical qualities such as vibrato and spectral tilt variation. Modeling of segmental phonetic characteristics is achieved by employing a "unit selection" procedure that selects sinusoidally-modeled segments from an inventory of singing voice data collected from a human vocalist. The system, called LYRICOS, is capable of synthesizing very natural-sounding singing that maintains the characteristics and perceived identity of the analyzed vocalist.
Profitable scheduling on multiple speed-scalable processors

We present a new online algorithm for profit-oriented scheduling on multiple speed-scalable processors. Moreover, we provide a tight analysis of the algorithm's competitiveness. Our results generalize and improve upon work by Chan et al. [10], which considers a single speed-scalable processor. Using significantly different techniques, we can not only extend their model to multiprocessors but also prove an enhanced and tight competitive ratio for our algorithm. In our scheduling problem, jobs arrive over time and are preemptable. They have different workloads, values, and deadlines. The scheduler may decide not to finish a job but instead to suffer a loss equaling the job's value. However, to process a job's workload until its deadline the scheduler must invest a certain amount of energy. The cost of a schedule is the sum of lost values and invested energy. In order to finish a job the scheduler has to determine which processors to use and set their speeds accordingly. A processor's energy consumption is power Pα(s) integrated over time, where Pα(s) = sα is the power consumption when running at speed s. Since we consider the online variant of the problem, the scheduler has no knowledge about future jobs. This problem was introduced by Chan et al. [10] for the case of a single processor. They presented an online algorithm which is αα +2eα-competitive. We provide an online algorithm for the case of multiple processors with an improved competitive ratio of αα.
Avedis Donabedian: father of quality assurance and poet

Avedis Donabedian was born in Beirut, Lebanon on 7 January 1919. As a child he moved to a small town near Jerusalem in Palestine (now Israel) after his family fled the Armenian holocaust. However, in Palestine he experienced the social turmoil of that region. Although a Christian, he had Jewish, Arab, and Christian friends as he was growing up in Palestine.1 At the interpersonal level he was able to circumvent social and political obstacles. Years later Donabedian attended the American University of Beirut where he received a BA degree in 1940 and an MD degree in 1944. He served as a general practitioner physician in Jerusalem and Beirut until 1954 when he moved to Boston. In 1955 he graduated from the Harvard School of Public Health with an MPH degree (magna cum laude). He taught preventive medicine at the New York Medical College from 1957 to 1961. The School of Public Health at The University of Michigan recruited him in 1961, and he remained there for 28 years. In 1979 he was honored as the Nathan Sinai Distinguished Professor of Public Health at the University of Michigan in recognition of his contributions in public health. He retired in 1989 but continued to serve as emeritus professor until his death on 9 November 2000 after a 28 year battle with prostate cancer. In 1969 Donabedian received the Dean Conley Award by the American College of Hospital Administrators and in 1976 he was presented with the George Welch Medal by the American Medical Association. He was one of the original members inaugurated into the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. He was an honorary member of …
Built-in self-test/repair scheme for TSV-based three-dimensional integrated circuits

This paper presents a built-in self-test/repair (BISTR) scheme for through-silicon via (TSV) based three-dimension integrated circuits (3D ICs). The proposed BIST structure focuses on the testing of a specific defective TSV by using a critical value of threshold. Then, the test results from BIST will be delivered to the BISR structure for repairing the defective TSV. Additionally, a parallel processing approach is presented of the proposed BISTR scheme to speed up the operations of test and repair. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed BISTR scheme can achieve the good performance in repair rate and yield with little area overhead penalty.
In Silico Design and Biological Evaluation of a Dual Specificity Kinase Inhibitor Targeting Cell Cycle Progression and Angiogenesis

Background Protein kinases play a central role in tumor progression, regulating fundamental processes such as angiogenesis, proliferation and metastasis. Such enzymes are an increasingly important class of drug target with small molecule kinase inhibitors being a major focus in drug development. However, balancing drug specificity and efficacy is problematic with off-target effects and toxicity issues. Methodology We have utilized a rational in silico-based approach to demonstrate the design and study of a novel compound that acts as a dual inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1). This compound acts by simultaneously inhibiting pro-angiogenic signal transduction and cell cycle progression in primary endothelial cells. JK-31 displays potent in vitro activity against recombinant VEGFR2 and CDK1/cyclin B proteins comparable to previously characterized inhibitors. Dual inhibition of the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A)-mediated signaling response and CDK1-mediated mitotic entry elicits anti-angiogenic activity both in an endothelial-fibroblast co-culture model and a murine ex vivo model of angiogenesis. Conclusions We deduce that JK-31 reduces the growth of both human endothelial cells and human breast cancer cells in vitro. This novel synthetic molecule has broad implications for development of similar multi-kinase inhibitors with anti-angiogenic and anti-cancer properties. In silico design is an attractive and innovative method to aid such drug discovery.
More diversity, less tolerance? The effect of type of cultural diversity on the erosion of tolerance in Swiss municipalities

Immigration and the ways in which host societies receive newcomers pose challenges for modern civil societies. This article contributes to the ongoing discussion about how ethnic diversity influences tolerance towards immigrants. Compared to previous studies, we analyse tolerance as a sequential concept in order to uncover the effects of contextual diversity on attitudes towards immigrants and the granting of certain rights to this group. Moreover, we distinguish different shares of ethnic groups based on their ethnic and cultural origins both on the independent and dependent variable. The analysis relies on a subnational survey of sixty municipalities in Switzerland, revealing that only certain ethnic groups are seen as an economic and cultural threat.
Measuring Social Intelligence-The MESI Methodology

In relation to the problem of conceptualization and operationalization of social intelligence, several issue areas are discussed. This report presents an analysis of the extracted factor structure of the MESI methodology which represents the psychometric approach to studying and measuring social intelligence. The results of the research carried out on the sample of 1130 respondents enabled extraction of the structure of the MESI methodology factors (manipulation, empathy and social irritability). The report also introduces the full version of the MESI methodology.
Modulation of the Pancreatic Islet β-Cell-delayed Rectifier Potassium Channel Kv2.1 by the Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Arachidonate*

Glucose stimulates both insulin secretion and hydrolysis of arachidonic acid (AA) esterified in membrane phospholipids of pancreatic islet β-cells, and these processes are amplified by muscarinic agonists. Here we demonstrate that nonesterified AA regulates the biophysical activity of the pancreatic islet β-cell-delayed rectifier channel, Kv2.1. Recordings of Kv2.1 currents from INS-1 insulinoma cells incubated with AA (5 μm) and subjected to graded degrees of depolarization exhibit a significantly shorter time-to-peak current interval than do control cells. AA causes a rapid decay and reduced peak conductance of delayed rectifier currents from INS-1 cells and from primary β-cells isolated from mouse, rat, and human pancreatic islets. Stimulating mouse islets with AA results in a significant increase in the frequency of glucose-induced [Ca2+] oscillations, which is an expected effect of Kv2.1 channel blockade. Stimulation with concentrations of glucose and carbachol that accelerate hydrolysis of endogenous AA from islet phosphoplipids also results in accelerated Kv2.1 inactivation and a shorter time-to-peak current interval. Group VIA phospholipase A2 (iPLA2β) hydrolyzes β-cell membrane phospholipids to release nonesterified fatty acids, including AA, and inhibiting iPLA2β prevents the muscarinic agonist-induced accelerated Kv2.1 inactivation. Furthermore, glucose and carbachol do not significantly affect Kv2.1 inactivation in β-cells from iPLA2β-/- mice. Stably transfected INS-1 cells that overexpress iPLA2β hydrolyze phospholipids more rapidly than control INS-1 cells and also exhibit an increase in the inactivation rate of the delayed rectifier currents. These results suggest that Kv2.1 currents could be dynamically modulated in the pancreatic islet β-cell by phospholipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of membrane phospholipids to yield non-esterified fatty acids, such as AA, that facilitate Ca2+ entry and insulin secretion.
Safe software updates via multi-version execution

Software systems are constantly evolving, with new versions and patches being released on a continuous basis. Unfortunately, software updates present a high risk, with many releases introducing new bugs and security vulnerabilities. We tackle this problem using a simple but effective multi-version based approach. Whenever a new update becomes available, instead of upgrading the software to the new version, we run the new version in parallel with the old one; by carefully coordinating their executions and selecting the behaviour of the more reliable version when they diverge, we create a more secure and dependable multi-version application. We implemented this technique in Mx, a system targeting Linux applications running on multi-core processors, and show that it can be applied successfully to several real applications such as Coreutils, a set of user-level UNIX applications; Lighttpd, a popular web server used by several high-traffic websites such as Wikipedia and YouTube; and Redis, an advanced key-value data structure server used by many well-known services such as GitHub and Flickr.
Iron Losses Reduction in Synchronous Motors with Anisotropic Rotor

In a synchronous reluctance motor (including the PM assisted and interior PM configurations), the anisotropy of the rotor causes high contents of flux density harmonics. These harmonics yield flux density fluctuation in the stator, especially in the teeth, and thus additional iron losses. These losses increase with the motor speed and are independent of the main flux, that is, they exist even during the flux-weakening operations. In fact iron losses increase even under flux-weakening operations, due to that the speed increase is higher than the flux density decrease. An analytical model is developed, showing the dependence of flux density harmonic contents on the rotor geometry. Therefore, the results of this model allow to individuate the flux-barrier geometry so as to minimize the stator iron losses.
1 year clinical evaluation of microhybrid composites used in the restoration of non-carious cervical lesions.

AIM Microhybrid composite resins are commonly used to treat non-carious cervical lesions. The aim of this double blind study was to compare the 12-month clinical performance of cervical restorations placed with the use of two different microhybrid composite resins. METHODS 20 patients with at least one pair of non-carious cervical lesion participated in this study. Ninety-seven cervical lesions were restored with either TPH Spectrum (n=48) or Filtek Z250 (n=49) using a two-step etch &rinse adhesive (Single Bond 2) Restorations were evaluated using modified USPHS criteria after 6 and 12 months. The statistical comparison of resin composites for each category was performed with the Pearson chi square test and the performance of restorations at the baseline, 6 months and after 12 month recall time was evaluated by Mc Nemar's test (p<0.05). RESULTS The recall rate of the patients was 100% at each evaluation period. The retention rates were 100% at six months,89,6% and 91,8% at 12-months for TPH and Z250, respectively and no statistically significant difference was observed with respect to each evaluation criteria (p>0.05). CONCLUSION Cervical restorations placed with two different microhybrid composites and a two-step etches and rinse system showed satisfactory clinical performance after 12-months.
Magnetic perturbation effects on noise and startup in DC-operating oven magnetrons

Previous experiments demonstrated that imposing an azimuthally varying axial magnetic field, axially asymmetric, in dc-operating oven magnetrons causes rapid mode growth (by magnetic priming) and significant noise reduction. This configuration was previously implemented by adding five perturbing magnets on the upper existing magnet of the magnetron. Experiments reported here add five perturbing magnets on each of the two existing magnets of the magnetron, restoring the axial symmetry of the magnetic field, while maintaining the five-fold azimuthal magnetic field symmetry. Compared with the unperturbed magnetic field case, it has been observed that the noise close to the carrier is reduced by up to 20 dB, while the sidebands are not completely eliminated for medium and high currents. Magnetron start-oscillation currents are somewhat higher for this axially symmetric, azimuthally varying magnetic field as compared to the baseline unperturbed magnetic field.
SDSS J092712.65+294344.0: RECOILING BLACK HOLE OR A SUBPARSEC BINARY CANDIDATE?

A search for recoiling supermassive black hole (SBH) candidates recently yielded the best candidate thus far, SDSS J092712.65+294344.0 reported by Komossa et al. Here we propose the alternative hypothesis that this object is an SBH binary. From the velocity shift imprinted in the emission-line spectrum we infer an orbital period of ∼190 years for a binary mass ratio of 0.1, a secondary black hole mass of 108 M☉, and assuming inclination and orbital phase angles of 45°. In this model the origin of the blueshifted narrow emission lines is naturally explained in the context of an accretion flow within the inner rim of the circumbinary disk. We attribute the blueshifted broad emission lines to gas associated with a disk around the accreting secondary black hole. We show that, within the uncertainties, this binary system can be long lived and thus, is not observed in a special moment in time. The orbital motion of the binary can potentially be observed with the VLBA if at least the secondary black hole is a radio emitter. In addition, for the parameters quoted above, the orbital motion will result in a ∼100 km s-1 velocity shift of the emission lines on a timescale of about a year, providing a direct observational test for the binary hypothesis.
Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 regulates collagen-stimulated platelet function by modulating the association of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase with Grb-2-associated binding protein-1 and linker for activation of T cells

Summary. Background: Platelet activation by collagen depends on signals transduced by the glycoprotein (GP)VI–Fc receptor (FcR)γ‐chain collagen receptor complex, which involves recruitment of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) to phosphorylated tyrosines in the linker for activation of T cells (LAT). An interaction between the p85 regulatory subunit of PI3K and the scaffolding molecule Grb‐2‐associated binding protein‐1 (Gab1), which is regulated by binding of the Src homology 2 domain‐containing protein tyrosine phosphatase‐2 (SHP‐2) to Gab1, has been shown in other cell types to sustain PI3K activity to elicit cellular responses. Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule‐1 (PECAM‐1) functions as a negative regulator of platelet reactivity and thrombosis, at least in part by inhibiting GPVI–FcRγ‐chain signaling via recruitment of SHP‐2 to phosphorylated immunoreceptor tyrosine‐based inhibitory motifs in PECAM‐1. Objective: To investigate the possibility that PECAM‐1 regulates the formation of the Gab1–p85 signaling complexes, and the potential effect of such interactions on GPVI‐mediated platelet activation in platelets. Methods: The ability of PECAM‐1 signaling to modulate the LAT signalosome was investigated with immunoblotting assays on human platelets and knockout mouse platelets. Results: PECAM‐1‐associated SHP‐2 in collagen‐stimulated platelets binds to p85, which results in diminished levels of association with both Gab1 and LAT and reduced collagen‐stimulated PI3K signaling. We therefore propose that PECAM‐1‐mediated inhibition of GPVI‐dependent platelet responses result, at least in part, from recruitment of SHP‐2–p85 complexes to tyrosine‐phosphorylated PECAM‐1, which diminishes the association of PI3K with activatory signaling molecules, such as Gab1 and LAT.
Experiences with a high-speed network adaptor: a software perspective

This paper describes our experiences, from a software perspective, with the OSIRIS network adaptor. It first identifies the problems we encountered while programming OSIRIS and optimizing network performance, and outlines how we either addressed them in the software, or had to modify the hardware. It then describes the opportunities provided by OSIRIS that we were able to exploit in the host operating system (OS); opportunities that suggested techniques for making the OS more effective in delivering network data to application programs. The most novel of these techniques, called application device channels, gives application programs running in user space direct access to the adaptor. The paper concludes with the lessons drawn from this work, which we believe will benefit the designers of future network adaptors.
Design recovery of real-time graphical applications using video

We propose an approach to design recovery of real-time graphical applications - such as flight simulators and games - that uses video to link lower-level code events with their higher-level graphical manifestations. Such a link can be used for both top-down and bottom-up design recovery. Top-down, one can identify an interesting visual event in the video and then see which lower-level code event(s) are responsible for it. Bottom-up, one can explain code of interest by seeing the sorts of high-level visual events in the video to which that code corresponds. The link between low-level code events and high-level visual events can be established by inspection or through an automated technique. As an example of the latter, clicking on a falling creature in the video would yield code specific to the falling creature - excluding irrelevant code from other walking/climbing creatures at that same moment in the video. We shall demonstrate by example how our design recovery method sheds light on the design of real-time graphical applications.