Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Contrast measures for predicting perceptual effects of daylight in architectural renderings

Daylit architecture is perceived as a dynamic luminous composition, yet most existing performance metrics were designed to evaluate natural illumination for its ability to adequately illuminate a two-dimensional task surface and avoid glare-based discomfort. It may be argued that task-driven approaches based on surface illumination and glare ignore the likelihood that contrast can provide positive impacts on our visual perception of space. Advances in these metrics to accommodate climate-based sky conditions and occupant behaviour have improved our ability to evaluate task illumination and glare, yet the same attention has not been paid to evaluating positive perceptual responses to daylight. Existing studies have attempted to link subjective ratings of composition to simple global contrast metrics without reaching consensus. More advanced metrics have been developed in computational graphics and vision fields but have not been applied to studies in qualitative lighting research. This paper introduces the results from an online experiment where subject ratings of daylight composition are compared to quantitative contrast measures across a series of renderings. This paper will identify which measures correlate to subjects’ ratings of visual interest and introduces a modified contrast algorithm, which can be used as a novel prediction model for visual interest in daylit renderings.
Aircraft bearing life reliability design and analysis under multiple distributed loads with AFSOM method

Accurate design and calculation of the aircraft bearing life reliability have the significant importance for the reliability design of the aviation subsystem components. This paper proposes a new method for solution of the bearing life reliability by AFSOM method under considering load fluctuation. When the bearing life reliability is between 0.4 and 0.9, the bearing reliable life obeys the two parameter Weibull distribution; According to that, the relationship between the bearing life reliability and the reliable life correction coefficient is established. When the bearing life reliability is between 0.9 and 1, the function is established based on the curve fitting. By considering the load fluctuation, reliable life correction coefficient and the limit state equation of bearing life reliability, it can solve the bearing life reliability through the AFSOM method. This method is easy and reasonable, highly reliable and suitable for engineering application.
Modeling Rate-dependent Hysteresis in Piezoelectric Actuator

Hysteresis of a piezoelectric actuator is ratedependent. Most hysteresis models are based on elementary rate-independent operators and are not suitable for modeling actuator behavior across a wide frequency band. This work proposes a rate-dependent modified PrandtlIshlinskii (PI) operator to account for the hysteresis of a piezoelectric actuator at varying frequency. We have shown experimentally that the relationship between the slope of the hysteretic loading curve and the rate of control input can be modeled by a linear function. The proposed rate-dependent hysteresis model is implemented for open-loop control of a piezoelectric actuator. In experiments tracking multifrequency nonstationary motion profiles, it consistently outperforms its rate-independent counterpart by a factor of two in maximum error and a factor of three in rms error.
Molecular Cloning and Characterization of a Second Subunit of the Interleukin 1 Receptor Complex (*)

A monoclonal antibody (mAb) was isolated that blocked the binding and bioactivity of both human and murine interleukin 1β (IL-1β) on murine IL-1 receptor-bearing cells. This mAb recognized a protein that was distinct from the Type I and Type II IL-1 receptors, suggesting that an additional protein exists that is involved in IL-1 biological responses. By expression cloning in COS-7 cells, we have isolated a cDNA from mouse 3T3-LI cells encoding this putative auxiliary molecule, which we term the IL-1 receptor accessory protein (IL-1R AcP). Sequence analysis of the cDNA predicts an open reading frame that encodes a 570-amino acid protein with a molecular mass of 66 kDa. The IL-1R AcP is a member of the Ig superfamily by analysis of its putative extracellular domain and also bears limited homology throughout the protein to both Type I and Type II IL-1 receptors. Northern analysis reveals that murine IL-1R AcP mRNA is expressed in many tissues and appears to be regulated by IL-1. In mammalian cells expressing natural or recombinant Type I IL-1R and IL-1R AcP, the accessory protein forms a complex with the Type I IL-1R and either IL-1α or IL-1β but not IL-1ra. The recombinant accessory protein also increases the binding affinity of the recombinant Type I IL-1R for IL-1β when the two receptor proteins are coexpressed. Therefore, the functional IL-1 receptor appears to be a complex composed of at least two subunits.
Descartes' Mistake: How Afterlife Beliefs Challenge the Assumption that Humans are Intuitive Cartesian Substance Dualists

This article presents arguments and evidence that run counter to the widespread assumption among scholars that humans are intuitive Cartesian substance dualists. With regard to afterlife beliefs, the hypothesis of Cartesian substance dualism as the intuitive folk position fails to have the explanatory power with which its proponents endow it. It is argued that the embedded corollary assumptions of the intuitive Cartesian substance dualist position (that the mind and body are different substances, that the mind and soul are intensionally identical, and that the mind is the sole source of identity) are not compatible with cultural representations such as mythologies, funerary rites, iconography and doctrine as well as empirical evidence concerning intuitive folk reasoning about the mind and body concerning the afterlife. Finally, the article suggests an alternative and more parsimonious explanation for understanding intuitive folk representations of the afterlife.
Clone Analysis in the Web Era: an Approach to Identify Cloned Web Pages

The Internet and World Wide Web diffusion are producing a substantial increase in the demand of web sites and web applications. The very short time-to-market of a web application, and the lack of method for developing it, promote an incremental development fashion where new pages are usually obtained reusing (i.e. “cloning”) pieces of existing pages without adequate documentation about these code duplications and redundancies. The presence of clones increase system complexity and the effort to test, maintain and evolve web systems, thus the identification of clones may reduce the effort devoted to these activities as well as to facilitate the migration to different architectures. This paper proposes an approach for detecting clones in web sites and web applications, obtained tailoring the existing methods to detect clones in traditional software systems. The approach has been assessed performing analysis on several web sites and web applications.
Determinants of Span of Control

This investigation explores three determinants of span of control. Interviews were conducted with supervisors and their employees in a community hospital. The findings suggest that when subordinates' job are highly complex, span of control is decreased. Similarly, the more complex a supervisor's job the lower his span of control. Closeness of supervision on the other hand was unrelated to administrators' spans of supervision. Finally, subordinates' and supervisors' job complexity were found to be positively related. These findings suggest that technological characteristics of productive processes are key determinants of variations in size of spans of control.
Cloning and characterization of a phospholipase gene from Erwinia chrysanthemi EC16.

A single gene (plcA) was cloned from a cosmid library of Erwinia chrysanthemi EC16 DNA that encoded an extracellular phospholipase. The gene was subcloned and DNA sequence data showed the presence of a single open reading frame encoding a protein with a predicted size of 39kDa. The coding region was G+C‐rich and the protein had a predicted basic isoelectric point. The protein showed no significant homology with others in the PIR library, including other phospholipases. When overexpressed in Escherichia coli cells, the plcA gene directed production of a c. 39kDa protein that was largely localized in the periplasm, but its N‐terminal amino acid sequence was that of the native protein predicted from DNA sequence data. Unlike the wild‐type bacterium, an E. chrysanthemi EC16 marker exchange mutant of the plcA gene did not secrete extracellular phospholipase activity into the medium. However, no detectable change was observed in terms of the virulence of the mutant strain on potato tubers or chrysanthemum stems.
Content Distribution for Telecom Carriers

Distribution of digital content is a key revenue opportunity for telecommunications carriers. As media content moves from analog and physical media-based distribution to digital on-line distribution, a great opportunity exists for carriers to claim their role in the media value chain and grow revenue by enhancing their broadband “all you can eat” high speed Internet access offer to incorporate delivery of a variety of paid content. By offering a distributed peer to peer content delivery capability with authentication, personalization and payment functions, carriers can gain a larger portion of the revenue paid for content both within and beyond their traditional service domains. This paper describes an approach to digital content distribution that leverages existing Intelligent Network infrastructure that many carriers already possess, as well as Web Services.
Health service utilization in patients with major depressive disorder experiencing significant somatic symptoms in Korea

Abstract Background: This study investigated the patterns of health service utilization among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and significant somatic symptoms, who visited psychiatrists in a tertiary care setting. Methods: A total of 211 patients (51 males and 160 females) were recruited from a convenience sampling and assessed for severity of depressive and somatic symptoms. A structured questionnaire was employed to assess their pattern of healthcare service utilization, specifically, type of treatment first sought, out-of-pocket medical expenses, and time from onset of depressive symptoms to first treatment. Results: MDD patients with significant somatic symptoms tended to visit a non-psychiatrist physician first. Those with milder somatic symptoms who first visited non-physician practitioners spent a significantly greater amount on out-of-pocket medical expenses than did those who first visited physicians to get treatment. The patients with chief complaints of psychological and emotional symptoms were more likely to visit a psychiatrist first; however, a longer time interval lapsed before these patients received treatment. Conclusions: Patients with MDD experiencing significant symptoms are unlikely to access appropriate services in a timely manner. The results have implications for improving health care delivery for this population.
Sequence analysis of p53 response-elements suggests multiple binding modes of the p53 tetramer to DNA targets

The p53 tetramer recognizes specifically a 20-bp DNA element. Here, we examined symmetries encoded in p53 response elements (p53REs). We analyzed base inversion correlations within the half-site, as well as in the full-site palindrome. We found that p53REs are not only direct repeats of half-sites; rather, two p53 half-sites couple to form a higher order 20 bp palindrome. The palindrome couplings between the half-sites are stronger for the human than for the mouse genome. The full-site palindrome and half-site palindrome are controlled by insertions between the two half-sites. The most notable feature is that the full-site palindrome with coupling between quarter-sites one and four (H14 coupling) dominates the p53REs without insertions. The most frequently observed insertion in human p53REs of 3 bp enhances the half-site palindrome. The statistical frequencies of the coupling between the half-sites in the human genome correlate with grouped experimental p53 affinities with p53REs. Examination of known p53REs indicates the H14 couplings are stronger for positive regulation than for negatively regulated p53REs, with repressors having the lowest H14 couplings. We propose that the palindromic sequence couplings may encode such potential preferred multiple binding modes of the p53 tetramer to DNA.
Improving the livelihood of single mothers through microcredit facilities

Microcredit has been one of the tools used by the poor to increase income and alleviate poverty in many countries around the world. This study examine the impact of microcredit in empowering single mothers to create self employment, sustainable income, saving opportunities, productive assets, and fulfilling basic needs of single mothers in Malaysia. Questionnaires are distributed to 314 single mothers (i.e. divorcees and widows) in the state of Penang. This study suggests that microcredit helps in all but sustainable income and self-employment among single mothers in Penang. Further, our results show that most of our respondents receive microcredit aids from Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) - the most prominent microcredit agency in Malaysia though there are other microcredit agencies providing such assistance.
Yrb4p, a yeast Ran–GTP‐binding protein involved in import of ribosomal protein L25 into the nucleus

Gsp1p, the essential yeast Ran homologue, is a key regulator of transport across the nuclear pore complex (NPC). We report the identification of Yrb4p, a novel Gsp1p binding protein. The 123 kDa protein was isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells and found to be related to importin‐β, the mediator of nuclear localization signal (NLS)‐dependent import into the nucleus, and to Pse1p. Like importin‐β, Yrb4p and Pse1p specifically bind to Gsp1p–GTP, protecting it from GTP hydrolysis and nucleotide exchange. The GTPase block of Gsp1p complexed to Yrb4p or Pse1p is released by Yrb1p, which contains a Gsp1p binding domain distinct from that of Yrb4p. This might reflect an in vivo function for Yrb1p. Cells disrupted for YRB4 are defective in nuclear import of ribosomal protein L25, but show no defect in the import of proteins containing classical NLSs. Expression of a Yrb4p mutant deficient in Gsp1p‐binding is dominant‐lethal and blocks bidirectional traffic across the NPC in wild‐type cells. L25 binds to Yrb4p and Pse1p and is released by Gsp1p–GTP. Consistent with its putative role as an import receptor for L25‐like proteins, Yrb4p localizes to the cytoplasm, the nucleoplasm and the NPC.
Alternative Literature and Tourist Experience: Travel and Tourist Weblogs

The paper explores and initiates the examination and discussion of the cultural and promotional power of weblogs and blogging. Travel blogging is a form of digital story-telling. In the past tourism was considered a luxury of a few select people. Travel narratives were published and publicised in the form of brochures, monologues, newspaper accounts, novellas, novels, sketches and paintings. As the world evolved and travel became available to greater groups in society, these written staples captivated and inspired generations. The later part of the 20th century has ear marked the coming of age of Internet technology and traditional forms of tourist communication are being transformed into a more modern electronic version. The Internet has fostered a recent resurgence in journaling of travel adventures and self publication. Blogs are a visual and written descriptive of the day to day excursion of a tourist society. The purpose of this paper is to examine this form of narrative in a modern age and initiate arguments of the discussion within three initial paradigms: (1) tourism as a language, (2) tourism as a place of experiences in space and time and (3) the authenticity of tourism.
Built-in Self-test of Logic Resources in Field Programmable Gate Arrays Using Partial Reconfiguration Built-in Self-test of Logic Resources in Field Programmable Gate Arrays Using Partial Reconfiguration Built-in Self-test of Logic Resources in Field Programmable Gate Arrays Using Partial Reconfigur

Except where reference is made to the work of others, the work described in this thesis is my own or was done in collaboration with my advisory committee. This thesis does not include proprietary or classified information. Permission is granted to Auburn University to make copies of this thesis at its discretion, upon the request of individuals or institutions and at their expense. Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are programmable logic devices that can be used to implement virtually any digital circuit design. Built-In Self-Test (BIST) is a testing approach that enables the device to test itself without any external test equipment. The re-programmability feature of the FPGAs makes BIST a very attractive approach for testing FPGAs because it eliminates any area or performance degradation associated with BIST. Traditional BIST for FPGAs suffers from long test times and large memory storage requirements due to the slow configuration download speeds and the large number of test configurations required to test the FPGAs. The work presented in this thesis implements testing of logic resources of Xilinx Virtex/Spartan-II and Virtex-4 FPGAs with focus on reduction of test time and memory storage requirements using vi techniques like dynamic partial reconfiguration and partial configuration memory readback. The total number of configurations required to completely test the logic resources are 28 for Virtex/Spartan-II FPGAs and 24 for Virtex-4 FPGAs. A speed-up of 5.1 times and 12.9 times in test time was achieved for Logic BIST for Virtex/Spartan-II and Virtex-4 FPGAs respectively, using dynamic partial reconfiguration and partial configuration memory readback. A reduction in configuration memory storage requirements was also achieved using partial reconfiguration; this reduction was 3.2 times and 5.3 times for Virtex/Spartan-II and Virtex-4 FPGAs respectively. vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am indebted to Dr. Stroud for his support and advice throughout my research at Auburn University. I would also like to thank Dr. Nelson and Dr. Agrawal for being on my graduate committee and for their contribution to my thesis. I would like to acknowledge my research colleagues for their help and inspirational discussions during my research. Finally, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my parents and my brother whose love and encouragement is inspiring me to achieve my goals.
NF-kB and c-Jun induce the expression of the oncogenic miR-221 and miR-222 in prostate carcinoma and glioblastoma cells

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are potent negative regulators of gene expression involved in all aspects of cell biology. They finely modulate virtually all physiological pathways in metazoans, and are deeply implicated in all main pathologies, among which cancer. Mir-221 and miR-222, two closely related miRNAs encoded in cluster from a genomic region on chromosome X, are strongly upregulated in several forms of human tumours. In this work, we report that the ectopic modulation of NF-kB modifies miR-221/222 expression in prostate carcinoma and glioblastoma cell lines, where we had previously shown their oncogenic activity. We identify two separate distal regions upstream of miR-221/222 promoter which are bound by the NF-kB subunit p65 and drive efficient transcription in luciferase reporter assays; consistently, the site-directed mutagenesis disrupting p65 binding sites or the ectopical inhibition of NF-kB activity significantly reduce luciferase activity. In the most distal enhancer region, we also define a binding site for c-Jun, and we show that the binding of this factor cooperates with that of p65, fully accounting for the observed upregulation of miR-221/222. Thus our work uncovers an additional mechanism through which NF-kB and c-Jun, two transcription factors deeply involved in cancer onset and progression, contribute to oncogenesis, by inducing miR-221/222 transcription.
Revisão Sistemática Sobre Juventude e Participação nos Últimos 10 anos A Systematic Review on Youth Participation in the Last 10 Years

This article presents a bibliographic review on youth participation, aiming to relate and discuss the main questions raised by researchers publishing in English and Portuguese in the last 10 years. It emphasizes and puts into context the question of participation regarding studies and social practices having youth as their target. A great number of academic publications approach a double perception: youngsters’ poor social and political engagement and the emergence of new forms of participation. The article emphasizes the importance of youngster groups that are formed and motivated by artistic creation, spirituality, leisure, solidarity acts in their communities and through the fight against discrimination and different forms of violence. In order to recognize and understand these new forms of youth participation, new categories and analytic references are indicated. Bringing up adults and youngsters inside an institutional environment is considered the best way to obtain youth participation, the dialogue between generations and the re-signification of political spaces.
Molecular characterization of MbADGF, a novel member of the adenosine deaminase‐related growth factor in the cabbage armyworm, Mamestra brassicae: the functional roles in the midgut cell proliferation

To clarify the functional mechanism of the adenosine deaminase‐related growth factor (ADGF) particularly in the regulation of insect development, the cDNA encoding a homologue of ADGF proteins was cloned from the cabbage armyworm, Mamestra brassicae, named MbADGF. The purified MbADGF recombinant protein stimulated cell proliferation in a dose‐dependent manner of SES‐MaBr‐4 and NIAS‐MaBr‐93 cell lines that were derived from fat bodies and haemocytes of M. brassicae. The adenosine deaminase activity of MbADGF was detected using adenosine and 2′‐deoxyadenosine as substrates. Northern analysis demonstrated that during the larval development the level of MbADGF in the midgut increased. In situ hybridization showed that MbADGF mRNA was expressed in midgut goblet cells and in the apical cytoplasm of columnar cells, which suggests that MbADGF protein may execute its adenosine deaminase activity at the apical cytoplasm of columnar cells to convert adenosine into inosine.
A New Method for Accurate and Efficient Residual Computation in Adaptive Model-Order Reduction

Projection-based model-order reduction is a powerful methodology for solving parameter-dependent linear systems of equations. The efficient computation of the residual norm is of paramount importance in adaptive model reduction schemes because it is heavily used in error indicators and a posteriori error bounds. These guide the adaptive selection of expansion points in multi-point methods and serve as stopping criteria for subspace enrichment. This paper demonstrates that the standard algorithm for fast residual norm computation leads to premature stagnation, and it presents a new approach of improved accuracy.
Modeling the propagation of security threats: An e-learning case study

In this paper, we propose a novel linear model for modeling the propagation of security threats among the system's architectural components which is the Threats Propagation model (TP). Our model is based on the Mean Failure Cost cyber-security model (MFC) and applied to an e-learning system. The Threats propagation model (TP) enables to show if a threat can propagate to other e-learning systems components. Then, it provides an efficient diagnostic about the most critical threats in order to make the best decision and to establish the suitable countermeasures to avoid them. Our proposed model is useful to implement a safe and secure e-learning environment.