Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Compact ultra-wideband antenna with dual band-stop characteristic

A simple and compact ultra-wideband microstrip-fed planar antenna with a novel technique for rejecting the WLAN and WiMax bands from the UWB frequency band is presented. By using two 4shaped slots on the ground plane, not only the bandwidth needed for UWB systems is achieved, but also the impedance matching improves. Two notched frequency bands are achieved by embedding four rectangular slots in the radiation patch. Experimental results show that the designed antenna, with a compact size of 15×20 mm2, has a very impedance bandwidth from 2.9 to 11.5 GHz for voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) less than 2, except two frequency stop-bands of 3.4– 4.2 GHz and 5.1–5.9GHz.
Fragmenting work: blurring organizational boundaries and disordering hierarchies

This major new book examines the way in which employment is managed across organizational boundaries. It analyses how public-private partnerships, franchises, agencies, and other forms of inter-firm contractual relations impact on work and employment and the experiences of those working in these increasingly significant forms of organization. It draws upon research undertaken in eight separate networks comprising over 50 organizations to explore the fragmenting effects of contemporary changes in the organization of work and employment relationships. It considers the consequences of increased reliance upon inter-organizational mechanisms for producing goods and especially for delivering services. It argues that established analyses continue to rely too heavily upon a model of the single employing organization whereas today the situation is often more complex and confused. Public-private `partnerships' are one high profile example of this phenomenon but private enterprises are also developing new relations with their clients and customers that impinge upon the nature of the employment relationship. Established hierarchical forms are becoming disordered, with consequences for career patterns, training and skills, pay structures, disciplinary practice, worker voice, and the gendered division of labour. The findings of the study raise questions about the governance of such complex organizational forms, the appropriateness of current institutions for addressing this complexity, and the challenge of harnessing employee commitment in circumstances where human resource practices are shaped by organizations other than the legal employer. Using an analytical schema of three dimensions (institutional, organizational, employment) and four themes (power, risk, identity, trust), the authors adopt an inter-disciplinary perspective to address these complex and critically important practical, policy, and theoretical concerns. Fragmenting Work will be vital reading for all those wishing to understand the contemporary realities of work and employment. Contributors to this volume - Marilyn Carroll, Research Associate in the European Work and Employment Research Centre, University of Manchester, Fang Lee Cooke, Lecturer in Employment Studies, University of Manchester, Jill Earnshaw, Senior Lecturer in Employment Law, University of Manchester, Damian Grimshaw, Senior Lecturer in Employment Studies, University of Manchester, Irena Grugulis, Professor of Employment Studies, Bradford University, John Hassard, Professor of Organizational Analysis, University of Manchester, Gail Hebson, Research Associate in the European Work and Employment Research Centre, University of Manchester, Mick Marchington, Professor of Human Resource Management, University of Manchester, Jill Rubery, Professor of Comparative Employment Systems, University of Manchester, Steven Vincent, Lecturer in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations, University of Leeds, Hugh Willmott, Diageo Professor of Management Studies, University of Cambridge
Flexible establishment of functional brain networks supports attentional modulation of unconscious cognition

In classical theories of attention, unconscious automatic processes are thought to be independent of higher‐level attentional influences. Here, we propose that unconscious processing depends on attentional enhancement of task‐congruent processing pathways implemented by a dynamic modulation of the functional communication between brain regions. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we tested our model with a subliminally primed lexical decision task preceded by an induction task preparing either a semantic or a perceptual task set. Subliminal semantic priming was significantly greater after semantic compared to perceptual induction in ventral occipito‐temporal (vOT) and inferior frontal cortex, brain areas known to be involved in semantic processing. The functional connectivity pattern of vOT varied depending on the induction task and successfully predicted the magnitude of behavioral and neural priming. Together, these findings support the proposal that dynamic establishment of functional networks by task sets is an important mechanism in the attentional control of unconscious processing. Hum Brain Mapp 35:5500–5516, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An Assessment of College Students' Attitudes and Empathy toward Rape

The purpose of this study was to assess rape attitudes and empathy levels of students at a university in North Texas. The Attitudes Toward Rape questionnaire and the Rape Empathy Scale were administered to 387 undergraduate students. Dependent variables were attitudes and empathy and independent variables were prior knowledge or experience as a rape victim, having female siblings, gender, marital status, and age. Significance was found between rape-intolerant attitudes and both prior experience as a victim (p < .001), and gender (p < .001). Significance was also found between empathy and experience as a rape victim (p < .035) and gender (p < .032).
Psychopathy: cognitive and neural dysfunction

Psychopathy is a developmental disorder marked by emotional deficits and an increased risk for antisocial behavior. It is not equivalent to the diagnosis Antisocial Personality Disorder, which concentrates only on the increased risk for antisocial behavior and not a specific cause—ie, the reduced empathy and guilt that constitutes the emotional deficit. The current review considers data from adults with psychopathy with respect to the main cognitive accounts of the disorder that stress either a primary attention deficit or a primary emotion deficit. In addition, the current review considers data regarding the neurobiology of this disorder. Dysfunction within the amygdala's role in reinforcement learning and the role of ventromedial frontal cortex in the representation of reinforcement value is stressed. Data is also presented indicating potential difficulties within parts of temporal and posterior cingulate cortex. Suggestions are made with respect to why these deficits lead to the development of the disorder.
Motion sensors for activity recognition in an ambient-intelligence scenario

In recent years, Ambient Intelligence (AmI) has attracted a number of researchers due to the widespread diffusion of unobtrusive sensing devices. The availability of such a great amount of acquired data has driven the interest of the scientific community in producing novel methods for combining raw measurements in order to understand what is happening in the monitored scenario. Moreover, due the primary role of the end user, an additional requirement of any AmI system is to maintain a high level of pervasiveness. In this paper we propose a method for recognizing human activities by means of a time of flight (ToF) depth and RGB camera device, namely Microsoft Kinect. The proposed approach is based on the estimation of some relevant joints of the human body by using Kinect depth information. The most significative configurations of joints positions are combined by a clustering approach and classified by means of a multi-class Support Vector Machine. Then, Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) are applied to model each activity as a sequence of known postures. The proposed solution has been tested on a public dataset while considering four different configurations corresponding to some state-of-the-art approaches and results are very promising. Moreover, in order to maintain a high level of pervasiveness, we implemented a real prototype by connecting Kinect sensor to a miniature computer capable of real-time processing.
LIGHT AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPE STUDIES OF MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES OF MITOCHONDRIA DURING SPERMATOGENESIS IN THE GRASSHOPPER

1. Observations on the morphological changes of mitochondria preparatory to the formation of the nebenkern, as well as changes within the nebenkern, are reported. 2. Mitochondria enlarge and divide during the meiotic divisions. 3. The mitochondria of the spermatid elongate, become filamentous, form a crescent, and partially encircle the nucleus. 4. Nodes which develop on either end of the crescent become entwined as they move toward each other. 5. The two nodes coalesce to form a filamentous or early type nebenkern which is described by others as chromophilic. 6. Internal rearrangement and partial dissolution of the filaments result in the development of the late or chromophobic nebenkern which separates into two distinct bodies. 7. The nebenkern moieties send out processes toward the centrosome, and after making contact, elongate and occupy part of the space between the tail filaments and sheath of the spermatozoon.
Consistency and coupling in human model likelihoods

This paper presents two novel likelihood terms for silhouettes and contours in model-based contexts. Despite the power of such formulations, building likelihoods that truly reflect the good configurations of the problem is by no means easy due to, most commonly, the violation of consistency principle resulting in the introduction of spurious, unrelated peaks/minima that make target localization difficult. We introduce an entirely continuous formulation which enforces consistency by means of an attraction/explanation pair for silhouettes. For contours, we address the search window vs. noise level dilemma by means of a combined robust estimation and feature coupling solution which builds a likelihood model not only in terms of individual contour responses but also "Gestalt" type higher-order couplings between matched configurations. We subsequently show how the proposed method provides significant consolidation and improved attraction zone around the true cost minima and elimination of some of the spurious ones.
Title Angiopoietin-like 4 regulates epidermal differentiation

The nuclear hormone receptor PPARb/d is integral to efficient wound re-epithelialization and implicated in epidermal maturation. However, the mechanism underlying the latter process of epidermal differentiation remains unclear. We showed that ligand-activated PPARb/d indirectly stimulated keratinocyte differentiation, requiring de novo gene transcription and protein translation. Using organotypic skin cultures constructed from PPARb/dand angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4)-knockdown human keratinocytes, we showed that the expression of ANGPTL4, a PPARb/d target gene, is essential for the receptor mediated epidermal differentiation. The pro-differentiation effect of PPARb/d agonist GW501516 was also abolished when keratinocytes were co-treated with PPARb/d antagonist GSK0660 and similarly in organotypic skin culture incubated with blocking ANGPTL4 monoclonal antibody targeted against the C-terminal fibrinogen-like domain. Our focused real-time PCR gene expression analysis comparing the skin biopsies from wildtype and ANGPTL4-knockout mice confirmed a consistent down-regulation of numerous genes involved in epidermal differentiation and proliferation in the ANGPTL4-knockout skin. We further showed that the deficiency of ANGPTL4 in human keratinocytes and mice skin have diminished expression of various protein kinase C isotypes and phosphorylated transcriptional factor activator protein-1, which are well-established for their roles in keratinocyte differentiation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation confirmed that ANGPTL4 stimulated the activation and binding of JUNB and c-JUN to the promoter region of human involucrin and transglutaminase type 1 genes, respectively. Taken together, we showed that PPARb/d regulates epidermal maturation via ANGPTL4-mediated signalling pathway. Citation: Pal M, Tan MJ, Huang R-L, Goh YY, Wang XL, et al. (2011) Angiopoietin-Like 4 Regulates Epidermal Differentiation. PLoS ONE 6(9): e25377. doi:10.1371/ journal.pone. 0025377 Editor: Johanna M. Brandner, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany Received May 23, 2011; Accepted September 2, 2011; Published September 22, 2011 Copyright: 2011 Pal et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Funding: This work was supported by a grant from National Medical Research Council (NMRC) (IRG10MAY017) to N.S. T. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. * E-mail: nstan@ntu.edu. sg . These authors contributed equally to this work.
Dendritic Cell Dysfunction : A Key to HIV Spread and Persistence

Dendritic cells (DC) are both widely dispersed in the body and are potent activators of effector immune response, which stresses their important role in HIV infection [1,2]. DCs are present at sites of HIV entry, the oral and vaginal mucosa [3,4] or circulating blood [5], and at sites of preferential HIV infection and maintenance in the lymph nodes. It has been shown that HIV-infected DCs mediate viral infection of CD4 T cell co-cultures [6,7] and it is believed that DCs transmit HIV to CD4 T cells in the lymphoid tissues in vivo [2,8], through utilization of DCderived exosomes or an ‘immunological synapse’ [9]. Thus, DCs are important in initial encounter and response to the virus in the mucosa and blood. They are also key players in spread of infection via trans-CD4 T cell infection (or in cis), and stimulation of adaptive immune responses in attempt to eliminate virus. HIV uptake by DCs is unique in that it does not preferentially drive DC maturation and stimulate T cell instruction, but rather favors viral spread [10]. This results in dampened immunogenicity [11], and potentially drives regulatory immune responses [12].
Using gesture and speech control for commanding a robot assistant

Giving advice to a mobile robot assistant still requires classical user interfaces. A more intuitive way of commanding is achieved by verbal or gesture commands. In this article, we present new approaches and enhancements for established methods that are in use in our laboratory. Our aim is to interact with a robot using natural and direct communication techniques to facilitate robust performance of simple tasks. Within this paper, we describe the robot's vision and speech recognition system. Then, we display robot control for selecting the appropriate robot reaction for solving basic manipulation tasks.
Professionalism, Demographics, and Motivation: Predictors of Job Satisfaction Among Nigerian Teachers

This research article examines the intensity of satisfaction in the teaching career amongst the secondary school teaching workforce and identifies some work-related factors associated with job satisfaction. The main focus of this study is to probe the impact of the hygiene and motivation factors as a predictor of job satisfaction and see how they align with other existing studies. For the purpose of this study, hygiene factors are factors that cause dissatisfaction and motivation factors are factors that cause employees to be satisfied with their job. A questionnaire was used for data gathering, and multiple statistical procedures were employed in the analysis. The findings revealed that both the extrinsic (hygiene) and the intrinsic (motivation) factors are predictors of job satisfaction. In particular, this research work is written for educational administrators, policymakers and planners that are interested in empirical information methods that might help them improve secondary schooling in Nigeria and elsewhere.
Interactive Effects of Immunoglobulin Gamma and Human Leucocyte Antigen Genotypes on Response to Interferon Based Therapy of Hepatitis C Virus

AIM: We examined the role that immunoglobulin GM 23 and KM allotypes—genetic markers of γ and κ chains, respectively—play in response to treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Egyptian patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 120 persons who had responded to HCV treatment and 125 with persistent HCV infection were genotyped for the presence of GM23 and KM determinants. HLA –C genotyping was also done. RESULTS: Association of GM 23+ and KM3 was significantly associated with non response to treatment (P < 0.0001). Individuals who lacked this GM genotype (but were positive for KM1,2 and 3) were likely to respond to treatment (P=0.045). Association of heterozygous GM23 (+/-) with KM 1,2 and 3 or KM3 alone was significantly associated with SVR (P = 0.001) and (P = 0.0001) respectively. Particular combinations of HLA and GM genotypes were associated significantly with the response to HCV treatment. The combination of HLAC2C2 and GM23+ was associated with persistence of infection (P = 0.027) while the association of HLAC2C2 and heterozygous GM23+/- was associated with SVR (P = 0.001). The association of HLAC1C1 and heterozygous GM23+/- was significantly associated with SVR (P = 0.001) and also subjects with HLA C1/C2 and heterozygous GM23+/- were likely to respond to treatment (P = 0.003) while subjects with HLA C1/C2 and GM23+ show tendency to resist to treatment (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our results didn’t support a role for KM allotypes, GM23 allotype plays a role in the persistence of HCV infection in the presence or absence of KM1,3. Interaction between certain GM and HLA-C genotypes may favor adequate response to interferon based therapies.
A parallel-series connected four-transformer half bridge DC-DC converter for electric vehicle application

A new half bridge converter with parallel-series connected four-transformer is proposed for an electric vehicle charger with wide range zero voltage switching operation. The proposed converter combines two sets of two-transformer half bridge converter as a parallel-series connection to accommodate an auxiliary battery charger in an automotive application. The circuit configuration and principles of operation are analyzed in detail and design equations are presented. To verify advantages of the proposed converter, 1.2 kW hardware prototype is built.
Emotion Effects on Timing: Attention versus Pacemaker Accounts

Emotions change our perception of time. In the past, this has been attributed primarily to emotions speeding up an “internal clock” thereby increasing subjective time estimates. Here we probed this account using an S1/S2 temporal discrimination paradigm. Participants were presented with a stimulus (S1) followed by a brief delay and then a second stimulus (S2) and indicated whether S2 was shorter or longer in duration than S1. We manipulated participants' emotions by presenting a task-irrelevant picture following S1 and preceding S2. Participants were more likely to judge S2 as shorter than S1 when the intervening picture was emotional as compared to neutral. This effect held independent of S1 and S2 modality (Visual: Exps. 1, 2, & 3; Auditory: Exp. 4) and intervening picture valence (Negative: Exps. 1, 2 & 4; Positive: Exp. 3). Moreover, it was replicated in a temporal reproduction paradigm (Exp. 5) where a timing stimulus was preceded by an emotional or neutral picture and participants were asked to reproduce the duration of the timing stimulus. Taken together, these findings indicate that emotional experiences may decrease temporal estimates and thus raise questions about the suitability of internal clock speed explanations of emotion effects on timing. Moreover, they highlight attentional mechanisms as a viable alternative.
Research Notes: The Integration of European Mortgage Laws

This article has been written by a student participant of the ‘Legal Research Methodologies in European Union and International Law’ workshop series as detailed in the three Research Notes - 'Legal Research Methodologies in European Union and International Law', by Tamara Hervey, Rob Cryer, Bal Sokhi-Bulley . The article introduces the student’s PhD project and details some of the methodological research issues which the AHRC funded workshops have helped the student to address.
How a Mandatory Activation Program Reduces Unemployment Durations: The Effects of Distance

In an experimental setting some Danish unemployed workers were assigned to an activation program while others were not. Unemployed who were assigned to the activation program found a job more quickly. We show that the activation effect increases with the distance between the place of residence of the unemployed worker and the place where the activation took place. We also find that the quality of the post-unemployment jobs was not affected by the activation program. Both findings confirm that activation programs mainly work because they are compulsory and unemployed don't like them.
The Local Maximum ClusteringMethod and Its Application in Microarray Gene Expression Data Analysis

An unsupervised data clustering method, called the local maximum clustering (LMC) method, is proposed for identifying clusters in experiment data sets based on research interest. A magnitude property is defined according to research purposes, and data sets are clustered around each local maximum of the magnitude property. By properly defining a magnitude property, this method can overcome many difficulties in microarray data clustering such as reduced projection in similarities, noises, and arbitrary gene distribution. To critically evaluate the performance of this clusteringmethod in comparison with othermethods, we designed three model data sets with known cluster distributions and applied the LMC method as well as the hierarchic clustering method, the K-mean clustering method, and the self-organized map method to these model data sets. The results show that the LMC method produces the most accurate clustering results. As an example of application, we applied the method to cluster the leukemia samples reported in the microarray study of Golub et al. (1999).
Priority Search Trees

Let D be a dynamic set of ordered pairs $[ x,y ]$ over the set $0,1, \cdots ,k - 1$ of integers. Consider the following operations applied to D: (1) Insert (delete) a pair $[ x,y ]$ into (from) D. (2) Given test integers $x0,x1$, and $y1$, among all pairs $[ x,y ]$ in D such that $x0 \leqq x \leqq x1$ and $y \leqq y1$, find a pair whose x is minimal (or maximal). (3) Given test integers $x0$ and $x1$, among all pairs $[ x,y ]$ in D such that $x0 \leqq x \leqq x1$, find a pair whose y is minimal. (4) Given test integers $x0$, $x1$, and $y1$, enumerate those pairs $[x,y ]$ in D such that $x0 \leqq x \leqq x1$ and $y \leqq y1$. Using a new data structure that we call a priority search tree, of which two variants are introduced, operations (1), (2), and (3) can be implemented in $O(\log n)$ time, where n is the cardinality of D. Operation (4) is performed in at most $O(\log n + s)$ time, where s is the number of pairs enumerated. The priority search tree occupies $O(n)$ space.Priority seach tree algorithms can.