Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluating a Participatory Approach to Information and Communication Technology Development; the Case of Education in Tanzania

ICT projects in Sub Sahara Africa have a high failure rate due to inadequate (participatory) approaches and contextual differences. This study evaluates the outcomes of a participatory and multi-stakeholder approach to develop ICT applications in education in Tanzania, called the Roundtable (RT) process. This process is an interpretive approach grounded in Constructive Technology Assessment (CTA). The outcomes are measured in terms of sustainability, scalability of projects and impact on users. Sense making and learning-by- doing are key words in order to ‘grow’ ownership. At sector level it turns out difficult to create a ‘paying’ market and to stimulate relevant policy making. The study compares the outcomes against a ‘norm’ on success and failure of ICT projects. Some difficulties with CTA are discussed. Based on this study we conclude that the CTA approach is a promising avenue, but further research is needed.
A New Coherency Formalism for Change Detection and Phenomenology in SAR Imagery: A Field Approach

Optimal utilization of complex synthetic aperture radar imagery for coherent change detection (CCD) is achieved by maximizing the amount of information extracted from the coherent correlation of images. Conventional techniques cannot fully exploit the coherent information due to limited application of few products or indicators, e.g., correlation factor and phase maps. Also, considering the lack of a systematic formulation of change observables and their nature, unsupervised change detection or classification is not feasible. To address this, an analytic framework is established by taking advantage of the analogy to partially polarized electromagnetic fields to introduce vectors and observables that can establish a complete change space. Decomposition of the coherent correlation or change characteristics into this basis set can provide a better understanding of the associated change phenomenology.
Design and performance trade-offs in parallelized RF SDR architecture

Multi-radio platforms are an interesting design concept. Executing multiple radios on a shared platform presents opportunities not only for component re-use but also for better data throughputs, as non-active radios may dynamically yield resources for active ones. This enhances the conventional SDR approach in the RF domain and provides means to optimize resources in platform level when taking the link and network traffic issues into account. Such flexibility can provide opportunities for future cognitive radios when operating in heterogeneous networks. The downside is increased RF interference, and thus, receiver desensitization. We review the design and performance trade-offs of multi-radio platforms focusing on LTE and WLAN and present motivation for simple co-operation mechanisms to their future revisions.
Small kernel 1 encodes a pentatricopeptide repeat protein required for mitochondrial nad7 transcript editing and seed development in maize (Zea mays) and rice (Oryza sativa).

RNA editing modifies cytidines (C) to uridines (U) at specific sites in the transcripts of mitochondria and plastids, altering the amino acid specified by the DNA sequence. Here we report the identification of a critical editing factor of mitochondrial nad7 transcript via molecular characterization of a small kernel 1 (smk1) mutant in Zea mays (maize). Mutations in Smk1 arrest both the embryo and endosperm development. Cloning of Smk1 indicates that it encodes an E-subclass pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein that is targeted to mitochondria. Loss of SMK1 function abolishes the C → U editing at the nad7-836 site, leading to the retention of a proline codon that is edited to encode leucine in the wild type. The smk1 mutant showed dramatically reduced complex-I assembly and NADH dehydrogenase activity, and abnormal biogenesis of the mitochondria. Analysis of the ortholog in Oryza sativa (rice) reveals that rice SMK1 has a conserved function in C → U editing of the mitochondrial nad7-836 site. T-DNA knock-out mutants showed abnormal embryo and endosperm development, resulting in embryo or seedling lethality. The leucine at NAD7-279 is highly conserved from bacteria to flowering plants, and analysis of genome sequences from many plants revealed a molecular coevolution between the requirement for C → U editing at this site and the existence of an SMK1 homolog. These results demonstrate that Smk1 encodes a PPR-E protein that is required for nad7-836 editing, and this editing is critical to NAD7 function in complex-I assembly in mitochondria, and hence to embryo and endosperm development in maize and rice.
A cluster information navigate method by gaze tracking

According to the rapid growth of data volume, it's increasingly complicated to present and navigate large amount of data in a convenient method on mobile devices with a small screen. To address this challenge, we present a new method which displays cluster information in a hierarchy pattern and interact with them by eyes' movement captured by the front camera of mobile devices. The key of this system is providing users a new interacting method to navigate and select data quickly by eyes without any additional equipment.
School Marketing as a Sorting Mechanism: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Charter School Websites

An emerging body of research has explored “supply side” questions of school choice, or how schools and systems shape enrollment through locational decisions, recruitment, and marketing. This study focuses on how school websites market and communicate the distinct missions of charter schools to prospective families. Through a critical discourse analysis (CDA) of 55 elementary charter school websites in one demographically diverse metropolitan area, we explore how school websites operate as discursive texts that signal the potential “fit” between particular schools and particular families. Guided by a critical discourse analysis framework, we emphasize how websites (a) employ implicit discourses of race, culture, and diversity; (b) draw on different meanings of academic achievement, and (c) emphasize different ideologies of individualized learning. We argue that websites act as one mechanism that contributes to the segmentation and differentiation of an emerging local marketplace of school options.
Discovery of the eclipse in the symbiotic binary Z Andromedae

Our photometric observations of the symbiotic binary Z And during its recent (2000–2003) active phase revealed a minimum in the $U,~B$ and V light curves (LC) at the position of the inferior conjunction of its cool component (the orbital phase $\varphi = 0$). This fact and the behaviour of colour indices suggest that the minimum was due to the eclipse of the active hot object by the red giant. Physically plausible fit of the eclipse profile and a precise analysis of the spectral energy distribution (SED) in the ultraviolet continuum suggest a disk-like structure for the hot object during active phases. The present knowledge of fundamental parameters of the system limits the orbital inclination i to $76^{\circ}{-}90^{\circ}$. The presence of the Rayleigh attenuated far-UV continuum at $\varphi \sim 0$ during quiescent phase confirms the very high inclination of the Z And orbit.
Moment Forms Invariant to Rotation and Blur in Arbitrary Number of Dimensions

We present the construction of combined blur and rotation moment invariants in arbitrary number of dimensions. Moment invariants to convolution with an arbitrary centrosymmetric filter are derived first, and then their rotationally invariant forms are found by means of group representation theory to achieve the desired combined invariance. Several examples of the invariants are calculated explicitly to illustrate the proposed procedure. Their invariance, robustness, and capability of using in template matching and in image registration are demonstrated on 3D MRI data and 2D indoor images.
A Single Cohesin Complex Performs Mitotic and Meiotic Functions in the Protist Tetrahymena

The cohesion of sister chromatids in the interval between chromosome replication and anaphase is important for preventing the precocious separation, and hence nondisjunction, of chromatids. Cohesion is accomplished by a ring-shaped protein complex, cohesin; and its release at anaphase occurs when separase cleaves the complex's α-kleisin subunit. Cohesin has additional roles in facilitating DNA damage repair from the sister chromatid and in regulating gene expression. We tested the universality of the present model of cohesion by studying cohesin in the evolutionarily distant protist Tetrahymena thermophila. Localization of tagged cohesin components Smc1p and Rec8p (the α-kleisin) showed that cohesin is abundant in mitotic and meiotic nuclei. RNAi knockdown experiments demonstrated that cohesin is crucial for normal chromosome segregation and meiotic DSB repair. Unexpectedly, cohesin does not detach from chromosome arms in anaphase, yet chromosome segregation depends on the activity of separase (Esp1p). When Esp1p is depleted by RNAi, chromosomes become polytenic as they undergo multiple rounds of replication, but fail to separate. The cohesion of such bundles of numerous chromatids suggests that chromatids may be connected by factors in addition to topological linkage by cohesin rings. Although cohesin is not detected in transcriptionally active somatic nuclei, its loss causes a slight defect in their amitotic division. Notably, Tetrahymena uses a single version of α-kleisin for both mitosis and meiosis. Therefore, we propose that the differentiation of mitotic and meiotic cohesins found in most other model systems is not due to the need of a specialized meiotic cohesin, but due to additional roles of mitotic cohesin.
Changes in IS Research: A Comparative Analysis

Information Systems (IS), as a scholarly discipline, has been characterized as very diversified and has evolved considerably over the years. The purpose of this study is to present an overview of the changes in IS research that occurred between two periods 1984 to 1986 and 1996 to 1998, based on articles published in IS journals: MIS Quarterly and Information Systems Research. The articles were analyzed according to main topic, technological approach, research methods, keywords and contributing disciplines such as humanities and social sciences. Significant differences were found between the two periods. Cognitive maps of keyword-main topic associations are presented for each period. The various findings are discussed and linked to current trends. They show the beginnings of a promising tendency toward the development of an evolutionary and cumulative research tradition. The findings will provide food for thoughts for researchers of all disciplines.
The Impact and Evolution of Group Diversity in Online Open Collaboration

Online open collaboration efforts, such as Wikipedia articles and open source software development, often involve a large crowd with diverse experiences and interests. Diversity, on the one hand, facilitates the access to and integration of a wide variety of information; on the other hand, it may cause conflict and hurt group performance. Although diversity’s effects have been the subject of many studies in offline work groups (with the results remaining inconclusive), its effects in online self-organizing groups are underexplored. In this paper, we examine 648 WikiProjects to understand (1) how tenure disparity and interest variety affect group productivity and member withdrawal and (2) how the two types of diversity evolve over time. Our results show a curvilinear effect of tenure disparity, which increases productivity and decreases member withdrawal, up to a point. Beyond that point, productivity slightly decreases, and members are more likely to withdraw. In comparison, our results show a positive ef.
The structure of strong tournaments containing exactly one out-arc pancyclic vertex

An arc in a tournament T with n ≥ 3 vertices is called pancyclic if it belongs to a cycle of length l for all 3 ≤ l ≤ n. We call a vertex u of T an out-arc pancyclic vertex of T if each out-arc of u is pancyclic in T . Yao, Guo and Zhang [Discrete Appl. Math. 99 (2000), 245–249] proved that every strong tournament contains at least one out-arc pancyclic vertex, and they gave an infinite class of strong tournaments, each of which contains exactly one out-arc pancyclic vertex. In this paper we give the structure of strong tournaments containing exactly one out-arc pancyclic vertex.
Effects of Low‐flow Sevoflurane Anesthesia on Renal Function: Comparison with High‐flow Sevoflurane Anesthesia and Low‐flow Isoflurane Anesthesia

Background: The safety of low‐flow sevoflurane anesthesia, during which CF2 = C(CF3)‐O‐CH2 F (compound A) is formed by sevoflurane degradation, in humans has been questioned because compound A is nephrotoxic in rats. Several reports have evaluated renal function after closed‐circuit or low‐flow sevoflurane anesthesia, using blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine as markers. However, these are not the more sensitive tests for detecting renal damage. This study assessed the effects of low‐flow sevoflurane anesthesia on renal function using not only BUN and serum creatinine but also creatinine clearance and urinary excretion of kidney‐specific enzymes, and it compared these values with those obtained in high‐flow sevoflurane anesthesia and low‐flow isoflurane anesthesia. Methods: Forty‐eight patients with gastric cancer undergoing gastrectomy were studied. Patients were randomized to receive sevoflurane anesthesia with fresh gas flow of 1 l/min (low‐flow sevoflurane group; n = 16) or 6–10 l/min (high‐flow sevoflurane group; n = 16) or isoflurane anesthesia with a fresh gas flow of 1 l/min (low‐flow isoflurane group; n = 16). In all groups, the carrier gas was oxygen/nitrous oxide in the ratio adjusted to ensure a fractional concentration of oxygen in inspired gas (FiO2) of more than 0.3. Fresh Baralyme was used in the low‐flow sevoflurane and low‐flow isoflurane groups. Glass balls were used instead in the high‐flow sevoflurane group, with the fresh gas flow rate adjusted to eliminate rebreathing. The compound A concentration was measured by gas chromatography. Gas samples taken from the inspiratory limb of the circle system at 1‐h intervals were analyzed. Blood samples were obtained before and on days 1, 2, and 3 after anesthesia to measure BUN and serum creatinine. Twenty‐four‐hour urine samples were collected before anesthesia and for each 24‐h period from 0 to 72 h after anesthesia to measure creatinine, N‐acetyl‐beta‐D‐glucosaminidase, and alanine aminopeptidase. Results: The average inspired concentration of compound A was 20 +/‐ 7.8 ppm (mean +/‐ SD), and the average duration of exposure to this concentration was 6.11 +/‐ 1.77 h in the low‐flow sevoflurane group. Postanesthesia BUN and serum creatinine concentrations decreased, creatinine clearance increased, and urinary N‐acetyl‐beta‐D‐glucosaminidase and alanine aminopeptidase excretion increased in all groups compared with preanesthesia values, but there were no significant differences between the low‐flow sevoflurane, high‐flow sevoflurane, and low‐flow isoflurane groups for any renal function parameter at any time after anesthesia. Conclusions: The only difference between the low‐flow and high‐flow sevoflurane groups was compound A formation, and postanesthesia laboratory data showed no significant effects of compound A formation during sevoflurane anesthesia on renal function. No significant effects on renal function were observed in either the low‐flow or high‐flow sevoflurane groups compared with the low‐flow isoflurane group.
A novel function of the monomeric CCTε subunit connects the serum response factor pathway to chaperone-mediated actin folding

CCTε, a subunit of the oligomeric CCT molecular chaperone, interacts with the cotranscription factor MRTF-A, thus influencing MRTF-A nuclear accumulation upon serum stimulation. This establishes a novel function for CCTε when monomeric and reveals an extended role for CCT in the stringent quality control of actin.
The I3I Model; Identifying Cultural Determinants of Information Sharing via C2 Information Technologies

Abstract : Nowadays, information sharing is critical in and between organizations. However, there is no more critical need for information sharing than during modern military and civil-military operations when international coalitions dynamically form. Such coalitions can be characterized by their highly dynamic and information rich environments and the great diversity of entities involved, each representing its own national, organizational and professional culture. Differences in national, organizational and professional culture are increasingly recognized as key barriers to C2 information sharing. This, paper identifies three dimensions in which cultural determinants influence the behaviors central to information sharing and the use of information technologies for sharing; Identification; Inter-relation and Interchange. An integrative model for the assessment of these behaviors is advanced and expanded by utilizing qualitative data gathered during NATO Response Force Exercises in cooperation with the NATO C2 Centre of Excellence. Implications for information sharing in a multi-national environment are proposed. The proposed model enables a systematic identification of the highly complex and challenging process of C2 information sharing. This identification is a critical first step in developing a strategy and specific interventions to align cultures of different entities participating in dynamic coalitions in support of more effective information sharing, ultimately resulting in increased mission effectiveness.
Polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (PTB) and PTB-associated splicing factor in CVB3 infection: an ITAF for an ITAF

Abstract The 5′ UTR of Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) contains internal ribosome entry site (IRES), which allows cap-independent translation of the viral RNA and a 5′-terminal cloverleaf structure that regulates viral replication, translation and stability. Here, we demonstrate that host protein PSF (PTB associated splicing factor) interacts with the cloverleaf RNA as well as the IRES element. PSF was found to be an important IRES trans acting factor (ITAF) for efficient translation of CVB3 RNA. Interestingly, cytoplasmic abundance of PSF protein increased during CVB3 infection and this is regulated by phosphorylation status at two different amino acid positions. Further, PSF protein was up-regulated in CVB3 infection. The expression of CVB3–2A protease alone could also induce increased PSF protein levels. Furthermore, we observed the presence of an IRES element in the 5′UTR of PSF mRNA, which is activated during CVB3 infection and might contribute to the elevated levels of PSF. It appears that PSF IRES is also positively regulated by PTB, which is known to regulate CVB3 IRES. Taken together, the results suggest for the first time a novel mechanism of regulations of ITAFs during viral infection, where an ITAF undergoes IRES mediated translation, sustaining its protein levels under condition of translation shut-off.
Historical Linguistics and Philippine Hunter-Gatherers

This paper addresses several topics with reference to Philippine hunter-gatherer groups that are relevant to an understanding of their relationships with non-hunter-gatherer groups and their significance for historical linguistics. Section 1 first provides a discussion of the demographic ranges of the extant Negrito groups. In section 2, different views as to the time depth of the prehistoric relationship of Negrito groups with in-migrating Neolithic Austronesian speakers to the Philippines will be evaluated. Section 3 then deals with the patterns of their relationship with farmers, specifically the competing patterns of close association with and avoidance of farmers, as revealed from the types of linguistic relationship that hold between the two groups, and in section 4 evidence for retention of a non-Austronesian substratum in the languages of Negrito groups will be discussed. Finally, in section 5, the coastal/seafaring Negritos of northeast Luzon and the linguistic influence they have had on farmer populations of the area will be described. 1
Discovering Blind Spots of Predictive Models: Representations and Policies for Guided Exploration

Predictive models deployed in the world may assign incorrect labels to instances with high conﬁdence. Such errors or unknown unknowns are rooted in model incompleteness, and typically arise because of the mismatch between training data and the cases seen in the open world. As the models are blind to such errors, input from an oracle is needed to identify these failures. In this paper, we formulate and address the problem of optimizing the discovery of unknown unknowns of any predictive model under a ﬁxed budget, which limits the number of times an oracle can be queried for true labels. We propose a model-agnostic methodology which uses feedback from an oracle to both identify unknown unknowns and to intelligently guide the discovery. We employ a two-phase approach which ﬁrst organizes the data into multiple partitions based on instance similarity, and then utilizes an explore-exploit strategy for discovering unknown unknowns across these partitions. We demonstrate the efﬁcacy of our framework by varying the underlying causes of unknown unknowns across various applications. To the best of our knowledge, this paper presents the ﬁrst algorithmic approach to the problem of discovering unknown unknowns of predictive models.
Emotions in the Function of Heuristics

One of the most important characteristics of creative thought is that it consists of two principal distinguishable phases involving, respectively, the discovery of a principle and its application, the inception of an intention and its fulfillment, the formation of a hypothesis (version) and its verification, or the finding of a preliminary, "functional" solution and the "final" solution (3, 4). Almost all investigators have noted that the analysis of the first phase of the total process is the central (and, at the same time, the most difficult) task in the psychological study of thought.
On GPRS Traffic Characteristics: Analysis with Log-Infinitely Divisible Cascades (LIDC) Model

According to the analysis of turbulence on the log-infinitely divisible cascades (LIDC) method, analyzing the GPRS network traffic that obtained from mobile operator, we found that the flow of GPRS is accord with the log-infinitely divisible cascades therefore, we further research the flow data of GPRS. The result indicates that it is very efficiently that the method of LIDC for the flow characteristics of network data. The method which we found could not only analyze the flow of network in full scale but the single scale also. In the basis of analysis frame, we could deeply research other trait, such as the scale of GPRS network has the trait of keeping power-law relations, single scale and scale invariability, etc.