Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Play of International Practice

The core claims of the practice turn in International Relations (IR) remain ambiguous. What promises does international practice theory hold for the field? How does the kind of theorizing it produces differ from existing perspectives? What kind of research agenda does it produce? This article addresses these questions. Drawing on the work of Andreas Reckwitz, we show that practice approaches entail a distinctive view on the drivers of social relations. Practice theories argue against individualistic-interest and norm-based actor models. They situate knowledge in practice rather than “mental frames” or “discourse. ” Practice approaches focus on how groups perform their practical activities in world politics to renew and reproduce social order. They therefore overcome familiar dualisms—agents and structures, subjects and objects, and ideational and material—that plague IR theory. Practice theories are a heterogeneous family, but, as we argue, share a range of core commitments. Realizing the promise of the practice turn requires considering the full spectrum of its approaches. However, the field primarily draws on trajectories in international practice theory that emphasize reproduction and hierarchies. It should pay greater attention to practice approaches rooted in pragmatism and that emphasize contingency and change. We conclude with an outline of core challenges that the future agenda of international practice theory must tackle.
Exogenous silicon nutrition ameliorates salt-induced stress by improving growth and efficiency of PSII in Oryza sativa L. cultivars

Nutrient management of plants is the most practical and easiest way of combating salt stress. The effect of silicon (Si) nutrition on salt stress symptoms was investigated in hydroponically grown rice seedlings. Seeds from Khazar (salt sensitive) and Zayandehrood (salt tolerant) cultivars of rice were exposed to 0 and 100 mM NaCl in the absence and presence of silicon (3 mM) using sodium silicate. Plant growth parameters, sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) concentrations, Si accumulation, chlorophyll content and efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) were determined in 25 days old seedlings exposed to salinity for 96 h. The results showed that salt stress generally inhibited seedling growth and reduced photosynthesis efficiency. However, the addition of Si significantly decreased shoot Na+ concentration, but increased Si uptake. Additionally, in salinized plants, the addition of Si increased Fv/Fm in Khazar cultivar. It could be concluded that Na+ concentration, Si accumulation and Fv/ Fm ratio play key role in salinity stress tolerance. Application of Si, however, alleviated to some extent detrimental effects of salinity stress by improving growth and physiological performance of both cultivars under saline conditions.
Szegő limit theorems for Toeplitz operators on compact homogeneous spaces

Let f be a real valued integrable function on a compact homogeneous space M = K \ G and Mf the operator of pointwise multiplication by f. The authors consider families of Toeplitz operators Tfp PMfP as P ranges over a net of orthogonal projections from L2(M) to finite dimensional G-invariant subspaces. Necessary and sufficient conditions are given on the net in order that the distribution of eigenvalues of these Toeplitz operators is asymptotic to the distribution of values of f in the sense of Szego's classical theorem for the circle. Explicit sequences satisfying these conditions are constructed for all compact Lie groups and for all Riemannian symmetric compact spaces.
Spare the rod ? What can we say about the causal effect of spanking ? ∗

Over the past 30 years the probability that a mother spanks her child has substantially declined. Over the same time the negative correlation between spanking and outcomes has significantly worsened. I show that the decline in spanking is driven through changes in social stigmas surrounding corporal punishment. Changes in the correlation between spanking and outcomes over time can therefore be used to estimate a causal treatment effect of spanking for households who changed their behavior due to the increasingly negative stigma. I estimate this treatment effect to be significant and generally positive: spanking improves childhood test scores, educational attainment, and labor market outcomes. However, spanking has a negative impact on childhood behavioral problems and non-cognitive measures. All remaining errors are my own. Please do not circulate without permission. Department of Economics, University of Houston. E-mail: cazuppann@uh.edu
Application of a Microarray-Based Assay for the Study of Genetic Diversity of West Nile Virus

West Nile virus (family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, WNV) is a small, enveloped, single stranded, positive RNA genome virus. WNV is a member of the Japanese encephalitis serogroup, which includes St Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV), Kunjin virus (KUNV), and Usutu virus (USUV), which have all been shown to cause disease in humans. The virion consists of an envelope and prM-M dimers surrounding an icosahedral capsid of approximately 50 nm in size (Beasley, 2005). The WNV genomic RNA is approximately 11 kb in length, and contains 10 genes within a single open reading frame (ORF) that encodes for a single polyprotein flanked by 5’ and 3’ untranslated regions (UTR). The approximately 3430 amino acid WNV polyprotein is processed by cellular proteases and by the viral NS2B-NS3 protease into 3 structural and 7 non-structural proteins (NS) (Fig. 1).
Hyper-Activation of pp 60 ( Src ) Limits Nitric Oxide Signaling by Increasing Asymmetric Dimethylarginine Levels During Acute Lung Injury

The molecular mechanisms by which the endothelial barrier becomes compromised during lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mediated acute lung injury (ALI) are still unresolved. We have previously reported that the disruption of the endothelial barrier is due, at least in part, to the uncoupling of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and increased peroxynitrite-mediated nitration of RhoA. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which LPS induces eNOS uncoupling during ALI. Exposure of pulmonary endothelial cells (PAEC) to LPS increased pp60Src activity and this correlated with an increase in nitric oxide (NO) production, but also an increase in NOS derived superoxide, peroxynitrite formation and 3nitrotyrosine (3-NT) levels. These effects could be simulated by the over-expression of a constitutively active pp60Src (Y527FSrc) mutant and attenuated by over-expression of dominant negative pp60Src mutant or reducing pp60Src expression. LPS induces both RhoA nitration and endothelial barrier disruption and these events were attenuated when pp60Src expression was reduced. Endothelial NOS uncoupling correlated with an increase in the levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in both LPS exposed and Y527FSrc over-expressing PAEC. The effects in PAEC were also recapitulated when we transiently over-expressed Y527FSrc in the mouse lung. Finally, we found that the pp60-Src-mediated decrease in DDAH activity was mediated by the phosphorylation of DDAH II at Y207 and that a Y207F mutant DDAH II was resistant to pp60Src-mediated inhibition. We conclude that pp60Src can directly inhibit DDAH II and this is involved in the increased ADMA levels that enhance eNOS uncoupling during the development of ALI. Correspondence to: Division of Translational and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, United States. steveblack@email.arizona. edu (S.M. Black). HHS Public Access Author manuscript Free Radic Biol Med. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2018 January 01. Published in final edited form as: Free Radic Biol Med. 2017 January ; 102: 217–228. doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed. 2016.11. 008. A uhor M anscript
‘Making a Difference’: Volunteer Tourism and Development

Abstract In recent decades there has been a boom in international volunteer tourism, mainly in the form of the growth of gap-year companies offering placements, linked to conservation and community well-being goals. This paper makes two points: firstly, it argues that the growth of volunteer tourism is in part a product of the politics of the current period—the decline of grand narratives and the growth of ‘life political’ alternative forms of agency. Hence volunteer tourism, motivated by the impulse to ‘make a difference’, tells us something about the way in which development issues are being conceived of by idealistic young people who comprise the majority of volunteer tourists. Secondly, the paper takes issue with the view that today's volunteer tourists are part of a tradition of colonialism and neo-colonialism that projects western conceptions of modernization onto the Third World societies to the detriment of the latter. Rather, it is argued that the politics behind volunteer tourism is better characterized as a rejection of modernization as development in favour of a post-development influenced approach.
Dual-Band Light Focusing Using Stacked Graphene Metasurfaces

In this article, we theoretically study the optical properties of graphene metasurfaces consisting of layered graphene ribbons and their potential applications as multifunctional optical devices in the long-wavelength infrared region. By engineering the plasmonic resonance in graphene ribbons with different widths, the phase of reflected light can be tuned over a range of nearly 2π, while the reflectivity is kept relatively high at the target frequencies. Owing to the weak light–graphene interaction in the off-resonance region, independent control of the reflected light can be achieved by stacking multiple layers of graphene ribbons. Since the interlayer coupling between the ribbons is negligible, we have developed a transmission-line-based uncoupled model as a physical interpretation of the stacked metasurface. The modeled results show excellent agreement with numerical simulations. As a proof-of-principle demonstration, we have designed and demonstrated graphene metasurfaces as flat, dual-band focusing .
Bone Fracture Evaluation Using A-Mode Ultrasound

This paper presents a novel method of bone fracture evaluation based on A-Mode ultrasound. Utilising the pulse echo method, the attenuation of 1 MHz ultrasound wave propagating through a normal and fractured bone was investigated. Two types of bone fracture were investigated,namely the linear fracture and comminuted fracture. An ultrasound transducer was used to transmit the sound wave to the normal and fractured bone in the body, simulated using a goat’s bone encased in gelatine. The transducer then captured the reflected echoes to be viewed via an oscilloscope. The echo signal indicated the time used by the sound wave to travel back and forth from the bone surface. The echo was filtered and the power spectral density was calculated for attenuation measurement based on insertion loss method. The comparison of power spectral density from a normal and fractured bone showed that average signal power on the fractured bone was lower than the normal bone by 4.3dB for both linear and comminuted fractures. Based on the result, the ultrasound signal attenuation showed a potential for use to detect bone fracture; nevertheless, further studies are still neededto determine the type of fractures. The present finding shows the potential of ultrasound in diagnosing bone fracture as an adjunct to x-ray imaging. Key-Words: -Bone fracture, 1D ultrasound, attenuation
Band structure and charge carrier dynamics in (W,N)-codoped TiO

Semiconductor photocatalysis is on the verge of (probably) its most i portant deployment and boost since the pioneering paper of Fujishima and Honda in 1972. Photo-generation of unbound ex citons, i.e. separated conduc-tion band electrons and valence band positive holes, is the fundamental primary proces s triggering charge separation in solid semiconductors necessary to initiate their photocatalytic activity. Immediately after be ing generated, charge carriers can undergo processes like recombination, trapping in mid-band-gap states or, paramount for p hotocatalytic processes, transfer to species adsorbed on the solid semiconductor surface. In TiO 2 and doped TiO2, interfacial charge transfers are the slowest amongst the pri mary processes; therefore, electron (and hole) transfer most likely oc curs from single electron traps (i.e. involving radical specie s). We report here on an effective approach combining electrochemical impedance spectroscopy with other spectro-scopic techniques such as UV –vis and electron paramagnetic resonance. This approach allows deriving important information about band structure and following electron dynamics triggered by photon absorption. The redox potentials of the band edges and the influence of the dopants on the band structure are elucidated by el ectro-chemical impedance spectroscopy combined with UV–vis spectroscopy. Electron dynamics are then studied using electr on pa amagnetic resonance spectroscopy, to elucidate the photochemical reactions at the basis of the photo-generated electron–hole pairs, and subsequent trapping and/or recombination. Results of a TiO 2 sam-ple containing W and N as dopants (0.1 at.% of W) highlight a narrow ing of the intrinsic band gap of about 0.12 eV. The semiconductor visible light phot oc emistry is driven by diamagnetic donor states [N iO] , and [NiO]w (formally NO 3 ), from which electrons can be excited to the conduction band, generating EPR active paramagnetic [NiO] • and [NiO] • w states (formally NO 2 ). The formation of W electron trapping states, energetically more favourable than Ti 3+ electron trapping states, is also identi fied.
Local contact numbers in two-dimensional packings of frictional disks

We analyze the local structure of two-dimensional packings of frictional disks numerically. We focus on the fractions xi of particles that are in contact with i neighbors, and systematically vary the confining pressure p and friction coefficient μ. We find that for all μ, the fractions xi exhibit power-law scaling with p, which allows us to obtain an accurate estimate for xi at zero pressure. We uncover how these zero pressure fractions xi vary with μ, and introduce a simple model that captures most of this variation. We also probe the correlations between the contact numbers of neighboring particles.
Therapeutic Application of Allogeneic Fetal Membrane-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation in Regenerative Medicine

In 1968, Friedenstein et al. isolated clonogeneic spindle-shaped cells from bone marrow (BM) in monolayer cultures, which they called colony-forming-unit fibroblasts (Friedenstein et al., 1974). These cells showed the ability to self-renew and to differentiate toward a mesodermal lineage as adipocytes, chondrocytes, osteocytes and connective stromal cells. Several studies reported that BM-derived multipotential stromal precursor cells can also differentiate into lineages such as ectodermal cells and endodermal cells (Kopen et al., 1999; Pittenger et al., 1999). For this reason, BM-derived stromal cells were first considered to be stem cells by Caplan and were named mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) (Caplan, 1991). The Mesenchymal and Tissue Stem Cell Committee of the International Society for Cellular Therapy proposed the following minimal criteria for defining human MSCs: (1) MSCs must be plastic-adherent when maintained under standard culture conditions, (2) MSCs must express CD105, CD73 and CD90, and lack expression of CD45, CD34, CD14 or CD11b, CD79a or CD19 and HLA-DR surface molecules, (3) MSCs must differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes and chondroblasts in vitro (Dominici et al., 2006; Sensebe et al., 2010).
ON THE EQUIVARIANT K-HOMOLOGY OF PSL2 OF THE IMAGINARY QUADRATIC INTEGERS

We establish formulae for the part due to torsion of the equivariant K-homology of all the Bianchi groups (PSL2 of the imaginary quadratic integers), in terms of elementary number-theoretic quantities. To achieve this, we introduce a novel technique in the computation of Bredon homology: representation ring splitting, which allows us to adapt the recent technique of torsion subcomplex reduction from group homology to Bredon homology.
An Introduction to 3D Computer Vision Techniques and Algorithms

Preface. Acknowledgements. Notation and Abbreviations. Part I. 1 Introduction. 1.1 Stereo-pair Images and Depth Perception. 1.2 3D Vision Systems. 1.3 3D Vision Applications. 1.4 Contents Overview: The 3D Vision Task in Stages. 2 Brief History of Research on Vision. 2.1 Abstract. 2.2 Retrospective of Vision Research. 2.3 Closure. Part II. 3 2D and 3D Vision Formation. 3.1 Abstract. 3.2 Human Visual System. 3.3 Geometry and Acquisition of a Single Image. 3.4 Stereoscopic Acquisition Systems. 3.5 Stereo Matching Constraints. 3.6 Calibration of Cameras. 3.7 Practical Examples. 3.8 Appendix: Derivation of the Pin-hole Camera Transformation. 3.9 Closure. 4 Low-level Image Processing for Image Matching. 4.1 Abstract. 4.2 Basic Concepts. 4.3 Discrete Averaging. 4.4 Discrete Differentiation. 4.5 Edge Detection. 4.6 Structural Tensor. 4.7 Corner Detection. 4.8 Practical Examples. 4.9 Closure. 5 Scale-space Vision. 5.1 Abstract. 5.2 Basic Concepts. 5.3 Constructing a Scale-space. 5.4 Multi-resolution Pyramids. 5.5 Practical Examples. 5.6 Closure. 6 Image Matching Algorithms. 6.1 Abstract. 6.2 Basic Concepts. 6.3 Match Measures. 6.4 Computational Aspects of Matching. 6.5 Diversity of Stereo Matching Methods. 6.6 Area-based Matching. 6.7 Area-based Elastic Matching. 6.8 Feature-based Image Matching. 6.9 Gradient-based Matching. 6.10 Method of Dynamic Programming. 6.11 Graph Cut Approach. 6.12 Optical Flow. 6.13 Practical Examples. 6.14 Closure. 7 Space Reconstruction and Multiview Integration. 7.1 Abstract. 7.2 General 3D Reconstruction. 7.3 Multiview Integration. 7.4 Closure. 8 Case Examples. 8.1 Abstract. 8.2 3D System for Vision-Impaired Persons. 8.3 Face and Body Modelling. 8.4 Clinical and Veterinary Applications. 8.5 Movie Restoration. 8.6 Closure. Part III. 9 Basics of the Projective Geometry. 9.1 Abstract. 9.2 Homogeneous Coordinates. 9.3 Point, Line and the Rule of Duality. 9.4 Point and Line at Infinity. 9.5 Basics on Conics. 9.6 Group of Projective Transformations. 9.7 Projective Invariants. 9.8 Closure. 10 Basics of Tensor Calculus for Image Processing. 10.1 Abstract. 10.2 Basic Concepts. 10.3 Change of a Base. 10.4 Laws of Tensor Transformations. 10.5 The Metric Tensor. 10.6 Simple Tensor Algebra. 10.7 Closure. 11 Distortions and Noise in Images. 11.1 Abstract. 11.2 Types and Models of Noise. 11.3 Generating Noisy Test Images. 11.4 Generating Random Numbers with Normal Distributions. 11.5 Closure. 12 Image Warping Procedures. 12.1 Abstract. 12.2 Architecture of the Warping System. 12.3 Coordinate Transformation Module. 12.4 Interpolation of Pixel Values. 12.5 The Warp Engine. 12.6 Software Model of the Warping Schemes. 12.7 Warp Examples. 12.8 Finding the Linear Transformation from Point Correspondences. 12.9 Closure. 13 Programming Techniques for Image Processing and Computer Vision. 13.1 Abstract. 13.2 Useful Techniques and Methodology. 13.3 Design Patterns. 13.4 Object Lifetime and Memory Management. 13.5 Image Processing Platforms. 13.6 Closure. 14 Image Processing Library. References. Index.
The Growth of Industrial Sectors: Theoretical Insights and Empirical Evidence from U.S. Manufacturing ⁄

In this paper, we study the growth rates of 4-digit sectors in U.S. manufacturing. Two measures of size (value of shipments, value added) are considered, for each of the 38 years (1959-1996) of a sample of 458 4-digit sectors, drawn from the NBER Manufacturing Productivity database. Whole sample results are partly in line with firm growth facts: (i) sectoral growth rates are distributed according to heavy-tailed Subbotin distributions, with shape coefficient between 1.0 (Laplace) and 1.5; (ii) the volatility of growth rates is decreasing with respect to size, with a scaling exponent varying over time, but always between -0.20 and -0.10. Preliminary analyses on more homogeneous groups cast doubts on the evidence of scaling, but leave basically unaffected the distributional properties of sectoral growth. These results shed light on the role of inter-firm correlations, market concentration, and positive intersectoral feedbacks as drivers of meso-economic dynamics.
INTERIOR POINT CONTROL AND OBSERVATION FOR THE WAVE EQUATION

This paper is concerned with the approximate and exact con- trollability properties of the wave equation with interior point controls en- tering via the concentrated force, the velocity of the displacement and the moment. The emphasis is given to the moving point controls and their dual observations whose advantages and disadvantages, versus the static ones, are analyzed with respect to the space dimension, the duration of the control time interval and the function spaces involved.
Svalbard surge dynamics derived from geometric changes

Abstract Geometric changes on a sample of Svalbard glaciers were studied using subtraction of repeat digital terrain models to determine early surge-stage dynamics. Changes in surface features were also analyzed. A number of new surges were found for glaciers not known to have surged previously. The surge development could be followed through three stages, of which the first two had not been previously described in Svalbard. The first two stages are mainly identified from glacier thickness changes and showed little visual evidence. In stage 1, initial surface lowering was found in the upper part of the glacier, followed by a thickening further down-glacier in stage 2. Stage 3 represents the period of well-developed surge dynamics that is usually reported. Some surges ceased at stage 2 as a partial surge and never developed into a fully active surge. These partial surges could be misinterpreted as rapid response to climate change. The results of this study further support previous findings that the majority of Svalbard glaciers are of surge type.
An Assessment Of Astm F 2129 Electrochemical Testing Of Small Medical Implants - Lessons Learned

Much has been learned over a short period of time with respect to the corrosion assessment of small medical implant devices. Laboratory testing started with modifications of ASTM G 5 and G 61, which lead to the development of ASTM F 2129, and thence the fine-tuning of that specification to meet the intent of the FDA Guideline for non-clinical tests. The changes in electrochemical testing protocol with time are reviewed. Comparative data is presented addressing test environments, scan rates, statistical replication, alloy response, and acceptance criteria.
Gestures while driving : A guessability approach for a surface gestures taxonomy for in-vehicle indirect interaction

Surface gesture interaction in the automotive context is still exploratory and lacking guidelines. To address this issue, a guessability study was developed to associate end-user gestures with functionalities of an in-vehicle HMI system. Interaction with the system was performed indirectly, with the use of surface gestures. Participants were presented with instructions, followed by a static interface image of a menu (e.g.: music list, contact list), and prompted to create a gesture that would allow them to respond to the instruction (e.g.: “Select previous” or “Make a call”). Results demonstrated that the gestures proposed in the concept phase were simple and familiar, and allowed the creation of a gestures’ taxonomy for adjustment, acceptance, refusal, and navigation actions. The guessability methodology proved to be useful and demonstrated how user-centered design can improve the usability of an interaction even at an advanced stage of the design and development process.