Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Automation, Algorithms, and Politics| Bots and Political Influence: A Sociotechnical Investigation of Social Network Capital

This study explains how bots interact with human users and influence conversational networks on Twitter. We analyze a high-stakes political environment, the UK general election of May 2015, asking human volunteers to tweet from purpose-made Twitter accounts—half of which had bots attached—during three events: the last Prime Minister’s Question Time before Parliament was dissolved (#PMQs), the first leadership interviews of the campaign (#BattleForNumber10), and the BBC Question Time broadcast of the same evening (#BBCQT). Based on previous work, our expectation was that our intervention would make a significant difference to the evolving network, but we found that the bots we used had very little effect on the conversation network at all. There are economic, social, and temporal factors that impact how a user of bots can influence political conversations. Future research needs to account for these forms of capital when assessing the impact of bots on political discussions.
Activation of the Megakaryocyte-specific Gene Platelet Basic Protein (PBP) by the Ets Family Factor PU.1*

Platelet basic protein (PBP) is a chemokine family member that is only found in platelets and their precursors megakaryocytes. The PBP gene is physically linked to the gene for another platelet-specific chemokine, platelet factor 4. While the biological basis of platelet factor 4 expression has been pursued by others, the regulatory features controlling the platelet-specific expression of PBP have not been investigated. In this article, we examined the molecular basis by which this megakaryocyte-specific gene is regulated. Transient expression studies of truncated reporter constructs containing from 4.5 to 0.1 kilobases of the functional PBP gene 5′-flanking region, demonstrated that the proximal 0.1 kilobases of the promoter was sufficient for high levels of expression in human erythroleukemia and CHRF-288 cells, two megakaryocytic cell lines. However, none of these constructs was expressed above background levels in HeLa and 293 cells, two non-megakaryocytic cell lines. Further truncation of this promoter suggested that there was an important regulatory element(s) within a pyrimidine-rich tract. Mobility shift analysis of the pyrimidine-rich tract defined a region between −85 and −64 which bound to a nuclear factor(s). This region contains sequences matching the consensus Ets-binding site from −78 to −75 base pairs. In particular, we noted that this site matched a PU.1 consensus sequence known as a PU box. Mobility shift and supershift studies with nuclear extracts as well as recombinant PU.1 protein and anti-PU.1 antibody further confirmed that PU.1 was the specific Ets family factor that bound to this site. Transient expression assays using reporter constructs which contained point mutations that abrogated PU.1 binding also significantly reduced PBP promoter activity in human erythroleukemia and CHRF cells. In addition, while all reporter gene constructs containing PBP promoters were completely inactive in HeLa cells, transactivation experiments using a PU.1 expression construct demonstrated that exogenous expression of PU.1 could increase reporter gene expression up to 8-fold in these cells. Finally, the role of PU.1 in PBP gene expression was compared between wild-type and PU.1-null embryonic stem (ES) cells that were differentiated in vitrointo cells that resembled megakaryocytes both morphologically and immunologically. We found that PBP gene expression in the differentiated PU.1−/− null ES cells (as determined by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) was more than four times lower than that in the wild-type ES cells, while other platelet-specific genes were expressed equally or similarly in the two ES cell lines. Previous reports have shown that PU.1 is expressed in several hematopoietic lineages, including megakaryocytes. However, the functional role of PU.1 has only been previously demonstrated in the myeloid and lymphoid lineages. Therefore, our studies are the first to show the biological importance of this nuclear factor in the regulated expression of a megakaryocyte-specific gene.
New Cyanopeptide‐Derived Low MolecularWeight Thrombin Inhibitors

Thrombosis is the result of defective regulation of the hemostasis system. This cardiovascular disorder may lead to deep vein thrombosis, myocardial infarction, and stroke. The majority of current drug research is focused on finding inhibitors of thrombin — the global player in hemostasis. In our work, we emphasize investigation of the marine environment to yield new lead structures from marine organisms like blue‐green algae (cyanobacteria). This article deals with the design, syntheses, and inhibition tests of new lowmolecularweight thrombin inhibitors utilizing cyanopeptides, the secondarymetabolites of cyanobacteria with interesting biological activities, as new lead structures. Starting with aeruginosin 98‐B (2) as a lead structure, we have developed and synthesized new, selective acting inhibitors of thrombin (RA‐1001 and RA‐1002), which are suitable targets for further structure‐activity studies.
New insights on the convergence analysis of the affine projection algorithm for system identification

The convergence analysis of the affine projection algorithm (APA) is far to be an easy or trivial problem. In order to have a tractable analytical approach, a set of assumptions must be accepted. As a consequence, important differences appear between the analytical model and the simulations. In this paper the APA convergence is studied for two levels of approximation. A compact equation for a correction term is derived to refine the analysis. This result illustrates a better matching between the theoretical findings and simulation, in terms of the asymptotic behavior of the algorithm.
Censorship is Futile

The Internet has become the new battle ground between authoritarian regimes and ordinary individuals who want unimpeded access to information. The immense popularity of online activism and citizen journalism enabled by social media has instigated state level players to partially or completely block access to the Internet. In return, individuals and organizations have been employing various anti-censorship tools to circumvent these restrictions. In this paper, we claim that censorship is futile as not only has it been ineffective in restricting access, it has also had the side-effect of popularising blocked content. Using data from Alexa Web Rankings, Google Trends, and YouTube Statistics, we quantify the ineffectiveness of state level censorship in Pakistan and Turkey and highlight the emergence of the Streisand Effect. We hope that our findings will, a) prove to governments and other players the futility of their actions, and b) aid citizens around the world in using legal measures to counteract censorship by showing its ineffectiveness.
Partial Purification and Characterization of Detergent‐Solubilized N‐Sulfotransferase Activity Associated with Calf Brain Microsomes

Calf brain 3′‐phosphoadenosine 5′‐phosphosul‐fate (PAPS):proteoheparan sulfate (PHS) N‐sulfotransfer‐ase activity is solubilized by extracting salt‐washed microsomes with 1% Cutscum. A protocol is described for the partial purification of the sulfotransferase activity utilizing: (1) diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)‐Sephacel, (2) heparin‐Sepharose CL‐6B, and (3) 3′,5′‐ADP‐agarose as chromato‐graphic supports. Sulfotransferase activity was followed by using 3′‐phosphoadenosine 5′‐phospho[35S]sulfate and endogenous acceptors in heat‐inactivated microsomes as exogenous substrates. Two chromatographically distinct fractions (ST1 and ST2) of sulfotransferase activity are resolved on DEAE‐Sephacel. Both sulfotransferase activities have been partially purified and characterized. An apparent purification of the two N‐sulfotransferase fractions of 22– to 29‐fold, relative to the microsomal activity, is achieved by this procedure. Since ST1 appears to represent approximately 24% of the total microsomal activity, a purification of 89‐fold has been estimated for this fraction. Neither sulfotransferase activity was stimulated by MnCl2, MgCl2, or CaCl2 added at 10 mM, nor inhibited by the presence of 10 mM EDTA. ST1 and ST2 are optimally active at pH 7.5–8. Apparent Km values for PAPS of 2.3 μM and 0.9 μM have been determined for ST1 and ST2, respectively. ST1 exhibits N‐sulfotransferase activity primarily and is inhibited by phosphatidylserine whereas the ST2 fraction contains a mixture of N‐ and O‐sulfotransferase activity and is stimulated by phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine, and ly‐sophosphatidylcholine. The detection of two chromatographically distinct sulfotransferase activities raises the possibility that N‐sulfation of proteoheparan sulfates could be catalyzed by more than one enzyme, and that N‐sulfation and O‐sulfation of proteoglycans are catalyzed by separate enzymes in nervous tissue.
Rover Traversability Assessment Via Visual Sensing Of Spatial And Textural Terrain Image Features

Abstract Visual sensing techniques are presented for enhancing rover traversability assessment on planetary surfaces. Geometric information from stereo image range data is used to identify salient terrain features such as rocks, and that information, along with terrain image appearances, is associated with rover traversability. Performance of rule-based, neural network, and fuzzy logic methods for classifying Mars terrain is evaluated revealing superior capabilities of the latter two. Bayesian, Pazzen, and k-Nearest Neighbor decision fusion models are considered to improve classification, revealing slightly better performance of the former. Terrain classifier path planning applications are verified experimentally using a mobile robot in mock terrain.
Designer portfolio archetypes in design-intensive industries

ABSTRACT The paper analyzes the designer portfolio configurations employed by firms, in design-intensive industries, to implement different product design strategies. Using the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis methodology, the paper explores how decorative lamps manufacturers, that first adopted the new LED technology, assembled their designer portfolios. The study shows that, in the early phases of LED lamps, four different designer portfolio archetypes were adopted by firms, two of them related to a product language divergence strategy and two to a product language convergence strategy: international design-star archetype, crowd design-innovator archetype, local ambassador archetype, international bridge archetype. These four archetypes are discussed, contributing to a better understanding of the relationship between product design strategies and designers’ management in design-intensive industries.
Cuba: Estudio de la historia del mestizaje y de las bases genéticas de la pigmentación de la piel utilizando marcadores autosómicos y uniparentales.

La presente investigacion constituye el mas amplio estudio realizado con el fin de caracterizar el genoma cubano. Los resultados revelan las caracteristicas geneticas de los grupos humanos originarios del pueblo cubano que se mantienen conservadas en sus generaciones actuales. Su importancia e impacto estan dados por el valor de sus hallazgos para todo estudio en particular que se proponga abordar la predisposicion genetica a padecer cualquier enfermedad (predisposicion que puede estar mediada por el origen etnico de la poblacion cubana), sus aportes a la Antropologia, y a la propia Historia del pais. Se abordan el mestizaje etnico y los genes relacionados con la pigmentacion de la piel al estudiar a 1 019 individuos de todas las provincias y el municipio Isla de la Juventud, utilizando un panel de 128 marcadores geneticos informativos para el origen ancestral y 30 marcadores en el ADN mitocondrial y cromosoma Y. Con ello se estimaron las proporciones del mestizaje individual y como promedio para toda la muestra, y sus patrones de distribucion geografica. Se realizo ademas un estudio de asociacion alelica con marcadores ubicados en 15 genes relacionados con la pigmentacion, el primero de su tipo en el pais, y se analizo su relacion con medidas cuantitativas de pigmentacion de la piel. La contribucion promedio de genes de origen Europeo, Africano y Nativo Americano en los individuos estudiados fue de 72%, 20% y 8% respectivamente. Las provincias orientales mostraron una mayor proporcion de genes Africanos y Nativo Americanos comparadas con las provincias occidentales. En particular, Guantanamo (40%) y Santiago de Cuba (39%) mostraron los valores mas altos de genes de origen Africano y Granma (15%), Holguin (12%) y Las Tunas (12%) las mas altas proporciones de genes Nativo Americanos. Adicionalmente, se identifico un patron sesgado asociado al sexo en el flujo genico entre las diferentes generaciones, con una mayor contribucion de ancestros Africanos y Nativo Americanos por la via de los linajes maternos, y de ancestros Europeos por via paterna. Finalmente, dos marcadores ubicados en los genes SLC24A5 y SLC45A2, mostraron asociacion significativa con la pigmentacion de la piel. El estudio concluido es el mas extenso y abarcador realizado sobre la caracterizacion genetica del mestizaje etnico cubano y el primero en el pais en analizar los genes para el color de la piel. Los resultados fueron publicados el 24 de Julio pasado en la revista PLoS Genetics, ubicada en el lugar No. 9 entre las alrededor de 200 que publican temas de genetica, con un factor de impacto segun Thomson Reuters de 8.69. Se han realizado en total 6 publicaciones con los resultados de este estudio (4 en Revistas Internacionales de alto impacto: BMC Medical Genetics, British Journal of Hematology, Medicc Review y PLoS Genetics y 2 en Revistas Nacionales: Revista Temas y Revista Catauro), que han ido recogiendo los resultados parciales de la investigacion.
A One-Year Prospective Study on Back Pain Among Novice Golfers

We conducted a 1-year follow-up study on back pain among 196 men taking up golf. A questionnaire on individual characteristics, occupation, sports, and back pain was distributed at the start of the study and was followed by another questionnaire after 12 months. Eleven percent of the original subjects (25 of 211) were lost to followup, but withdrawal from the survey was not associated with health status. In the baseline survey (N = 221), the self-reported lifetime cumulative inci dence of back pain was 63%; 28% reported back pain during the month before answering the questionnaire, and 13% reported current back pain. Athletes had an increased odds ratio of 2.1 (95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 4.0) for previous back pain. During the 12 months between the surveys, the incidence of first-time back pain was 8% and the incidence of recurrent back pain was about 45%. Men involved in golf and another sport demonstrated a risk of 1.4 for recurrence of back pain, compared with men playing golf only. Six sub jects attributed the recurrent back pain to playing golf. Given the high proportion of athletes in this study (68%), the risk factor of playing golf failed to demon strate an additional significant effect on the general relationship between sport and back pain.
Hemostatic Factors and Replacement of Major Blood Loss with Plasma-Poor Red Cell Concentrates

The purpose of this study was to assess the change of platelet and fibrinogen concentrations and the change of activities of prothrombin and factors V and VII when major surgical blood loss was replaced with plasmapoor red cell concentrates (RCCs) and colloid plasma substitutes.Sixty patients were studied. The average blood loss was 65% +/- 41% of the calculated blood volume (CBV). Blood loss was monitored carefully and replaced without delay to ensure stable blood volume. Blood samples were obtained at the induction of anesthesia and at the end of the recovery room period, or before the patient was given fresh frozen plasma. In addition, a platelet count was determined after each 20% blood loss. The results were converted to relative values, and simple linear regression with logarithmic transformation was applied. The initial platelet concentration was 257 +/- 89 times 103/mm3 and the extrapolation of the regression line intercepted the critical level of 50 times 10 (3/mm)3 at 230% (confidence interval 169%-294%) blood loss. The initial fibrinogen concentration was 3.7 +/- 1.1 g/L and the hemostatically significant level of 1.0 g/L was already reached at 142% (117%-169%) blood loss (r2 = 0.90). Activities of prothrombin and coagulation factors V and VII reached their critical levels at 201% (160%-244%), 229% (167%-300%), and 236% (198%-277%) blood loss, respectively. We conclude that deficiency of fibrinogen develops earlier than any other hemostatic abnormality when plasma-poor RCCs are used for the replacement of major blood loss. (Anesth Analg 1995;81:360-5)
Predicting Movie Genres Based on Plot Summaries

This project explores several Machine Learning methods to predict movie genres based on plot summaries. Naive Bayes, Word2Vec+XGBoost and Recurrent Neural Networks are used for text classification, while K-binary transformation, rank method and probabilistic classification with learned probability threshold are employed for the multi-label problem involved in the genre tagging task.Experiments with more than 250,000 movies show that employing the Gated Recurrent Units (GRU) neural networks for the probabilistic classification with learned probability threshold approach achieves the best result on the test set. The model attains a Jaccard Index of 50.0%, a F-score of 0.56, and a hit rate of 80.5%.
On Puppets and Puppetry

Ova se knjiga bavi lutkarstvom i lutkom kao glavnim segmentom medija, ali iz perspektive kreatora lutaka i umjetnickog pedagoga. Svako poglavlje knjige opisuje jednu vrstu scenske lutke, kao sto su: rucna lutka (ginjol, zijevalica), lutka na koncima (marioneta), stapna lutka (javajka), plosna lutka (kazaliste sjena) i maska. Svaka vrsta lutaka pojedinacno je prikazana kroz kratak povijesni pregled svog razvoja. Zatim kroz tehnologiju kreacije i izrade te vrste lutaka, animaciju i prakticnu primjenu u odgojno-obrazovnom procesu. Dio knjige obuhvaca i tehnoloska razrada navedenih vrsta lutaka s popratnim vizualnim materijalom (skice, crteži, fotografije), koje prikazuju postupak kreacije i izrade određene lutke. Uz svaku vrstu lutaka slijedi prikaz mogucih pozornica i idejnih rjesenja za scenografiju, te zakonitosti pokretanja, odnosno animacije. Poseban dio knjige je opis prakticne primjene lutke u radu s djecom. Sadržaj cine primjeri iz autoricinog dugogodisnjeg iskustva umjetnicko- pedagoskog vođenja lutkarskih skupina djece razlicitih uzrasta. Polaziste je ideja kako oživjeti lutku među djecom, gdje oni nisu samo pasivni promatraci predstave, vec aktivni sudionici procesa nastanka lutke i lutkarske predstave. Knjiga je namijenjena svima koji se žele baviti i koji se bave lutkom i lutkarstvom: studente odgojnih znanosti, odgojitelje, ucitelje, nastavnike, umjetnike… Osmisljena je da potakne, motivira i ukaže na siru perspektivu ove umjetnosti, te mnostvo mogucnosti koje nam pruža lutka.
Intestinal bacteria affect growth of Bacillus thuringiensis in larvae of the oriental tea tortrix, Homona magnanima diakonoff (Lepidoptera: tortricidae).

Spores and parasporal crystals of a Bacillus thuringiensis serovar aizawai were fed to fifth instar larvae of the oriental tea tortrix, Homona magnanima, that had been reared aseptically or that had been reared normally. Viable cell numbers of B. thuringiensis and other bacteria in H. magnanima larvae were estimated by homogenization of samples and dilution plating on peptone-polymyxin agar medium for B. thuringiensis cells and on nutrient agar medium for the other bacterial cells. B. thuringiensis did not grow in the larval cadavers of normally reared H. magnanima while bacteria other than B. thuringiensis grew rapidly. In contrast, B. thuringiensis within the larval cadavers of aseptically reared H. magnanima grew and increased 20 times. The bacteria other than B. thuringiensis from the sample homogenates of normally reared larvae that were fed on B. thuringiensis-treated diets had the same characteristics as the bacteria isolated from the guts of healthy H. magnanima larvae, which were putatively identified as Streptococcus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. , typical intestinal bacteria of insects. The results strongly suggest that intestinal bacteria influence the growth of B. thuringiensis in the larvae.
Not Just More FMS: Taking IT to the Next Level

This paper describes a system for composition, sound design, pedagogy, and sound analysis using FMS (Feature Modulation Synthesis). FMS employs a synthesis by analysis approach for sound manipulation focusing on salient acoustic features that capture timbral dimensions corresponding to relevant characteristics of sound perception. These feature vectors are then analyzed and modulated for re-synthesis. We discuss updates and introduce the current salient feature extraction algorithms and their respective modulation modules that have been developed and implemented. We also present a new software system called “FMS Toolbox” which is a GUI-based Matlab application that allows for the analysis, modulation, and re-synthesis of the sound objects.
Cell surface binding of colloidal iron and Limax flavus agglutinin compared by X‐ray microanalysis.

The surface characteristics of tumour cells and T‐cell hybridoma variants were examined by quantitative X‐ray microanalysis using metal‐based probes. Comparisons of populations of cells differing in invasive potential revealed differences in the binding of positive colloidal iron hydroxide, a general probe for anionic sites. Substantial differences between populations were also detected by the binding of Limax flavus agglutinin, which was used in conjunction with fetuin‐gold as a specific marker for sialic acid.
Effects of viewing justified and unjustified real film violence on aggressive behavior.

Reports an error in the original article by Timothy P. Meyer (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, July 1972, Volume 23). The receipt date for the article was printed as February 15, 1941. The date should, of course, have appeared as February 15, 1971. It is pointed out to dispel wild rumors about the publication lab on the Journal. (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in record.) Used L. Berkowitz's basic research paradigm to test the effects of viewing film violence on aggressive behavior. 200 male undergraduates were angered by the E's accomplice by means of electrical shocks. Ss then saw a nonviolent or violent film segment, or no film. The violent films were real or fictional and the violence was not explained, justified, or unjustified. Ss then were allowed to return shocks to the instigator. Measures of aggressive behavior included numbers of shocks returned and shock intensity. Results show that angered Ss who viewed justified real film violence returned significantly more and more intense shocks than angered Ss viewing unjustified real or fictional film violence, a nonviolent film, or no film. Findings suggest that the effects of increased aggression demonstrated for angered viewers of justified fictional violence are also applicable to angered viewers of real film violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)