Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
OmniTrack

We now see an increasing number of self-tracking apps and wearable devices. Despite the vast number of available tools, however, it is still challenging for self-trackers to find apps that suit their unique tracking needs, preferences, and commitments. Furthermore, people are bounded by the tracking tools’ initial design because it is difficult to modify, extend, or mash up existing tools. In this paper, we present OmniTrack, a mobile self-tracking system, which enables self-trackers to construct their own trackers and customize tracking items to meet their individual tracking needs. To inform the OmniTrack design, we first conducted semi-structured interviews (N = 12) and analyzed existing mobile tracking apps (N = 62). We then designed and developed OmniTrack as an Android mobile app, leveraging a semi-automated tracking approach that combines manual and automated tracking methods. We evaluated OmniTrack through a usability study (N = 10) and improved its interfaces based on the feedback. Finally, we conducted a 3-week deployment study (N = 21) to assess if people can capitalize on OmniTrack’s flexible and customizable design to meet their tracking needs. From the study, we showed how participants used OmniTrack to create, revise, and appropriate trackers—ranging from a simple mood tracker to a sophisticated daily activity tracker. We discuss how OmniTrack positively influences and supports self-trackers’ tracking practices over time, and how to further improve OmniTrack by providing more appropriate visualizations and sharable templates, incorporating external contexts, and supporting researchers’ unique data collection needs.
Serum Glycans as Risk Markers for Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

Previous studies have suggested occurrence of altered serum glycan profiles in patients with lung cancer. Here, we aimed to determine the predictive value of serum glycans to distinguish non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases from controls in prediagnostic samples using a previously validated predictive protein marker pro-SFTPB, as anchor. Blinded prediagnostic serum samples were obtained from the Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial (CARET), and included a discovery set of 100 NSCLC cases and 199 healthy controls. A second test set consisted of 108 cases and 216 controls. Cases and controls were matched for age at baseline (5-year groups), sex, smoking status (current vs. former), study enrollment cohort, and date of blood draw. Serum glycan profiles were determined by mass spectrometry. Twelve glycan variables were identified to have significant discriminatory power between cases and controls in the discovery set (AUC > 0.6). Of these, four were confirmed in the independent validation set. A combination marker yielded AUCs of 0.74 and 0.64 in the discovery and test set, respectively. Four glycan variables exhibited significant incremental value when combined with pro-SFTPB compared with pro-SFTPB alone with AUCs of 0.73, 0.72, 0.72, and 0.72 in the test set, indicating that serum glycan signatures have relevance to risk assessment for NSCLC. Cancer Prev Res; 9(4); 317–23. ©2016 AACR.
Hydrothermal Synthesis of Single Crystalline Nano CeO2 and Its Structural, Optical, and Electronic Characterization

Single crystalline CeO2 powder was prepared by precipitation-hydrothermal technique. The hydrothermal treatment temperature and time were the two parameters chosen to observe their effect on nature of ceria. The synthesized samples were characterized for structural, optical, and electrical properties using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), ultraviolet-visual (UV-Vis), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Single crystalline CeO2 nanoparticles of about 5 to 9 nm were formed when the precipitated precursor was heated at 200°C for 3 h. The mean crystalline diameter (MCD) obtained from XRD using Scherrer's formula matched with the particle size as observed from TEM confirming the single crystalline nature of ceria. The crystallinity of sample increased with increase in reaction temperature and time while the lattice parameters decreased, as observed from XRD data. Observation from the micrographs obtained from SEM indicated the decrease in particle size as well agglomeration with increase in reaction temperature which was also confirmed by blue shift in absorption spectra of the sample obtained at 200°C. Room temperature PL spectra of CeO2 nano crystals, excited at wavelength 300 nm, showed emission at 400 and 360 nm corresponding to CeO2 synthesized at temperatures 160°C, and 200°C with corresponding E g values of 2.94 eV and 3.60 eV, respectively.
Context Aware Ubiquitous Learning Environments for Peer-to-Peer Collaborative Learning

A ubiquitous learning environment provides an interoperable, pervasive, and seamless learning architecture to connect, integrate, and share three major dimensions of learning resources: learning collaborators, learning contents, and learning services. Ubiquitous learning is characterized by providing intuitive ways for identifying right learning collaborators, right learning contents and right learning services in the right place at the right time. Our context aware ubiquitous learning environment consists of three systems, namely peer-to-peer content access and adaptation system, personalized annotation management system, and multimedia real-time group discussion system. Since the effectiveness and efficiency of ubiquitous learning heavily relies on learners’ surrounding context, in this paper, we will address a context model and context acquisition mechanism for collecting contextual information at run time. We have built a context aware ubiquitous learning environment and in this paper we will address how this newly designed environment can fully support the needs of peer-to-peer collaborative learning
A Novel Candidate Gene for Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination in the Common Snapping Turtle

Temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) was described nearly 50 years ago. Researchers have since identified many genes that display differential expression at male- vs. female-producing temperatures. Yet, it is unclear whether these genes (1) are involved in sex determination per se, (2) are downstream effectors involved in differentiation of ovaries and testes, or (3) are thermo-sensitive but unrelated to gonad development. Here we present multiple lines of evidence linking CIRBP to sex determination in the snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina. We demonstrate significant associations between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (c63A > C) in CIRBP, transcript levels in embryonic gonads during specification of gonad fate, and sex in hatchlings from a thermal regime that produces mixed sex ratios. The A allele was induced in embryos exposed to a female-producing temperature, while expression of the C allele did not differ between female- and male-producing temperatures. In accord with this pattern of temperature-dependent, allele-specific expression, AA homozygotes were more likely to develop ovaries than AC heterozygotes, which, in turn, were more likely to develop ovaries than CC homozygotes. Multiple regression using SNPs in CIRBP and adjacent loci suggests that c63A > C may be the causal variant or closely linked to it. Differences in CIRBP allele frequencies among turtles from northern Minnesota, southern Minnesota, and Texas reflect small and large-scale latitudinal differences in TSD pattern. Finally, analysis of CIRBP protein localization reveals that CIRBP is in a position to mediate temperature effects on the developing gonads. Together, these studies strongly suggest that CIRBP is involved in determining the fate of the bipotential gonad.
The genetics of New World monkey visual pigments

color vision, having at least two cone photopigment types with different spectral sensitivities present in distinct photoreceptors is necessary together with the neural circuitry necessary to extract color information. Visual pigments are highly conserved molecules, but differences can be found among vertebrate groups. Primates have a variety of cone photopigments (i.e., opsins) that are expressed by polymorphic genes. This article examines the diversity of cone photopigments in New World monkeys and their behavioral relevance. Keywords: primate, color vision, opsin, cones, molecular genetics.
Contrasting Geographical Distributions as a Result of Thermal Tolerance and Long-Distance Dispersal in Two Allegedly Widespread Tropical Brown Algae

Background Many tropical marine macroalgae are reported from all three ocean basins, though these very wide distributions may simply be an artifact resulting from inadequate taxonomy that fails to take into account cryptic diversity. Alternatively, pantropical distributions challenge the belief of limited intrinsic dispersal capacity of marine seaweeds and the effectiveness of the north-south oriented continents as dispersal barriers. We aimed to re-assess the distribution of two allegedly circumtropical brown algae, Dictyota ciliolata and D. crenulata, and interpret the realized geographical range of the respective species in relation to their thermal tolerance and major tectonic and climatic events during the Cenozoic. Methodology/Principal Findings Species delimitation was based on 184 chloroplast encoded psbA sequences, using a Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescent method. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred by analyzing a six-gene dataset. Divergence times were estimated using relaxed molecular clock methods and published calibration data. Distribution ranges of the species were inferred from DNA-confirmed records, complemented with credible literature data and herbarium vouchers. Temperature tolerances of the species were determined by correlating distribution records with local SST values. We found considerable conflict between traditional and DNA-based species definitions. Dictyota crenulata consists of several pseudocryptic species, which have restricted distributions in the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Central America. In contrast, the pantropical distribution of D. ciliolata is confirmed and linked to its significantly wider temperature tolerance. Conclusions/Significance Tectonically driven rearrangements of physical barriers left an unequivocal imprint on the current diversity patterns of marine macroalgae, as witnessed by the D. crenulata–complex. The nearly circumglobal tropical distribution of D. ciliolata, however, demonstrates that the north-south oriented continents do not present absolute dispersal barriers for species characterized by wide temperature tolerances.
Enhancement of Conductivity in Ceria-Carbonate Nanocomposites for LTSOFCs

This work first explores high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to determine the interfacial regions and provide experimental evidences for interfaces between the SDC and carbonate constituent phases of the SD-carbonate two-phase composites to further investigate the superionic conduction mechanism in the ceria-carbonate composite systems and enhancement of conductivity. Schober first reported interfacial superionic conduction in ceria-based composites but without direct experimental proofs. Such superionic conduction mechanism remains unknown. Especially, in the nano-scale, this region is trifle to be detected.
Honey Bee Viruses in Wild Bees: Viral Prevalence, Loads, and Experimental Inoculation

Evidence of inter-species pathogen transmission from managed to wild bees has sparked concern that emerging diseases could be causing or exacerbating wild bee declines. While some pathogens, like RNA viruses, have been found in pollen and wild bees, the threat these viruses pose to wild bees is largely unknown. Here, we tested 169 bees, representing 4 families and 8 genera, for five common honey bee (Apis mellifera) viruses, finding that more than 80% of wild bees harbored at least one virus. We also quantified virus titers in these bees, providing, for the first time, an assessment of viral load in a broad spectrum of wild bees. Although virus detection was very common, virus levels in the wild bees were minimal—similar to or lower than foraging honey bees and substantially lower than honey bees collected from hives. Furthermore, when we experimentally inoculated adults of two different bee species (Megachile rotundata and Colletes inaequalis) with a mixture of common viruses that is lethal to honey bees, we saw no effect on short term survival. Overall, we found that honey bee RNA viruses can be commonly detected at low levels in many wild bee species, but we found no evidence that these pathogens cause elevated short-term mortality effects. However, more work on these viruses is greatly needed to assess effects on additional bee species and life stages.
Clonal deletion of self-reactive T cells in irradiation bone marrow chimeras and neonatally tolerant mice. Evidence for intercellular transfer of Mlsa

Tolerance to Mlsa has been shown to be associated with clonal deletion of cells carrying TCR beta chain variable regions V beta 6 or V beta 8.1 in mice possessing I-E antigens. To evaluate the rules of tolerance induction to Mlsa we prepared irradiation bone marrow chimeras expressing Mlsa or Mlsb and I-E by different cell types. Deletion of V beta 6+, Mlsa-reactive T cells required the presence of Mlsa and I-E products either on bone marrow-derived cells or on irradiated recipient cells. Tolerance was induced when Mlsa and I-E were expressed by distinct cells of the chimera. Also neonatally tolerized mice exhibited depletion of V beta 6+ cells after injection of I-E- Mlsa spleen cells (DBA/1) into newborn I-E+ Mlsb mice (BALB/c x B10.G)F1. These results suggest that the product of the Mlsa locus is soluble and/or may be transferred from cell to cell and bound to I-E antigens. The chimera experiments also showed that tolerance to Mlsa is H-2 allele independent, i.e., is apparently unrestricted. Differentiation of chimeric (H-2d/Mlsa x H-2q/Mlsb)F1 stem cells in either an H-2d or an H- 2q thymus revealed that tolerance assessed by absence of V beta 6+ T cells is not dependent on the thymically determined restriction specificity of T cells.
The relationship between skin stretching/contraction and pathologic scarring: The important role of mechanical forces in keloid generation

Keloids tend to occur on highly mobile sites with high tension. This study was designed to determine whether body surface areas exposed to large strain during normal activities correlate with areas that show high rates of keloid generation after wounding. Eight adult Japanese volunteers were enrolled to study the skin stretching/contraction rates of nine different body sites. Skin stretching/contraction was measured by marking eight points on each region and measuring the change in location of the marked points after typical movements. The distribution of 1,500 keloids on 483 Japanese patients was mapped. The parietal region and anterior lower leg were associated with the least stretching/contraction, while the suprapubic region had the highest stretching/contraction rate. With regard to keloid distribution, there were 733 on the anterior chest region (48.9%) and 403 on the scapular regions (26.9%). No keloids were reported on the scalp or anterior lower leg. Because these sites are rarely subjected to skin stretching/contraction, it appears that mechanical force is an important trigger that drives keloid generation even in patients who are genetically predisposed to keloids. Thus, mechanotransduction studies are useful for developing clinical approaches that reduce the skin tension around wounds or scars for the prevention and treatment of not only keloids but also hypertrophic scars.
Simulating the Yield Impacts of Organ-Level Quantitative Trait Loci Associated With Drought Response in Maize: A “Gene-to-Phenotype” Modeling Approach

Under drought, substantial genotype–environment (G × E) interactions impede breeding progress for yield. Identifying genetic controls associated with yield response is confounded by poor genetic correlations across testing environments. Part of this problem is related to our inability to account for the interplay of genetic controls, physiological traits, and environmental conditions throughout the crop cycle. We propose a modeling approach to bridge this “gene-to-phenotype” gap. For maize under drought, we simulated the impact of quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling two key processes (leaf and silk elongation) that influence crop growth, water use, and grain yield. Substantial G × E interaction for yield was simulated for hypothetical recombinant inbred lines (RILs) across different seasonal patterns of drought. QTL that accelerated leaf elongation caused an increase in crop leaf area and yield in well-watered or preflowering water deficit conditions, but a reduction in yield under terminal stresses (as such “leafy” genotypes prematurely exhausted the water supply). The QTL impact on yield was substantially enhanced by including pleiotropic effects of these QTL on silk elongation and on consequent grain set. The simulations obtained illustrated the difficulty of interpreting the genetic control of yield for genotypes influenced only by the additive effects of QTL associated with leaf and silk growth. The results highlight the potential of integrative simulation modeling for gene-to-phenotype prediction and for exploiting G × E interactions for complex traits such as drought tolerance.
Safe Autonomous Agent Formation Operations Via Obstacle Collision Avoidance

In this paper, we consider the problem of flocking and shape‐orientation control of multi‐agent systems with inter‐agent and obstacle collision avoidance. We first consider the problem of forcing a set of autonomous agents to form a desired formation shape and orientation while avoiding inter‐agent collision and collision with convex obstacles, and following a trajectory known to only one of the agents, namely the leader of the formation. Then we build upon the solution given to this problem and solve the problem of guaranteeing obstacle collision avoidance by changing the size and the orientation of the formation. Changing the size and the orientation of the formation is helpful when the agents want to go through a narrow passage while the existing size or orientation of the formation does not allow this. We also propose collision avoidance algorithms that temporarily change the shape of the formation to avoid collision with stationary or moving nonconvex obstacles. Simulation results are presented to show the performance of the proposed control laws.
Convergence in dental histology between the late Triassic semionotiform Sargodon tomicus (Neopterygii) and a late cretaceous (Turonian) pycnodontid (Neopterygii: Pycnodontiformes) species

Microstructural scanning electron microscope investigation was performed on sectioned and surface‐etched isolated, prehensile teeth of the Late Triassic semionotiform species Sargodon tomicus and Pycnodontidae incertae sedis from the Late Cretaceous. The teeth of both taxa display a system of vascular canals penetrating the dentine and the overlying hypermineralized acrodin cap; small tubules are radiating at an angle to the long axis of the canals, interpreted as residual spaces left by odontoblast cell processes. This is the first detailed account of vascular acrodin encountered in a pycnodont species. New information is revealed also about Sargodon dental histology in the shape of mineralized remnants of the basal lamina at the acrodin–dentine junction. This implies that deposition of the acrodin organic matrix proceeded centrifugally by the cells of the inner dental epithelium, probably with minor collagen contribution from odontoblasts. This is contrary to the more typical centripetal formation (beneath the basal lamina) of the acrodin layer implied for the studied pycnodontid teeth. The rare occurrences of vascular acrodin within Actinopterygii, and the demonstrated differences in its histogenesis, do not suggest the usefulness of the tissue as systematic character but rather point to its adaptive significance. The superficial increase in the order of acrodin bundle orientation, observed in both species, is similarly regarded as convergently acquired mechanical adaptation. The observed uneven shape of crystallite rows and lesser degree of mineralization of the inner collariform ganoin, compared to its outer portion, is indicative of epithelial‐ectomesenchymal interaction and qualifies the tissue as enameloid. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Anaerobic treatment of nightsoil and toilet sludge from on-site sanitation systems in Ghana

The feasibility of faecal sludge treatment by an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor was studied using first, untreated primary sludge from a sewage treatment works treating only domestic sewage, and then actual faecal sludge. The primary sludge was diluted in the ratio 1:20 - 1:10 while the faecal sludge was diluted in to the ratio 1:6. The UASB reactor treating the primary sludge had a volume of 15 litres and was operated at a mean hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 9.8 h, at a temperature of 37 °C, and at an organic loading rate (OLR) in the range of 5.6 - 15.0 kg COD/m\d. The UASB reactor treating the faecal sludges had a volume of 50 litres and was operated at a mean HRT of 12.1 h, at ambient temperatures in the range of 23.0 - 31.2 °C, and at OLR in the range of 1 2 . 5 -2 1 . 5 kg COD/nr\d. The first experiment involving the untreated primary sludge was run for 114 days while the second was run for 119 days. The results from both experiments indicate that it is feasible to treat faecal sludges using the UASB reactor. The average removal efficiencies obtained for the first experiment were: 78% for COD, 62% for total solids (TS), 75% for total volatile solids (TVS) and 91% for total suspended solids (TSS). The pH was in the range of 6.9 - 7.4. With regards to faecal sludges, the average removal efficiencies were: 71% for COD, 61% for TS, 74% for TVS and 73% for TSS. The removal efficiencies are comparable to those obtained for a UASB reactor treating for domestic sewage. High removal efficiencies were obtained in a much shorter time compared to UASB reactors treating domestic sewage. The COD concentration in the effluents is too high for direct discharge and hence a form of post-treatment would be necessary. The calculated volume of methane in the biogas collected ranged from 4 - 8 1/kg COD, not accounting for practical losses.
A three-dimensional approach to pennation angle estimation for human skeletal muscle

Pennation angle (PA) is an important property of human skeletal muscle that plays a significant role in determining the force contribution of fascicles to skeletal movement. Two-dimensional (2D) ultrasonography is the most common approach to measure PA. However, in principle, it is challenging to infer knowledge of three-dimensional (3D) architecture from 2D assessment. Furthermore, architectural complexity and variation impose more difficulties on reliable and consistent quantification of PA. Thus, the purpose of our study is to provide accurate insight into the correspondence between 2D assessment and the underlying 3D architecture. To this end, a 3D method was developed to directly quantify PA based on 3D architectural data that were acquired from cadaveric specimens through dissection and digitization. Those data were then assessed two-dimensionally by simulating ultrasound imaging. To achieve consistency over intermuscular variation, our proposed 3D method is based on the geometric analysis of fascicle attachment. Comparative results show a wide range of differences (1.1–47.1%) between 2D and 3D measurements. That is, ultrasound can under- or over-estimate PA, depending on the architecture.