Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The coffee lab: developing a public usability space

Introducing the Coffee Lab: a novel concept for conducting usability studies in a public space where anyone can experience and evaluate research novel interactive systems. The Coffee Lab serves as a model for the public usability lab, which extends the methods common to laboratory-based usability experiments by adapting prototypes, usability methods, and task interactions to suit different scenarios. Details on the design and implementation of public evaluation methods are discussed, along with a description of the Coffee Lab, and two ongoing public usability tests.
Understanding the Influences of Trend and Fatigue in Individuals' SNS Switching Intention

Integrating research work and latest insights from the popular press on users' SNS switching, this study considers the role of trend and fatigue in why people switch from a SNS. Specifically, we employ a PPM framework as a theoretical foundation, and enrich it with constructs derived from juxtaposing recent practitioner insights and relevant literature, i.e., Users' trend-seeking tendency, and SNS fatigue (activity overload and social monitoring concern). Through a survey of 305 SNS users, we find that factors previously derived based on PPM - dissatisfaction, alternatives attractiveness, peer influence, and switching cost -- indeed significantly influence users' switching intention. Furthermore, trend-seeking tendency, though not having a direct impact on switching intention, influences individuals' perceived alternative attractiveness. Similarly, social monitoring concern indirectly affects switching intention through alternative attractiveness, while also emanates its effect by raising user dissatisfaction. Lastly, SNS activity overload has both direct and indirect effects via alternative attractiveness and dissatisfaction.
On Random Access Scheduling for Multimedia Traffic in Multihop Wireless Networks with Fading Channels

In this paper, we develop distributed random access scheduling schemes that exploit the time-varying nature of fading channels for multimedia traffic in multihop wireless networks. It should be noted that while centralized scheduling solutions can achieve optimal throughput under this setting, they incur high-computational complexity and require centralized coordination requiring global channel information. The proposed solution not only achieves provable performance guarantees under a wide range of interference models, but also can be implemented in a distributed fashion using local information. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first distributed scheduling mechanism for fading channels that achieves provable performance guarantees. We show through simulations that the proposed schemes achieve better empirical performance than other known distributed scheduling schemes.
In vitro large-scale experimental and theoretical studies for the realization of bi-directional brain-prostheses

Brain-machine interfaces (BMI) were born to control “actions from thoughts” in order to recover motor capability of patients with impaired functional connectivity between the central and peripheral nervous system. The final goal of our studies is the development of a new proof-of-concept BMI—a neuromorphic chip for brain repair—to reproduce the functional organization of a damaged part of the central nervous system. To reach this ambitious goal, we implemented a multidisciplinary “bottom-up” approach in which in vitro networks are the paradigm for the development of an in silico model to be incorporated into a neuromorphic device. In this paper we present the overall strategy and focus on the different building blocks of our studies: (i) the experimental characterization and modeling of “finite size networks” which represent the smallest and most general self-organized circuits capable of generating spontaneous collective dynamics; (ii) the induction of lesions in neuronal networks and the whole brain preparation with special attention on the impact on the functional organization of the circuits; (iii) the first production of a neuromorphic chip able to implement a real-time model of neuronal networks. A dynamical characterization of the finite size circuits with single cell resolution is provided. A neural network model based on Izhikevich neurons was able to replicate the experimental observations. Changes in the dynamics of the neuronal circuits induced by optical and ischemic lesions are presented respectively for in vitro neuronal networks and for a whole brain preparation. Finally the implementation of a neuromorphic chip reproducing the network dynamics in quasi-real time (10 ns precision) is presented.
Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi agglutinins in acute human Chagas' disease.

Abstract Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi agglutinins were studied by the direct agglutination test (DA) with or without previous treatment of the sera with 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) (DA and 2-MEDA, respectively), in serial serum samples obtained from 24 patients with acute Chagas' disease. Their agglutinin titers were compared with those found in 25 patients of similar age with other acute infections and 50 healthy children. All of the controls were negative by complement-fixation test for T. cruzi infection. All sera were also tested by indirect hemagglutination (IHA) and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) tests, using anti-total human globulin (IIF-Ig) and anti-IgM human globulin (IIF-IgM). In the first serum sample obtained after infection from the chagasic patients, DA and 2-MEDA detected IgM antibodies in seven patients who were also positive by IIF-IgM. However, in 13 early sera from other patients antibodies were demonstrated by IIF-IgM only. Four patients were negative by both techniques. Early serum samples were usually negative in the IHA test. Further samples obtained from those patients in whom the infection became chronic were reactive in the IHA test. In these sera, agglutinin titers were usually not affected by 2-ME treatment, indicating a change in the class of Ig reactivity (from IgM to IgG). This observation was coincident with decreasing titers established by IIF-IgM, whereas antibody titers detected by IIF-Ig remained positive. However, in four patients IIF-IgM antibodies either persisted or reappeared following a period during which they were negative. During the follow-up of four patients in whom serologic reactivity became negative after treatment, antibodies were detected later. In two of these cases a positive IIF-IgM was observed.
Broad Antibody Mediated Cross-Neutralization and Preclinical Immunogenicity of New Codon-Optimized HIV-1 Clade CRF02_AG and G Primary Isolates

Creation of an effective vaccine for HIV has been an elusive goal of the scientific community for almost 30 years. Neutralizing antibodies are assumed to be pivotal to the success of a prophylactic vaccine but previous attempts to make an immunogen capable of generating neutralizing antibodies to primary “street strain” isolates have resulted in responses of very limited breadth and potency. The objective of the study was to determine the breadth and strength of neutralizing antibodies against autologous and heterologous primary isolates in a cohort of HIV-1 infected Nigerians and to characterize envelopes from subjects with particularly broad or strong immune responses for possible use as vaccine candidates in regions predominated by HIV-1 CRF02_AG and G subtypes. Envelope vectors from a panel of primary Nigerian isolates were constructed and tested with plasma/sera from the same cohort using the PhenoSense HIV neutralizing antibody assay (Monogram Biosciences Inc, USA) to assess the breadth and potency of neutralizing antibodies. The immediate goal of this study was realized by the recognition of three broadly cross-neutralizing sera: (NG2-clade CRF02_AG, NG3-clade CRF02_AG and NG9- clade G). Based on these findings, envelope gp140 sequences from NG2 and NG9, complemented with a gag sequence (Clade G) and consensus tat (CRF02_AG and G) antigens have been codon-optimized, synthesized, cloned and evaluated in BALB/c mice. The intramuscular administration of these plasmid DNA constructs, followed by two booster DNA immunizations, induced substantial specific humoral response against all constructs and strong cellular responses against the gag and tat constructs. These preclinical findings provide a framework for the design of candidate vaccine for use in regions where the HIV-1 epidemic is driven by clades CRF02_AG and G.
A Longitudinal Study of Closed Head Injury: Neuropsychological Outcome and Structural Analysis using Region of Interest Measurements and Voxel-Based Morphometry

Background: The hippocampus and corpus callosum have been shown to be vulnerable in head injury. Various neuroimaging modalities and quantitative measurement techniques have been employed to investigate pathological changes in these structures. Cognitive and behavioural deficiencies have also been well documented in head injury. Aims: The aim of this research project was to investigate structural changes in the hippocampus and corpus callosum. Two different quantitative methods were used to measure physical changes and neuropsychological assessment was performed to determine cognitive and behavioural deficit. It was also intended to investigate the relationship between structural change and neuropsychology at 1 and 6 months post injury. Method: Forty-seven patients with head injury (ranging from mild to severe) had undergone a battery of neuropsychological tests and an MRI scan at 1 and 6 months post injury. T1-weighted MRI scans were obtained and analysis of hippocampus and corpus callosum was performed using region-of-interest techniques and voxel-based morphometry which also included comparison to 18 healthy volunteers. The patients completed neuropsychological assessment at 1 and 6 months post injury and data obtained was analysed with respect to each assessment and with structural data to determine cognitive decline and correlation with neuroanatomy. Results: Voxel-based morphometry illustrated reduced whole scan signal differences between patients and controls and longitudinal differences between patients which reflected orbitofrontal damage. Using voxel-based morphometry and segmented images, reduced grey matter concentration was found in the patients’ hippocampal region when compared to controls. Data from neuropsychological test scores were related to injury severity as measured by the GCS and PTA. Correlations of cognitive test data with the hippocampus, but not the corpus callosum, were present with voxel-based morphometry providing a greater number of associations than region-of-interest analysis. No longitudinal changes were found in the hippocampus or corpus callosum using region-of-interest methodology or voxel-based morphometry. Conclusions: Decreased grey matter concentration identified with voxel-based morphometry illustrated that structural deficit was present in the head injured patients and does not change between 1 and 6 months. Voxel-based morphometry appears more sensitive for detecting structural changes after head injury than regionof-interest methods. Although the majority of patients had suffered mild head injury, cognitive and neurobehavioural deficits were evident and there were numerous relationships between reduced grey matter concentration and cognitive test scores. The result thus show that subtle effects of diffuse brain damage in the patient group can be detected by neuroimaging and related to cognitive performance.
Interpolation in Local Theory Extensions

In this paper we study interpolation in local extensions of a base theory. We identify situations in which it is possible to obtain interpolants in a hierarchical manner, by using a prover and a procedure for generating interpolants in the base theory as black-boxes. We present several examples of theory extensions in which interpolants can be computed this way, and discuss applications in verification, knowledge representation, and modular reasoning in combinations of local theories.
Repeated monitoring of blood parameters for evaluating strain and overload in elite football players: is it justified?

Venous blood sampling is repeatedly conducted in many elite athletes to screen for deficits and earlystage illness. Another motivation for frequent blood sampling is monitoring physiological stress and fatigue to assess recovery needs and prevent performance decrements. However, there is some uncertainty about the existence of sufficient scientific evidence for these procedures and an appropriate selection of parameters. During a typical football season, it is noteworthy that for a given blood sample acute effects of training and competition (from the days before) cannot be safely discerned from chronic changes (due to the cumulation of exercise loads from the weeks or months before). Therefore, an overlap of acute exercise-induced and chronic changes is possible. Besides other aspects, this has to be taken into account for the correct interpretation of blood values.
SNAIL transcription factor increases the motility and invasive capacity of prostate cancer cells

The incidence and mortality rates of prostate cancer (PCa) are increasing, and PCa is almost the second-leading cause of cancer-associated mortality in men. During tumor progression, epithelial cells decrease the number of adhesion molecules, change their polarity and position, rearrange their cytoskeleton and increase their migratory and invasive capacities. These changes are known under the concept of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT is characterized by an upregulation of certain transcription factors, including SNAIL1, which represses genes that are characteristic of an epithelial phenotype, including E-cadherin, and indirectly increase the expression levels of genes, which are associated with the mesenchymal phenotype. It has been suggested that the transcription factor, SNAIL1, decreases the proliferation and increases the migratory and invasive capacities of PCa cell lines. The present study was performed using LNCaP and PC3 cell lines, in which the expression levels of SNAIL1 were increased or silenced through the use of lentiviral vectors. The expression levels of EMT markers were quantified using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. In addition, cell survival was analyzed using an MTS assay; cell proliferation was examined using an antibody targeting Ki-67; migration on plates with 8 µm pores to allow the passage of cells; and invasiveness was analyzed using a membrane chamber covered in dried basement membrane matrix solution. The levels of apoptosis were determined using a Caspase 3/7 assay containing a substrate modified by caspases 3 and 7. The results demonstrated that the overexpression and silencing of SNAIL1 decreased cell proliferation and survival. However, the overexpression of SNAIL1 decreased apoptosis, compared with cells with the SNAIL1-silenced cells, in which cell apoptosis increased. The migration and invasive capacities increased in the cells overexpressing SNAIL1, and decreased when SNAIL1 was silenced. In conclusion, PCa cells overexpressing SNAIL1 exhibited characteristics of an EMT phenotype, whereas the silencing of the SNAIL1 transcriptional repressor promoted an epithelial-like phenotype, with decreased migration and invasion, characteristic of mesenchymal cells.
Effect of HbDHN1 and HbDHN2 Genes on Abiotic Stress Responses in Arabidopsis

Dehydrin is a type of late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) protein. The dehydrin genes, HbDHN1 and HbDHN2, in Hevea brasiliensis were previously found to be induced at the wounding site of epicormic shoots, with local tissue dehydration identified as the key signal for laticifer differentiation. However, the exact role of the HbDHNs remains unknown. In this study, HbDHN1 and HbDHN2 expression was examined under multiple abiotic stresses; namely, cold, salt, drought, wounding, abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene (ET), and jasmonic acid (JA) treatment. Although, both HbDHNs were defined as SK2-type dehydrin, they showed different cellular localizations. Overexpression of the HbDHNs in Arabidopsis thaliana further revealed a significant increase in tolerance to salt, drought and osmotic stresses. Increased accumulation of proline and a reduction in electrolyte leakage were also observed under salt and drought stress, and a higher water content was indicated under osmotic stress. The transgenic plants also showed higher activity levels of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, and accumulated less hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide (O2−). Given that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are thought to be a key signal for laticifer differentiation, these findings suggest that HbDHNs act as ROS scavengers, directly or indirectly affecting laticifer differentiation. Both HbDHNs therefore influence physiological processes, improving plant tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses.
Neuronal activity in the supplementary eye field during acquisition of conditional oculomotor associations.

1. The supplementary eye field (SEF) has been viewed as a premotor cortical field for the selection and control of saccadic eye movements. Drawing on studies of the neighboring premotor cortex, we hypothesized that if the SEF participates in the selection of action based on arbitrary stimulus-response associations, then task-related activity in the SEF should change during the learning of such associations. 2. Rhesus monkeys were operantly conditioned to make a saccadic eye movement to one of four targets (7 deg up, down, left, and right from center) in response to a foveal instruction stimulus (IS). One and only one of those four possible responses was arbitrarily designated "correct" for each IS. The monkeys responded to familiar ISs, four stimuli that remained unchanged throughout training and recording, as well as to novel ISs, which the monkeys had not previously seen. The monkeys initially chose responses to novel stimuli by trial and error, with near chance levels of performance, but quickly learned to select the correct saccade. 3. We studied 186 SEF cells as monkeys learned new visuomotor associations. Neuronal activity was quantified in four task periods: during the presentation of the IS, during an instructed delay period (i.e., after the removal of the IS but before a trigger or "go" stimulus), just before the saccade, and after the saccade during fixation of the target location. The discharge rate in each task period was considered a separate case for analysis, compared with that in a reference period preceding the IS, and eliminated from further analysis if not significantly different. 4. We observed two main categories of activity change during learning, which we termed learning selective and learning dependent. Learning-selective cases showed a significant evolution in activity as the monkeys learned which saccade was instructed by a novel IS, but had no significant modulation during trials with familiar ISs. Many of these cells were virtually inactive on trials with familiar ISs. However, they initially showed dramatic modulation when tested with a novel IS. As the monkey chose the correct saccade (or target) with increasing reliability, the modulation often decremented until the cell was again relatively unmodulated, as observed during familiar-IS trials. These cells usually remained relatively inactive until the monkeys were challenged to start learning another new stimulus-response association. Learning-selective activity was observed in all task periods, and 33 (18%) of the 186 adequately tested SEF cells showed learning-selective activity in one or more task periods. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The Role of Dietary Polyphenols on Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis: Molecular Mechanisms and Behavioural Effects on Depression and Anxiety

Although it has been long believed that new neurons were only generated during development, there is now growing evidence indicating that at least two regions in the brain are capable of continuously generating functional neurons: the subventricular zone and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) is a widely observed phenomenon verified in different adult mammalian species including humans. Factors such as environmental enrichment, voluntary exercise, and diet have been linked to increased levels of AHN. Conversely, aging, stress, anxiety and depression have been suggested to hinder it. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects are still unclear and yet to be determined. In this paper, we discuss some recent findings addressing the effects of different dietary polyphenols on hippocampal cell proliferation and differentiation, models of anxiety, and depression as well as some proposed molecular mechanisms underlying those effects with particular focus on those related to AHN. As a whole, dietary polyphenols seem to exert positive effects on anxiety and depression, possibly in part via regulation of AHN. Studies on the effects of dietary polyphenols on behaviour and AHN may play an important role in the approach to use diet as part of the therapeutic interventions for mental-health-related conditions.
Fast and tight response-times for tasks with offsets

In previous work, we presented a tight approximate response-time analysis for tasks with offsets. While providing a tight bound on response times, the tight analysis exhibits similarly long execution times as does the traditional methods for calculating response-times for tasks with offsets. The existing method for fast analysis of tasks with offsets is not applicable to the tight analysis. In this paper we extend the fast analysis to handle the distinguishing trait of the tight analysis; continuously increasing interference functions. Furthermore, we provide another speedup; by introducing pessimism in the modelling of interference at certain points, we speed up the convergence of the numerical solving for response-times without increasing the pessimism of the resulting response-times. The presented fast-and-tight analysis is guaranteed to calculate the same response-times as the tight analysis, and in a simulation study we obtain speedups of more than two orders of magnitude for realistically sized tasks sets compared to the tight analysis. We also demonstrate that the fast-and-tight analysis has comparable execution time to that of the fast analysis. Hence, we conclude that the fast-and-tight analysis is the preferred analysis technique when tight estimates of response-times are needed, and that we do not need to sacrifice tightness for analysis speed; both are obtained with the fast-and-tight analysis.
Extended salient Fisher vector encoding for Person Re-identification

Recognizing the same person across multiple potentially non-overlapping cameras, known as Person Re-identification, is a fundamental challenging task in Computer Vision. This is due to the important challenges that it proposes, like view point and pose change, background clutter and occlusion, low resolution and illumination variations. Most of the existing approaches rely on brute-force matching between local descriptors and thus suffer from low computational efficiency. Therefore, we present a new perspective for person re-identification based on a histogram encoding scheme. For that, an extended weighted version of the traditional Fisher vector encoding scheme is proposed. This is achieved by incorporating the Salience of the encoded descriptors and their topological location in the encoding process. Experimental results made on three challenging datasets (VIPeR, CUHK03 and Market-1501 dataset), prove the effectiveness of the proposed method.