Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Experimental Study of the Effects of Representational Guidance on Collaborative Learning Processes

The importance of both social processes and of representational aids for learning is well-established, yet few experimental studies have addressed the combination of these factors. The research reported in this article evaluates the influence of tools for constructing representations of evidential models on collaborative learning processes and outcomes. Pairs of participants worked with 1 of 3 representations (Graph, Matrix, Text) while investigating complex science and public health problems. Dependent measures included (a) the content of participants' utterances and representational actions and the timing of these utterances and actions with respect to the availability of information; (b) a multiple choice test of the ability to recall the data, hypotheses, and evidential relations explored; and (c) the contents of a written essay. The results show that representational notations can have significant effects on learners' interactions, and may differ in their influence on subsequent collaborative use of the knowledge being manipulated. For example, Graph and Matrix users elaborated on previously represented information more than Text users. Representation and discussion of evidential relations was quantitatively greatest for Matrix users as predicted, yet this came at the cost of excessive consideration and revision of unimportant relations. Graph users may have been more focused in their consideration of evidence, and the work done in the Graph representation had the greatest impact on the contents of the essays. Although limited to initial use of representations in a laboratory setting, the work demonstrates that representational guidance of collaborative learning is worthy of study and suggests several lines of further investigation.
Paladyn Journal of Behavioral Robotics a Teleoperation System for Micro-invasive Brain Surgery

This paper deals with controller design issues for a neurosurgical teleoperator system. The specific application of interest consists of remotely inserting a linear-stage rigid endoscope into the patient's brain for microinvasive neurosurgery interventions. This work aims at evaluating advantages and drawbacks of using a general-purpose control architecture versus a simpler task-oriented architecture, from a point of view of stability and transparency. Experiments revealed that in spite of its simplicity, the task-oriented design allows an improvement in the trade-oo between performance, transparency and stability requirements.
Mutant cycles at CFTR’s non-canonical ATP-binding site support little interface separation during gating

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a chloride channel belonging to the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily. ABC proteins share a common molecular mechanism that couples ATP binding and hydrolysis at two nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs) to diverse functions. This involves formation of NBD dimers, with ATP bound at two composite interfacial sites. In CFTR, intramolecular NBD dimerization is coupled to channel opening. Channel closing is triggered by hydrolysis of the ATP molecule bound at composite site 2. Site 1, which is non-canonical, binds nucleotide tightly but is not hydrolytic. Recently, based on kinetic arguments, it was suggested that this site remains closed for several gating cycles. To investigate movements at site 1 by an independent technique, we studied changes in thermodynamic coupling between pairs of residues on opposite sides of this site. The chosen targets are likely to interact based on both phylogenetic analysis and closeness on structural models. First, we mutated T460 in NBD1 and L1353 in NBD2 (the corresponding site-2 residues become energetically coupled as channels open). Mutation T460S accelerated closure in hydrolytic conditions and in the nonhydrolytic K1250R background; mutation L1353M did not affect these rates. Analysis of the double mutant showed additive effects of mutations, suggesting that energetic coupling between the two residues remains unchanged during the gating cycle. We next investigated pairs 460–1348 and 460–1375. Although both mutations H1348A and H1375A produced dramatic changes in hydrolytic and nonhydrolytic channel closing rates, in the corresponding double mutants these changes proved mostly additive with those caused by mutation T460S, suggesting little change in energetic coupling between either positions 460–1348 or positions 460–1375 during gating. These results provide independent support for a gating model in which ATP-bound composite site 1 remains closed throughout the gating cycle.
Mixing Constraints and Objects: a Case Study in Automatic Harmonization

We propose an extension of Smalltalk with f ini te-domain constraint sat isfact ion mechanisms. Our system, called BackTalk, allows the definition of constraints over arbitrary Smalltalk objects, and implements efficient algorithms for constraints satisfaction. We exemplify the use of BackTalk on a problem known to be complex, automatic harmonization. We outline several previous attempts to solve the problem with similar mechanisms, and stress on their inefficiencies, mainly the lack of structure of domain objects. We propose to solve the problem by a combination of constraints and objects that fully benefits from object structures. This is achieved in practice by separating the constraint satisfaction process in two steps. By comparison, our system yields excellent results, both in term of efficiency and readability. We discuss the generality of our approach to problems involving numerous and heterogeneous object structures. Key-words: constraints, finite-domain constraint satisfaction, embedded constraint systems, automatic harmonization. 1. Yet an other object + constraint
Non-invasive ventilation assists chest physiotherapy in adults with acute exacerbations of cystic fibrosis

Background: Chest physiotherapy is essential to the management of cystic fibrosis (CF). However, respiratory muscle fatigue and oxygen desaturation during treatment have been reported. The aim of this study was to determine whether non-invasive ventilation (NIV) during chest physiotherapy could prevent these adverse effects in adults with exacerbations of CF. Methods: Twenty six patients of mean (SD) age 27 (6) years and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) 34 (12)% predicted completed a randomised crossover trial comparing standard treatment (active cycle of breathing technique, ACBT) with ACBT + NIV. Respiratory muscle strength (PImax, PEmax), spirometric parameters, and dyspnoea were measured before and after treatment. Pulse oximetry (Spo2) was recorded during treatment. Sputum production during treatment and 4 and 24 hours after treatment was evaluated. Results: There was a significant reduction in PImax following standard treatment that was correlated with baseline PImax (r=0.73, p<0.001). PImax was maintained following NIV (mean difference from standard treatment 9.04 cm H2O, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.25 to 13.83 cm H2O, p=0.006). A significant increase in PEmax was observed following the NIV session (8.04 cm H2O, 95% CI 0.61 to 15.46 cm H2O, p=0.02). The proportion of treatment time with Spo2 ⩽90% was correlated with FEV1 (r=−0.65, p<0.001). NIV improved mean Spo2 (p<0.001) and reduced dyspnoea (p=0.02). There were no differences in FEV1, forced vital capacity (FVC) or sputum weight, but FEF25–75 increased following NIV (p=0.006). Conclusion: Reduced inspiratory muscle strength and oxygen desaturation during chest physiotherapy are associated with inspiratory muscle weakness and severity of lung disease in adults with exacerbations of CF. Addition of NIV improves inspiratory muscle function, oxygen saturation and small airway function and reduces dyspnoea.
Climate Change and Active Reef Restoration—Ways of Constructing the “Reefs of Tomorrow”

The continuous degradation of coral reef ecosystems on a global level, the disheartening expectations of a gloomy future for reefs’ statuses, the failure of traditional conservation acts to revive most of the degrading reefs and the understanding that it is unlikely that future reefs will return to historic conditions, all call for novel management approaches. Among the most effective approaches is the “gardening” concept of active reef restoration, centered, as in silviculture, on a two-step restoration process (nursery and transplantation). In the almost two decades that passed from its first presentation, the “gardening” tenet was tested in a number of coral reefs worldwide, revealing that it may reshape coral reef communities (and associated biota) in such a way that novel reef ecosystems with novel functionalities that did not exist before are developed. Using the “gardening” approach as a climate change mediator, four novel ecosystem engineering management approaches are raised and discussed in this article. These include the take-home lessons approach, which considers the critical evaluation of reef restoration outcomes; the genetics approach; the use of coral nurseries as repositories for coral and reef species; and an approach that uses novel environmental engineering tactics. Two of these approaches (take-home lessons and using coral nurseries as repositories for reef dwelling organisms) already consider the uncertainty and the gaps in our knowledge, and they are further supported by the genetic approach and by the use of novel environmental engineering tactics as augmenting auxiliaries. Employing these approaches (combined with other novel tactics) will enhance the ability of coral reef organisms to adaptably respond to climate change.
Simulation of cloud dynamics on graphics hardware

This paper presents a physically-based, visually-realistic interactive cloud simulation. Clouds in our system are modeled using partial differential equations describing fluid motion, thermodynamic processes, buoyant forces, and water phase transitions. We also simulate the interaction of clouds with light, including self-shadowing and light scattering.We implement both simulations -- dynamic and radiometric -- entirely on programmable floating-point graphics hardware. We use "flat 3D textures" -- 3D data laid out as slices tiled in a 2D texture -- to implement 3D simulations on the GPU. This has scalability advantages over the use of traditional 3D textures. We exploit the relatively slow evolution of clouds in calm skies to enable interactive visualization of the simulation. The work required to simulate a single time step is automatically spread over many frames while the user views the results of the previous time step. This technique enables the incorporation of our simulation into real applications without sacrificing interactivity.
Combination strategies for a factor analysis phone-conditioned speaker verification system

This work aims to take advantage of recent developments in Joint Factor Analysis (JFA) in the context of a phonetically conditioned GMM speaker verification system. Previous work has shown performance advantages through phonetic conditioning, but this has not been shown to date with the JFA framework. Our focus is particularly on strategies for combining the phone-conditioned systems. We show that the classic fusion of the scores is suboptimal when using multiple GMM systems. We investigate several combination strategies in the model space, and demonstrate improvement over score-level combination as well as over a non-phonetic baseline system. This work was conducted during the 2008 CLSP Workshop at Johns Hopkins University.
Molecular Pharmacology of the Interaction of Anthracyclines with Iron

Although anthracyclines such as doxorubicin are widely used antitumor agents, a major limitation for their use is the development of cardiomyopathy at high cumulative doses. This severe adverse side effect may be due to interactions with cellular iron metabolism, because iron loading promotes anthracycline-induced cell damage. On the other hand, anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity is significantly alleviated by iron chelators (e.g., desferrioxamine and dexrazoxane). The molecular mechanisms by which anthracyclines interfere with cellular iron trafficking are complex and still unclear. Doxorubicin can directly bind iron and can perturb iron metabolism by interacting with multiple molecular targets, including the iron regulatory proteins (IRP) 1 and 2. The RNA-binding activity of these molecules regulates synthesis of the transferrin receptor 1 and ferritin, which are crucial proteins involved in iron uptake and storage, respectively. At present, it is not clear whether doxorubicin affects IRP1-RNA-binding activity by intracellular formation of doxorubicinol and/or by generation of the doxorubicin-iron(III) complex. Furthermore, doxorubicin prevents the mobilization of iron from ferritin by a mechanism that may involve lysosomal degradation of this protein. Prevention of iron mobilization from ferritin would probably disturb vital cellular functions as a result of inhibition of essential iron-dependent proteins, such as ribonucleotide reductase. This review discusses the molecular interactions of anthracyclines with iron metabolism and the development of cardioprotective strategies such as iron chelators.
Nonlinear dimensionality reduction for intrusion detection using auto-encoder bottleneck features

The continuous advances in technology is the reason of integration of our lives and information systems. Due to this fact the importance of security in these systems increases. Therefore, the application of intrusion detection systems as security solutions is increasing year by year. These systems (IDSs) are considered as a way of protection against cyber-attacks. However, handling big data constitutes one of the main challenges of intrusion detection systems and is the reason of low performance of these systems from the view of time and space complexity. To address these problems we have proposed an approach to reduce this complexity. Our approach is based on dimensionality reduction and the neural network bottleneck feature extraction is considered as the main method in this research. We have conducted several experiments on a benchmark dataset (NSL-KDD) to investigate the effectiveness of our approach. The results show that our approach is promising in terms of accuracy for real-world intrusion detection.
Memory effects induce structure in social networks with activity-driven agents

Activity-driven modelling has recently been proposed as an alternative growth mechanism for time varying networks,displaying power-law degree distribution in time-aggregated representation. This approach assumes memoryless agents developing random connections with total disregard of their previous contacts. Thus, such an assumption leads to time-aggregated random networks that do not reproduce the positive degree-degree correlation and high clustering coefficient widely observed in real social networks. In this paper, we aim to study the incidence of the agents' long-term memory on the emergence of new social ties. To this end, we propose a dynamical network model assuming heterogeneous activity for agents, together with a triadic-closure step as main connectivity mechanism. We show that this simple mechanism provides some of the fundamental topological features expected for real social networks in their time-aggregated picture. We derive analytical results and perform extensive numerical simulations in regimes with and without population growth. Finally, we present an illustrative comparison with two case studies, one comprising face-to-face encounters in a closed gathering, while the other one corresponding to social friendship ties from an online social network.
A Differentiation of Self Scale in Two Domains for Japan: A Preliminary Study on Its Development and Reliability/Validity

In this study, a differentiation of self scale was created applicable to two domains—intrapsychic and interpersonal, and was named the Differentiation of Self Scale in Two Domains (DSS-2D). A preliminary study was then performed on its reliability and validity. A questionnaire survey was conducted with university students (n = 273). Exploratory factor analysis results were used to divide DSS-2D into 4 subscales. The intrapsychic differentiation scale corresponded to intrapsychic differentiation, while 3 subscales—the interpersonal differentiation togetherness scale, interpersonal differentiation individuality scale, and adaptive interpersonal relationship scale—corresponded to the interpersonal domain. The reliability coefficients for each subscale were sufficient. In all subscales, there was a significant correlation with trait anxiety, as was theoretically anticipated, and criterion-related validity was confirmed. These results support the future utility of DSS-2D.
Neuropilin-1 and heparan sulfate proteoglycans cooperate in cellular uptake of nanoparticles functionalized by cationic cell-penetrating peptides

Two cell entry mechanisms cooperate in peptide-mediated intracellular delivery. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have been widely used to deliver nanomaterials and other types of macromolecules into mammalian cells for therapeutic and diagnostic use. Cationic CPPs that bind to heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans on the cell surface induce potent endocytosis; however, the role of other surface receptors in this process is unclear. We describe the convergence of an HS-dependent pathway with the C-end rule (CendR) mechanism that enables peptide ligation with neuropilin-1 (NRP1), a cell surface receptor known to be involved in angiogenesis and vascular permeability. NRP1 binds peptides carrying a positive residue at the carboxyl terminus, a feature that is compatible with cationic CPPs, either intact or after proteolytic processing. We used CPP and CendR peptides, as well as HS- and NRP1-binding motifs from semaphorins, to explore the commonalities and differences of the HS and NRP1 pathways. We show that the CendR-NRP1 interaction determines the ability of CPPs to induce vascular permeability. We also show at the ultrastructural level, using a novel cell entry synchronization method, that both the HS and NRP1 pathways can initiate a macropinocytosis-like process and visualize these CPP-cargo complexes going through various endosomal compartments. Our results provide new insights into how CPPs exploit multiple surface receptor pathways for intracellular delivery.
Deaths within 90 days from starting renal replacement therapy in the ERA-EDTA Registry between 1990 and 1992.

BACKGROUND Patients who die within 90 days of commencing renal replacement therapy (RRT) may be recorded by some centres and not others, and hence data on mortality and survival may not be comparable. However, it is essential to compare like with like when analysing differences between modalities, centres and registries. It was decided, therefore, to look at the incidence of deaths within 90 days in the ERA-EDTA Registry, and to try to define the characteristics of this group of patients. METHODS Between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 1992, 78 534 new patients started RRT in 28 countries affiliated to the ERA-EDTA Registry. Their mean age was 54 years and 31% were over 65 years old. Eighty-two per cent of the patients received haemodialysis (HD), 16% peritoneal dialysis (PD) and 2% had preemptive transplantation as first mode of treatment. RESULTS From January 1990 to March 1993 the overall incidence of deaths was 19% and 4% of all patients died within 90 days from the start of RRT. Among those dying within 90 days 59% were over 65 years compared to 53% over 65 years in those dying beyond this time (P<0.0001). The modality of RRT did not influence the distribution of deaths before and after 90 days. Vascular causes and malignancy were more common in those dying after 90 days, while there were more cardiac and social causes among the early deaths. Mortality from social causes was twice as common in the elderly, who had a significantly higher chance of dying from social causes within 90 days compared to those aged under 65 years. The overall incidence of deaths within 90 days was 3.9% but there was a wide variation between countries, from 1.8% to 11.4%. Finally, patient survival at 2 years was markedly influenced in different age groups when deaths within 90 days were taken into account. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of deaths within 90 days from the start of RRT was 3.9%, with a marked variation between countries ranging from 1.8% to 11.4%, which probably reflects mainly differences in reporting these deaths, although variable selection criteria for RRT may contribute. Deaths within 90 days were significantly more frequent in elderly patients with more early deaths resulting from cardiac and social causes, while vascular causes of death and malignancy were more common in those dying after 90 days. Patient survival analyses should take into account deaths within 90 days from the start of RRT, particularly when comparing results between modalities, countries and registries.
Mindfulness and psychological adjustment in paediatric obesity: The mediating role of body image

AimThe present study explored the potential mediating role of body dissatisfaction and body shame in the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and psychological adjustment in children/adolescents with overweight/obesity. The study aimed to explore the moderating role of gender in the proposed associations.MethodThe sample comprised 105 children/adolescents with overweight/obesity who completed self-report instruments, including the Mindfulness Measure for Children and Adolescents (CAMM), the Collins Body Image Scale (CBI), the body shame subscale of the Experience of Shame Scale (ESS), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the DISABKIDS-37.ResultsRegardless of gender, body shame mediated the association between mindfulness and mental and social quality of life (QoL) and the association between mindfulness and internalising problems.ConclusionThese results suggest that psychological interventions focused on developing mindfulness skills and reducing body shame may be particularly useful for promoting the psychological adjustment of children/adolescents with overweight/obesity.