Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors affecting the quality of life of haemodialysis patients from Romania: a multicentric study.

BACKGROUND The quality of life (QoL) is an important predictor of outcome in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Therefore, QoL needs to be regularly assessed in this setting. Our study describes QoL, as well as demographic and clinical variables associated with QoL in chronic haemodialysis (HD) patients in Romania. METHODS All prevalent chronic HD patients (N = 709; mean age 51.7 +/- 12.6 years) in 12 dialysis centres from the three main regions of Romania were included in the study. Six hundred and six of these completed the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire-Short Form (KDQOL-SF). RESULTS The mean physical component summary (PCS) score was 46.3 +/- 19.2, and the mean mental component summary (MCS) score was 55.1 +/- 19.3. These figures were lower than those previously described in non-dialysis age-matched Romanian individuals. The mean kidney disease summary component (KDSC) score was 68.3 +/- 11.3, similar to other studies. The worst dimension of QoL was work, whereas the best ones were cognitive function and quality of social interaction. We found older age, female gender, lower socio-economic status and higher educational level to be associated with lower QoL scores. CONCLUSIONS The QoL of HD patients in Romania is lower than that in the general population. Our results suggest that at least one-third of these patients might be considered for rehabilitation therapy, in order to try and prevent complications and mortality.
Allergic contact dermatitis from naftifine in a child without cross‐reaction to terbinafine

Allergic contact dermatitis from naftifine has been scarcely described in the English literature, all of them in adults. We report a case of a 12‐year‐old girl who developed an acute eczema on her neck after application of a naftifine cream. This fact was confirmed by a patch‐test study. We did not find a cross‐reaction to terbinafine, a structurally linked allylamine.
Beyond Social Class:: Cultural Resources And Educational Participation among Low-Income Black Parenta

Research demonstrates that low-income parents participate less often and less effectively in schools than do middle- and upper-income parents. However, some research suggests that low-income black parents visit schools more frequently and participate in parent-teacher associations at a higher rate than low-income whites. This suggests that the effect of social class on parent participation is mediated by race. In this paper, I examine the educational beliefs and participation of a group of low-income black parents. I argue that their educational beliefs and strategies of involvement contrast sharply with previous data on low-income whites. I further demonstrate that these parents use extended family networks, religious involvement, and communal childrearing orientations to support their active engagement in the education of their children. The study suggests that low-income black parents draw on distinct cultural resources to enhance their involvement with their children's schools and that these resources are converted into cultural and social capital when deployed in the school context
Exploring multimodal biosignal features for stress detection during indoor mobility

This paper presents a multimodal framework for assessing the emotional and cognitive experience of blind and visually impaired people when navigating in unfamiliar indoor environments based on mobile monitoring and fusion of electroencephalography (EEG) and electrodermal activity (EDA) signals. The overall goal is to understand which environmental factors increase stress and cognitive load in order to help design emotionally intelligent mobility technologies that are able to adapt to stressful environments from real-time biosensor data. We propose a model based on a random forest classifier which successfully infers in an automatic way (weighted AUROC 79.3%) the correct environment among five predefined categories expressing generic everyday situations of varying complexity and difficulty, where different levels of stress are likely to occur. Time-locating the most predictive multimodal features that relate to cognitive load and stress, we provide further insights into the relationship of specific biomarkers with the environmental/situational factors that evoked them.
Evaluation and Optimization of Abu Tartur Egyptian Phosphate Ore Dissolution

Phosphorus is the most required nutrient of plants, but its availability in Egypt is relatively low. The use of phosphate solubilizing microorganism to dissolve phosphate content of phosphate ore instead of conventionally methods is an ecologically safe and economically reasonable. In this study dissolution of phosphorus from Abu Tarture Egyptian ore which has low solubility level was applied by two different fungal isolates penicillium chrysogenum and Aspergillus niger to increase availability of phosphorous. The results of this study indicated that p. chrysogenum gave the highest value with 95% maximum dissolution of 0.5 % phosphate ore. The objective of the present work, study all factors affecting on phosphate dissolution of Abu Tartur phosphate ore. The optimum conditions for dissolution of phosphate ore by p. chrysogenum were 0.25 g ore per 50 ml of broth PVK medium, inoculated with spore suspension 5.1x10 P P cfu/ml incubated for 4 days at 30° C, glucose and yeast were the most effective carbon and nitrogen source. By apply this optimum conditions, maximum dissolution of phosphate content of ore reaches to 95%. Whereas, A. niger isolate optimum dissolution conditions were 0.25 g ore for 50 ml of PVK broth medium inoculated with spore suspension 5.2x10 P P cfu/ml and incubated for 4 days at 30 ° C, sucrose and tryptone were the most effective carbon and nitrogen source. By applying this optimum conditions maximum dissolution of phosphate content of ore reaches to 85.5%.
Evaluating Speech, Face, Emotion and Body Movement Time-series Features for Automated Multimodal Presentation Scoring

We analyze how fusing features obtained from different multimodal data streams such as speech, face, body movement and emotion tracks can be applied to the scoring of multimodal presentations. We compute both time-aggregated and time-series based features from these data streams--the former being statistical functionals and other cumulative features computed over the entire time series, while the latter, dubbed histograms of cooccurrences, capture how different prototypical body posture or facial configurations co-occur within different time-lags of each other over the evolution of the multimodal, multivariate time series. We examine the relative utility of these features, along with curated speech stream features in predicting human-rated scores of multiple aspects of presentation proficiency. We find that different modalities are useful in predicting different aspects, even outperforming a naive human inter-rater agreement baseline for a subset of the aspects analyzed.
The Neural Processing of Emotional Pictures : evidence from Evoked Potentials and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Emotionally salient stimuli such as naturalistic scenes, facial expressions and emotional body language elicit increased neuronal activation in associative sensory cortex, as well affective cortical and sub-cortical networks. It has been suggested, that the affective quality of these stimuli is largely a result of evolutionary predisposition and that their selective perceptual encoding may thus be biologically prepared. The present study tested whether comparable neuronal processing patterns are also elicited by expressive hand gestures, bearing distinct emotional yet highly symbolic meaning. During functional scanning, 33 subjects passively viewed blocked picture presentations of pleasant, neutral and unpleasant hand gestures. Consistent with a priori assumptions, emotionally meaningful gestures were associated with increased BOLD activations in extrastriate visual cortex, as well as in parietal areas. These results suggest that emotional significance detected by the brain is not exclusively founded in the genetic heritage of the human species but may also get attached to highly symbolic stimuli by social learning. Affective hand gestures
Methods for studying innovation processes: Towards a complementarity between organizational and cognitive perspectives

This paper describes two methods designed to study and diagnose innovation processes. The first one adopts a systems perspective and focuses on information flows and decision-making during a project, whereas the second one privileges a cognitive approach and is aimed at highlighting actors' representations of innovation processes and new products. A comparison of the research results obtained in different industrial firms using these two methods introduces a discussion of the complementarity of both perspectives. These obser- vations lead to an assessment of the collective learning mechanisms initiated during the field studies.
Overexpression of Galectin-9 in Islets Prolongs Grafts Survival via Downregulation of Th1 Responses

The differential activation of T helper (Th) cells and production of cytokines contribute to graft rejection or tolerance. In general, the Th1-type cytokines and cytotoxic T-cells are detected consistently in a host who is undergoing rejection, whereas Th2 responses are linked to a tolerance condition. Galectin-9 modulates Th1 cell immunity by binding to the T-cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (Tim-3) molecule expressed on the Th1 cells. We investigate whether overexpression of galectin-9 in islets prolongs grafts survival in diabetic recipients. Islets were transduced with lentiviruses carrying galectin-9 and were then transplanted to streptozotocin-induced diabetic NOD/SCID recipients. The normoglycemic recipients then received splenocytes from diabetic NOD mice. Blood glucose concentration was monitored daily after adoptive transfer. The histology of the islet grafts and flow cytometric analyses were assessed at the end of the study. Overexpression of galectin-9 in islets prolonged graft survival in NOD/SCID mice after challenge with diabetogenic splenocytes (mean graft survival, 38.5 vs. 26.0 days, n = 10, respectively; p = 0.0096). The galectin-9-overexpressed grafts showed decreased infiltration of IFN-γ-producing CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells, but not of IL-17-producing CD4+ T-cells. Strikingly, this islet-specific genetic manipulation did not affect the systemic lymphocyte composition, indicating that galectin-9 may regulate T-cell-mediated inflammation in situ. We demonstrate that galectin-9 protects grafts from Th1 and Tc1 cellmediated rejections, suggesting that galectin-9 has preventive and/or therapeutic benefit in transplant therapy for autoimmune diabetes and may be applied further to the transplantation of other organs or tissues.
Thermal properties of amorphous/crystalline silicon superlattices

Thermal transport properties of crystalline/amorphous silicon superlattices using molecular dynamics are investigated. We show that the cross-plane conductivity of the superlattices is very low and close to the conductivity of bulk amorphous silicon even for amorphous layers as thin as ≃6 Å. The cross-plane thermal conductivity weakly increases with temperature which is associated with a decrease of the Kapitza resistance with temperature at the crystalline/amorphous interface. This property is further investigated considering the spatial analysis of the phonon density of states in domains close to the interface. Interestingly, the crystalline/amorphous superlattices are shown to display large thermal anisotropy, according to the characteristic sizes of elaborated structures. These last results suggest that the thermal conductivity of crystalline/amorphous superlattices can be phonon engineered, providing new directions for nanostructured thermoelectrics and anisotropic materials in thermal transport.
Methane Efflux from Lake Sediments Through Water Lilies

During winter, when water lilies have no surface leaves, the gases in the rhizome lacunae approach equilibrium with the gases of the sediment water. The resulting increase of internal pressure is manifested by the sustained streams of bubbles (up to 37 percent methane and 6 percent carbon dioxide) that escape when emerging leaves are torn in the spring. Methane continues to enter the roots and rhizome during summer, rapidly moves up the petioles, and passes out through the emergent leaves into the atmosphere.
Endotoxin up-regulates interleukin-18: potential role for gram-negative colonization in sarcoidosis.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease of unknown etiology characterized by a helper T-cell type 1-mediated process. Previously we demonstrated a role for interleukin-18 in sarcoidosis. Here we examine the regulation of interleukin-18 in this condition. METHODS Cytokine levels in sarcoid epithelial lining fluid were measured by ELISA. We examined interleukin-18 promoter activity and mRNA and protein levels in the epithelial lining fluid of individuals with active sarcoidosis, and of individuals recovered from sarcoidosis, in response to purified protein derivative of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, beryllium sulfate, zirconium sulfate, aluminum sulfate, and lipopolysaccharide. Endotoxin levels in the epithelial lining fluid of individuals with sarcoidosis, individuals recovered from sarcoidosis, and control subjects were assessed by Limulus amebocyte lysate analysis. Allele-specific polymerase chain reaction was used to genotype 94 patients with sarcoidosis and 97 control subjects for the interleukin-18 -607(A/C) polymorphism. Species-specific polymerase chain reaction identified bacterial DNA in fluid samples. RESULTS Epithelial lining fluid from active sarcoids contained elevated levels of interleukin-18, interferon-gamma, and interleukin-12 compared with recovered patients and also contained significantly higher levels of endotoxin. Depletion of endotoxin from this epithelial lining fluid reduced its effect on the human interleukin-18 promoter in vitro. There was a higher frequency of the -607C allele and -607(C/C) genotype in the sarcoidosis population compared with control subjects; however, this was not associated with a functional response to endotoxin treatment. Finally, bacterial 16S rRNA from Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis was detected in sarcoid fluid samples. CONCLUSIONS The pathogenesis of sarcoidosis is propagated through the actions of a helper T-cell type 1-driven response. This study shows that gram-negative bacteria may contribute to this effect by upregulating interleukin-18 expression.
Towards implementation of IEC 61850 GOOSE messaging in IEC 61499 environment

IEC 61850 is the new standard for substation automation. One of the IEC 61850 communication services, designed specifically for protection within the substation automation system is GOOSE messaging. GOOSE messaging is a peer to peer communication protocol aiming to satisfy the stringent communication requirements within protection systems operating over the Ethernet communication framework. One of the on-going research topics in this area is extending capabilities of IEC 61850 to represent control logic by combining it with component software architecture of the IEC 61499 standard. The Intelligent Logical Nodes (iLN) architecture is one such solution which combines the two standards. This development led to the need to implement communication services of IEC 61850 by means of IEC 61499. This paper presents such an implementation of IEC 61850 GOOSE messaging using IEC 61499 Service Interface Function Blocks implemented by means of the WinPCap library.
Artificial Intelligence in E-Leaning-Pedagogical and Cognitive Aspects

 Abstract— Abstract-This research study attempts to review the pedagogical and cognitive aspects in e-learning. Conditioning e-learning system according to the characteristics of knowledge for students involves attitude survey of simultaneously artistic and pedagogical features. The main feature of e-learning systems is the ability to incorporate and deal with various types of contents and react efficiently to the needs of students. E-learning has become an important part of our educational life. Different web-based Learning Management Systems (LMS) have been developed to support the learner in the learning process. Previous learning methods were restricted to access and assimilation of knowledge. A web- based system is a valuable support for face to-face communication as well as a way of transmitting the learning material to enhance the students own studies (22). The pedagogical techniques, which improves the learning performance, in addition to utilize the learner association in e-learning for constructing and updating the course materials by using high-quality presentation methods, utilize a theme and analogies techniques in exhibit the main information and key concepts, using of the games to view and solve the problem that have a challenge. And construct and organizing the adaptation of course contents according the demand and the needs of learners and ensure to implement a life cycle process for creating and upgrading the course contents (10). With regards to the evolution and augmentation in e- learning in education sector and, in collaboration with training sector(7), interest in personalization of content delivery, using multimedia for delivering e-learning, broader access to broadband networks, Wi-Fi and 3G mobile networks have magnetize the e-learning domain in the direction of the ubiquitous learning. This leads to create an innovative ubiquitous performance responsive e-learning environment, as example the PEACOCK, (Performance- based E-learning Adaptive Cost-efficient Open Corpus framework), which facilitate an intellectual assortment and
A 12-Bit 1.25-GS/s DAC in 90 nm CMOS With $ > $70 dB SFDR up to 500 MHz

A current-steering digital-to-analog converter (DAC) was fabricated using a 90 nm CMOS technology. Its dynamic performance is enhanced by adopting a digital random return-to-zero (DRRZ) operation and a compact current cell design. The DRRZ also facilitates a current-cell background calibration technique that ensures the DAC static linearity. The measured differential nonlinearity (DNL) is 0.5 LSB and the integral nonlinearity (INL) is 1.2 LSB. At 1.25 GS/s sampling rate, the DAC achieves a spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) better than 70 dB up to 500 MHz input frequency. The DAC occupies an active area of 1100 750 . It consumes a total of 128 mW from a 1.2 V and a 2.5 V supply.
Theorising identity, nationality and citizenship: Implications for European citizenship identity

theoretical approaches to the key concepts of ‘identity’ and ‘citizenship’ exploring their implications for the possibilities of European citizenship and European identity. In many circumstances and for many people, ‘being European’ is more likely to be an abstract categorising of self and/or others rather than a strongly felt sense of common identity and belonging. In reviewing theoretical discussion of ‘identity’, this paper reasserts the value of a social constructionist position that people have one self but many identities, some more ‘primary’ than others. This approach goes beyond the conclusion that, while neither local nor national identity is necessarily ‘primary’, local identity is more likely to be ‘primary’, to offer clues about the conditions required for supra-national identities such as European or ‘global identity’ to become ‘primary’. Discussions of processes creating identification with others and a sense of ‘belonging’, social categorisation and processes of group membership, ‘othering’ and boundary work, are briefly reviewed before turning to the debate over ‘agency’ and ‘structure’ that runs through discussions of identity. This provides a reminder that different national contexts offer access to different resources with which to build local, national and European identities and that within one nation-state, not all have the same degrees of freedom to create identities. The article concludes with debate concerning whether and in what circumstances being a citizen moves from membership of an
Coordinated Multicast Based on a MIMO Relay Station in a Single Frequency Network

In this paper, we present a coordinated multicast scheme via a relay station (RS) over a single frequency network (SFN). According to the type of feedback information delivered from the RS to the adjacent base stations (BSs) involved in the coordinated multicast, the schemes are classified into the phase coordination multicast based on the RS (PCMR) and the vector coordination multicast based on the RS (VCMR). For the performance analysis, we derive the mathematical upper bound of an achievable rate from the BSs to the RS for the coordinated multicast based on RS. Through this analysis, we demonstrate that the PCMR and the VCMR achieve more gains over the noncoordinated multicast in terms of the number of RS antennas, the number of adjacent BSs, and the number of BS antennas. Through simulation, we derive a range of distances between the home BS and the RS, the number of users, and the number of user antennas, providing evidence that the RS-based multicast outperforms the conventional multicast.
Using film to think historically about the civil rights movement with elementary preservice teachers

This descriptive case study describes the use of documentary film to teach historical thinking in one undergraduate elementary social studies methods course. The study was situated within a teacher education program at a midsized public university in the Southeastern United States. Eighteen students were enrolled in the course. Of the eighteen students, one student self-identified as biracial and seventeen students self-identified as White. I was the instructor for the course meetings. Over a period of four weeks, students viewed four different documentary films using anticipation guides, corroborated a variety of historical sources, and engaged in whole group Socratic dialogues in class. Following each of the four classes, students completed written reflections related to the process. Each week, students explored a new theme in the social studies curriculum and a different historical thinking skill. Case study method was used and data collection methods included pre and post questionnaires with Likert-style and open ended response items, students' viewing anticipation guides, transcribed Socratic dialogues, and students' written reflections. Data was coded and analyzed using the constant comparative method (Glaser, 1965; Glaser & Strauss, 1967). Study findings revealed that students understood the documentary films to be realistic and informative historical sources, and frequently had emotional reactions to the four films. Students most often cited the film sources in their responses, and used the films to identify popular narratives and counter-narratives and engage historical empathy; however, they did not interrogate the film sources in the same way that they did the other historical sources. Additionally, the films seemed to promote students' engagement with multiple controversial issues. Instructional implications for social studies education as well as implications for student learning are discussed.