Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Introduction to Information Science

【授業計画と内容】 1. アルゴリズムとデータ構造: さまざまなデータ構造と探索アルゴリズム 2. 形式言語理論とオートマトン: 言語の形式的定義と形式文法, 正規文法と有限オートマトン, 文脈自 由文法 3. 計算機工学: ビット列によるデータ表現, 論理演算子と電子回路による実現, 組み合わせ論理回路と 順序回路, 基本演算回路, 計算機アーキテクチャ 4. 情報理論: 情報メディアの構造, シャノンの情報理論, 情報の表現・ディジタル化・符号化 5. コンピュータネットワーク: インターネットとは, ネットワークの階層モデル, IP と経路制御プロト コル, TCP における輻輳制御 6. パターン認識: パターン情報処理, ベイズ決定, 識別関数 7. 推論と論理: 命題の形式的表現, 論理式の解釈, 推論規則, 量化子, 様々な推論 8. 人工知能基礎: 人工知能研究の歴史と発見的探索, 機械学習とデータマイニング入門 当該年度の授業回数などに応じて一部省略,追加がありうる. 【履修要件】 本講義は,情報系・電気電子系学科以外の出身者を対象とした学部専門科目の概要紹介であるので,こ れらの学科の出身者は,本講義の単位を修得することはできない. もちろん,本講義の全部あるいは一 部を聴講することは可能である. 【成績評価の方法・基準】 各単元において出題するレポートにより評価する. 試験を行うこともある. 情報系・電気電子系学科の 学部の講義内容を修得することを目標とする.
Successful Integration of Refugee Students in Higher Education: Insights from Entry Diagnostics in an Online Study Program

Accessing higher education without having to overcome bureaucratic hurdles is a serious concern for refugees. Although empirical studies on the integration and success of refugees in higher education are scarce, the challenges related to this issue are becoming apparent. The Success and Opportunities for Refugees in Higher Education (SUCCESS) research project has been launched to investigate the effectiveness of new online study programs offered on the Kiron Open Higher Education (Kiron) platform that provides refugees with access to Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). SUCCESS measures the prior knowledge and skills of refugee students and investigates to what extent their study opportunities, learning processes, and chances of academic success can be improved effectively through different forms of support provided in Kiron. In this paper, we present the assessment framework and study design of the SUCCESS project as well as data on 1,376 students entering the study program in Kiron in summer 2017. As students’ language skills, intellectual abilities, and prior study-related knowledge play a significant role in their performance in higher education degree programs, we focus on the crucial introductory study phase and valid diagnostics of students’ study preconditions. We analyze refugee students’ socio-biographical and educational data such as gender, country of origin, highest level of education achieved etc. and examine their English language skills, intellectual abilities, and previous study domain related knowledge. We find extreme differences in levels of education and preconditions on starting to study in Kiron. Based on these results, we discuss implications for the effective and successful integration of refugee students in higher education. In this paper, we present the evidence-based model, assessment framework, and study design of the XXXXX project, as well as data on 1,376 students entering a study program through Kiron in summer 2017. Because students’ language skills, intellectual abilities, and prior study-related knowledge play a significant role in their performance in higher education degree programs, we focus on the crucial introductory study phase and valid diagnostics of students’ study preconditions. We analyze refugee students’ socio-biographical and educational data such as gender, country of origin, highest level of education achieved etc. and examine their English language skills, intellectual abilities, and previous study domain related knowledge. We find extreme differences in levels of education and preconditions on starting to study through Kiron. Based on these results, we discuss implications for the effective and successful integration of refugee students in higher education.
Do green awards and certifications matter? Consumers’ perceptions, green behavioral intentions, and economic implications for the hotel industry: A Sri Lankan perspective

This study examines the effects of green or eco-friendly certificates and awards on consumers’ perceived value within the hotel industry, and the roles of consumers’ perceived value in predicting satisfaction, intention to revisit, and intention to pay a green premium. The results of partial least squares structural equation modeling analysis from a sample of 250 guests in Sri Lankan hotels showed that our unified model includes a satisfactory level of prediction power to test the hypothesized relationships. Green certificates and green awards positively affect consumers’ perceived value within the hotel industry. The findings also supported the relationship between consumers’ perceived value and satisfaction, intention to revisit, and intention to pay a green premium. The empirical findings in the context of Sri Lanka provide another important insight which confirms the positive effects of green certification and green awards on consumers’ perceived value and behavioral intentions, such as their intention to revisit and to pay a premium.
Factors Related to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination in College Men.

OBJECTIVES To examine the vaccination rate and identify factors influencing HPV vaccination among college men. DESIGN AND SAMPLE This cross-sectional study, guided by Theory of Planned Behavior, was conducted with a convenience sample of college males (18-26 years of age). A web-based survey was sent to 3,300 students attending a public university in California. MEASURES The questionnaire used in the study-HPV/HPV vaccine-related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors-was adapted from a prior study conducted among college women. Demographic and sexual history information was also obtained. RESULTS Four hundred and ten respondents were qualified for analysis. HPV vaccination rate was approximately 11.8%. Overall, young men had quite low HPV/HPV vaccine knowledge. Both nonvaccinees (n = 48) and vaccinees (n = 141) had positive attitudes toward the HPV vaccine, including mandating vaccination. Knowledge and attitudes toward the vaccine were not directly associated with the outcomes of vaccination status and intention. Both outcomes could be predicted by the attitude toward getting vaccinated against HPV. Intention was also predicted by subjective norm. CONCLUSION Interventions to increase the vaccination rate should focus on creating positive attitude toward getting vaccinated against HPV through behavioral beliefs. Increasing the subjective norm will be beneficial.
Dynamics of Ribulose 1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase Gene Expression in the Coccolithophorid Coccolithus pelagicus during a Tracer Release Experiment in the Northeast Atlantic

ABSTRACT We report a pronounced diel rhythm in ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) gene expression in a natural population of the coccolithophorid Coccolithus pelagicus sampled during a Lagrangian experiment in the Northeast Atlantic. Our observations show that there is greater heterogeneity in the temporal regulation of RubisCO expression among planktonic chromophytes than has been reported hitherto.
Role of α‐adrenergic vasoconstriction in regulating skeletal muscle blood flow and vascular conductance during forearm exercise in ageing humans

Human ageing is associated with attenuated skeletal muscle blood flow during exercise. It is unknown whether elevated sympathetic nervous system activity with ageing limits skeletal muscle blood flow during exercise. Determining the role of the sympathetic nervous system in regulating blood flow in healthy ageing is clinically relevant as age‐related changes in the sympathetic nervous system are exacerbated with many diseases associated with impaired tissue perfusion. In the present study, compared to young adults, older adults demonstrate impaired skeletal muscle blood flow during graded handgrip exercise, and this is due to reductions in vascular conductance. Second, the increase in muscle blood flow and vascular conductance during exercise after removal of sympathetic α‐adrenergic vasoconstrictor tone in older adults was lower compared to young adults, similar to what was observed under control conditions. As such, the age‐associated impairment in exercising muscle blood flow and vascular conductance persisted during local adrenoreceptor blockade.
Severe childhood Guillain‐Barré syndrome associated with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection: a case series

We report seven children with recent Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and severe Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS) that presented to two European medical centres from 1992 to 2012. Severe GBS was defined as the occurrence of respiratory failure, central nervous system (CNS) involvement, or death. Five children had GBS, one Bickerstaff brain stem encephalitis (BBE), and one acute‐onset chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (A‐CIDP). The five patients with severe GBS were derived from an original cohort of 66 children with GBS. In this cohort, 17 children (26%) had a severe form of GBS and 47% of patients with M. pneumoniae infection presented with severe GBS. Of the seven patients in this case series, five were mechanically ventilated and four had CNS involvement (two were comatose). Most patients presented with non‐specific clinical symptoms (nuchal rigidity and ataxia) and showed a rapidly progressive disease course (71%). Antibodies against M. pneumoniae were detected in all patients and were found to be intrathecally synthesised in two cases (GBS and BBE), which proves intrathecal infection. One patient died and only two patients recovered completely. These cases illustrate that M. pneumoniae infection in children can be followed by severe and complicated forms of GBS. Non‐specific clinical features of GBS in such patients may predispose a potentially life‐threatening delay in diagnosis.
Demand-side energy management under time-varying prices

Abstract Under time-varying electricity prices, an end-user may be stimulated to delay flexible demands that can be shifted over time. In this article, we study the problem where each end-user adopts an energy management system that helps time flexible demands fulfillments. Discomfort costs are incurred if demand is not satisfied immediately upon arrival. Energy storage and trading decisions are also considered. We model the problem as a finite horizon undiscounted Markov Decision Process, and outline a tractable approximate dynamic programming approach to overcome the curse of dimensionality. Specifically, we construct an approximation for the value-to-go function such that Bellman equations are converted into mixed-integer problems with structural properties. Finally, we numerically demonstrate that our approach achieves close performance to the exact approach, while dominating the myopic policy and no-control policy. Most importantly, the proposed approach can take advantage of the price differences and efficiently shift demands.
Prospective predictors of suicidal behavior in borderline personality disorder at 6-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE Recurrent suicidal behavior is a defining characteristic of borderline personality disorder. Although most patients achieve remission of suicidal behavior over time, as many as 10% die by suicide, raising the question of whether there is a high-risk suicidal subtype. The authors conducted a longitudinal study of suicidal behavior in borderline personality disorder patients to identify prospective predictors of suicide attempts and to characterize those patients at highest risk for suicide completion. METHOD Demographic and diagnostic characteristics and clinical and psychosocial risk factors assessed at baseline were examined for predictive association with medically significant suicide attempts using Cox proportional hazards models. The authors defined prospective predictors for participants who completed 6 or more years in the study and compared the data to those of earlier intervals. RESULTS Among 90 participants, 25 (27.8%) made at least one suicide attempt in the interval, and most attempts occurred in the first 2 years. The risk of suicide attempt was increased by low socioeconomic status, poor psychosocial adjustment, family history of suicide, previous psychiatric hospitalization, and absence of any outpatient treatment before the attempt. Higher global functioning scores at baseline decreased this risk. CONCLUSIONS Risk factors predictive of suicide attempt change over time. Acute stressors such as major depressive disorder were predictive only in the short term (12 months), while poor psychosocial functioning had persistent and long-term effects on suicide risk. Half of borderline patients have poor psychosocial outcomes despite symptomatic improvement. A social and vocational rehabilitation model of treatment is needed to decrease suicide risk and optimize long-term outcomes.
Trends in admission blood pressure and stroke outcome in patients with acute stroke and transient ischemic attack in a National Acute Stroke registry

Objective: Elevated blood pressure (BP) is common during an acute stroke and is associated with unfavorable outcome. Management of hypertension has improved in recent years. We aimed to evaluate trends in admission BP levels in patients admitted with acute stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) over the past decade. Methods: Data were based on the National Acute Stroke Israeli Registry. The study population comprised 6177 patients, aged at least18 years admitted for acute stroke (4382 ischemic stroke and 476 intracerebral hemorrhage) or TIA (1227) and had data on BP levels on admission. We studied temporal trends in admission BP and preadmission antihypertensive therapy from 2004 to 2010. Results: Admission SBP (mean ± SD) in patients with acute stroke decreased from 161 ± 29 mmHg in 2004 to 153 ± 28 mmHg in 2010 (P < 0.001). Similar trends were observed for patients with TIA. The use of three or more antihypertensive agents before stroke onset increased from 16.9% in 2004 to 20.0% in 2010 (P = 0.02). In patients with acute stroke, higher admission SBP was associated with increased stroke severity (P < 0.001). Rate of disability at discharge or in-hospital death decreased from 71.3% in 2004 to 64.8% in 2010 (P < 0.0001). Admission SBP was associated with disability at discharge or in-hospital death with an adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 1.06 (1.04–1.08) per 10 mmHg change in SBP. Conclusion: Admission SBP in patients with acute stroke and TIA decreased from 2004 to 2010 and may have contributed to the improved outcome in these patients.
Differential evolution of cognitive impairment in nondemented older persons: results from the Kungsholmen Project.

OBJECTIVE This study was a prospective, population-based examination of the evolution of cognitive impairment, no dementia (CIND). METHOD Subjects 75 years old or older living in Stockholm were assessed at baseline and 3 and 6 years later. The severity of CIND was based on age- and education-specific norms on the Mini-Mental State Examination and was classified as mild (N=212), moderate (N=96), or severe (N=57). Mortality, progression to dementia (DSM-III-R), cognitive stability, and cognitive improvement were studied as main outcomes. RESULTS Of the individuals with mild CIND, 63 (34%) died, 65 (35%) progressed to dementia, 21 (11%) remained stable, and 46 (25%) improved between baseline and first follow-up. The relative risks of progressing to dementia by first follow-up in the subjects with mild, moderate, and severe CIND were 3.6, 5.4, and 7.0, respectively. The relative risk of death decreased with increasing severity of impairment. Individuals who improved at first follow-up did not have a significantly higher risk of later progressing to dementia than subjects who had never been impaired (relative risk=1.4). The absence of a subjective memory complaint predicted improvement (odds ratio=5.4). CONCLUSIONS CIND is a heterogeneous condition: similar proportions of subjects progress to dementia, death, and cognitive improvement over 3 years. There is no increased future risk of progressing to dementia in CIND subjects who improve during that period.
Imagine arts: now the arts can transform care homes

There is a growing body of evidence that demonstrates that the arts have an important role in the care of people with dementia. The Baring Foundation, a UK based organisation which aims to improve the quality of life of those who may be disadvantaged or discriminated against, conducted a report which found that incorporating creativity and artistic expression can improve the care and quality of life of people who are living in residential care (Cutler, 2011). Imagine Arts was a three year programme funded by Arts Council England and the Baring Foundation. It was a collaboration between a national care home provider, local arts organisations, the local authority and a higher educational institution. The aim of the programme was to enrich the lives of older people in care, changing perceptions about care homes and to integrate creativity and arts experiences as an essential part of life in care homes. Residents in seventeen care homes, many of whom living with dementia, were exposed to a diverse programme of arts interventions.
The Phenotypic Effects of Spontaneous Mutations in Different Environments

Understanding the context dependence of mutation represents the current frontier of mutation research. In particular, understanding how traits vary in their abilities to accrue mutational variation and how the environment influences expression of mutant phenotypes yields insight into evolutionary processes. We conducted phenotypic assays in four environments using a set of Daphnia pulex mutation accumulation lines to examine the context dependence of mutation. Life-history traits accrued mutational variance faster than morphological traits when considered in individual environments. Across environments, the mutational variance in plasticity was also greater for life-history traits than for morphological traits, although this pattern was less robust. In addition, the expression of mutational variance depended on the environment, which resulted in changes in the rank order of genotype performance across environments in some cases. Such cryptic genetic variation resulting from mutation may maintain genetic diversity and allow for rapid adaptation in spatially or temporally variable environments.
'Japan is Back': Autonomy and Balancing Amidst an Unstable China–U.S.–Japan Triangle

Japan's security policy has changed dramatically in recent years. The country balances harder against China, and its armed forces are increasingly autonomous from their American counterparts. What explains Japan's growing autonomy and balancing tendency after decades of relative apathy? I argue that this new strategic orientation results from unprecedented doubts about the effectiveness of its traditional security policy amidst an unstable ChinaâU.S.âJapan triangular relationship. Tokyo is increasingly uncertain about American security commitments in the face of a more assertive China. As both the alliance with the United States and the accommodation of China are becoming unsuitable strategies for guaranteeing national security, Japan reverts to a more autonomous and resolute posture. Japan's new security policy will have important consequences for the triangular relationship.
Effective Passivation of Black Silicon Surfaces by Atomic Layer Deposition

The poor charge-carrier transport properties attributed to nanostructured surfaces have been so far more detrimental for final device operation than the gain obtained from the reduced reflectance. Here, we demonstrate results that simultaneously show a huge improvement in the light absorption and in the surface passivation by applying atomic layer coating on highly absorbing silicon nanostructures. The results advance the development of photovoltaic applications, including high-efficiency solar cells or any devices, that require high-sensitivity light response.
Assessing Transplant Education Practices in Dialysis Centers: Comparing Educator Reported and Medicare Data.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires that dialysis centers inform new patients of their transplant options and document compliance using the CMS-2728 Medical Evidence Form (Form-2728). This study compared reports of transplant education for new dialysis patients reported to CMS with descriptions from transplant educators (predominantly dialysis nurses and social workers) of their centers' quantity of and specific educational practices. The goal was to determine what specific transplant education occurred and whether provision of transplant education was associated with center-level variation in transplant wait-listing rates. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS Form-2728 data were drawn for 1558 incident dialysis patients at 170 centers in the Heartland Kidney Network (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska) in 2009-2011; educators at these centers completed a survey describing their transplant educational practices. Educators' own survey responses were compared with Form-2728 reports for patients at each corresponding center. The association of quantity of transplant education practices used with wait-listing rates across dialysis centers was examined using multivariable negative binomial regression. RESULTS According to Form-2728, 77% of patients (n=1203) were informed of their transplant options within 45 days. Educators, who reported low levels of transplant knowledge themselves (six of 12 questions answered correctly), most commonly reported giving oral recommendations to begin transplant evaluation (988 informed patients educated, 81% of centers) and referrals to external transplant education programs (959 informed patients educated, 81% of centers). Only 18% reported having detailed discussions about transplant with their patients. Compared with others, centers that used more than three educational activities (incident rate ratio, 1.36; 95% confidence interval, 1.07 to 1.73) had higher transplant wait-listing rates. CONCLUSIONS While most educators inform new patients that transplant is an option, dialysis centers with higher wait-listing rates use multiple transplant education strategies.
Rotavirus Replication Requires a Functional Proteasome for Effective Assembly of Viroplasms

ABSTRACT The ubiquitin-proteasome system has been shown to play an important role in the replication cycle of different viruses. In this study, we describe a strong impairment of rotavirus replication upon inhibition of proteasomal activity. The effect was evidenced at the level of accumulation of viral proteins, viral RNA, and yield of infective particles. Kinetic studies revealed that the early steps of the replicative cycle following attachment, entry, and uncoating were clearly more sensitive to proteasome inhibition. We ruled out a direct inhibition of the viral polymerase activities and stability of viral proteins and found that the crucial step that was impaired by blocking proteasome activity was the assembly of new viroplasms. This was demonstrated by using chemical inhibitors of proteasome and by gene silencing using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) specific for different proteasomal subunits and for the ubiquitin precursor RPS27A. In addition, we show that the effect of proteasome inhibition on virus infection is not due to increased levels of beta interferon (IFN-β).