Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Portal for Families Overcoming Neurodevelopmental Disorders (PFOND): Implementation of a Software Framework for Facilitated Community Website Creation by Nontechnical Volunteers

Background The Portal for Families Overcoming Neurodevelopmental Disorders (PFOND) provides a structured Internet interface for the sharing of information with individuals struggling with the consequences of rare developmental disorders. Large disease-impacted communities can support fundraising organizations that disseminate Web-based information through elegant websites run by professional staff. Such quality resources for families challenged by rare disorders are infrequently produced and, when available, are often dependent upon the continued efforts of a single individual. Objective The project endeavors to create an intuitive Web-based software system that allows a volunteer with limited technical computer skills to produce a useful rare disease website in a short time period. Such a system should provide access to emerging news and research findings, facilitate community participation, present summary information about the disorder, and allow for transient management by volunteers who are likely to change periodically. Methods The prototype portal was implemented using the WordPress software system with both existing and customized supplementary plug-in software modules. Gamification scoring features were implemented in a module, allowing editors to measure progress. The system was installed on a Linux-based computer server, accessible across the Internet through standard Web browsers. Results A prototype PFOND system was implemented and tested. The prototype system features a structured organization with distinct partitions for background information, recent publications, and community discussions. The software design allows volunteer editors to create a themed website, implement a limited set of topic pages, and connect the software to dynamic RSS feeds providing information about recent news or advances. The prototype was assessed by a fraction of the disease sites developed (8 out of 27), including Aarskog-Scott syndrome, Aniridia, Adams-Oliver syndrome, Cat Eye syndrome, Kabuki syndrome, Leigh syndrome, Peters anomaly, and Rothmund-Thomson syndrome. The editor progress score was used to measure performance for a portion of sites. Conclusions The PFOND system provides a convenient and structured Internet resource for the facilitated creation of information resources for families confronted by rare disorders. The system empowers volunteers to participate in the creation of quality content, while allowing for the inevitable turnover of contributors over time. The next phase of PFOND development will focus on volunteer participation in system development and community engagement.
MANYOpen Source Machine Translation System Combination

This paper describes a push-the-button MT system combination toolkit. The combination is based on the creation of a lattice made on several confusion networks (CN) connected together. This lattice is then decoded with a token-pass decoder to provide the best and/or n-best outputs. Each CN is built using a modified version of the TERp tool. The toolkit is made of several scripts along a core program developed in Java. It is totally configurable and the parameters can be tuned quite easily.
The Effects of 1α,25‐Dihydroxyvitamin D3 on the Expression of DNA Replication Genes

To identify key genes in the antiproliferative action of 1,25(OH)2D3, MC3T3‐E1 mouse osteoblasts were subjected to cDNA microarray analyses. Eleven E2F‐driven DNA replication genes were downregulated by 1,25(OH)2D3. These results were confirmed by quantitative RT‐PCR in different cell types, showing the general nature of this action of 1,25(OH)2D3.
Psychological analysis on human-robot interaction

For realizing a robot working in human society, interaction with humans is the key issue. We have developed a robot that interacts with humans based on visual recognition. This robot has two vision systems: an omnidirectional vision system for acquiring necessary visual information and a binocular stereo vision system. The binocular vision system indicates what the robot is looking at and is not used for locomotion. Gaze control plays an important role in human-robot interaction. This paper reports how the robot's gaze influences subjects' impressions of the robot. With a statistically significant number of robot observers, we employed psychological methods, the semantic differential method (SD), and factor analysis. This careful psychological analysis of robot impressions is the first trial in robotics. Through the experiment, we have found that the impressions mainly consist of four factors: familiarity, enjoyment, activity, and performance. The computer skills of subjects affect their impressions of the robot.
Optimal Design Method of MIMO Antenna Directivities and Corresponding Current Distributions by Using Spherical Mode Expansion

This paper proposes a new methodology to design optimal antennas for MIMO (Multi-Input Multi-Output) communication systems by using spherical mode expansion. Given spatial channel properties of a MIMO channel, such as the angular profile at both sides, the optimal MIMO antennas should provide the largest channel capacity with a constraint of the limited implementation space (volume). In designing a conventional MIMO antenna, first the antenna structure (current distribution) is determined, second antenna directivity is calculated based on the current distribution, and thirdly MIMO channel capacity is calculated by using given angular profiles and obtained antenna directivity. This process is repeated by adjusting the antenna structure until the performance satisfies a predefined threshold. To the contrary, this paper solves the optimization problem analytically and finally gives near optimal antenna structure (current distribution) without any greedy search. In the proposed process, first the optimal directivity of MIMO antennas is derived by applying spherical mode expansion to the angular profiles, and second a far-near field conversion is applied on the derived optimal directivity to achieve near optimal current distributions on a limited surface. The effectiveness of the proposed design methodology is validated via numerical calculation of MIMO channel capacity as in the conventional design method while giving near optimal current distribution with constraint of an antenna structure derived from proposed methodology.
A low-cost video-based tool for clinical gait analysis

In physical and rehabilitation medicine physicians need to perform clinical gait analysis to assess patients walking ability. Despite the relevant research on motion tracking, gait analysis technologies are far to be commonly diffused in clinical practice since they are quite expensive, need high-structured laboratories and trained personnel who are not always available. In order to overcome such limitations, this work proposes a low-cost, video-based portable tool for clinical gait analysis which provides the bi-dimensional kinematic analysis of walking. The system processes a video stream by means of tracking different markers placed in five anatomical landmarks of the subject’s leg, applying Kalman filter in conjunction with a method that copes with occlusions. The system has been validated on a healthy subject, showing that it is able to reconstruct marker position and leg kinematics even if several occlusions occur.
Correct Patterning of the Primitive Streak Requires the Anterior Visceral Endoderm

Anterior-posterior axis specification in the mouse requires signalling from a specialised extra-embryonic tissue called the anterior visceral endoderm (AVE). AVE precursors are induced at the distal tip of the embryo and move to the prospective anterior. Embryological and genetic analysis has demonstrated that the AVE is required for anterior patterning and for correctly positioning the site of primitive streak formation by inhibiting Nodal activity. We have carried out a genetic ablation of the Hex-expressing cells of the AVE (Hex-AVE) by knocking the Diphtheria toxin subunit A into the Hex locus in an inducible manner. Using this model we have identified that, in addition to its requirement in the anterior of the embryo, the Hex-AVE sub-population has a novel role between 5.5 and 6.5dpc in patterning the primitive streak. Embryos lacking the Hex-AVE display delayed initiation of primitive streak formation and miss-patterning of the anterior primitive streak. We demonstrate that in the absence of the Hex-AVE the restriction of Bmp2 expression to the proximal visceral endoderm is also defective and expression of Wnt3 and Nodal is not correctly restricted to the posterior epiblast. These results, coupled with the observation that reducing Nodal signalling in Hex-AVE ablated embryos increases the frequency of phenotypes observed, suggests that these primitive streak patterning defects are due to defective Nodal signalling. Together, our experiments demonstrate that the AVE is not only required for anterior patterning, but also that specific sub-populations of this tissue are required to pattern the posterior of the embryo.
View-based query processing for regular path queries with inverse

View-based query processing is the problem of computing the answer to a query based on a set of materialized views, rather than on the raw data in the database. The problem comes in two different forms, called query rewriting and query answering, respectively. In the first form, we are given a query and a set of view definitions, and the goal is to reformulate the query into an expression that refers only to the views. In the second form, besides the query and the view definitions, we are also given the extensions of the views and a tuple, and the goal is to check whether the knowledge on the view extensions logically implies that the tuple satisfies the query. In this paper we address the problem of view-based query processing in the context of semistructured data, in particular for the case of regular-path queries extended with the inverse operator. Several authors point out that the inverse operator is one of the fundamental extensions for making regular-path queries useful in real settings. We present a novel technique based on the use of two-way finite-state automata. Our approach demonstrates the power of this kind of automata in dealing with the inverse operator, allowing us to show that both query rewriting and query answering with the inverse operator has the same computational complexity as for the case of standard regular-path queries.
Regression analyses of southern African ethnomedicinal plants : prioritising plant selections for bioprospecting and pharmacological screening

Using data sourced from the SANBI MedList database, the most comprehensive inventory of ethnomedicinal plants for the Flora of southern Africa region, taxa were grouped by order. A least squares regression analysis was used to test the null hypothesis that the use of these plants by traditional healers is strictly random. The above approach, following a North American study by Moerman (1979), sought to identify plant orders and subsequently families most highly selected for by traditional healers in southern Africa. The analyses identified seven principally ‘hot’ plant orders (Malpigiales, Fabales, Gentianales, Asteraceae, Solanales, Malvales and Sapindales) and ‘hot’ families therein from a total of 55 regional ethnomedicinal orders. Five ‘cold’ ethnomedicinal orders (Rosales, Proteales, Poales, Asparagales and Caryophyllales) were shown to be significantly less represented in the medicinal flora than predicted. These 12 outliers allowed for the falsification of the null hypothesis. Such regression analyses of local
Voice or Gaze ? Comparative Evaluation of Vocal Joystick and Eye Tracker

In this work, we present the results of our comparative evaluation of the Vocal Joystick system and the Eye Tracker system. Vocal Joystick is a non-verbal voice-based continuous mouse cursor control system that offers an alternative method of computer interaction for people with motor impairments. Our goal was to gain an understanding for how this system compares to an existing assistive technology, and we chose the Eye Tracker as our target for comparison due to its availability. The results suggest that the Vocal Joystick system can provide comparable performance as the Eye Tracker in basic target clicking tasks, and that our study participants found the Vocal Joystick to be easier to control and more preferable than the Eye Tracker system.
A Hyper-connected World

As the world gets hyper-connected, cities are evolving into complex ecosystems, technically and behaviourally. Machines and humans interact continually, generating streams of data and behavior patterns. To be a true smart city in a hyper-connected world, cities today have to use technology like a modern enterprise: build a digital spine; become intelligent and leverage automation. However, this technology core should be people centric. In a multiple stakeholder ecosystem, city administrators, industries and citizens, will look at the city from a different perspective and expect different experiences. Finally citizen experience will be the determinant of success of a smart city. While articulating this vision, Ananth will highlight how differently businesses must orient themselves in this environment.
Measurement of Oxygen Consumption and Arterial-Venous Oxygen Saturation following Total Artificial Heart Implantation

Current algorithms for control of the total artificial heart are directed at maintaining hemodynamic homeostasis. Future control systems will also need to modify cardiac output in response to metabolic needs. This study was undertaken to evaluate oxygen metabolism monitoring as an indicator of the adequacy of organ and tissue perfusion. Following recovery from implantation of the Utah-100 pneumatic total artificial hearts, five calves (85 to 95 kg) underwent placement of fiberoptic oxymetry catheters to determine mixed venous and arterial oxygen saturations. By continuously measuring oxygen consumption with a gas analyzer, oxygen utilization and delivery were determined. In the awake calves, at-rest cardiac output was varied to produce hyperperfused and hypoperfused conditions while the adequacy of tissue perfusion was assessed with continuous mixed venous oxymetry and confirmed with serum lactate (Lact) levels. Inadequate tissue perfusion (Lact > 1.0 mmol/L) was evidenced by a mixed venous oxygen saturation <40%, oxygen delivery of < 200.0 milliliters/minute/m2), and oxygen delivery to utilization ratio of < 1.8 during the hypoperfusion conditions of the experiment. By accounting for oxygen consumption, the ratio of oxygen delivery to oxygen utilization was predictive of the adequacy of tissue perfusion. These results suggest that continuous oxygen metabolism monitoring may be useful as a physiologic control modifier to maintain total artificial heart output sufficient to meet physiologic needs, while avoiding hyperperfusion, unnecessary wear and deterioration of the implanted device due to excessive heart rates.
Glucocorticoids and protein kinase A coordinately modulate transcription factor recruitment at a glucocorticoid-responsive unit

The rat tyrosine aminotransferase gene is a model system to study transcriptional regulation by glucocorticoid hormones. We analyzed transcription factor binding to the tyrosine aminotransferase gene glucocorticoid-responsive unit (GRU) at kb -2.5, using in vivo footprinting studies with both dimethyl sulfate and DNase I. At this GRU, glucocorticoid activation triggers a disruption of the nucleosomal structure. We show here that various regulatory pathways affect transcription factor binding to this GRU. The binding differs in two closely related glucocorticoid-responsive hepatoma cell lines. In line H4II, glucocorticoid induction promotes the recruitment of hepatocyte nuclear factor 3 (HNF3), presumably through the nucleosomal disruption. However, the footprint of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is not visible, even though a regular but transient interaction of the GR is necessary to maintain HNF3 binding. In contrast, in line FTO2B, HNF3 binds to the GRU in the absence of glucocorticoids and nucleosomal disruption, showing that a "closed" chromatin conformation does not repress the binding of certain transcription factors in a uniform manner. In FTO2B cells, the footprint of the GR is detectable, but this requires the activation of protein kinase A. In addition, protein kinase A stimulation also improves the recruitment of HNF3 independently of glucocorticoids and enhances the glucocorticoid response mediated by this GRU in an HNF3-dependent manner. In conclusion, the differences in the behavior of this regulatory sequence in the two cell lines show that various regulatory pathways are integrated at this GRU through modulation of interrelated events: transcription factor binding to DNA and nucleosomal disruption.
Newspaper Complexity and the Knowledge Gap

The knowledge gap hypothesis states that segments of the population with higher education acquire knowledge from the mass media at a faster rate than the lower educated segments. This article states that the faster learning rate of highly educated persons, which is claimed by knowledge gap theory, rests upon their greater capacity to process complex, compactly written newspapers. Content analysis data from The Netherlands in combination with data from national election studies in The Netherlands support this hypothesis. For the less educated, watching political news on television proves to be more efficient for acquiring political knowledge than reading political news in a newspaper. Conversely, for higher educated persons reading political news is more efficient, provided they opt for a compactly written newspaper with complex news.
Experiences of the Group Format in Psychotherapy Supervision

Abstract The major purpose of this study was to examine differences between supervisors' and novice supervisees' experiences of actual and desired usage of the group format in psychotherapy supervision. Second, differences between supervisors and supervisees who worked with cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic group supervision were examined. The results showed significant differences between the actual and desired usage of the group format. Psychodynamic supervisors and supervisees, to some extent, presented higher wish ratings compared with cognitive-behavioral supervisors and supervisees. In conclusion, from a supervisor and supervisee perspective, a more frequent usage of group processes as a teaching tool in group supervision of psychotherapy is desired.
School Securitization and Latina/o Educational Progress

Increasing control and security has become a common strategy to address school violence. Some argue, however, that increasing social control has detrimental consequences for racial and ethnic minorities, especially Latinas/os. This study utilizes mixed methods to research the influence of school justice, fairness, order, and discipline may have on Latina/o youth dropping out. Quantitative data reveal any potential benefits of increased school justice, fairness, and order against dropping out are negated once Latina/o youth are disciplined. Qualitative data suggest Latina/o youth perceive differential treatment as a consequence of increased securitization that could lead to these students dropping out of school.
Quantum aspects of 2+1 gravity

We review and systematize several recent attempts to canonically quantize general relativity in 2+1 dimensions, defined on space–times R×Σg, where Σg is a compact Riemann surface of genus g. The emphasis is on quantizations of the classical connection formulation, which use Wilson loops as their basic observables, but results from the ADM formulation are also summarized. We evaluate the progress and discuss the possible quantum (in)equivalence of the various approaches.
Exploring Vector Spaces for Semantic Relations

Word embeddings are used with success for a variety of tasks involving lexical semantic similarities between individual words. Using unsupervised methods and just cosine similarity, encouraging results were obtained for analogical similarities. In this paper, we explore the potential of pre-trained word embeddings to identify generic types of semantic relations in an unsupervised experiment. We propose a new relational similarity measure based on the combination of word2vec’s CBOW input and output vectors which outperforms concurrent vector representations, when used for unsupervised clustering on SemEval 2010 Relation Classification data.
Organizational Problem Formulation: An Empirical Study.

March 1980, volume 25 This article represents an exploratory study of the process of problem formulation in organizations and of factors that influence the process. The following questions are addressed: (1) how do organizations become aware of the existence of problems and in what kinds of problems is the process important; (2) what process do organizations go through to formulate definitions of problems; (3) what impact do attitudes and demographic characteristics of individual managers have upon the problem-formulation process; and (4) what are some of the major emergent themes that characterize problem formulation in organizations?
Mecp2 Deficiency Disrupts Norepinephrine and Respiratory Systems in Mice

Rett syndrome is a severe X-linked neurological disorder in which most patients have mutations in the methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene and suffer from bioaminergic deficiencies and life-threatening breathing disturbances. We used in vivo plethysmography, in vitro electrophysiology, neuropharmacology, immunohistochemistry, and biochemistry to characterize the consequences of the MECP2 mutation on breathing in wild-type (wt) and Mecp2-deficient (Mecp2-/y) mice. At birth, Mecp2-/y mice showed normal breathing and a normal number of medullary neurons that express tyrosine hydroxylase (TH neurons). At ∼1 month of age, most Mecp2-/y mice showed respiratory cycles of variable duration; meanwhile, their medulla contained a significantly reduced number of TH neurons and norepinephrine (NE) content, even in Mecp2-/y mice that showed a normal breathing pattern. Between 1 and 2 months of age, all unanesthetized Mecp2-/y mice showed breathing disturbances that worsened until fatal respiratory arrest at ∼2 months of age. During their last week of life, Mecp2-/y mice had a slow and erratic breathing pattern with a highly variable cycle period and frequent apneas. In addition, their medulla had a drastically reduced number of TH neurons, NE content, and serotonin (5-HT) content. In vitro experiments using transverse brainstem slices of mice between 2 and 3 weeks of age revealed that the rhythm produced by the isolated respiratory network was irregular in Mecp2-/y mice but could be stabilized with exogenous NE. We hypothesize that breathing disturbances in Mecp2-/y mice, and probably Rett patients, originate in part from a deficiency in noradrenergic and serotonergic modulation of the medullary respiratory network.