Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Twitter Sentiment Analysis Model for Measuring Security and Educational Challenges: A Case Study in Saudi Arabia

Ensuring the good psychological health of the community is one of the highest priorities in modern societies. Therefore, having a sense of the community’s rhythm and mood is a very important factor in understanding what challenges it may be facing. Psychological challenges differ from one society to another. Hence every community has its own specific psychological scales. In the context of present-day Saudi Arabia and many other countries, the measuring of educational and security challenges is critical as it can enable decision-makers to avoid anticipated risks. Traditional psychological scales in the form of questionnaires are time consuming to administer and analyze, especially where data need to be collected from a massive sample distributed over a wide geographical area. Such scales are impractical and ineffective in terms of providing critical results especially in today’s rapidly changing environment. Therefore this research proposes an approach to identify and measure the educational and security challenges facing Saudi society through Twitter sentiment analysis. The psychological measurement standards of three key categories of education and security challenges were identified and broken down into selected keywords that best identified these challenges. Then Arabic tweets that contained those keywords were analyzed in order to develop a model that could classify new tweets into one of the three types of challenges. The proposed model was better able to predict tweets belonging to the cross-cultural and ethics of dialogue and rules of difference challenges than those for the dominant negative social values challenge. The results of this research show that the sentiment analysis of tweets could provide a faster and cheaper alternative to the use of traditional psychological scales.
Processing of Electronic Health Records using Deep Learning: A review

Availability of large amount of clinical data is opening up new research avenues in a number of fields. An exciting field in this respect is healthcare, where secondary use of healthcare data is beginning to revolutionize healthcare. Except for availability of Big Data, both medical data from healthcare institutions (such as EMR data) and data generated from health and wellbeing devices (such as personal trackers), a significant contribution to this trend is also being made by recent advances on machine learning, specifically deep learning algorithms.
Efficient Generation of Lens Progenitor Cells from Cataract Patient–Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

The development of a technique to induce the transformation of somatic cells to a pluripotent state via the ectopic expression of defined transcription factors was a transformational event in the field of regenerative medicine. The development of this technique also impacted ophthalmology, as patient-specific induced pluripotent stemcells (iPSCs) may be useful resources for some ophthalmological diseases. The lens is a key refractive element in the eye that focuses images of the visual world onto the retina. To establish a new model for drug screening to treat lens diseases and investigating lens aging and development, we examined whether human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) could be induced into iPSCs and if lens-specific differentiation of these cells could be achieved under defined chemical conditions. We first efficiently reprogrammed HLECs from age-related cataract patients to iPSCs with OCT-4, SOX-2, and KLF-4. The resulting HLEC-derived iPS (HLE-iPS) colonies were indistinguishable from human ES cells with respect to morphology, gene expression, pluripotent marker expression and their ability to generate all embryonic germ-cell layers. Next, we performed a 3-step induction procedure: HLE-iPS cells were differentiated into large numbers of lens progenitor-like cells with defined factors (Noggin, BMP and FGF2), and we determined that these cells expressed lens-specific markers (PAX6, SOX2, SIX3, CRYAB, CRYAA, BFSP1, and MIP). In addition, HLE-iPS-derived lens cells exhibited reduced expression of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers compared with human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and fibroblast-derived iPSCs. Our study describes a highly efficient procedure for generating lens progenitor cells from cataract patient HLEC-derived iPSCs. These patient-derived pluripotent cells provide a valuable model for studying the developmental and molecular biological mechanisms that underlie cell determination in lens development and cataract pathophysiology.
Study of the Impact Resistance of Physically and Dynamically Vulcanized Mixtures of PP/EPDM

Physically and dynamically vulcanized (TPV) mixtures of polypropylene (PP) and ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM) are prepared by extrusion in order to improve the impact resistance of PP. To enhance the chemical compatibility and provide better interaction between the PP and EPDM in the physical mixtures, both polymers are modified with maleic anhydride (MAH) in solution using xylene as solvent and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as initiator. The qualitative and quantitative determination of the degree of grafting is study by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and varying the amount of DCP and/or amount of MAH in order to determine the optimum amounts to obtain the highest degree of grafting. The effect of the relation of PP/EPDM, the amount of reinforcement filler and mix rate are studied for modified polymer mixtures (PP-g-MAH/EPDM-g-MAH). For the TPV of PP/ EPDM the effects of amount and triallylisocyanurate (TAC) as coupling agent in presence of different amounts of DCP are studied. The physical mixtures of modified polymers prepared with a PP/EPDM ratio of 80/20 and the TPVs blends prepared with a PP/EPDM ratio of 70/30 and containing 15% filler at 60 rpm show the highest impact resistance. The impact resistance, melt flow index and hardness of the different mixtures are measured to determine their possible applications to prepare front panels and bumpers for automobiles by injection molding.
Design Framework for Domain-Specific Service Interfaces

Following the rapid evolution of Web services standards and technologies over the last three years many organizations are now beginning to make significant investments in the implementation of Web services applications. However, so far only limited attention has been paid to design issues for service-oriented applications. This paper describes a design framework for domain-specific service interfaces. The design framework provides guidance fortransfOtmation -·of a document-oriented message specification into a definition of service interfaces that can be used to generate Web services. We illustrate the design framework using an example based on the OpenTravelAlliance (OTA) specification.
Expression and characterization of the processive exo‐β‐1,4‐cellobiohydrolase SCO6546 from Streptomyces coelicolor A(3)

The sco6546 gene of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) was annotated as a putative glycosyl hydrolase belonging to family 48. It is predicted to encode a 973‐amino acid polypeptide (103.4 kDa) with a 39‐amino acid secretion signal. Here, the SCO6546 protein was overexpressed in Streptomyces lividans TK24, and the purified protein showed the expected molecular weight of the mature secreted form (934 aa, 99.4 kDa) on sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. SCO6546 showed high activity toward Avicel and carboxymethyl cellulose, but low activity toward filter paper and β‐glucan. SCO6546 showed maximum cellulase activity toward Avicel at pH 5.0 and 50 °C, which is similar to the conditions for maximum activity toward cellotetraose and cellopentaose substrates. The kinetic parameters kcat and KM, for cellotetraose at pH 5.0 and 50 °C were 13.3 s−1 and 2.7 mM, respectively. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) of the Avicel hydrolyzed products generated by SCO6546 showed cellobiose only, which was confirmed by mass spectral analysis. TLC analysis of the cello‐oligosaccharide and chromogenic substrate hydrolysates generated by SCO6546 revealed that it can hydrolyze cellodextrins mainly from the non‐reducing end into cellobiose. These data clearly demonstrated that SCO6546 is an exo‐β‐1,4‐cellobiohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.91), acting on nonreducing end of cellulose.
MicroRNA-142-3p and let-7g Negatively Regulates Augmented IL-6 Production in Neonatal Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

Neonatal PMN are qualitatively impaired in functions, yet they frequently reveal augmented inflammatory reactions during sepsis. Here, we hypothesized that PMN from newborns produce more IL-6 than those from adults under LPS stimulation, in which transcriptional or posttranscriptional regulation is involved in the altered expression. We found that neonatal PMN produced significantly higher IL-6 mRNA and protein than adult PMN. The higher IL-6 expression was not related to transcriptional but posttranscriptional regulation as the IL-6 expression was affected by the addition of cycloheximide but not actinomycin. To examine whether miRNA was involved in the IL-6 regulation of neonatal PMN, we surveyed differential displays of miRNAs that could potentially regulate IL-6 expression before and after LPS stimulation. Four miRNAs: hsa-miR-26a, hsa-miR-26b, hsa-miR-142-3p and hsa-let 7g decreased or increased after LPS treatment for 4 h. Further validation by qRT-PCR identified miR-26b, miR-142-3p and let-7g significantly changed in neonatal PMN after LPS stimulation. The functional verification by transfection of miR-142-3p and let-7g precursors into neonatal PMN significantly repressed the IL-6 mRNA and protein expression, suggesting that miR-142-3p and let-7g negatively regulate IL-6 expression in neonatal PMN. Modulation of miRNA expression may be used to regulate IL-6 production in newborns with altered inflammatory reactions.
Sleep apnea: a review of diagnostic sensors, algorithms, and therapies

While public awareness of sleep related disorders is growing, sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) remains a public health and economic challenge. Over the last two decades, extensive controlled epidemiologic research has clarified the incidence, risk factors including the obesity epidemic, and global prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), as well as establishing a growing body of literature linking OSA with cardiovascular morbidity, mortality, metabolic dysregulation, and neurocognitive impairment. The US Institute of Medicine Committee on Sleep Medicine estimates that 50–70 million US adults have sleep or wakefulness disorders. Furthermore, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) estimates that more than 29 million US adults suffer from moderate to severe OSA, with an estimated 80% of those individuals living unaware and undiagnosed, contributing to more than $149.6 billion in healthcare and other costs in 2015. Although various devices have been used to measure physiological signals, detect apneic events, and help treat sleep apnea, significant opportunities remain to improve the quality, efficiency, and affordability of sleep apnea care. As our understanding of respiratory and neurophysiological signals and sleep apnea physiological mechanisms continues to grow, and our ability to detect and process biomedical signals improves, novel diagnostic and treatment modalities emerge. Objective: This article reviews the current engineering approaches for the detection and treatment of sleep apnea. Approach: It discusses signal acquisition and processing, highlights the current nonsurgical and nonpharmacological treatments, and discusses potential new therapeutic approaches. Main results: This work has led to an array of validated signal and sensor modalities for acquiring, storing and viewing sleep data; a broad class of computational and signal processing approaches to detect and classify SAS disease patterns; and a set of distinctive therapeutic technologies whose use cases span the continuum of disease severity. Significance: This review provides a current perspective of the classes of tools at hand, along with a sense of their relative strengths and areas for further improvement.
The sarcopenia index: A novel measure of muscle mass in lung transplant candidates

Frailty, including low muscle mass, is an emerging risk factor for poor outcomes after lung transplant. The sarcopenia index (SI)—(serum creatinine value/cystatin C value) × 100—is a novel blood test to approximate muscle mass. We sought to validate SI among lung transplant patients.
Patterns of alcohol use and related consequences in non-college-attending emerging adults.

OBJECTIVE Among emerging adults, those who do not attain postsecondary education are at highest risk for experiencing longterm problems related to alcohol use, including alcohol dependence. The purpose of the current study was to identify latent classes of alcohol users among non-college-attending youth and examine correlates of class membership. METHOD Screening criteria were used to select emerging adults between ages 18 and 22 years with no postsecondary education (N = 264) from a prerecruited probability-based Web panel. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify common patterns of alcohol use. Grouping variables and demographic variables were added to the LCA model, and rates of alcohol-related consequences across the LCA classes were compared. RESULTS Four classes of drinking patterns were identified: (a) current nondrinkers (34%), (b) weekend light drinkers (38%), (c) weekend risky drinkers (23%), and (d) daily drinkers (5%). Class membership was associated with early onset of alcohol use (age 14 or younger), marital status, employment status, and urban residency (area populated by 50,000 or more people). The number of latent classes did not differ across sex and legal drinking age status, although proportions of subjects within classes varied by age. Weekend risky drinkers were most likely to report sickness and feelings of guilt because of drinking, whereas daily drinkers were most likely to report getting into fights, driving a car after drinking, and missing work. CONCLUSIONS Similar to college samples of emerging adults, most of this noncollege sample belonged to latent classes defined by rare or moderate alcohol use. Nevertheless, nearly a quarter of the sample reported high-risk drinking behaviors, and a small number reported drinking alcohol on a daily basis. Both of these classes were at elevated risk for experiencing a number of alcohol-related consequences.
Multimodal approach to estimate the ocular movements during EEG recordings: A coupled tensor factorization method

This paper deals with coupled tensor factorization. A relaxed criterion derived from the advanced coupled matrix-tensor factorization (ACMTF) proposed by Acar et al. is described. The proposed relaxed ACMTF (RACMTF) criterion is based on weaker assumptions that are thus more often satisfied when dealing with actual data. Numerical simulations show the benefit of using jointly two data sets when the underlying factors are highly correlated, especially if one of the modality is less noisy than the other one. The proposed method is finally applied on actual Gaze&EEG data to estimate the ocular artifacts into the EEG recordings.
Family Factors That Differentiate Sexually Abused and Nonabused Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatients

Sexual abuse research has traditionally focused on adult, retrospective accounts of potential correlates of abuse and their impact on functioning. However, only a few studies have examined sexually abused adolescents’ perceptions of their families, and results have proven inconclusive. This study examined whether family factors would differentiate sexually abused and nonabused adolescent psychiatric inpatients. Fifty-seven psychiatric inpatients, ages 11 to 17, who either had experienced sexual abuse or had no history of sexual victimization completed a diagnostic interview and were assessed on a variety of family indices. Results indicated that after controlling for level of depression, sexually abused adolescents could be differentiated from their nonabused counterparts based on family variables. Sexually abused adolescents reported their families as more authoritarian and more enmeshed. They also perceived more negative messages from their nonoffending father figures about the world. Also, exploratory gender analyses revealed that sexually abused females reported greater levels of depression than sexually abused males.
Beyond Extinction: Prolonged Conditioning and Repeated Threat Exposure Abolish Contextual Renewal of Fear-Potentiated Startle Discrimination but Leave Expectancy Ratings Intact

Extinction treatments decrease fear via repeated exposures to the conditioned stimulus (CS) and are associated with a return of fear. Alternatively, fear can be reduced via reductions in the perceived intensity of the unconditioned stimulus (US), e.g., through repeated exposures to the US. Promisingly, the few available studies show that repeated US exposures outperform standard extinction. US exposure treatments can decrease fear via two routes: (1) by weakening the CS–US association (extinction-like mechanism), and/or (2) by weakening the subjective US aversiveness (habituation-like mechanism). The current study further investigated the conditions under which US exposure treatment may reduce renewal, by adding a group in which CS–US pairings continued following fear acquisition. During acquisition, participants learned that one of two visual stimuli (CS+/CS−) predicted the occurrence of an aversive electrocutaneous stimulus (US). Next, the background context changed and participants received one of three interventions: repeated CS exposures, (2) repeated US exposures, or (3) continued CS–US pairings. Following repeated CS exposures, test presentations of the CSs in the original conditioning context revealed intact CS+/CS− differentiation in the fear-potentiated startle reflex, while the differentiation was abolished in the other two groups. Differential US expectancy ratings, on the other hand, were intact in all groups. Skin conductance data were inconclusive because standard context renewal following CS exposures did not occur. Unexpectedly, there was no evidence for a habituation-like process having taken place during US exposures or continued CS–US pairings. The results provide further evidence that US exposures outperform the standard extinction treatment and show that effects are similar when US exposures are part of CS–US pairings.
Interaction of PLS and PIN and hormonal crosstalk in Arabidopsis root development

Understanding how hormones and genes interact to coordinate plant growth is a major challenge in developmental biology. The activities of auxin, ethylene, and cytokinin depend on cellular context and exhibit either synergistic or antagonistic interactions. Here we use experimentation and network construction to elucidate the role of the interaction of the POLARIS peptide (PLS) and the auxin efflux carrier PIN proteins in the crosstalk of three hormones (auxin, ethylene, and cytokinin) in Arabidopsis root development. In ethylene hypersignaling mutants such as polaris (pls), we show experimentally that expression of both PIN1 and PIN2 significantly increases. This relationship is analyzed in the context of the crosstalk between auxin, ethylene, and cytokinin: in pls, endogenous auxin, ethylene and cytokinin concentration decreases, approximately remains unchanged and increases, respectively. Experimental data are integrated into a hormonal crosstalk network through combination with information in literature. Network construction reveals that the regulation of both PIN1 and PIN2 is predominantly via ethylene signaling. In addition, it is deduced that the relationship between cytokinin and PIN1 and PIN2 levels implies a regulatory role of cytokinin in addition to its regulation to auxin, ethylene, and PLS levels. We discuss how the network of hormones and genes coordinates plant growth by simultaneously regulating the activities of auxin, ethylene, and cytokinin signaling pathways.
Foil Strain Gage Attachment Techniques for Geotextile and Geogrid

Seventeen full-scale test sections were constructed on a low-volume, flexible pavement. The test sections were reinforced with geotextiles and geogrid, instrumented with Micro-Measurement Group foil strain gages. While strain gage attachment to rigid materials is well understood, methods used to attach foil strain gages to geotextiles, specifically, are more challenging due to the matrix of fibers in the material, and the method used to waterproof and protect these gages in a field environment is critical. The survivability of a method used to attach and waterproof the foil strain gages was successfully demonstrated in the field and is described herein.
An Interactive Visualization System for Huge Architectural Laser Scans

This paper describes a system for rendering large (billions of points) point clouds using a strict level-ofdetail criterion for managing the data out of core. The system is comprised of an in-core data structure for managing the coarse hierarchy, an out-of-core structure for managing the actual data and a multithreaded rendering framework that handles the structure and is responsible for data caching, LOD-calculations, culling, and rendering. We demonstrate the performance of our approach with two real-world datasets (a 1.8 b points outdoor scene and a 360 m points indoor scene).
Low temperature fine pitch vertical wafer level interconnection using copper nanoparticles

Nowadays, the demand for enhanced performance and reliability in micro and nano systems is growing, especially for fine pitch wafer level integration. Due to reliability and processing issues, lead containing solders are still allowed and being used in high demanding microelectronics bonding application. Potential for reliable environmental friendly low temperature interconnects relies in the exceptional properties of Metallic Nanoparticle Pastes (MNPs). Combined with lithographically based stencil-printing of copper paste, the study proposes an insight in optimization of the paste use for wafer level fine pitch vertical interconnection. Copper nanoparticle is investigated as interconnect material. Despite its high oxidation tendency, Copper is compatible with the current interconnect materials used in microelectronics, has good electrical properties and is cheap as compared to silver or gold. In commercial available copper MNPs, organic coating is added to protect oxidation and to enable sintering by a combined effect of coating evaporation and temperature increase. The study investigates the fine pitch bonding process and the coated nanoparticle paste sintering behavior. Advanced electrical measurement structures for contact and sheet resistance are studied and integrated on newly designed test wafers optimized for bonding measurement. A high potential nanocopper paste fusing and oxidation behavior is then extensively studied during heating via in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) observations. Finally, sintering of the paste is evaluated and wafer bonding is successfully performed. Hardness of dried paste is measured to be 8.37 ± 0.6 Vickers Hardness (HV). Stencil printing method and wafer bonding is presented and discussed in detail. Good electrical resistivity of 78.4 ± 14.5 m? µm (4.6 times that of theoretical bulk copper) is measured on sintered paste for 10 minutes at 260? C in 700 mBar forming gas (H2/N2) environment.