Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Child-personas: fact or fiction?

This paper introduces a practice-based, child-centric method of creating child-user archetypes which extends adult-based persona theory to interaction design with children. Persona construction can help interaction designers better understand real child-users and result in rich child-user archetypes which are developmentally situated and contextually valid. Key differences between adult-personas and child-personas are highlighted. A description of an online mentoring application created for CBC4Kids.ca illustrates the value of child-personas in design practice.
Farnesoid X receptor in the study of fibrosis and its treatments

DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0366-6999.20130774 Department of Physiology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China (Zhao C, Xu YJ and Yin YR) Joint Surgery, Central Hospital of Shengli Oil Field, Dongying, Shandong 257034, China (Cong YL) Correspondence to: YIN Yan-ru, Department of Physiology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China (Email: yyr1707@163.com) Perspective
SLICER: A Slicing-Based K-Anonymous Privacy Preserving Scheme for Participatory Sensing

With the popularity of mobile wireless devices with various kinds of sensing abilities, a new service paradigm named Participatory Sensing has emerged to provide users with brand new life experience. However, the wide application of participatory sensing has its own challenges, among which privacy preservation and multimedia data participatory sensing are two critical problems. Unfortunately, none of the existing works has fully solved the problem of privacy preserving participatory sensing with multimedia data. In this paper, we propose SLICER, which is the first k-anonymous privacy preserving scheme for participatory sensing with multimedia data. SLICER integrates a data coding technique and message exchanging strategies, to achieve strong protection of participants' privacy, while maintaining high data accuracy. In addition, two slice transferring strategies are well designed for slice transfer to minimize the total transfer cost. Finally, we have implemented SLICER and evaluated its performance using publicly released taxi traces. Our evaluation results show that SLICER achieves high data accuracy, with low computation and communication overhead.
Trazodone in Methandone Induced Erectile Dysfunction

Objective Based on findings of previous studies, those men on Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT) have a high prevalence of Erectile Dysfunction(ED), related to hypogonadism and depression. We conducted this study to evaluate the efficacy of Trazodone (an antidepressant which can improve sexual function) on this sexual dysfunction. Method A structured interview was administered by the clinical staff. The interview contained questions about the subjects' socio-demographic characteristics, their drug use and sexual behavior. In addition to the socio-demographic survey, erectile function was assessed using erectile dysfunction (ED) intensity scale. Of the 157 subjects, 95 suffered from ED. The subjects were informed about the study. Then, seventy five patients voluntarily received 50mg of Trazodone for four days, and the dosage was increased to100 mg and maintained for 6 weeks. Fifty five patients who completed the treatment course were assessed by ED questionnaire again at the end of study. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata 8 software. Results The prevalence of ED was 60.5% in our sample. The mean erectile dysfunction (ED) intensity scale was 12.21, and 16.78 before and after the treatment course respectively. (P<0.05) ED severity had no significant relation with age and type of substance dependency (P>0.05); but it had a significant relation with duration of Methadone therapy and Methadone daily dosage. (p<0.05) Conclusion Trazodone may be effective in the treatment of methadone induced ED. Further studies with control groups and greater sample sizes are warranted.
Why Mobile-to-Mobile Wireless Malware Won't Cause a Storm

The enhanced capabilities of smartphones are creating the opportunity for new forms of malware to spread directly between mobile devices over short-range radio. This has been observed already in Bluetooth radios, and WiFi capabilities of smartphones provide an opportune new spreading vector. The increasing complexity of phone operating systems coupled with disclosed vulnerabilities suggest it is simply a matter of time before WiFi based worms are possible. Works that have considered this problem for Bluetooth suggest outbreaks would result in epidemics [11,28,32]. We use traditional epidemiological modeling tools and high-fidelity realistic human mobility data to study the spreading speed of this emergent threat. As opposed to other works, we take in to account the effects of exposure times, wireless propagation radii, and limited population susceptibility. Importantly, we find that lowering the susceptibility of the population to infection gives significant herd immunity as with biological infections, but unlike traditional Internet worms, making such threats unlikely in the near to medium term. Specifically, with susceptibility rates below 10% the result is near total immunity of the population. We find exposure times, and wireless transmission radii have no significant effect on outbreaks.
Alcohol, height, and adiposity in relation to estrogen and prolactin levels in postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND Alcohol use, height, and postmenopausal adiposity have each been positively associated with postmenopausal breast cancer risk in most epidemiologic studies. The mechanism underlying these associations is unclear, although an effect of these factors on hormone levels has been hypothesized. Few previous studies have evaluated the relationship of either alcohol consumption or height with plasma hormone levels. A positive association between adiposity and plasma estrogen levels in postmenopausal women has been reported consistently. PURPOSE Using archived frozen plasma samples and corresponding data from participants in the Nurses' Health Study, we determined plasma hormone levels and assessed these levels in relation to alcohol consumption, height, and adiposity among postmenopausal women. METHODS Blood samples were collected from a subset of participants in the Nurses' Health Study in 1989 and 1990, then stored in liquid nitrogen. Hormone concentrations in 217 archived plasma samples (from healthy postmenopausal women) were analyzed in 1993. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated to assess the linear association between alcohol consumption during the previous year (mean daily intake in grams per day ascertained from semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaires completed in 1990 or 1991), height, and adiposity (as measured by body mass index [BMI] in kg/m2, with weight reported at time of blood collection), and plasma hormone levels. Two-sided P values were also calculated. RESULTS After controlling for age, height, smoking status, and BMI, alcohol consumption was positively associated with estrone sulfate concentrations (r = .17; P = .02); no statistically significant association was noted for the other plasma hormones measured. Mean plasma estrone sulfate levels were 159 pg/mL in women who reported no alcohol use versus 211 pg/mL in women consuming 30 g or more of alcohol per day. After adjusting for the other covariates, we observed a strong positive correlation between BMI and plasma estrogens (r ranging from .37 for estrone and estrone sulfate to .63 for bioavailable estradiol, with all P values < or = .01; prolactin was the only hormone unassociated with BMI, r = -.01). Height was unrelated to either plasma estrogens or prolactin. CONCLUSIONS BMI and alcohol use were positively associated with postmenopausal plasma estrogen and estrone sulfate levels, respectively. IMPLICATIONS The association of alcohol consumption and postmenopausal obesity with subsequent breast cancer risk might be mediated, at least in part, through an influence on postmenopausal plasma estrogen levels. Additional studies are needed to further quantify the relationship between alcohol consumption and plasma hormone levels and to elucidate the physiologic basis for this association.
A novel identification/verification model using smartphone's sensors and user behavior

Smartphones are increasingly entering people's life; every person in the house carry one or two smartphones (Android, iPhone, Tab.). They use explicit authentication, which is inefficient; once the smartphone is stolen, a thief can steal personal information stored on the phone and can access all services that might have the password stored. In addition, elderly and physically impaired users need to have their medical profile secured and easily accessed without password limitation. For this reason, smartphone sensors are good candidates for providing an implicit authentication. This work introduces a new perspective of context-based user authentication: users can be authenticated implicitly using data captured by sensors of the smartphone and user behavior; these data are used in the creation of a unique profile for each user. The proposed model is supposed to be as secure as traditional authentication methods.
Force-controlled motion of a mobile platform

Robots are usually built using stiff actuators that can provide impressive motion performances. However, they struggle to control the force, they do not handle collisions graciously and are generally bad at interacting significantly with partially unknown or kinematically constrained environments. One solution is to add a force sensor in the closed-loop control of backdrivable actuators [1], but this is limited in terms of stability, safety and robustness [2][3]. One of the foremost initiatives using this method was undertaken by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and resulted in three generations of extensively optimized lightweight robotic arms [4] that can physically interact with people. Performances are impressive but robustness is still an issue [5].
Media Choice and Identity Work: A Case Study of Information Communication Technology Use in a Peer Community

Abstract Purpose This study analyses how media choices can be used in the construction of social identity. Approach We approach the topic through the analytical lens of identity work. We present a case study of a community of IT students during their first year of studies, including participant observation, focus groups, and surveys. We focus on what community means to the individuals located within a specific social context. This allows us to examine ICT use and adoption holistically as a key aspect of community formation and identity maintenance. Findings We depict everyday interactions in which the choice of an older information communication technology, Internet Relay Chat, serves participants in their quest for social belongingness in their community and in distinguishing the community positively from other social groups. This chapter describes how identity work is accomplished by adopting and valuing shared, social views about users versus non-users, including: (1) emphasizing the skills and efforts needed for using Internet Relay Chat (IRC), (2) undermining the use of other technologies, and (3) deploying and referencing IRC jargon and “insider humor” within the broader community. Originality/value of paper By examining online and offline social interactions in a defined community over time, we expose the process of identity work in a holistic manner. Our analysis emphasizes the underlying process where media choices can be harnessed to fulfill the need to identify with groups and feel affirmed in one’s claims to both personal and social identity.
A 19.1-dBm Fully-Integrated 24 GHz Power Amplifier Using 0.18-μm CMOS Technology

A 24 GHz, 19.1 dBm fully-integrated power amplifiers (PA) was designed and fabricated in the 0.18-iquestm deep n-well (DNW) CMOS technology. This power amplifier is a 2-stage design using cascode RF NMOS configuration and has a maximum measured output power of 19.1 dBm, an OP1dB of 13.3 dBm, a power added efficiency (PAE) of 15.6%, and a linear gain of 18.8 dB when VDD and DNW are both biased at 3.6 V. The chip size is only 0.56 times 0.58 mm2. To the author's knowledge, this PA demonstrates the highest output power of +19.1 dBm among the reported PAs above 15 GHz in CMOS processes.
nodD2 of Rhizobium sp. NGR234 is involved in the repression of the nodABC operon

Transcriptional regulators of the lysR family largely control the expression of bacterial symbiotic genes. Rhizobium sp. NGR234 contains at least four members of this family: two resemble nodD, while two others are more closely related to syrM. Part of the extremely broad host range of NGR234 can be attributed to nodD1, although the second gene shares a high degree of DNA sequence homology with nodD2 of R. fredii USDA191. A nodD2 mutant of NGR234 was constructed by insertional mutagenesis. This mutant (NGRΩnodD2) was deficient in nitrogen fixation on Vigna unguiculata and induced pseudonodules on Tephrosia vogelii. Several other host plants were tested, but no correlation could be drawn between the phenotype and nodule morphology. Moreover, nodD2 has a negative effect on the production of Nod factors: mutation of this gene results in a fivefold increase in Nod factor production. Surprisingly, while the structure of Nod factors from free‐living cultures of NGRΩnodD2 remained unchanged, those from V. unguiculata nodules induced by the same strain are non‐fucosylated and have a lower degree of oligomerization. In other words, developmental regulation of Nod factor production is also abolished in this mutant. Competitive RNA hybridizations, gene fusions and mobility shift assays confirmed that nodD2 downregulates expression of the nodABC operon.
Data-Dependent Generalization Bounds for Multi-Class Classification

In this paper, we study <italic>data-dependent</italic> generalization error bounds that exhibit a mild dependency on the number of classes, making them suitable for multi-class learning with a large number of label classes. The bounds generally hold for empirical multi-class risk minimization algorithms using an arbitrary norm as the regularizer. Key to our analysis is new structural results for multi-class Gaussian complexities and empirical <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\ell _\infty $ </tex-math></inline-formula>-norm covering numbers, which exploit the Lipschitz continuity of the loss function with respect to the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\ell _{2}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>- and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\ell _\infty $ </tex-math></inline-formula>-norm, respectively. We establish data-dependent error bounds in terms of the complexities of a linear function class defined on a finite set induced by training examples, for which we show tight lower and upper bounds. We apply the results to several prominent multi-class learning machines and show a tighter dependency on the number of classes than the state of the art. For instance, for the multi-class support vector machine of Crammer and Singer (2002), we obtain a data-dependent bound with a logarithmic dependency, which is a significant improvement of the previous square-root dependency. The experimental results are reported to verify the effectiveness of our theoretical findings.
Genome-wide analysis of brain and gonad transcripts reveals changes of key sex reversal-related genes expression and signaling pathways in three stages of Monopterus albus

Background The natural sex reversal severely affects the sex ratio and thus decreases the productivity of the rice field eel (Monopterus albus). How to understand and manipulate this process is one of the major issues for the rice field eel stocking. So far the genomics and transcriptomics data available for this species are still scarce. Here we provide a comprehensive study of transcriptomes of brain and gonad tissue in three sex stages (female, intersex and male) from the rice field eel to investigate changes in transcriptional level during the sex reversal process. Results Approximately 195 thousand unigenes were generated and over 44.4 thousand were functionally annotated. Comparative study between stages provided multiple differentially expressed genes in brain and gonad tissue. Overall 4668 genes were found to be of unequal abundance between gonad tissues, far more than that of the brain tissues (59 genes). These genes were enriched in several different signaling pathways. A number of 231 genes were found with different levels in gonad in each stage, with several reproduction-related genes included. A total of 19 candidate genes that could be most related to sex reversal were screened out, part of these genes’ expression patterns were validated by RT-qPCR. The expression of spef2, maats1, spag6 and dmc1 were abundant in testis, but was barely detected in females, while the 17β-hsd12, zpsbp3, gal3 and foxn5 were only expressed in ovary. Conclusion This study investigated the complexity of brain and gonad transcriptomes in three sex stages of the rice field eel. Integrated analysis of different gene expression and changes in signaling pathways, such as PI3K-Akt pathway, provided crucial data for further study of sex transformation mechanisms.
Regulation of arginase‐1 expression in macrophages by a protein kinase a type I and histone deacetylase dependent pathway

The aim of the current study was to investigate the cAMP‐dependent regulation of arginase‐1 (ARG1) expression in RAW‐macrophages. Basal ARG1 mRNA expression was low and increased upon incubation with the cAMP analogue Br‐cAMP. We used selective agonists of protein kinase A type I (PKAI), type II (PKAII) and exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (EPAC) to determine the pathway responsible for ARG1 expression. Activation of PKAI led to a significant up‐regulation of ARG1 mRNA expression and arginase enzyme activity. In contrast, neither activation of PKAII nor activation of EPAC affected ARG1 expression. In addition, it has been shown that histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity plays a critical role in cAMP‐dependent transcriptional regulation. Incubation with Br‐cAMP and the HDAC inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA) led to a concentration‐dependent suppression of ARG1 expression. These data indicate that cAMP‐dependent activation of ARG1 expression is mediated by PKAI and requires histone deacetylation. J. Cell. Biochem. 103: 520–527, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Emergence of Pattern in Embryogenesis: Regulation of β-Catenin Localization During Early Sea Urchin Development

The accumulation of β-catenin in the nuclei of blastomeres at one pole of the early embryo is a highly conserved and essential feature of animal development. In the sea urchin, β-catenin accumulates in the nuclei of vegetal blastomeres during early cleavage and activates gene regulatory networks that drive mesoderm and endoderm formation. Measurements of β-catenin half-life in vivo have demonstrated a gradient in stability along the animal-vegetal axis. Dishevelled (Dsh), a protein that regulates β-catenin turnover, is localized in the vegetal cortex, where it has an essential role in stabilizing β-catenin and activating endomesodermal gene networks. Two motifs of Dsh are required for targeting to the vegetal cortex. Overexpression of Dsh in animal blastomeres does not alter their fate, which suggests that a localized activator of Dsh may be missing in these cells. Wnt signaling may be localized in the early sea urchin embryo, as it is in Xenopus, but findings point to possible differences in the initial polarizing signal in amphibians and echinoderms. Further studies will be required to determine the extent to which mechanisms that control β-catenin nuclearization in early embryogenesis have been conserved during animal evolution.
Prevalence and characteristics of anemia in patients with solid cancers at diagnosis in southwest China.

PURPOSE Cancer-related anemia is common and may have myriad causes, but the physiological consequences of a low hemoglobin level are similar. Besides chemotherapy-induced anemia, it is also important to understand the anemia in treatment-naive patients, which may represent a consequence of cancer itself and/or cancer complications, and this may help assess anemia risk and facilitate appropriate treatment. The purpose of this study was to analyze the prevalence and characteristics of anemia in solid cancer patients at diagnosis in a Chinese population. METHODS 1133 patients with newly diagnosed cancers who were admitted to West China Hospital of Sichuan University during January 2010 to May 2011 met the inclusion criteria. Data on age, gender, change of food intake, the diagnosis and the stage of the tumor, bleeding history, the locations of metastasis, and blood cell analysis were searched and analyzed. RESULTS Prevalence of anemia at diagnosis of cancers was 18.98% in unclassified cancers. Gastric cancers, colorectal cancers, and hepatopancreatobiliary cancers occupied the first three ranks in the cohort. Age, decreased food intake, and bleeding history were identified as independent risk factors for anemia occurrence. Furthermore, decreased food intake was found to be also associated with the severity of anemia. CONCLUSION Our analysis described the prevalence and risk factors of anemia in new diagnosed solid cancer patients in China. To deal with cancer-related anemia, we suggest that it should be important to improve food intake and nutrition, while controlling bleeding, especially in elderly patients.
Implementation of MPEG-4 ’ s Subdivision Surfaces Tools

This work is about the implementation of a MPEG-4 decoder for subdivision surfaces, which are powerful 3D paradigms allowing to compactly represent piecewise smooth surfaces. This ‘study’ will take place in the framework of MPEG-4 AFX, the extension of the MPEG-4 standard including the subdivision surfaces. This document will introduce, with some details, the ‘theory’ of subdivision surfaces in the two forms present in MPEG-4: ‘plain’ and detailed/wavelet subdivision surfaces. It will particularly concentrate on wavelet subdivision surfaces, which permit progressive 3D mesh compression. The first chapter begins with an overview of MPEG-4, more particulary of MPEG-4 Visual. Then, the AFX extension and the role of subdivision surfaces within it are introduced. The second chapter presents the mathematical representation of discrete surfaces and some associated properties, enabling a ‘smoother’ explanation of subdivision surfaces. The third chapter introduces ‘plain’ subdivision surfaces. Some of their properties, such as hierarchical relationships or convergence, are also explored. Ultimately, an example (based on Loop scheme) and the MPEG-4 implementation are discussed. The fourth chapter describes wavelet subdivision surfaces. It also gives a general overview of wavelet theory and its relation with subdivision surfaces. In continuation, a brief summary of different 3D mesh compression methods (both progressive or not) is done. A section then explains, more adequately, wavelet details compression through a hierarchical tree partitioning algorithm. It permits to introduce MPEG-4 wavelet subdivision surfaces implementation, and to propose the addition of a new (and simpler) AFX tool for progressive 3D mesh compression (without view-dependency, and correcting some discrepancies of the current tool concerning progressive transmission). A fifth chapter presents the data structures and the program general structures. It also describes some algorithms used in the actual implementation. The last chapter is a summary of the work done. It also states some of the future work that could be done in this domain, and ends with a short conclusion.