Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning Analytics at "Small" Scale: Exploring a Complexity-Grounded Model for Assessment Automation

This study proposes a process-oriented, automatic, formative assessment model for small group learning based on complex systems theory using a small dataset from a technology-mediated, synchronous mathematics learning environment. We first conceptualize small group learning as a complex system and explain how group dynamics and interaction can be modeled via theoretically grounded, simple rules. These rules are then operationalized to build temporally-embodied measures, where varying weights are assigned to the same measures according to their significance during different time stages based on the golden ratio concept. This theory-based measure construction method in combination with a correlation-based feature subset selection algorithm reduces data dimensionality, making a complex system more understandable for people. Further, because the discipline of education often generates small datasets, a Tree-Augmented Naive Bayes classifier was coded to develop an assessment model, which achieves the highest accuracy (95.8%) as compared to baseline models. Finally, we describe a web-based tool that visualizes time-series activities, assesses small group learning automatically, and also offers actionable intelligence for teachers to provide real-time support and intervention to
Video-Popularity-Based Caching Scheme for P2P Video-on-Demand Streaming

In peer-to-peer video-on-demand (P2P VoD) streaming services, a video server load is reduced by peers who cache data of the viewed videos and send these data to other peers instead of the video server. Although FIFO is typically used as the caching algorithm, it is not efficient for using upload bandwidth of the peers because the peers can cache the data of unpopular videos and cannot be requested these data from other peers. In this paper, we propose video-popularity based caching (VPC) that reduces the video server load by considering video popularity. VPC increases the number of peers who deliver the videos to other peers because the peers give more priority to the data of popular videos than the unpopular videos for caching. In addition, we evaluate the VPC through computer simulations and we show that VPC is efficient for reducing the video server load under steady state condition.
Effects on Proliferation and Differentiation of Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Engineered to Express Neurotrophic Factors

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotential cells with capability to form colonies in vitro and differentiate into distinctive end-stage cell types. Although MSCs secrete many cytokines, the efficacy can be improved through combination with neurotrophic factors (NTFs). Moreover, MSCs are excellent opportunities for local delivery of NTFs into injured tissues. The aim of this present study is to evaluate the effects of overexpressing NTFs on proliferation and differentiation of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSCs). Overexpressing NTFs had no effect on cell proliferation. Overexpressing NT-3, BDNF, and NGF also had no significant effect on the differentiation of HUMSCs. Overexpressing NTFs all promoted the neurite outgrowth of embryonic chick E9 dorsal root ganglion (DRG). The gene expression profiles of the control and NT-3- and BDNF-modified HUMSCs were compared using RNA sequencing and biological processes and activities were revealed. This study provides novel information about the effects of overexpressing NTFs on HUMSCs and insight into the choice of optimal NTFs for combined cell and gene therapy.
A Genetic Algorithm-Based Approach for Energy- Efficient Clustering of Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper, we propose a Genetic Algorithm (GA) to optimize sensor nodes' energy consumption. Attention is paid to the clustering technique as an efficient way for reducing energy consumption of a sensor node as well as the cost of transmission. We use a multi-objective algorithm that generates an optimal number of sensor-clusters with cluster- heads and minimizes the cost of transmission. The components are thereafter used and the average fitness of the system is evaluated. The effectiveness of our algorithm is shown by simulation. Keywords-component; Sensor nodes; Clustering; Cluster- Head; Energy consumption; Cost of transmission
Artificial Immune Systems for text-dependent speaker recognition

This paper shows the potential accomplishments of artificial immune systems (in particular, the negative selection algorithm) application to the problem of speaker recognition. Both the use of binary representation of original signal and that of its Fast Fourier Transform in a real-number representation are analysed. A number of experiments are performed on different datasets to examine the performance evolution with respect to the different system parameters. It is found that substantial enhancements of the system capabilities are possible by means of the exploitation of the Fast Fourier Transform.
Turn Right or Turn Left? Heuristic of Adhering to the Direction of Destination

Summary: It has been found that humans not only tend to avoid the middle routes and prefer the peripheral routes among multiple choices, but also rely on the ‘initial segment strategy’ to select the route. In this paper, we propose a new heuristic which humans apply during route selection: Participants prefer the route whose initial direction lies in the direction of their final destination, while avoiding the route whose initial direction does not. Four maps were designed. The pathways, on different maps, constituted a parallelogram, a rectangle and a square. Pedestrians were instructed to select a route from an origin to a destination on one of the maps. The results confirm the application of the newly proposed heuristic. Other possible factors, such as handedness, route angles and occurrence of turns were excluded. Moreover, the heuristics of deferring decision and relying on initial straightness are not supported. Copyright # 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Intentional locomotion between two locations is an ordinary activity which involves at least three major constituents: Positioning (spatial representation), way-finding (memory and problem-solving) and selection (decision-making). Firstly, people must establish a spatial representation of their current position and confirm the position of the desired destination. Secondly, they must identify the potential connective pathways between these two positions. Thirdly, they must select one from all the possible routes.
Different meridian tropism in three Chinese medicines: Tinglizi (Semen Lepidii Apetali), Yiyiren (Semen Coicis), Cheqianzi (Semen Plantaginis).

OBJECTIVE To study the meridian tropism (MT) for three Chinese medicines: Tinglizi (Semen Lepidii Apetali, TLZ), Yiyiren (Semen Coicis, YYR), Cheqianzi (Semen Plantaginis, CQZ) in vivo experiments. METHODS The extracts of TLZ, YYR, CQZ were orally administered to rats at a dose 234, 700 and 350 mg/kg, respectively. The urinary excretion rate, loss in weight of rats and the electrolyte levels in the plasma were measured, in order to assess the mechanisms of the three traditional Chinese diuretic medicines. RESULTS TLZ, YYR and CQZ exhibited obvious diuretic effect and reduced the weight of saline-loaded animals. All the three diuretic medicines differentially reduced various serum, urinary, lung, stomach, kidney and hormonal markers, thus indicating the different mechanisms of action and a close resemblance with their different meridian as per the MT theory. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that the three Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) medicines-TLZ, YYR and CQZ- possess different Shamisen meridian. This can support the regimen of treating the same disease with different therapies in TCM theory.
Role for DNA repair factor XRCC4 in immunoglobulin class switch recombination

V(D)J recombination and immunoglobulin class switch recombination (CSR) are two somatic rearrangement mechanisms that proceed through the introduction of double-strand breaks (DSBs) in DNA. Although the DNA repair factor XRCC4 is essential for the resolution of DNA DSB during V(D)J recombination, its role in CSR has not been established. To bypass the embryonic lethality of XRCC4 deletion in mice, we developed a conditional XRCC4 knockout (KO) using LoxP-flanked XRCC4 cDNA lentiviral transgenesis. B lymphocyte restricted deletion of XRCC4 in these mice lead to an average two-fold reduction in CSR in vivo and in vitro. Our results connect XRCC4 and the nonhomologous end joining DNA repair pathway to CSR while reflecting the possible use of an alternative pathway in the repair of CSR DSB in the absence of XRCC4. In addition, this new conditional KO approach should be useful in studying other lethal mutations in mice.
Subunit- and Pathway-Specific Localization of NMDA Receptors and Scaffolding Proteins at Ganglion Cell Synapses in Rat Retina

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) receive excitatory glutamatergic input from ON and OFF bipolar cells in distinct sublaminae of the inner plexiform layer (IPL). AMPA and NMDA receptors (AMPARs and NMDARs) mediate excitatory inputs in both synaptic layers, but specific roles for NMDARs at RGC synapses remain unclear. NMDARs comprise NR1 and NR2 subunits and are anchored by membrane-associated guanylate kinases (MAGUKs), but it is unknown whether particular NR2 subunits associate preferentially with particular NR1 splice variants and MAGUKs. Here, we used postembedding immunogold electron microscopy techniques to examine the subsynaptic localization of NMDAR subunits and MAGUKs at ON and OFF synapses onto rat RGCs. We found that the NR2A subunit, the NR1C2′ splice variant, and MAGUKs PSD-95 and PSD-93 are localized to the postsynaptic density (PSD), preferentially at OFF synapses, whereas the NR2B subunit, the NR1C2 splice variant, and the MAGUK SAP102 are localized perisynaptically, with NR2B exhibiting a preference for ON synapses. Consistent with these anatomical data, spontaneous EPSCs (sEPSCs) recorded from OFF cells exhibited an NMDAR component that was insensitive to the NR2B antagonist Ro 25-6981. In ON cells, sEPSCs expressed an NMDAR component, partially sensitive to Ro 25-6981, only when glutamate transport was inhibited, indicating perisynaptic expression of NR2B NMDARs. These results provide the first evidence for preferential association of particular NR1 splice variants, NR2 subunits, and MAGUKs at central synapses and suggest that different NMDAR subtypes may play specific roles at functionally distinct synapses in the retinal circuitry.
Energy Load Forecasting Using Empirical Mode Decomposition and Support Vector Regression

In this paper we focus our attention on the long-term load forecasting problem, that is the prediction of energy consumption for several months ahead (up to one or more years), useful in order to ease the proper scheduling of operative conditions (such as the planning of fuel supply). While several effective techniques are available in the short-term framework, no reliable methods have been proposed for long-term predictions. For this purpose, we describe in this work a new procedure, which exploits the Empirical Mode Decomposition method to disaggregate a time series into two sets of components, respectively describing the trend and the local oscillations of the energy consumption values. These sets are then used for training Support Vector Regression models. The experimental results, obtained both on a public-domain and on an office building dataset, allow to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Do We Feel the Same Empathy for Loved and Hated Peers?

Empathy allows us to understand and react to other people's feelings and sensations; we can more accurately judge another person’s situation when we are aware of his/her emotions. Empathy for pain is a good working model of the behavioral and neural processes involved in empathy in general. Although the influence of perspective-taking processes (notably "Self" vs. "Other") on pain rating has been studied, the impact of the degree of familiarity with the person representing the “Other” perspective has not been previously addressed. In the present study, we asked participants to adopt four different perspectives: "Self", "Other-Most-Loved-Familiar", "Other-Most-Hated-Familiar" and "Other-Stranger". The results showed that higher pain ratings were attributed to the Other-Most-Loved-Familiar perspective than to the Self, Other-Stranger and Other-Most-Hated-Familiar perspectives. Moreover, participants were quicker to rate pain for the Other-Most-Loved-Familiar perspective and the Self-perspective than for the other two perspectives. These results for a perspective-taking task therefore more clearly define the role of familiarity in empathy for pain.
Primary lung sarcoma treated with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy: a case report

Primary lung sarcoma (PLS) is an extremely rare, very aggressive malignancy. Surgical removal is considered the treatment of choice, and patients who have been given conventional radiotherapy have had inferior outcomes. This study is the first describing a case of PLS treated with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), which precisely targets a small tumor with a markedly higher biologically effective dose than conventional radiotherapy. The patient was an 82-year-old man who was diagnosed with primary lung leiomyosarcoma based on radiology, pathology, and immunohistochemical examinations. The PLS was located in the right lower lobe and measured 2.5 cm. No regional nodal or distant organ metastasis was observed. He was inoperable medically. The SABR was performed using volumetric modulated arc therapy and a dose of 56 Gy in four fractions. Follow-up computed tomography 2 months after SABR revealed a complete tumor response. The toxicity was limited to mild respiratory symptoms. The patient is alive and has had no evidence of disease for 2 years. This study suggests that SABR can be a safe and effective treatment option for PLS.
Facile polyacrylamide graft based on poly (2-chloroaniline) silver nano-composites as antimicrobial

ABSTRACT Series of polymers based on the grafting of polyacrylamide with both poly(2-methoxyaniline) P2-MeOANI and poly(2-chloroaniline) P2-ClANI were synthesized by the oxidative chemical grafting copolymerization of individually 2-methoxyaniline (2-MeOANI) and 2-chloroaniline (2-ClANI) onto polyacrylamide (PACM). The grafting was performed in aqueous hydrochloric acid solution (HCl) using ammonium persulfate (APS) as oxidant. The optimum conditions of the grafting based on the yield was achieved. The obtained polymer samples at optimum conditions were assembling on colloidal silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The obtained polymer samples and their AgNPs were characterized by UV- visible & IR spectroscopy, EM, TEM & TGA to confirm the suggested structure of obtained polymers. The efficiency of the prepared polymeric samples to using as anti-microbial including as sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) was investigated. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Synthesis and Characterization of Gold Nanoparticles

-In this paper, Gold Nanoparticles (GNPs) has been successfully prepared by chemical reduction method (TERKEWISH method) using Sodium Citrate as reducing agent and by Green method using Fructose as reducing agent. The synthesized gold colloidal solution is characterized by using ZETA POTENTIAOMETER, FTIR and UV-VIS spectroscopy. Results of zeta shows that GNPs with sodium citrate have particle size of 119.5 nm (diameter) and have incipient stability. GNPs made with green method using fructose have particle size 50 nm (diameter) and have moderate stability. Results of FTIR are in good agreement to that has been explained in literature. Results of UVVIS shows that GNPs with sodium citrate gives peak at 526 nm and GNPs made with green method using fructose gives peak at 520 nm, these results match with literature reviews.
Compensatory coding of body part location in autotopagnosia: Evidence for extrinsic egocentric coding

We report a patient with autotopagnosia (JD) who was unable to code the position of body parts relative to each other and who failed to update the position of body parts after passive movements. JD's performance in Studies 1–4 suggest that her ability to code the dynamic location of body parts with respect to each other ("intrinsic egocentric" spatial coding) was impaired, and that she employed a compensatory strategy by means of which the location of body parts was computed with respect to objects in the environment ("extrinsic egocentric" spatial coding). Studies 5–8 suggest that JD's ability to update hand position information was impaired after passive relative to active movements of her arm. For example, she was impaired in reaching to a target after passive but not active movements of her hand. Taken together, these findings extend previously reported functions of extrinsic egocentric coding to the localisation of body parts and demonstrate a possible dissociation between body part localisation dependent upon proprioceptive and efference copy information.
Design and Evaluation of Buccal Patch Containing Combination of Hydrochlorothiazide and Lisinopril

Purpose: The objective of the present study was to formulate and evaluate buccal patches containing combination of lisinopril (LP) and hydrochlorothiazide (HCZ). Approach: Films were fabricated by solvent casting method, using combination of mucoadhesive polymers such as hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinyl pyrolidone (PVP) and ethyl cellulose (EC) as backing layer. The patches were evaluated for physicochemical characteristics such as weight, thickness, surface pH, folding endurance, bioadhesive strength, swelling index, drug content, tensile strength, elongation at break, mucoadhesion time, in vitro and ex vivo drug permeation. Results: The IR spectra showed no interaction between drug and polymer. Physicochemical characteristics of all the samples were found to be satisfactory. Swelling of the films increased with increasing content of HPMC or HPC and PVP. Bioadhesive force, tensile strength, percentage elongation and mucoadhesion time increased with higher proportions of HPMC, HPC and PVA. In vitro drug release studies demonstrated slower release of both drugs in formulations with higher amount of HPMC, HPC and PVA. The in vitro drug release data of most formulations best fitted first order model, except for the formulations FA3 and FC. Ex vivo drug permeation studies of formulations through porcine buccal mucosa showed similar results as in vitro. Conclusion: Buccal delivery of this combination can resolve the drawbacks like incomplete absorption in the gut thereby possible improvement in bioavailability, apart from controlled release of the drugs.
Dialogue Reference in a Visual Domain

A central purpose of referring expressions is to distinguish intended referents from other entities that are in the context; but how is this context determined? This paper draws a distinction between discourse context ―other entities that have been mentioned in the dialogue― and visual context ―visually available objects near the intended referent. It explores how these two different aspects of context have an impact on subsequent reference in a dialogic situation where the speakers share both discourse and visual context. In addition we take into account the impact of the reference history ―forms of reference used previously in the discourse― on forming what have been called conceptual pacts. By comparing the output of different parameter settings in our model to a data set of human-produced referring expressions, we determine that an approach to subsequent reference based on conceptual pacts provides a better explanation of our data than previously proposed algorithmic approaches which compute a new distinguishing description for the intended referent every time it is mentioned.
Energy Balanced In-Network Aggregation Using Multiple Trees in Wireless Sensor Networks

Advances in wireless networks are expected to play an increasing role in systems that are aimed at collecting information. One of the main challenges in wireless sensor networks is that a sensor node has limited battery power. Therefore in order to increase the lifetime of sensor nodes, we need to reduce the amount of energy consumption. For reducing energy consumption in sensor networks, in-network aggregation is one of the proposed methods. However in-network aggregation does not keep the energy balance if some nodes are on the most frequently used paths in a network such as sink node. In order to consider more energy efficiency through load balancing, we propose a new in-network aggregation structure based on multiple trees, called MULT, for further extending the lifetime of in-network aggregation. Unlike existing in-network aggregation structures, which aim to reduce communication cost, the proposed MULT further provides energy balance. MULT has 3phases: first building the clusters, second connecting the clusters and third making multiple trees. MULT is based on creating node clusters using distance between nodes. In addition, a new clustering method, called HYC (HYbrid Cluster) is introduced for MULT structure. We compare the MULT with LEACH and EAD, which are popular in-network aggregation methods. MULT outperforms LEACH and EAD for energy load balance. KeywordsSensor Network, Energy Load Balance, In-Network aggregation
Multipoint-measurement multipoint-heating greenhouse temperature control with wooden pellet fuel using an adaptive model predictive control approach with a genetic algorithm

For the simplest case with a single point measurement and a single heater under operational constraint on heater, a model predictive control [1] was already proposed and applied to evaluate in a real field test. The obtained results indicated the effectiveness of the control although searching for an optimal solution was essentially based on the brute-force attack. It is not feasible to extend the same approach to determine an optimal solution in the case of multipoint temperature measurements and multipoint heaters for calculations in a real time operation. For his problem, a genetic algorithm was applied as a solution to regulate greenhouse temperature for the above-mentioned problem. Model predictive control performance strongly depended on the precision of the mathematical model of greenhouse temperature dynamics, and thus, a recursive least square identification strategy was also introduced to update parameters in the predictor on line. The control results in a laboratory demonstration greenhouse indicated that the proposed method performed well and showed an average decrease of 20–35% in the temperature error. Furthermore, the temperature difference also decreased by an average of 36%.
Statistical constraints on binary black hole inspiral dynamics

We perform a statistical analysis of binary black holes in the post-Newtonian approximation by systematically sampling and evolving the parameter space of initial configurations for quasi-circular inspirals. Through a principal component analysis of spin and orbital angular momentum variables, we systematically look for uncorrelated quantities and find three of them which are highly conserved in a statistical sense, both as functions of time and with respect to variations in initial spin orientations. For example, we find a combination of spin scalar products, , that is exactly conserved in time at the considered post-Newtonian order (including spin–spin and radiative effects) for binaries with equal masses and spin magnitudes evolving in a quasi-circular inspiral. We also look for and find the variables that account for the largest variations in the problem. We present binary black hole simulations of the full Einstein equations analyzing to what extent these results might carry over to the full theory in the inspiral and merger regimes. Among other applications these results should be useful both in semi-analytical and numerical building of templates of gravitational waves for gravitational wave detectors.