Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Educational decision-making as an embedded social practice: methodological challenges and ways forward

Introduction This paper explores some of the methodological challenges we have faced in operationalising the research design for our ESRC/TLRP-funded project, Non-participation in higher education: Decision-making as an embedded social practice. 3 Our research is concerned with exploring how and in what ways (non) decision-making about higher education might be embedded within networks consisting of family members, friends and peers, and to what extent future participation in HE might be conceived as within the bounds of the possible. The study hypothesises that such networks-linked as they are to varying forms of social, cultural and economic capital-provide a critical context within which individuals' thinking about HE is embedded and co-constructed. Our focus is on the experiences of individuals who are 'potentially recruitable' to higher education-defined for the purposes of our research as those whose highest level of qualification is at Level 3 or equivalent and who have subsequently neither participated in HE nor are currently applying to do so. Our interest is in non-participation across the life course, so we are prioritising life stage rather than age per se within our sampling strategy. To date, various members of the project team have been engaged in the drafting of a series of literature reviews, in the development of a macro-level account of (non-) participation in the general population based on secondary analysis of data from the 2 Labour Force Survey and the Youth Cohort Study, and in the conduct of thirty interviews with key informants working in the widening participation arena largely in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight region (the geographical focus of our research, and one which includes high levels of non-participation in HE). We are currently immersed in the main data collection phase of the project: case studies of sixteen networks of intimacy. Each case study involves an interview with an individual who is " potentially recruitable " to higher education, interviews with members of their " networks of intimacy " (Heath and Cleaver 2003) and then a further interview with the " potentially recruitable " person. We have also begun doing data analysis. We have just started on the second round of interviews with the " potentially recruitable " people who are our " entry-points " to networks. In this paper we consider some methodological challenges which we have faced in relation to the main phase of the research. These are: (i) accessing and sampling from what is …
A measurement-based model for estimating transmission capacity in a wireless mesh network

In the past decade, wireless multihop networks have caught the fancy of wireless networking researchers and practitioners alike. However, wireless being a broadcast medium, links in close neighborhood interfere causing a capacity degradation. Network modeling community has investigated this issue of interference and how it limits the capacity of wireless multihop networks [3]. Much of these works use a somewhat abstract and idealized model of interference, initially proposed in the seminal work of Gupta and Kumar [2]. These models describe how two communicating links interfere based on physical distances between the transmitters and receivers, oversimplified radio propagation model, idealized transmitter and receiver characteristics, and so on. Such models have so far been sufficient for getting a highlevel understanding of the behavior of wireless networks and even for designing protocol support, but it has remained unclear how these models could be useful in practice for an operational network. Research in Wireless Networks needs to consider the phenomenon of interference between transmissions. A model for interference is an essential input to the design of any routing protocol. Design of a fairness model, or a capacity model for a wireless network also requires an interference model. Transport protocols and channel assignment protocols also need an understanding of wireless interference. So, its imperative to have a realistic and accurate interference model to assist research in various areas in wireless networking. Our work follows on the lines of previous works done on developing a measurement based model for quantifying the interference limited link capacity [4, 5]. In this work, we estimate the impact of interference on the transmission capacity of a node. When a node transmits a packet, all the other nodes who can either receive the packet, or can detect the transmission’s signal become silent. Thus, a transmitter
Prognostic Significance of Right Bundle Branch Block for Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background The aim of the current meta-analysis was to assess the effect of right bundle branch block (RBBB) on mortality outcome in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Material/Methods Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane databases were searched through January 2015 using the keywords “RBBB”, “mortality”, “AMI”, “Coronary Heart Disease”, and “cardiovascular”. An odds ratio (OR) of RBBB on mortality endpoints was calculated using random-effects models. Results RBBB was associated with significantly increased overall mortality in patients with AMI. The OR of RBBB for deaths was 1.56 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.44 to 1.68, p<0.001]. Moreover, RBBB showed a considerable effect on both in-hospital mortality (OR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.60 to 2.37, p=0.002) and long-term mortality (OR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.37 to 1.62, p<0.001). Conclusions RBBB is associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality and indicates a poorer prognosis in patients with AMI.
Collaborating Remote Computer Laboratory and Distance Learning Approach for Hands-on IT Education

This paper studies the innovative methodology for developing IT education from the traditional face-to-face model to full capability of distance learning by combining a remote computer laboratory and a distance e-learning environment. There are three approaches presented with different implementations of laboratory technologies and learning models. The design challenge is to address the limitations of resources at region-wide learning sites, cost-effectiveness and scalability. Computer virtualization and StarBED computing testbed can achieve a larger scale of laboratory size with less cost of equipment and administration workload. The live learning environment ensures quality of realtime communications during lecture and lab sessions by employing IPv6 Multicast on a satellite UDLR network. The self-paced learning environment is proposed to enable a flexible schedule, resource reusability, and scalability. The lab supervision system is the key component to enhance teaching effectiveness in the self-paced hands-on practice by systematically automating the lab supervision skills of lecturers. These approaches have been evaluated as feasible, cost-effective and scalable by the real implementations of similar Asia-wide workshops. Trade-off overheads and analysis on technology and pedagogy perspectives are made to compare their characteristics.
Prediction of clinical outcomes in primary biliary cirrhosis by serum enhanced liver fibrosis assay

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is sometimes diagnosed based on a positive antimitochondrial antibody in the appropriate clinical setting without a liver biopsy. Although a liver biopsy can assess the extent of liver fibrosis and provide prognostic information, serum fibrosis markers avoid biopsy complications and sampling error and provide results as a continuous variable, which may be more precise than categorical histological stages. The current study was undertaken to evaluate serum fibrosis markers as predictors of clinical progression in a large cohort of PBC patients. Serial liver biopsy specimens and serum samples were collected every 2 years in 161 PBC subjects for a median of 7.3 years. Clinical progression was defined as development of one or more of the following events: varices, variceal bleed, ascites, encephalopathy, liver transplantation, or liver‐related death. Serum hyaluronic acid, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1, and procollagen III aminopeptide were measured and entered into the previously validated enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) algorithm. The ability of ELF, histological fibrosis, bilirubin, Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (MELD), and Mayo Risk Score to differentiate between individuals who would experience a clinical event from those who would not was evaluated at different time points. Event‐free survival was significantly lower in those with high baseline ELF. Each 1‐point increase in ELF was associated with a threefold increase in future complications. The prognostic performance of all tests was similar when performed close to the time of the first event. However, at earlier times in the disease process (4 and 6 years before the first event), the prognostic performance of ELF was significantly better than MELD or Mayo R score. Conclusion: The ELF algorithm is a highly accurate noninvasive measure of PBC disease severity that provides useful long‐term prognostic information. (HEPATOLOGY 2008.)
Integrated guidance and control for missile in the presence of input saturation and angular constraints

An adaptive dynamic surface control algorithm is developed for integrated missile guidance and control system with input saturation and terminal angular constraints. An auxiliary system of the elevator is first introduced into the integrated guidance and control model for the pitch channel. A kind of smooth function is exploited to approximate saturation nonlinearity. An adaptive dynamic surface control law is adopted to deal with unmatched uncertainties in the time-varying system. The proposed control scheme guarantees not only the stability of the missile dynamics under saturation but also the desired interception performance with a desired terminal attitude angle. For the yaw and roll channels, the similar control schemes are utilized. Nonlinear 6-DOF simulation results are carried out to demonstrate the efficacy of our proposed approach.
A generalized analytical framework for coverage evaluation in mmWave heterogeneous cellular networks in urban areas

In this paper, we introduce a generalized analytical framework to evaluate the coverage probability in an mmWave heterogeneous cellular network (HetNet) consisting of UHF macrocell base stations (BSs) and mmWave small cell BSs deployed in an urban area. A generalized user association scheme that can cover a few user association schemes is formulated and applied in the mmWave HetNet. Two important statistical properties of the associated BS under this scheme are derived for the general line-of-sight and non line-of-sight pathloss channel models and they can be largely simplified if the power-law channel model is applied. Using the two statistical properties, the coverage probability of a downlink multiple-input-single-output channel is found in a compact form, which reveals that the coverage probability in the mmWave HetNet can be significantly improved if compared with the cellular network consisting of a single tier of mmWave small cell BSs. Numerical results not only validate the correctness of the coverage probability derived but also indicate that the mmWave HetNet has the potential to achieve a high coverage probability in an urban area.
Design and Evaluation of a Diaphragm for Electrocardiography in Electronic Stethoscopes

Combining Phonocardiography (PCG) and Electrocardiography (ECG) data has been recognized within the state-of-the-art as of added value for enhanced cardiovascular assessment. However, multiple aspects of ECG data acquisition in a stethoscope form factor remain unstudied, and existing devices typically enforce a substantial change into routine clinical auscultation procedures, with predictably low technology acceptance. As such, in this paper, we present a novel approach to ECG data acquisition throughout the five main cardiac auscultation points, and that intends to be incorporated in a commonly used electronic stethoscope. Therefore, it enables analysis and acquisition of both PCG and ECG signals in a single pass. We describe the development, experimental evaluation, and comparison of the ECG signals obtained using our proposed approach and a gold standard medical device, through metrics that allow the evaluation of morphological similarities. Results point to a high correlation between the two evaluated setups, thus supporting the idea of meaningfully collecting ECG data along medical auscultation points with the proposed form factor. Moreover, this work has led us to conclude that for the studied population, signals acquired on focuses F1, F2, and F3 are usually highly correlated with leads V1 and V2 of the standard ECG medical recording procedure.
Efficacy of hypertonic (2.3%) sea water in patients with aspirin-induced chronic rhinosinusitis following endoscopic sinus surgery

Abstract Background: Aspirin-induced chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a severe progressive persistent disease, usually associated with nasal polyps (NPs). Aim/objective: To compare effect of hypertonic (2.3% NaCl) sea water and isotonic 0.9% NaCl on symptoms and endoscopic findings in those patients in the period of 1 month after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Material and methods: This prospective, randomized study included 30 patients with aspirin-induced CRS undergoing ESS. Patients were divided into two groups of 15 subjects and one of the two nasal irrigation solutions was administered in each group. Intensity of 5 symptoms (nasal obstruction, nasal discharge/postnasal drip, facial pain/pressure, headache and trouble sleeping) and endoscopic findings were assessed during the 1st, 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th days after the nasal packs removal. Results: We found significantly lower total symptom score (TSS) during the 7th (p = .009), 14th (p = .003), 21st (p < .001) and the 28th day (p = .001), lower total endoscopic score (TES) on the 21st (p = .002) and 28th day (p = .001), lower nasal obstruction, facial pain/pressure, headache and trouble sleeping, and lower nasal mucosal edema, nasal secretion and nasal crusting in patients treated by hypertonic sea water. Conclusion and significance: Hypertonic sea water should be recommended douching solution in the early postoperative care of patients with aspirin-induced CRS.
Testing a model of reward sensitivity, implicit and explicit drinker identity and hazardous drinking

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate both implicit and explicit drinker identity as mediators of reward sensitivity and problematic drinking. University students engage in problematic levels of alcohol consumption, exposing them to increased negative health outcomes. Although personality traits (e.g. reward sensitivity) and social-cognitive variables (e.g. implicit and explicit drinker identity) have been used to investigate drinking behaviour, few studies link personality and multiple indices of drinker identity to problematic drinking. Design: University students (N = 136) completed a drinker identity implicit association test, and questionnaires measuring reward sensitivity, explicit binge drinker identity and problematic drinking as part of a lab-based correlational study. Main Outcome Measures: The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test was the main outcome measure with participants self-reporting drinking frequency, quantity and negative physical and psychological outcomes of drinking over the past 3-months. Results: A mediation model revealed that reward sensitivity was significantly associated with explicit, but not implicit, binge drinker identity. Explicit binge drinker identity mediated the reward sensitivity and problematic drinking association. Conclusion: This research provides an evidence base for identity-based drinking interventions for students characterised by high reward sensitivity, by promoting identities that do not idealise problematic drinking behaviour.
Cognitive Fatigue Influences Time-On-Task during Bodyweight Resistance Training Exercise

Prior investigations have shown measurable performance impairments on continuous physical performance tasks when preceded by a cognitively fatiguing task. However, the effect of cognitive fatigue on bodyweight resistance training exercise task performance is unknown. In the current investigation 18 amateur athletes completed a full body exercise task preceded by either a cognitive fatiguing or control intervention. In a randomized repeated measure design, each participant completed the same exercise task preceded by a 52 min cognitively fatiguing intervention (vigilance) or control intervention (video). Data collection sessions were separated by 1 week. Participants rated the fatigue intervention with a significantly higher workload compared to the control intervention (p < 0.001). Additionally, participants self-reported significantly greater energetic arousal for cognitively fatiguing task (p = 0.02). Cognitive fatigue did not significantly impact number of repetitions completed during the exercise task (p = 0.77); however, when cognitively fatigued, participants had decreased percent time-on-task (57%) relative to the no fatigue condition (60%; p = 0.04). RPE significantly changed over time (p < 0.001), but failed to show significant differences between the cognitive fatigue intervention and control intervention (p > 0.05). There was no statistical difference for heart rate or metabolic expenditure as a function of fatigue intervention during exercise. Cognitively fatigued athletes have decreased time-on-task in bodyweight resistance training exercise tasks.
Analysis and control of large scale networks, the Davis-Wielandt shell and graph separation

We consider a large scale network of interconnected heterogeneous dynamical components. Scalable stability conditions are derived that involve the input/output properties of individual subsystems and the interconnection matrix. The analysis is based on the Davis-Wielandt shell, a higher dimensional version of the numerical range with important convexity properties. This can be used to allow heterogeneity in the agent dynamics while relaxing normality and symmetry assumptions on the interconnection matrix. The results include small gain and passivity approaches as special cases, with the three dimensional shell shown to be inherently connected with corresponding graph separation arguments.
Test generation for graphical user interfaces based on symbolic execution

While Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) have become ubiquitous, testing them remains largely ad-hoc. Since the state of a GUI is defined by a sequence of events on the GUI's widgets, a test input for a GUI is such an event sequence. Due to the combinatorial nature of the sequences, testing a GUI thoroughly is problematic and time-consuming. Moreover, the wide range of possible values for certain GUI widgets, such as a textbox, compounds the problem. This paper presents a novel test generation approach based on symbolic execution to obtain data inputs and enumerate event sequences that are likely to maximize code coverage of a GUI application. Key contributions are introducing the technique of symbolic execution in GUI testing (addressing a common weakness of traditional GUI testing frameworks) and performing symbolic execution over strings (in addition to primitives). Doing so minimizes the number of event sequences that form the resulting test suite. To determine feasibility of path conditions that arise in symbolic execution, we implement a solver for constraints over strings (in addition to primitives). We evaluate our test generation approach.
Electronic Health Records Are More Than a Work Tool: Conflicting Needs of Direct and Indirect Stakeholders

The involvement of stakeholders is crucial when designing IT in highly complex application domains, such as healthcare. Stakeholder relationships are complex and can include strongly conflicting needs and value tensions. In this case study, we investigate the different perspectives of patients and physicians related to Patient Accessible Electronic Health Records (PAEHR) in Sweden. Generally, the introduction of this service has been heavily criticised by healthcare professionals, but welcomed by patients. The paper presents an innovative study design where themes from interviews with physicians are used as a lens to analyse survey data from patients. The findings highlight the necessity to understand stakeholders' perspectives about other stakeholder groups by contrasting assumptions and expectations of physicians (indirect stakeholders) with experience of use by patients (direct stakeholders), and discusses practical challenges when designing large-scale health information systems.
Succinct Non-Interactive Zero Knowledge for a von Neumann Architecture

We build a system that provides succinct noninteractive zero-knowledge proofs (zk-SNARKs) for program executions on a von Neumann RISC architecture. The system has two components: a cryptographic proof system for verifying satisfiability of arithmetic circuits, and a circuit generator to translate program executions to such circuits. Our design of both components improves in functionality and efficiency over prior work, as follows. Our circuit generator is the first to be universal: it does not need to know the program, but only a bound on its running time. Moreover, the size of the output circuit depends additively (rather than multiplicatively) on program size, allowing verification of larger programs. The cryptographic proof system improves proving and verification times, by leveraging new algorithms and a pairing library tailored to the protocol. We evaluated our system for programs with up to 10,000 instructions, running for up to 32,000 machine steps, each of which can arbitrarily access random-access memory; and also demonstrated it executing programs that use just-in-time compilation. Our proofs are 230 bytes long at 80 bits of security, or 288 bytes long at 128 bits of security. Typical verification time is 5 ms, regardless of the original program's running time.
The Architecture and Chemical Stability of the Archaeal Sulfolobus Turreted Icosahedral Virus

ABSTRACT Viruses utilize a diverse array of mechanisms to deliver their genomes into hosts. While great strides have been made in understanding the genome delivery of eukaryotic and prokaryotic viruses, little is known about archaeal virus genome delivery and the associated particle changes. The Sulfolobus turreted icosahedral virus (STIV) is a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) archaeal virus that contains a host-derived membrane sandwiched between the genome and the proteinaceous capsid shell. Using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and different biochemical treatments, we identified three viral morphologies that may correspond to biochemical disassembly states of STIV. One of these morphologies was subtly different from the previously published 27-Å-resolution electron density that was interpreted with the crystal structure of the major capsid protein (MCP). However, these particles could be analyzed at 12.5-Å resolution by cryo-EM. Comparing these two structures, we identified the location of multiple proteins forming the large turret-like appendages at the icosahedral vertices, observed heterogeneous glycosylation of the capsid shell, and identified mobile MCP C-terminal arms responsible for tethering and releasing the underlying viral membrane to and from the capsid shell. Collectively, our studies allow us to propose a fusogenic mechanism of genome delivery by STIV, in which the dismantled capsid shell allows for the fusion of the viral and host membranes and the internalization of the viral genome.