Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immersive and perceptual human-computer interaction using computer vision techniques

Computer vision techniques have been widely applied to immersive and perceptual human-computer interaction for applications like computer gaming, education, and entertainment. In this paper, relevant techniques are surveyed in terms of image capturing, normalization, motion detection, tracking, feature representation and recognition. In addition, applications of vision techniques in HCI in computer gaming are also summarized in several categories including vision enabled pointing and positioning, vision for manipulating objects, training and education, and miscellaneous applications. The characteristics of existing work are analyzed and discussed, along with corresponding challenges and future research directions proposed.
Maternal Methyl Donors Supplementation during Lactation Prevents the Hyperhomocysteinemia Induced by a High-Fat-Sucrose Intake by Dams

Maternal perinatal nutrition may program offspring metabolic features. Epigenetic regulation is one of the candidate mechanisms that may be affected by maternal dietary methyl donors intake as potential controllers of plasma homocysteine levels. Thirty-two Wistar pregnant rats were randomly assigned into four dietary groups during lactation: control, control supplemented with methyl donors, high-fat-sucrose and high-fat-sucrose supplemented with methyl donors. Physiological outcomes in the offspring were measured, including hepatic mRNA expression and global DNA methylation after weaning. The newborns whose mothers were fed the obesogenic diet were heavier longer and with a higher adiposity and intrahepatic fat content. Interestingly, increased levels of plasma homocysteine induced by the maternal high-fat-sucrose dietary intake were prevented in both sexes by maternal methyl donors supplementation. Total hepatic DNA methylation decreased in females due to maternal methyl donors administration, while Dnmt3a hepatic mRNA levels decreased accompanying the high-fat-sucrose consumption. Furthermore, a negative association between Dnmt3a liver mRNA levels and plasma homocysteine concentrations was found. Maternal high-fat-sucrose diet during lactation could program offspring obesity features, while methyl donors supplementation prevented the onset of high hyperhomocysteinemia. Maternal dietary intake also affected hepatic DNA methylation metabolism, which could be linked with the regulation of the methionine-homocysteine cycle.
Crystal Structure of the FeS Cluster–Containing Nucleotide Excision Repair Helicase XPD

DNA damage recognition by the nucleotide excision repair pathway requires an initial step identifying helical distortions in the DNA and a proofreading step verifying the presence of a lesion. This proofreading step is accomplished in eukaryotes by the TFIIH complex. The critical damage recognition component of TFIIH is the XPD protein, a DNA helicase that unwinds DNA and identifies the damage. Here, we describe the crystal structure of an archaeal XPD protein with high sequence identity to the human XPD protein that reveals how the structural helicase framework is combined with additional elements for strand separation and DNA scanning. Two RecA-like helicase domains are complemented by a 4Fe4S cluster domain, which has been implicated in damage recognition, and an α-helical domain. The first helicase domain together with the helical and 4Fe4S-cluster–containing domains form a central hole with a diameter sufficient in size to allow passage of a single stranded DNA. Based on our results, we suggest a model of how DNA is bound to the XPD protein, and can rationalize several of the mutations in the human XPD gene that lead to one of three severe diseases, xeroderma pigmentosum, Cockayne syndrome, and trichothiodystrophy.
The effects of risk probability, outcome severity, efficacy of protection and access to protection on decision making: A further test of protection motivation theory

The effects of different types of risk information in a simulated decision-making task were investigated to test the predictions of protection motivation theory. In accordance with predictions, outcome severity, efficacy of protection, and access to protection were related to protective decisions. The results are discussed in terms of general utility of this model for a variety of decision-making situations. The aspect of manageability, which is seen as a combination of efficacy of protection and access to protection, was discussed as an essential component for risk decision making.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences Combined Neurostimulation and Neuroimaging in Cognitive Neuroscience: Past, Present, and Future

Modern neurostimulation approaches in humans provide controlled inputs into the operations of cortical regions, with highly specific behavioral consequences. This enables causal structure–function inferences, and in combination with neuroimaging, has provided novel insights into the basic mechanisms of action of neurostimulation on distributed networks. For example, more recent work has established the capacity of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to probe causal interregional influences, and their interaction with cognitive state changes. Combinations of neurostimulation and neuroimaging now face the challenge of integrating the known physiological effects of neu-rostimulation with theoretical and biological models of cognition, for example, when theoretical stalemates between opposing cognitive theories need to be resolved. This will be driven by novel developments, including biologically informed computational network analyses for predicting the impact of neurostimulation on brain networks, as well as novel neuroimaging and neurostimulation techniques. Such future developments may offer an expanded set of tools with which to investigate structure–function relationships, and to formulate and reconceptualize testable hypotheses about complex neural network interactions and their causal roles in cognition.
Long-Term Clinical Outcomes of Cervical Disc Arthroplasty: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial.

STUDY DESIGN Prospective, Randomized, Single-Center, Clinical Trial. OBJECTIVE To prospectively examine the 7 and 10-year outcomes of cervical arthroplasty to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Degeneration of the cervical discs causing radiculopathy is a frequent source of surgical intervention, commonly treated with ACDF. Positive clinical outcomes are associated with arthrodesis techniques, yet there remains a long-term concern for adjacent segment change. Cervical disc arthroplasty has been designed to mitigate some of the challenges associated with arthrodesis while providing for a similar positive neurological outcome. As data has been collected from numerous prospective U.S. FDA IDE trials, longer term outcomes regarding adjacent segment change may be examined. METHODS As part of an FDA IDE trial, a single center collected prospective outcomes data on 47 patients randomized in a 1:1 ratio to ACDF or arthroplasty. RESULTS Success of both surgical interventions remained high at the 10-year interval. Both arthrodesis and arthroplasty demonstrated statistically significant improvements in NDI, VAS neck and arm pain scores at all intervals including 7 and 10-year periods. Arthroplasty demonstrated an advantage in comparison to arthrodesis as measured by final 10-year NDI score (8 vs 16, p = 0.0485). Patients requiring re-operation were higher in number in the arthrodesis cohort (32%) in comparison to arthroplasty (9%) (p = 0.055). CONCLUSIONS At 7 and 10 years, cervical arthroplasty compares favorably to ACDF as defined by standard outcomes scores in a highly selected population with radiculopathy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 1.
Development, Implementation and Evaluation of a Professional Skills Development Program: The Case of Concordia University’s GradProSkills

Abstract The Graduate and Professional Skills (GradProSkills) program is an initiative developed and run by Concordia University’s School of Graduate Studies and the university’s Office of the Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies. This paper presents a case study in which we describe the development, implementation, and evaluative components of the GradProSkills program. Drawing on data from a rigorously validated workshop evaluation tool and from attendance figures spanning a period of a little over two and a half years, we provide a picture of how Concordia’s graduate students are benefiting from the GradProSkills program. We present the results of both descriptive and inferential statistical analyses run on a pilot group of registrants who provided evaluation data (n = 3,292). Our case study contributes an empirically derived model of extracurricular programming, with contextualizing details of administrative structures, curriculum-development initiatives, and partnership efforts that have been used in operating the GradProSkills program. Resume Le programme « Graduate and Professional Skills » (GradProSkills) est une initiative creee et dirigee par l’Ecole des etudes superieures et le Vice-rectorat a la recherche et aux etudes superieures de l’Universite Concordia. Cet article presente une etude de cas dans laquelle nous decrivons la creation, la mise en œuvre et l’evaluation de GradProSkills. En nous fondant sur les donnees obtenues d’un outil d’evaluation d’ateliers rigoureux et valide, et sur des taux de participation s’echelonnant sur une periode d’un peu plus de deux ans et demi, nous tracons le portrait de la facon dont les etudiants aux cycles superieurs de l’Universite Concordia profitent du programme GradProSkills. Nous presentons des resultats d’analyses statistiques descriptives et deductives tires d’un groupe pilote de personnes inscrites a des ateliers qui ont fourni des donnees d’evaluation (n = 3 292). Notre etude de cas fournit un modele de programmation hors-programme derive empiriquement avec des details contextualises concernant les structures administratives, les initiatives d’elaboration de programmes et les partenariats dont le programme GradProSkills s’est servi.
Exploration of DSM-IV Criteria in Primary Care Patients With Medically Unexplained Symptoms

Objectives: Investigators and clinicians almost always rely on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, 4th edition’s (DSM-IV) somatoform disorders (and its derivative diagnoses) to characterize and identify patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS). Our objective was to evaluate this use by determining the prevalence of DSM-IV somatoform and nonsomatoform disorders in patients with MUS proven by a gold standard chart review. Methods: In a community-based staff model HMO, we identified subjects for a clinical trial using a systematic and reliable chart rating procedure among high-utilizing MUS patients. Only baseline data are reported here. The World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview provided full and abridged DSM-IV diagnoses. Patients with full or abridged DSM-IV somatoform diagnoses were labeled “DSM somatoform-positive,” whereas those without them were labeled “DSM somatoform-negative. ” Results: Two hundred six MUS patients averaged 13.6 visits in the year preceding study, 79.1% were females, and the average age was 47.7 years. We found that 124 patients (60.2%) had a nonsomatoform (“psychiatric”) DSM-IV diagnosis of any type; 36 (17.5%) had 2 full nonsomatoform diagnoses, and 41 (19.9%) had >2; 92 (44.7%) had some full anxiety diagnosis and 94 (45.6%) had either full depression or minor depression diagnoses. However, only 9 of 206 (4.4%) had any full DSM-IV somatoform diagnosis, and only 39 (18.9%) had abridged somatization disorder. Thus, 48 (23.3%) were “DSM somatoform-positive” and 158 (76.7%) were “DSM somatoform-negative. ” The latter exhibited less anxiety, depression, mental dysfunction, and psychosomatic symptoms (all p <.001) and less physical dysfunction (p = .011). Correlates of this DSM somatoform-negative status were female gender (p = .007), less severe mental (p = .007), and physical dysfunction (p = .004), a decreased proportion of MUS (p <.10), and less psychiatric comorbidity (p <.10); c-statistic = 0.77. Conclusion: We concluded that depression and anxiety characterized MUS patients better than the somatoform disorders. Our data suggested radically revising the somatoform disorders for DSM-V by incorporating a new, very large group of now-overlooked DSM somatoform-negative patients who were typically women with less severe dysfunction. HMO = health maintenance organization DSM-IV = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition DSM-V = planned for approximately 2010, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition MUS = medically unexplained symptoms ECA = epidemiologic catchment area SD = somatization disorder SF-36 = Short-Form 36 MCS = Mental Component Summary of the SF-36 PCS = Physical Component Summary of the SF-36 SSAS = Spielberger State Anxiety Scale CES-D = Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression inventory PSC = Psychosomatic Symptom Checklist WHO-CIDI = World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview.
Designing Genome-Wide Association Studies: Sample Size, Power, Imputation, and the Choice of Genotyping Chip

Genome-wide association studies are revolutionizing the search for the genes underlying human complex diseases. The main decisions to be made at the design stage of these studies are the choice of the commercial genotyping chip to be used and the numbers of case and control samples to be genotyped. The most common method of comparing different chips is using a measure of coverage, but this fails to properly account for the effects of sample size, the genetic model of the disease, and linkage disequilibrium between SNPs. In this paper, we argue that the statistical power to detect a causative variant should be the major criterion in study design. Because of the complicated pattern of linkage disequilibrium (LD) in the human genome, power cannot be calculated analytically and must instead be assessed by simulation. We describe in detail a method of simulating case-control samples at a set of linked SNPs that replicates the patterns of LD in human populations, and we used it to assess power for a comprehensive set of available genotyping chips. Our results allow us to compare the performance of the chips to detect variants with different effect sizes and allele frequencies, look at how power changes with sample size in different populations or when using multi-marker tags and genotype imputation approaches, and how performance compares to a hypothetical chip that contains every SNP in HapMap. A main conclusion of this study is that marked differences in genome coverage may not translate into appreciable differences in power and that, when taking budgetary considerations into account, the most powerful design may not always correspond to the chip with the highest coverage. We also show that genotype imputation can be used to boost the power of many chips up to the level obtained from a hypothetical “complete” chip containing all the SNPs in HapMap. Our results have been encapsulated into an R software package that allows users to design future association studies and our methods provide a framework with which new chip sets can be evaluated.
Scalable Sentiment Analysis for Microblogs Based on Semantic Scoring

Scalability is one of the main challenges of social media analyses such as sentiment analysis. Micro logs as emerging opinion sharing platforms require new approaches that are more scalable and accurate. In this paper, we propose, implement, and evaluate SSSA, a Semantic Scoring Sentiment Analysis service, which matches the demand of scalability and efficiency of a sentiment analysis system for a large volume of micro logs. We first build an automated tweet tagging system to alleviate the cost of building a dataset for training. Our approach then calculates semantic scores of words in tweets. These scores are the baseline for the proposed subjectivity classification and feature selection steps. Finally, we build a polarity classifier to estimate the polarity of subjective tweets on top of them. Experiments show that SSSA, compared to conventional approaches that based on emoticon, hash tag, or semantic scoring, has improved the scalability and accuracy of micro log sentiment analysis.
The relationship of anxiety to popularity and rejection among institutionalized delinquent boys.

The major purpose of this inquiry was to examine the relationship between anxiety and sociometric status within two groups of institutionalized delinquent boys. Anxiety was operationally defined in terms of boys' performance on a questionnaire (3) relating to manifest anxiety. Sociometric status was defined in two ways: choice, an expressed desire on the part of a boy to interact with another boy; and, rejection, an expressed desire on the part of a boy to avoid interaction with another boy. That there is a positive relationship between "adjustment" and sociometric status within child populations has been supported by numerous studies (2, 4, 6, 7, 9). Thorpe's (14) recent investigation of 980 British children, for example, reported that more neurotic children, as measured by a composite index of neuroses, were significantly less popular than the less neurotic children. A study by McCandless (8) and his associates showed that the more anxious youngsters among Iowa elementary school children were also the less popular. Apparently, poor adjustment, high anxiety and neuroticism in a child tends to distort his perceptions of himself and of others (II, 12, 15). Distortions of perception may lead to inappropriate behavior towards others and, hence, to rejection (5). However, in examining the relationship between adjustment and sociometric status, most investigators (I, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14) studied children who were described as functioning within the range of normal adjustment. An additional question might be asked: In child groups characterized by high anxiety, are the more anxious youngsters also less popular?
Global Diversity and Phylogeny of Pelagic Shrimps of the Former Genera Sergestes and Sergia (Crustacea, Dendrobranchiata, Sergestidae), with Definition of Eight New Genera

We revise the global diversity of the former genera Sergia and Sergestes which include 71 valid species. The revision is based on examination of more than 37,000 specimens from collections in the Natural History Museum of Denmark and the Museum of Natural History, Paris. We used 72 morphological characters (61 binary, 11 multistate) and Sicyonella antennata as an outgroup for cladistic analysis. There is no support for the genera Sergia and Sergestes as they have been defined until now. We define and diagnose eight genera of the former genus Sergia (Sergia and new genera Gardinerosergia, Phorcosergia, Prehensilosergia, Robustosergia, Scintillosergia, Challengerosergia, and Lucensosergia) and seven genera of the former genus Sergestes (Sergestes, Deosergestes, Eusergestes, Allosergestes, Parasergestes, Neosergestes, and a new genus Cornutosergestes). An identification key is presented for all genera of the family Sergestidae. The phylogeny of Sergestidae is mainly based on three categories of characters related to: (1) general decapod morphology, (2) male copulatory organs, and (3) photophores. Only simultaneous use of all three character types resulted in a resolved tree with minimal Bootstrap support 75 for each clade. Most genera are interzonal mesopelagic migrants, some are benthopelagic (Scintillosergia, Lucensosergia), bathypelagic (Sergia), or epipelagic (Cornutosergestes). Within each of meso- and benthopelagic genera there is one species with panoceanic distribution, while most species ranges are restricted to a single ocean. The genera demonstrate two different strategies expressed both in morphology and behavior: protective (Eusergestes, Sergestes, Cornutosergestes, Prehensilosergia, Scintillosergia, Lucensosergia, Challengerosergia, Gardinerosergia, Robustosergia, Phorcosergia, Sergia) and offensive (Neosergestes, Parasergestes, Allosergestes, Deosergestes).
Enhancing learners' performances on 3D animation through game-based e-learning

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of individual differences on learners' performances of three-dimensional animation through game-based e-learning. Participants were 78 college juniors enrolled in a 3D animation course, an 18-week course designed for game-based learning. An online questionnaire was conducted at the end of the semester to obtain learners' perceptions of the system. The results showed that (a) there were no significant differences on learners' acceptance grouped by gender and parents' expectancy; (b) students with stronger teachers' expectancy demonstrated higher acceptance on perceived ease to use, perceived usefulness, and perceived willingness to use; and (c) students with higher perceived initiative showed more positive attitude in willingness to use the system.
A Survey on Lightweight Block Ciphers

Ubiquitous and pervasive computing are new era of computing and it needs lightweight cryptographic algorithms for security. Lightweight cryptography is used for resource constrained devices (which have limited memory, limited power and less processing capability) such as radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, contactless smart cards, wireless sensor network, health care devices and internet of things (IoT). The design of lightweight block cipher has been active research topic over the years. The comparative evaluations of these block ciphers (which actually reach low cost goal) on any platform is hard. In this paper comparative evaluation of selected symmetric key lightweight block ciphers such as PRINT, PRESENT, EPCBC, DESL, TWINE, Puffin, KLEIN, KATAN, LED, LBLOCK and RECTANGLE is presented.
Semantic Indexing Approach of a Corpora Based On Ontology

 Abstract — The growth in the volume of text data such as books and articles in libraries for centuries has imposed to establish effective mechanisms to locate them. Early techniques such as abstraction, indexing and the use of classification categories have marked the birth of a new field of research called "Information Retrieval". Information Retrieval (IR) can be defined as the task of defining models and systems whose purpose is to facilitate access to a set of documents in electronic form (corpus) to allow a user to find the relevant ones for him, that is to say, the contents which matches with the information needs of the user. This paper presents a new semantic indexing approach of a documentary corpus. The indexing process starts first by a term weighting phase to determine the importance of these terms in the documents. Then the use of a thesaurus like Wordnet allows moving to the conceptual level. Each candidate concept is evaluated by determining its level of representation of the document, that is to say, the importance of the concept in relation to other concepts of the document. Finally, the semantic index is constructed by attaching to each concept of the ontology, the documents of the corpus in which these concepts are found.