Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Towards a Long Term Model of Virtual Reality Exergame Exertion

Virtual reality (VR) exergames have the potential to be a fun way to get exercise. People have different preferences and responses when it comes to both exercising an playing games, meaning that there are potential benefits from creating a user model for exergaming. This could support various forms of personalization, such as game recommenders, and personalization within a game. We define a VR exergame user model, VRex, that represents a user's exertion as well a their goals and preferences for exercise and for games We illustrate the use of VRex to represent 1 users who played 4 games, based on data about their actual and perceived exertion and their satisfaction with each game. This demonstrates the diversity of the user models, in terms of the user model's components. This is the first work to explore the design of user models for virtual reality exergames and has the potential to serve as a foundation for game personalization, recommenders and open model interfaces.
Convergence of Multistep Time Discretizations of Nonlinear Dissipative Evolution Equations

Global error bounds are derived for multistep time discretizations of fully nonlinear evolution equations on infinite dimensional spaces. In contrast to earlier studies, the analysis presented here is not based on linearization procedures but on the fully nonlinear framework of logarithmic Lipschitz constants and nonlinear semigroups. The error bounds reveal how the contractive or dissipative behavior of the vector field, governing the evolution, and the properties of the multistep method influence the convergence. A multistep method which is consistent of order $p$ is proven to be convergent of the same order when the vector field is contractive or strictly dissipative, i.e., of the same order as in the ODE-setting. In the contractive context it is sufficient to require strong zero-stability of the method, whereas strong $A$-stability is sufficient in the dissipative case.
Environmentally committed short-term planning of electrical distribution systems considering renewable based DG siting and sizing

This paper proposes an environmentally committed mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model to find the best plan for the electrical distribution systems (EDSs) in a short-term planning horizon. In this regard, the energy delivered by the substation and the total investment cost are minimized while the stochasticity related with the demand and photovoltaic (PV) generation is modeled via external uncertainty indexes. Considering PV generation, switchable and fixed capacitor banks (CBs), voltage regulators (VRs), conductor replacement, as well as operating costs results in a mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model. However, to obtain the globally optimal solution, this highly nonlinear model, using appropriate linearization techniques, is recast to an MILP model. In order to validate and show the effectiveness of the proposed model, a 42-node system is considered in detail.
A study on motion recognition of objects in soccer game

Recognition of motion in football videos is necessary for an automatic understanding of the events that occur within football games. In order to recognize the motion, we first define the motions that can occur for each object in the football game, and make our system learn the object that performs the defined motion from the actual football game videos. Then, the system is configured to automatically recognize the motions generated in the actual football game videos within the defined motion. Experiments on motion recognition for 20 players, 1 referee, and 2 assistant referees were performed. The average recognition accuracy per motion for each object was 71.5%, 79.1%, and 93.7%. In this paper, we propose a method for simultaneously recognizing motions of various objects in football videos through learning.
Heparan sulfate proteoglycans of the cardiovascular system. Specific structures emerge but how is synthesis regulated?

The cell surfaces and surrounding extracellular matrix of the cardiovascular system possess large quantities of heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) 1 (1). These highly charged macromolecules consist of different core proteins with covalently linked heparan sulfate chains (HS) of varying monosaccharide sequence which serve as critical mediators of biologic processes (2, 3). For example, these components are involved in regulating mesodermal cell fate, positioning of the heart, vasculogenesis and angiogenesis after ischemic injury, interactions of cells with adhesive proteins and blood vessels, proliferation of smooth muscle cells during atherogenesis, metabolism of lipoproteins, nonthrombogenic characteristics of endothelial cells, etc. (4–9). Detailed investigations over the past decade have defined the structures of HSPGs, uncovered the molecular mechanisms by which these components carry out their diverse functions, and revealed that specific monosaccharide sequences of HS are required for interaction with biologic targets. In this review, we outline the current state of our knowledge about the structure and the biosynthesis of HSPGs as well as describe interactions of these components with growth factors, enzymes, and protease inhibitors. These observations provide a conceptual framework for elucidating the roles of HSPGs in other biologic systems. Structure and biosynthesis of HSPGs
Outcomes with a posterior reduced dental arch: a randomised controlled trial

To compare function, patient satisfaction and quality of life of patients with a posterior reduced mandibular arch with those who had all missing teeth replaced with removable partial dentures. Patients with at least three and not more than six posterior occluding pairs of teeth were enrolled sequentially and randomised into one of two treatment groups: a denture and no-denture group. A research assistant allocated interventions; concealment was ensured using opaque-sealed envelopes. Analysis of data was performed in stages, adding samples of 10 incrementally, and stopping when the relevant statistical tests indicated a clear conclusion as judged by the power set at 80% or above. Study outcomes included patient satisfaction, function and survival of remaining teeth at 3 and 12 months post-intervention, using a visual analogue scale and the Oral Impacts on Daily Performance). Statistical analysis was performed by the 'intention-to-treat' principle. Age range of included patients was 23-55 years (mean = 42·3; s.d. = 9·2), with 78% being females. Most patients (70%) belonged to the low- or no-income group. Nine patients left the study, for different reasons. Primary outcomes for the denture group: 10% of the patients were not satisfied and 20% were unhappy with their function; for the no-denture group: 85% of the patients (with 15% having left the study) were satisfied with both their function and their non-denture status. Patients with posterior reduced mandibular dental arches reported greater perceived satisfaction, function and quality of life compared to those who had received a cobalt-chrome clasp-retained partial removable prosthesis.
catena-Poly[[[aquabis(1H-imidazole-κN 3)copper(II)]-μ-naphthalene-1,4-dicarboxylato-κ2 O 1:O 4] dihydrate]

In the title compound, {[Cu(C12H6O4)(C3H4N2)2(H2O)]·2H2O}n, the CuII cation is coordinated by two naphthalene-1,4-dicarboxylate (naph) dianions, two imidazole molecules and one water molecule in a distorted square-pyramidal geometry. The Cu—O bond distance in the apical direction is 0.509 (3) Å longer than the mean Cu—O bond distance in the basal plane. The naph dianion bridges two CuII cations, forming a one-dimensional polymeric chain. The coordinated water molecule is hydrogen-bonded to the carboxylate groups and imidazole ligands of adjacent polymeric chains, forming a three-dimensional supramolecular structure. No π–π stacking is observed in the crystal structure. One solvent water molecule is disordered equally over two positions.
Urokinase Anchors uPAR to the Actin Cytoskeleton Audrey

RESULTS. uPA/uPAR was immunodetected in large (200 m) aggregates devoid of detectable F-actin. However, when uPA was added to corneal fibroblasts before fixation, a dynamic association between uPAR and the actin cytoskeleton was revealed: the uPA/uPAR complex was immunodetected throughout the surface of the plasma membrane in the form of dispersed small aggregates (0.05 m). Association of uPAR with actin stress fibers was visualized when FITC-labeled uPA was added to the cells. This codistribution of uPA/uPAR and actin was not detected when the cells were pretreated with the actin-depolymerizing drug, cytochalasin D. uPAR was found also in focal adhesions, the termination points of F-actin, where it colocalized with the integrin v 3 in cells migrating into a scrape wound. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments confirmed the physical association of uPAR with v 3 in fibroblasts.
Effect of Variants of Penicillin-Binding Protein 2 on Cephalosporin and Carbapenem Susceptibilities in Neisseria gonorrhoeae

ABSTRACT To characterize the relationship between penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP2/penA) and susceptibility to extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs) and carbapenem antibiotics, we compared 17 PBP2 variants in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Nonmosaic and mosaic variants of PBP2 caused decreased susceptibility to ESCs and, to a lesser extent, to carbapenems. An A501P substitution in mosaic XXXIV_A501P conferred decreased susceptibility to ESCs but restored carbapenem susceptibility to wild-type levels. These results could aid the molecular surveillance of antimicrobial resistance to these agents.
Religiosity, religious affiliation, and patterns of sexual activity and contraceptive use in France

ABSTRACT Objective To examine the association between religiosity and sexual and contraceptive behaviours in France. Methods Data were drawn from the 2005 Health Barometer survey, a random sample of 7495 women and 5634 men aged 15 to 44. We used logistic regression models to study the associations between religiosity and sexual and contraceptive behaviours, by gender and religious denomination. Results Three quarters of respondents (73%) reported no religious practice, 20% practised occasionally, and 7% regularly. Regular practice was associated with later sexual debut, regardless of religious denomination. Among participants less than 30 years old, religious respondents were less likely to have used a condom at first sexual intercourse (odds ratio [OR] = 0.2 for women, OR = 0.4 for men) or any form of contraception (OR = 0.2 for women). At the time of the survey, sexually experienced adolescents who reported regular religious practice were less likely to use contraception (84.7% vs. 98.1%, p < 0.001). Regular practice was associated with a 50% decrease in the odds of using very effective methods for Catholics, but had no effect among Muslims. Conclusion This study, conducted in the French secularised context, shows a complex relationship between religiosity and sexual behaviours, which varies by gender, religious affiliation and during the life course.
Mitochondrial DNA suggests recent origins in two coastal avian subspecies in northwestern North America

Genetic studies of subspecies endemic to Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), British Columbia and the Alexander Archipelago of southeast Alaska have frequently found genetic corroboration for these phenotypically based taxa. Divergence and speciation are common among island populations of birds, and evidence suggests this region has fostered such divergence during previous glacial maxima. We examined genetic divergence in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of two coastal subspecies endemic to this region: sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus perobscurus) and great blue heron (Ardea herodias fannini). Genetic diversity in both species was remarkably low, with both coastal subspecies possessing only the most common haplotype found in continental populations. We found low but significant population divergence between A. s. perobscurus and continental populations of sharp-shinned hawks and no significant population divergence in the herons. The refugial history of the region suggests that these subspecies may have arisen relatively recently compared with other regional endemics for which genetic and phenotypic data both show divergence. Alternatively, species-wide selective sweeps of mtDNA prior to divergence may have rendered this genetic marker less useful for tracking that divergence.
ERA : An Efficient Rate Adaption Algorithm with Fragmentation

An effective rate adaptation is one of the main challenges in wireless networks with multi-rate support. This work aims to design an effective rate adaptation algorithm. To fulfill this goal, we study the behavior of a system under different rate adaptation operations with simulations, investigate the frame loss nature in rate adaptation dynamics and analyze the effectiveness of different responses to those frame loss causes with both simulation and analytic model. Then, based on our observations, we propose an effective rate adaptation algorithm, dubbed ERA, with frame loss differentiation. This algorithm utilizes a strategy named “fragmenting” to discriminate the loss causes. It takes into account operations effective in both channel degradation and collision environments. With extensive simulations, our algorithm demonstrates its outstanding effectiveness and significant improvement over some of existing algorithms.
Information self-organization for knowledge discovery

We describe new graphical user interfaces which are used to facilitate navigation in information spaces. Operational use and usability studies are described and/or referenced. We next examine burgeoning needs in linking together on the one hand information backends and information streams, and on the other hand user needs and information representation platforms. This leads to a discussion of future perspectives with regard to middleware. Finally, we overview an innovative approach to information characterization or filtering.
Formulation and Characterization of a Porous, Elastomeric Biomaterial for Vocal Fold Tissue Engineering Research

Objective: Biomaterials able to mimic the mechanical properties of vocal fold tissue may be particularly useful for furnishing a 3-dimensional microenvironment allowing for in vitro investigation of cell and molecular responses to vibration. Motivated by the dearth of biomaterials available for use in an in vitro model for vocal fold tissue, we investigated polyether polyurethane (PEU) matrices, which are porous, mechanically tunable biomaterials that are inexpensive and require only standard laboratory equipment for fabrication. Methods: Rheology, dynamic mechanical analysis, and scanning electron microscopy were performed on PEU matrices at 5%, 10%, and 20% w/v mass concentrations. Results: For 5%, 10%, and 20% w/v concentrations, shear storage moduli were 2 kPa, 3.4 kPa, and 6 kPa, respectively, with shear loss moduli being 0.2 kPa, 0.38 kPa, and 0.62 kPa, respectively. Storage moduli responded to applied frequency as a linear function. Mercury intrusion porosimetry revealed that all 3 mass concentrations of PEU have a similar overall percentage porosity but differ in pore architecture. Conclusion: Twenty-µm diameter pores are ideal for cell seeding, and a range of mechanical properties indicates that the higher mass concentration PEU formulations are best suited for mimicking the viscoelastic properties of vocal fold tissue for in vitro research.
Relationships among CFTR expression, HCO3− secretion, and host defense may inform gene- and cell-based cystic fibrosis therapies

Significance Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene mutations cause cystic fibrosis (CF), and airway infections cause most morbidity. In airways, the CFTR forms a channel that secretes chloride and bicarbonate. A persistent question for CF gene- and cell-based therapies is how much CFTR is needed to correct host defense defects that predispose to infection. In addressing this question, we were informed by discoveries that, without CFTR-mediated bicarbonate secretion, liquid covering airways becomes abnormally acidic, which impairs airway host defenses. By studying airway epithelia from CF, non-CF, and CFTR heterozygote piglets, we found a relatively linear relationship between amounts of CFTR, bicarbonate secretion, and host defense properties. The results have direct implications for developing therapeutics. They may also explain the risk of airway disease in CF carriers. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in the gene encoding the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) anion channel. Airway disease is the major source of morbidity and mortality. Successful implementation of gene- and cell-based therapies for CF airway disease requires knowledge of relationships among percentages of targeted cells, levels of CFTR expression, correction of electrolyte transport, and rescue of host defense defects. Previous studies suggested that, when ∼10–50% of airway epithelial cells expressed CFTR, they generated nearly wild-type levels of Cl− secretion; overexpressing CFTR offered no advantage compared with endogenous expression levels. However, recent discoveries focused attention on CFTR-mediated HCO3− secretion and airway surface liquid (ASL) pH as critical for host defense and CF pathogenesis. Therefore, we generated porcine airway epithelia with varying ratios of CF and wild-type cells. Epithelia with a 50:50 mix secreted HCO3− at half the rate of wild-type epithelia. Likewise, heterozygous epithelia (CFTR+/− or CFTR+/∆F508) expressed CFTR and secreted HCO3− at ∼50% of wild-type values. ASL pH, antimicrobial activity, and viscosity showed similar relationships to the amount of CFTR. Overexpressing CFTR increased HCO3− secretion to rates greater than wild type, but ASL pH did not exceed wild-type values. Thus, in contrast to Cl− secretion, the amount of CFTR is rate-limiting for HCO3− secretion and for correcting host defense abnormalities. In addition, overexpressing CFTR might produce a greater benefit than expressing CFTR at wild-type levels when targeting small fractions of cells. These findings may also explain the risk of airway disease in CF carriers.
Turbine Burners: Flameholding in Accelerating Flow

A review of turbine-burner research and some relevant background issues is presented. Previous work on thermal cycle analysis for augmentative combustion in the passages of the turbine on a turbojet or turbofan engine is discussed, identifying the potential for improvement in performance. Previous researches on reacting mixing layers in accelerating flows, flameholding in high-speed flows, and various types of compact combustors are reviewed. An overview is given of experimental and computational research at UCI on the use of cavities to stabilize flames in accelerating and turning flows. Some indications for optimizing the cavity design are presented. Effects of the cavity length and depth, injection orientation for fuel and air into the cavity, and Reynolds number magnitude are discussed. The needs for future work are identified.
Reflections on student-centred learning in a large class setting

In many institutions increasing priority is being given to the educational goal of intellectual independence with course objectives placing more emphasis on the processes of learning and less on course content. While such objectives are readily achieved in the small class setting, this remains difficult in large class settings. In this paper we describe an attempt to pursue the student-independence agenda in a large, first year management course and discuss the processes used, outcomes achieved and critical success factors perceived. While results to date show a pleasing increase in the use of effective learning strategies for independent learning by students, a significant minority of students have not responded positively to the independence goal. Concluding comments develop this aspect.
Ensuring High-Quality Data Collection for Mobile Crowd Sensing

Mobile Crowd sensing is a new paradigm that encourages ordinary people to collect and share sensing data with their smart devices. However, the uncontrollable data quality is one of the critical problems that is potentially harmful to guarantee the availability and preciseness of mobile crowd sensing based services. In this paper, we propose a quality aware data collection mechanism based on a realistic scenario where participants arrive and report their conditions sequentially one by one. When a participant arrives, the mechanism first forecasts the amount of high quality data he#x002F;she may contribute by employing the expectation of Binomial-Poisson distribution, and then a two-level iterative algorithm is employed to calculate its parametric values. After, our designed mechanism decides to select the participant or not by combining with his#x002F;her requested reward. Extensive simulation results well justify the effectiveness and robustness of our approach, compared with another schemes.
Similarity search through one-dimensional embeddings

The optimization of similarity queries is often done with specialized data structures known as metric access methods. It has recently been proposed the use of B+trees to index high dimensional data for range and nearest neighbor search in metric spaces. This work1 introduces a new access method called GroupSim and query algorithms for indexing and retrieving complex data by similarity. It employs a single B+tree in order to dynamically index data elements with regard to a set of one-dimensional embeddings. Our strategy uses a new scheme to store distance information, allowing to determine directly if each element lies on the intersection of the embeddings. We compare GroupSim with two related methods, iDistance and OmniB-Forest, and we show empirically the new access method outperforms them with regard to the time required to run similarity queries.
Splanchnic perfusion evaluation during hemorrhage and resuscitation with gastric near-infrared spectroscopy.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to use a prototype side-illuminating near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) nasogastric probe to continuously measure changes in gastric tissue oxygen saturation (Sto2) in a pig hemorrhage model. METHODS Swine (n = 12; 6 per group) underwent laparotomy and placement of a gastric NIRS probe, jejunal tonometer, superior mesenteric artery (SMA) flow probe, and a portal vein catheter. Animals underwent hemorrhage (28 mL/kg) t = 0 to 20 minutes (where t = time). Pigs in group I were resuscitated (t = 20-40 minutes) with lactated Ringer's solution (84 mL/kg), whereas group II had no resuscitation. RESULTS A significant decrease in mean arterial pressure and SMA flow was observed after hemorrhage. SMA flow significantly correlated in group I with both NIRS Sto2 (r = 0.58, p = 0.0001) and regional CO2 (r = -0.54, p = 0.0001). In group II, superior mesenteric flow correlated with NIRS Sto2 (r = 0.30, p = 0.03), but not regional CO2 (r = -0.23, p = 0.09). CONCLUSION Direct measurement of tissue oxygen saturation with a prototype side-illuminating near-infrared spectroscopy gastric probe appeared to rapidly reflect changes in splanchnic perfusion.