Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Designing Real Time Assistive Technologies: A Study of Children with ADHD

Children with mental disorders like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often experience challenges in school as they struggle to maintain their attention. Based on empirical studies conducted in school contexts and together with teachers and ADHD domain professionals, we identified design criteria in relation to three core components (sensing, recognizing, and assisting) for designing real time assistive technologies for children with ADHD. Based on these design criteria, we designed the Child Activity Sensing and Training Tool (CASTT), a real time assistive prototype that captures activities and assists the child in maintaining attention. From a preliminary evaluation of CASTT with 20 children in several schools, we and found that: 1) it is possible to create a wearable sensor system for children with ADHD that monitors physical and physiological activities in real time; and that 2) real time assistive technologies have potential to assist children with ADHD in regaining attention in critical school situations.
Directive Leaky-Wave Radiation From a Dipole Source in a Wire-Medium Slab

Radiation features are studied for a grounded wire-medium slab excited by a simple canonical source, i.e., a horizontal electric dipole. For the first time, an approximate analysis based on a homogenized model for the wire medium as well as a rigorous full-wave analysis of the actual periodic structure are presented. The homogeneous model takes into account both anisotropy and spatial dispersion of the metamaterial medium in the long-wavelength regime. One rather surprising result is that this structure allows for directive pencil beams at broadside that are azimuthally symmetric (in spite of the directionality of the wires). The structure also allows for conical beams that point at a chosen scan angle, where the beam angle and beamwidth are azimuthally independent, and the beam peak in the elevation planes remains approximately constant during the scanning process, in contrast with other types of planar leaky-wave antennas. These remarkable features are explained in terms of the azimuthal independence of the wavenumber for the leaky mode that is responsible for the beam.
A Simple Statistical Parameter for Use in Evaluation and Validation of High Throughput Screening Assays

The ability to identify active compounds ("hits") from large chemical libraries accurately and rapidly has been the ultimate goal in developing high-throughput screening (HTS) assays. The ability to identify hits from a particular HTS assay depends largely on the suitability or quality of the assay used in the screening. The criteria or parameters for evaluating the "suitability" of an HTS assay for hit identification are not well defined and hence it still remains difficult to compare the quality of assays directly. In this report, a screening window coefficient, called "Z- factor," is defined. This coefficient is reflective of both the assay signal dynamic range and the data variation associated with the signal measurements, and therefore is suitable for assay quality assessment. The Z-factor is a dimensionless, simple statistical characteristic for each HTS assay. The Z-factor provides a useful tool for comparison and evaluation of the quality of assays, and can be utilized in assay optimization and validation.
Itérations chaotiques pour la sécurité de l'information dissimulée. (Chaotic iterations for the Hidden Information Security)

Les systemes dynamiques discrets, œuvrant en iterations chaotiques ou asynchrones, se sont averes etre des outils particulierement interessants a utiliser en securite informatique, grâce a leur comportement hautement imprevisible, obtenu sous certaines conditions. Ces iterations chaotiques satisfont les proprietes de chaos topologiques et peuvent etre programmees de maniere efficace. Dans l’etat de l’art, elles ont montre tout leur interet au travers de schemas de tatouage numerique. Toutefois, malgre leurs multiples avantages, ces algorithmes existants ont revele certaines limitations. Cette these a pour objectif de lever ces contraintes, en proposant de nouveaux processus susceptibles de s’appliquer a la fois au domaine du tatouage numerique et au domaine de la steganographie. Nous avons donc etudie ces nouveaux schemas sur le double plan de la securite dans le cadre probabiliste. L’analyse de leur biveau de securite respectif a permis de dresser un comparatif avec les autres processus existants comme, par exemple, l’etalement de spectre. Des tests applicatifs ont ete conduits pour steganaliser des processus proposes et pour evaluer leur robustesse. Grâce aux resultats obtenus, nous avons pu juger de la meilleure adequation de chaque algorithme avec des domaines d’applications cibles comme, par exemple, l’anonymisation sur Internet, la contribution au developpement d’un web semantique, ou encore une utilisation pour la protection des documents et des donnes numeriques. Parallelement a ces travaux scientifiques fondamentaux, nous avons propose plusieurs projets de valorisation avec pour objectif la creation d’une entreprise de technologies innovantes.
Gene expression profiling of clear cell renal cell carcinoma: Gene identification and prognostic classification

To better understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie the tumorigenesis and progression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), we studied the gene expression profiles of 29 ccRCC tumors obtained from patients with diverse clinical outcomes by using 21,632 cDNA microarrays. We identified gene expression alterations that were both common to most of the ccRCC studied and unique to clinical subsets. There was a significant distinction in gene expression profile between patients with a relatively nonaggressive form of the disease [100% survival after 5 years with the majority (15/17 or 88%) having no clinical evidence of metastasis] versus patients with a relatively aggressive form of the disease (average survival time 25.4 months with a 0% 5-year survival rate). Approximately 40 genes most accurately make this distinction, some of which have previously been implicated in tumorigenesis and metastasis. To test the robustness and potential clinical usefulness of this molecular distinction, we simulated its use as a prognostic tool in the clinical setting. In 96% of the ccRCC cases tested, the prediction was compatible with the clinical outcome, exceeding the accuracy of prediction by staging. These results suggest that two molecularly distinct forms of ccRCC exist and that the integration of expression profile data with clinical parameters could serve to enhance the diagnosis and prognosis of ccRCC. Moreover, the identified genes provide insight into the molecular mechanisms of aggressive ccRCC and suggest intervention strategies.
Comparison of satisfaction with care between two different models of HIV care delivery in St. Petersburg, Russia

Prior to 2010, medical care for people living with HIV/AIDS was provided at an outpatient facility near the center of St. Petersburg. Since then, HIV specialty clinics have been established in more outlying regions of the city. The study examined the effect of this decentralization of HIV care on patients’ satisfaction with care in clinics of St. Petersburg, Russia. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 418 HIV-positive patients receiving care at the St. Petersburg AIDS Center or at District Infectious Disease Departments (centralized and decentralized models, respectively). Face-to-face interviews included questions about psychosocial characteristics, patient's satisfaction with care, and clinic-related patient experience. Abstraction of medical records provided information on patients’ viral load. To compare centralized and decentralized models of care delivery, we performed bivariate and multivariate analysis. Clients of District Infectious Disease Departments spent less time in lines and traveling to reach the clinic, and they had stronger relationships with their doctor. The overall satisfaction with care was high, with 86% of the sample reporting high level of satisfaction. Nevertheless, satisfaction with care was strongly and positively associated with the decentralized model of care and Patient–Doctor Relationship Score. Patient experience elements such as waiting time, travel time, and number of services used were not significant factors related to satisfaction. Given the positive association of satisfaction with decentralized service delivery, it is worth exploring decentralization as one way of improving healthcare services for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Human fall detection with smartphones

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), one in three people over the age of 65 are likely to experience a fall. Twenty to thirty percent of these people sustain injuries such as fractures, loss of independence, and even death [1]. Fall detection is an active research area that strives to improve people's lives through the use of pervasive computing. This paper presents an approach to detect falls based on data gathered from a smartphone. It utilizes the smartphone's built-in sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope) to identify the location of the cellphone in the user's body (chest, pocket, holster, etc), and to find known patterns associated with falls. A general description on fall detection systems is provided, including the different types of sensors used nowadays. The proposed solution is presented and described in great detail. Finally, the system is assessed using known performance indicators. A total accuracy of 81.3% was calculated from the fall detection proposed algorithm. The top three locations to detect a fall were: texting with a 95.8% fall detection accuracy, pants' side pocket with an 87.5% accuracy, and shirt chest's pocket with an 83.3% accuracy.
EQUATION TO FAT PERCENTAGE ESTIMATION IN WOMEN WITH REDUCED BONE MINERAL DENSITY

RESEARCH ARTICLE Equation to Fat Percentage Estimation in Women with Reduced Bone Mineral Density Cristiane da Silva Oselame, Gleidson Brandão Oselame, Oslei de Matos and Eduardo Borba Neves Federal Technological University of Paraná. Av. Sete de Setembro, 3165 Rebouças CEP, 80230-901 Curitiba PR Brasil. Federal Technological University of PR Av. Sete de Setembro, 3165 Rebouças CEP 80230-901 Curitiba PR Brasil. Home address: Rua Mariano Torres, 958, apto 905, Curitiba, Brasil. Federal Technological University of Paraná. Av. Sete de Setembro, 3165 Rebouças CEP 80230-901 Curitiba PR Brasil. Biomedical Engineering, Lecturer in Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering from the Federal Technological University of Paraná. Av. Sete de Setembro, 3165 Rebouças CEP, 80230-901 Curitiba PR Brasil.
Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Induces Interleukin-6 Production and Integrin Ligand Expression by Distinct Transduction Pathways*

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a pleiotropic cytokine that elicits a large number of biological effects. However, the intracellular signaling mechanisms that are responsible for the TNF-α effects remain largely unknown. We have previously demonstrated that cultured mouse Sertoli cells, after TNF-α treatment, increase the surface expression of adhesion molecules such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) production (Riccioli, A., Filippini, A., De Cesaris, P., Barbacci, E., Stefanini, M., Starace, G., and Ziparo, E. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 92, 5808–5812). Here, we show that, in cultured Sertoli cells, TNF-α activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway (p38, c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase/stress-activated protein kinase, and the p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinases) as revealed by an increased phosphorylation of p38, activating transcription factor-2, c-Jun, and Elk-1. Furthermore, our data indicate that the biological effects induced by TNF-α in Sertoli cells (enhancement of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and IL-6 expression) depend on the activation of different signaling pathways. SB203580, a highly specific p38 inhibitor, does not affect ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression, but strongly inhibits IL-6 production. Moreover, interferon-γ, which up-regulates adhesion molecule expression and reduces IL-6 production, does not induce phosphorylation of p38. Our data strongly support the hypothesis that, in response to TNF-α, activation of p38 leads to IL-6 production, whereas ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression could be induced by activation of the c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase/stress-activated protein kinase pathway.
Orbital Motion in the Radio Galaxy 3C 66B: Evidence for a Supermassive Black Hole Binary

Supermassive black hole binaries may exist in the centers of active galactic nuclei such as quasars and radio galaxies, and mergers between galaxies may result in the formation of supermassive binaries during the course of galactic evolution. Using the very-long-baseline interferometer, we imaged the radio galaxy 3C 66B at radio frequencies and found that the unresolved radio core of 3C 66B shows well-defined elliptical motions with a period of 1.05 ± 0.03 years, which provides a direct detection of a supermassive black hole binary.
Histoire de la vérité et généalogie de l'autorité

ReSUMe L’article examine les conceptions de Foucault concernant l’histoire de la verite, ainsi que les rapports entre la volonte de savoir, la volonte de verite et les formes du pouvoir. Il rappelle comment les notions nietzscheennes de volonte de verite et de volonte de puissance font place dans son œuvre a la volonte de savoir comme instrument des rapports de domination. On examine ensuite comment la notion d’autorite, entendue a la fois au sens institutionnel et au sens discursif, peut permettre une sociologisation des approches traditionnelles de la verite, elaborees par les philosophes. Comment la visee de verite du discours s’est-elle combinee historiquement avec la volonte de savoir des institutions ? Y a-t-il differents regimes de verite, lies a des modalites de discours differentes, mais aussi a des formes d’autorite institutionnelle ? Est-il possible de construire une genealogie des figures de l’autorite discursive ?
Expression of a Functional Secreted YopN-TyeA Hybrid Protein in Yersinia pestis Is the Result of a +1 Translational Frameshift Event

ABSTRACT YopN is a secreted protein that prior to secretion directly interacts with the cytosolic SycN/YscB chaperone complex and TyeA. This study identifies a secreted YopN-TyeA hybrid protein that is expressed by Yersinia pestis, but not by Yersinia enterocolitica. DNA sequence analysis and site-directed mutagenesis studies demonstrate that the hybrid protein is the result of a +1 translational frameshift event.
27 Optical Techniques for Future Pacemaker Technology

Current muscle pacemaker technology mostly relies on electrical techniques. The electrical method is well understood and established, however, the electricity is difficult to localize and has a risk of interfering with intact cells, tissues, and organisms, affecting their electrophysiology. Light has the potential to be a novel medium in future pacemaker technology. Light is typically minimally invasive and has low interactivity with biological tissues. Depending on the wavelength, this unique property allows its use to access deep inside biological tissues and opens up potential extension of light and photonics technology to a variety of applications in biosciences, such as in vivo manipulation of biological functions. Combined with nonlinear optical technology, only light technology allows location-selective manipulation deep inside tissues with minimum disturbance to the surrounding areas. Other light properties, such as an inherent sterility and the fact that it does not interfere with measurement instruments, makes the technology attractive. In this chapter, we describe light-based techniques that may be used for future muscle pacemaker technology. Recently we presented femtosecond laser pacemaker for heart muscle cells through nonlinear light technology. This chapter describes details of light interaction with cells and in particular muscle cells, including experimental and modeling studies. Besides nonlinear light technology, other light-based techniques for manipulating muscle activities are reviewed. These techniques may not be able to pace muscle activities, but are still worth considering since they can change the beat rate. In the latter part, this chapter also includes indirect light-tissue interactions mediated by implanted pacemaker devices, such as rechargeable battery and transcutaneous telemetry systems for both deliverying power to an implanted pacemaker and also for monitoring pacemaker function. The light-driven and light-mediated implanted devices may in the future play an important role in developing implanted pacemaker technology. Light-based pacemaker technology has just started recently and the interaction effect is partially unclear and needs to be studied more precisely. The light-based technology, however, has significant and perhaps surprising potential for pacemaker technology. In the future, light-based techniques may not only shed light on the future development of pacemaker technology but can also help understandings of basic underlying science in fatal
Community integration: conceptualisation and measurement

Purpose. To provide an overview of the conceptualisation of community integration as proposed in the literature, to review select measures of community integration that have been frequently used in disability and rehabilitation, and finally, to discuss future directions for community integration research. Method. Review of select measures published in PsycInfo- and PubMed-indexed literature representing a width of community integration conceptualisations. Conclusions. A variety of measures have been developed and validated in disability and rehabilitation research addressing different models of community integration, with additional measures originally developed in the adjacent disciplines presenting potential for application to research in community integration for individuals with disabilities. Research is needed to further clarify the multidimensional nature of community integration and to develop sound measures of community integration. To the extent that community integration is a function of various factors (e.g. individual and contextual) and involves multiple dimensions (e.g. physical, social and psychological), the advancement in research in this area should, in turn, contribute to planning and implementation of interventions directed at individual and societal levels, including relevant policymaking, towards expansion of community integration.
Fuzzy partitions for modelling texture properties: Coarseness, contrast and directionality

The analysis of the perceptual properties of texture plays a fundamental role in tasks like semantic description of images or content-based image retrieval using linguistic queries. In this paper, we propose to model these properties by means of fuzzy partitions defined on the domain of some representative measures. In particular, we have focused our study on the properties of coarseness, contrast and directionality, that play a fundamental role in the human perception of texture. In our approach, the number of fuzzy sets in the partitions, as well as the parameters of the membership functions, are calculated by taking into account the relationship between the computational values given by the measures and the human perception of the corresponding property. The performance of the proposed modelling has been analyzed by applying the obtained fuzzy partitions in several experiments.
Strain-sensitive photonic crystals for sensing applications in structural health monitoring

A photonic crystal (PhC) is a periodic structure with periodicity comparable with the wavelength of light, having a photonic band gap and reflecting selectively only a band of the incident light. In this contribution, we discuss the possible use of PhCs as strain sensors, based on the observation that a distortion in the crystal structure produces a change in the reflected bandwidth.
Pnk1, a DNA Kinase/Phosphatase Required for Normal Response to DNA Damage by γ-Radiation or Camptothecin inSchizosaccharomyces pombe *

We report the characterization of Pnk1, a 45-kDa homolog of the human polynucleotide kinase PNKP inSchizosaccharomyces pombe. Recombinant Pnk1 like human PNKP exhibits both 5′-DNA kinase and 3′-DNA phosphatase activities in vitro. Furthermore, we detected 3′-DNA phosphatase activity with a single-stranded substrate in extracts from wild-type yeast, but no activity was detected in pnk1Δ strains. We have shown that GFP-tagged Pnk1 like mammalian PNKP localizes to the nucleus. Deletion of pnk1 does not affect cell growth under normal conditions but results in significant hypersensitivity to γ-radiation or camptothecin, an inhibitor of topoisomerase I, suggesting that Pnk1 plays an important role in the repair of DNA strand breaks produced by these agents. The pnk1 deletion mutants were not hypersensitive to ethyl methanesulfonate, methyl methanesulfonate, or 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide. Expression of human PNKP in pnk1Δ cells restores resistance to γ-radiation or camptothecin, suggesting that the functions of yeast Pnk1 and human PNKP have been conserved.
Cerebral blood flow in Alzheimer’s disease

Background Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia is a consequence of heterogeneous and complex interactions of age-related neurodegeneration and vascular-associated pathologies. Evidence has accumulated that there is increased atherosclerosis/arteriosclerosis of the intracranial arteries in AD and that this may be additive or synergistic with respect to the generation of hypoxia/ischemia and cognitive dysfunction. The effectiveness of pharmacologic therapies and lifestyle modification in reducing cardiovascular disease has prompted a reconsideration of the roles that cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular function play in the pathogenesis of dementia. Methods Using two-dimensional phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging, we quantified cerebral blood flow within the internal carotid, basilar, and middle cerebral arteries in a group of individuals with mild to moderate AD (n = 8) and compared the results with those from a group of age-matched nondemented control (NDC) subjects (n = 9). Clinical and psychometric testing was performed on all individuals, as well as obtaining their magnetic resonance imaging-based hippocampal volumes. Results Our experiments reveal that total cerebral blood flow was 20% lower in the AD group than in the NDC group, and that these values were directly correlated with pulse pressure and cognitive measures. The AD group had a significantly lower pulse pressure (mean AD 48, mean NDC 71; P = 0.0004). A significant group difference was also observed in their hippocampal volumes. Composite z-scores for clinical, psychometric, hippocampal volume, and hemodynamic data differed between the AD and NDC subjects, with values in the former being significantly lower (t = 12.00, df = 1, P = 0.001) than in the latter. Conclusion These results indicate an association between brain hypoperfusion and the dementia of AD. Cardiovascular disease combined with brain hypoperfusion may participate in the pathogenesis/pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. Future longitudinal and larger-scale confirmatory investigations measuring multidomain parameters are warranted.