Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exposure to room light before bedtime suppresses melatonin onset and shortens melatonin duration in humans.

CONTEXT Millions of individuals habitually expose themselves to room light in the hours before bedtime, yet the effects of this behavior on melatonin signaling are not well recognized. OBJECTIVE We tested the hypothesis that exposure to room light in the late evening suppresses the onset of melatonin synthesis and shortens the duration of melatonin production. DESIGN In a retrospective analysis, we compared daily melatonin profiles in individuals living in room light (<200 lux) vs. dim light (<3 lux). PATIENTS Healthy volunteers (n = 116, 18-30 yr) were recruited from the general population to participate in one of two studies. SETTING Participants lived in a General Clinical Research Center for at least five consecutive days. INTERVENTION Individuals were exposed to room light or dim light in the 8 h preceding bedtime. OUTCOME MEASURES Melatonin duration, onset and offset, suppression, and phase angle of entrainment were determined. RESULTS Compared with dim light, exposure to room light before bedtime suppressed melatonin, resulting in a later melatonin onset in 99.0% of individuals and shortening melatonin duration by about 90 min. Also, exposure to room light during the usual hours of sleep suppressed melatonin by greater than 50% in most (85%) trials. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that room light exerts a profound suppressive effect on melatonin levels and shortens the body's internal representation of night duration. Hence, chronically exposing oneself to electrical lighting in the late evening disrupts melatonin signaling and could therefore potentially impact sleep, thermoregulation, blood pressure, and glucose homeostasis.
Fusoselect: cell–cell fusion activity engineered by directed evolution of a retroviral glycoprotein

Membrane fusion plays a key role in many biological processes including vesicle trafficking, synaptic transmission, fertilization or cell entry of enveloped viruses. As a common feature the fusion process is mediated by distinct membrane proteins. We describe here ‘Fusoselect’, a universal procedure allowing the identification and engineering of molecular determinants for cell–cell fusion-activity by directed evolution. The system couples cell–cell fusion with the release of retroviral particles, but can principally be applied to membrane proteins of non-viral origin as well. As a model system, we chose a γ-retroviral envelope protein, which naturally becomes fusion-active through proteolytic processing by the viral protease. The selection process evolved variants that, in contrast to the parental protein, mediated cell–cell fusion in absence of the viral protease. Detailed analysis of the variants revealed molecular determinants for fusion competence in the cytoplasmic tail (CT) of retroviral Env proteins and demonstrated the power of Fusoselect.
Analysis of Static and Dynamic Configurability of Existing Group Communication Systems

Active replication following the state machine replication (SMR) approach is a way to make existing systems and services more reliable and fault-tolerant. The additional communication overhead has a negative impact on the system's throughput and overall request latency. Today's systems should be highly optimized to their execution environment and usage scenario in order to remedy the performance loss introduced by such group communication systems (GCS). In addition to that, systems should be able to adapt to changing environmental conditions. This report analyzes the available configuration options of three existing GCSs. Therefore, it explains the available configuration parameters and describes the given reconfiguration mechanisms. The found parameters are then classified in a parameter scheme.
GPU Hierarchical Quilted Self Organizing Maps for Multimedia Understanding

It is well established that the human brain outperforms current computers, concerning pattern recognition tasks, through the collaborative processing of simple building units (neurons). In this work we expand an abstracted model of the neocortex called Hierarchical Quilted Self Organizing Map, benefiting from the parallel power of current Graphical Processing Units, to achieve realtime understanding and classification of spatio-temporal sensory information. We also propose an improvement on the original model that allows the learning rate to be automatically adapted according to the input training data available. The overall system is tested on the task of gesture recognition from a Microsoft Kinect publicly available dataset.
trust region method for nonsmooth convex optimization

We propose an iterative method that solves a nonsmooth convex optimization problem by converting the original objective function to a once continuously differentiable function by way of Moreau-Yosida regularization. The proposed method makes use of approximate function and gradient values of the Moreau-Yosida regularization instead of the corresponding exact values. Under this setting, Fukushima and Qi (1996) and Rauf and Fukushima (2000) proposed a proximal Newton method and a proximal BFGS method, respectively, for nonsmooth convex optimization. While these methods employ a line search strategy to achieve global convergence, the method proposed in this paper uses a trust region strategy. We establish global and superlinear convergence of the method under appropriate assumptions.
Regulation of phosphatase homologue of tensin protein expression by bone morphogenetic proteins in prostate epithelial cells

Phosphatase homologue of tensin (PTEN) is the most commonly mutated gene in prostate cancer. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are known to promote differentiation and inhibit proliferation. Previously published reports from other organ systems led us to investigate a mechanistic relationship between PTEN and BMP signaling in prostate epithelial cells.
Di-μ 2-acetato-1:2κ 2 O:O′;2:3κ 2 O:O′-bis{μ 2-4,4′-dichloro-2,2′-[2,2-dimethylpropane-1,3-diylbis(nitrilomethanylylidene)]diphenolato}-1:2κ 6 O,N,N′,O′:O,O′;2:3κ 6 O,O′:O,N,N′,O′-tricadmium

In the title linear homo-trinuclear complex, [Cd3(C19H18Cl2N2O2)2(C2H3O2)2], the central CdII atom is located on a centre of inversion and has a distorted octahedral coordination geometry formed by four O atoms from two bidentate/tetradentate Schiff base ligands and two O atoms from two bridging acetate ligands. The coordination geometry of the terminal CdII atom is square-pyramidal with the tetradentate part of the ligand in the basal plane and one O atom from an acetate ligand occupying the apical site. The six-membered CdN2C3 ring adopts a chair conformation. The acetate-bridged Cd⋯Cd distance is 3.3071 (2) Å. The crystal structure is stabilized by C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, which form C(7) chain motifs and give rise to a two-dimensional supramolecular network structure lying parallel to the ab plane.
A platform for supporting learning process of visually impaired children

Although ICT supported tools and e-learning material are widely available in schools to support teaching and learning, there is still a lack of specific tools and material designated for children with impairments. The costs of adapting and preparing such material is often economically not justifiable due to a small number of such children, and commonly, for the best leaning outcome the material has to be adapted for each individual child and their deficits and level of impairments. Our solution to this problem is a web platform for delivering customized exercises intended for visually impaired children. There are two sorts of exercises already prepared: a tutorial for learning and practicing Braille and ten-finger typing, and various exercises for practicing vision, memory, and motor skills. For each individual impaired learner, the teacher can select appropriate type of exercise and customize it by adjusting visual aspects of the exercise, setting the specific content (e.g., words for typing, or items to sort), or selecting the level of difficulty (e.g., set timing, complexity levels, or number of shown images). A set of such customized exercises is given to a learner for practicing and their progress is constantly monitored and saved for later inspection.
Euclidean reconstruction from image sequences with varying and unknown focal length and principal point

The special case of reconstruction from image sequences taken by cameras with skew equal to 0 and aspect ratio equal to 1 has been treated. These type of cameras, here called cameras with Euclidean image planes, represent rigid projections where neither the principal point nor the focal length is known, it is shown that it is possible to reconstruct an unknown object from images taken by a camera with Euclidean image plane up to similarity transformations, i.e., Euclidean transformations plus changes in the global scale. An algorithm, using bundle adjustment techniques, has been implemented. The performance of the algorithm is shown on simulated data.
Mechanisms of static and dynamic stereopsis in foveal cortex of the rhesus monkey

1. The sensation of stereoscopic depth rests on the central neural processing of signals evoked by the two retinal images of a single object in space. It was our purpose in this study to investigate in the behaving monkey the binocular cortical mechanisms that might underlie the ability to recognize the relative position and motion of objects in three‐dimensional space.
The chlamydial organism Simkania negevensis forms ER vacuole contact sites and inhibits ER‐stress

Most intracellular bacterial pathogens reside within membrane‐surrounded host‐derived vacuoles. Few of these bacteria exploit membranes from the host's endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to form a replicative vacuole. Here, we describe the formation of ER–vacuole contact sites as part of the replicative niche of the chlamydial organism Simkania negevensis. Formation of ER–vacuole contact sites is evolutionary conserved in the distantly related protozoan host Acanthamoeba castellanii. Simkania growth is accompanied by mitochondria associating with the Simkania‐containing vacuole (SCV). Super‐resolution microscopy as well as 3D reconstruction from electron micrographs of serial ultra‐thin sections revealed a single vacuolar system forming extensive ER–SCV contact sites on the Simkania vacuolar surface. Simkania infection induced an ER‐stress response, which was later downregulated. Induction of ER‐stress with Thapsigargin or Tunicamycin was strongly inhibited in cells infected with Simkania. Inhibition of ER‐stress was required for inclusion formation and efficient growth, demonstrating a role of ER‐stress in the control of Simkania infection. Thus, Simkania forms extensive ER–SCV contact sites in host species evolutionary as diverse as human and amoeba. Moreover, Simkania is the first bacterial pathogen described to interfere with ER‐stress induced signalling to promote infection.
Profiles in successful group piano for children: a collective case study of children's group-piano lessons

The purpose of this collective case study was to explore the best practices in beginning group-piano instruction. Four beginning and intermediate groups of piano students (N =20) were observed. Data were triangulated through in-class observation of students and teachers, teacher interviews and student questionnaires. The master teachers participating in this research designed curricula that developed comprehensive musicianship, harnessed the power of group dynamics and availed of various group-teaching strategies to foster independent student learning and intrinsic motivation. Students in this case study displayed the ability to analyse new music, persist in learning it and make music with peers. Future studies are needed to discover if these findings can be replicated with a larger, more diverse research sample. Recommendations for future group-piano teachers include apprenticing with a master teacher in an established preparatory programme so that curriculum design, sequencing and presentation of materials, and an understanding of group-teaching and learning strategies can be developed.
Semi-Automated Gameplay Analysis by Machine Learning

While presentation aspects like graphics and sound are important to a successful commercial game, it is likewise important that the gameplay, the non-presentational behaviour of the game, is engaging to the player. Considerable effort is invested in testing and refining gameplay throughout the development process. We present an overall view of the gameplay management problem and, more concretely, our recent research on the gameplay analysis part of this task. This consists of an active learning methodology, implemented in software tools, for largely automating the analysis of game behaviour in order to augment the abilities of game designers. The SAGA-ML (semi-automated gameplay analysis by machine learning) system is demonstrated in a real commercial context, Electronic Arts’ FIFA’99 Soccer title, where it has identified exploitable weaknesses in the game that allow easy scoring by players.
Measurement of gastric emptying by the 13C-octanoate breath test—rationalization with scintigraphy

The 13C-octanoate breath test has not achieved universal acceptance for the measurement of solid phase gastric emptying, largely because the results are not comparable with those from direct methods such as scintigraphy. To convert breath-test data to their scintigraphic equivalent scale corrections are applied which have been obtained from population studies, but there is no guarantee that these are applicable in all cases. We propose an alternative method applicable on an individual basis based upon a simple physiological model which does not require any change to the breath-test protocol. It is demonstrated by comparison with scintigraphy and the octanoate saliva test. Results from an existing dataset of simultaneous breath test, saliva test and scintigraphic determinations of solid phase gastric emptying from nine healthy subjects were re-analysed. The corrected breath tests gave gastric emptying curves which were shown to be not significantly different to those obtained from scintigraphy. The method provides a simple but effective way of generating gastric emptying curves from breath-test data that are directly comparable with direct measurement methods, which is advantageous since it allows the whole of the gastric emptying profile to be generated, not just values for the lag phase and half-emptying times.
INVENTÁRIO DE BARREIRAS E FACILITADORES AO EMPREENDEDORISMO: CONSTRUÇÃO E VALIDAÇÃO DE UMA MEDIDA PSICOMÉTRICA

A identificacao do comportamento empreendedor vem encontrando dificuldades de mensuracao, uma vez que os resultados e instrumentos, ate entao desenvolvidos, nao tem apresentado um modelo comportamental de compatibilidade universal para o empreendedor e nao tem seguido algumas recomendacoes encontradas na literatura para a pesquisa em empreendedorismo, considerando elementos circunstanciais e comportamentais. Nesse sentido, visando preencher essa lacuna, esta Dissertacao reporta um estudo sobre a construcao e validacao do Inventario de Barreiras e Facilitadores ao Empreendedorismo, composto por 8 fatores independentes: Intencao de Empreender; Risco; Acesso a Capital; Inovacao; Oportunidade; Lideranca e Gerenciamento; Rede de Relacionamento; Paixao. O estudo parte da premissa de que o individuo se depara com Barreiras e Facilitadores, de ordem comportamental e contextual (social e ambiental), que podem impelir ou inibir a acao de empreender. Por meio de tecnicas de validacao, chegou-se a um instrumento de baixo custo (lapis e papel) e de facil aplicacao (autorrelato), com parâmetros psicometricos adequados
Joint Least Squares Estimation of Frequency, DC Offset, I-Q Imbalance, and Channel in MIMO Receivers

Multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) receivers with direct-conversion radio-frequency (RF) architecture are investigated in this paper. Direct conversion is a low-cost RF design that requires fewer external components in chip implementation. Nevertheless, it introduces extra RF impairments such as I-Q imbalance and dc offset in addition to frequency offset that is commonly encountered in all RF architectures. This paper proposes to do the joint least squares (LS) estimation of frequency, dc offset, I-Q imbalance, and a channel in MIMO receivers to improve performance; frequency-dependent and frequency-independent I-Q imbalances are included. Previously, RF impairments were separately estimated in MIMO receivers, which leads to inferior performance. In particular, a receiver architecture that facilitates the joint estimation of the frequency, the dc offset, the I-Q imbalance, and the channel is proposed. The LS criterion is then applied to obtain the joint estimators, with a special training-sequence design to reduce complexity. Simplified estimators on the frequency and dc offset are also proposed with almost no loss in performance. Finally, the estimators are shown through analysis to be unbiased and approach the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) for signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of interest. The analysis is verified by computer simulations.
Models for Learning in an Integrated Preschool

he acquires and orients his values and concepts of himself and the world. In view of the importance of the peer group, it is curious to discover how little attention current projects on preschool education devote to this potent agent of socialization and cognitive development (1). To explore the value of a model social environment, the investigators set up a co-operative nursery school for socially advantaged and socially disadvantaged children. The program had two objectives: to create a set of socially integrated group structures for reference-group identification and to foster a salutary climate for social and cognitive learning. It was assumed that a child's motivations could most easily be harnessed for learning by providing improved versions of several major classes of social life situations, through which the child moves, identifies, and is motivated in his ordinary life circumstances.
The relationship between specific features of aphasia-friendly written material and comprehension of written material for people with aphasia: An exploratory study

Background : Written material is often inaccessible for people with aphasia. The format of written material needs to be adapted to enable people with aphasia to read with understanding. Aims : This study aimed to further explore some issues raised in Rose, Worrall, and McKenna (2003) concerning the effects of aphasia-friendly formats on the reading comprehension of people with aphasia. It was hypothesised that people with aphasia would comprehend significantly more paragraphs that were formatted in an aphasia-friendly manner than control paragraphs. This study also aimed to investigate if each single aspect of aphasia-friendly formatting (i.e., simplified vocabulary and syntax, large print, increased white space, and pictures) used in isolation would result in increased comprehension compared to control paragraphs. Other aims were to compare the effect of aphasia-friendly formatting with the effect of each single adaptation, and to investigate if the effects of aphasia-friendly formats were related to aphasia severity. Methods & Procedures : Participants with mild to moderately severe aphasia (N = 9) read a battery of 90 paragraphs and selected the best word or phrase from a choice of four to complete each paragraph. A linear mixed model (p < .05) was used to analyse the differences in reading comprehension with each paragraph format across three reading grade levels. Outcomes & Results : People with aphasia comprehended significantly more aphasia-friendly paragraphs than control paragraphs. They also comprehended significantly more paragraphs with each of the following single adaptations: simplified vocabulary and syntax, large print, and increased white space. Although people with aphasia tended to comprehend more paragraphs with pictures added than control paragraphs, this difference was not significant. No significant correlation between aphasia severity and the effect of aphasia-friendly formatting was found. Conclusions : This study supports the idea that aphasia-friendly formats increase the reading comprehension of people with aphasia. It suggests that adding pictures, particularly Clip Art pictures, may not significantly improve the reading comprehension of people with aphasia. These findings have implications for all written communication with people with aphasia, both in the clinical setting and in the wider community. Applying these findings may enable people with aphasia to have equal access to written information and to participation in society.
Identity Structure and Life Satisfaction in Later Life

Idiographic information on time spent enacting one's multiple identities was used to predict life satisfaction in 45 older adults (M = 72.69 years old). Each participant generated a list of his or her identities and indicated the relative time spent in each identity. Two indexes were computed: time spent enacting identities differing in (a) the participant's perception of importance and (b) the level in the participant's Rosenberg and Gara (1985) hierarchical identity structure. Results indicated that only the index based on the hierarchical identity structure significantly predicted life satisfaction, and it did so even after controlling for demographics and social, financial, and health factors, rpart = -. 38, t(38) = 3.36, p < . 01. Our findings suggest that idiographic factors associated with the Rosenberg and Gara concept of identity elaboration are important for understanding self-concept and its relation to life satisfaction in later life.