Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Information and Communication Technology in Self-Management of Chronic Diseases: An Empirical Investigation through Value Sensitive Design

This paper primarily investigates sensitivity towards patients’ values in the designs of the information and communication technologies (ICTs) that are capable of empowering them. We focus on the role of ICTs in self-management (SM) of diabetes, a chronic disease. Chronic diseases, declared an invisible epidemic by the World Health Organization, cause and perpetuate poverty and impede the economic development of many countries. As a means of informing the design of ICTs that facilitate self-management, we draw on value sensitive design (VSD) to conduct an in-depth interpretive field study to reveal the values that are important to diabetic patients. Specifically, we reveal twelve values shared by these patients: accessibility, accountability, autonomy, compliance, dignity, empathy, feedback, hope, joy, privacy, sense-making, and trust. A conceptual model emerged from analyzing interviews with diabetic patients; this model explains how these values, which are integrated into ICT features, afford or constrain patients’ abilities to self-manage their activities. This study makes multiple theoretical contributions: By granting ICT artifacts a clear theoretical status, it advances the field of SM that has nominally covered ICTs; it extends design research by extending the VSD literature and by introducing a valuecentric design perspective to examine a complex sociotechnical system; and it broadens work system theory by applying it in the healthcare space. The study’s findings have implications for design science researchers, healthcare providers, and policymakers.
MAIZE YIELD AND ITS STABILITY AS AFFECTED BY TILLAGE AND CROP RESIDUE MANAGEMENT IN THE EASTERN ROMANIAN DANUBE PLAIN

Rainfed crop management systems need to be optimized to provide more resilient options in order to cope with projected climatic scenarios, which forecast a decrease in mean precipitation and more frequent extreme drought periods in the Eastern Romanian Danube Plain. This research, carried out in the period of 2011-2014, had as main purpose the determination of influence of tillage practices and residue management on rainfall use efficiency, maize yield and its stability, in order to evaluate the advantages of conservation agriculture (CA) in the time of stabilization of direct seeding effects, in comparison with traditional chisel tillage. The maize grain yields are presented for each crop management practices, as follows: (1) chisel tillage, retained crop residues being chopped and incorporated (ciz); (2) zero tillage, retained crop residue chopped and kept on the field in short flat condition (rvt); (3) zero tillage, crop residues kept on the field in short root-anchored condition (1/2rva), and (4) zero tillage, crop residues kept on the field in tall root-anchored condition (1/1rva). In 2012, a year with prolonged drought during vegetative growth, yield differences between zero tillage with short rootanchored residue retention (1/2rva) and chisel tillage with residue incorporation (ciz) were positive, up to 840 kg ha -1 . On average over 2011-2014, conservation agriculture (CA) practices had a yield advantage over traditional chisel tillage practice. Zero tillage with residue retention used rainfall more efficiently, suggesting that it is a more resilient agronomic system than traditional (conventional) practices involving chisel tillage with residue incorporation.
A synthesis and practical assessment

Much of the science communication and journalism studies literature continues to reiterate the same critiques about science journalism. This literature accuses science journalists of inaccuracy, sensationalism, oversimplification and failing to engage audiences in meaningful debate about scientific issues. However, research has yet to offer concrete solutions to journalists that connect theory to practice in an effort to counter these criticisms. In this paper, we approach this gap through the development of clearly articulated models of science journalism that are supported by theoretical considerations of the varying purposes of science communication, and then, importantly, tied to practical story development criteria. Four models are presented: science literacy, contextual, lay-expertise and public participation. These models are clear representations of how science journalism can be produced from within different theoretical frameworks and thereby provide a theoretically-informed but practical guide for nuanced evaluations of the quality of science journalism.
Effects of Economic Factors on Adoption of Robotics and Consequences of Automation for Productivity Growth of Dairy Farms

In the long term, productivity and especially productivity growth are necessary conditions for the survival of a farm. In this paper, we focus on the technology choice of a dairy farm, i.e. the choice between a conventional and an automatic milking system. Our aim is to reveal the extent to which economic rationality explains investing in new technology. The adoption of robotics is further linked to farm productivity to show how capital-intensive technology has affected the overall productivity of milk production. In our empirical analysis, we apply a probit model and an extended Cobb-Douglastype production function to a Finnish farm-level dataset for the years 2000–10. The results show that very few economic factors on a dairy farm or in its economic environment can be identified to affect the switch to automatic milking. Existing machinery capital and investment allowances are among the significant factors. The results also indicate that the probability of investing in robotics responds elastically to a change in investment aids: an increase of 1% in aid would generate an increase of 2% in the probability of investing. Despite the presence of non-economic incentives, the switch to robotic milking is proven to promote productivity development on dairy farms. No productivity growth is observed on farms that keep conventional milking systems, whereas farms with robotic milking have a growth rate of 8.1% per year. The mean rate for farms that switch to robotic milking is 7.0% per year. The results show great progress in productivity growth, with the average of the sector at around 2% per year during the past two decades. In conclusion, investments in new technology as well as investment aids to boost investments are needed in low-productivity areas where investments in new technology still have great potential to increase productivity, and thus profitability and competitiveness, in the long run.
Human Corrective Advice in the Policy Search Loop

Machine Learning methods applied to decision making problems with real robots usually suffer from slow convergence due to the dimensionality of the search and difficulties in the reward design. Interactive Machine Learning (IML) or Learning from Demonstrations (LfD) methods are usually simple and relatively fast for improving a policy but have the drawback of being sensitive to the inherent occasional erroneous feedback from human teachers. Reinforcement Learning (RL) methods may converge to optimal solutions according to the encoded reward function, but they become inefficient as the dimensionality of the state-action space grows.
Optimal Control Under Uncertainty and Bayesian Parameters Adjustments

We propose a general framework for studying optimal impulse control problem in the presence of uncertainty on the parameters. Given a prior on the distribution of the unknown parameters, we explain how it should evolve according to the classical Bayesian rule after each impulse. Taking these progressive prior-adjustments into account, we characterize the optimal policy through a quasi-variational parabolic equation, which can be solved numerically. The derivation of the dynamic programming equation seems to be new in this context. The main difficulty lies in the nature of the set of controls which depends in a non trivial way on the initial data through the filtration itself.
IS CAROTID ATHEROSCLEROSIS AN INDICATOR OF GENERALIZED ATHEROSCLEROSIS: AN AUTOPSY STUDY

Background: Atherosclerosis is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Autopsy study is a gold standard for atherosclerosis. None of the study done on autopsy to prove the carotid atherosclerosis has the generalized nature. Objective: To examine the association between carotid atherosclerosis with coronary, aorta and renal arteries in non cardiac patients using histological analysis. Methods: We histologically examined 91 patients died of non cardiac cause. Atherosclerotic lesion in carotid, coronary, aorta and renal arteries were noted and graded according to modified AHA classification of atherosclerosis using morphological descriptions (2000). Results: Mean of carotid atherosclerosis was 11.5±0.71, in coronary it was 37.33±7.57, in aorta the mean we found was 27±9. The mean of renal artery atherosclerosis was 2.75±0.71. The association of carotid atherosclerosis with coronary, aorta and renal arteries was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In present study we conclude that if carotid atherosclerosis is present, patient will be having coronary, aortic atherosclerosis but patient might have renal atherosclerosis. If carotid atherosclerosis is absent it doesn’t mean that patient won’t be having atherosclerosis in any other vessels.
Dieting and eating attitudes in girls: Development and prediction(Doctoral dissertation)

The aims of the present thesis were to study: 1. reported eating attitudes, dieting behavior and body image over a 1-year period among preadolescent girls (age 7-8); 2. differences in eating attitudes and coping between groups of teenage girls differing in dieting frequency, and to assess changes with increasing age (age 13-17); and 3. to what extent eating attitudes, self-esteem and coping predict disturbed eating attitudes. A final aim was to explore differences in the reported wish to be thinner, dieting, and eating attitudes between two age-matched cohorts of girls in 1995 and 1999 (7-15 years). The project is designed as a longitudinal prospective study, spanning seven years. 1300 girls in the ages (1995) 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 years have been assessed annually for three consecutive years (1995-1997) (Main Cohort). An additional group matched for age with the original group was recruited in 1999 (Societal Cohort). The results suggest that dieting and the wish to be thinner starts as early as at 7 years of age, and that repeated dieting attempts correlate with disturbed eating attitudes. A marked increase of the wish to be thinner was evident in the 10- to 14-year age range, and significant increases in dieting attempts occurred mainly between ages 9 and 13. There were no differences between 1995 (Main Cohort) and 1999 (Societal Cohort) (except among 7 and 11-year-olds) with regard to dieting, the wish to be thinner and disturbed eating attitudes. Eating patterns and attitudes were shown to be the strongest predictors of disturbed eating attitudes three years later. Assessment of dieting, the wish to be thinner and eating attitudes is suggested BS a component in school health care.
A New Approach to the Statistical Analysis of Non-Central Complex Gaussian Quadratic Forms With Applications

This paper proposes a novel approach to the statistical characterization of non-central complex Gaussian quadratic forms (CGQFs). Its key strategy is the generation of an auxiliary random variable that replaces the original CGQF and converges in distribution to it. This technique is valid for both definite and indefinite CGQFs and yields simple expressions of the probability density function (PDF) and the cumulative distribution function (CDF) that only involve elementary functions. This overcomes a major limitation of previous approaches, where the complexity of the resulting PDF and CDF does not allow for further analytical derivations. Additionally, the mean square error between the original CGQF and the auxiliary one is provided in a simple closed-form formulation. These new results are then leveraged to analyze the outage probability and the average bit error rate of maximal ratio combining systems over correlated Rician channels.
Neurofibromin Deficiency Induces Endothelial Cell Proliferation and Retinal Neovascularization

Purpose Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is the result of inherited mutations in the NF1 tumor suppressor gene, which encodes the protein neurofibromin. Eye manifestations are common in NF1 with recent reports describing a vascular dysplasia in the retina and choroid. Common features of NF1 retinopathy include tortuous and dilated feeder vessels that terminate in capillary tufts, increased endothelial permeability, and neovascularization. Given the retinal vascular phenotype observed in persons with NF1, we hypothesize that preserving neurofibromin may be a novel strategy to control pathologic retinal neovascularization. Methods Nf1 expression in human endothelial cells (EC) was reduced using small hairpin (sh) RNA and EC proliferation, migration, and capacity to form vessel-like networks were assessed in response to VEGF and hypoxia. Wild-type (WT), Nf1 heterozygous (Nf1+/−), and Nf1flox/+;Tie2cre pups were subjected to hyperoxia/hypoxia using the oxygen-induced retinopathy model. Retinas were analyzed quantitatively for extent of retinal vessel dropout, neovascularization, and capillary branching. Results Neurofibromin expression was suppressed in response to VEGF, which corresponded with activation of Mek-Erk and PI3-K-Akt signaling. Neurofibromin-deficient EC exhibited enhanced proliferation and network formation in response to VEGF and hypoxia via an Akt-dependent mechanism. In response to hyperoxia/hypoxia, Nf1+/− retinas exhibited increased vessel dropout and neovascularization when compared with WT retinas. Neovascularization was similar between Nf1+/− and Nf1flox/+;Tie2cre retinas, but capillary drop out in Nf1flox/+;Tie2cre retinas was significantly reduced when compared with Nf1+/− retinas. Conclusions These data suggest that neurofibromin expression is essential for controlling endothelial cell proliferation and retinal neovascularization and therapies targeting neurofibromin-deficient EC may be beneficial.
HYDROLOGICAL IMPACTS ON WETLAND CARBON FLUX RESIDUALS

Wetland vegetation often takes in more atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) during photosynthesis than it releases during respiration and decomposition. On the global scale, wetlands help moderate atmospheric CO 2 , the greatest contributor to anthropogenic climate warming. Carbon dioxide fluxes between the ecosystem and atmosphere measured at wetland sites help monitor the extent to which wetlands act as sinks, and sometimes sources, of atmospheric carbon and how their roles are changing over time. Precise model predictions of wetland carbon sequestration or expulsion are paramount to accurately diagnosing future concentrations of atmospheric carbon and the subsequent consequences to the climate system. However, significant model error exists in predicting these processes. Moreover, wet regions such as temperate wetlands are predicted to become wetter and warmer due to anthropogenic climate change. The ensuing impact on wetland hydrology and nutrient cycling will further complicate the prediction of CO 2 fluxes. To determine whether or not hydrology currently plays a prominent role in prediction error, the residuals between high-frequency multi-year carbon dioxide flux measurements from a Wisconsin and two Canadian wetland sites and the corresponding predictions from a suite of nearly one dozen independent ecosystem models are compared to observed water table measurements. A correlation between hydrology and model error would indicate how models could be improved to better predict the relationship between climate change and wetland carbon cycling.
Design of an exoskeleton for upper limb robot-assisted rehabilitation based on co-simulation

This paper presents the design and the simulation of an exoskeleton based on the kinematics of the human arm intended to be used in robot-assisted rehabilitation of the upper limb. The design meets the kinematic characteristics of the human arm so that the exoskeleton allows the movement of the arm in its full range of motion. We used co-simulation to design the exoskeleton considering a model of the upper limb developed in Opensim, Solidworks to design the mechanical structure and Matlab to construct the dynamic model. The system in motion was simulated in Simmechanics using predictive dynamics to compute independent joint trajectories obtained by modelling the exoskeleton as several optimization problems solved with SNOPT from Tomlab. The use of virtual tools in the designing process and the modular structure of the exoskeleton will allow the construction of personalized devices using 3D printing. The exoskeleton was designed to work under independent joint control so that the system will be able to work as passive, assistive and active-assistive mode, to keep records of motion for data analysis and to support the rehabilitation process.
Vorinostat Combined with DNMTi Epigenetically Controls the Proliferation of Lung Cancer Cells A 549

Cancer is being considered one of the fatal diseasesin the global population. Lung cancer is one of the most common malignancies in males and inseveral countries also in females.In the presentstudy, we aimed at evaluating the role of different chemotherapeutic drugs belonging to three groups [Histone DeacetylaseInhibitors (HDACi), DNA Methyltransferase Inhibitors (DNMTi), and Alkylating Agents)]. Vorinostat, Carboplatin, Cyclophosphamide, Temozolomide, and Procaine were applied to A549 lung cancer cells in final concentrations of 3μM and 5μM. Drugs were incubated with the cells for 96 h. Cell viability was measured using Trypan blue exclusion test, and the obtained results showed a significant decrease in the cells' viability after being treated. Global methylation, as an essential epigenetic mark, was quantified in the control and treated cells. The results showed a variation in the methylationpatterns, since different combination yielded different methylation profiles. Vorinostat combined with Carboplatinhypomethylated the cells under study, while Vorinostat combined with Cyclophosphamide resulted in hypermethylation of the cells. We concluded that reactivating thehypermethylated genes in the A549 lung cancer cells by combining more than one drug was significantly better than that induced by only one chemotherapeutic agent. However, these results need more confirmatory experiments.
Genetic Predictors of intellectual and white matter outcome in pediatric brain tumor patients

Advances in cancer treatment in the last thirty years have led to radically improved long-term survival rates for pediatric brain tumor patients. However, these treatments are toxic to healthy brain tissue, and many patients develop long-term neuropsychological deficits as a result. There exists a large variability in post-treatment outcome such that some patients develop long-term functional deficits while others do not. Although current research has elucidated the negative effects of treatment on brain structure and function, little is known about genetic factors that may predict better or worse post-treatment outcome. We explored the relationship between targeted polymorphisms and treatment-related outcome in a sample of pediatric brain tumor patients. Using a machine learning algorithm, we identified five peroxisomal proliferator-actiavted receptor (PPAR) polymorphisms significantly associated with changes in intellectual outcome in these patients. Our findings suggest that having the variant allele of these polymorphisms predicts worse intellectual outcome following treatment for pediatric brain tumors.
Behaviour Genetic Frameworks of Causal Reasoning for Personality Psychology

Identifying causal relations from correlational data is a fundamental challenge in personality psychology. In most cases, random assignment is not feasible, leaving observational studies as the primary methodological tool. Here, we document several techniques from behaviour genetics that attempt to demonstrate causality. Although no one method is conclusive at ruling out all possible confounds, combining techniques can triangulate on causal relations. Behaviour genetic tools leverage information gained by sampling pairs of individuals with assumed genetic and environmental relatedness or by measuring genetic variants in unrelated individuals. These designs can find evidence consistent with causality, while simultaneously providing strong controls against common confounds. We conclude by discussing several potential problems that may limit the utility of these techniques when applied to personality. Ultimately, genetically informative designs can aid in drawing causal conclusions from correlational studies. Copyright © 2018 European Association of Personality Psychology
Characteristics of organic matter in lagoonal sediments from the Great Barrier Reef.

We have applied organic carbon and total nitrogen analyses, Rock-Eval pyrolysis, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometric lipid analysis with in situ methylation with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH-pyrolysis-GC/MS) to characterize the organic matter in recent lagoonal sediments from the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). On a pyrogram, GBR sediments showed the unique feature that S1 and S3 values were anomalously high. The high S1 value presumably reflects a higher proportion of hydrolyzed lipids, and the high S3 value is due to the degradation of carbonate minerals in a low temperature range. Associated with a CaCO3 increase towards the offshore area, the organic carbon/total nitrogen ratio (C/N ratio) decreased, S1 and S2 values increased, and total fatty acid and phytol concentrations increased. These changes have negative correlations with the branched/total fatty acid ratio, implying that the changes reflect the degree of eubacterial activity. The higher preservations of lipids and lignin phenols in CaCO3-rich sediments are attributable to their higher preservation effect resulting from an impermeable carbonate matrix. The anteiso-/iso-fatty acid ratio has a significant negative correlation with the total fatty acid concentration and a positive correlation with the branched/total fatty acid ratio, indicating that the ratios are closely related to the degree of eubacterial degradation of organic matter.
Cyclic Supersaturation and Triple Phase Boundary Dynamics in Germanium Nanowire Growth

Video-rate environmental transmission electron microscopy of Au-catalyzed chemical vapor deposition of Ge nanowires shows that growth kinetics are linked to an oscillatory behavior at the liquid−solid interface near the triple phase boundary (TPB), where the nanowire surface consists of an oblique facet. A nanowire growth cycle starts by preferential Ge precipitation at the TPB, which increases the wetting angle and Ge supersaturation of the liquid AuGe catalyst. With a continuously rising Ge supersaturation, the kinetic barrier for Ge bilayer nucleation falls until step nucleation occurs. Subsequent step flow creates a (111)-type plane at the nanowire growth front and hence rapidly decreases the Ge supersaturation in the catalyst. This leads to the destabilization and partial dissolution of the Ge initially stored in the rough TPB area, i.e., completes the growth cycle. The results and arguments are general and based on few system specific assumptions, therefore may be applicable to other nanowire system.