Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies New Genetic Determinants of Cardiorespiratory Fitness: The Trøndelag Health Study

ABSTRACT Purpose Low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and a stronger predictor of CVD morbidity and mortality than established risk factors. The genetic component of CRF, quantified as peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak), is estimated to be ~60%. Unfortunately, current studies on genetic markers for CRF have been limited by small sample sizes and using estimated CRF. To overcome these limitations, we performed a large-scale systematic screening for genetic variants associated with V̇O2peak. Methods A genome-wide association study was performed with BOLT-LMM including directly measured V̇O2peak from 4525 participants in the HUNT3 Fitness study and 14 million single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). For validation, similar analyses were performed in the United Kingdom Biobank (UKB), where CRF was assessed through a submaximal bicycle test, including ~60,000 participants and ~60 million SNP. Functional mapping and annotation of the genome-wide association study results was conducted using FUMA. Results In HUNT, two genome-wide significant SNP associated with V̇O2peak were identified in the total population, two in males, and 35 in females. Two SNP in the female population showed nominally significant association in the UKB. One of the replicated SNP is located in PIK3R5, shown to be of importance for cardiac function and CVD. Bioinformatic analyses of the total and male population revealed candidate SNP in PPP3CA, previously associated with CRF. Conclusions We identified 38 novel SNP associated with V̇O2peak in HUNT. Two SNP were nominally replicated in UKB. Several interesting genes emerged from the functional analyses, among them one previously reported to be associated with CVD and another with CRF.
Duration of SARS-CoV-2 shedding and infectivity in the working age population: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, working age individuals have been implicated in sustaining the resurgence of SARS-CoV-2 infections, and multiple outbreaks have been observed in several occupational settings. In this regard, Occupational Physicians play a crucial role in the management of infected workers, particularly in the safe return-to-work of subjects after clinical resolution. To this end, knowledge of the duration of the infective phase in the working age population is essential, taking into account previous evidence suggesting that PCR positivity does not coincide with virus viability. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis, searching major scientific databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science, were performed in order to synthesize the available evidence regarding the mean and maximal duration of infectivity compared to the mean and maximal duration of viral RNA shedding. A subgroup analysis of the studies was performed according to the immunocompetent or immunocompromised immune status of the majority of the enrolled individuals. Results: Twenty studies were included in the final qualitative and quantitative analysis (866 individuals). Overall, a mean duration of RT-PCR positivity after symptom onset was found equal to 27.9 days (95%CI 23.3-32.5), while the mean duration of replicant competent virus isolation was 7.3 days (95%CI 5.7-8.8). The mean duration of SARS-CoV-2 shedding resulted equal to 26.5 days (95%CI 21.4-31.6) and 36.3 days (95%CI 21.9-50.6), and the mean duration of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity was 6.3 days (95%CI 4.9-7.8) and 29.5 days (95%CI 12.5-46.5), respectively considering immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. The maximum duration of infectivity among immunocompetent subjects was reported after 18 days from symptom onset, while in immunocompromised individuals it lasted up to 112 days. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the test-based strategy before return-to-work might not be warranted after 21 days among immunocompetent working age individuals, and could keep many workers out of occupation, reducing their livelihood and productivity.
Locations and in situ structure of the polymerase complex inside the virion of vesicular stomatitis virus

Significance Unlike fellow nonsegmented negative-strand RNA viruses, exemplified by the devastating Nipah, Ebola, rabies, and measles viruses, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) can be considered beneficial, as it is widely used as a vector for anticancer therapy and vaccine development. In these RNA viruses, transcription and replication of the viral genome depend on an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Here, we determined the in situ structure of the VSV polymerase complex, consisting of a large protein (L) and a phosphoprotein (P), by cryo-electron tomography and subtomogram averaging. Approximately 55 polymerase complexes are packaged in each bullet-shaped virion through flexible interactions with nucleoproteins. Our results provide insights into the mechanism of L packaging during virus assembly and efficient initiation of transcription during infection.
BIM in planning deconstruction projects

In this paper authors have explored the application, methodology and benefits of this concept for reverse and sustainable case-study project: the deconstruction of steel hall for further reuse or simply steel hall reloca-tion. Analyzed case-study was the project of deconstruction and relocation of an old military steel hall. Motivation of this research wasn’t only to analyze the applied approach of the deconstruction but also to explore the application of the BIM concept for this kind of projects. The first important notice is that there is a difference in BIM methodology for construction and deconstruction projects. While for construction projects most of the needed information about the construction design, materials and construction characteristics can be gathered and/or modeled either by the client, project team or directly by the manufacturer, in deconstruction projects those information have to be gathered on the site by verification the project documentation (which is in most cases 2D blue prints) with as-built construction condition, and by direct examination of the construction elements. Using gathered information it is possible to create a 3D model from the 2D verified blue prints. After the 3D model is finished, but before adding the other dimensions it is necessary to make an object oriented work brake-down structure in respect to: 1) global and local construction stability calculations for the deconstruction phases ; 2) technological and organizational constraints and 3) ability to reuse the construction elements. Frequent question when it comes to BIM is: how many dimensions do we need in nD modeling? For construction and deconstruction projects in general it can be answered: number of dimensions n is equal to number of criteria needed to evaluate the project. In this case- study project, time and costs are the criteria and dimensions which were added. The significant general benefit of BIM approach is that numerous of variants can be easily and quickly analyzed simply by optimizing the model regarding to the given criteria for the project evaluation with the visual model simulation as a feedback. The result of this research is a complete and integrated model of the building deconstruction. The difference between the applied deconstruction approach and the model made by authors is that model integrates all the given constraints while the problems which have occurred during the actual deconstruction are caused by the fragmented and mistimed design. Due to these failures planned construction relocation wasn’t realized in complete.
Large-scale panel destress blast at Brunswick mine

A large-scale panel destress blast was fired at Brunswick mine in the fall of 1999 in order to reduce the ground stresses in a critically important neighbouring mining region. This work, sponsored by the Mining Division of CAMIRO and Brunswick mine, consisted in heavily choke-blasting - and subsequently leaving in place - a massive waste sulphide pillar in the southwest end of the 1000 m level. This paper describes the approach and design methodology used to try to maximize breakage in the rock mass in the area to destress, while minimizing damage to critical infrastructures in the vicinity.
action and on hERG-linked short syndrome

The short QT syndrome (SQTS) is a rare cardiac disorder associated with arrhythmias and sudden death. Gain-of-function mutations to potassium channels mediating the rapid delayed rectiﬁer current, disopyramide and quinidine in the setting of SQT1; it also dissects ionic mechanisms underlying QT and ERP prolongation. Our ﬁndings show that both drugs demonstrate efﬁcacy in reversing the SQT1 phenotype, and indicate that disopyramide warrants further investigation as an alternative to quinidine in the treatment of SQT1.
A Modified Method to Model the Effect of Residual Stress on Touch-point Pressure and Pull-in Voltage for MEMS Capacitive Transducers using Square Diaphragm

Abstract The silicon-based materials used for fabricating the square diaphragm for Micro-electro-mechanical systems capacitive transducer have inherent stress. This stress is known as residual stress. The presence of stress influences the mechanical behavior of the material, thereby influencing the performance characteristics of the devices. A methodology discussed earlier for modeling the small deflection of square diaphragm has been extended to take into account the effect of residual stress on the pull-in voltage and touch-point pressure. The results are compared with simulated and experimental ones.
eScholarship@UMassChan eScholarship@UMassChan

simplification (TS) aims to reduce the lexical and structural complexity of a text, while still retaining the semantic meaning. Current automatic TS techniques are limited to either lexical-level applications or manually defining a large amount of rules. In this paper, we propose to simplify text from both level of lexicons and sentences. We conduct preliminary experiments to find that our approach shows promising results.
AIS Electronic Library (AISeL) AIS Electronic Library (AISeL)

Out of Home (OOH) advertising models through deep learning method with demographical information such as gender, age, etc. While a more comprehensive model would involve fine-tuned information from audience. This paper proposed a subdivided apparel recognition model to enhance the existing audience measurement for OOH. SVM accompanied by Libra R-CNN and histogram intersection kernels is adopted alongside advertising board-mounted cameras, which obtain unprocessed data from which gender, age and other demographic features are discerned to determine viewers of particularly clothing advertising. Pervasive adoption for contactless consumer engagement, customised content display and consumer analysis is possible through the amalgamation of results, while audience measurement via digital advertising panels can be more effectively understood by OOH companies and businesses.
Using defined finger–finger interfaces as units of assembly for constructing zinc-finger nucleases

Zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) have been used for genome engineering in a wide variety of organisms; however, it remains challenging to design effective ZFNs for many genomic sequences using publicly available zinc-finger modules. This limitation is in part because of potential finger–finger incompatibility generated on assembly of modules into zinc-finger arrays (ZFAs). Herein, we describe the validation of a new set of two-finger modules that can be used for building ZFAs via conventional assembly methods or a new strategy—finger stitching—that increases the diversity of genomic sequences targetable by ZFNs. Instead of assembling ZFAs based on units of the zinc-finger structural domain, our finger stitching method uses units that span the finger–finger interface to ensure compatibility of neighbouring recognition helices. We tested this approach by generating and characterizing eight ZFAs, and we found their DNA-binding specificities reflected the specificities of the component modules used in their construction. Four pairs of ZFNs incorporating these ZFAs generated targeted lesions in vivo, demonstrating that stitching yields ZFAs with robust recognition properties.
Are there changes in morphometrics of migratory juvenile Rough-legged Hawks (Buteo lagopus) in north-central North America?

ABSTRACT Global rising temperatures due to recent climate change have been linked to long-term reductions in body mass and wing chord in migratory birds, including raptors. The Arctic is experiencing higher temperatures compared to the global mean and such high-latitude increases could influence the morphometrics of the tundra-breeding Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus). Linear regression models showed no statistically significant changes in body mass or wing chords in migratory juvenile male and female Rough-legged Hawks captured and banded across 48 years at Duluth, Minnesota, 1973–2020. Captures of Rough-legged Hawks at our migration stations provided a relatively expedient means by which to monitor possible climate-induced long-term changes in morphometrics of an Arctic species that is difficult to sample in inaccessible tundra settings.
Population Genetic Analysis of Euaresta bullans (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Tephritidae) on Xanthium spinosum L.

ABSTRACT: This study was based on Euaresta bullans (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Tephritidae) specimens collected from seven different provinces of Turkey (Amasya, Çorum, Kahramanmaraş, Kayseri, Samsun, Sinop and Yozgat). Euaresta bullans is monophage on Xanthium spinosum L. and were swept from over the host, which is a highly invasive plant in agricultural areas. Xanthium spinosum originated from South America and has spread throughout the world as well as in Turkey. In this study, we investigated population structure of E. bullans based on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene data. We evaluated 105 adult specimens, 79 successful samples from sequence products were analysed, and 17 haplotypes were identified. Calculated nucleotide ratios of E. bullans populations (C: 16.7%; T: 38.93%; A: 29.05% and G: 15.8%), revealed that the base compounds were directed towards Adenine and Thymine (67, 98%). As a result of the study, the genetic distance between populations was found to be 0.09% - 0.046%. This showed that genetic variation among individuals of the E. bullans specimens is very low. According to the neutrality test (Tajima's D and Fu's Fs), result was p<0.05, it was determined that the populations showed a strong spread. Although E. bullans specimens have spread in different habitat characteristics and different geographic regions, they show a similar rate between populations. In particular, the high dependence of the host and the presence of the host in different habitats provide wide tolerance for this species in terms of environmental differences. Finally, it was found that gene flow continued between E. bullans populations and was not affected by any geographic and ecological barrier. Euaresta bullans have high populations on the host plant and results of this study support that it can be an effective biological control agent on X. spinosum in different regions.
Thermochemical non-equilibrium effects in turbulent hypersonic boundary layers

Abstract A hypersonic, spatially evolving turbulent boundary layer at Mach 12.48 with a cooled wall is analysed by means of direct numerical simulations. At the selected conditions, massive kinetic-to-internal energy conversion triggers thermal and chemical non-equilibrium phenomena. Air is assumed to behave as a five-species reacting mixture, and a two-temperature model is adopted to account for vibrational non-equilibrium. Wall cooling partly counteracts the effects of friction heating, and the temperature rise in the boundary layer excites vibrational energy modes while inducing mild chemical dissociation of oxygen. Vibrational non-equilibrium is mostly driven by molecular nitrogen, characterized by slower relaxation rates than the other molecules in the mixture. The results reveal that thermal non-equilibrium is sustained by turbulent mixing: sweep and ejection events efficiently redistribute the gas, contributing to the generation of a vibrationally under-excited state close to the wall, and an over-excited state in the outer region of the boundary layer. The tight coupling between turbulence and thermal effects is quantified by defining an interaction indicator. A modelling strategy for the vibrational energy turbulent flux is proposed, based on the definition of a vibrational turbulent Prandtl number. The validity of the strong Reynolds analogy under thermal non-equilibrium is also evaluated. Strong compressibility effects promote the translational–vibrational energy exchange, but no preferential correlation was detected between expansions/compressions and vibrational over-/under-excitation, as opposed to what has been observed for unconfined turbulent configurations.
A Cyber-Physical Experimentation Platform for Resilience Analysis

Recent high profile cyber attacks on critical infrastructures have raised awareness about the severe and widespread impacts that these attacks can have on everyday life. This awareness has spurred research into making industrial control systems and other cyber-physical systems more resilient. A plethora of cyber resilience metrics and frameworks have been proposed for cyber resilience assessments, but these approaches typically assume that data required to populate the metrics is readily available, an assumption that is frequently not valid. This paper describes a new cyber experimentation platform that can be used to generate relevant data and to calculate resilience metrics that quantify how resilient specified industrial control systems are to specified threats. Demonstration of the platform and analysis process are illustrated through a use case involving the control system for a pressurized water reactor.
Grand Theories or Design Guidelines? Perspectives on the Role of Theory in Computing Education Research

A rich body of empirically grounded results and a solid theory base have often been viewed as signs of a mature discipline. Many disciplines have frequently debated what they should accept as legitimate kinds of theories, the proper roles of theory, and appropriate reference disciplines. Computing education research (CER) in particular has seen a growing number of calls for the development of domain-specific theories for CER, an adaptation of theories from other fields, and engagement with theory-based experimental and predictive research in CER. Many of those calls share the same concerns and aims, yet they use very different vocabulary and lack a consensus over an essential concept: theory. This article presents sticking points and trouble spots in CER’s theory debates and presents a number of suggestions and ways forward. Firstly, by slightly shifting towards a model-based view of science, CER can avoid centuries of conceptual baggage related to the concept of theory. Secondly, insofar as fields like design, engineering, and social science are considered to be legitimate parts of CER, the role of theory in many CER studies needs to be judged by the criteria of the philosophy of engineering, technology, and social science, not the philosophy of (natural) science. Thirdly, instead of force-fitting elements of ill-suited research paradigms from other disciplines, the philosophy of CER should focus on building a consensus on CER’s own paradigm and describing the field’s relationship with theory in CER’s own terms.
Respecting and Facilitating Children's Contributions to Research, Design and Evaluation in HCI: Course Submission

Child Computer Interaction is concerned with the research, design, and evaluation of interactive technologies for children. Whilst many aspects of general HCI can be applied into this field, there are important adaptions to be made when conducting work for and with children throughout all stages of the design cycle. This course overviews the main tools and techniques in use by the CCI community against a backdrop of ensuring that children who work with our community feel valued and see the value in the work they contribute to. presented alongside examples and experiences from academia and industry. The course draws on the authors’ experience within academia and industry hands on and provides useful checklists and tips to ensure children (and researchers and developers) get the most out of participation in HCI activities.
ZenVR: Design Evaluation of a Virtual Reality Learning System for Meditation

Meditation has become a popular option to manage stress. Though studies examine technologies to assist in meditation, few explore how technology supports development of such skills for independent practice. From a two-phase mixed-methods study, we contribute learner-centered insights from 36 participants in a virtual reality environment designed to teach meditation skills to novices. In Phase I, we gathered affective and behavioral learner needs from 21 meditation novices, experts, and instructors to synthesize insights for learning. We then designed ZenVR: an interactive system to deliver an eight-lesson meditation curriculum to support learners’ progress. In Phase II, we conducted a 6-week longitudinal lab-based evaluation with 15 novice meditation learners. We found statistically significant improvements in mindfulness and self-reported meditation ability. Their insights from a self-managed practice, two weeks after the study ended, offered opportunities to understand how technology can be designed to offer progressive support without creating dependence in technology-mediated meditation practice.
Demonstrating TapType for mobile ten-finger text entry anywhere

We demonstrate a mobile text entry system that brings full-size ten-finger typing to everyday surfaces, allowing users to type anywhere. Our wearable wristband TapType integrates accelerometers that sense vibrations arising from finger taps against a passive surface, from which our Bayesian neural network estimates a probability distribution over the fingers of the hand. Given a pre-defined key-finger mapping, our text entry decoder fuses these predictions with the character priors of an n-gram language model to decode the input text entered by the user. TapType combines high portability with sustained rapid bimanual input across the full space, which we demonstrate at the example of supplementing text input on mobile touch devices, in eyes-free scenarios using audio feedback, and in a situated Mixed Reality scenario to enable typing outside visual control with passive haptic feedback.
Travelogue: Representing Indoor Trajectories as Informative Art

In this work, we explore if informative art can represent a user’s indoor trajectory and promote user’s self-reflection, creating a new type of interactive space. Under the assumption that the simplicity of a digital picture frame can be an appealing way to represent indoor activities and further create a dyadic relationship between users and the space they occupy, we present Travelogue, a picture-frame like self-contained system which can sense human movement using wireless signal reflections in a device free manner. Breaking away from traditional dashboard-based visualization techniques, Travelogue only renders the high-level extent and location of users’ activities in different informative arts. Our preliminary user study with 12 participants shows most users found Travelogue intuitive, unobtrusive, and aesthetically pleasing, as well as a desired tool for self-reflection on indoor activity.