Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cyberbullying and self-esteem.

BACKGROUND This article examines the relationship between middle school students' experience with cyberbullying and their level of self-esteem. Previous research on traditional bullying among adolescents has found a relatively consistent link between victimization and lower self-esteem, while finding an inconsistent relationship between offending and lower self-esteem. It is therefore important to extend this body of research by determining how bullying augmented through the use of technology (such as computers and cell phones) is linked to differing levels of self-esteem. METHODS During March and April 2007, a random sample of 1963 middle school students (mean age 12.6) from 30 schools in one of the largest school districts in the United States completed a self-report survey of Internet use and cyberbullying experiences. RESULTS This work found that students who experienced cyberbullying, both as a victim and an offender, had significantly lower self-esteem than those who had little or no experience with cyberbullying. CONCLUSIONS A moderate and statistically significant relationship exists between low self-esteem and experiences with cyberbullying. As such, bullying prevention programs incorporated in school curricula should also include substantive instruction on cyberbullying. Moreover, educators need to intervene in cyberbullying incidents, as failure to do so may impact the ability of students to be successful at school.
Variability in Sensory Ecology: Expanding the Bridge Between Physiology and Evolutionary Biology

Sensory organs represent the interface between the central nervous system of organisms and the environment in which they live. To date, we still lack a true integration of ecological and evolutionary perspectives in our understanding of many sensory systems. We argue that scientists working in sensory ecology should expand the bridge between sensory and evolutionary biology, and, in working toward this goal, we advocate a combination of the experimental rigor of the sensory physiologist with population-based as well as evolutionary views.
Intrinsic F0 differences for German tense and lax vowels

This study examines the vowel-intrinsic fundamental frequency (IF0) for tense and lax vowels in German: These show a similar F0 but differ in their articulatory vowel height. This is contrary to commonly accepted biomechanical theories explaining IF0 by a physiological linkage between the upper vocal tract and the larynx. To examine this phenomenon, acoustic, electroglottographic and articulatory data were recorded for three German speakers producing the tense vowels /i u / and their lax counterparts. Results for vowel mid, onset and offset showed that the articulatory positions significantly differed for tense-lax vowel pairs but the measured F0 was similar. A stepwise regression procedure selected the vertical tongue back sensor to explain the largest amount of the variance between the vowel F0 values. Correlation and regression values of both tense and lax high versus low vowels were high and significant. In contrast, regarding the tenseness difference, correlation and regression analyses between the vertical tongue back sensors and the corresponding F0 values were weak and non-significant. Thus, biomechanical IF0 theories can not account for the described tenseness phenomenon. Other mechanisms seem to be responsible, i.e. an active rise of F0 by the speaker to differentiate between tense and lax vowels.
Leptin Selectively Augments Thymopoiesis in Leptin Deficiency and Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Thymic Atrophy1

The thymus is a lymphoid organ that selects T cells for release to the peripheral immune system. Unfortunately, thymopoiesis is highly susceptible to damage by physiologic stressors and can contribute to immune deficiencies that occur in a variety of clinical settings. No treatment is currently available to protect the thymus from stress-induced involution. Leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice have severe thymic atrophy and this finding suggests that this hormone is required for normal thymopoiesis. In this study, the ability of leptin to promote thymopoiesis in wild-type C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice, as well as in leptin-deficient (ob/ob) and endotoxin-stressed (Escherichia coli LPS) mice, was determined. Leptin administration induced weight loss and stimulated thymopoiesis in ob/ob mice, but did not stimulate thymopoiesis in wild-type C57BL/6 nor BALB/c mice. In endotoxin-stressed mice, however, leptin prevented LPS-induced thymus weight loss and stimulated TCRα gene rearrangement. Coadministration of leptin with LPS blunted endotoxin-induced systemic corticosterone response and production of proinflammatory cytokines. Thus, leptin has a selective thymostimulatory role in settings of leptin deficiency and endotoxin administration, and may be useful for protecting the thymus from damage and augmenting T cell reconstitution in these clinical states.
Nonthreshold D-brane bound states and black holes with nonzero entropy

We start with Bogomol{close_quote}nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield- (BPS) saturated configurations of two (orthogonally) intersecting M-branes and use the electromagnetic duality or dimensional reduction along a boost, in order to obtain new p-brane bound states. In the first case the resulting configurations are interpreted as BPS-saturated nonthreshold bound states of intersecting p-branes, and in the second case as p-branes intersecting at angles and their duals. As a by-product we deduce the enhancement of supersymmetry as the angle approaches zero. We also comment on the D-brane theory describing these new bound states, and a connection between the angle and the world-volume gauge fields of the D-brane system. We use these configurations to find new embeddings of the four- and five-dimensional black holes with nonzero entropy, whose entropy now also depends on the angle and world-volume gauge fields. The corresponding D-brane configuration sheds light on the microscopic entropy of such black holes. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
The role of microbial biofilms in prosthetic joint infections

Abstract — Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) still remains a significant problem. In line with the forecasted rise in joint replacement procedures, the number of cases of PJI is also anticipated to rise. The formation of biofilm by causative pathogens is central to the occurrence and the recalcitrance of PJI. The subject of microbial biofilms is receiving increasing attention, probably as a result of the wide acknowledgement of the ubiquity of biofilms in the natural, industrial, and clinical contexts, as well as the notorious difficulty in eradicating them. In this review, we discuss the pertinent issues surrounding PJI and the challenges posed by biofilms regarding diagnosis and treatment. In addition, we discuss novel strategies of prevention and treatment of biofilm-related PJI.
On the Writing of Natural Imagery in "House by Day, House by Night"

Olga Tokarczuk is a well-known female writer in Poland, whose works often reflect the deep meaning of reality through the description of daily things, and "House by Day, House by Night" is her masterpiece. The imagery in the work involves the grand natural world, from the cosmic celestial bodies to the earthly creatures. By observing celestial bodies, Tokarczuk uses the sun and moon to hint at the change of day and night and the laws of change and immutability in the universe, and uses comets as metaphors for natural and man-made disasters. By focusing on the earth, Tokarczuk uses forests as a sanctuary for natural life, using the dual perspective of the valley to demonstrate the close relationship between nature and people. Through dialogue with living beings, Tokarczuk reflects the laws of nature through the words and deeds of the old woman Marta, and alludes to the national character of Poland through mushroomism.
An efficient event detection scheme for wireless sensor networks

Event detection is an essential task for wireless sensor networks. In this paper we present the design and implementation of MC-Detect, an efficient scheme for detecting and estimating events in the network. With sparse samples processed at the basestation, our approach reduces the transmission and computation cost of low power sensor nodes. Our demonstration shows the real-time event detection in practice on a small network of TelosB motes.
Rapid stimulation of pinocytosis in human carcinoma cells A-431 by epidermal growth factor

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) uptake was used to measure fluid-phase pinocytosis in monolayers of human epithelioid carcinoma cells (A-431). Histochemistry confirmed that cell-associated HRP was restricted to intracellular vesicles. Biochemical methods showed that HRP uptake in control cultures was directly proportional to the duration of exposure. The addition of low concentrations of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to the incubation media produced a 10-fold increase in the initial rate of pinocytosis. The EGF effect was rapid (within 30 s) but transient; the rate of pinocytosis returned to control levels within 15 min. Metabolic inhibitors reduced the EGF-stimulated rate of pinocytosis by greater than 90%. A conjugate of EGF and ferritin (F:EGF) was used to simultaneously compare the intracellular locations of EGF and HRP. Much of F:EGF was internalized in approximately 100-nm vesicles, while most of the HRP was located in much larger vesicles (range 0.1--1.2 micrometer) which also contained F:EGF. The tumor-promoter 12-0- tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate, which shares several biological activities with EGF, was also effective in stimulating an increase in the rate of pinocytosis.
Values in persons with schizophrenia.

This is an explorative study on the values of persons with schizophrenia based on transcripts of individual therapy sessions conducted for 40 persons with chart diagnoses of schizophrenia or schizotypal disorder. Values are action-guiding attitudes that subject human activities to be worthy of praise or blame. The schizophrenic value system conveys an overall crisis of common sense. The outcome of this has been designated as antagonomia and idionomia. Antagonomia reflects the choice to take an eccentric stand in the face of commonly shared assumptions and the here and now "other. " Idionomia reflects the feeling of the radical uniqueness and exceptionality of one's being with respect to common sense and the other human beings. This sentiment of radical exceptionality is felt as a "gift," often in view of an eschatological mission or a vocation to a superior, novel, metaphysical understanding of the world. The aim of this study is neither establishing new diagnostic criteria nor suggesting that values play an etio-pathogenetical role in the development of schizophrenia but improving our understanding of the "meaning" of schizophrenic experiences and beliefs, and by doing so reducing stigmatization, and enhancing the specificity and validity of "psychotic symptoms" (especially bizarre delusions) and of "social and occupational dysfunction" through a detailed description of the anthropological and existential matrix they arise from.
PEMANFAATAN DATA PENGINDERAAN JAUH RESOLUSI TINGGI UNTUK PEMETAAN TAMBAK DI KECAMATAN UJUNG PANGKAH, GRESIK

Budidaya air payau, terutama bandeng, telah dikenal sejak tahun 1400-an dengan menggunakan sistem tradisional. Peningkatan kebutuhan protein hewani membuat teknologi budidaya berkembang dan lahan produksi semakin luas. Untuk mendukung produksi perikanan yang lestari, maka pengumpulan informasi dan pendataan kawasan tambak merupakan hal yang sangat penting. Citra satelit resolusi tinggi yang diintegrasikan dengan Sistem Informasi Geografis (SIG) dapat digunakan untuk pemantauan lahan tambak. Bersama dengan pemetaan partisipatif oleh berbagai pemangku kepentingan, maka batas lahan tambak, permasalahan yang terdapat dalam kawasan budidaya tambak dan kemungkinan solusinya dapat diidentifikasi. Pemetaan Partisipatif-SIG (P-SIG) dapat menjadi metode yang tepat untuk menggalang partisipasi para pemangku kepentingan dan menangkap informasi baru di kawasan tambak Ujung Pangkah, Kabupaten Gresik seperti rendahnya kualitas air, terjadinya penyakit udang dan kematian massal udang, harga benih bandeng yang mahal, fluktuasi harga jual bandeng, perubahan lahan, saluran air/irigasi tambak yang dangkal dan sempit, dll. Selain itu, metode ini juga dapat memfasilitasi peserta untuk membuat keputusan manajemen pesisir yang lebih baik, seperti penentuan lokasi prioritas rehabilitasi saluran air/irigasi tambak, lokasi prioritas perlindungan pantai ataupun verifikasi data luasan tambak dengan surat izin usaha budidaya ikan. Namun, metode P-SIG membutuhkan waktu yang lama dalam prosesnya, serta membutuhkan banyak sumberdaya.
Determining Critical Internesting and Foraging Habitats for the Conservation of Sea Turtles in Gabon, Africa Using Satellite Tracking and Stable Isotope Analysis

DETERMINING CRITICAL INTERNESTING AND FORAGING HABITATS FOR THE CONSERVATION OF SEA TURTLES IN GABON, AFRICA USING SATELLITE TRACKING AND STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSIS Tiffany M. Dawson Old Dominion University, 2017 Director: Dr. Sara Maxwell Understanding the horizontal and vertical habitat of olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea), a threatened species, is critical for determining regions of protection that may effectively reduce bycatch, the largest threat to this species. Satellite transmitters were used to determine the movement and dive behavior of 21 female olive ridley turtles tagged in Pongara National Park, Gabon during the 2012, 2013, and 2015 nesting seasons. A switching state space model was used to filter the tracking data and categorize the internesting and post-nesting movements. Gridded utilization distribution (UD) home range analysis of tracking data revealed that the entire core habitat occurred in the Komo Estuary and overlaps with an important area for artisanal fishing (79% overlap) and commercial shipping traffic (58% overlap). Dive data revealed turtles spent a majority of their time resting on the estuary seabed (20% of all dive time), indicating that bottom set gear may pose the greatest potential for fisheries interactions. The results from this study provide data that can inform the design and implementation of marine protected areas and fishery zones, currently underway. Additionally, post-nesting foraging sites are not well defined for this population. δC and δN stable isotope analysis of 149 epidermis samples from female nesting olive ridley turtles in Gabon, 38 of which also had satellite transmitters, was used to determine if distinct foraging locations exist for this population. Tracked turtles allow for visualization of foraging areas, which can then be correlated to their distinct isotopic signatures and further matched to untracked turtle signatures. Cluster analysis of the isotope ratios from all turtles produced two significant clusters with a 95% predictability rate. Track visualization of each cluster did not show any foraging patterns and a generalized linear model determined that nesting beach, sampling year, and average straight-line distance from foraging location were not indicators for cluster assignment. Due to olive ridley turtles being opportunistic feeders and following a “looping” pattern to find new food sources, it is difficult to use stable isotope analysis to identify foraging habitat for non-tracked turtles in this population.
Multi-player gaming in public transport crowd: Opportunities and challenges

Smart devices are supporting emerging types of location-based gaming applications to attain collaborations among collocated users in public places like transports. However, they are facing many challenges like the timely performance of back-end game servers for runtime game operation, unreliable cellular network connections, and opportunistic and dynamic local environment. To address these limitations, in this paper, we propose “CrowdMoG”, a Crowd based Mobile Gaming platform, to identify and match the nearby passengers on the move according to their associated gaming preferences, and provides the smooth session handoff to enable the continuity of existing game plays when participants leave the game due to different mobility patterns. We therefore describe the potential, along with challenges and opportunities that open up the new dimension for the entire research community to redesign and examine a tradition problem, fundamentally transforming it into a new era of mobile gaming experience.
Sequential Monte Carlo implementation of the track-oriented marginal multi-Bernoulli/poisson filter

The TOMB/P filter [Williams, 2011, 2015] is an attractive method for multiobject tracking. However, its original formulation is computationally feasible only for linear-Gaussian system models, and it suffers from the track coalescence effect. Here, we propose a sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) implementation of the TOMB/P filter, termed the TOMB/P-SMC filter, which avoids these drawbacks. We demonstrate the performance of the TOMB/P-SMC filter in a challenging scenario with a nonlinear range-bearing measurement model, low probability of detection, strong clutter, and intersecting objects. It is observed that track coalescence is significantly reduced, and that the TOMB/P-SMC filter is able to outperform SMC implementations of previously proposed filters such as the cardinalized PHD filter and the cardinality-balanced multi-Bernoulli filter.
Successful treatment of severe thrombocytopenia with romiplostim in a pregnant patient with systemic lupus erythematosus

We present a case of a pregnant woman at 27 weeks of gestation with systemic lupus erythematosus who developed severe thrombocytopenia presenting with melena, epistaxis, gum bleeding and frank hematuria. She was resistant to most treatment modalities, including steroids, intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG), rituximab, IV cyclophosphamide and eltrombopag. She responded to romiplostim with normalization of her platelet count, which enabled her to be delivered safely at 34 weeks of gestation.
Large Neural Simulations on Large Parallel Computers

Abstract — Simulations of biologically realistic neurons in large densely connected networks pose many problems to application programmers, particularly on distributed memory computers. We discuss simulations of hundreds of thousands to millions of cells in a model of neocortex in the context of new computing platforms with many tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of processing elements. We are developing a performance model for this simulation so that we can gauge its performance on these platforms in terms of memory usage, time to setup and execute the simulation, and to estimate the practical limits to the size and simulation timescale available to us in our simulation experiments. Recent results from runs on a BlueGene/L computer, which could ultimately scale to over one hundred thousand processors, are described. Keywords — Neural networks, neuron modeling, epilepsy, parallel computing, performance scaling I. I NTRODUCTION We have been developing a simulation of the neocortex as a research tool for our study of epileptic activity. In our approach we focus on biologically realistic models of the individual neurons, by type, wired using a probabilistic connection diagram following available data in the literature. The resulting model of the neocortex is being studied [1,2,3] as a platform for understanding the onset o of epileptiform activity in children. The ultimate goal of the research program is to understand epileptic activity in the neocortex well enough to provide clues about its cause and possible cures. Our simulations are computational intensive, and hence we have an interest in understanding its performance scaling properties to help us in run configuration strategies in the near term, and in predicting limiting performance as a function of machine configuration in the longer term. Until recently we’ve been confined to parallel distributed memory architectures with of order hundreds of processors. Recent advances in architecture, design, and packaging are making much larger cluster machines practical. For example, IBM’s BlueGene/L architecture can provide a platform with as many as 100,000 processors. Understanding the performance of our simulation in this new architectural regime is a challenging problem, and is the ultimate goal of the research reported in this paper. We pose the immediate goals of this performance analysis in the form of a few key questions. For a given number of processing elements (the size of the available machine, for instance): 1. What is the largest problem, i.e. number of cells, that we can simulate?
Exploring open source and proprietary LoRa mesh technologies

This paper explores low power wide area network (LPWAN) LoRa and its diverse variants, encompassing open-source and proprietary wireless mesh networks, operating over the physical LoRa or LoRaWAN layer. The primary challenge lies in defining an optimal LoRa mesh solution that balances cost-effectiveness, energy efficiency, low latency, long-range capability, and security. This study also comprehensively examines key LoRa mesh solutions from 2017 to 2024, as proposed by various authors. Furthermore, a detailed analysis is conducted to contrast open-source and commercial solutions, considering their applications, limitations, issues, characteristics, and pros and cons of mesh routing protocols. In the current landscape, the proliferation of open-source and proprietary LoRa mesh solutions has been instrumental in facilitating the connectivity of internet of things (IoT) devices. However, these solutions pose challenges related to energy consumption, latency, and suboptimal transmission throughput. These challenges are influenced by various LoRa characteristics such as spectrum factor, bandwidth, and transmission power, which directly impact the transmission range. Our research aims to perform a comparative analysis of existing LoRa mesh solutions by, systematically studying their advantages and disadvantages. This analysis offers valuable insights for making informed choices among these solutions in diverse domains for IoT applications.
Clustering on Complex Graphs

Complex graphs, in which multi-type nodes are linked to each other, frequently arise in many important applications, such as Web mining, information retrieval, bioinformatics, and epidemiology. In this study, We propose a general framework for clustering on complex graphs. Under this framework, we derive a family of clustering algorithms including both hard and soft versions, which are capable of learning cluster patterns from complex graphs with various structures and statistical properties. We also establish the connections between the proposed framework and the traditional graph partitioning approaches. The experimental evaluation provides encouraging results to validate the proposed framework and algorithms.
FAST EXACT BAYESIAN INFERENCE FOR THE HIERARCHICAL NORMAL MODEL : SOLVING THE IMPROPER POSTERIOR PROBLEM

The hierarchical normal-normal model considered. Standard Empirical Bayes methods underestimate variability because they ignore uncertainty about the hyperparameters. Bayes' theorem solves this problem. We provide fast, exact inference that requires only a simple, univariate numerical integration to obtain the posterior distribution of the means. However, when standard, scale-invariant, vague priors are used for the variance parameters, the posterior is improper. This is solved by an intuitive reparameterization of the problem. Then standard, scale-invariant priors yield proper posterior distributions.