Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Benefits of Sleep for Undergraduate Students’ Academic Performance

ABSTRACT The study and importance of sleep for physical health has intensified. The purpose of this study was to understand the effect of sleep behaviors on academic performance among undergraduate students and to examine two groups: hospitality students and shift workers. An online survey was used to collect data from 240 students, including 62 hospitality students and 86 shift workers. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance. Of the 240 participants, three quarters delayed their sleep–wake schedule on weekends, half did not achieve their sleep requirements, and one fifth reported poor sleep quality. Participants who maintained a consistent sleep schedule and/or got enough sleep had a grade point average 0.28 to 0.52 points higher than those who did not. No difference in sleep behaviors was found between hospitality and nonhospitality students or between shift workers and nonshift workers. This suggests that the same sleep problems may exist across student groups.
Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in LPA Explain Most of the Ancestry-Specific Variation in Lp(a) Levels in African Americans

Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is an important causal cardiovascular risk factor, with serum Lp(a) levels predicting atherosclerotic heart disease and genetic determinants of Lp(a) levels showing association with myocardial infarction. Lp(a) levels vary widely between populations, with African-derived populations having nearly 2-fold higher Lp(a) levels than European Americans. We investigated the genetic basis of this difference in 4464 African Americans from the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) using a panel of up to 1447 ancestry informative markers, allowing us to accurately estimate the African ancestry proportion of each individual at each position in the genome. In an unbiased genome-wide admixture scan for frequency-differentiated genetic determinants of Lp(a) level, we found a convincing peak (LOD = 13.6) at 6q25.3, which spans the LPA locus. Dense fine-mapping of the LPA locus identified a number of strongly associated, common biallelic SNPs, a subset of which can account for up to 7% of the variation in Lp(a) level, as well as >70% of the African-European population differences in Lp(a) level. We replicated the association of the most strongly associated SNP, rs9457951 (p = 6×10−22, 27% change in Lp(a) per allele, ∼5% of Lp(a) variance explained in JHS), in 1,726 African Americans from the Dallas Heart Study and found an even stronger association after adjustment for the kringle(IV) repeat copy number. Despite the strong association with Lp(a) levels, we find no association of any LPA SNP with incident coronary heart disease in 3,225 African Americans from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.
A catadioptric extension for RGB-D cameras

The typically restricted field of view of visual sensors often imposes limitations on the performance of localization and simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) approaches. In this paper, we propose and analyze the combination of an RGB-D camera with two planar mirrors to split the field of view such that it covers both front and rear view of a mobile robot. We describe how to estimate the extrinsic calibration parameters of the modified sensor using a standard parametrization and a reduced one that exploits the properties of the setup. Our experimental evaluation on real-world data demonstrates the robustness of the calibration procedure. Additionally, we show that our proposed sensor modification substantially improves the accuracy and the robustness in a simultaneous localization and mapping task.
TaAbc1, a Member of Abc1-Like Family Involved in Hypersensitive Response against the Stripe Rust Fungal Pathogen in Wheat

To search for genes involved in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) defense response to the infection of stripe rust pathogen Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), we identified and cloned a new wheat gene similar to the genes in the Abc1-like gene family. The new gene, designated as TaAbc1, encodes a 717-amino acid, 80.35 kD protein. The TaAbc1 protein contains two conserved domains shared by Abc1-like proteins, two trans-membrane domains at the C-terminal, and a 36-amino acid chloroplast targeting presequence at the N-terminal. Characterization of TaAbc1 expression revealed that gene expression was tissue-specific and could be up-regulated by biotic agents (e.g., stripe rust pathogen) and/or by an abiotic stress like wounding. High-fold induction was associated with the hypersensitive response (HR) triggered only by avirulent stripe rust pathotypes, suggesting that TaAbc1 is a rust-pathotype specific HR-mediator. Down-regulating TaAbc1 reduced HR but not the overall resistance level in Suwon11 to CYR23, suggesting TaAbc1 was involved in HR against stripe rust, but overall host resistance is not HR-dependent.
An efficient algorithm for electromagnetic scattering analysis using curve RWG basis function and adaptively modified characteristic basis function method

In this paper, a hybrid method of curve RWG basis function (CRWG) and adaptively modified characteristic basis function method (AMCBFM) is proposed for the method-of-moments (MoM) solution of integral equations for three-dimensional (3-D) electromagnetic (EM) problems. Numerical results show that the CRWG-AMCBFM solves the real problems accurately and can save more RAM storage and CPU time than conventional methods.
Candidate genes for COPD: current evidence and research

COPD is a common complex disease characterized by progressive airflow limitation. Several genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have discovered genes that are associated with COPD. Recently, candidate genes for COPD identified by GWASs include CHRNA3/5 (cholinergic nicotine receptor alpha 3/5), IREB2 (iron regulatory binding protein 2), HHIP (hedgehog-interacting protein), FAM13A (family with sequence similarity 13, member A), and AGER (advanced glycosylation end product–specific receptor). Their association with COPD susceptibility has been replicated in multiple populations. Since these candidate genes have not been considered in COPD, their pathological roles are still largely unknown. Herein, we review some evidences that they can be effective drug targets or serve as biomarkers for diagnosis or subtyping. However, more study is required to understand the functional roles of these candidate genes. Future research is needed to characterize the effect of genetic variants, validate gene function in humans and model systems, and elucidate the genes’ transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms.
Die Soziologie als Teil einer Wissenschaft vom menschlichen Leben? Die Perspektive der Neurosoziologie

Dirk Baecker, Neurosoziologie. Ein Versuch. Berlin: Suhrkamp 2014, 262 S. , br. , 18,00 € David D. Franks / Jonathan H. Turner (Eds.), Handbook of Neurosociology. Dordrecht/Heidelberg/New York/London: Springer 2013, 406 S. , br. , 101,00 € Russell K. Schutt / Larry J. Seidman / Matcheri S. Keshavan (Eds.), Social Neuroscience. Brain, Mind, and Society. Cambridge/London: Harvard University Press 2015, 436 S. , gb. , 45,00 €
Feature-level fusion for free-form object tracking using laserscanner and video

A scalable feature-level sensor fusion architecture combining the data of a multi-layer laserscanner and a monocular video has been developed. The approach aims at a maximization of synergetic effects by combining low-level measurement features and at the same time trying to keep the fusion architecture as general as possible. A new concept for the geometric modeling of diverse object shapes found in real traffic scenes, including free form models, enhances the precision of the object tracking. Results from real sensor data demonstrate the performance of the new algorithms compared to robust algorithms known from the literature.
ON THE EXPONENTIAL REPRODUCING KERNELS FOR SAMPLING SIGNALS WITH FINITE RATE OF INNOVATION

The theory of Finite Rate of Innovation (FRI) broadened the traditional sampling paradigm to certain classes of parametric signals. In the presence of noise, the original procedures are not as stable, and a different treatment is needed. In this paper we review the ideal FRI sampling scheme and some of the existing techniques to combat noise. We then present alternative denoising methods for the case of exponential reproducing kernels. We first vary existing subspace-based approaches. We also discuss how to design exponential reproducing kernels that are most robust to noise. Keywords— FRI, Sampling, Noise, Subspace, SVD
Long-term renal survival and related risk factors in patients with IgA nephropathy: results from a cohort of 1155 cases in a Chinese adult population.

BACKGROUND We sought to identify the long-term renal survival rate and related risk factors of progression to renal failure in Chinese adult patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and to quantify the effects of proteinuria during the follow-up on outcome in patients with IgAN. METHODS Patients with biopsy-proven primary IgAN in the Nanjing Glomerulonephritis Registry were studied. Renal survival and the relationships between clinical parameters and renal outcomes were assessed. RESULTS One thousand one hundred and fifty-five patients were enrolled in this study. The 10-, 15- and 20-year cumulative renal survival rates, calculated by Kaplan-Meier method, were 83, 74 and 64%, respectively. At the time of biopsy, proteinuria>1.0 g/day [hazard ratio (HR) 3.2, P<0.001], estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)<60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (HR 2.6, P<0.001), hypertension (HR 1.9, P<0.001), hypoproteinemia (HR 2.0, P<0.001) and hyperuricemia (HR 2.1, P<0.001) were the independent risk factors. Multivariate Cox analysis showed the time-average proteinuria (TA-P) during follow-up was the most important risk factor of renal failure. Patients with TA-P>1.0 g/day were associated with a 9.4-fold risk than patients with TA-P<1.0 g/day (P<0.001) and 46.5-fold risk than those with TA-P<0.5 g/day (P<0.001). Moreover, patients who achieved TA-P<0.5 g/day benefit much more than those with TA-P between 0.5 and 1.0 g/day (HR 13.1, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Thirty-six percent of Chinese adult patients with IgAN progress to end stage renal disease within 20 years. Five clinical features-higher proteinuria, hypertension, impaired renal function, hypoproteinemia and hyperuricemia-are independent predictors of an unfavorable renal outcome. The basic goal of anti-proteinuric therapy for Chinese patients is to lower proteinuria<1.0 g/day and the optimal goal is to lower proteinuria to <0.5 g/day.
Online cognitive-based intervention for depression: exploring possible circularity in mechanisms of change

Background This study investigates possible circularity in mechanisms of change in participants of Master Your Mood (MYM), a cognitive-based, online intervention for young adults with depressive symptoms. A previous study showed that MYM effectively reduced depression and anxiety and strengthened mastery. Method We randomized 244 participants with depressive symptoms into MYM or a wait-list control condition. We explored the circularity hypothesis by several analyses. Correlations were computed to determine the association between (change in) depression and anxiety. Path analysis mediation models were used to explore whether change in anxiety and mastery mediated the intervention effect on depression, whether depression and mastery mediated the effect on anxiety and whether depression and anxiety mediated the effect on mastery. We used linear regression to explore whether early changes in anxiety predicted later changes in depression, and whether early changes in depression predicted later changes in anxiety. Results Co-morbidity between depression and anxiety was high (69.2%) and the association between depression and anxiety change was strong (r = 0.677, p < 0.01). Changes in anxiety and mastery mediated change in depression (mediation proportion 44%); changes in depression mediated change in anxiety (79%) and mastery (75%). We did not find an early change in anxiety predictive for a late change in depression, and vice versa. Conclusions This study appears to confirm the hypothesized circularity in the recovery process. We found high co-morbidity and strong correlation between depression and anxiety levels and bi-directional relationships between potential mediators and outcomes. Early anxiety change scores were not predictive of late depression change scores, and vice versa.
Cell signalling by reactive lipid species: new concepts and molecular mechanisms

The process of lipid peroxidation is widespread in biology and is mediated through both enzymatic and non-enzymatic pathways. A significant proportion of the oxidized lipid products are electrophilic in nature, the RLS (reactive lipid species), and react with cellular nucleophiles such as the amino acids cysteine, lysine and histidine. Cell signalling by electrophiles appears to be limited to the modification of cysteine residues in proteins, whereas non-specific toxic effects involve modification of other nucleophiles. RLS have been found to participate in several physiological pathways including resolution of inflammation, cell death and induction of cellular antioxidants through the modification of specific signalling proteins. The covalent modification of proteins endows some unique features to this signalling mechanism which we have termed the ‘covalent advantage’. For example, covalent modification of signalling proteins allows for the accumulation of a signal over time. The activation of cell signalling pathways by electrophiles is hierarchical and depends on a complex interaction of factors such as the intrinsic chemical reactivity of the electrophile, the intracellular domain to which it is exposed and steric factors. This introduces the concept of electrophilic signalling domains in which the production of the lipid electrophile is in close proximity to the thiol-containing signalling protein. In addition, we propose that the role of glutathione and associated enzymes is to insulate the signalling domain from uncontrolled electrophilic stress. The persistence of the signal is in turn regulated by the proteasomal pathway which may itself be subject to redox regulation by RLS. Cell death mediated by RLS is associated with bioenergetic dysfunction, and the damaged proteins are probably removed by the lysosome-autophagy pathway.
Driving Maneuvers Analysis Using Naturalistic Highway Driving Data

Accounting about 70% of vehicle miles on roadways, highway driving is a critical issue in traffic safety deployment. Of the various maneuvers that comprise the highly complex driving task, each one requires understanding on the connections between driving states, vehicle performance and drivers' actions. This paper attempts to flesh out a complete picture of driving maneuvers on highways. Eighteen drivers participated in this study. They drove an instrumented vehicle on highways to accumulate 2,600 km naturalistic driving data. The data were segmented and classified into 11 maneuver groups manually. Analysis on the maneuvers revealed that: 1) A maneuver transition probabilities model was proposed. According to this model, 7 typical driving patterns were drawn based on the transition probabilities. Transition events pertaining to approaching/following/lane changing accounted for 95% of all the highway transition events. 2) The durations were 7.6/6.6 s and 7.1/7.0 s for free left/right lane changes and overtake from left/right lane changes, respectively. The numbers were 22.5, 21.4 and 16.3 s for far, middle and near following maneuvers, respectively. Statistical significances were found within both groups. 3) How drivers behave in each maneuver was analyzed. Drivers drove faster in free lane changes than did in overtake lane changes. For overtake lane changes, two driving patterns were observed: accelerate to change lane and decelerate to change lane.
ROBABILISTIC INTERVALS OF CONFIDENCE

Abstract: High accuracy should not be the only goal of classification: i nformation concerning probable alternatives diagnoses, probability of these diagnoses, e valuation of confidence in classification, are also important. Neural models are used just to obtain the winner class but do not provide any justification for their recommendations – they work as black boxes . A method which determine confidence intervals and probabilistic confidence interval s is presented here. It helps to evaluate the certainty of the winning class and the importance of alte rnative classes. Probabilistic intervals are also useful to compare the influence of each feature in cla ssification of a given case, showing changes of the probability of all important classes. Probab ilistic confidence intervals help to visualize the class memberships of a given case and its neigh borhood.
RESTifying a Legacy Semantic Search System: Experience and Lessons Learned

The REST architectural style pursues scalability and decoupling of applica- tion components on target architectures, as opposed to the focus on distribution trans- parency of RPC-based middleware infrastructures. Ongoing debate between REST and RPC proponents evidences the need of comparisons of both approaches, as well as case studies showing the implications in the development of RESTful applications. With this aim, this paper presents a revamped RESTful version of a legacy RPC-based search system of educational tools named Ontoolsearch. The former version suffers from re- duced interoperability with third-party clients, limited visibility of interactions and has some scalability issues due to the use of an RPC-based middleware. These limitations are addressed in the RESTful application as a result of applying REST constraints and using the Atom data format. Further, a benchmarking experiment showed that scal- ability of the RESTful prototype is superior, measuring a ∼3 times increase of peak throughput. In addition, some lessons learned on RESTful design and implementation have been derived from this work that may be of interest for future developments.
Novel Anti-collision Algorithms for Fast Object Identification in RFID System

We propose two ALOHA-based Dynamic Framed Slotted ALOHA algorithms (DFSA) using tag estimation method (TEM), which estimates the number of tags around the reader, and dynamic slot allocation (DSA), which dynamically allocates the frame size for the number of tags. We compare the performance of the proposed DFSA with the conventional Framed Slotted ALOHA algorithm (FSA) using simulation. According to the analysis, two proposed DFSA algorithms show better performance than FSA algorithm regardless of the number of tags
Networks of Excellence : Design and Implementation

Networks of Excellence (NoE) in European Union are specific instrument of the 6 and 7 European Framework Programmes for achieving the long-term goal of integration of research activities in Europe within the concept of European Research Area. Shortly after its launch in Europe in 2003, this new organisational form spread to Russia: in 2006 the pilot virtual community of researchers Network of excellence “Development of interfirm cooperation forms: networks and relationships” has been launched by several professors of Marketing at the State University Higher School of Economics. While being truly important for researchers, NoE is a completely new form of research community integration, and it has not yet been an object of a serious study. In this paper we outline a theoretical framework for NoE functioning and the interaction of its members. In case studies of the European NoE called PRIME and the Russian pilot project we investigate in depth the dimensions of design (purposes and evaluation) and implementation (governance mechanisms and evolution paths), and explain the systemic interrelations between the NoEs’ organisational properties and their development context. We show how European experience can be adapted and exploited for implementing research networks in Russia. The summary and conclusions follow. The results of this study could be useful for NoE practitioners (policymakers and academic leaders) as well as for further research in science policy in Europe. The study also contributes to understanding the dynamics of formal and informal networks and interaction between academic, business, and policymakers’ communities.
The mitochondria in diabetic heart failure: from pathogenesis to therapeutic promise.

SIGNIFICANCE Diabetes is an important risk factor for the development of heart failure (HF). Given the increasing prevalence of diabetes in the population, strategies are needed to reduce the burden of HF in these patients. RECENT ADVANCES Diabetes is associated with several pathologic findings in the heart including dysregulated metabolism, lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Emerging evidence suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction may be a central mediator of these pathologic responses. The development of therapeutic approaches targeting mitochondrial biology holds promise for the management of HF in diabetic patients. CRITICAL ISSUES Despite significant data implicating mitochondrial pathology in diabetic cardiomyopathy, the optimal pharmacologic approach to improve mitochondrial function remains undefined. FUTURE DIRECTIONS Detailed mechanistic studies coupled with more robust clinical phenotyping will be necessary to develop novel approaches to improve cardiac function in diabetes. Moreover, understanding the interplay between diabetes and other cardiac stressors (hypertension, ischemia, and valvular disease) will be of the utmost importance for clinical translation of scientific discoveries made in this field.
Novel Ant Colony Optimization for Solving Traveling Salesman Problem in Congested Transportation System

This paper proposes a novel ant colony optimization named MMAS-MDS algorithm (max-min ant system extended by multidimensional scaling) for solving the traveling salesman problem more effectively in the congested transportation systems. Global heuristic information related to time-distance is put into the probabilistic selection rule of the ant tour construction. It provides global guides for promising explorations and makes up for the insufficiency of local heuristic information when the travel time violates triangular inequality. Experimental results show that the MMAS-MDS algorithm can find much better solutions than the MMAS algorithm with traffic congestions.
Investigating medical tourism in South Africa

Medical tourism is an integral part of the tourism economy in South Africa. However, despite its growing importance there appears to have been limited research into the medical tourism sector. In order to gain a better understanding of the South African medical tourism sector, the researcher conducted a thematic analysis of relevant newspaper articles. The study revealed that South Africa is an attractive medical tourism destination on account of the quality and affordable medical care offered in the country. South Africa's medical tourism offering is multifaceted and includes breast enlargements and breast reductions, face-lifts, eyelid reductions, drug rehabilitation, dental treatment, cancer treatment, infertility treatment and treatment for illnesses such as tuberculosis. Accordingly, this paper recommends the development of a medical tourism and promotion strategy with research as one of its key components.
Using Scripting Languages to Teach Programming

Nowadays, scripting programming languages like Python, Perl and Ruby are widely used in system programming, scientific computing, etc. Although solving a particular problem in these languages requires less time, less programming effort, and less concepts to be taught to achieve the desired goal, still they are not used as teaching tools. Therefore, the use of scripting languages as a teaching vehicle for programming course is very promising. On the other hand, GUI programming, when performed with such languages, is easy and rewarding, since one sees the result of her work immediately. Thus, we are sure that scripting languages combined with GUI toolkits will be the next big thing in computer education.