Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigation and Treatment of Missing Item Scores in Test and Questionnaire Data

This article first discusses a statistical test for investigating whether or not the pattern of missing scores in a respondent-by-item data matrix is random. Since this is an asymptotic test, we investigate whether it is useful in small but realistic sample sizes. Then, we discuss two known simple imputation methods, person mean (PM) and two-way (TW) imputation, and we propose two new imputation methods, response-function (RF) and mean response-function (MRF) imputation. These methods are based on few assumptions about the data structure. An empirical data example with simulated missing item scores shows that the new method RF was superior to the methods PM, TW, and MRF in recovering from incomplete data several statistical properties of the original complete data. Methods TW and RF are useful both when item score missingness is ignorable and nonignorable.
Risk of Aggressive Skin Cancers After Kidney Retransplantation in Patients With Previous Posttransplant Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinomas: A Retrospective Study of 53 Cases

Background The course of skin cancer after retransplantation in organ-transplant recipients who have already developed posttransplant skin cancer has not been assessed. Methods This retrospective multicentric study included 53 patients with a history of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) after a first kidney transplantation who received a second kidney transplantation. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of aggressive cutaneous SCC after the second transplantation. Secondary endpoints included the course of skin cancers over 3 periods (first transplantation, return to dialysis, second transplantation), the time to occurrence, and risk factors for aggressive SCC after retransplantation. Results The first SCC developed in 47 patients with a functional graft and in 6 after return to dialysis. After the first transplantation, 17 (33.3%) patients developed SCC in dialysis and 39 (73.6%) after the second transplantation, respectively. Twenty aggressive SCC developed over the study period. They occurred in 14 (26.4%) patients after retransplantation vs 5 (9.4%) after the first transplantation with a median delay of 50 months and were responsible for 5 deaths. Fair skin type, multiple tumors before retransplantation, treatment with azathioprine, T cell–depleting antibodies, and delayed revision of immunosuppression were associated with an increased risk of aggressive cutaneous SCC after retransplantation. Conclusions Candidates to retransplantation with a history of posttransplant SCC have a high risk of aggressive SCC. Our data suggest that the risk could be reduced by a tailored immunosuppression. A wait period may be required depending on the clinicopathological characteristics of the previous SCC and discussed on an individual patient basis.
A Cloud-Based Energy Efficient System for Enhancing the Detection and Prevention of Modern Malware

In today's modern world, a simple malware attack can result catastrophically and can cause havoc. In spite of numerous types of antiviruses available in the market, there is a dearth in detection techniques of these antiviruses. This paper proposes a complete system, which is a combination of conventional and new techniques for detecting malware. We first evaluate the antiviruses against 10,000+ malware samples to highlight their weaknesses and then propose, implement, and benchmark the cloud-based system against some defined parameters. We have tested the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed system by monitoring the detection rate and processing power it consumes in order to operate in a host machine.
Multiple roles for membrane-associated protein trafficking and signaling in gravitropism

Gravitropism is a process that allows plant organs to guide their growth relative to the gravity vector. It requires them to sense changes in their orientation and generate a biochemical signal that they transmit to the tissues that drive organ curvature. Trafficking between the plasma membrane and endosomal compartments is important for all of these phases of the gravitropic response. The sedimentation of starch-filled organelles called amyloplasts plays a key role in sensing reorientation, and vacuolar integrity is required for amyloplast sedimentation in shoots. Other proteins associated with the vesicle trafficking pathway contribute to early gravity signal transduction independently of amyloplast sedimentation in both roots and hypocotyls. Phosphatidylinositol signaling, which starts at the plasma membrane and later affects the localization of auxin efflux facilitators, is a likely second messenger in the signal transduction phase of gravitropism. Finally, membrane-localized auxin influx and efflux facilitators contribute to a differential auxin gradient across the gravistimulated organs, which directs root curvature.
Interculturalidad ¿un desafío?

Ante el desarrollo del proceso revolucionario de homogeneización ontológica, la experiencia histórica de los dos últimos siglos deja claro que parece imposible preservar la interculturalidad. El concepto de "interculturalidad" y su problemática, surgen justo cuando la interculturalidad como realidad básica de la existencia humana tiende a desaparecer. En este texto se considera la diacronía de este concepto que, por el contexto histórico en el que surge, hace de sí una remembranza de una situación histórica y de una condición humana de las que estamos ya excluidos.
Using GPU to exploit parallelism on cryptography

In this article we explore the NVIDIA graphical processing units (GPU) computational power in cryptography using CUDA (Compute Unified Device Architecture) technology. CUDA makes the general purpose computing easy using the parallel processing presents in GPUs. To do this, the NVIDIA GPUs architectures and CUDA are presented, besides cryptography concepts. Furthermore, we do the comparison between the versions executed in CPU with the parallel version of the cryptography algorithms Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and Message-digest Algorithm 5 (MD5) wrote in CUDA.
Integrating atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, experiments, and network analysis to study protein dynamics: strength in unity

In the last years, we have been observing remarkable improvements in the field of protein dynamics. Indeed, we can now study protein dynamics in atomistic details over several timescales with a rich portfolio of experimental and computational techniques. On one side, this provides us with the possibility to validate simulation methods and physical models against a broad range of experimental observables. On the other side, it also allows a complementary and comprehensive view on protein structure and dynamics. What is needed now is a better understanding of the link between the dynamic properties that we observe and the functional properties of these important cellular machines. To make progresses in this direction, we need to improve the physical models used to describe proteins and solvent in molecular dynamics, as well as to strengthen the integration of experiments and simulations to overcome their own limitations. Moreover, now that we have the means to study protein dynamics in great details, we need new tools to understand the information embedded in the protein ensembles and in their dynamic signature. With this aim in mind, we should enrich the current tools for analysis of biomolecular simulations with attention to the effects that can be propagated over long distances and are often associated to important biological functions. In this context, approaches inspired by network analysis can make an important contribution to the analysis of molecular dynamics simulations.
The effect of different durations of carbohydrate mouth rinse on cycling performance

Abstract Carbohydrate (CHO) mouth rinse has been shown to improve time trial performance. Although the exact mechanism remains un-established, research postulates that there are oral cavity receptors which increase neural drive. Increasing the duration of the mouth rinse could potentially increase stimulation of these receptors. The aim of the current investigation was to determine whether the duration of mouth rinse with 6.4% CHO affected 30-min self-selected cycling performance. Eleven male participants (age =24.1±3.9 years) performed three 30-min self-paced trials. On one occasion water was given as a mouth rinse for 5 s without being ingested placebo (PLA), on the other two occasions a 6.4% CHO solution was given for 5 and 10 s. Distance cycled, heart rate, ratings of perceived exertion, cadence, speed and power were recorded throughout all trials. The main findings were that distance cycled during the 10-s mouth rinse trial (20.4±2.3 km) was significantly greater compared to the PLA trial (19.2±2.2 km; P<0.01). There was no difference between the 5- and 10-s trials (P=0.15). However, 10 out of 11 participants cycled further during the 5-s trial compared to PLA, and eight cycled further during the 10-s trial compared to the 5 s. In conclusion, although there was an improvement in distance cycled with the 5-s mouth rinse compared to the PLA it was only significant with 10 s suggesting a dose response to the duration of mouth rinse.
What is functionalism

What is Functionalism? Functionalism is one of the major proposals that have been offered as solutions to the mind/body problem. Solutions to the mind/body problem usually try to answer questions such as: What is the ultimate nature of the mental? At the most general level, what makes a mental state mental? Or more specifically, What do thoughts have in common in virtue of which they are thoughts? That is, what makes a thought a thought? What makes a pain a pain? Cartesian Dualism said the ultimate nature of the mental was to be found in a special mental substance. Behaviorism identified mental states with behavioral dispositions; physicalism in its most influential version identifies mental states with brain states. Functionalism says that mental states are constituted by their causal relations to one another and to sensory inputs and behavioral outputs. Functionalism is one of the major theoretical developments of Twentieth Century analytic philosophy, and provides the conceptual underpinnings of much work in cognitive science.
High Fidelity of Internal Strand Transfer Catalyzed by Human Immunodeficiency Virus Reverse Transcriptase*

A system to study the fidelity of internal strand transfer events was constructed. A donor RNA, on which reverse transcriptase (RT)-directed DNA synthesis was initiated, shared homology with an acceptor RNA, to which DNAs initiated on the donor could transfer. The homology occurred over a 119-base internal region of the donor which coded for the N-terminal portion of the α-lac gene. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify DNA synthesis products. The PCR products were then digested with PvuII and EcoRI and ligated into a vector which had this same region excised. Transformed Escherichia coli were screened for the ability to produce a functional β-galactosidase protein by blue-white phenotype analysis with white colonies scored as those with errors in α-lac. Products synthesized on the donor were used to assess the error rate of human immunodeficiency virus-RT while products transferring to and subsequently extended on the acceptor (transfer products) were used to monitor transfer fidelity. Human immunodeficiency virus-RT made approximately 1 error per 7500 bases copied in the assay. Nucleocapsid protein (NCp), although stimulating strand transfer 3-fold, had no effect on RT fidelity. Transfer products in the absence of NCp had essentially the same amount of errors as donor-directed products while those produced with NCp showed a slight increase in error frequency. Overall, strand transfer events on this template were highly accurate. Since experiments with other templates have suggested that transfer is error prone, the fidelity of strand transfer may be highly sequence dependent.
Efficiency improvement of a boost PFC converter using non-linear inductor

This paper presents a solution to improve light load efficiency by the use of a non-linear Inductor under light loading. The Sendust nonlinear inductor is modeled in MATLAB to analyze conduction losses in boost PFC. In addition, the inductor voltage, current and efficiency (η) of boost PFC with and without nonlinear is compared. The model of a nonlinear inductor with a given core characteristics is provided and the analysis of losses in boost PFC circuit is done.
Construction d'une mémoire organisationnelle de formation et évaluation dans un contexte e-learning : Le projet MEMORAe

De nombreux documents ou plus generalement de nombreuses ressources peuvent etre utilises dans le cadre d'une formation e-Iearning (ou e-formation). Certaines de ces ressources sont produites 'en interne' par les differents acteurs impliques dans la formation, d'autres sont disponibles sur le web : cours en ligne, supports de cours, transparents, bibliographies, foires aux questions, notes de lectures etc. Le nombre de ressources disponibles ne faisant que croitre, le probleme de leur acces et de leur gestion se trouve ainsi pose. Dans cette these, nous considerons une formation comme une organisation, dans laquelle differents acteurs sont impliques, et proposons d'en gerer les informations, les documents et les connaissances au moyen d'une memoire organisationnelle de formation basee sur des ontologies. Dans le projet MEMORAe, nous nous sommes focalises sur deux scenarios d'application: l'apport de l'ingenierie des connaissances dans le domaine educatif et l'apprentissage par exploration base sur des ontologies. Trois aspects ont ete principalement developpes dans ce travail : l'apport d'une memoire organisationnelle dans le contexte d'une formation e-Iearning ; le choix (a) des ontologies pour indexer et structurer le contenu d'un cours et (b) des Topic Maps pour exploiter ces ontologies ; la conception et l'implantation de l'environnemment E-MEMORAe d'aide a l'apprentissage par exploration guide par des ontologies et l'evaluation de cet environnement aupres des etudiants de B31. 1 a l'UPJV et les etudiants de NF01 a l'UTC.
Molecular basis for a polymorphism of human Fc gamma receptor II (CD32)

The IgG Fc receptor II on human monocytes is polymorphic in its ability to bind mIgG1, and its isoelectric focusing pattern. To study the molecular basis of this polymorphism, a cDNA library from cell line K562, expressing two different allelic forms (high responder [HR] and low responder [LR]) of Fc gamma RII, was used for cDNA cloning. We report the isolation and identification of different Fc gamma RII cDNA clones, comprising the LR form of Fc gamma RII, as was evident from studies using a new HR-specific anti-Fc gamma RII mAb 41H16, and from rosetting experiments. Sequence analysis revealed that HR and LR forms differ by two amino acids, both located in the external domain. In the cloned LR form, a glutamine is substituted by a tryptophan residue at aa position 27, located in the first Ig-like domain, and an arginine residue by a histidine residue at aa position 131 in the second Ig-like domain. Furthermore, an Fc gamma RII cDNA clone was isolated with a deletion of 123 bp, overlapping the predicted transmembrane segment. Data showing the presence of an alternatively spliced mRNA detected by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) might suggest the existence of a soluble form of the human Fc gamma RII, in addition to the membrane- bound forms.
Lewis antigens in Helicobacter pylori: biosynthesis and phase variation

The lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of most Helicobacter pylori strains contain complex carbohydrates known as Lewis antigens that are structurally related to the human blood group antigens. Investigations on the genetic determinants involved in the biosynthesis of Lewis antigens have led to the identification of the fucosyltransferases of H. pylori, which have substrate specificities distinct from the mammalian fucosyltransferases. Compared with its human host, H. pylori utilizes a different pathway to synthesize the difucosylated Lewis antigens, Lewis y and Lewis b. Unique features in the H. pylori fucosyltransferase genes, including homopolymeric tracts mediating slipped‐strand mispairing and the elements regulating translational frameshifting, enable H. pylori to produce variable LPS epitopes on its surface. These new findings have provided us with a basis to further examine the roles of molecular mimicry and phase variation of H. pylori Lewis antigen expression in both persistent infection and pathogenesis of this important human gastric pathogen.
The antibody response of guinea pigs to topical and intramuscular administration of trachoma antigens.

Guinea pigs were immunized with homogenates of purified trachoma elementary bodies either topically or intramuscularly. Topical administration induced the appearance of 2-mercaptoethanol-resistant antibodies in the eyes of the immunized animals, whereas the antitrachoma antibodies in the serum were sensitive to the reagent. No antibodies were detected in the eyes after intramuscular immunization. The serum antibodies were resistant to treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol.
Cell proliferation and interleukin-6-type cytokine signaling are implicated by gene expression responses in early optic nerve head injury in rat glaucoma.

PURPOSE In glaucoma, the optic nerve head (ONH) is the principal site of initial axonal injury, and elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is the predominant risk factor. However, the initial responses of the ONH to elevated IOP are unknown. Here the authors use a rat glaucoma model to characterize ONH gene expression changes associated with early optic nerve injury. METHODS Unilateral IOP elevation was produced in rats by episcleral vein injection of hypertonic saline. ONH mRNA was extracted, and retrobulbar optic nerve cross-sections were graded for axonal degeneration. Gene expression was determined by microarray and quantitative PCR (QPCR) analysis. Significantly altered gene expression was determined by multiclass analysis and ANOVA. DAVID gene ontology determined the functional categories of significantly affected genes. RESULTS The Early Injury group consisted of ONH from eyes with <15% axon degeneration. By array analysis, 877 genes were significantly regulated in this group. The most significant upregulated gene categories were cell cycle, cytoskeleton, and immune system process, whereas the downregulated categories included glucose and lipid metabolism. QPCR confirmed the upregulation of cell cycle-associated genes and leukemia inhibitory factor (Lif) and revealed alterations in expression of other IL-6-type cytokines and Jak-Stat signaling pathway components, including increased expression of IL-6 (1553%). In contrast, astrocytic glial fibrillary acidic protein (Gfap) message levels were unaltered, and other astrocytic markers were significantly downregulated. Microglial activation and vascular-associated gene responses were identified. CONCLUSIONS Cell proliferation and IL-6-type cytokine gene expression, rather than astrocyte hypertrophy, characterize early pressure-induced ONH injury.
Frequency domain formulation of active parametric deformable models

Active deformable models are simple tools, very popular in computer vision and computer graphics, for solving ill-posed problems or mimic real physical systems. The classical formulation is given in the spatial domain, the motor of the procedure is a second-order linear system, and rigidity and elasticity are the basic parameters for its characterization. This paper proposes a novel formulation based on a frequency-domain analysis: the internal energy functional and the Lagrange minimization are performed entirely in the frequency domain, which leads to a simple formulation and design. The frequency-based implementation offers important computational savings in comparison to the original one, a feature that is improved by the efficient hardware and software computation of the FFT algorithm. This new formulation focuses on the stiffness spectrum, allowing the possibility of constructing deformable models apart from the elasticity and rigidity-based original formulation. Simulation examples validate the theoretical results.
A hierarchical model for traceability between requirements and architecture

This paper presents a formal traceability model that describes the linkage between requirements and architecture. This model creates a hierarchical structure of describing how the architecture is decomposed recursively level by level thereby making the trace creation scalable. The proposed traceability model enables the architect to establish and understand the traces over different decomposition levels in a consistent manner. Benefits of the proposed model are demonstrated with a nontrivial case study.
The Cannabis Use Problems Identification Test (CUPIT) : development and psychometrics : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Lack of a brief empirically-verified screener for problematic and potentially problematic cannabis use has hampered implementation of a proactive opportunistic cannabis screening and early intervention (SEI) initiative in New Zealand. Addressing this instrumentation need was the primary aim of this thesis. This thesis also investigated the nature, prevalence, severity, and natural history of cannabis-related problems among a heterogeneous sample of 212 ‘at risk’ adolescent and adult users recruited from the community. In a 3-phase developmental design the CUPIT question candidates were first generated employing an Expert Panels methodology. The CUPIT structure, crosssectional, and longitudinal psychometric properties were then systematically tested, incorporating measures of cannabis-related pathology and DSM-IV/ICD-10 diagnoses of cannabis use disorders as criterion standard. High levels of cannabis consumption and related health and psychosocial problems reported portrayed a highly-disordered sample, most marked among adolescents. DSMIV/ICD-10 diagnoses were almost universal with no significant adolescent/adult differences in dependence symptoms count or severity. The two CUPIT subscales (Impaired Control, Problems) derived from principal components analyses exhibited good test-retest and internal consistency reliability and highly significant ability to discriminate diagnostic subgroups along the severity continuum (nonproblematic, risky, problematic use). At the 12-month follow-up, 194 adolescents and adults reported significantly increased cannabis consumption (adolescents), symptoms, and dependence severity. Baseline CUPIT subscale scores demonstrated highly significant longitudinal predictive utility for respondents’ diagnostic group membership, health and psychosocial problems, and significantly improved prediction of other measured outcomes in conjunction with age and gender. ROC analyses identified a CUPIT score of 12 to be the optimal cut-point for maximum sensitivity for both currently diagnosable cannabis use disorder and those ‘at risk’ in this sample.
Distinction of ortho- and para-xylene by femtosecond-laser mass spectrometry.

The distinction of structural isomers is one of the key tasks inanalyticalchemistry.Inthecasewhereclassicalelectronimpactmass spectrometry leads to indistinguishable mass spectra,combined techniques as gas chromatography/mass spectrom-etry (GC/MS) and so forth can be employed. However, thedemandforfastonline techniques which circumvent theneedforseparationisstilleminent.Oneobviousalternativeisbasedon photoionization (PI), in particular PI by laser radiation. Be-sidesfromlasermassspectrometryoperatinginthefrequencydomain,