Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
KnobSlider: Design of a Shape-Changing UI for Parameter Control

Physical controls are widely used by professionals such as sound engineers or aircraft pilots. In particular knobs and sliders are the most prevalent in such interfaces. They have advantages over touchscreen GUIs, especially when users require quick and eyes-free control. However, their interfaces (e.g., mixing consoles) are often bulky and crowded. To improve this, we present the results of a formative study with professionals who use physical controllers. Based on their feedback, we propose design requirements for future interfaces for parameters control. We then introduce the design of our KnobSlider that combines the advantages of a knob and a slider in one unique shape-changing device. A qualitative study with professionals shows how KnobSlider supports the design requirements, and inspired new interactions and applications.
Designing Consistent Gestures Across Device Types: Eliciting RSVP Controls for Phone, Watch, and Glasses

In the era of ubiquitous computing, people expect applications to work across different devices. To provide a seamless user experience it is therefore crucial that interfaces and interactions are consistent across different device types. In this paper, we present a method to create gesture sets that are consistent and easily transferable. Our proposed method entails 1) the gesture elicitation on each device type, 2) the consolidation of a unified gesture set, and 3) a final validation by calculating a transferability score. We tested our approach by eliciting a set of user-defined gestures for reading with Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) of text for three device types: phone, watch, and glasses. We present the resulting, unified gesture set for RSVP reading and show the feasibility of our method to elicit gesture sets that are consistent across device types with different form factors.
Diet quality indexes and mortality in postmenopausal women: the Iowa Women's Health Study.

BACKGROUND A priori diet scores such as the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) and the food-based a priori diet quality score predict chronic disease risk. OBJECTIVE We compared the AHEI and a priori diet quality score relative to mortality. DESIGN Postmenopausal women who were free of diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer in the Iowa Women's Health Study (in 1986, n = 29,634 with a mean 6 SD age of 61.4 6 4.2 y; in 2004, n = 15,076 with a mean 6 SD age of 79.7 6 4.0 y). A food-frequency questionnaire was used. Through 31 December 2008, 10,343 total, 3646 CVD, 3207 cancer, and 2888 inflammatory-related deaths were identified through record linkage. HRs were computed for quartiles of each diet score at baseline and 2004. To compare scores, the residual of each score given the other score was computed by using linear regression. RESULTS At baseline, indexes had a correlation of 0.65. For the AHEI, the multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) for total, CVD, cancer, and inflammatory-related mortality were 0.82 (0.77, 0.87), 0.79 (0.72, 0.88), 0.88 (0.79, 0.98), and 0.76 (0.68, 0.84), respectively. The a priori score had corresponding HRs of 0.80 (0.76, 0.85), 0.79 (0.72, 0.88), 0.86 (0.77, 0.95), and 0.75 (0.67, 0.84), respectively. Each score added information to the other score for total, CVD mortality, and inflammatory-related mortality. In 2004, both scores predicted total, CVD, and inflammatory-related mortality, and the a priori score also predicted cancer mortality. The a priori score added independent information for all outcomes except cancer, whereas the AHEI added information only for total mortality. CONCLUSION Two correlated diet quality scores predicted total and disease-specific mortality, but their residuals also predicted complementarily.
Personalizing Applications through Integration of Inferred Trust Values in Semantic Web-Based Social Networks

Social Network data, represented using the FOAF Vocabulary, is some of the most prevalent data on the Semantic Web. In this work, we look particularly at trust relationships in web-based social networks and their implications for software personalization. We present a network analysis as the foundation for TidalTrust, and algorithm for inferring trust relationships, and then illustrate how the results can be used to improve application interfaces.
Longevity regulation by NMD-mediated mRNA quality control

Proper maintenance of biological components is crucial for longevity and healthy aging. Although the role of homeostatic maintenance systems for DNA and protein in longevity is established, it remains largely unknown for RNA. In our recent work, we show that nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) promotes longevity in the roundworm C. elegans by enhancing RNA quality control. We find that the activity of NMD decreases during aging, raising the possibility that RNA quality declines in old animals. We then show that key components of NMD complex are required for prolonged lifespan in C. elegans. In addition, animals with reduced insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) signaling (IIS), a representative longevity model, display increased NMD activity. Thus, up-regulation of NMD appears to play crucial roles in longevity conferred by reduced IIS via enhancing mRNA quality control. As both IIS and NMD pathways are evolutionarily conserved, mammals including humans may be equipped with similar RNA quality control systems to achieve longevity.
Erhöhter Intraokulardruck induziert primär zelluläre Reaktionen in den retinalen Kapillaren

Zusammenfassung Hintergründe In der Frühdiagnostik des klinischen Glaukoms sind peripapilläre Blutungen fast pathognomonisch für eine Schädigung von Kapillaren. Auch in der Perfusionsdiagnostik herrscht überwiegend die Meinung, dass Perfusionsstörungen und Gefäßveränderungen vorliegen, die im Circulus vitiosus der IOD-Erhöhung (IOD: Intraokulardruck) eine wesentliche Rolle spielen. Damit sind wahrscheinlich die biomechanischen Besonderheiten der Papille sowie die zellulären Reaktionen von Astrozyten, Müller-Zellen, Endothelzellen, Mikroglialzellen und Perizyten assoziiert. Material und Methoden Wir stellen In-vivo- und Ex-vivo-Modelle für IOD-Erhöhungen vor, um die Auflösung unserer Betrachtungsweise bis hin zur zellulären und gar molekularen Reaktion zu erhöhen und Mechanismen der Kapillarzellveränderungen als Folge von IOD-Erhöhung zu verifizieren. Ergebnisse Als Tiermodell diente die kauterisationsbedingte Erhöhung des IOD im Rattenauge. Es wurden 2–3 Episkleralvenen kauterisiert, um den Abflusswiderstand zu erhöhen. Nach Analyse der Netzhäute einige Wochen danach fanden wir eine anormale Expression des ansonsten neuronalspezifischen Moleküls Beta-III-Tubulin in den Kapillarendothelzellen und in den Gefäß- und Kapillarperizyten. Kombinierte immunhistochemische Anfärbungen mit verschiedenen Markern für unterschiedliche Zelltypen bestätigten die Befunde. Die Isolierung von kapillären Endothelzellen und Perizyten aus Rattengehirnen (BMECs) und Retinae (RMECs) und deren In-vitro-Kultivierung unter erhöhten Druckbedingungen in einer eigens konstruierten Druckkammer bestätigten den In-vivo-Befund. Schlussfolgerung Die unerwartete kapilläre Reaktion auf die Erhöhung des IOD in vivo bzw. des Kultivierungsdrucks in vitro kann gegenwärtig als eine frühe Reaktion der Zellen mit Expression anormaler Proteine gedeutet werden. Dieser Befund mag bisherige klinische Beobachtungen erklären, die als peripapilläre Blutungen oder Mikroinfarkte imponieren und wahrscheinlich mit der Optikopathie einhergehen.
Altruism towards cousins

Recent research on kin investment shows a matrilateral bias as a function of paternity uncertainty. Kin investment, however, is a special case of kin altruism. We thus hypothesize that psychological adaptations have evolved to regulate cousin-directed altruism according to predictably variable levels of paternity uncertainty in different categories of cousins. We develop a formal mathematical model that predicts that individuals should be most willing to act altruistically towards their mother's sister's (MoSis) children and least willing to act altruistically towards their father's brother's (FaBro) children. Altruism towards father's sister's (FaSis) and mother's brother's (MoBro) children are predicted to fall in between. An empirical study (N=195), assessing expressed altruistic proclivities, confirmed the predictions from the model. Participants expressed willingness-to-help following the descending order: (i) MoSis children, (ii) MoBro children, (iii) FaSis children, and (iv) FaBro children. The psychological variables of emotional closeness, empathic concern and contact frequency showed precisely the same pattern across distinct cousins, providing convergent confirmation of the model. The results support the hypothesis of cousin-specific adaptations sensitive to varying probabilities of paternity uncertainty.
Smalltalk-80: The Language and Its Implementation

From the Preface (See Front Matter for full Preface) Advances in the design and production of computer hardware have brought many more people into direct contact with computers. Similar advances in the design and production of computer software are required in order that this increased contact be as rewarding as possible. The Smalltalk-80 system is a result of a decade of research into creating computer software that is appropriate for producing highly functional and interactive contact with personal computer systems. This book is the first detailed account of the Smalltalk-80 system. It is divided into four major parts: Part One -- an overview of the concepts and syntax of the programming language. Part Two -- an annotated and illustrated specification of the system's functionality. Part Three -- an example of the design and implementation of a moderate-size application. Part Four -- a specification of the Smalltalk-80 virtual machine.
Trade Unions and the Politics of the European Social Model

There is a consensus among European trade unions that economic integration should be complemented by a strong ‘social dimension’. What is far less clearly agreed is what ‘social Europe’ means, and how it should be defended against the challenges inherent in a neoliberal approach to economic integration, the dominant logic of ‘competitiveness’ and the pressures for ‘modernization’ of social welfare. Unions’ ability to resist these challenges is weakened by their integration into an elitist system of EU governance in which mobilization and contention are inhibited. The article concludes that a new mode of trade union action is required if the ‘social model’ is to be sustained.
The use of AJAX in searching a bibliographic database: A case study of the Italian Biblioteche oggi database

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the use of AJAX for searching the Biblioteche Oggi database of bibliographic records.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is a demonstration of how bibliographic database single page interfaces allow the implementation of more user‐friendly features for social and collaborative tasks.Findings – AJAX is an important technique in Web 2.0. It allows the development of rich internet applications that use only one web page. Using AJAX it is possible to improve a bibliographic database's user interface. Thanks to this technology, bibliographic applications will be more flexible for updating and formatting information, simpler in managing session history, and easier for saving data modified by users. Usability tests demonstrated that users have appreciated the new interface, but accessibility remains a problem.Originality/value – The paper highlights the use of a Web 2.0 tool for a relevant application in the library/information world.
Pulmonary Function Testing

Pulmonary function testing is often considered the basis for diagnosis in many categories of pulmonary disease. Although most of the testing methodologies are well established and widely employed, there are still many questions regarding how tests should be performed, how to ensure that reliable data are produced, what reference values and rules should be used, and how pulmonary function tests (PFTs) should be interpreted to best support clinical decision making. This conference was organized around a set of questions aimed at many of these issues. Each presenter was asked to address a specific topic regarding what tests should be done, how those test should be performed to answer a particular clinical question, and to relate test results to an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment of the patient. These topics included testing of adults and children, with concentration on important disease entities such as COPD, asthma, and unexplained dyspnea. Special emphasis was given to discussing reference values, lower limits of normal, interpretive strategies to optimize disease classification, and those factors directly affecting data quality. Established techniques for spirometry, lung volumes, diffusing capacity, exercise testing, and bronchial challenges were compared and contrasted with new technologies, and with technologies that might be part of pulmonary function laboratories in the near future.
Investigating power outage effects on reliability of solid-state drives

Solid-State Drives (SSDs) are recently employed in enterprise servers and high-end storage systems in order to enhance performance of storage subsystem. Although employing high speed SSDs in the storage subsystems can significantly improve system performance, it comes with significant reliability threat for write operations upon power failures. In this paper, we present a comprehensive analysis investigating the impact of workload dependent parameters on the reliability of SSDs under power failure for variety of SSDs (from top manufacturers). To this end, we first develop a platform to perform two important features required for study: a) a realistic fault injection into the SSD in the computing systems and b) data loss detection mechanism on the SSD upon power failure. In the proposed physical fault injection platform, SSDs experience a real discharge phase of Power Supply Unit (PSU) that occurs during power failure in data centers which was neglected in previous studies. The impact of workload dependent parameters such as workload Working Set Size (WSS), request size, request type, access pattern, and sequence of accesses on the failure of SSDs is carefully studied in the presence of realistic power failures. Experimental results over thousands number of fault injections show that data loss occurs even after completion of the request (up to 700ms) where the failure rate is influenced by the type, size, access pattern, and sequence of IO accesses while other parameters such as workload WSS has no impact on the failure of SSDs.
3D Radiation Dosimetry Using a Radio-Fluorogenic gel

A radio-fluorogenic (RFG) gel is a polymer gel that can be applied as a 3D radiation dosimeter in radiotherapy. The gel becomes fluorescent in UV light after exposure to high-energy radiation and the intensity of the fluorescence is proportional to the local radiation dose. This radiation-induced fluorescence is permanent, which distinguishes it from transitory optical emission or scintillation effects. In the thesis we demonstrate that a quasi-rigid RFG gel, consisting of tertiary-butyl acrylate (TBA) with ca 100 ppm maleimido-pyrene (MPy), has the potential to produce spatially resolved images of dose deposition. The work focuses on the fundamental radiation chemistry and photophysics of the medium. In particular, we have investigated the dose and dose-rate dependences of polymer formation and fluorescence intensity using cobalt-60 gamma-ray sources. We have also used collimated beams of 200 kVp X-rays to produce complex radiation fields for test purposes and constructed a tomographic method for reconstructing full 3D images of the dose distribution with submillimetre spatial resolution. Our ultimate goal is to provide a method of quantitative, spatially-resolved dosimetry that can be applied to particle beams and other forms of high-energy radiation that produce the complex radiation fields applied in modern radiotherapy treatment of cancer.
The Importance of Social Cognition in Improving Functional Outcomes in Schizophrenia

Social cognition has become recognized as an important driver of functional outcomes and overall recovery in patients with schizophrenia, mediating the relationship between neurocognition and social functioning. Since antipsychotic therapy targeting remission of clinical symptoms has been shown to have a limited impact on social cognition, there has been an increasing drive to develop therapeutic strategies to specifically improve social cognition in schizophrenia. We sought to review current evidence relating to social cognition in schizophrenia and its clinical implications, including interventions designed to target the core domains of social cognition (emotion processing, theory of mind, attributional bias, and social perception) as a means of improving functional outcomes and thereby increasing the likelihood of recovery. Relevant articles were identified by conducting a literature search in PubMed using the search terms “schizophrenia” AND “cognition” AND “social functioning,” limited to Title/Abstract, over a time period of the past 10 years. Current evidence demonstrates that schizophrenia is associated with impairments in all four core domains of social cognition, during the pre-first-episode, first-episode, early, and chronic phases of the disease, and that such impairments are important determinants of functional outcome. Interventions targeting the four core domains of social cognition comprise psychosocial approaches (social cognition training programs) and pharmacological therapies. Social cognition training programs targeting multiple and specific core domains of social cognition have shown promise in improving social cognition skills, which, in some cases, has translated into improvements in functional outcomes. Use of some psychosocial interventions has additionally resulted in improvements in clinical symptoms and/or quality of life. Pharmacological therapies, including oxytocin and certain antipsychotics, have yielded more mixed results, due in part to the confounding impact of factors including variation in receptor genetics, bioavailability, pharmacokinetics, and drug–drug interactions, and inconsistencies between study designs and medication dosages. Additional research is required to advance our understanding of the role of social cognition in schizophrenia, and to further establish the utility of targeted interventions in this setting.
Iduronic Acid in Chondroitin/Dermatan Sulfate

The ability of chondroitin/dermatan sulfate (CS/DS) to convey biological information is enriched by the presence of iduronic acid. DS-epimerases 1 and 2 (DS-epi1 and 2), in conjunction with DS-4-O-sulfotransferase 1, are the enzymes responsible for iduronic acid biosynthesis and will be the major focus of this review. CS/DS proteoglycans (CS/DS-PGs) are ubiquitously found in connective tissues, basement membranes, and cell surfaces or are stored intracellularly. Such wide distribution reflects the variety of biological roles in which they are involved, from extracellular matrix organization to regulation of processes such as proliferation, migration, adhesion, and differentiation. They play roles in inflammation, angiogenesis, coagulation, immunity, and wound healing. Such versatility is achieved thanks to their variable composition, both in terms of protein core and the fine structure of the CS/DS chains. Excellent reviews have been published on the collective and individual functions of each CS/DS-PG. This short review presents the biosynthesis and functions of iduronic acid-containing structures, also as revealed by the analysis of the DS-epi1- and 2-deficient mouse models.
Rendering-optimized compression of depth signals for 3D video

The topic of this thesis originates from the fields of 3D video and video compression. It is particularly related to multiview video plus depth (MVD) as a 3D video representation that comprises both texture and geometry information of the scene, on the one hand, and to the H.265/High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard, on the other hand. Video coding algorithms like HEVC are highly optimized for the statistics and the subjective perception of natural video and, consequently, not fully suitable for the efficient compression of depth signals. In this thesis, a rendering-optimized coding method for depth signals as part of the 3D video extension of HEVC (3D-HEVC) is developed and studied. The approach is motivated by the observation that the characteristics of depth signals differ from those of natural video signals. In this regard, the results of a comparative, statistical analysis reveal that depth signals particularly feature sharp edges along object borders and large areas of nearly constant or slowly varying values, while video signals contain more higher frequency textures. Another relevant aspect is that distortions in video and depth signals have a considerably different effect on the perceived 3D video quality. The depth information in MVD serves to render perspectively consistent views, such that depth errors impair the resulting subjective quality only indirectly through geometry distortions in rendered views. In consideration of these specific depth characteristics, a consistent coding algorithm is developed based on the approach of approximating the signal of a depth block by geometric modeling functions. The coding algorithm essentially consists of two complementary modules that have been optimized for a high depth coding efficiency in terms of minimal artifacts in rendered views, namely a set of intra and inter-component prediction modes and a residual coding method in the spatial domain. The advantages of the developed method are demonstrated by a detailed study of different configurations and applications. Overall, a considerable improvement in the quality of synthesized views is achieved by preserving relevant depth features substantially better. This applies to both extending and completely replacing the conventional intra coding by the geometry-based depth coding method — the former has been adopted in the 3D-HEVC standard and the latter bridges the gap to 3D computer graphics applications.
Exercise in children and adolescents with diabetes

Kenneth Robertsona, Peter Adolfssonb, Gary Scheinerc, Ragnar Hanasd and Michael C Riddelle aRoyal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow, Scotland; bThe Queen Silvia Children’s Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden; eIntegrated Diabetes Services, Philadelphia, PA, USA; dDepartment of Pediatrics, Uddevalla Hospital, Uddevalla, Sweden; eSchool of Kinesiology and Health Science, Muscle Health Research Centre, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, Canada