Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A STUDY ON RISK-TAKING BEHAVIOURS OF ADOLESCENTS AND THEIR PERCEPTION TOWARDS EFFECTS OF HOOKAH USE ON HEALTH

: Introduction: The aim of this study is to determine the negative risk-taking behaviours of adolescents and their perceptions towards the effects of hookah use on health, and to evaluate the cor - relation between them. Methods: The study was conducted in eleven high schools at different socio-economic levels in Sakarya, Turkey be - tween the dates of March-April 2015. The sample of the study included 900 high school students volunteering for the study. The study was descriptive and correlational. The data were collected via a question naire and two scales called “Perception Scale of Effects of Hookah use on Health” and “Brief Sensation Seeking Scale of Adults”. Data were evaluated using SPSS 20. Results: It was found out that 50.3 % of the participants were women, 49.7 % were men and 95.2 % lived with their families. It was detected that total score averages for Brief Sensation Seeking Scale was 10.24±3.92 and it was 61.97±11.12 for Perception Scale of Effects of Hookah use on Health. There was a statistically sig - nificant correlation between Perception Scale of Effects of Hookah use on Health and Brief Sensation Seeking Scale of Adolescents. Though not a strong one, this correlation is negative (r = -0.204 p=0.001). Conclusion: It was determined that adolescents smoking and using hookah had higher levels of risk-taking behaviours while they had lower perceptions towards effects of hookah use on health.
A social network activity recommender system for ubiquitous devices

The increasing demand to access social networks by mobile devices together with increasing computation power of these mobile devices motivate the need of local recommendation services for social network users. Social networking is generating an incredible amount of information that is sometimes difficult for users to process, especially from mobile phones. Several links, activities, and recommendations are proposed by networked friends every hour, which together are nearly impossible to manage. There is a need to filter and make accessible such information to users, which is the motivation behind developing a mobile recommender that exploits social network information. Thus, in this paper, we propose the design and the implementation of a SOcial Mobile Activity Recommender (SOMAR) that can integrate Facebook social network mobile data and sensor data to propose activities to the user. The recommendations are completely calculated in situ in the mobile device with an embedded data mining component that is the basis to compute a social graph of the user relationships that will be later used for the recommendation process. The paper also presents some experiments that analyze the performance of the proposed method.
Responses of rat spinal dorsal horn neurons to intracutaneous microinjection of histamine, capsaicin, and other irritants.

To investigate the spinal processing of cutaneous pruritic and algesic stimuli, single-unit recordings were made from wide-dynamic-range-type lumbar spinal dorsal horn neurons in pentobarbital-sodium-anesthetized rats. Neuronal responses were recorded to mechanical and noxious thermal stimuli, as well as to microinjection (1 microl) of histamine (0.01-10% = 9 x 10(-1)-9 x 10(-4) M), capsaicin (0.1% = 3.3 x 10(-3) M), or other algesic chemicals into skin within the receptive field via intracutaneously placed needles. Most (84%) of the 89 neurons responded to intracutaneous (i.c.) microinjection of histamine with a brief phasic discharge followed by an afterdischarge of variable (s to min) duration. Ten minutes after i.c. microinjection of histamine (but not NaCl), there was a significant increase in the mean area of the low-threshold (but not high-threshold) portion of unit mechanical receptive fields. However, responses to graded pressure stimuli were not significantly affected after histamine. Responses did not exhibit significant tachyphylaxis when histamine microinjections were repeated at 5- or 10-min intervals. Unit responses significantly increased in a dose-related manner to microinjection of histamine at concentrations ranging across 4 orders of magnitude. Within 30 s after i.c. microinjection of the H1 antagonist cetirizine, unit responses to i.c. histamine delivered at the same skin site were significantly attenuated. Unit responses to histamine, as well as to noxious thermal stimulation, were significantly reduced after systemic administration of morphine (3.5 mg/kg i.p.) in a naloxone-reversible manner. Application of a mechanical rub, scratch, or a noxious heat stimulus during the unit's ongoing response to i.c. histamine produced a brief and marked excitation, often followed by a period of reduced ongoing discharge. Unit responses to histamine were markedly suppressed by electrical stimulation in the midbrain periaqueductal gray. Most (79%) histamine-responsive units tested also responded to i.c. microinjection of capsaicin. After the initial microinjection of capsaicin, subsequent responses to histamine and capsaicin microinjections were significantly reduced. Units also responded to i.c. ethanol (capsaicin vehicle) in a dose-related manner, and showed tachyphylaxis to repeated i.c. ethanol at 80% but not at 8%. The mean response to 80% ethanol was significantly smaller than to 0.1% capsaicin. All units tested also responded to topical application of mustard oil (50%) and i.c. serotonin (30 microg). The results are discussed in terms of theories that attempt to reconcile psychophysical and clinical observations of pain and itch sensation.
Two-dimensional subwavelength plasmonic lattice solitons

We present a theoretical study of plasmonic lattice solitons (PLSs) formed in two-dimensional (2D) arrays of metallic nanowires embedded into a nonlinear medium with Kerr nonlinearity. We analyze two classes of 2D PLSs families, namely, fundamental and vortical PLSs in both focusing and defocusing media. Their existence, stability, and subwavelength spatial confinement are studied in detail.
Nascent Focal Adhesions Are Responsible for the Generation of Strong Propulsive Forces in Migrating Fibroblasts

Fibroblast migration involves complex mechanical interactions with the underlying substrate. Although tight substrate contact at focal adhesions has been studied for decades, the role of focal adhesions in force transduction remains unclear. To address this question, we have mapped traction stress generated by fibroblasts expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP)-zyxin. Surprisingly, the overall distribution of focal adhesions only partially resembles the distribution of traction stress. In addition, detailed analysis reveals that the faint, small adhesions near the leading edge transmit strong propulsive tractions, whereas large, bright, mature focal adhesions exert weaker forces. This inverse relationship is unique to the leading edge of motile cells, and is not observed in the trailing edge or in stationary cells. Furthermore, time-lapse analysis indicates that traction forces decrease soon after the appearance of focal adhesions, whereas the size and zyxin concentration increase. As focal adhesions mature, changes in structure, protein content, or phosphorylation may cause the focal adhesion to change its function from the transmission of strong propulsive forces, to a passive anchorage device for maintaining a spread cell morphology.
Bias in Open Peer-Review: Evidence from the English Superior Courts

This paper explores possible biases in open peer-review using data from the English superior courts. Exploiting the random timing of on-the-job interaction between reviewers and reviewees, we find evidence that reviewers are reluctant to reverse the judgments of reviewees with whom they are about to interact, and that this effect is stronger when reviewer and reviewee share the same rank. The average bias is substantial: the proportion of reviewer affirmances is 30% points higher in the group where reviewers know they will soon work with their reviewee, relative to groups where such interaction is absent. Our results suggest reforms for the judicial listing process, and caution against recent trends in performance appraisal techniques and scientific publishing. (JEL A12, C21, K40, Z13)
Dressed to impress: impact of environmental adaptation on the C andida albicans cell wall

Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen of humans causing superficial mucosal infections and life‐threatening systemic disease. The fungal cell wall is the first point of contact between the invading pathogen and the host innate immune system. As a result, the polysaccharides that comprise the cell wall act as pathogen associated molecular patterns, which govern the host–pathogen interaction. The cell wall is dynamic and responsive to changes in the external environment. Therefore, the host environment plays a critical role in regulating the host–pathogen interaction through modulation of the fungal cell wall. This review focuses on how environmental adaptation modulates the cell wall structure and composition, and the subsequent impact this has on the innate immune recognition of C. albicans.
Common VPN Security Flaws

This paper outlines some of the common VPN security ﬂaws that NTA Monitor have found during the last three years while performing VPN security tests. The paper concentrates on remote access VPN conﬁgurations using the IPsec protocol, although some of the ﬁndings are also applicable to site-to-site VPNs. Some of the problems that have been seen, such as the username enumeration issue, are new discoveries, while others are known limitations of the protocols, which are exposed due to poor conﬁguration. The paper shows that VPNs are far from the impenetrable systems that many people believe them to be, and that they can actually be the weak link in an otherwise secure system.
Troponin activator augments muscle force in nemaline myopathy patients with nebulin mutations

Background Nemaline myopathy—the most common non-dystrophic congenital myopathy—is caused by mutations in thin filament genes, of which the nebulin gene is the most frequently affected one. The nebulin gene codes for the giant sarcomeric protein nebulin, which plays a crucial role in skeletal muscle contractile performance. Muscle weakness is a hallmark feature of nemaline myopathy patients with nebulin mutations, and is caused by changes in contractile protein function, including a lower calcium-sensitivity of force generation. To date no therapy exists to treat muscle weakness in nemaline myopathy. Here, we studied the ability of the novel fast skeletal muscle troponin activator, CK-2066260, to augment force generation at submaximal calcium levels in muscle cells from nemaline myopathy patients with nebulin mutations. Methods Contractile protein function was determined in permeabilised muscle cells isolated from frozen patient biopsies. The effect of 5 μM CK-2066260 on force production was assessed. Results Nebulin protein concentrations were severely reduced in muscle cells from these patients compared to controls, while myofibrillar ultrastructure was largely preserved. Both maximal active tension and the calcium-sensitivity of force generation were lower in patients compared to controls. Importantly, CK-2066260 greatly increased the calcium-sensitivity of force generation—without affecting the cooperativity of activation—in patients to levels that exceed those observed in untreated control muscle. Conclusions Fast skeletal troponin activation is a therapeutic mechanism to augment contractile protein function in nemaline myopathy patients with nebulin mutations and with other neuromuscular diseases.
Improving Semi-Supervised Target Alignment via Label-Aware Base Kernels

Semi-supervised kernel design is an essential step for obtaining good predictive performance in semi-supervised learning tasks. In the current literatures, a large family of algorithms builds the new kernel by using the weighted average of predefined base kernels. While optimal weighting schemes have been studied extensively, the choice of base kernels received much less attention. Many methods simply adopt the empirical kernel matrices or its eigenvectors. Such base kernels are computed irrespective of class labels and may not always reflect useful structures in the data. As a result, in case of poor base kernels, the generalization performance can be degraded however hard their weights are tuned. In this paper, we propose to construct high-quality base kernels with the help of label information to globally improve the final target alignment. In particular, we devise label-aware kernel eigenvectors under the framework of semi-supervised eigenfunction extrapolation, which span base kernels that are more useful for learning. Such base kernels are individually better aligned to the learning target, so their mixture will more likely generate a good classifier. Our approach is computationally efficient, and demonstrates encouraging performance in semi-supervised classification and regression.
Crafting Courses as Game Spaces: Examining Video Games Classes in Communication

The sudden rise in the number of games courses in Communication departments necessitates examination about how those courses operate, not only to define best practices but also to describe the phenomenon as grounded in communication. Through a series of interviews with games professors primarily located in Communication departments at various institutions, the study delineates the commonalities between game courses and discusses issues of course design, materials, and classroom facilities. The article examines these courses as game spaces to identify how games courses operate in fundamentally different ways than other courses in Communication. The article then outlines how games classes might improve by capitalizing on the strengths—as well as mitigating the weaknesses—of game spaces. Video abstract Read the transcript Watch the video on Vimeo
Finding diversity for building one-day ahead Hydrological Ensemble Prediction System based on artificial neural network stacks

(1) Chaire de recherche EDS en prévisions et actions hydrologiques, Department of Civil and Water Engineering, Université Laval, Quebec, Canada (darwin.brochero.1@ulaval.ca), (2) Chaire de recherche EDS en prévisions et actions hydrologiques, Department of Civil and Water Engineering, Université Laval, Quebec, Canada (francois.anctil@gci.ulaval.ca), (3) Computer Vision and Systems Laboratory (CVSL), Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering, Université Laval, Université Laval, Quebec, Canada (christian.gagne@gel.ulaval.ca), (4) Computer Vision and Systems Laboratory (CVSL), Department of Electrical Engineering andComputer Engineering, Université Laval, Quebec, Canada (karol-lina.lopez.1@ulaval.ca)
oil drying in a tropical forest : Three distinct environments ontrolled by gap size

Soil water and temperature regimes in the tropical moist forest on Barro Colorado Island, Panama, were simulated directly from meteorological data using the model SWEAT. Separate field observations from root-exclusion, litter-removal and control treatments in one small and one large forest gap were used for calibration and validation. After irrigating all treatments to field capacity, soil matric potential and temperature were measured over 17 days at four depths ≤50 mm using the filter-paper technique and bead thermistors. Understorey environments were also simulated under the same initial conditions. The results suggest that three distinct scenarios, controlled by gap size, describe how the aboveand below-ground processes controlling soil drying are coupled: (1) in the large gap, root water extraction by surrounding trees is negligible so soil drying is dominated by evaporation from the soil surface. Soil temperature is dominated by direct solar heating and cooling due to evaporation. (2) In the small gap, root water extraction dominates soil drying with soil evaporation playing a minor role. Soil temperature is still dominated by direct sunlight with some cooling due to evaporation. (3) In the understorey, root water extraction oot water extraction WEAT dominates soil drying. Soil temperature is dominated by heat conduction from deep soil layers with some evaporation and sensible heat transfer. The contrasting soil drying regimes imposed by variation in canopy structure enhance micro-environmental heterogeneity and the scope for differential germination and seedling establishment in coexisting tropical tree
A synthetic agonist at the orphanin FQ/nociceptin receptor ORL1: anxiolytic profile in the rat.

The biochemical and behavioral effects of a nonpeptidic, selective, and brain-penetrant agonist at the ORL1 receptor are reported herein. This low molecular weight compound [(1S,3aS)-8- (2,3,3a,4,5, 6-hexahydro-1H-phenalen-1-yl)-1-phenyl-1,3,8-triaza- spiro[4. 5]decan-4-one] has high affinity for recombinant human ORL1 receptors and has 100-fold selectivity for ORL1 over other members of the opioid receptor family. It is a full agonist at these receptors and elicits dose-dependent anxiolytic-like effects in a set of validated models of distinct types of anxiety states in the rat (i.e., elevated plus-maze, fear-potentiated startle, and operant conflict). When given systemically, the compound has an efficacy and potency comparable to those of a benzodiazepine anxiolytic such as alprazolam or diazepam. However, this compound is differentiated from a classical benzodiazepine anxiolytic by a lack of efficient anti-panic-like activity, absence of anticonvulsant properties, and lack of effects on motor performance and cognitive function at anxiolytic doses (0.3 to 3 mg/kg i.p.). No significant change in intracranial self-stimulation performance and pain reactivity was observed in this dose range. Higher doses of this compound (>/=10 mg/kg) induced disruption in rat behavior. These data confirm the notable anxiolytic-like effects observed at low doses with the orphanin FQ/nociceptin neuropeptide given locally into the brain and support a role for orphanin FQ/nociceptin in adaptive behavioral fear responses to stress.
Short Door-to-Needle Times in Acute Ischemic Stroke and Prospective Identification of Its Delaying Factors

Background: The clinical benefit of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in acute ischemic stroke is time dependent. Several studies report a short median door-to-needle time (DNT; 20 min), mainly in large tertiary referral hospitals equipped with a level 1 emergency department, a dedicated stroke team available 24/7, and on-site neuroimaging facilities. Meanwhile, in daily practice, the majority of stroke patients are admitted to secondary care hospitals, and in practice, even the generous benchmark of the American Heart Association (a DNT of 60 min in >80% of the cases) is met for a minority of patients treated with IVT. The first objective of our study was to investigate if, in a secondary care teaching hospital rather than a tertiary referral hospital, similar short DNTs can be accomplished with an optimized IVT protocol. Our second objective was to prospectively identify factors that delay the DNT in this setting. Methods: A multicenter, consecutive cohort study of patients treated with IVT in one of two secondary care teaching hospitals. In both hospitals, data of consecutive stroke patients as well as median DNTs and factors delaying this were prospectively assessed for each patient. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate associations between patient-related and logistic factors with a delayed (i.e. exceeding 30 min) DNT. Results: In total, 1,756 patients were admitted for ischemic stroke during the study period. Out of these, 334 (19.0%) patients were treated with IVT. The median DNT was 25 min (interquartile range: 20-35). A total of 71% (n = 238) had a DNT below 30 min. In 63% of the patients treated with IVT the DNT was delayed by at least one factor. Patients without any delaying factor had a 10 min shorter median DNT compared to patients with at least one delaying factor (p < 0.001). The following factors were independently associated with a delayed DNT: uncertainty about symptom onset, uncontrolled blood pressure, fluctuating neurological deficit, other treatment before IVT, uncertainty about (anti-)coagulation status, other patient-related factors, and incorrect triage. Conclusions: Short median DNTs can also be accomplished in secondary care. Despite the short DNTs, several delaying factors were identified that could direct future improvement measures. This study supports the view that as a performance measure, the current DNT targets are no longer ambitious enough and it adds to the knowledge of factors delaying the DNT.
Face detection in color images using principal components analysis

We present a face detection algorithm for color images with complex background. We include color information into a face detection approach based on principal components analysis (PCA). A skin color probability image is generated by doing a color analysis and the PCA is performed on this new image instead of the luminance image. Experiments show that color information improves the robustness of the detection significantly.
Atmospheric Pressure Plasma: A High-Performance Tool for the Efficient Removal of Biofilms

Introduction The medical use of non-thermal physical plasmas is intensively investigated for sterilization and surface modification of biomedical materials. A further promising application is the removal or etching of organic substances, e.g., biofilms, from surfaces, because remnants of biofilms after conventional cleaning procedures are capable to entertain inflammatory processes in the adjacent tissues. In general, contamination of surfaces by micro-organisms is a major source of problems in health care. Especially biofilms are the most common type of microbial growth in the human body and therefore, the complete removal of pathogens is mandatory for the prevention of inflammatory infiltrate. Physical plasmas offer a huge potential to inactivate micro-organisms and to remove organic materials through plasma-generated highly reactive agents. Method In this study a Candida albicans biofilm, formed on polystyrene (PS) wafers, as a prototypic biofilm was used to verify the etching capability of the atmospheric pressure plasma jet operating with two different process gases (argon and argon/oxygen mixture). The capability of plasma-assisted biofilm removal was assessed by microscopic imaging. Results The Candida albicans biofilm, with a thickness of 10 to 20 µm, was removed within 300 s plasma treatment when oxygen was added to the argon gas discharge, whereas argon plasma alone was practically not sufficient in biofilm removal. The impact of plasma etching on biofilms is localized due to the limited presence of reactive plasma species validated by optical emission spectroscopy.
Experimental verification of a swept-frequency laser interferometer for distance measurement.

A swept-frequency Michelson interferometer system has been developed, based on a tunable visible laser diode with a stable Fabry-Perot cavity as a frequency sweep reference. Its performance has been verified by direct comparison with a displacement-measuring laser interferometer for path differences in the range 1 m to 20 m. The best fractional uncertainty of 3.2 x 10-6 is achieved at a distance of 8 m. The limitations of the technique are discussed, along with the scope for further improvements.