Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Toward a platform for collecting, mining, and utilizing behavior data for detecting students with depression risks

In this paper, we present our plan for constructing a platform for collecting, mining, and utilizing behavior data for detecting students with depression risks. Unipolar depression makes a large contribution to the burden of disease, being at the first place in middle- and high-income countries. We survey descriptors of depressions and then design a data collection platform in a classroom based on the assumption that such descriptors are also effective to students with depression risks. Visual, acoustic, and e-learning data are chosen for collection and various issues including devices, preprocessing, and consent agreements are investigated. We also show two kinds of utilization scenarios of the collected data and introduce several techniques and methods we developed for feature extraction and early detection.
Who defines “local”? Resistance to harmonizing standards in ethical markets

Standards for “ethical” goods provide activists and mission-driven producers with opportunities to clarify decisions for so-called “ethical consumers” and spur growth in these new markets. But certification schemes also raise monitoring challenges, and may confuse consumers and create opportunities for cooptation by large corporate competitors. In this interview-based study, we examined the localism movement to understand why social movement leaders might resist harmonization of standards. We find that leaders define “local” in at least five ways, and argue that they resist harmonization of local for pragmatic, philosophical, and strategic reasons. We conclude that tolerance for multiple standards could be beneficial for core activists in market-oriented social movements. If and when these groups turn more systematically to the political system, maintaining loose and multiple standards may impede policy success. The “buy local” case suggests, however, that as long as the market remains activists’ primary mechanism for social change, decentralized governance and multiple standards in ethical markets allow activists to maintain a powerful voice in defining ethical products and business practices.
Capital accumulation, unemployment, and the putty-clay

This note studies the dynamics of labor markets in a putty-clay framework. It analyzes the evolution of job creation and job destruction in an economy without market frictions. Unemployment and labor market flows emerge under putty-clay technologies because low productive jobs become unused factors. As capital accumulates, firms destruct low productive jobs by obsolescence. Simultaneously, the use of capital intensive technologies s new jobs by the low substitution between capital and labor.
Molecular Hazard Identification of Non-O157 Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC)

The complexity regarding Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in food safety enforcement as well as clinical care primarily relates to the current inability of an accurate risk assessment of individual strains due to the large variety in serotype and genetic content associated with (severe) disease. In order to classify the clinical and/or epidemic potential of a STEC isolate at an early stage it is crucial to identify virulence characteristics of putative pathogens from genomic information, which is referred to as ‘predictive hazard identification’. This study aimed at identifying associations between virulence factors, phylogenetic groups, isolation sources and seropathotypes. Most non-O157 STEC in the Netherlands belong to phylogroup B1 and are characterized by the presence of ehxA, iha and stx 2, but absence of eae. The large variability in the number of virulence factors present among serogroups and seropathotypes demonstrated that this was merely indicative for the virulence potential. While all the virulence gene associations have been worked out, it appeared that there is no specific pattern that would unambiguously enable hazard identification for an STEC strain. However, the strong correlations between virulence factors indicate that these arrays are not a random collection but are rather specific sets. Especially the presence of eae was strongly correlated to the presence of many of the other virulence genes, including all non-LEE encoded effectors. Different stx-subtypes were associated with different virulence profiles. The factors ehxA and ureC were significantly associated with HUS-associated strains (HAS) and not correlated to the presence of eae. This indicates their candidacy as important pathogenicity markers next to eae and stx 2a.
Discrepancies between human DNA, mRNA and protein reference sequences and their relation to single nucleotide variants in the human population

The protein coding sequences of the human reference genome GRCh38, RefSeq mRNA and UniProt protein databases are sometimes inconsistent with each other, due to polymorphisms in the human population, but the overall landscape of the discordant sequences has not been clarified. In this study, we comprehensively listed the discordant bases and regions between the GRCh38, RefSeq and UniProt reference sequences, based on the genomic coordinates of GRCh38. We observed that the RefSeq sequences are more likely to represent the major alleles than GRCh38 and UniProt, by assigning the alternative allele frequencies of the discordant bases. Since some reference sequences have minor alleles, functional and structural annotations may be performed based on rare alleles in the human population, thereby biasing these analyses. Some of the differences between the RefSeq and GRCh38 account for biological differences due to known RNA-editing sites. The definitions of the coding regions are frequently complicated by possible micro-exons within introns and by SNVs with large alternative allele frequencies near exon–intron boundaries. The mRNA or protein regions missing from GRCh38 were mainly due to small deletions, and these sequences need to be identified. Taken together, our results clarify overall consistency and remaining inconsistency between the reference sequences.
Plasmodium spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi co‐infection associated with antiphospholipid syndrome in a returned traveler: a case report

The differential diagnosis of fever in a returned traveler is wide and challenging. We present a case of a patient working in Africa, who returned with fever, constitutional symptoms, headache, and blurred vision. An initial diagnosis of malaria was made, and additional workup revealed Borrelia burgdorferi co‐infection and antiphospholipid syndrome.
The Kibera Soweto East Project in Nairobi, Kenya

This article analyses the pilot public housing project in Kibera Soweto East in Nairobi under the Kenya Slum Upgrading Programme (KENSUP), courtesy of a partnership between the Government of Kenya and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), which began in 2004. The article examines the process of temporary relocation of Soweto East Zone A residents, seven years after the launch of this project, and takes a critical look at the effects of this relocation on the affected population. In order to achieve this, data on Soweto East will first be presented followed by information obtained from surveys conducted on Soweto East residents by Amnesty International and UN-HABITAT. The temporary relocation of residents shall then be analysed with reference to book reviews, interviews and site visits. Finally, the key points analysed within this article shall be presented briefly along with the recommendations derived from this study.
Effect of ibuprofen and acetaminophen on postexercise muscle protein synthesis.

We examined the effect of two commonly consumed over-the-counter analgesics, ibuprofen and acetaminophen, on muscle protein synthesis and soreness after high-intensity eccentric resistance exercise. Twenty-four males (25 +/- 3 yr, 180 +/- 6 cm, 81 +/- 6 kg, and 17 +/- 8% body fat) were assigned to one of three groups that received either the maximal over-the-counter dose of ibuprofen (IBU; 1,200 mg/day), acetaminophen (ACET; 4,000 mg/day), or a placebo (PLA) after 10-14 sets of 10 eccentric repetitions at 120% of concentric one-repetition maximum with the knee extensors. Postexercise (24 h) skeletal muscle fractional synthesis rate (FSR) was increased 76 +/- 19% (P < 0.05) in PLA (0.058 +/- 0.012%/h) and was unchanged (P > 0.05) in IBU (35 +/- 21%; 0.021 +/- 0.014%/h) and ACET (22 +/- 23%; 0.010 +/- 0.019%/h). Neither drug had any influence on whole body protein breakdown, as measured by rate of phenylalanine appearance, on serum creatine kinase, or on rating of perceived muscle soreness compared with PLA. These results suggest that over-the-counter doses of both ibuprofen and acetaminophen suppress the protein synthesis response in skeletal muscle after eccentric resistance exercise. Thus these two analgesics may work through a common mechanism to influence protein metabolism in skeletal muscle.
Signature-based hybrid Intrusion detection system (HIDS) for android devices

The goal of this paper is to development detection application for the Android platform. It also strengthens HIDS (Intrusion Detection System Based on the Host) to identify malicious software and toughens the access control on Android system-level. By analyzing the Android system-level. By analyzing the Android security architecture, we proposed a host based intrusion detection application-HIDS which is applied to the Android platform and the active defense is substituted for the conventional passive antivirus.
Lessons from speechreading

Speechreading is the ability to understand a speaker’s thoughts by watching the movements of the face and body and by using the information provided by the situation and the language. People with normal hearing and the hearing impaired use speechreading to augment communication especially in noisy environments. Just as people learn this skill, machines can be trained to understand a speakers meaning. Audio-Visual Automatic Speech Recognition (AV ASR) systems use audio and visual information to recognize what has been ‘said’. The speech sounds and movements provided need not be standard speech sounds or movements. The system will provide recognition given audio information only, visual information only or both.
The truncated tracial moment problem

We present tracial analogs of the classical results of Curto and Fialkow on moment matrices. A sequence of real numbers indexed by words in non-commuting variables with values invariant under cyclic permutations of the indexes, is called a tracial sequence. We prove that such a sequence can be represented with tracial moments of matrices if its corresponding moment matrix is positive semidefinite and of finite rank. A truncated tracial sequence allows for such a representation if and only if one of its extensions admits a flat extension. Finally, we apply the theory via duality to investigate trace-positive polynomials in non-commuting variables.
Applying Psycholinguistic Concepts to is Project Management Tool Design

This paper illustrates how we build on psycholinguist Herbert Clark (1996)’s works to develop a project management tool that would contribute to higher project success rates. Prior literature on IS project success/failure and coordination failed to grasp the emergence of projects and did not specifically address the interactions between the project’s participants. This literature did not give coherent explanations as to why and how project failure occurs and did not provide project actors with tools to act in real time to avoid failure. Since language is the main mechanism through which participants get coordinated, we suggest using a linguistics approach to design a tool that helps project’s participants manage their project in real-time. We assume that Clark’s (1996) theory has the potential to improve our understanding of IS project success/failure. From a previous study based on a Design Science research, we adapted and instantiated Clark’s theory. This paper aims at strengthening this adaptation to IS project management by presenting a step toward this direction: a new instantiation to design a tool in the form of a mobile application (called Coopilot App). This new instantiation provides a means to visualize and materialize common ground in real-time during project meetings.
Sustained release of hepatocyte growth factor by cationic self-assembling peptide/heparin hybrid hydrogel improves β-cell survival and function through modulating inflammatory response

Inflammatory response is a major cause of grafts dysfunction in islet transplantation. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) had shown anti-inflammatory activity in multiple diseases. In this study, we aim to deliver HGF by self-assembling peptide/heparin (SAP/Hep) hybrid gel to protect β-cell from inflammatory injury. The morphological and slow release properties of SAPs were analyzed. Rat INS-1 β-cell line was treated with tumor necrosis factor α in vitro and transplanted into rat kidney capsule in vivo, and the viability, apoptosis, function, and inflammation of β-cells were evaluated. Cationic KLD1R and KLD2R self-assembled to nanofiber hydrogel, which showed higher binding affinity for Hep and HGF because of electrostatic interaction. Slow release of HGF from cationic SAP/Hep gel is a two-step mechanism involving binding affinity with Hep and molecular diffusion. In vitro and in vivo results showed that HGF-loaded KLD2R/Hep gel promoted β-cell survival and insulin secretion, and inhibited cell apoptosis, cytokine release, T-cell infiltration, and activation of NFκB/p38 MAPK pathways in β-cells. This study suggested that SAP/Hep gel is a promising carrier for local delivery of bioactive proteins in islet transplantation.
Shh/Boc Signaling Is Required for Sustained Generation of Ipsilateral Projecting Ganglion Cells in the Mouse Retina

Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling is an important determinant of vertebrate retinal ganglion cell (RGC) development. In mice, there are two major RGC populations: (1) the Islet2-expressing contralateral projecting (c)RGCs, which both produce and respond to Shh; and (2) the Zic2-expressing ipsilateral projecting RGCs (iRGCs), which lack Shh expression. In contrast to cRGCs, iRGCs, which are generated in the ventrotemporal crescent (VTC) of the retina, specifically express Boc, a cell adhesion molecule that acts as a high-affinity receptor for Shh. In Boc−/− mutant mice, the ipsilateral projection is significantly decreased. Here, we demonstrate that this phenotype results, at least in part, from the misspecification of a proportion of iRGCs. In Boc−/− VTC, the number of Zic2-positive RGCs is reduced, whereas more Islet2/Shh-positive RGCs are observed, a phenotype also detected in Zic2 and Foxd1 null embryos. Consistent with this observation, organization of retinal projections at the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus is altered in Boc−/− mice. Analyses of the molecular and cellular consequences of introducing Shh into the developing VTC and Zic2 and Boc into the central retina indicate that Boc expression alone is insufficient to fully activate the ipsilateral program and that Zic2 regulates Shh expression. Taking these data together, we propose that expression of Boc in cells from the VTC is required to sustain Zic2 expression, likely by regulating the levels of Shh signaling from the nearby cRGCs. Zic2, in turn, directly or indirectly, counteracts Shh and Islet2 expression in the VTC and activates the ipsilateral program.
SEPT12-Microtubule Complexes Are Required for Sperm Head and Tail Formation

The septin gene belongs to a highly conserved family of polymerizing GTP-binding cytoskeletal proteins. SEPTs perform cytoskeletal remodeling, cell polarity, mitosis, and vesicle trafficking by interacting with various cytoskeletons. Our previous studies have indicated that SEPTIN12+/+/+/− chimeras with a SEPTIN12 mutant allele were infertile. Spermatozoa from the vas deferens of chimeric mice indicated an abnormal sperm morphology, decreased sperm count, and immotile sperm. Mutations and genetic variants of SEPTIN12 in infertility cases also caused oligozoospermia and teratozoospermia. We suggest that a loss of SEPT12 affects the biological function of microtublin functions and causes spermiogenesis defects. In the cell model, SEPT12 interacts with α- and β-tubulins by co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP). To determine the precise localization and interactions between SEPT12 and α- and β-tubulins in vivo, we created SEPTIN12-transgene mice. We demonstrate how SEPT12 interacts and co-localizes with α- and β-tubulins during spermiogenesis in these mice. By using shRNA, the loss of SEPT12 transcripts disrupts α- and β-tubulin organization. In addition, losing or decreasing SEPT12 disturbs the morphogenesis of sperm heads and the elongation of sperm tails, the steps of which are coordinated and constructed by α- and β-tubulins, in SEPTIN12+/+/+/− chimeras. In this study, we discovered that the SEPTIN12-microtubule complexes are critical for sperm formation during spermiogenesis.
Matrix models, emergent gravity and gauge theory

Matrix models of Yang-Mills type describe noncommutative spaces, which are considered as models for dynamical space-time. Gravity arises on these branes through an intrinsically noncommutative mechanism. We review recent progress in the understanding of this emergent gravity. The metric is not fundamental but arises effectively in the semi-classical limit, along with nonabelian gauge fields. This leads to a mechanism for protecting certain geometries from quantum corrections, including flat space-time
Using Analytical Chemistry to Unravel Disease State Mechanisms: Application to Huntington's Disease

n today’s research environment, productive collaborations, either local, regional, or global, are essential for maximizing the impact of research efforts. This sentiment is especially true in many areas of neuroscience, one of the most rapidly advancing scientific fields. Given the inherent complexity of the central nervous system and the analytical advances that are currently being made in order to resolve these intricacies, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain of clear grasp of all of the relevant neuroscience concepts and also develop and employ cutting edge technologies important for investigating these concepts. Thus, it is, perhaps, more important than ever for neuroscientists and analytical scientists to establish symbiotic collaborations that will enhance the importance of the research. In this paper, I discuss ongoing research in my laboratory in which we applied sensitive measurement techniques, both in vivo and ex vivo, in order to gain a more complete understanding of Huntington’s disease. An important aspect of this discussion is that productive collaborations have been a positive force in enhancing our ability to resolve some of the underlying neurochemical mechanisms of this disorder.
Biochemical evidence for impaired nitric oxide synthesis in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

BACKGROUND We studied urinary nitrate and cGMP excretion rates, indices of systemic NO formation, and plasma concentrations of L-arginine and the endogenous NO synthase inhibitor asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) and its inactive stereoisomer, symmetrical dimethylarginine, in 77 patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) in Fontaine stages IIb through IV and in 47 young and 37 elderly healthy control subjects. METHODS AND RESULTS Urinary nitrate excretion was 182.0+/-11.4 micromol/mmol creatinine and cGMP excretion was 186.2+/-13.0 nmol/mmol creatinine in young healthy control subjects. In elderly control subjects, both excretion rates were slightly lower (nitrate, 156.0+/-7.8 micromol/mmol creatinine; cGMP, 150.0+/-8.3 nmol/mmol creatinine; P=NS). In PAOD patients, there was a significant, progressive reduction of urinary nitrate (IIb, 138.4+/-11.9; III, 128.6+/-11.3; and IV, 91.9+/-8.0 micromol/mmol creatinine; P<.05) and cGMP (IIb, 139.9+/-25.2; III, 115.6+/-13.1; and IV, 76.9+/-7.9 nmol/mmol creatinine; P<.05) excretion rates related to the Fontaine stage of PAOD. These changes were independent of changes in renal excretory function. Plasma L-arginine concentrations were not significantly different between the groups, but ADMA concentrations were elevated in PAOD patients (young control subjects, 1.25+/-0.11; elderly control subjects, 1.01+/-0.05 micromol/L; IIb, 2.62+/-0.24; III, 3.06+/-0.48; and IV, 3.49+/-0.26 micromol/L; P<.05 for PAOD versus control subjects). There was a significant linear correlation between urinary nitrate and cGMP excretion rates and a significant negative linear correlation between plasma ADMA concentrations and urinary nitrate excretion. CONCLUSIONS In PAOD patients, there is a progressive reduction in urinary nitrate and cGMP excretion rates, which may be caused in part by accumulation of ADMA, an endogenous inhibitor of NO synthase.
Mechanisms of wound reepithelialization: hints from a tissue‐engineered reconstructed skin to long‐standing questions

Wound closure of epithelial tissues must occur efficiently to restore rapidly their barrier function. We have developed a tissue‐engineered wound‐healing model composed of human skin keratinocytes and fibroblasts to better understand the mechanisms of reepithelialization. It allowed us to quantify the reepi‐thelialization rate, which was significantly accelerated in the presence of fibrin or platelet‐rich plasma. The reepithelialization of these 6 mm excisional wounds required the contribution of keratinocyte proliferation, migration, stratification, and differentiation. The epidermis regenerated progressively from the surrounding wound margins. After 3 days, the neoepidermis showed a complete spectrum of changes. Near the wound margin, the differentiation of the neoepidermis (keratins 1/10, filaggrin, and loricrin) and regeneration of the dermoepidermal junction (laminin 5 and collagen IV) were more advanced than toward the wound center, where the proliferative index was significantly increased. The spatial distribution of keratinocytes distinguished by particular features suggests two complementary mechanisms of reepithelialization: 1) the passive displacement of the superficial layers near the wound margin that would rapidly regenerate a barrier function and 2) the crawling of keratinocytes over each other at the tip of the progressing neoepidermis. Therefore, this study brings a new perspective to long‐standing questions concerning wound reepithelial‐ization. —Laplante, A. F. , Germain, L. , Auger, F. A. , Moulin, V. Mechanisms of wound reepithelialization: hints from a tissue‐engineered reconstructed skin to long‐standing questions. FASEB J. 15, 2377–2389 (2001)
The Relationship Between Bernoulli and Fixed Feedback Policies for the M/G/1 Queue

We consider an M / G /1 queue with feedback, in which customers, after receiving service, either return to the tail of the queue or depart the system, according to some feedback policy. We derive simple expressions for the expected response time for feedback policies that include Bernoulli feedback and feeding back a fixed number of times. Our results reveal some interesting and nonintuitive properties of the behavior of such feedback policies when the coefficient of variation of service time is varied. One result shows that for the Bernoulli feedback and fixed feedback policies with an equal mean number of visits to the queue, the expected response time for the Bernoulli policy is smaller than for the fixed policy if the coefficient of variation of service time is greater than 1. The relationship reverses if the coefficient of variation is less than 1.