Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Academic stress differentially influences perceived stress, salivary cortisol, and immunoglobulin-A in undergraduate students

Academic examination stress is reported to increase physiological and self-report measures of stress and to decrease immune functioning. Here, we investigate biochemical and self-report measures of stress, immune functioning, and academic pressures before and during a midterm examination period. Undergraduate students were asked to complete a measure of global stress, the perceived stress scale (PSS-10), and to indicate their current level of perceived stress. They also answered questions regarding specific academic pressures and provided a saliva sample for cortisol and salivary immunoglobulin-A (S-IgA) quantification. Students showed increased salivary cortisol concentrations and also reported greater acute perceived stress during the examination period compared to the non-examination period. Although cortisol concentrations and perceived stress were significantly higher during the examination period, participants reported similar levels of global stress (PSS-10) during both testing sessions. Additional analyses showed a non-significant increase in the level of S-IgA from the non-examination period to the examination period. Specific pressure variables that appeared to contribute to stress regulation during the examination week included the amount of time spent studying and concern about the impact of examinations in the future. By demonstrating measures of chronic examination stress, these findings provide new insight into the complex relationship between examination stress, cortisol, and immune functioning.
Subpixel corner detection for camera calibration

Many different interest point detectors have been proposed with a wide range of definitions for what points in an image are interesting. Corner points are interesting as they are formed from two or more edges and usually define the boundary between two different objects or parts of the same object. Interest points are generally more abundant in real images than straight edges and are considered to be the most important features, they are attractive due to their high information content and hence they are ideal features for tasks such as camera calibration, object tracking or fast interpretation of a robot's environment. Therefore, we present a comparative study of different subpixel interest point detectors combined with the use of finding interest points using the different corner measures proposed by Harris and Stephens [1] and Interest operator by Haralick [3].
Leukoaraiosis and Increased Cerebral Susceptibility to Ischemia: Lack of Confounding by Carotid Disease

Background Leukoaraiosis is associated with an increased risk of stroke, but the underlying mechanism remains uncertain, as do the associations with other risk factors, such as carotid disease. We aimed to determine the role of carotid disease and of other clinical variables in the development of leukoaraiosis and to define their contributions to the associated increased risk of stroke. Methods and Results We prospectively studied a large cohort of consecutive patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) and minor stroke who attended a TIA clinic between 2002 and 2009. Detailed clinical data were obtained, and patients underwent magnetic resonance brain and vascular imaging. We assessed the severity of leukoaraiosis with use of the ARWMC (Age Related White Matter Changes) score: 671 patients (374 [56%] men; mean [SD] age 71 [11] years) were studied, of whom 415 (62%) had leukoaraiosis. In a multivariate analysis, leukoaraiosis was associated with increasing age (P<0.0001) and hypertension (P=0.01), as well as the presence of acute (P<0.0001) and chronic (P=0.014) infarction on magnetic resonance imaging. In the univariate analysis, a current and past diagnosis of stroke versus TIA also showed a strong association. Carotid disease was not associated with leukoaraiosis, even in the presence of a flow‐limiting (>70%) stenosis or occlusion, and the risk factor profiles for leukoaraiosis and carotid disease differed. Conclusions The association with more severe ischemic events (stroke versus TIA) and infarction on imaging is consistent with leukoaraiosis being a marker of increased cerebral susceptibility to ischemia. In contrast, the presence, severity of, and risk factors for atheromatous disease showed no association with leukoaraiosis, suggesting that these are two unrelated disease processes.
Employment as a journey or a destination? Interpreting graduates’ and employers’ perceptions – a Malaysia case study

As human capital came to the fore in the discourse on economic growth, so too has the concepts of employment prospects and employability attributes as students transit to the labor market. This paper examines three issues in this transition in the context of Malaysia. These are, first, how important is employment prospects a consideration when students choose institutions to join and programs to pursue? Second, what is their understanding of the attributes needed for employability? Third, how well do students’ understanding of both concepts accord with how employers understand them? Using a combination of survey and face-to-face interviews, this study confirmed the considerable importance of both concepts in students’ study decisions. Their understanding was broadly congruent with that of employers. These findings have implications for students’ learning experiences, for the education system, and for policy-makers hoping for the human capital needed to make the leap from a middle-income to a high-income nation.
Intermodulation Distortion in OSSB/SCM Systems with Partially Suppressed Optical Carrier

This paper investigates the performance limitations due to intermodulation distortion of broadband optical single side band/subcarrier multiplexing (OSSB/SCM) with optical carrier partially suppressed. It is demonstrated that the partial suppression of the optical carrier increases the intermodulation distortion of OSSB/SCM systems resulting in an overall system performance degradation when intermodulation is the dominant noise source
Hearing measurements from a stranded infant Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus

SUMMARY An infant Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) was rescued from the beach in Southern Portugal, and an audiogram was measured using auditory evoked potentials (AEP) and envelope following response (EFR) techniques for frequencies from 4 to 150 kHz. The stimuli used were custom sinusoidally amplitude-modulated (SAM) tone-bursts, and the AEP responses were collected, averaged and analyzed to quantify the animal's physiological response and, thereby, hearing thresholds. The infant animal showed a wide range of best sensitivity, with the lowest threshold of 49.5 dB re. 1 μPa at 90 kHz. The audiogram showed a typical mammalian ∪-shape with a gradual, low-frequency slope of 16.4 dB octave-1 and a sharp high-frequency increase of 95 dB octave-1. When compared with an audiogram of an older Risso's dolphin obtained using behavioral methods, the threshold values at upper frequencies were much lower for this infant animal, and this infant heard higher frequencies. These results redefine the hearing capabilities of Risso's dolphins by demonstrating very high-frequency sensitivity.
Multilayered and digitally structured presentation formats of trustworthy recommendations: a combined survey and randomised trial

Objectives To investigate practicing physicians' preferences, perceived usefulness and understanding of a new multilayered guideline presentation format—compared to a standard format—as well as conceptual understanding of trustworthy guideline concepts. Design Participants attended a standardised lecture in which they were presented with a clinical scenario and randomised to view a guideline recommendation in a multilayered format or standard format after which they answered multiple-choice questions using clickers. Both groups were also presented and asked about guideline concepts. Setting Mandatory educational lectures in 7 non-academic and academic hospitals, and 2 settings involving primary care in Lebanon, Norway, Spain and the UK. Participants 181 practicing physicians in internal medicine (156) and general practice (25). Interventions A new digitally structured, multilayered guideline presentation format and a standard narrative presentation format currently in widespread use. Primary and secondary outcome measures Our primary outcome was preference for presentation format. Understanding, perceived usefulness and perception of absolute effects were secondary outcomes. Results 72% (95% CI 65 to 79) of participants preferred the multilayered format and 16% (95% CI 10 to 22) preferred the standard format. A majority agreed that recommendations (multilayered 86% vs standard 91%, p value=0.31) and evidence summaries (79% vs 77%, p value=0.76) were useful in the context of the clinical scenario. 72% of participants randomised to the multilayered format vs 58% for standard formats reported correct understanding of the recommendations (p value=0.06). Most participants elected an appropriate clinical action after viewing the recommendations (98% vs 92%, p value=0.10). 82% of the participants considered absolute effect estimates in evidence summaries helpful or crucial. Conclusions Clinicians clearly preferred a novel multilayered presentation format to the standard format. Whether the preferred format improves decision-making and has an impact on patient important outcomes merits further investigation.
cDNA cloning and tissue-specific expression of a novel basic helix-loop-helix/PAS factor (Arnt2) with close sequence similarity to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (Arnt)

We isolated mouse cDNA clones (Arnt2) that are highly similar to but distinct from the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) nuclear translocator (Arnt). The composite cDNA covered a 2,443-bp sequence consisting of a putative 2,136-bp open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 712 amino acids. The predicted Arnt2 polypeptide carries a characteristic basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH)/PAS motif in its N-terminal region with close similarity (81% identity) to that of mouse Arnt and has an overall sequence identity of 57% with Arnt. Biochemical properties and interaction of Arnt2 with other bHLH/PAS proteins were investigated by coimmunoprecipitation assays, gel mobility shift assays, and the yeast two-hybrid system. Arnt2 interacted with AhR and mouse Sim as efficiently as Arnt, and the Arnt2-AhR complex recognized and bound specifically the xenobiotic responsive element (XRE) sequence. Expression of Arnt2 successfully rescued XRE-driven reporter gene activity in the Arnt-defective c4 mutant of Hepa-1 cells. RNA blot analysis revealed that expression of Arnt2 mRNA was restricted to the brains and kidneys of adult mice, while Arnt mRNA was expressed ubiquitously. In addition, whole-mount in situ hybridization of 9.5-day mouse embryos showed that Arnt2 mRNA was expressed in the dorsal neural tube and branchial arch 1, while Arnt transcripts were detected broadly in various tissues of mesodermal and endodermal origins. These results suggest that Arnt2 may play different roles from Arnt both in adult mice and in developing embryos. Finally, sequence comparison of the currently known bHLH/PAS proteins indicates a division into two phylogenetic groups: the Arnt group, containing Arnt, Arnt2, and Per, and the AhR group, consisting of AhR, Sim, and Hif-1alpha.
The Influencing Factors of Corporate Reputation and its Impact on Consumers' Word-of-Mouth Behavior

Previous researches have developed the attitude structure of corporate reputation.From the perspective of consumers,this paper studies the contributing factors of corporate reputation attitude and its impact on consumers' word-of-mouth behavior.The investigation data of 261 consumers puts forward indications as follows: the emotion-oriented corporate reputation attitude has the most remarkable influences on consumers' Word-of-Mouth behavior;whereas the corporate reputation's behavior tendency factors have a significant impact on consumers' word-of-mouth behavior,the cognition factors have a less significant impact on that;furthermore,the cognition of enterprise's features("development","attraction" and "quality","responsibility") will affect diversified aspects of corporate reputation in different extend.Besides,the following mediating effects are significant: on the one hand,"responsibility","development" and "attraction" affect consumers' word-of-mouth behavior through emotion attitude,on the other hand,"development","attraction" and "quality" impact consumers' word-of-mouth behavior through behavior tendency attitude.
HomeSys 2014

HomeSys 2014 will provide an insightful and constructive setting for the growing community of researchers studying ubiquitous technology in domestic spaces. Homes have been a consistent setting for ubiquitous computing research and development. This continues to evolve, reflecting the spread of computing into ever more of the fabric of our everyday lives. Inspired by the success of HomeSys at previous UbiComp conferences, a new organising team will arrange a balance of presentations, panel and whole room discussions, and an interactive session to explore the challenges currently facing ubiquitous computing in the home. Through this, HomeSys can continue to support reflection and development in home-based ubiquitous computing research across disciplines, act as a companion to the main UbiComp conference, strengthen existing networks, and produce new collaborations and outcomes
Etiologic heterogeneity among non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes: the InterLymph Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Subtypes Project.

BACKGROUND Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) comprises biologically and clinically heterogeneous subtypes. Previously, study size has limited the ability to compare and contrast the risk factor profiles among these heterogeneous subtypes. METHODS We pooled individual-level data from 17 471 NHL cases and 23 096 controls in 20 case-control studies from the International Lymphoma Epidemiology Consortium (InterLymph). We estimated the associations, measured as odds ratios, between each of 11 NHL subtypes and self-reported medical history, family history of hematologic malignancy, lifestyle factors, and occupation. We then assessed the heterogeneity of associations by evaluating the variability (Q value) of the estimated odds ratios for a given exposure among subtypes. Finally, we organized the subtypes into a hierarchical tree to identify groups that had similar risk factor profiles. Statistical significance of tree partitions was estimated by permutation-based P values (P NODE). RESULTS Risks differed statistically significantly among NHL subtypes for medical history factors (autoimmune diseases, hepatitis C virus seropositivity, eczema, and blood transfusion), family history of leukemia and multiple myeloma, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and certain occupations, whereas generally homogeneous risks among subtypes were observed for family history of NHL, recreational sun exposure, hay fever, allergy, and socioeconomic status. Overall, the greatest difference in risk factors occurred between T-cell and B-cell lymphomas (P NODE < 1.0×10(-4)), with increased risks generally restricted to T-cell lymphomas for eczema, T-cell-activating autoimmune diseases, family history of multiple myeloma, and occupation as a painter. We further observed substantial heterogeneity among B-cell lymphomas (P NODE < 1.0×10(-4)). Increased risks for B-cell-activating autoimmune disease and hepatitis C virus seropositivity and decreased risks for alcohol consumption and occupation as a teacher generally were restricted to marginal zone lymphoma, Burkitt/Burkitt-like lymphoma/leukemia, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and/or lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma/Waldenström macroglobulinemia. CONCLUSIONS Using a novel approach to investigate etiologic heterogeneity among NHL subtypes, we identified risk factors that were common among subtypes as well as risk factors that appeared to be distinct among individual or a few subtypes, suggesting both subtype-specific and shared underlying mechanisms. Further research is needed to test putative mechanisms, investigate other risk factors (eg, other infections, environmental exposures, and diet), and evaluate potential joint effects with genetic susceptibility.
Temperature dependent leakage sensors using specially designed DRAM cells

The DRAM cells consist of one or several MOSFET devices and the subthreshold leakage current through the MOSFET strongly depends on the temperature variation. Therefore, it is obvious that the leakage of a memory cell is highly related to temperature variation. The temperature of the circuit can be measured indirectly by using leakage sensors which can be applied to various VLSI circuits because of its small size and compatibility. Motivated by the thermal sensitivity of the MOSFET and the circuit devices, we studied leakage based thermal sensors in different technologies such as 130nm, 65nm and 45nm and 3 types of leakage devices from MOSFET to the circuit. First, we showed the IV characteristics and the subthreshold leakage current through each MOSFET. Then, we tried to find out how the subthreshold leakage current through the MOSFET make the leakage sensors possible. Finally, we obtained the plot for leakage and temperature, the power consumptions, areas and noise immunity for each leakage devices.
Inhibition of Expression in Escherichia coli of a Virulence Regulator MglB of Francisella tularensis Using External Guide Sequence Technology

External guide sequences (EGSs) have successfully been used to inhibit expression of target genes at the post-transcriptional level in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. We previously reported that EGS accessible and cleavable sites in the target RNAs can rapidly be identified by screening random EGS (rEGS) libraries. Here the method of screening rEGS libraries and a partial RNase T1 digestion assay were used to identify sites accessible to EGSs in the mRNA of a global virulence regulator MglB from Francisella tularensis, a Gram-negative pathogenic bacterium. Specific EGSs were subsequently designed and their activities in terms of the cleavage of mglB mRNA by RNase P were tested in vitro and in vivo. EGS73, EGS148, and EGS155 in both stem and M1 EGS constructs induced mglB mRNA cleavage in vitro. Expression of stem EGS73 and EGS155 in Escherichia coli resulted in significant reduction of the mglB mRNA level coded for the F. tularensis mglB gene inserted in those cells.
Game-Based Cryptanalysis of a Lightweight CRC-Based Authentication Protocol for EPC Tags

The term "Internet of Things (IoT)" expresses a huge network of smart and connected objects which can interact with other devices without our interposition. Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a great technology and an interesting candidate to provide communications for IoT networks, but numerous security and privacy issues need to be considered. In this paper, we analyze the security and the privacy of a new RFID authentication protocol proposed by Shi et al. in 2014. We prove that although Shi et al. have tried to present a secure and untraceable authentication protocol, their protocol still suffers from several security and privacy weaknesses which make it vulnerable to various security and privacy attacks. We present our privacy analysis based on a well-known formal privacy model which is presented by Ouafi and Phan in 2008. Moreover, to stop such attacks on the protocol and increase the performance of Shi et al.’s scheme, we present some modifications and propound an improved version of the protocol. Finally, the security and the privacy of the proposed protocol were analyzed against various attacks. KEWORDS Internet of things; RFID authentication protocols; Security and privacy; Ouafi-Phan privacy model; EPC C1 G2 standard. * Corresponding author email: mj.emadi@aut.ac. ir
Numerous Genes in Loci Associated With Body Fat Distribution Are Linked to Adipose Function

Central fat accumulation is a strong risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Genome-wide association studies have identified numerous loci associated with body fat distribution. The objectives of the current study are to examine whether genes in genetic loci linked to fat distribution can be linked to fat cell size and number (morphology) and/or adipose tissue function. We show, in a cohort of 114 women, that almost half of the 96 genes in these loci are indeed associated with abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue parameters. Thus, adipose mRNA expression of the genes is strongly related to adipose morphology, catecholamine-induced lipid mobilization (lipolysis), or insulin-stimulated lipid synthesis in adipocytes (lipogenesis). In conclusion, the genetic influence on body fat distribution could be mediated via several specific alterations in adipose tissue morphology and function, which in turn may influence the development of type 2 diabetes.
Ketamine blocks enhancement of spinal long‐term potentiation in chronic opioid treated rats

Background: Long‐term opioid treatment is associated with the development of hyperalgesia. In a rat model we wanted to study if chronic opioid treatment changed the induction and maintenance of spinal long‐term potentiation (LTP), a form of hyperexcitability in the spinal cord. We also wanted to investigate if the clinically available NMDA receptor antagonist ketamine inhibited the effect of chronic opioid treatment on LTP.
Small cell lung cancer.

SCLC accounts for 15–20% of lung cancer cases with decreasing incidence. Approximately 1/3 of patients present with limited stage disease and the remainder present with extensive stage disease. More than 95% of cases are associated with a history of tobacco exposure. Ten to 15% of patients present with brain metastases and 2 year incidence after chemo-RT is 50–80%. SCLC is the most common solid tumor associated with paraneoplastic syndromes: SIADH, ACTH production syndrome, and Eaton–Lambert syndrome. Histopathologic hallmarks include dense sheets of small, round to fusiform cells with scant cytoplasm, extensive necrosis, and a high mitotic rate. Pathologic subtypes (pure or classic, variant, and mixed) carry the same prognosis. Most important prognostic factors are stage and performance status.
GOLD infrastructure for virtual organizations

The paper discusses the GOLD project (Grid‐based Information Models to Support the Rapid Innovation of New High Value‐Added Chemicals) whose principal aim is to carry out research and development into enabling technologies to support the formation, operation and termination of virtual organizations. The paper discusses the outcome of this research, which is the GOLD Middleware infrastructure. The infrastructure has been implemented in the form of a set of Middleware components, which address issues such as trust, security, contract monitoring and enforcement, information management and coordination. We discuss all these issues in turn and more importantly we demonstrate how current WS standards can be used to implement these issues. In addition, the paper follows a top down approach starting with a brief outline on the architectural elements derived during the requirements engineering phase and demonstrates how these elements were mapped onto actual services that were implemented according to service‐oriented architecture principles and related technologies. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.