Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Display Techniques in Information-Rich Virtual Environments

Across domains, researchers, engineers, and designers are faced with large volumes of data that are heterogeneous in nature - including spatial, abstract, and temporal information. There are numerous design and technical challenges when considering the unification, management, and presentation of these information types. Most research and applications have focused on display techniques for each of the information types individually, but much less in known about how to represent the relationships between information types. This research explores the perceptual and usability impacts of data representations and layout algorithms for the next-generation of integrated information spaces. We propose Information-Rich Virtual Environments (IRVEs) as a solution to challenges of integrated information spaces. In this presentation, we will demonstrate the application requirements and foundational technology of IRVEs and articulate crucial tradeoffs in IRVE information design. We will present a design space and evaluation methodology to explore the usability effects of these tradeoffs. Experimental results will be presented for a series of empirical usability evaluations that increase our understanding of how these tradeoffs can be resolved to improve user performance. Finally, we interpret the results though the models of Information Theory and Human Information Processing to derive new conclusions regarding the role of perceptual cues in determining user performance in IRVEs. These lessons are posed as a set of design guidelines to aid developers of new IRVE interfaces and specifications. * *This dissertation is a compound document (contains both a paper copy and a CD as part of the dissertation). The CD requires the following system requirements: Windows MediaPlayer or RealPlayer.
Nintedanib (OFEV) in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

ABSTRACT Introduction: Nintedanib is a new anti-fibrosis agent that is an intracellular tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting platelet derived growth factor receptor, fibroblast growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor. Although nintedanib is attracting much attention as a new treatment option for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the clinical evidence is limited mainly to the results from the dose-deciding phase II TOMORROW trial and phase III INPULSIS trials, which evaluated efficacy and safety of nintedanib for patients with IPF, prespecified subgroup analyses, pooled analyses and meta-analyses derived from those trials. Areas covered: In this document, we mainly reviewed reports on working mechanisms of nintedanib, and efficacy and safety of nintedanib for patients with IPF. The literature search was undertaken using Pub Med. Expert commentary: It is unknown whether the efficacy of nintedanib in patients enrolled in the clinical trials will be the same for the entire spectrum of patients, including patients unfit for the clinical trials due to age, severity, timing of IPF diagnosis or diagnosis of interstitial pneumonias other than IPF. Sufficient consideration should be given when selecting candidates for nintedanib in the real world.
Excision and integration of degradative pathway genes from TOL plasmid pWW0

WR211 is a transconjugant resulting from transfer of the 117-kilobase (kb) TOL degradative plasmid pWW0 into Pseudomonas sp. strain B13. The plasmid of this strain, pWW01211, is 78 kb long, having suffered a deletion of 39 kb. We show that WR211 contains the 39 kb that is missing from its plasmid, together with at least an additional 17 kb of pWW0 DNA integrated in another part of the genome, probably the chromosome. The ability of WR211 to grow on the TOL-specific substrate m-toluate is the result of expression of the TOL genes in this alternative location, whereas its inability to grow on m-xylene is caused by insertional mutagenesis by 3 kb of DNA of unknown origin in the xylR gene of this DNA. The resident plasmid pWW01211 plays no part in the degradative phenotype of WR211 since it can be expelled by mating in incompatible IncP9 resistance plasmid R2 or pMG18 without loss of the phenotype. This alternatively located DNA can be rescued back into the R2 and pMG18 plasmids as R2::TOL and pMG18::TOL recombinants by mating out into plasmid-free recipients and selecting for Mtol+ transconjugants. In all cases examined, these plasmids contained the entire R plasmid into which is inserted 59 kb of DNA, made up of 56 kb of pWW0 DNA and the 3-kb xylR insertion. Selection for faster growth on benzoate can lead to precise excision of the 39 kb from the TOL region of an R2::TOL recombinant, leaving a residual and apparently cryptic 17-kb segment of pWW0 DNA in the R plasmid.
Estado da Arte sobre Analítica da Aprendizagem na América Latina

A analitica da aprendizagem e considerada uma area jovem e em rapido crescimento. O objetivo da investigacao que fundamentou este texto foi realizar o estado da arte em periodicos cientificos sobre o uso analitica da aprendizagem na America Latina. Empregou-se, como metodo, a pesquisa bibliografica em duas bases de dados de resumos que abrangessem periodicos dos paises dessa regiao: Scielo e Dialnet. Foram encontrados somente dois artigos na Scielo e oito na Dialnet. Desses dez, apenas dois satisfaziam o criterio da investigacao. Os resultados apontam que ha muito a ser feito no campo da pesquisa em analitica da aprendizagem na America Latina.
Workers' Task Choice in Crowdsourcing and Human Computation Markets

In human computation systems, humans and computers work together to solve hard problems. Many of these systems use crowdsourcing marketplaces to recruit workers. However, the task selection process of crowdsourcing workers is still unclear. We therefore outline this process and propose a structural model showing the criteria that workers use to choose tasks. The model is based on the person-job fit theory, which includes the measures demands-abilities fit and needs-supplies fit, in order to explain the work intention. We adapt the needs-supplies fit to the specific requirements of crowdsourcing markets by adding concepts for payment fit, enjoyment fit, and time fit. We further assume that the task presentation can have an effect on work intention. In this research-in-progress paper, we present our measures and experimental design as well as our newly developed method for participants’ recruitment. Our work could have strong implications for organizations using crowdsourcing marketplaces.
Racial differences in the prevalence of age-related macular degeneration: the Salisbury Eye Evaluation (SEE) Project.

OBJECTIVE To determine differences in the prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and its fundus manifestations in a population-based sample of older black and white Americans. DESIGN Cross-sectional population-based study of 2520 participants of whom 1854 are white and 666 are black. Mean age was 73.5 years. Stereoscopic color fundus photographs were graded for presence, severity, and location of drusen, retinal pigment epithelium abnormalities, and choroidal neovascularization or disciform scarring. RESULTS Drusen at least 64 microm in size were identified in 56% of black and white individuals within 3000 microm of the foveal center, but drusen larger than 125 microm were more common among white participants (16% white vs 11% black individuals). Drusen at least 250 microm in size, confluent drusen, or a larger area (> 10%) occupied by drusen were each more common among white participants. White individuals were 3 times more likely to have focal hyperpigmentation than black individuals. Racial differences were most pronounced for features within the central 1500-microm macular zone. Neovascular AMD was present in 1.7% of white participants and 1.1% of black participants (age-adjusted, P = .38), whereas geographic atrophy was more common in white than black individuals (1.8% vs 0.3%; age-adjusted, P = .02). CONCLUSIONS White persons are generally more likely than black persons to have medium or large drusen, focal pigment abnormalities, and advanced AMD. Racial differences were prominent for nonneovascular AMD features only when present in the central zone. These data suggest that black individuals may have a mechanism for protection in the central zone against these critical fundus features, which themselves convey high risk of progression to advanced AMD.
Familial and environmental influences on body composition and body fat distribution in childhood in southern Italy.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the factors affecting body fat excess and distribution in prepubertal age. A cross-sectional survey was carried out on children attending the 4th grade of a primary school in Naples. Eighty-eight per cent of the total sample was examined: 52 girls, 58 boys; mean age = 9.6 yrs (s.e. +/- 0.10). Each child underwent a medical examination, anthropometric measurements and bio-impedance analysis of body composition. The parents were asked to fill in a questionnaire that included demographic data, family history, parent's weight and height, child's perinatal history and his or her involvement in sports activities. Data were analyzed by multiple linear regression. The results showed a direct correlation between parental BMI and children's anthropometric measurements: the children's BMI correlated with the fathers' (P = 0.02) and mothers' BMI (P = 0.027); the children's waist/hip ratio correlated with the fathers' BMI (P = 0.07); the children's subscapular skinfolds correlated with the father's (P = 0.07) and mothers' BMI (P = 0.02); the children's triceps skinfolds correlated with the fathers' BMI (P = 0.004). Among congenital factors, sex was shown to be correlated with the children's waist/hip ratio (P = 0.05) with a lower ratio in the female, indicating a sex influence on body fat distribution even in prepubertal age. The children's BMI correlated with their waist/hip ratio (P = 0.001). Children's systolic blood pressure showed a positive correlation with triceps (P = 0.04) and subscapular (P = 0.05) skinfolds thickness % FAT-PLI (P = 0.02). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Detecting Gene-Gene Interactions Using Affected Sib Pair Analysis with Covariates

Interest has recently focussed on allowing for interactions between loci as a way to increase power to detect linkage. In this paper, a simplified logistic regression method was used to perform affected sib pair analyses allowing for the inclusion of data from other loci. A systematic search of two-locus disease models was carried out to determine the situations in which this was advantageous. If IBD information is available (e.g. from a genome scan), it is unlikely that allowing for interactions will give a large lod score in the absence of linkage evidence from sinlge-locus analysis. Furthermore, allowing for interactions rarely gave a significant increase in power to detect linkage over a single-locus analysis, except for heterogeneity models with low KP. Conversely, the availability of disease-associated genotypes may greatly increase the power both to detect linkage to a second locus and interaction between the loci. These results indicate that when only IBD information is available, two-locus analysis of genome scan data should be restricted to regions giving peaks under single-locus analysis. If disease-associated genotypes are available, it may be worth re-analysing the whole genome.
Adaptively-Secure Authenticated Key Exchange Protocol in Standard Model

Design a Secure Authenticated Key Exchange (AKE) protocol is a wide research area. Many works have been done in this ﬁeld and remain few open problems. Design an AKE-secure without NAXOS approach is remaining as an open problem. NAXOS approach [18] is used to hide the ephemeral secret key from an adversary even if the adversary in somehow may obtain the ephemeral secret key. Using NAXOS approach will cause two main drawbacks, (1) leaking of the static secret key which will be used in computing the exponent of the ephemeral public key. (2) Maximize of using random oracle when applying to the exponent of the ephemeral public key and session key derivation. Another open problem is designing an AKE-secure in the standard model without relying on Pseudo-Random Function with Pairwise-Independent Random Sources. In this paper, we present a general construction for AKE-secure protocol from the projective hash family secures under hard subset membership problem in the standard model. We also give an instantiation of our protocol from DDH with a novel security proof from games sequences tool introduced by [24]. We show the eﬃciency of our protocol compares to other similar AKE protocol.
Serotonergic Changes Produced by Repeated Exposure to Forced Swimming

Repeated forced swim resulted in a decrease in the concentrations of serotonin (5‐HT) and its metabolite 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid in the hypothalamus and amygdala 24 h after the second swim session. This stressor also increased the mRNA levels for tryptophan hydroxylase‐2, the rate‐limiting enzyme in neuronal 5‐HT synthesis, and 5‐HT transporter in the midbrain as well as 5‐HT1A receptor in the frontal cortex. Some of these serotonergic changes may be involved in the mechanisms of a depressive‐like behavior induced by a stress of repeated swim in these animals.
Drug information education in doctor of pharmacy programs.

OBJECTIVE To characterize pharmacy program standards and trends in drug information education. METHODS A questionnaire containing 34 questions addressing general demographic characteristics, organization, and content of drug information education was distributed to 86 colleges and schools of pharmacy in the United States using a Web-based survey system. RESULTS Sixty colleges responded (73% response rate). All colleges offered a campus-based 6-year first-professional degree PharmD program. Didactic drug information was a required course in over 70% of these schools. Only 51 of the 60 colleges offered an advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) in drug information, and 62% of these did so only on an elective basis. CONCLUSION Although almost all of the PharmD programs in the US include a required course in drug information, the majority do not have a required APPE in this important area.
The upgraded Finapres 2300e

Measurements from the upgraded Finapres 2300e continuous noninvasive blood pressure monitor, the Finapres 2300 and Colin oscillometric noninvasive blood pressure monitor were compared with invasive arterial line blood pressure readings. Fifteen young Chinese patients undergoing elective spinal surgery of more than 2 h duration had contemporaneous blood pressure measurements digitally recorded every minute. Data were analysed using methods described by Bland and Altman to assess agreement of noninvasive devices with an arterial line. Results showed that although the Finapres 2300e was significantly more accurate than the Finapres 2300 and Colin noninvasive blood pressure monitors it could not be recommended as a substitute for continuous arterial line blood pressure monitoring. Both Finapres devices demonstrated reductions in accuracy related to time (drift) and over‐read diastolic and mean pressures by 5–8 mmHg throughout the range of mean arterial line pressures (bias). The Colin was consistently less accurate than the Finapress monitors and performed worst at low mean arterial line pressures.
Évaluation du bilan de la radiation à la surface sur l'Amérique du Nord pour quelques modèles régionaux climatiques et les données de ré-analyses

Le rayonnement solaire incident (lSR) (direct et diffus) et le rayonnement atmospherique de longue longueur d'onde (DLR) sont les parametres qui determinent le bilan de la radiation a la surface (SRB) et jouent un role tres important dans l'echange d'energie entre la Terre et l'atmosphere. La representation exacte de ces composantes dans les modeles climatiques est donc cruciale. Dans ce travail, nous evaluons les composantes de l'ISR, du DLR et de la couverture nuageuse des trois modeles suivants: 1. le Modele Regional Canadien du Climat (MRCC), 2. la version regionale du Modele Global Environnemental a Multi-echelle (GEM-LAM) et 3. le modele atmospherique du centre Rossby (RCA3) sur un domaine couvrant l'Amerique du Nord. Premierement, les trois modeles sont compares avec les observations de surface fournies par le reseau SURFRAD afin d'identifier les conditions dans lesquelles ils ne performent pas correctement. Puisque ces observations ne fournissent pas une couverture spatiale adequate, trois bases de donnees differentes sont comparees a trois bases de donnees disponibles sur l'ensemble du territoire. Les substituts aux observations que nous evaluons sont: les re-analyses ERA40 de ECMWF couvrant 40 annees, les re-analyses regionales d'Amerique de Nord (NARR) et les composantes du SRB provenant du Projet International de Climatologie Satellitaire des Nuages (ISCCP). La base de donnee la plus representative est utilisee comme substitut aux observations afin de la comparer avec le SRB simule par les modeles sur tout le domaine d'Amerique du Nord. Les comparaisons entre les modeles et les observations montrent que les biais les plus importants sont presents pour des conditions atmospheriques froides et seches ce qui nous indique soit une mauvaise representation de l'emission de la vapeur d'eau pour des conditions atmospheriques seches, soit un biais negatif du aux omissions des contributions des gaz traceurs dans le DLR pour les conditions de ciel clair. Les biais du ISR constates dans cette etude viennent surtout de la mauvaise representation des nuages dans les modeles qui ne sont pas assez opaques pour le rayonnement solaire incident. La comparaison avec six sites d'observations differents a confirme qu'ERA40 est le meilleur substitut aux observations pour les composantes ISR et DLR sur l'Amerique du Nord. La comparaison des modeles avec ERA40 sur toute l'Amerique du Nord apporte des conclusions similaires a celles obtenues lors de la comparaison des modeles directement avec les sites d'observations. Ces resultats confirment que les biais trouves dans cette etude proviennent de l'imperfections des modeles ce qui influence les composantes du SRB pour les differents regimes climatiques d'Amerique du Nord. ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLES DE L’AUTEUR : Rayonnement, Modeles regionaux du climat, Re-analyses, Forcage radiatif des nuages.
Prediction of symptomatic cerebral vasospasm in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: relationship to cerebral salt wasting syndrome

Abstract Objectives: Symptomatic cerebral vasospasm is a major complication in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Symptomatic cerebral vasospasm has been reported to be related to the patient's blood volume which is influenced by cerebral salt wasting syndrome (CSWS). We undertook a prospective study to assess whether the onset of symptomatic cerebral vasospasm was predictable or not, by observing the phenomena of CSWS (natriuresis and osmotic diuresis). Methods: Sixty-seven consecutive aneurysmal SAH patients were analysed. After surgery, all patients underwent hypervolemic therapy in order to keep central venous pressure (CVP) within 8–12 cmH2O, serum sodium level above 140 mEq/l and a positive water balance. Patients were classified into two groups: those without symptomatic cerebral vasospasm (n=55) and those with symptomatic cerebral vasospasm (n=12). To estimate natriuresis and osmotic diuresis, sodium in/out, water in/out, CVP and other parameters were measured and compared between the two groups. Results: One day before symptomatic cerebral vasospasm, three factors reached statistical difference in the group that experienced symptomatic cerebral vasospasm: sodium balance, urine volume and water balance. On the day of symptomatic cerebral vasospasm, two factors reached statistical difference: sodium excretion and urine volume. No factor was significantly different 2 days before symptomatic cerebral vasospasm. Discussion: Symptomatic cerebral vasospasm has a strong relationship with CSWS. Negative sodium and water balance and increased urine volume indicate a predictor of symptomatic cerebral vasospasm. To predict symptomatic cerebral vasospasm, strict observations are required, because CSWS and symptomatic cerebral vasospasm which follows, develop rapidly.
Nouveaux protocoles et nouvelles attaques pour la cryptologie basée sur les codes en métrique rang. (New protocols and new attacks on rank metric code-based cryptography)

La securite de la cryptographie a cles publiques repose sur des problemes mathematiques difficiles, notamment en theorie des nombres, tels que la factorisation pour RSA ou le logarithme discret pour ElGamal. Cependant les progres des algorithmes rendent les protocoles bases sur des problemes de theorie des nombres de moins en moins efficaces. De plus, l'arrivee de l'ordinateur quantique rendrait ces cryptosystemes inutilisables. La cryptographie basee sur les codes en metrique rang est une alternative credible pour concevoir des cryptosystemes post-quantiques en raison de sa rapidite et de la faible taille de ses cles. Le but de cette these est d'etudier les problemes difficiles en metrique rang et les algorithmes permettant de les resoudre, ainsi que de chercher de nouvelles attaques et de nouvelles primitives basees sur ces problemes.
Disrupted Topology of Frontostriatal Circuits Is Linked to the Severity of Insomnia

Insomnia is one of the most common health complaints, with a high prevalence of 30~50% in the general population. In particular, neuroimaging research has revealed that widespread dysfunctions in brain regions involved in hyperarousal are strongly correlated with insomnia. However, whether the topology of the intrinsic connectivity is aberrant in insomnia remains largely unknown. In this study, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) in conjunction with graph theoretical analysis, was used to construct functional connectivity matrices and to extract the attribute features of the small-world networks in insomnia. We examined the alterations in global and local small-world network properties of the distributed brain regions that are predominantly implicated in the frontostriatal network between 30 healthy subjects with insomnia symptoms (IS) and 62 healthy subjects without insomnia symptoms (NIS). Correlations between the small-world properties and clinical measurements were also generated to identify the differences between the two groups. Both the IS group and the NIS group exhibited a small-worldness topology. Meanwhile, the global topological properties didn't show significant difference between the two groups. By contrast, participants in the IS group showed decreased regional degree and efficiency in the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) compared with subjects in the NIS group. More specifically, significantly decreased nodal efficiency in the IFG was found to be negatively associated with insomnia scores, whereas the abnormal changes in nodal betweenness centrality of the right putamen were positively correlated with insomnia scores. Our findings suggested that the aberrant topology of the salience network and frontostriatal connectivity is linked to insomnia, which can serve as an important biomarker for insomnia.