Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhancing the effectiveness of spoken dialogue for STEM education

This talk will discuss the application of speech and language processing to two types of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) dialogue applications: 1) one-on-one physics tutoring, where students engage in dialogues with either a computer or human tutor, and 2) engineering design, where students engage in multi-party dialogue to complete a group project. I will first present results illustrating that relationships exist between student learning and both student affect, as well as lexical/prosodic entrainment between conversational partners. I will then illustrate our use of such findings to build better educational dialogue systems.
On the linear codes with (r, δ)-locality for distributed storage

Recently linear codes with locality properties have attracted a lot of interest due to their desirable applications in distributed storage systems. An [n, k, d] linear code with (r, δ)-locality can enable the local recovery of a failed node in case of more than one node failures. In this paper, we study the theoretical bounds and constructions of linear codes with (r, δ)-locality for all code symbols. A parity-check matrix approach is employed to present an alternate simple proof of the Singleton-like bound for linear codes with all symbol (r, δ)-locality. A refined Singleton-like bound is given for the case that r | k and r + δ − 1 ∤ n. Base on the new proof technique, we enumerate all the possible two classes of optimal binary linear codes meeting the Singleton-like bound. In other words, except the proposed two classes of optimal binary linear codes, there is no other binary linear codes with minimum distance d = n — k — ([k/r] — 1)(δ− 1) + 1.
Análisis de los efectos económicos y socio-políticos en Chile de la tradición exportadora minera y del TLC entre China y Chile, en especial para el período 2006-2012

Esta monografia pretende evaluar los efectos de la tradicion exportadora minera y el TLC entre China y Chile desde las perspectivas de violencia estructural y desarrollo como libertad de Amartya Sen y Johan Galtung, respectivamente. A traves del analisis de algunos procesos historicos que han configurado las actuales dinamicas mineras y comerciales en Chile, y de las libertades reales que poseian los chilenos antes y despues de la entrada en vigor del acuerdo, se logra comprender la manera en la que los fenomenos estudiados logran constrenir o impulsar el desarrollo de las capacidades de los chilenos para llevar a cabo las vidas que desean.
Deletion of the Slo3 gene abolishes alkalization-activated K+ current in mouse spermatozoa

Mouse spermatozoa express a pH-dependent K+ current (KSper) thought to be composed of subunits encoded by the Slo3 gene. However, the equivalence of KSper and Slo3-dependent current remains uncertain, because heterologous expression of Slo3 results in currents that are less effectively activated by alkalization than are native KSper currents. Here, we show that genetic deletion of Slo3 abolishes all pH-dependent K+ current at physiological membrane potentials in corpus epididymal sperm. A residual pH-dependent outward current (IKres) is observed in Slo3−/− sperm at potentials of >0 mV. Differential inhibition of KSper/Slo3 and IKres by clofilium reveals that the amplitude of IKres is similar in both wild-type (wt) and Slo3−/− sperm. The properties of IKres suggest that it likely represents outward monovalent cation flux through CatSper channels. Thus, KSper/Slo3 may account for essentially all mouse sperm K+ current and is the sole pH-dependent K+ conductance in these sperm. With physiological ionic gradients, alkalization depolarizes Slo3−/− spermatozoa, presumably from CatSper activation, in contrast to Slo3/KSper-mediated hyperpolarization in wt sperm. Slo3−/− male mice are infertile, but Slo3−/− sperm exhibit some fertility within in vitro fertilization assays. Slo3−/− sperm exhibit a higher incidence of morphological abnormalities accentuated by hypotonic challenge and also exhibit deficits in motility in the absence of bicarbonate, revealing a role of KSper under unstimulated conditions. Together, these results show that KSper/Slo3 is the primary spermatozoan K+ current, that KSper may play a critical role in acquisition of normal morphology and sperm motility when faced with hyperosmotic challenges, and that Slo3 is critical for fertility.
Underweight, overweight and obesity in girls at the age of 7-19 years from the Lubelskie Province in the years 1986-2006.

INTRODUCTION Increasing disproportions in the economic status of the Polish population are tangibly reflected in differences in the nutritional status of children and adolescents. AIM OF THE STUDY The objective of this study was to determine changes in the population size of girls with proper BMI values and their peers with underweight, overweight and obesity in a twenty-year time span. MATERIAL AND METHODS The survey conducted in 1986 covered 17 586 girls, whereas that conducted twenty years later covered 9540 girls. Measurements were taken of body height and body mass of the girls, which enabled calculating values of their Body Mass Index (BMI). Pursuant to guidelines of the International Obesity Task Force, girls with the 3rd degree underweight (gr. I), with the 2nd degree underweight (gr. II), with the 1st degree under-weight (gr. III), with proper BMI values (gr. IV), with overweight (gr. V), and with obesity (gr. VI) were selected from the biological material. The statistical significance of differences between mean values achieved in the year 1986 and 2006 was verified with the Student´s t-test for independent variables. The statistical significance of differences between the number of girls classified to each group in respect of the whole population surveyed in the year 1986 and 2006 was determined with the ? 2 test. RESULTS In the investigated twenty-year period, analyses demonstrated an increased incidence of body mass deficiency and excess in the surveyed girls. Greater differences between the generations in the incidence of underweight, overweight and obesity were observed in the urban girls, compared to their rural peers. In addition, more significant differences in body mass deficiency and excess were noted in the youngest girls from schools of the Lubelskie Province. CONCLUSIONS It may, therefore, be speculated that the differences in the economic status of Lubelskie Province inhabitants influenced a lower number of girls with appropriate BMI values as well as increased percentages of girls with body mass deficiency and excess.
Topographic correction of retrieved surface shortwave radiative fluxes from space under clear-sky conditions

Shortwave (SW) radiative flux (usually within 0.3~3μm) is the dominant energy source of our planet, which drives the climate as well as the matter and energy cycle of the Earth system. It is an indispensable component of surface total energy balance. Considering the importance of SW radiation, during the past decades, more and more studies have conducted for estimating surface SW radiation using satellite-based data, such as MODIS, CERES, GOES etc. Although great effort has been made, most researches neglect the topographic effect and mainly focus on the retrieval of SW radiation over ideal horizontal surfaces for both instantaneous and time-integrated radiation. For this point, we propose a topographic SW radiation model based on the existing studies. Based on this, the SW radiative flux components are derived from MODIS data by fully accounting for the surface topographic effect. The results show that the errors induced in the retrieved daily SW radiation can reach up to 400W/m2 at 1km scale. For instantaneous radiation, the uncertainties of derived SW radiation can reach up to 300W/m2 even at 5km scale due to topographic effect. The findings of this paper prove the importance of topographic modeling of surface radiation over rugged terrain.
Atomic force microscope base nanolithography for reproducible micro and nanofabrication

Atomic force microscopy nanolithography (AFM) is a strong fabrication method for micro and nano structure due to its high spatial resolution and positioning abilities. Mixing AFM nanolithography with advantage of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology provides the opportunity to achieve more reliable Si nanostructures. In this letter, we try to investigate the reproducibility of AFM base nanolithography for fabrication of the micro/nano structures. In this matter local anodic oxidation (LAO) procedure applied to pattern a silicon nanostructure on p-type (1015 cm-3) SOI using AFM base nanolithography. Then chemical etching is applied, as potassium hydroxide (saturated with isopropyl alcohol) and hydrofluoric etching for removing of Si and oxide layer, respectively. All parameters contributed in fabrication process were optimized and the final results revealed a good potential for using AFM base nanolithography in order to get a reproducible method of fabrication.
The realization of pattern/polarization diversity by applying vertical excitation

This paper proposes the pattern/polarization diversity array for MIMO applications by applying vertical excitation. We show that antenna's pattern and polarization characteristics are changed due to vertical feeding. Then, we attempt to realize the two antenna diversity array by using different feeding method. In addition, the spatial correlations of different excitations are investigated. Finally, the analysis of the diversity system in the view point of capacity is presented.
Health Centers in States With Public Health Agency Support Do Not Have Better Chronic Disease Outcomes

Objectives: To examine the quality of chronic disease care at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) as a function of state health agency support. Methods: We merged data from the 2010 Association of State and Territorial Health Officials Public Health Survey, the 2011 Area Resource File, and the 2010 Uniform Data System. Using ordinary least squares regression, we modeled hypertension and diabetes control among FQHC patients as a function of state public health agency support of FQHCs, including financial support, direct collaboration, and electronic health data exchanges. Results: The rate of hypertension control is 63.4%, while the rate of diabetes control (HbA1c <7%) is 41.3%. Some two thirds of FQHCs (67.1%) are in states whose public health agencies are fully engaged in FQHC-supporting activities, and approximately one third (34.6%) are in states whose public health agencies send and receive electronic health record data with FQHCs. However, none of our measures of public health agency support of FQHCs significantly predicted FQHC-specific chronic disease outcomes. Conclusions: We find no evidence that state public health agency support of FQHCs affects chronic disease outcomes for FQHC patients.
Combining the Continuous Integration Practice and the Model-Driven Engineering Approach

The software development approach called model-driven engineering has become increasingly widespread. The continuous integration practice has also been gaining the importance. Some works have shown that both can improve the software development process. The problem is that the model-driven engineering is still a very active research topic lacking its maturity, what translates into difficulties in optimal incorporation of the continuous integration practice in the process. We present an experience report in which we show the problems we have detected in a real project and how we have solved them. Thus, we increase the productivity of development and the non-technical people are able to modify already deployed applications. Finally, we incorporate an evaluation that shows the benefits of the proposed union.
Hacia el horizonte comunicativo en los estudios del videojuego

Marina Ramos Serrano Universidad de Sevilla mramos@us.es Oliver Perez Latorre Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona) oliver.perez@upf.edu “Videojuegos y Comunicacion: hacia el lenguaje del videojuego” ofrece una panoramica general de las principales perspectivas teoricas sobre el videojuego y, al mismo tiempo, se propone ahondar especialmente en un enfoque especifico acerca del tema: el estudio de la proyeccion comunicativa de los videojuegos. Un objetivo adicional de este proyecto es contribuir a una mayor difusion y conocimiento de la teoria del videojuego en las universidades de ambito espanol e hispanoamericano. En relacion con ello, cabe destacar que este monografico constituye un espacio de encuentro entre algunos de los principales investigadores espanoles y latinoamericanos en el ambito de la teoria del videojuego, que no habian tenido oportunidad de coincidir anteriormente en una publicacion comun. “Videojuegos y Comunicacion” se compone de dos grandes bloques tematicos: El primer bloque: “Discurso y estetica del videojuego”, se centra en analizar los videojuegos desde los contenidos, y comprende estudios de diseno de juegos y ludologia, semiotica y analisis textual del videojuego, estudios narratologicos y mitocriticos, sobre representacion visual y videojuegos, y de videojuegos persuasivos. En el segundo bloque: “Industria, recepcion y estudios culturales” se abordan aspectos como la evolucion tecnologica del videojuego y su desarrollo industrial, los procesos de produccion de videojuegos, las dinamicas socioculturales del juego
XML Node Semantic Weight Model Based on VSM

XML has become an important format for exchange data. Ranking of XML search results directly relates to XML information retrieval performance. Most of the existing ranking models consider words statistical characteristics in the XML document, but they do not consider position of the node a word belongs to. That is to say, all of nodes in XML document have the equal importance. However, different node plays different role in the entire XML document. So, the same content in different node should have different weight. It means different nodes should have different node semantic weight. In this paper, we present a VSM based method for XML node semantic weight (XNSW-VSM), which is scaled by the similarity between the node and the whole document. Experiment data were selected from Wiki data sets. The Pearson correlation coefficient between semantic results given by experts and the model results is 0.827. It shows the node semantic weight model can analyze the importance of node in XML document and it will be helpful for improving ranking results.
Polyglutamine (PolyQ) Diseases: Genetics to Treatments

The polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are a group of neurodegenerative disorders caused by expanded cytosine– adenine–guanine (CAG) repeats encoding a long polyQ tract in the respective proteins. To date, a total of nine polyQ disorders have been described: six spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA) types 1, 2, 6, 7, 17; Machado–Joseph disease (MJD/SCA3); Huntington's disease (HD); dentatorubral pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA); and spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, X-linked 1 (SMAX1/SBMA). PolyQ diseases are characterized by the pathological expansion of CAG trinucleotide repeat in the translated region of unrelated genes. The translated polyQ is aggregated in the degenerated neurons leading to the dysfunction and degeneration of specific neuronal subpopulations. Although animal models of polyQ disease for understanding human pathology and accessing disease-modifying therapies in neurodegenerative diseases are available, there is neither a cure nor prevention for these diseases, and only symptomatic treatments for polyQ diseases currently exist. Long-term pharmacological treatment is so far disappointing, probably due to unwanted complications and decreasing drug efficacy. Cellular transplantation of stem cells may provide promising therapeutic avenues for restoration of the functions of degenerative and/or damaged neurons in polyQ diseases.
An adaptive subsample delay estimator using a quadrature demodulator

An on-line delay estimation algorithm based upon an analogue quadrature phase detector that is suitable for determining the subsample delay between two noisy sinusoidal signals is introduced. The new estimator uses a discrete-time quadrature technique to directly update the delay estimate, which is in turn used to adapt the coefficients of a simple fractional delay filter (FDF). The estimator is insensitive to variations in the amplitudes of the input signals, is simple to implement and has a reduced complexity compared to other adaptive techniques. Simulations show that in the presence of system noise, the new estimator significantly outperforms conventional fractional delay filter based estimators.
Heavenly Bodies: Film Stars and Society

Richard Dyer's classic study of movie stars and stardom has been updated, with a new introduction by the author discussing the rise of celebrity culture and developments in the study of stars since publication of the first edition in 1986. Dyer's illuminating study is based around case studies of three major stars: Marilyn Monroe, Paul Robeson and Judy Garland. He draws on a wide range of sources, including the films in which each star appeared, to illustrate how each star's persona was constructed, and goes on to examine each within the context of particular issues in fan culture and stardom. Students of film and cultural studies will find this an invaluable part of there course reading.
Cutting Edge: TREM-2 Attenuates Macrophage Activation1

The triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM-2) delivers intracellular signals through the adaptor DAP12 to regulate myeloid cell function both within and outside the immune system. The role of TREM-2 in immunity has been obscured by the failure to detect expression of the TREM-2 protein in vivo. In this study, we show that TREM-2 is expressed on macrophages infiltrating the tissues from the circulation and that alternative activation with IL-4 can induce TREM-2. TREM-2 expression is abrogated by macrophage maturation with LPS of IFN-γ. Using TREM-2−/− mice, we find that TREM-2 functions to inhibit cytokine production by macrophages in response to the TLR ligands LPS, zymosan, and CpG. Furthermore, we find that TREM-2 completely accounts for the increased cytokine production previously reported by DAP12−/− macrophages. Taken together, these data show that TREM-2 is expressed on newly differentiated and alternatively activated macrophages and functions to restrain macrophage activation.
[Diurnal variation curve of intraocular pressure and ocular pulse amplitude with dynamic contour tonometer in primary open-angle glaucoma and normal tension glaucoma patients].

OBJECTIVE To observe the diurnal variations of intraocular pressure (IOP) measured with dynamic contour tonometer (DCT) in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients, normal tension glaucoma (NTG) patients, and healthy controls, and to compare the differences of diurnal variation curves between the two eyes of each subject and define the distribution of the peak of IOP; to analyze the diurnal variation range of ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) and compare the differences among the POAG and NTG patients and healthy controls. METHODS DCT was used to measure the diurnal variations of IOP and OPA in the two eyes of 18 POAG patients, 17 NTG patients and 30 normal controls at 5:00, 7:00, 10:00, 14:00, 18:00, and 22:00 and the distribution of the peak IOP was observed. The range of the diurnal variation of OPA was identified. RESULTS The diurnal variation curves of IOP were different among the POAG patients, NTG patients, and normal people, and also between the two eyes of each subject. Four right eyes (13.3%) and 6 left eyes (20.0%) of the healthy controls, 4 right eyes (23.5%) and 5 left eyes (29.4%) of the NTG patients, and 5 right eyes (27.8%) and 4 left eyes (22.2%) of the POAG patients reached the peak IOP values in out-office period. Diurnal variation of OPA was detected in both the patients and controls, and the variation curves were different within different groups sampled and between the two eyes of each subject. The diurnal OPA range of the right and left eyes of the POAG group were (2.1 +/- 1.3) mm Hg, and (2.4 +/- 1.9) mm Hg respectively, significantly larger than those of the normal controls [(1.1 +/- 0.5) mm Hg and 1.2 +/- 0.5) mm Hg respectively], and those of the NTG group [(1.1 +/- 0.8) mm Hg and (1.0 +/- 0.5) mm Hg) respectively] (all P < 0.01). CONCLUSION OPA has diurnal variation. The diurnal variation of the POAG patients is the largest. NTG patients and normal controls have asymmetric IOP and OPA diurnal variations. The two eyes of the same individual cannot always be treated as the same. The value of IOP measured in the office-time cannot completely represents the 1 d IOP.
Relations between exposure to arsenic, skin lesions, and glucosuria.

OBJECTIVES: Exposure to arsenic causes keratosis, hyperpigmentation, and hypopigmentation and seemingly also diabetes mellitus, at least in subjects with skin lesions. Here we evaluate the relations of arsenical skin lesions and glucosuria as a proxy for diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Through existing measurements of arsenic in drinking water in Bangladesh, wells with and without arsenic contamination were identified. Based on a questionnaire, 1595 subjects > or = 30 years of age were interviewed; 1481 had a history of drinking water contaminated with arsenic whereas 114 had not. Time weighted mean arsenic concentrations and mg-years/l of exposure to arsenic were estimated based on the history of consumption of well water and current arsenic concentrations. Urine samples from the study subjects were tested by means of a glucometric strip. People with positive tests were considered to be cases of glucosuria. RESULTS: A total of 430 (29%) of the exposed people were found to have skin lesions. Corresponding to drinking water with < 0.5, 0.5-1.0, and > 1.0 mg/l of arsenic, and with the 114 unexposed subjects as the reference, the prevalence ratios for glucosuria, as adjusted for age and sex, were 0.8, 1.4, and 1.4 for those without skin lesions, and 1.1, 2.2, and 2.6 for those with skin lesions. Taking exposure as < 1.0, 1.0-5.0, > 5.0-10.0 and > 10.0 mg-years/l of exposure to arsenic the prevalence ratios, similarly adjusted, were 0.4, 0.9, 1.2, and 1.7 for those without and 0.8, 1.7, 2.1, and 2.9 for those with skin lesions. All series of risk estimates were significant for trend, (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that skin lesions and diabetes mellitus, as here indicated by glucosuria, are largely independent effects of exposure to arsenic although glucosuria had some tendency to be associated with skin lesions. Importantly, however, glucosuria (diabetes mellitus) may occur independently of skin lesions.
Syndrome de régression embryonnaire des testicules: à propos de 6 cas

Le syndrome de régression embryonnaire des testicules ou anorchidie bilatérale congénitale (ABC) est un syndrome très rare défini par l'absence complète de tissu testiculaire chez un patient présentant un caryotype masculin normal. Le phénotype est variable en fonction du moment où la régression gonadique survient in utero. Actuellement, son déterminisme reste encore mystérieux mais sa survenue familiale est un argument pour suggérer une étiologie génétique. Nous en rapportons six cas, illustrant la variabilité phénotypique et décrivant la démarche et les nouveaux marqueurs diagnostiques ainsi que la conduite à tenir thérapeutique.
Análisis de incidentes informáticos en base a una distribución Bayesiana

El presente proyecto se encuentra dentro de la linea de investigacion de Seguridad Informatica, que desarrolla un grupo de investigadores de la UNPAUARG conformado y en consolidacion, financiado con fondos propios de la Unidad Academica Rio Gallegos, destinados a proyectos de investigacion acreditados. Este grupo de investigacion cuenta, en esta ocasion, con la direccion del Ing. Luis Marrone, perteneciente a la UNLP.