Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The impact of gameful design on sedentary adults' motivation for physical activity and physical activity levels

Background: Gameful design has been shown to have the potential to increase motivation for and engagement with physical activity (PA). However, at present, there is a significant lack of well-designed frameworks identifying effective pathways to increase PA behaviour. Purpose: To design a rigorous, methodologically sound, theory-grounded framework for developing gamefully designed PA interventions. Methods: Intervention Mapping (IM) was used to develop the study protocol, consisting of three studies. Study 1 encompassed the design of a novel theoretical framework leading to the selection of a gamefully designed PA intervention application. Study 2 entailed the intervention implementation. Participants (n = 83; mean age = 33.56; females = 48) were randomised to a six-week intervention. Data collection over a six-month period included biometric data, objective measurement of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and a detailed PA motivation inventory. Study 3 presented a process evaluation focused on usefulness, effectiveness and feasibility via a systematic mixed-methods approach. Results: Study 1 led to the creation of a new Taxonomy of Situated Motivational Affordances (SMAs) for Gameful Design, the establishment of selection criteria for gamefully designed PA applications and the selection of a commercial application (Fitocracy) for the example case pilot intervention. Study 2 showed no statistically significant change observations in relation to MVPA; however, at six weeks the intervention group showed significant increased levels of identified regulation (internalised motivation) for PA. A significant correlation (p=0.031) between intrinsic regulation and MVPA was verified. Study 3 determined the usefulness of a systematic methodological study design, a low adoption rate of the intervention application and the appreciation of the complex nature of human motivation in relation to PA. Conclusions: Gamefully designed applications grounded in theories such as SDT, BCTs and the newly developed Taxonomy of SMAs for Gameful Design have the potential to be effective in impacting motivation for PA and PA levels.
Test Case Prioritization for Automated Driving Systems

Testing and verification of self-driving cars play an important role in ensuring that the vehicles work as intended and that the strict safety requirements are met. Automotive companies are becoming increasingly agile and are adopting the principles of continuous integration, where short feedback loops are essential. Test case prioritization (TCP) techniques can help increase testing efficiency by promoting early fault detection, which enables defects to be found and fixed earlier. This thesis is done at Volvo Car Corporation (VCC), with the aim to investigate the applicability of TCP techniques within the complex autonomous drive verification domain, and to propose a TCP method that can be used in a continuous integration environment. One challenge is that access to historical test data at VCC is limited, as continuous integration has not been fully implemented yet. This is one of the reasons why VCC has developed a system called Verification Data Model and Generator (VeriDaG), which produces a simulated regression test history that is made to mimic the real system in a realistic way. In this way, VCC strives to have a prioritization strategy ready when continuous integration and test automation become fully implemented, as it may otherwise be too late. The thesis is conducted as a case study involving action research. A pre-study is conducted to form the basis of an experiment, in which different TCP techniques are compared. While the results of the thesis indicate that many existing TCP techniques are unsuitable within this domain, there still exist some types of techniques that seem applicable. A proposed black-box TCP method considering multiple factors is implemented and evaluated using the Average Percentage of Faults Detected per Cost (APFDC) metric, which is used to measure the efficiency of TCP techniques. It is black-box in the sense that it does not require access to the source code of the system under test (SUT). Expert-review evaluations are also conducted at the end of the thesis, to get further insights into the usability of the proposed method. Combined evaluation of the proposed method suggests that it can help improve testing efficiency at VCC and likely also at similar companies.
PEMODELAN DAN SIMULASI KONTROL ADAPTIF LAMPU LALU LINTAS MENGGUNAKAN ALGORITMA JARINGAN SYARAF TIRUAN MODEL AND SIMULATION OF TRAFFIC LIGHT CONTROL ADAPTIVE USING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK ALGORITHM

Transportation systems are complex dynamic systems that hard to be modeled exactly. The correct model need model verification and validation. This paper presents better discrete event models and simulations of fixed-time traffic controls at single intersections. Model is developed using Simulink / SimEvent toolbox provided by Matlab. The author propose enhanced models using artificial neural network algorithms as adaptive controls of traffic lights contained in intelligent traffic light blocks. The intersection model uses four approaches, and each approach consists of one trough stream and one right turn stream. Each stream is modeled as an M/M/1 queue. FIFO discipline is applied to the vehicles queue in each stream. The arrival time between vehicles is modeled using an exponential distribution. Model validation is done with two scenarios of arrival time between vehicles each - 3 seconds (high traffic volume) and 9 seconds (low traffic volume). The experimental results show that the number of vehicle queues and the average waiting time of the vehicles on the adaptive traffic control system is lower than in the fixed time traffic control system. This means that the proposed model is better than the previously developed model.
Evolutionary genetics of the Drosophila melanogaster subgroup I. Phylogenetic relationships based on coatings, hybrids and proteins

Eight species belonging to the Drosophila melanogaster subgroup were examined genetically and biochemically for the construction of phylogenetic trees. Based on the hypothesis advanced by Watanabe and Kawanishi (1979, 1981), we have estimated the ages for the eight Drosophila species in the descending order to be as follows : D, melanogaster, D, orena, D. simulans, D, yakuba, D, erecta, D. teissieri, D, mauritiana, and D. sechellia The plausible immediate ancestor for D. orena, D, simulans and D. sechellia appears to be D. melanogaster and that for D. yakuba, D, teissieri and D. mauritiana is D, simulans. On the other hand, a two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis has suggested that the subgroup consists of two complexes; they are D, melanogaster complex (D, melanogaster, D, simulans, D, mauritiana, D. sechellia) and D, yakuba complex (D, yakuba-D, teissieri pair and D. erecta-D. orena pair). Hybridization tests among the eight species have revealed that the most closely related pairs of species are the D, simulansD, mauritiana within the complexes and the D, mauritiana-D, teissieri between the complexes.
A TECHNOLÓGIAI HALADÁS INTÉZMÉNYI VONATKOZÁSAI THE INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS OF TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS

Institutional factors are more and more important in analysis of technological progress which is the driving force of economic growth. Douglass North pointed out that the potential benefits of technology do not prevail much of the world, so something else is also needed to realise growth. In technological progress, not only knowledge and scientific results are important, but also the institutional environment where these innovations are born. Institutions create incen-tives to economic actors, its differences can explain the technological gap between countries and reasons of income inequalities. In leading countries of innovation the institutional environment is different so there is no recipe how to create appropriate institutional structure. Great Britain, the pioneer of the first industrial revolution, is market-friendly, while the Scandinavian countries are characterized by active state intervention. The institutions concerned are different but their performance in innovation is respectively dominant. This paper presents the technological progress in terms of relevant institutional relationships in the context of technology, institutions and economic growth.
Acute Exacerbation Factors of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Identified in Patients Managed at the Fann Pneumology Department,

COPD is an inflammatory disease that can progress with episodes of aggravation known as acute exacerbation (AE). COPD can lead to hospitalizations and death. This work has been carried out to guide actions to prevent AECOPD by highlighting their etiological factors. It was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study including patients with COPD among those hospitalized at the Respiratory Clinic of NHUC of Fann from May 1, 2016, to October 31, 2017. During these 17 months, 90 cases of AECOPD were reported, representing a hospital prevalence of 4.1%. The sex ratio was 21.5. The mean age was 64.1 ± 8.9. The number of exacerbations increased with age and was higher in patients aged 70 years and older. One or more etiologic factors for AECOPD were found in the same patient. Bacterial superinfection occurred in 52.2% of patients. CBS was performed in 36 patients (40%) and returned positive in 13 cases with a predominance of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Klebsiella pneumoniae . The number of patients admitted to the service for AECOPD was positively correlated to the levels of PM10 particulate pollution measured at the Medina and Republic stations with correlation coefficients of 0.8 and 0.9 respectively. Therapeutic disruption was found in 31 patients (34.4%), linked to the high cost of medication in 24 of them (77.4%).
A Design Method of Metasurface using CCSR

This research paper describes the steps used to design an alternative metasurface which is based on Circular Complementary Split Ring (CCSR) formation at 5.8 GHz. All the 3D modelling was conducted using specialized EM simulation software that utilizes Eigen algorithm to solve different frequency modes that can resonate within the CCSR structure itself. The final design will be then fabricated using a precise laser CNC machine to achieve a better dimension as closely as possible to the simulation dimension. By using laser CNC, this step will able to overcome generic PCB design issue related to via’s placement, signal integrity, power integrity and multilayer designs. Completed CCSR metasurface will be able to mitigate or block unwanted EM mode from flowing to its neighbouring sensitive area which can affect the entire component performance due to unseen harmonics.
Integration of Utility-Scale Variable Generation into Resistive Networks.

Integration of Utility-Scale Variable Generation into Resistive Networks by Sina Sadeghi Baghsorkhi Wind and solar power account for half of newly installed electricity generation capacity worldwide. Due to falling technology costs, this trend is expected to continue despite the global economic turmoil and uncertainty over policy incentives for these fledgling sectors. A sizable portion of this capacity is connected to sub-transmission networks that typically have mesh configurations and are characterized by resistive lines (i.e. lines with X/R ≤ 4). The resistivity of subtransmission networks creates a strong coupling between power flows and voltage magnitudes that is atypical in high-voltage transmission systems. In the presence of generation variability, this can lead to extreme voltages, unacceptable voltage fluctuations, unusual (active and reactive) power flow patterns throughout the network, line congestions and increased losses. This can also cause excessive tap-changing operation of transformers with On-Load Tap Changers (OLTCs). These issues can be substantially mitigated with flexible methods of network operation and control. This dissertation examines the impact of variable embedded generation on the voltage profile, structural stability and the OLTC operation of the DTE/ITC network serving Eastern Michigan. It introduces a number of tools and methods to analyze the impact of variable generation in meshed resistive networks. It investigates how network resistivity transforms the impact of the reactive compensation, associated with variable generation, on the structural stability of the system. Finally an optimal voltage control scheme is presented to better coordinate the voltage regulation of variable generation with OLTCs, reduce network losses and enhance the structural stability of the system. The scheme is a model predictive control with an equivalent mixed integer formulation which models the hybrid dynamics of OLTC tap operations.
Impact of boron diffusion through O/sub 2/ and N/sub 2/O gate dielectrics on the process margin of dual-poly low power CMOS

This work evaluates the impact of boron penetration from p/sup +/-polysilicon on process margin and system performance. We experimentally demonstrate that small (3/spl sigma/=/spl plusmn/3 /spl Aring/) variations in gate oxide thickness, coupled with boron penetration, can increase the spread in threshold voltages by /spl plusmn/100 mV or more. By inhibiting boron penetration, N/sub 2/O grown oxides are shown to improve V/sub T/ control, thereby enhancing the process margin. We present a physically-based model to describe boron penetration as a function of t/sub ox/, and analyze the impact of increased V/sub T/ variation on subthreshold leakage current and on the resultant off-state power consumption. <<ETX>>
STUDIES ON THE INTRARETINAL ACTION POTENTIAL PART II. EFFECTS OF SOME CHEMICAL AGENTS UPON IT

In a previous paper (7), a report has been made by one of the authors on a method of recording the intraretinal action potential or the electro-intraretinogram (EIRG) with a micro-pipette, and on the characteristic configuration of the EIRG depending upon localization of the pipette within the retina. Based on the fact that the first potential change in the EIRG is concurrent with but of opposite polarity to the a-wave in the ERG insofar as the pipette is situated in a retinal layer external to the bipolar cells, suggestion was made that P III has its origin in the bipolar cell layer. Thereafter, however, it was noticed (8) that the "reversed a-wave" in the EIRG often regains a weak but original negativity by strychninizing the retina, and this appeared to favour the view that at least one part of P III originates in the receptor elements themselves. The present work was undertaken with a view to obtaining additional knowledge concerning the localization of P III and a clue for clarifying the origin of P II. The chemical method, which had preferably been used by many investigators (1, 2, 3, 5, 6) to analyse the ERG into its components and to determine the localization of thus analysed components in the retina, was added to the micropipette technique.
Exercise Capacity and Atrial Remodeling in Atrial Fibrillation

I n this issue of JACC Clinical Electrophysiology, Rizvi et al. (1) report that exercise capacity (EC) correlates with left atrial (LA) structural remodeling as detected by late gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (LGE-MRI) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), and they suggest that LA structural remodeling may represent a unifying mechanism between EC and AF. In Figure 1 in the report by Rizvi et al. (1) (reproduced in modified fashion here as Figure 1), linear regression analysis of the relationship between LA tissue remodeling (LA-TR) and metabolic equivalents achieved during exercise was reported with an R of 0.061 (p < 0.01). Although that is interesting, as discussed later, it is critical to highlight that this represents a very weak relationship and provides no information regarding causality.
Mechanical Efficiency Is Lower After Cycling Compared To After Running In Trained Triathletes

Triathlon involves swimming, cycling, and running. PURPOSE: To examine whether a 40-km cycling bout alters running economy (RE) and mechanical efficiency of running (ME) in trained triathletes. METHODS: Eight competitive triathletes (7 M, 1 F; 21.0±1.5 yrs; VO2max 59.2±7.6 mL? kg-1? min-1) with a minimum of one-year experience competing in triathlons. Subjects reported to the lab for 3 separate visits. At visit 1, subjects completed the informed consent, a VO2max test, anthropometric measures, and baseline performance testing [isometric squat (MVC) and countermovement jump (CMJ)]. During the 2nd visit, RE and ME were measured after subjects completed a 5-km treadmill run (R5K). For visit 3, RE and ME were measured after subjects completed 40-km of cycling (C40K). MVC, CMJ, and muscle glycogen values were measured before and after the exercise bout on visits 2 and 3. RESULTS: ME after C40K was significantly lower than ME after R5K (C40K: 48.4±5.7%, R5K: 53.7±3.5%; p=0.004). RE, blood lactate, respiratory exchange ratio, work, glycogen, CMJ, or MVC were not statistically different between C40K and R5K. CONCLUSION: The lower ME in running observed following cycling might be due to the combined effect of slightly higher blood lactate and RER values, and slightly lower external mechanical work performed.
Robotic Auxiliary Losses for continuous deep reinforcement learning

Recent advancements in computation power and artiﬁcial intelligence have allowed the creation of advanced reinforcement learning models which could revolutionize, between others, the ﬁeld of robotics. As model and environment complexity increase, however, training solely through the feedback of environment reward becomes more difﬁcult. From the work on robotic priors by R.Jonschkowski et al.[1] we present robotic auxiliary losses for continuous reinforcement learning models. These function as additional feed-back based on physics principles such as Newton’s laws of motion, to be utilized by the re-inforcement learning model during training in robotic environments. We furthermore explore the issues of concurrent optimization on several losses and present a continuous loss normalization method for the balancing of training effort between main and auxiliary losses. In all continuous robotic environments tested, individual robotic auxiliary losses show consistent improvement over the base reinforcement learning model. The joint application of all losses during training however did not always guarantee performance improvements, as the concurrent optimization of several losses of different nature proved to be difﬁcult.
Tools and Procedures for Quality Assurance in Higher Education Institutions - Training on Internal Quality Assurance Series | Module 2

The second course book deals with the basic knowledge of evaluation theories and methodology, particularly in the framework of higher education institutions. Furthermore, the course book deals with empirical social science research methodology as a tool for effective quality assurance. Core elements are the precise conception and systematic conduction of qualitative and quantitative data collection as well as data analysis and interpretation for evaluation purposes.
CUNY Academic Works CUNY Academic Works

An interesting problem associated with the World Wide Web (Web) is the deﬁnition and delineation of so called Web communities. The Web can be characterized as a directed graph whose nodes represent Web pages and whose edges represent hyperlinks. An authority is a page that is linked to by high quality hubs, while a hub is a page that links to high quality authorities. A Web community is a highly interconnected aggregate of hubs and authorities. We deﬁne a community core to be a maximally connected bipartite subgraph of the Web graph. We observe that a web subgraph can be viewed as a formal context and that web communities can be modeled by formal concepts. Additionally, the notions of hub and authority are captured by the extent and intent, respectively, of a concept. Though Formal Concept Analysis (FCA) has previously been applied to the Web, none of the FCA based approaches that we are aware of consider the link structure of the Web pages. We utilize notions from FCA to explore the community structure of the Web graph. We discuss the problem of utilizing this structure to locate and organize communities in the form of a knowledge base built from the resulting concept lattice and discuss methods to reduce the complexity of the knowledge base by coalescing similar Web communities. We present preliminary experimental results obtained from real Web data that demonstrate the usefulness of FCA for improving Web search.
cDNA Cloning of a Bovine Insulin-like growth factor-1 from Egyptian Buffalos and Expression of its Recombinant Protein in Escherichia coli

Egypt ABSTRACT Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is regarded as a crucial clinically significant therapeutic agent against several pathological conditions. Recently, recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology has enabled the production of many drugs of rDNA-origin including IGF-1 . Securing a readily available supply of IGF-1 is invaluable to clinical research and biotechnological domains. In this work, the cloning of a full-length bovine IGF-1 cDNA and the successful expression of its cognate recombinant IGF-1 protein is reported. Single-strand cDNA was prepared from liver tissues, through the specific reverse transcription (RT) of IGF-1 mRNA. Subsequently, a PCR amplicon of ~543bp was successfully amplified. Recombinant pTARGET™ vector harboring IGF-1 insert was successfully cloned into competent E. coli JM109 cells. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that the recombinant IGF-1 has been expressed at the expected size of 7.6kDa. The outcome provides a robust basis for transecting the recombinant pTARGET TM vector, harboring the IGF-1 cDNA insert, into mammalian cells. Optimal initial glucose concentration was found to be 10g/l with corresponding protein concentration of 6.2g/l. The proliferative biological activity crude recombinant IGF-1 protein was verified on HeLa cell lines. This is envisaged to facilitate large-scale production of recombinant IGF-1 protein, thereby enabling thorough investigation of its clinical and pharmaceutical
Article title: Critical roles of TLRs on the polarization of Mesenchymal stem cells for cell therapy of viral infections: A notice for COVID-19 treatment Authors: Shiva Gholizadeh-Ghaleh Aziz[1],

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as one of the leading cell-based therapy, have provided a strong link between clinical investigation and basic research. MSCs have been successfully employed in treating graft versus host disease (GvHD), autoimmune disease, spinal cord injury, and several other diseases, particularly with high immunity activity. Recently, MSCs have attracted attention to treating untreatable viral infections such as severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Given that the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are directly able to detect internal and external hazard signals, and their stimulation has an intense effect on the ability to grow, differentiate, migrate, and survive MSCs, it seems stimulation of these receptors can have a direct impact on the interaction of MSCs and immune cells, altering the ability to modify immune system responses. Hence, this brief review focused on the critical roles of TLRs on the polarization of MSCs for developing MSC-based therapy in viral infections. Consequently, according to the literature review, a polarization process, mediated by TLRs, concerning both anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory phenotype, may be considered for MSC-therapy against viral infections.