Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Different Types of Cognitive Training on Cognitive Function, Brain Structure, and Driving Safety in Senior Daily Drivers: A Pilot Study

Background. Increasing proportion of the elderly in the driving population raises the importance of assuring their safety. We explored the effects of three different types of cognitive training on the cognitive function, brain structure, and driving safety of the elderly. Methods. Thirty-seven healthy elderly daily drivers were randomly assigned to one of three training groups: Group V trained in a vehicle with a newly developed onboard cognitive training program, Group P trained with a similar program but on a personal computer, and Group C trained to solve a crossword puzzle. Before and after the 8-week training period, they underwent neuropsychological tests, structural brain magnetic resonance imaging, and driving safety tests. Results. For cognitive function, only Group V showed significant improvements in processing speed and working memory. For driving safety, Group V showed significant improvements both in the driving aptitude test and in the on-road evaluations. Group P showed no significant improvements in either test, and Group C showed significant improvements in the driving aptitude but not in the on-road evaluations. Conclusion. The results support the effectiveness of the onboard training program in enhancing the elderly's abilities to drive safely and the potential advantages of a multimodal training approach.
Teacher expectations in a university setting: the perspectives of teachers

ABSTRACT This study was designed to investigate the bases of teacher expectations in higher education. The first author interviewed 20 university teachers from an English-as-a-foreign-language course, exploring their expectations for the first-year undergraduates in their classes. The grounded theory method was adopted to analyse the data that had been collected. The results showed that for this sample of 20 teachers, student characteristics were important contributing factors to their expectations in the teachers’ university settings. The factors the teachers considered important included students’ (a) prior academic achievement, (b) motivation, (c) study skills, and (d) academic discipline. Also, teacher characteristics were found to be another major source of these university teachers’ expectations, including teachers’ (a) past teaching and learning experience and (b) teaching self-efficacy. The findings suggested that the bases of teacher expectations in higher education may differ from those at the elementary or secondary school level.
Joint Distance Maps Based Action Recognition With Convolutional Neural Networks

Motivated by the promising performance achieved by deep learning, an effective yet simple method is proposed to encode the spatio-temporal information of skeleton sequences into color texture images, referred to as joint distance maps (JDMs), and convolutional neural networks are employed to exploit the discriminative features from the JDMs for human action and interaction recognition. The pair-wise distances between joints over a sequence of single or multiple person skeletons are encoded into color variations to capture temporal information. The efficacy of the proposed method has been verified by the state-of-the-art results on the large RGB+D Dataset and small UTD-MHAD Dataset in both single-view and cross-view settings.
Phase Diagram and Electronic Structure of Praseodymium and Plutonium

We develop a new implementation of the Gutzwiller approximation in combination with the local density approximation, which enables us to study complex 4f and 5f systems beyond the reach of previous approaches. We calculate from first principles the zero-temperature phase diagram and electronic structure of Pr and Pu, finding good agreement with the experiments. Our study of Pr indicates that its pressure-induced volume-collapse transition would not occur without change of lattice structure—contrarily to Ce. Our study of Pu shows that the most important effect originating the differentiation between the equilibrium densities of its allotropes is the competition between the Peierls effect and the Madelung interaction and not the dependence of the electron correlations on the lattice structure.
High‐performance work system and employee performance: the mediating roles of social exchange and thriving and the moderating effect of employee proactive personality

Research on high-performance work system (HPWS) has primarily drawn from social exchange theory and human capital theory to unlock the underlying mechanisms in relation to employee performance. In addition to social exchange theory and human capital theory, a personal resources perspective can also be used to explain the effects of HPWS. In this cross-level research, we examined the mediating roles of social exchange and thriving, and the moderating role of proactive personality in the relationships between HPWS and task performance and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) by analyzing a sample of 391 employees and 84 supervisors from 21 firms in China. Using multilevel analyses, social exchange and thriving were found to mediate the effects of HPWS on employee task performance and OCB. Furthermore, proactive personality attenuated HPWS’s direct effect on thriving and indirect effects on employee task performance and OCB through thriving. Finally, we discuss theoretical contributions, and practical implications of the study, as well as future research directions.
Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Umbilical Cord Tissue into Odontoblast-Like Cells Using the Conditioned Medium of Tooth Germ Cells In Vitro

The easily accessible mesenchymal stem cells in the Wharton's jelly of human umbilical cord tissue (hUCMSCs) have excellent proliferation and differentiation potential, but it remains unclear whether hUCMSCs can differentiate into odontoblasts. In this study, mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from the Wharton's jelly of human umbilical cord tissue using the simple method of tissue blocks culture attachment. UCMSC surface marker expression was then evaluated for the isolated cells using flow cytometry. The third-passage hUCMSCs induced by conditioned medium from developing tooth germ cells (TGC-CM) displayed high alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels (P < 0.001), an enhanced ability to proliferate (P < 0.05), and the presence of mineralized nodules. These effects were not observed in cells treated with regular medium. After induction of hUCMSCs, the results of reverse transcriptional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) indicated that the dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) and dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) genes were significantly tested. Additionally, dentin sialoprotein (DSP) and DMP1 demonstrated significant levels of staining in an immunofluorescence analysis. In contrast, the control cells failed to display the characteristics of odontoblasts. Taken together, these results suggest that hUCMSCs can be induced to differentiate into odontoblast-like cells with TGC-CM and provide a novel strategy for tooth regeneration research.
Electrochemical Properties of Monoclinic NaNiO2

Monoclinic α- NaMnO2 is re-investigated electrochemically as a positive electrode material for sodium ion batteries. About 0.85 Na can be deintercalated from NaMnO2 and 0.8 Na be intercalated back during potentiostatical intermittent charge and discharge. Galvanostatical cycling between 2.0 V and 3.8 V gives 185 mAh/g discharge capacity for the first cycle at C/10 rate and 132 mAh/g remains after 20 cycles. Charge and discharge curves are significantly different indicating more hysteresis than is typical for lithium intercalation compounds. We also explain the remarkable difference between layered LiMnO2 and NaMnO2 upon alkali removal.
Efektivitas massage frirage dan kombinasi back massage-stretching untuk penyembuhan nyeri pinggang

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengungkapkan: (1) pengaruh jenis perlakuan massage frirage dan kombinasi back massage-stretching untuk penyembuhan nyeri pinggang, (2) pengaruh kondisi cedera akut dan kronis terhadap penyembuhan nyeri pinggang, dan (3) interaksi jenis perlakuan dengan kondisi cedera terhadap penyembuhan nyeri pinggang yang ditunjukkan peningkatan ROM pinggang pada pasien Physical Therapy Clinic Fakultas Ilmu Keolahragaan Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (PTC FIK UNY). Penelitian ini adalah eksperimen dengan desain faktorial 2 x 2, dengan menggunakan tes awal dan tes akhir. Subjek penelitian ini adalah 40 orang pasien klinik PTC yang mengalami nyeri pinggang kronis maupun akut akibat aktivitas kerja yang berjenis kelamin laki-laki usia 25-50 tahun. Instrumen pengumpulan data pengukuran terhadap ROM menggunakan goniometer dan tingkat nyeri menggunakan skala nyeri rating scale. Analisis data menggunakan uji ANOVA dua jalur. Hasil penelitian adalah sebagai berikut. (1) Terdapat pengaruh jenis perlakuan massage frirage dan kombinasi back massage-stretching untuk penyembuhan nyeri pinggang yang ditunjukkan peningkatan ROM pinggang pada pasien PTC FIK UNY. (2) Terdapat pengaruh kondisi cedera akut dan kronis terhadap penyembuhan nyeri pinggang yang ditunjukkan peningkatan ROM pinggang pada pasien PTC FIK UNY. (3) Terdapat interaksi jenis perlakuan dengan kondisi cedera terhadap penyembuhan nyeri pinggang yang ditunjukkan peningkatan ROM pinggang pada pasien PTC FIK UNY. Hasil analisis diketahui masase frirage lebih baik untuk menyembuhkan nyeri pinggang akut sedangkan kombinasi back massage-stretching lebih baik untuk menyembuhkan nyeri pinggang kronis. The effectiveness of frirage massage and back massage stretching in the healing pain AbstractThis study aims to reveal: (1) the effect of frirage massage treatment and combination of back massage-stretching on healing waist pain, (2) the effect of acute and chronic injury conditions on the healing of low back pain, and (3) the interaction of the type of treatment and injury condition to the healing of waist pain as shown by the improvement of ROM pain the patients of Physical Therapy Clinic (PTC) FIK UNY. This research was an experiment with the factorial design 2 x 2, by using preliminary test (pre-test) and final test (post-test). The subjects were 40 patients of PTC who experienced chronic and acute waist pain due to work activities, whose ages ranged from 25 to 50 years old. The data collection instrument was a measurement test. The data analysis used the two-way ANOVA Test. The results were as follows. (1) There was an effect of frirage massage treatment type and the combination of back massage-stretching on healing waist pain as shown by the improvement of ROM pain. (2) There an effect of acute and chronic injury condition on the healing of waist pain as shown by the increase of ROM pain. (3) There was an interaction between the type of treatment and the condition of injury on the healing of waist pain as shown by the increase of ROM pain.
INTEGRATED BUNDLE ADJUSTMENT WITH VARIANCE COMPONENT ESTIMATION - FUSION OF TERRESTRIAL LASER SCANNER DATA, PANORAMIC AND CENTRAL PERSPECTIVE IMAGE DATA

Terrestrial laser scanners and digital cameras can be considered largely complementary in their properties. Several instruments combine a laser scanner and a camera, with the laserscanner providing geometry information and the camera supplying point of surface colour. These approaches of data fusion make sub-optimal use of the complementary properties of the two devices, as they assign a master-and-slave casting to laser scanner and camera. A thorough exploitation of the complementary characteristics of both types of sensors should start in 3D object coordinate determination with both devices mutually strengthening each other. For this purpose a bundle adjustment for the combined processing of terrestrial laser scanner data and central perspective or panoramic image data, based on an appropriate geometric model for each sensor, was developed. Since different types of observations have to be adjusted simultaneously, adequate weights have to be assigned to the measurements in a suitable stochastic model. For this purpose, a variance component estimation procedure was implemented, which allows to use the appropriate characteristics of the measurement data (e.g. lateral precision of image data, reliability of laser scanner range measurement), in order to determine 3D coordinates of object points. Finding optimal weights for the different groups of measurements leads to an improvement of the accuracy of 3D-coordinate determination. In addition, the integrated scanner and camera data processing scheme allows for the optimal calibration of the involved measurement devices (scanner+camera self-calibration). Moreover, it is possible to assess on the accuracy potential of the involved measurements. The presented paper describes the basic geometric models as well as the combined bundle adjustment with variance component estimation. First results, based on data in a 360° test field, are presented and analysed.
Protein refolding by pH-triggered chaperone binding and release

Molecular chaperones are typically either adenosine triphosphate (ATP) dependent or rely heavily on their ATP-dependent chaperone counterparts in order to promote protein folding. This presents a challenge to chaperones that are localized to ATP-deficient cellular compartments. Here we describe a mechanism by which the pH-regulated acid stress chaperone HdeA is capable of independently facilitating the refolding of acid-denatured proteins in the bacterial periplasm, which lacks both ATP and ATP-dependent chaperone machines. Our results are consistent with a model in which HdeA stably binds substrates at low pH, thereby preventing their irreversible aggregation. pH neutralization subsequently triggers the slow release of substrate proteins from HdeA, keeping the concentration of aggregation-sensitive intermediates below the threshold where they begin to aggregate. This provides a straightforward and ATP-independent mechanism that allows HdeA to facilitate protein refolding. Unlike previously characterized chaperones, HdeA appears to facilitate protein folding by using a single substrate binding-release cycle. This cycle is entirely regulated by the external environment and is therefore energy-neutral for the bacteria.
Time splitting for the Lioville equation in a random medium

We consider the Liouville equations with highly heterogeneous Hamiltonians and their numerical solution by a time splitting algorithm. Such equations model the density of particles evolving according to the corresponding Hamiltonian dynamics as well as the propagation of high frequency waves with a wavelength much smaller than the correlation length of the random Hamiltonian. Our main results are on the relation between the time step used in the time splitting algorithm and the correlation length of the Hamiltonian. In order to fully resolve the Liouville equation, the time step must be chosen much smaller than the correlation length. However, we show that the time step can be chosen of the same order as the correlation length of the Hamiltonian when one is only interested in suitable statistical properties of the solution to the Liouville equation. We also present a more involved time splitting algorithm that allows us to take a time-step independent of the correlation length.
Combination of Chondroitinase Abc and Aav-nt3 Promotes Neural Plasticity at 1 Descending Spinal Pathways following Thoracic Contusion in Rats 2 3

26 Transmission through descending pathways to lumbar motoneurons, although important for 27 voluntary walking in humans and rats, has not been fully understood at the cellular level in 28 contusion models. Major descending pathways innervating lumbar motoneurons include 29 those at corticospinal tract and ventrolateral funiculus (VLF). We examined transmission and 30 plasticity at synaptic pathways from dorsal corticospinal tract (dCST) and VLF to individual 31 motoneurons located in ventral horn and interneurons located in dorsomedial grey matter at 32 lumbar segments following thoracic chronic contusion in adult anesthetized rats. To 33 accomplish this we used intracellular electrophysiological recordings and performed acute 34 focal spinal lesions during the recordings. We directly demonstrate that after thoracic T10 35 chronic contusion the disrupted dCST axons spontaneously form new synaptic contacts with 36 individual motoneurons, extending around the contusion cavity, through spared ventrolateral 37 white matter. These detour synaptic connections are very weak and strengthening these 38 connections in order to improve function may be a target for therapeutic interventions 39 following SCI. We found that degradation of scar-related chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans 40 using the enzyme ChondroitinaseABC (ChABC) combined with adeno-associated viral 41 (AAV) vector-mediated prolonged delivery of neurotrophin NT-3 (AAV-NT3) strengthened 42 these spontaneously formed connections in contused spinal cord. Moreover, ChABC/AAV-43 NT3 treatment induced the appearance of additional detour synaptic pathways innervating 44 dorsomedial interneurons. Improved transmission in ChABC/AAV-NT3 treated animals 45 associated with increased immunoreactivity of 5-HT-positive fibers in lumbar dorsal and 46 ventral horns. Improved locomotor function assessed with automated Catwalk highlights the 47 physiological significance of these novel connections. 48
A Mariner Transposon-Based Signature-Tagged Mutagenesis System for the Analysis of Oral Infection by Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive foodborne pathogen and the causative agent of listerosis a disease that manifests predominately as meningitis in the non-pregnant individual or infection of the fetus and spontaneous abortion in pregnant women. Common-source outbreaks of foodborne listeriosis are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. However, relatively little is known concerning the mechanisms that govern infection via the oral route. In order to aid functional genetic analysis of the gastrointestinal phase of infection we designed a novel signature-tagged mutagenesis (STM) system based upon the invasive L. monocytogenes 4b serotype H7858 strain. To overcome the limitations of gastrointestinal infection by L. monocytogenes in the mouse model we created a H7858 strain that is genetically optimised for oral infection in mice. Furthermore our STM system was based upon a mariner transposon to favour numerous and random transposition events throughout the L. monocytogenes genome. Use of the STM bank to investigate oral infection by L. monocytogenes identified 21 insertion mutants that demonstrated significantly reduced potential for infection in our model. The sites of transposon insertion included lmOh7858_0671 (encoding an internalin homologous to Lmo0610), lmOh7858_0898 (encoding a putative surface-expressed LPXTG protein homologous to Lmo0842), lmOh7858_2579 (encoding the HupDGC hemin transport system) and lmOh7858_0399 (encoding a putative fructose specific phosphotransferase system). We propose that this represents an optimised STM system for functional genetic analysis of foodborne/oral infection by L. monocytogenes.
New Compounds with (As 7 ) 3- Clusters: Synthesis and Crystal

Three new cluster compounds, Cs2NaAs7, Cs4ZnAs14, and Cs4CdAs14 were obtained from high temperature reactions. Their structures feature heptaarsenide (As7) 3- anions, where the clusters in Cs4ZnAs14 and Cs4CdAs14 are dimerized by the linkers Zn and Cd, respectively. The bonding characteristics of these clusters are discussed and compared. Band structure calculation on Cs2NaAs7 suggests that this compound is a semiconductor with an energy gap of circa 1.6 eV, which is in consistent with the dark red color of the crystals.
Aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss in HIV-positive and HIV-negative multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients.

Background. Ototoxicity following aminoglycoside treatment for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a significant problem. This study documents the incidence of ototoxicity in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients with MDR-TB and presents clinical guidelines relating to ototoxicity. Methods. A prospective cohort study of 153 MDR-TB patients with normal hearing and middle ear status at baseline controlling for 6 mitochondrial mutations associated with aminoglycoside-related ototoxicity, at Brooklyn Chest Hospital in Cape Town. Pure tone audiometry was performed monthly for 3 months to determine hearing loss. HIV status was recorded, as was the presence of 6 mutations in the MT-RNR1 gene. Results. Fifty-seven per cent developed high-frequency hearing loss. HIV-positive patients (70%) were more likely to develop hearing loss than HIV-negative patients (42%). Of 115 patients who were genetically screened, none had MT-RNR1 mutations. Conclusion. Ototoxic hearing loss is common in MDR-TB patients treated with aminoglycosides. HIV-positive patients are at increased risk of ototoxicity. Auditory monitoring and auditory rehabilitation should be an integral part of the package of care of MDR-TB patients.
Predictors of Participation in a Smoking Cessation Program among Young Adult Smokers

This study investigated the predictors of participation in a smoking cessation trial for young adults ages 18 to 30 years old. Eligible smokers (n = 164) completed a telephone survey that measured demographic, smoking history, and psychosocial variables before the initiation of smoking cessation treatment. Young adult smokers who attended at least one smoking cessation session were compared with those who did not attend any sessions. Logistic regression analysis indicated that race and age were statistically significant multivariate predictors of participation. Caucasians were over six times (odds ratio, 6.03; 95% confidence interval, 2.41-15.05) more likely to participate in the smoking cessation program compared with non-Caucasians (61% versus 19%). For every SD increase in age (SD, 2.45), there was about a 2-fold increase in the likelihood that a young adult smoker participated in the smoking cessation program (odds ratio, 1.82; 95% confidence interval, 1.23-2.71). Future research should investigate how to promote participation in smoking cessation programs among smokers in emerging adulthood and among non-Caucasian young adult smokers to prevent a lifelong habit associated with disproportionate morbidity and mortality. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(3):617–9)