Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lens thickness changes among schoolchildren in Taiwan.

PURPOSE To explore the possible influence of ocular growth, refractive error and age on the crystalline lens in school-age children. METHODS A Taiwan nationwide survey of myopia performed in 2006 was used to determine the prevalence and severity of myopia and the changes in ocular components. A total of 11,656 students were enrolled, including 5,390 boys and 6,266 girls, with ages ranging from 7 to 18 years. Refractive status was measured with an autorefractometer with the subject under cycloplegia. Lens thickness, anterior chamber depth, and axial length were measured with biometric ultrasound. RESULTS Data revealed that the crystalline lens became thinner between the ages of 7 and 11. Subsequent increases in the lens thickness correlated with age and the stability of myopia. This phenomenon was found not only in myopic eyes, but also in emmetropic and hyperopic eyes. The changes in anterior chamber depth inversely correlated with the changes in the lens. In school-age children, the ratio of lens/axial length was found to be significant: approximately 0.147 in the emmetropic group. However the ratio was seen to increase with age. The ratio of anterior segment/axial length was found to be approximately 0.3 in emmetropic eyes among all age groups and less than 0.3 in the myopic eyes of schoolchildren. CONCLUSIONS Lens thinning appeared to be compensatory in nature with respect to the increased axial length of normal eye growth. Myopic eye growth induces the lens to compensate by becoming much thinner. The change in anterior chamber depth corresponded inversely with lens thickness.
Interpersonal skills training for quality service interactions

Achieving improvements in customer service is now recognized as a major challenge facing manufacturing and service industries throughout the world. This challenge is particularly pertinent to the tourism and hospitality sector. Notions of quality in the tourism and hospitality sector have changed dramatically in the past 25 years: it was once synonymous with luxury and personalized service; it now counts at all levels of price. Service quality is often presented in the literature as primarily a marketing‐oriented concept; however, it has major implications for the quality of human resources and specifically for training and development activities. Focuses on the human resource dimension, specifically the behaviours which hinder and facilitate transactions between people in a service environment. Begins with a discussion of the concepts of quality, customer and service improvement, then considers the factors influencing interpersonal relationships and discusses alternative approaches to the development of interpersonal skills. Considers the nature of services and, finally, reports a study which evaluates the impact of an interpersonal training and development intervention on the quality of service provided by front‐office staff in a medium‐sized hotel.
Randomized comparison of group versus individual genetic education and counseling for familial breast and/or ovarian cancer.

PURPOSE An efficient approach to education and counseling before BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation testing is necessary for effective utilization of testing in the community. Education and counseling, when delivered individually, are limited by a shortage of trained health care providers as well as by financial and time constraints. The purpose of this study was to determine whether pretest education and counseling for breast cancer genetics in a group setting is equivalent to that provided on an individual basis. PATIENTS AND METHODS One hundred forty-two patients at high risk for harboring a BRCA mutation were randomly assigned to group or individual education and counseling sessions. Group education was followed by brief individual counseling. Knowledge and Impact of Events Scales (IES) were administered at baseline and after education and counseling and at 1 week and 3, 6, and 12 months. Satisfaction with education and counseling was measured at completion of the session. Preferred method of education and counseling was solicited at 3 months. RESULTS There was no difference in knowledge or IES scores between groups. When stratified by genetic test results, knowledge scores showed no difference. Regardless of group, post-test IES scores in patients with positive results were higher than patients with negative or uninformative results but returned to baseline by 12 months. Participants were equally satisfied with either method they were assigned. Significantly more time was spent per patient in individual sessions (1.25 hours) than in group education (0.74 hours). CONCLUSION Our data suggest that group education and counseling may confer similar benefits compared with traditional individual sessions. Additional investigation of this approach in larger numbers of patients is warranted.
How are Closeness and Conflict in Student–Teacher Relationships Associated with Demographic Factors, School Functioning and Mental Health in Norwegian Schoolchildren Aged 6–13?

This study explored the association between teacher-reported student-teacher relationship quality (closeness and conflict) and demographic factors, school functioning and child mental health in a cross-sectional study. The study was conducted among a national sample of Norwegian school children (N = 825) in grades 1 to 7. Bivariate analyses and standard multiple regression analysis were conducted. Conflict in student–teacher relationships correlated highly with child mental health factors and in particular, problems of externalization. For closeness in student-teacher relationships, demographic factors accounted for the largest proportion of variance. Our findings suggest that different strategies may be needed to promote closeness and reduce conflict in student–teacher relationships.
Mansuripur ’ s Paradox

An electrically neutral current-loop, with magnetic dipole m0, that is at rest in a static, uniform electric field E0 experiences no force or torque. However, if that system is observed in the lab frame where the loop has velocity v parallel to E0, and v c, where c is the speed of light, then there appears to be an electric dipole moment, p = v/c×m0 associated with the loop (in Gaussian units). Näıvely, the torque on this moment due to the electric field (which has strength E = E0 + O(v2/c2) in the lab frame) is τ = p× E ≈ E0vm0/c. Can/should the torque be different in different frames of reference? This paradox was first posed by Spavieri [3] and more recently by Mansuripur [7]. It is a conceptual variant of a famous problem by Shockley [16] that introduced the concept of “hidden mechanical momentum”. The paradox is compounded by supposing the static, “uniform” electric field is due to a single electric charge q at large, fixed distance from the magnetic moment in the rest frame of the latter, and the lab-frame velocity v is along the line of centers of the charge and moment. Discuss the force on charge q in the lab frame.
Microbial Decontamination of a 65-Room New Pharmaceutical Research Facility

The following article describes a case study about decontamination of a 65-room new animal research facility located in the Northeast. The decontamination took place during the cold winter month of January, and all equipment used to run the facility was in place prior to beginning the decontamination. This facility had an essential need for complete decontamination because a lot of its equipment was procured from other facilities and cross-contamination was a concern. Chlorine dioxide gas was used due to the inherent properties of a gas, such as excellent distribution and penetration which were required due to the numerous rooms in the facility. The target concentration was not reached, but since photometric measurement was utilized, the exposure was extended accordingly and the end result was successful. All biological indicators were eradicated, and no residues and no material degradation were observed.
Competencias emocionales y rendimiento académico en estudiantes universitarios

En la busqueda por lograr objetivos educativos del mas alto nivel, la ensenanza actual demanda la formacion integral de los estudiantes; esto es, tanto en la dimension intelectual como en la afectivo-emocional. En este estudio se investigo la relacion que guardan las competencias emocionales y el rendimiento academico en estudiantes universitarios mexicanos. Se utilizaron el Trait Meta-Mood Sacale (TMMS-24), la Escala de Habilidades Sociales (EHS) y el promedio academico final. Participaron 101 estudiantes de pre-medicina (51% hombres, 49% mujeres) entre 17 y 22 anos de edad (Media=18.81, DT=1.2). Los resultados muestran niveles adecuados en la percepcion y comprension emocional de los estudiantes, pero no en su regulacion. Existe una correlacion significativa negativa entre el rendimiento academico y las interacciones sociales. Se enfatiza la relevancia de desarrollar competencias emocionales en los estudiantes, que contribuyan a su bienestar y equilibrio emocional.
Cazadores recolectores del Arcaico Temprano y Medio en la cuenca superior del río Loa: Sitios, conjuntos líticos y sistemas de asentamientos

El articulo presenta y discute la informacion existente para los periodos Arcaico Temprano y Arcaico Medio en el Loa Superior (norte de Chile), integrando los datos espaciales, estratigraficos, cronologicos y ergologicos disponibles en el actual estado de investigacion, e incluyendo informacion hasta ahora inedita. Ademas, se exponen los resultados de un analisis tecnologico, morfofuncional y morfoestilistico realizado sobre los conjuntos liticos de los sitios considerados. A partir de dichos analisis, se genera una discusion en torno a los sistemas de asentamiento desarrollados por estas poblaciones y su relacion con los cambios paleoambientales documentados para la Puna de AtacamaPalabras clave : cazadores recolectores ; Periodo Arcaico Temprano ; Periodo Arcaico Medio ; Puna de Atacama ; Loa Superior; tecnologia litica ; sistemas de asentamiento; hunter-gatherers ; Early Archaic Period ; Middle Archaic Period ; Atacama Desert ; upper river Loa ; lithic technology ; settlement systems.
Business ETHICS/BUSINESS ethics: One Field or Two?*

Abstract: This paper delineates the normative and empirical approaches to business ethics based upon five categories: 1) academic home; 2) language; 3) underlying assumptions; 4) theory purpose and scope; 5) theory grounds and evaluation criteria. The goal of the discussion is to increase understanding of the distinctive contributions of each approach and to encourage further dialogue about the potential for integration of the field.
Queixas de voz em agentes comunitários de saúde: correlação entre problemas gerais de saúde, hábitos de vida e aspectos vocais

PURPOSE: To verify vocal complaints and correlate them to self reported general health problems, lifestyle habits and vocal habits in a group of Community Health Agents (CHA). METHODS: The subjects of this study were 28 CHA, who answered a questionnaire concerning their personal data, work situation, general health aspects, and vocal aspects and habits. Data was statistically analyzed. RESULTS: From all the participants, 42.9% reported vocal complaints, and attributed them to the following causes: exposure to cold temperatures (30.7%), respiratory infections (23.7%) and intensive vocal use (20.3%). It was observed significant correlation between the presence of self reported vocal complaints and those related to emotional issues (p=0.009) and back problems (p=0.038). The vocal symptoms most frequently reported were: hoarseness (33.3%), shortage of breath (32.1%), voice breaks (14.2%), low-pitched voice (14.2%), and voice varying between high and low pitches (14.2%). Regarding laryngopharyngeal symptoms, CHA reported: dry throat (32.1%), tiredness when speaking (32.1%), dry cough (28.5%), throat secretions (25%), and burning throat (21.4%). When these vocal and laryngopharyngeal symptoms were correlated to the presence of self-reported vocal complaints, it was verified a significant association with the following vocal symptoms: hoarseness (p=0.001), voice breaks (p=0.024), and low-pitched voice (p=0.024). CONCLUSION: There was a high percentage of CHAs who reported voice complaints, which were characterized mainly by hoarseness, voice breaks and low-pitched voice. Back problems and emotional issues were associated to the presence of voice complaints.
Hematology, Morphology and Cytochemistry of Blood Cells in Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus) and Greater Adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius)

Blood samples of 10 (6 males and 4 females) lesser adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus) and one male greater adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius) at Khow Khoew Open Zoo, were collected from the cutaneous ulna vein for basic hematologic, light microscopic and cytochemical studies of blood cell. Heparin was used for anticoagulant in all adjutants. There was no hematozoa detected in all adjutants. There was no significant difference in all hematological values between the male and female lesser adjutants. Lymphocytes were the second commonly observed leukocytes in the lesser adjutant and the male greater adjutant. They averaged 6-8 μm in diameter. By α-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) and β–glucuronidase (β–glu), they were negative and fine granular reactivities. Heterophils were the most commonly observed leukocytes in the adjutants. Heterophils contained many pleomorphic, dull eosinophilic granules and lobed nucleus. Heterophils were the medium-sized cells, averaging 8-12 mm in diameter. Heterophil granules were negative with all cytochemical stainings but pinkish stained with β–glu. The granules of eosinophil in the lesser adjutant revealed many small round granules whereas those of the greater adjutant were pleomorhic granules. They usually were the largest leukocytes, averaging 9-14 μm in diameter. The numbers of eosinophil were quite high in both the male and female lesser adjutants. Eosinophil granules were negative with all cytochemical stainings. Basophils were as small as lymphocytes but revealed many small granules surrounding central round nucleus. Basophils were moderately stained with ANAE and β–glu. These results provided comparative hematologic data, a guide for identification and cytochemical
Improved Matrix Algorithms via the Subsampled Randomized Hadamard Transform

Several recent randomized linear algebra algorithms rely upon fast dimension reduction methods. A popular choice is the subsampled randomized Hadamard transform (SRHT). In this article, we address the efficacy, in the Frobenius and spectral norms, of an SRHT-based low-rank matrix approximation technique introduced by Woolfe, Liberty, Rohklin, and Tygert. We establish a slightly better Frobenius norm error bound than is currently available, and a much sharper spectral norm error bound (in the presence of reasonable decay of the singular values). Along the way, we produce several results on matrix operations with SRHTs (such as approximate matrix multiplication) that may be of independent interest. Our approach builds upon Tropp's in “Improved Analysis of the Subsampled Randomized Hadamard Transform” [Adv. Adaptive Data Anal. , 3 (2011), pp. 115--126].
35 B-CELL EPITOPE PREDICTION

When a living organism encounters a pathogenic virus ormicrobe, the B cells of the immune system recognize the pathogen’s antigens by their membrane-bound immunoglobulin receptors and, in response, produce antibodies specific to these antigens. The term antigen refers to any entity—a cell, a macromolecular assembly, or a molecule—that may be bound by either a B-cell receptor or an antibody molecule. The binding portion of an antigen is called aB-cell epitope or an antigenic determinant. If an antigen is a protein, an epitope may be either a short peptide from the protein sequence or a patch of atoms on the protein surface in the three-dimensional space. Since other types of epitopes, such as T-cell epitopes, are not discussed in this chapter, B-cell epitopes will be referred to as epitopes. The property of an antigen to bind specifically complementary antibodies is known as the antigen’s antigenicity; likewise, the ability of an antigen to induce an immune response is called its immunogenicity. Neither antigenicity nor immunogenicity is an intrinsic feature of the antigen. Antigenicity is defined with respect to a specific antibody, and an epitope thus acquires an identity only because an antibody is able to bind to it. The entire accessible surface of an antigen is likely to be recognized by a panel of antibodies that is large enough (Berzofsky, 1985). Although an antigen’s antigenicity is defined by antibody–antigen interactions, its immunogenicity depends on characteristics of the immune system of the organism encountering the antigen. For example, rabbit albumin is immunogenic in the mouse but not in the rabbit. The main topic of this chapter is the problem of epitope prediction in protein antigens. The story began more than 40 years ago when Anderer in Germany showed that short C-terminal peptides of the coat protein of tobacco mosaic virus could elicit antibodies that recognized the virus and neutralized its infectivity. At that time, therewere no data on threedimensional structures of viral proteins; therefore, attempts to discover peptides that could mimic protein epitopes and possess the same immunogenicity as the whole protein
Factors Affecting Regularity of the Flow of Words During Written Composition

the flow of words during written composition is not regular and continuous. The periods of writing are irregular as well as the periods of reflection. Ideas seem to come at varying rates. The aim of this investigation is to obtain a quantitative measure of the rate of flow of words during written expression and to determine what factors affect it. This gen eral aim will be achieved by comparing the rate of flow of words during the writing of each of two compositions by junior high school students with various test scores, rat ings, and personal data. The problem will be considered in four divisions. In the first a study will be made of the factors within the compositions that may affect the rate of the flow of words. Such aspects of the problem as writing on familiar and unfamiliar material, linguistic construc tions, length, and general excellence of com positions will be considered. The second division will treat the relation of academic achievement in the school sub jects involving language skills to the rate of flow of words. Consideration will be given to the pupils' achievement in reading, spelling, and various phases of language. In the third division several personal and environmental factors will be discussed. An
Do Graphs Promote Learning in Principles of Economics?

Abstract The authors tested whether student performance in the principles of economics course is affected by the use of graphs as part of a lecture. They conducted two experiments at the University of South Carolina, one in spring 1995 and another in spring 1997. Students were randomly assigned to either a nographs lecture or a lecture with graphs. The main hypothesis was that students in the lectures with graphs would show higher gain scores than those in the nograph lectures (both lectures were videotaped). The authors found that students in the lecture with graphs in 1995 had significantly lower gain scores than those in the no-graphs lecture. For 1997, they found no significant differences in student performance between the two groups.
IoTScanner: Detecting Privacy Threats in IoT Neighborhoods

In the context of the emerging Internet of Things (IoT), a proliferation of wireless connectivity can be expected. That ubiquitous wireless communication will be hard to centrally manage and control, and can be expected to be opaque to end users. As a result, owners and users of physical space are threatened to lose control over their digital environments. In this work, we propose the idea of an IoTScanner. The IoTScanner integrates a range of radios to allow local reconnaissance of existing wireless infrastructure and participating nodes. It enumerates such devices, identifies connection patterns, and provides valuable insights for technical support and home users alike. Using our IoTScanner, we investigate metrics that could be used to classify devices and identify privacy threats in an IoT neighborhood.
Two Sides of Meaning: The Scalp-Recorded N400 Reflects Distinct Contributions from the Cerebral Hemispheres

The N400, a component of the event-related potential (ERP) associated with the processing of meaning, is sensitive to a wide array of lexico-semantic, sentence-level, and discourse-level manipulations across modalities. In sentence contexts, N400 amplitude varies inversely and nearly linearly with the predictability of a word in its context. However, recent theories and empirical evidence from studies employing the visual half-field technique (to selectively bias processing to one cerebral hemisphere) suggest that the two hemispheres use sentence context information in different ways. Thus, each hemisphere may not respond to manipulations of contextual predictability in an equivalent manner. This possibility was investigated by recording ERPs while presenting [in the left and right visual fields (VFs)] sentence-final words that varied over the full range of sentence-level predictability. RVF/left hemisphere items were facilitated (as evidenced by reduced N400 amplitudes) over a broader range of predictability compared with LVF/right hemisphere items, although both strongly predictable and completely unexpected items evoked similar responses in each VF/hemisphere. Further, the pattern of N400 amplitudes over the full range of predictability significantly differed from a linear response function for both VFs/hemispheres. This suggests that the N400 response recorded with standard central field presentation comprises different contributions from both cerebral hemispheres, neither of which on its own is sensitive to contextual predictability in an evenly graded manner. These data challenge the notion of a singular or unitary mode of comprehension and instead support the view that the left and right hemispheres instantiate unique, complementary language comprehension architectures in parallel.
The nature and focus of coaching in the UK today: a UK survey report

This paper reports and discusses the findings of the UK coaching survey run in 2010/2011 and compares these findings with similar surveys within the UK and in the USA. The paper explores the nature of coaching in the UK today. It confirms that the prevailing focus of UK coaching activity is business and management related. It also establishes that a majority of UK coaches who responded to this survey are accredited with a coaching-related professional body, and the majority of coaches identify themselves as independent consultants, with a business and management orientation. This trend appears to reflect business demand for recognised qualification among a growing number of external coaches in the UK.