Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Electrons and Protons Accelerated in Mercury's Magnetic Field

Fluxes of protons with energies of ∼ 550 kev and electrons with energies of ∼ 300 kev which exceed approximately 104 and 105 cm-2 sec-1, respectively, have been discovered in the magnetosphere of Mercury. Electron fluxes > 103 cm-2 sec-1 also are observed in the outbound pass of the Mariner 10 spacecraft throuigh the magnetosheath. The intensity versus time profiles of the particle fluxes in the magnetosphere appear with sudden onsets of ∼ 104 cm-2 sec-1 beginning at interplanetary background levels and persisting for times equivalent to their being distriblited spatially over regions having a scale size comparable to the planetary radius. For a spectral form dJ/dE α E-γ, where J is the differential particle intensity and E is the kinetic energy, the typical values of γ are γp = 5.5 for protons above 500 kev and γe ≥ 9 for electrons above 170 kev. Large coherent electron intensity oscillations (variations of factors of 10 to 100) have been discovered with characteristic periods of ∼ 6 seconds and with higher frequency components. In some cases proton bursts are found in phase with these oscillations. On the basis of the experimental evidence and a knowledge of the general magnetic field intensities and directions along the trajectory of Mariner 10 provided by the magnetic field observations, it is shown that the radiation events observed in the magnetosphere and magnetosheath are transient and are not interpretable in terms of stable trapped particle populations. Furthermtiore, experimental evidence strongly supports the view that the particles are impulsively accelerated and that the acceleration source is not more distant from the point of observation along lines of force than ∼ 8 x 103 to 16 x 103 kilometers (3 to 6.5 units of Mercury's radius). Candidates for the regions most likely to be sources of particle acceleration are discussed, namely, the magnetotail and the magnetosheath. It is pointed out that the phenomena discovered at Mercury will place more stringent conditions on allowed mnodels for electron and proton acceleration than have heretofore been possible in studies within the earth's magnetosphere.
The Evolution of Fun: Automatic Level Design Through Challenge Modeling

A generative system that creates levels for 2D platformer games is presented. The creation process is driven by generic models of challenge-based fun which are derived from existing theories of game design. These models are used as fitness functions in a genetic algorithm to produce new levels that maximize the amount of player fun, and the results are compared with existing levels from the classic video game Super Mario Bros. This technique is novel among systems for creating video game content as it does not follow a complex rulebased approach but instead generates output from simple and generic high-level descriptions of player enjoyment.
Efficient Approximation of Quantum Channel Capacities

We propose an iterative method for approximating the capacity of classical-quantum channels with a discrete input alphabet and a finite-dimensional output under additional constraints on the input distribution. Based on duality of convex programming, we derive explicit upper and lower bounds for the capacity. To provide an additive ε-close estimate to the capacity, the presented algorithm requires O((N ν M)M3 log(N)1/2ε-1) steps, where N denotes the input alphabet size and M denotes the output dimension. We then generalize the method to the task of approximating the capacity of classical-quantum channels with a bounded continuous input alphabet and a finite-dimensional output. This, using the idea of a universal encoder, allows us to approximate the Holevo capacity for channels with a finite-dimensional quantum mechanical input and output. In particular, we show that the problem of approximating the Holevo capacity can be reduced to a multi-dimensional integration problem. For certain families of quantum channels, we prove that the complexity to derive an additive ε-close solution to the Holevo capacity is subexponential or even polynomial in the problem size. We provide several examples to illustrate the performance of the approximation scheme in practice.
Differential regulation of renal angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) and ACE2 during ACE inhibition and dietary sodium restriction in healthy rats

Angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) 2 is thought to counterbalance ACE by breakdown of angiotensin (Ang) II and formation of Ang(1–7). Both enzymes are highly expressed in the kidney, but reports on their regulation differ. To enhance our understanding of the regulation of renal ACE and ACE2, we investigated renal ACE and ACE2 expression during conditions of physiological (low‐sodium diet) and pharmacological changes (ACE inhibition) in activity of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS). Healthy rats were treated with vehicle or lisinopril with either a control or a low‐sodium diet, and renal ACE2, ACE and plasma angiotensins were studied. During vehicle treatment, low sodium reduced renal ACE mRNA and activity without affecting ACE2 mRNA or activity and plasma Ang(1–7) and Ang II balance. Lisinopril significantly reduced renal ACE activity without affecting renal ACE2 activity. During ACE inhibition, low sodium reduced both ACE and ACE2 mRNA without affecting ACE2 activity or further reducing ACE activity. Measurements of renal neprilysin activity revealed no significant differences between any of the treatment groups. Plasma Ang(1–7) and Ang II balance is positively shifted towards the beneficial vasopeptide Ang(1–7) by the ACE inhibitor lisinopril, especially during a low sodium intake. In conclusion, modulation of the RAAS, by low sodium intake or ACE inhibition, does not affect renal ACE2 despite major variations in renal ACE. Thus, ACE and ACE2 are differentially regulated by low sodium and ACE inhibition. Therefore, we propose that the beneficial effects of ACE inhibitors are predominantly mediated by modulation of ACE and not ACE2. Whether this also applies to renal disease conditions should be investigated in future studies.
Nausea and vomiting after gynaecological surgery: a meta-analysis of factors affecting their incidence.

A total of 1442 patients who had major gynaecological surgery were recruited into three multicentre studies using a standard general anaesthetic technique in order to assess the efficacy of various doses of orally administered ondansetron in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting. A total of 1257 patients were included in this analysis: 420 received oral formulations of placebo and 212, 296 and 329 received ondansetron 1, 8 and 16 mg, respectively. The following factors were measured in these studies and were considered to have a possible influence on the proportion of patients experiencing postoperative nausea and vomiting: age of patient; volatile anaesthetic; intraoperative dose of fentanyl; postoperative dose of morphine; country; anaesthesia duration; neuromuscular blocker; neuromuscular block antagonist; premedicant; recovery time; type of surgery; antiemetic treatment; body weight. Using a process of elimination based on logistic regression techniques, the factors found to be the most important influences on the frequencies of nausea and vomiting were antiemetic treatment, type of surgery, neuromuscular blocker, country, volatile anaesthetic and age. A statistically significant interaction between type of surgery and age was observed. Adjusted probabilities of nausea and vomiting were obtained from the model, including all the above factors, together with the type of surgery by age interaction. Ondansetron 8 mg showed the smallest adjusted probability of nausea (0.54) and vomiting (0.34) and placebo the greatest (nausea 0.75, vomiting 0.61). A similar pattern of adjusted probabilities over neuromuscular blocking agents was seen for nausea and vomiting, with the greatest occurring in patients receiving pancuronium (nausea 0.74, vomiting 0.57) and the least in patients receiving alcuronium (nausea 0.59, vomiting 0.38). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
LrhA positively controls the expression of the locus of enterocyte effacement genes in enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli by differential regulation of their master regulators PchA and PchB

Genes essential for eliciting pathogenicity of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli are located within the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE). Expression of LEE genes is positively regulated by paralogues PchA, PchB and PchC, which are encoded by separate loci of the chromosome. To elucidate the underlying regulatory mechanism, we screened transposon mutants exhibiting reduced expression of pchA, transcription level of which is highest among the pch genes. Here, we report that the LysR‐homologue A (LrhA) positively regulated the transcription of pchA and pchB. A deletion in lrhA reduced the transcription levels of pchA and pchB to different degrees, and also reduced the expression of LEE‐coded type 3‐secreted protein, EspB. Expression of LrhA from a plasmid restored and markedly increased the transcription levels of pchA and pchB respectively, and highly induced EspB expression. Deletion analysis of the regulatory region showed that both promoter‐proximal (−195 to +88) and promoter‐distal (−418 to −392 for pchA and −391 to −375 for pchB) sequences were required for the LrhA‐mediated upregulation of pchA and pchB genes. Purified His6‐LrhA protein differentially bound to the regulatory regions of pchA/B, suggesting that direct regulation of pchA and pchB genes by LrhA in turn controls the expression of LEE genes.
Comparing Tactical Behaviour of Soccer Players in 3 vs. 3 and 6 vs. 6 Small-Sided Games

Abstract The present study aimed to compare players’ tactical behaviour in 3 vs. 3 and 6 vs. 6 soccer small-sided games (SSGs). The sample comprised 3,482 tactical actions performed by 18 U-11 youth soccer players from a Portuguese club, in 3 vs. 3 and 6 vs. 6 SSGs. All participants played eight minutes in both situations and field size was adapted according to the number of players involved (30 m x 19.5 m for 3 vs. 3 and 60 m x 39 m for 6 vs. 6). The System of Tactical Assessment in Soccer (FUT-SAT) was used for data collection and analyses. Descriptive analysis was conducted to verify frequencies and percentages of the variables assessed. The chi-squared (χ2) test was performed to compare the frequencies of the variables between 3 vs. 3 and 6 vs. 6 SSGs and Standardized Residuals (e) were used to examine the influence of the frequency of one or more variables within 3 vs. 3 and 6 vs. 6 SSGs. Data treatment was performed through SPSS for Windows®, version 18.0. Results indicated that players displayed safer behaviours in 6 vs. 6 SSG and more aggressive behaviours in 3 vs. 3 SSG. Findings can aid coaches and teachers to develop different players’ tactical skills according to the chosen SSG (3 vs. 3 or 6 vs. 6) form.
A study on SARS awareness and health-seeking behaviour - findings from a sampled population attending National Healthcare Group Polyclinics.

INTRODUCTION The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of massive SARS public education effort on SARS awareness and the conduct of those suspected of having SARS. MATERIALS AND METHODS Five hundred and ninety-three respondents attending the National Healthcare Group Polyclinics (NHGP) participated in the survey from 9 to 13 June 2003. Associations between awareness of SARS symptoms and (i) first action to be taken and (ii) mode of transportation used, if the respondent was suspected of having SARS, were analysed using Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. Logistic regression was performed to adjust for relevant covariates. RESULTS The majority (92.7%) of the respondents were aware of SARS symptoms. Television (91.6%), newspaper (65.2%) and radio (30.4%) formed the top 3 sources of information on SARS. Slightly more than half (51.6%) of those who suspect themselves of having SARS would choose to visit their primary health care doctors, while 22.7% of the respondents would go to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH). If they suspected themselves to have SARS, most (84.9%) of the 578 respondents would react appropriately by taking the SARS ambulance or driving themselves to TTSH. However, 60 respondents would nonetheless take public transport to TTSH [by taxi 8.5%, mass rapid transit (MRT) or bus 1.9%]. In particular, the retired with lower educational levels were likely to be oblivious both to the symptoms of SARS and the possible consequences of travelling by inappropriate transport. CONCLUSION Despite more than 2 months of intensive SARS public education in Singapore, there remain important gaps in knowledge and appropriate behaviour that have to be bridged.
Different Strokes for Different Folks. Possible Reasons for Variation in Quality of Knapping

The article describes the results of a survey of contemporary flintknappers. the aim of the survey was to investigate whether it was possible to identify inherent qualities in knappers which would indicate that some individuals possess an inherent ability or talent for knapping. Control over such individuals would provide a means of enhancing one's status through well-made knapped objects. It is argued that most members of a stone age society would have been capable of ordinary knapping. However, there are elements of natural aptitude whch enabled certain individuals to excel at flintknapping so that they were able to create objects of exceptions size and beaury.
Interaction Effects of Perceived Sponsor Motives and Facebook Credibility on Willingness to Visit Social Cause Facebook Page

This article explores the factors affecting college students’ willingness to participate in a Facebook page promoting a specific social cause: binge drinking prevention. The study examined the effects of the interactions between medium credibility (trustworthiness toward Facebook) and perceived advertisers’ motives (sponsored by a beer company versus nonprofit organization) on willingness to participate in the Facebook page through an experimental design. Also, motivational factors influencing medium credibility were examined. When students trusted Facebook, they were more likely to participate in the binge drinking prevention Facebook page. Students less engaged with the social cause varied significantly in their willingness to participate the Facebook page, depending on their perception of advertisers’ motives in supporting social causes but not depending on the perceived trustworthiness toward the Facebook page. However, highly engaged students notably altered their behavioral intention based on the perceived trustworthiness of the Facebook page but not depending on the perceived advertisers’ motives. Further implications and future studies are discussed.
AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION INTO FACTORS INFLUENCING THE ADOPTION OF INTERNET BANKING AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN NIGERIA

This study investigated the factors influencing the adoption of internet banking among undergraduate students in Oyo town, Nigeria with a particular focus on private university in Oyo, Nigeria. The objectives of this study were to determine whether perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, triability, capability, compatibility and perceived risk jointly and independently predicted the adoption of internet banking and also to ascertain the significant difference between perceived usefulness and adoption of internet banking. The study employed survey research. Primary data was used for the study with questionnaire as research instrument. The subjects were four hundred and seven students of a private university in Oyo. The hypotheses formulated for the study were tested using T-test, Pearson correlation, regression, and ANOVA with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings of the study revealed that perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, triability, capability, compatibility and perceived risk jointly and independently predicted the adoption of internet banking. Also, there was a significant difference between Low and High Perceived usefulness and adoption of internet banking. In addition, there was a significant relationship between capability and adoption of internet banking. There was also main and interaction effect of capability and perceived risk on the adoption of internet banking. Based on the findings, it was recommended that banks should embrace and promote innovative banking strategies in this era of globalization of which internet banking is a key factor. This can lead to competitive advantage for the banks and better banking services for the customers.
Emotional Intelligence in Applicant Selection for Care-Related Academic Programs

Two studies describe the development of the Audiovisual Test of Emotional Intelligence (AVEI), aimed at candidate selection in educational settings. Study I depicts the construction of the test and the preliminary examination of its psychometric properties in a sample of 92 college students. Item analysis allowed the modification of problem items, resulting in acceptable reliability (intraclass correlation = .67) and moderate to good discrimination indices. Study II examined criterion-related validity of the AVEI based on a sample of 102 nursing students in a large university in northern Israel. The results suggest that the AVEI correlated with students’ performance in field practice and in human relations training courses better than with any other relevant variable (e.g., GMA, GPA). Associations remained in the . 45 to . 60 range, even after controlling for factors such as academic ability, GPA, and gender. These results suggest that the AVEI may be a valid instrument in student selection for care-related programs.
Reduction of Simian-Human Immunodeficiency Virus 89.6P Viremia in Rhesus Monkeys by Recombinant Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara Vaccination

ABSTRACT Since cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are critical for controlling human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication in infected individuals, candidate HIV-1 vaccines should elicit virus-specific CTL responses. In this report, we study the immune responses elicited in rhesus monkeys by a recombinant poxvirus vaccine and the degree of protection afforded against a pathogenic simian-human immunodeficiency virus SHIV-89.6P challenge. Immunization with recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vectors expressing SIVmac239gag-pol and HIV-1 89.6 env elicited potent Gag-specific CTL responses but no detectable SHIV-specific neutralizing antibody (NAb) responses. Following intravenous SHIV-89.6P challenge, sham-vaccinated monkeys developed low-frequency CTL responses, low-titer NAb responses, rapid loss of CD4+ T lymphocytes, high-setpoint viral RNA levels, and significant clinical disease progression and death in half of the animals by day 168 postchallenge. In contrast, the recombinant MVA-vaccinated monkeys demonstrated high-frequency secondary CTL responses, high-titer secondary SHIV-89.6-specific NAb responses, rapid emergence of SHIV-89.6P-specific NAb responses, partial preservation of CD4+ T lymphocytes, reduced setpoint viral RNA levels, and no evidence of clinical disease or mortality by day 168 postchallenge. There was a statistically significant correlation between levels of vaccine-elicited CTL responses prior to challenge and the control of viremia following challenge. These results demonstrate that immune responses elicited by live recombinant vectors, although unable to provide sterilizing immunity, can control viremia and prevent disease progression following a highly pathogenic AIDS virus challenge.
Comparison of stable human Treg and Th clones by transcriptional profiling

From cancerous and non‐cancerous patients, we derived stable clones of CD4+ Treg, defined as clones that expressed high CD25 at rest, were anergic in vitro, and suppressed the proliferation of co‐cultured CD4+ cells. A conserved region of FOXP3 intron 1 was demethylated in all Treg clones, whereas it was methylated in non‐regulatory Th and CTL clones. In our panel of human clones, this stable epigenetic mark correlated better with suppressive activity than did FOXP3 mRNA or protein expression. We used expression microarrays to compare Treg and Th clones after activation, which is required for suppressive function. The transcriptional profile that is specific of activated Treg clones includes a TGF‐β signature. Both activated Treg and Th clones produced the latent form of TGF‐β. However, SMAD2 phosphorylation was observed after activation in the Treg but not in the Th clones, indicating that only activated Treg clones produced the bioactive form of TGF‐β. A TGF‐β signature was also displayed by a Th clone “suppressed” by a Treg clone. In conclusion, the hallmark of our panel of activated human Treg clones is to produce bioactive TGF‐β which has autocrine actions on Tregs and can have paracrine actions on other T cells.
Variability in patient preferences for participating in medical decision making: implication for the use of decision support tools

While there is an increasing emphasis on patient empowerment and shared decision making, evidence suggests that many patients do not wish to be involved in decisions about their own care. Previous research has found patient preferences for involvement in decision making to vary with age, socioeconomic status, illness experience, and the gravity of the decision. Furthermore, there is evidence that certain patients may experience disutility from being involved in decision making about the treatment of their health problems. We discuss the implications of these findings for the use of decision support tools and the difficulties of targeting their use towards those patients most likely to benefit. We argue that patients may be ill informed about what participation in decision making actually entails and unaware of the benefits they stand to gain by articulating their preferences to their clinician. Furthermore, clinicians are not good at accurately assessing patients' preferences, while patients may have unrealistic expectations about their clinician's ability to “know what is best” for them. Further research is required to understand variations in patients' preferences for information and involvement in decision making, and the factors that influence them.
A Society in Transition: Structure and Determinants of Attitudes Toward the Role and Status of Women in Ireland

This study examines the structure of attitudes toward the role and status of women in Ireland and their demographic determinants. Following a pilot test and an instrument pre-test, the main study was based on a stratified quota sample of 420 male and female Dublin adults, aged 18 to 65. Using factor analysis, eight measures were developed tapping attitudes toward the role and status of women. There was a consistent pattern of significant main effects for sex, age, and SES, which indicated that males, older people and those of lower SES background held more traditional attitudes and were less likely to favor social policies associated with greater equality. Among married women, employment status was a significant determinant of more egalitarian sex-role attitudes along a number of dimensions. The implications of the results for social change in Ireland are discussed.