Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship between two measures of upper extremity strength: manual muscle test compared to hand-held myometry.

One hundred and twenty-two individuals with spinal cord injuries at levels C4-6, Frankel classifications A through D, were evaluated to determine the relationship between the manual muscle test (MMT) and hand-held myometry as accurate methods for measuring muscular strength. More specifically, this study attempted to define a range of myometry scores that could be correlated with discrete MMT grades. It also investigated which of the two modalities (MMT or hand-held myometry) is the best reflection of improvement in muscle strength over time. Sequential motor strength examinations using both modalities were performed at 72 hours, one week, and two weeks post SCI and then one, two, three, four, six, 12, 18, and 24 months post injury. The data analyses included calculations of Spearman ranked correlations, analyses of variance, and linear regressions. Results showed that 22 of 24 correlations between MMT and myometry were significant at p values less than . 001. The range of myometry measurements for a particular MMT grade appears to be most specific for MMT scores less than 4 (ie, poor-plus to good), and less specific for MMT scores greater than or equal to 4. The results of this study also indicate that myometry measurements detect increases in strength over time, which are not reflected by changes in MMT scores.
The Efficacy and Tolerability of Paliperidone in Mania of Bipolar Disorder: A Preliminary Meta-Analysis

Paliperidone may be effective for the treatment of bipolar disorder (BD); however, the evidence has been mixed. This is the first meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of paliperidone for the treatment of BD. We performed a systematic search of the literature using major electronic databases from inception to January 27, 2017. Randomized control trials (RCTs) investigating paliperidone treatment among patients with BD versus a placebo or other second-generation antipsychotics were included. We then performed exploratory random-effects meta-analysis. The 3 included RCTs compared paliperidone with placebo (667 patients received paliperidone and 369 received a placebo). The dose of paliperidone in the included studies ranged from 3 to 12 mg/day. Paliperidone did not significantly improve manic symptoms (Hedges’ g = −0.221, p = .067, k = 5) compared with a placebo; however, it was superior to a placebo in improving psychosocial function (Hedges’ g = −0.156, p = .042, k = 3) and general severity (Hedges’ g = −0.205, p = .001, k = 5). Paliperidone was associated with a greater use of anticholinergic medications (p = .002), increased body weight (p < .001), and higher serum prolactin level (p < .001) compared with a placebo. Our preliminary results suggest that paliperidone does not offer significant benefits for the treatment of mania symptoms in BD compared with a placebo. In addition, treatment with paliperidone was associated with a higher incidence of adverse effects. Because of the limited number of studies, further well-designed RCTs are warranted.
Sources of GABAergic input to the inferior colliculus of the rat

We have studied the GABAergic projections to the inferior colliculus (IC) of the rat by combining the retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and immunohistochemistry for γ‐amino butyric acid (GABA). Medium‐sized (0.06–0.14 μl) HRP injections were made in the ventral part of the central nucleus (CNIC), in the dorsal part of the CNIC, in the dorsal cortex (DCIC), and in the external cortex (ECIC) of the IC. Single HRP‐labeled and double (HRP‐GABA)‐labeled neurons were systematically counted in all brainstem auditory nuclei.
Affective motives to play online games

Abstract Most previous studies on online games have investigated the effects of cognitive motives, and thus neglected investigating affective motives. Using two studies (an experiment and a field study), the present research based on mood management theory aims to fill this void by investigating affective motives such as stress, pleasure, and arousal on intention to play online games. The present study demonstrates that the stress people experience in their life could be an initiator of online games play (Study 1), and both pleasure and arousal could be two important motives which make people stick with online games playing they have previously experienced (Study 2). We also showed that people with low self-esteem are more inclined to re-play online games when they experience more pleasure from playing games. Implications, limitations, and future research directions are discussed in conclusion.
AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF FACTORS AFFECTING CUSTOMER LOYALTY OF TELECOMMUNICATION INDUSTRY IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

This research aims to evaluate the effect of the variables; namely, price, service quality, brand image and trends on customer loyalty of service providers of mobile phones in Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to a convenient sample throughout the major cities of Saudi Arabia. A total of 775 were returned representing a response rate of 89.6%. The study showed that the majority of respondents had prescribed to more than one service provider at the same time. Additionally, it was revealed that all the variables tested; price, service quality, brand image and trends, had a direct effect on customer loyalty of service provider. Results obtained from this research will offer necessary feedback for improving a company’s strategy, marketing mix, services, and product offerings, thereby, achieve customer satisfaction and improve their customer loyalty while attracting new ones.
Stimulation of Expression of a Silica-Induced Protein (Sip) in Thermus thermophilus by Supersaturated Silicic Acid

ABSTRACT The effects of silicic acid on the growth of Thermus thermophilus TMY, an extreme thermophile isolated from a siliceous deposit formed from geothermal water at a geothermal power plant in Japan, were examined at 75°C. At concentrations higher than the solubility of amorphous silica (400 to 700 ppm SiO2), a silica-induced protein (Sip) was isolated from the cell envelope fraction of log-phase TMY cells grown in the presence of supersaturated silicic acid. Two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the molecular mass and pI of Sip to be about 35 kDa and 9.5, respectively. Induction of Sip expression occurred within 1 h after the addition of a supersaturating concentration of silicic acid to TM broth. Expression of Sip-like proteins was also observed in other thermophiles, including T. thermophilus HB8 and Thermus aquaticus YT-1. The amino acid sequence of Sip was similar to that of the predicted solute-binding protein of the Fe3+ ABC transporter in T. thermophilus HB8 (locus tag, TTHA1628; GenBank accession no. NC_006461; GeneID, 3169376). The sip gene (987-bp) product showed 87% identity with the TTHA1628 product and the presumed Fe3+-binding protein of T. thermophilus HB27 (locus tag TTC1264; GenBank accession no. NC_005835; GeneID, 2774619). Within the genome, sip is situated as a component of the Fbp-type ABC transporter operon, which contains a palindromic structure immediately downstream of sip. This structure is conserved in other T. thermophilus genomes and may function as a terminator that causes definitive Sip expression in response to silica stress.
RESEARCH Biomarkers in Lung Diseases: from Pathogenesis to Prediction to New Therapies Transforming growth factor- (cid:2) plays divergent roles in modulating vascular remodeling, inﬂammation, and pulmonary ﬁbrosis in a murine model of scleroderma

growth factor- (cid:2) plays divergent roles in modulating vascular remodeling, inﬂammation, and pulmonary ﬁbrosis in a murine model of scleroderma. Am J Physiol Mol Physiol 312: efﬁcacy and feasibility of targeting transforming growth factor- (cid:2) (TGF (cid:2) ) in pulmonary ﬁbrosis and lung vascular remodeling in systemic sclerosis (SSc) have not been well elucidated. In this study we analyzed how blocking TGF (cid:2) signaling affects pulmonary abnormalities in Fos-related antigen 2 (Fra-2) transgenic (Tg) mice, a murine model that manifests three important lung pathological features of SSc: ﬁbrosis, inﬂammation, and vascular remodeling. To interrupt TGF (cid:2) signaling in the Fra-2 Tg mice, we used a pan-TGF (cid:2) -blocking antibody, 1D11, and Tg mice in which TGF (cid:2) receptor type 2 ( Tgfbr2 ) is deleted from smooth muscle cells and myoﬁbroblasts ( (cid:3) -SMA-Cre ER ; Tgfbr2 ﬂox/ﬂox ). Global inhibition of TGF (cid:2) by 1D11 did not ameliorate lung ﬁbrosis histologically or biochemically, whereas it resulted in a signiﬁcant increase in the number of immune cells inﬁltrating the lungs. In contrast, 1D11 treatment ameliorated the severity of pulmonary vascular remodeling in Fra-2 Tg mice. Similarly, genetic deletion of Tgfbr2 from smooth muscle cells resulted in improvement of pulmonary vascular remodeling in the Fra-2 Tg mice, as well as a decrease in the number of Ki67-positive vascular smooth muscle cells, suggesting that TGF (cid:2) signaling contributes to development of pulmonary vascular remodeling by promoting the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Deletion of Tgfbr2 from (cid:3) -smooth muscle actin-expressing cells had no effect on ﬁbrosis or inﬂammation in this model. These results suggest that efforts to target TGF (cid:2) in SSc will likely require more precision than simply global inhibition of TGF (cid:2) function.
Autonomous Robot Navigation in Highly Populated Pedestrian Zones

In the past, there has been a tremendous amount of progress in the area of autonomous robot navigation, and a large variety of robots have been developed that demonstrated robust navigation capabilities indoors, in nonurban outdoor environments, or on roads; relatively few approaches have focused on navigation in urban environments such as city centers. Urban areas, however, introduce numerous challenges for autonomous robots as they are rather unstructured and dynamic. In this paper, we present a navigation system for mobile robots designed to operate in crowded city environments and pedestrian zones. We describe the different components of this system, including a simultaneous localization and mapping module for dealing with huge maps of city centers, a planning component for inferring feasible paths, taking into account the traversability and type of terrain, a module for accurate localization in dynamic environments, and the means for calibrating and monitoring the platform. Our navigation system has been implemented and tested in several large‐scale field tests, in which a real robot autonomously navigated over several kilometers in a complex urban environment. This also included a public demonstration, during which the robot autonomously traveled along a more than 3‐km‐long route through the city center of Freiburg, Germany.
Development and application of a generalized physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for multiple environmental contaminants

The pharmacological disposition of four environmental contaminants resulting from acute and chronic exposure regimes is simulated using a general physiologically based pharmacological (PBPK) model. The model, which is detailed in supporting materials, is mechanistic in structure and relies on available physical‐chemical partitioning and reactivity data, but experimental partitioning and absorption efficiency data can be used to refine the parameters. It is designed to complement environmental fate models, thus linking chemical emission rates with environmental and physiological behavior as part of the larger environmental risk assessment process. The model is illustratively applied to inhaled styrene and trichloroethene as well as ingested dibutyl phthalate and di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate. The phthalate simulations include the corresponding monoester and conjugated monoester as metabolites. Tissue concentrations for each of the chemicals and metabolites are simulated for acute, occupational, and environmental exposure regimes. The same model is used for all chemicals and exposure regimes with only the physical‐chemical properties, reaction rates, and exposure estimates being changed.
Principles of Group Solidarity.

Social scientists have long recognized that solidarity is essential for such phenomena as social order, class, and ethnic consciousness, and the provision of collective goods. In presenting a new general theory of group solidarity, Michael Hechter here contends that it is indeed possible to build a theory of solidarity based on the action of rational individuals and in doing so he goes beyond the timeworn disciplinary boundaries separating the various social sciences.
The effects of outcome reversals on children's conditional discrimination, equivalence, and reinforcer-probe performances

Previous studies have shown that class-specific reinforcers are critical not only to the establishment but also to the maintenance of conditional discriminations. However, this effect has yet to be tested with humans. In Experiment 1, normally capable children were trained to perform two arbitrary conditional discriminations (AB and AC) with class-specific reinforcers. Selections of B1, B2, or B3 given A1, A2, or A3, respectively, produced R1, R2, or R3, respectively. Upon mastery, the reinforcement contingencies were reversed such that selections of B1, B2, or B3 given A1, A2, or A3, respectively, now produced R2, R3, or R1, respectively. Next, selections of C1, C2, or C3 given A1, A2, or A3, respectively, produced R1, R2, or R3, respectively; but again, upon mastery, the reinforcement contingencies were reversed such that selections of C1, C2, or C3 given A1, A2, or A3, respectively, now produced R3, R1, or R2. In contrast to the findings of previous studies, most participants (six out of nine) showed no decline in accuracy on their conditional discrimination performances following training with reversed outcomes. In experiment 2, reflexivity, symmetry, and equivalence probes were administered to evaluate the formation of stimulus classes A1B1C1, A2B2C2, and A3B3C3. In addition, participants completed reinforcer probes in order to ascertain whether the class-specific reinforcers had become class members. Four of the eight participants performed positively on tests for equivalence, but we found little evidence of the reinforcers becoming class members. Experiment 3, which was conducted with the same stimuli used to complete Experiments 1 and 2, was a replication of those studies without outcome reversals. Six of the seven participants performed positively on tests for equivalence. Moreover, for three of these participants, arranging class-consistent reinforcement contingencies brought reinforcer-probe performances more closely in line with the original equivalence classes. Experiment 4 was a replication of Experiment 3 with novel stimuli. All three of the participants performed positively on tests for equivalence and the reinforcer-probe performances of two of these participants indicated the expansion of the equivalence classes to include reinforcers. Implications are discussed.
The RR Lyrae period–K-luminosity relation for globular clusters: an observational approach★

The period-metallicity-K-band luminosity (PL K ) relation for RR Lyrae stars in 15 Galactic globular clusters and in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) globular cluster Reticulum has been derived. It is based on accurate near-infrared (K) photometry combined with Two-Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) and other literature data. The PL K relation has been calibrated and compared with the previous empirical and theoretical determinations in literature. The zero point of the absolute calibration has been obtained from the K magnitude of RR Lyr whose distance modulus has been measured via trigonometric parallax with Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Using this relation, we obtain a distance modulus to the LMC of (m - M) 0 = 18.54 ± 0.15 mag, in good agreement with recent determinations based on the analysis of Cepheid variable stars.
Reversal of New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes With an Agonistic TLR4/MD-2 Monoclonal Antibody

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is currently an incurable disease, characterized by a silent prodromal phase followed by an acute clinical phase, reflecting progressive autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells. Autoreactive T cells play a major role in β-cell destruction, but innate immune cell cytokines and costimulatory molecules critically affect T-cell functional status. We show that an agonistic monoclonal antibody to TLR4/MD-2 (TLR4-Ab) reverses new-onset diabetes in a high percentage of NOD mice. TLR4-Ab induces antigen-presenting cell (APC) tolerance in vitro and in vivo, resulting in an altered cytokine profile, decreased costimulatory molecule expression, and decreased T-cell proliferation in APC:T-cell assays. TLR4-Ab treatment increases T-regulatory cell (Treg) numbers in both the periphery and the pancreatic islet, predominantly expanding the Helios+Nrp-1+Foxp3+ Treg subset. TLR4-Ab treatment in the absence of B cells in NOD.scid mice prevents subsequent T cell–mediated disease, further suggesting a major role for APC tolerization in disease protection. Specific stimulation of the innate immune system through TLR4/MD-2, therefore, can restore tolerance in the aberrant adaptive immune system and reverse new-onset T1D, suggesting a novel immunological approach to treatment of T1D in humans.
Assessing student written problem solutions: A problem-solving rubric with application to introductory physics

Jennifer L. Docktor, Jay Dornfeld, Evan Frodermann, Kenneth Heller, Leonardo Hsu, Koblar Alan Jackson, Andrew Mason, Qing X. Ryan, and Jie Yang School ofPhysics andAstronomy,University ofMinnesota–TwinCities,Minneapolis,Minnesota 55455,USA Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601, USA Robbinsdale Armstrong High School, Plymouth, Minnesota 55441, USA Department of Postsecondary Teaching and Learning, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA Physics Department, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48859, USA Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, Arkansas 72035, USA (Received 26 May 2015; published 11 May 2016)
On the Determinization of Weighted Automata

In the paper, we generalize an algorithm and some related results by Mohri [25] for determinization of weighted finite automata (WFA) over the tropical semiring. We present the underlying mathematical concepts of his algorithm in a precise way for arbitrary semirings. We define a class of semirings in which we can show that the twins property is sufficient for the termination of the algorithm. We also introduce single-valued WFA and give a partial correction of a claim by Mohri [25] by showing several characterizations of single-valued WFA, e.g., the formal power series computed by a single-valued WFA is subsequential iff it has bounded variation. Also, it is decidable in polynomial time whether a given WFA over the tropical semiring is single-valued.
Antibody-mediated recovery from subcutaneous herpes simplex virus type 2 infection

Young adult mice infected with 3 X 10(6) plaque-forming units of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) died within 9 to 12 days after spread of the virus from the sites of infection to the spinal cord and brain. Administration of HSV-2-neutralizing antisera prepared in syngenic mice or in rabbits inhibited spread of the virus from the footpad of infected animals and prevented death. A single intraperitoneal inoculum of antiserum (virus-neutralizing titer of 1:128) was effective in protecting mice when the antiserum was given at 8 to 48 h, but not at 72 h, after virus inoculation. Immune sera absorbed with HSV-2-infected cells no longer protected mice from subcutaneous infection, whereas absorption with noninfected cells had no effect. Thus, HSV-2-specific antibodies appeared to be responsible for the protection observed. If the mice were given a sublethal dose of irradiation (390 rads) at 24 h before antibody transfer, protection was no longer obtained. This suggested that the mechanism of protection probably was not solely due to in vivo neutralization of virus, but required the participation of a radiosensitive component which has not yet been defined.
Psychological burden among women with polycystic ovarian syndrome in Oman: a case–control study

Purpose Previous studies in Euro-American populations have shown that women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) have increased levels of “psychological burden”. While PCOS has been reported in Arab countries such as Oman, there is a dearth of studies of the occurrence of psychological burden among PCOS women in the Arab region. This study aimed to compare sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of PCOS women diagnosed with non-PCOS women and prevalence of severity of depression, anxiety and stress and to explore the association between PCOS and indices of psychological disturbances after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Patients and methods This hospital-based case–control study was conducted among women aged 16–49 years. The study included 52 women diagnosed with PCOS (as per Rotterdam 2003 criteria) and 60 control who were PCOS-free. The presence of psychological burden – depression, anxiety and stress – was quantified using Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Results The crude odds ratios (ORs) generated by logistic regression models indicated an increased risk of depression, anxiety and stress among women with PCOS compared to controls. The adjusted OR also indicated an increased risk of depression (OR =1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.50, 2.43), anxiety (OR =1.09; 95% CI 0.47, 2.52) and stress (OR =1.45; 95% CI 0.68, 3.12), However, no statistical differences were observed along the three psychological distresses (p>0.05) between the two study groups. Conclusion The study indicates that the presence of PCOS is associated with an increased risk of psychological burden. If this study will withstand further scrutiny, meeting psychological needs of such population would need to be contemplated.
ocial interaction-based consumer decision-making model in social ommerce : The role of word of mouth and observational learning

Social commerce mediated by social media and social network platforms has led to the development of new business models in e-commerce and digitized the consumer decision journey. Social interaction is considered as a prerequisite for successful social commerce since consumers now expect an interactive and social experience while making purchase decisions. Drawing on word of mouth (WOM) and observational learning theories, we conceptualize social interactions in social commerce environments into two forms: WOM communication and observing other consumers’ purchases, and examine their
WEIGHTED AVERAGE POWER SIMILAR TESTS FOR STRUCTURAL CHANGE IN THE GAUSSIAN LINEAR REGRESSION MODEL

Average exponential F tests for structural change in a Gaussian linear regression model and modifications thereof maximize a weighted average power that incorporates specific weighting functions to make the resulting test statistics simple. Generalizations of these tests involve the numerical evaluation of (potentially) complicated integrals. In this paper, we suggest a uniform Laplace approximation to evaluate weighted average power test statistics for which a simple closed form does not exist. We also show that a modification of the avg-F test is optimal under a very large class of weighting functions and can be written as a ratio of quadratic forms so that both its p-values and critical values are easy to calculate using numerical algorithms.