Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immunohistochemical study of fibroblasts and mast cells in chronic submandibular sialadenitis.

AIM To further our understanding of the processes involved in fibrosis that occurs in chronic submandibular sialadenitis by investigating the distribution of myofibroblasts, CD34-positive fibroblasts and tryptase-containing mast cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty specimens of chronic submandibular sialadenitis with varying degrees of fibrosis and five normal submandibular glands were examined immunohistochemically for the presence of CD34, alpha-smooth-muscle-actin, desmin and tryptase. RESULTS Myofibroblasts were not demonstrated by the techniques for alpha-smooth-muscle-actin or desmin. CD34-positive fibroblasts were found around normal and moderately atrophic acini, but were not found around extremely atrophic acini and duct-like structures or in periductal and interlobular fibrous tissue. Tryptase-containing mast cells were found around vessels in normal submandibular glands. They were found in increased numbers in chronic submandibular sialadenitis, particularly in glands with widespread fibrosis, in which they were found in the fibrous tissue, and in which the increase was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS The results of this investigation suggest that tryptase-containing mast cells are likely to be involved in the fibrosis of chronic submandibular sialadenitis, but myofibroblasts and CD34-positive fibroblasts are not.
Older Women and Sexuality: Experiences in Marital Relationships across the Life Course*

ABSTRACT Rates of sexual activity have been found to decline over the life course, as individuals experience marital transitions and the loss of partners, health problems, and decreased sexual interest. This article compares and contrasts earlier- and later-life sexual experiences and examines the changing meanings that older women ascribe to sexuality over the life course. Qualitative data from a study involving 24 women aged 52 to 90 who were remarried after age 50 illuminate a shift, as individuals age, from an emphasis on the importance of sexual intercourse and passion to a greater valuing of companionship, cuddling, affection, and intimacy. Situating the discussion in the context of changing cultural norms and sexual scripts, the article investigates the impact of health conditions on the women's sexual relationships as well as the women's tendency to have later-life sexual experiences more positive than were their earlier sexual experiences. RÉSUMÉ On sait que l'activité sexuelle tend à diminuer au fil des ans en raison des transitions maritales, de la perte de partenaires et d'éventuels problèmes de santé. Cet article compare et oppose les expériences sexuelles vécues à différentes étapes de la vie et analyse l'évolution des signifiés que les femmes plus âgées attribuent à la sexualité au cours de leur vie. Les données qualitatives provenant d'une étude à laquelle ont participé 24 femmes de 52 à 90 ans qui se sont remariées après l'âge de 50 ans, illustrent un changement d'attention au fil des ans, attention qui passe d'une grande importance accordée aux relations sexuelles et passionnelles, à une valorisation de la compagnie, des câlins, de l'affection et de l'intimité en général. Cet article se penche sur l'impact des conditions de santé sur les relations sexuelles des femmes, et sur le fait qu'en général les femmes ont eu un plus grand nombre d'expériences sexuelles tardives positives comparativement à leurs expériences de jeunesse, en raison de changements dans les normes culturelles et sexuelles.
Binomial Coefficients and Enumeration of Restricted Words

We derive partial solutions for a recently-posed problem of the enumeration of restricted words. We obtain several explicit formulas in which the number of restricted words is expressed in terms of the binomial coefficients. These results establish relations between the partial Bell polynomials and the binomial coefficients. In particular, we link the r-step Fibonacci numbers, the binomial coefficients and the partitions of a positive integer into at most r parts. Also, we prove that several well-known classes of integers can be interpreted in terms of compositions. We finish the paper with an extension of a recent result about Euler-type identities for integer compositions.
Midpoint-Validation Method for Support Vector Machine Classification

In this paper, we propose a midpoint-validation method which improves the generalization of Support Vector Machine. The proposed method creates midpoint data, as well as a turning adjustment parameter of Support Vector Machine using midpoint data and previous training data. We compare its performance with the original Support Vector Machine, Multilayer Perceptron, Radial Basis Function Neural Network and also tested our proposed method on several benchmark problems. The results obtained from the simulation shows the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Culture and Leisure Constraints: A Comparison of Canadian and Mainland Chinese University Students

This study extends previous research on leisure constraints by developing a new, theory-based, inventory of intrapersonal leisure constraints items using the theory of planned behavior and self-determination theory as guiding frameworks, and then using the inventory to assess the cross-cultural validity of the hierarchical model of leisure constraints (Crawford, Jackson, & Godbey, 1991). These objectives are accomplished by comparing how perceptions of 10 intrapersonal constraints items and perceptions of intrapersonal, interpersonal, and structural constraints affect starting a new leisure activity among university students in Canada and in Mainland China. English-and simplified Chinese-language questionnaires yielded useable data from 227 Canadian and 216 Mainland Chinese participants. Nine of 10 intrapersonal constraints items differed significantly, with Chinese students being more intrapersonally constrained than Canadians in all but one instance. A single combined measure of intrapersonal constraints was compared with similar indices for interpersonal and structural constraints. All three constraints categories differed significantly: Chinese students were more intra-and interpersonally constrained, while Canadian students were more structurally constrained. Despite these cultural differences, support for the hierarchical leisure constraints model was found in the data for both Chinese and Canadian students, indicating the general applicability of this framework across two cultures.
Generating Version Convertors for Domain-Specific Languages

Domain-specific languages (DSLs) improve programmer productivity by providing high-level abstractions for the development of applications in a particular domain. However,the smaller distance to the application domain entails more frequent changes to the language. As a result, existing DSL models need to be converted to the new version. Manual conversion is tedious and error prone.This paper presents an approach to support DSL evolution by generation of convertors between DSLs. By analyzing the differences between DSL meta-models, a mapping is reverse engineered which can be used to generate reengineering tools to automatically convert models between different versions of a DSL. The approach has been implemented for the Microsoft DSL Tools infrastructure in two tools called DSLCompare and ConverterGenerator. The approach has been evaluated by means of three case studies taken from the software development practice at the company Avanade.
Psychophysiological and Psychological Correlates of Pericranial Allodynia and Affective Distress in Young Adult Females

DARCHUK, KATHLEEN M. , Ph.D., August 2007, Psychology PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF PERICRANIAL ALLODYNIA AND AFFECTIVE DISTRESS IN YOUNG ADULT FEMALES (88 pp.) Director of Dissertation: Kenneth A. Holroyd Pericranial allodynia, hypothesized to reflect central pain processing deficits, is the most reliable clinical finding in very frequent or chronic tension-type headache. However, little is known about the correlates of pericranial allodynia in healthy young adults, including its association with affective distress, headache disorders or persistent pain complaints, multimodal measures of pain sensitivity, and other psychosocial correlates of tension-type headache. The present study aimed to examine the association between pericranial allodynia and affective distress on formal diagnoses of headache and other persistent pain complaints, multimodal cephalic and extra-cephalic pain sensitivity, and other psychological correlates of tension-type headache in a population of young adult females. Results indicated that pericranial allodynia was not associated with either a formal headache diagnosis or persistent pain complaints, but was associated with decreased cephalic and extra-cephalic pressure pain thresholds, increased widespread pressure pain sensitivity, and amplified temporal summation. The generalized hyperalgesia and amplified temporal summation likely reflects central abnormalities in pain processing and/or modulation rather than either peripheral or local sensitization at the level of the trigeminal nucleus. Pericranial allodynia was also associated with a higher occurrence of mood disorders and more pain catastrophizing. As allodynia was found to be present without a headache diagnosis or persistent pain complaint, it may be a risk factor for the development of chronic tension-type headache. Further research is needed to clarify the roles of pericranial allodynia and psychological variables on the development and maintenance of chronic tension-type headache. Approved: _____________________________________________________________ Kenneth A. Holroyd Distinguished Professor of Psychology
Regulatory Competition in Capital Standards with Selection Effects Among Banks

Several countries have recently introduced national capital standards exceeding the internationally coordinated Basel III rules, thus suggesting a `race to the top' in capital standards. We study regulatory competition when banks are heterogeneous and give loans to firms that produce output in an integrated market. In this setting capital requirements change the pool quality of banks in each country and inflict negative externalities on neighboring jurisdictions by shifting risks to foreign taxpayers and by reducing total credit supply and output. Non-cooperatively set capital standards are higher than coordinated ones when governments care equally about bank profits, taxpayers, and consumers.
Chiral splitting and world-sheet gravitinos in higher-derivative string amplitudes

We report on progress made in the construction of higher-derivative superinvariants for type-II theories in ten dimensions. The string amplitude calculations required for this analysis exhibit interesting features which have received little attention in the literature so far. We discuss two examples from a forthcoming publication: the construction of the (HNS)2 R3 terms and the fermionic completion of the R4 terms. We show that a correct answer requires very careful treatment of the chiral splitting theorem, implies unexpected new relations between fermionic correlators, and most interestingly, necessitates the use of world-sheet gravitino zero modes in the string vertex operators. In addition we compare the relation of our results to the predictions of the linear scalar superfield of the type-IIB theory.
When saying sorry may not help: Transgressor power moderates the effect of an apology on forgiveness in the workplace

An apology, as an expression of remorse, can be an effective response from a transgressor to obtain forgiveness from a victim. Yet, to be effective, the victim should not construe the transgressor’s actions in a cynical way. Because low-power people tend to interpret the actions of high-power people in a cynical way, we argue that an apology (versus no apology) from high-power transgressors should be relatively ineffective in increasing forgiveness from low-power victims. We find support for this moderated mediation model in a critical incidents study (Study 1), a forced recall study (Study 2) among employees from various organizations and a controlled laboratory experiment among business students (Study 3). These studies reveal the limited value of expressions of remorse by high-power people in promoting forgiveness.
Reduced reference image quality assessment based on statistics of edge

Objective Image Quality Assessment (IQA) model investigation is a hot topic in recent times. This paper proposed a novel and efficient universal Reduced Reference (RR) image quality assessment method based upon the statistics of edge discrimination. Firstly, binary edge maps created from the multi-scale wavelet transform modulus maxima were used as the low level feature to discriminate the difference between the reference and distorted image for IQA purpose. Then the gradient operator was applied on the binary map to produce the so called edge pattern map. The histogram of edge pattern map was used to verify the pattern of the edges of reference and distorted image, respectively. The RR features extracted from the histogram was used to discriminate the difference of edge pattern maps, and then form a new RR IQA model. Comparing to the typical RR model (Zhou Wang's method, 2005), only 12 features (96 bits) are needed instead of 18 features (162 bits) in Zhou Wang et al.'s method with better overall performance.
Using UTAUT to explore the behavior of 3G mobile communication users

Although Taiwan's 3G services started its operation in 2003, the main profit source for every telecommunication company is still the cheaper fees of airtime minutes. Therefore, this study is directed on how these companies design the marketing tactics closer to the consumers' need under the dual influences of the decreasing individual's contribution and the low utility rate, as well as how to improve customers' willingness to adopt 3G mobile telecommunication services. Unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) is used as the model to carry out expert interviews and consumers' questionnaire investigation. This study found that the factors that significantly influenced the "behavioral intention" include "performance expectancy," "social influence," and "facilitating conditions," while the traditional known "effort expectancy" did not. Moreover, three non-assumed relationships were discovered during the Structural Equation Modeling analysis, which helped to revise the UTAUT model for 3G telecommunication services. The results of this study can be helpful to Taiwan's mobile telecommunication companies to adjust their corporate strategies and tactics for providing customer-oriented 3G services to both existing and potential customers, such that the overall 3G market can be expanded as well as a win-win situation for the 3G industry and their consumers can be achieved.
[Use of oxytocin augmentation after spontaneous onset of labor].

BACKGROUND Use of oxytocin augmentation during labour is not systematically registered in Norway. We wanted to describe the use of oxytocin augmentation in Hammerfest Hospital from 1996 to 2000. MATERIAL AND METHODS The patient files of all women who delivered in the study period (n = 2,725) were examined retrospectively. After exclusion because of induction of labour, planned Caesarean section, breech delivery, twin delivery and intrauterine fetal death, 2,122 women were included in the study. RESULTS 490 of 969 nulliparas (51%) and 233 of 1,153 multiparas (20%) were augmented with oxytocin. 203 of the 239 nulliparas (85%) who had epidural anaesthesia and 287 of the 730 nulliparas (39%) without epidural anaesthesia were augmented, compared to 64 of the 96 multiparas (67%) and 169 of the 1,057 multiparas (16%). INTERPRETATION In the present study, half of the primiparas and one fifth of the multiparas had their labour augmented with oxytocin. It is not known whether this is representative nationwide. There is a need for more research about dystocia, when intervention is appropriate and which women will benefit from oxytocin augmentation.
Osteoblast-like cells are sensitive to submicron-scale surface structure.

OBJECTIVES Studies showing that osteoblasts exhibit a more differentiated phenotype on rough titanium (Ti) surfaces and osteoclast-resorbed bone surfaces used materials characterized by average peak to valley distance (Ra). Other surface features impacting the cells include distance between peaks, curvature of the valleys, and relative distribution of flat and smooth regions. We used novel Ti surfaces prepared by electrochemical micromachining as models to examine specific contributions of individual design features to osteoblast response. Results show that micron-scale topography modulates cell number, cell morphology and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). In the presence of the appropriate microtopography, submicron-scale rugosity modulates differentiation and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) levels. In this study, we examined the role of different types of submicron-scale structures. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty micrometer diameter craters on Ti disks were produced by photolithography resulting in an electropolished smooth surface, and arranged so that inside crater area vs. outside flat area was 6 (30/6). Submicron-scale structures were superposed by acid etching and porous anodization. Ra's were 700, 400, 60 nm on acid-etched, porous anodized and smooth 30/6 surfaces, respectively. RESULTS MG63 osteoblast-like cells were sensitive to submicron-scale architecture. Cell morphology on anodized surfaces was similar to morphology on smooth surfaces, whereas on etched surfaces, cells had a more elongated differentiated shape. Cell number was greatest on smooth surfaces > anodized > etched. Osteocalcin and PGE2 were affected in a reverse manner. Active TGF-beta1 was greatest on etched 30/6 surfaces > anodized > smooth; latent TGF-beta1 was elevated on all rough surfaces. CONCLUSIONS These results support our previous observations that submicron-scale structures modulate osteoblastic phenotype and show that the physical properties of the submicron-scale structures are important variables in determining osteoblast response to substrate topography.
The Differential Effects of Software Training Previews on Training Outcomes

A field experiment of 143 employees explored the effects of realistic versus optimistic computer training previews on trainee learning, satisfaction, and post-training reactions. We argued that optimistic previews would result in enhanced outcomes during the training program, while realistic previews would result in enhanced post-training reactions. The effects of relevant individual differences (i.e., cognitive playfulness and software efficacy beliefs), and mediating factors (i.e., attention to ones performance evaluation and flow) were also examined. The results showed some support for our expectations.
Contribution of the R8 substituent to the in vitro antibacterial potency of besifloxacin and comparator ophthalmic fluoroquinolones

Introduction Previous work has shown that besifloxacin, an 8-chloro-fluoroquinolone, has more potent activity against gram-positive pathogens than moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin, which carry an 8-methoxy group. This study was conducted to determine the contribution of the R7 and R8 substituent to fluoroquinolone antibacterial activity. Materials and methods Besifloxacin, moxifloxacin, gatifloxacin, their R8 structural analogs, and ciprofloxacin were tested against representative isolates of various gram-positive and gram-negative species and previously characterized fluoroquinolone-resistant mutants of Staphylococcus aureus. Minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations were determined according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Reserpine was used to determine the effect of efflux pumps on antibacterial activity. Results In general, exchanging the R8 residue in besifloxacin slightly reduced the molecule’s potency, while introducing an 8-chloro group in moxifloxacin increased its potency. A similar change in gatifloxacin had little to no effect. Substituting the R8 residues did not increase the susceptibility to the efflux pump inhibitor reserpine or result in a loss of bactericidal activity. In contrast, the positive control, ciprofloxacin, was shown to be a substrate for reserpine and lost bactericidal activity against some fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates of S. aureus. Conclusion The data presented here show that, depending on the R7 substituent, replacing an 8-methoxy group with an 8-chloro substituent can improve potency or can have little-to-no effect. These findings highlight the importance of the interplay between the R7 and R8 substituents in determining antibacterial potency.
Distributed leader-following consensus for multiple Euler-Lagrange systems under switching network

The leader-following consensus problem for multiple uncertain Euler-Lagrange systems has been studied under some restrictive assumptions on the network topology. In this paper, we further study the same problem under switching network topology. We propose a distributed adaptive control law that can solve the problem under a switching network satisfying jointly connected condition. Under this condition, our results do not require the network to be undirected and allow the network to be disconnected at any time instant. Moreover, by introducing a leader system to generate various reference signals, our control law can handle a class of reference signals such as step functions, ramp functions, sinusoidal functions, etc., as well as their linear combinations.
The Relationships Between Skin Color and Self-Perceived Global, Physical, and Sexual Attractiveness, and Self-Esteem for African Americans

Skin color in relation to self-esteem and self-perceived physical, sexual, and global attractiveness was examinedfor a sample of9J African Americans. Based on marketplace theory and prior research, interactions of sex and skin tone were hypothesized. Fair-skinnedfemales were expected to have higherself-esteem and self-ratings of attractiveness than dark-skinned females. Dark-skinned males' ratings were expected to be higher or not different from those of fair-skinned males. Results obtainedpartially supported the hypotheses. Dark-skinned males' self-ratings of sexual attractiveness were higher, whereasfemales'ratings did not difer No significant effects occurred for other types of attractiveness or selfesteem. Results are discussed in terms of marketplace theory, stereotyping, and the exclusion of males from measures/changes designed to address skin-color biases in the Black community and society.