Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Schizotypy, creativity and mating success in humans

There is an evolutionary puzzle surrounding the persistence of schizophrenia, since it is substantially heritable and associated with sharply reduced fitness. However, some of the personality traits which are predictive of schizophrenia are also associated with artistic creativity. Geoffrey Miller has proposed that artistic creativity functions to attract mates. Here, we investigate the relationship between schizotypal personality traits, creative activity, and mating success in a large sample of British poets, visual artists, and other adults. We show that two components of schizotypy are positively correlated with mating success. For one component, this relationship is mediated by creative activity. Results are discussed in terms of the evolution of human creativity and the genesis of schizophrenia.
Stepwise training supports strategic second-order theory of mind in turn-taking games

People model other people’s mental states in order to understand and predict their behavior. Sometimes they model what others think about them as well: “He thinks that I intend to stop. ” Such second-order theory of mind is needed to navigate some social situations, for example, to make optimal decisions in turn-taking games. Adults sometimes find this very difficult. Sometimes they make decisions that do not fit their predictions about the other player. However, the main bottleneck for decision makers is to take a second-order perspective required to make a correct opponent model. We report a methodical investigation into supporting factors that help adults do better. We presented subjects with two-player, three-turn games in which optimal decisions required second-order theory of mind (Hedden and Zhang, 2002). We applied three “scaffolds” that, theoretically, should facilitate second-order perspective-taking: 1) stepwise training, from simple one-person games to games requiring second-order theory of mind; 2) prompting subjects to predict the opponent’s next decision before making their own decision; and 3) a realistic visual task representation. The performance of subjects in the eight resulting combinations shows that stepwise training, but not the other two scaffolds, improves subjects’ second-order opponent models and thereby their own decisions.
Mineralogy, zinc kinetic adsorption and sequential extraction of contaminated soil in Manaus, Amazon

Zinc is a heavy metal that enters the environment as consequence of both natural and anthropogenic activities. The association of the soil geochemical fractions and adsorption kinetics were studied to evaluate the behavior of the Zn in a contaminated Utisol soil. The contaminated soil samples were collected at depth 0-20, 20-40, 40-60, and 60-80cm into the Manaus Industrial District (MID) region. The study was performed in soil fractions at 50µm being the samples submitted to sequential extraction, batch experiments, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The adsorption kinetics was fitted according to Lagergren equation. The physical and chemical proprieties of soil showed that organic matter has low cation adsorption capacity and the existence of kaolinite poorly ordered, monoclinic and mixed with others mineral. The kinetics experiments performed indicated that the Zn is adsorbed by sorption process most probably with the formation of two bidentate surfaces. The Zn contents are above established by CETESB (reference value 60mg kg-1) being observed remarkable differences between exchangeable and residual fraction.
Method of B0 mapping with magnitude‐based correction for bipolar two‐point Dixon cardiac MRI

The conventional two‐point (2pt) Dixon technique explicitly estimates B0 map by performing phase unwrapping. When signal loss, phase singularity, artifacts, or spatially isolated regions corrupt the measured phase images, this unwrapping‐based technique will face difficulty. This work aims to improve the reliability of B0 mapping by performing unwrapping error correction.
Practice of Epidemiology Using Marginal Structural Measurement-Error Models to Estimate the Long-term Effect of Antiretroviral Therapy on Incident AIDS or Death

To estimate the net effect of imperfectly measured highly active antiretroviral therapy on incident acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or death, the authors combined inverse probability-of-treatment-and-censoring weighted estimation of a marginal structural Cox model with regression-calibration methods. Between 1995 and 2007, 950 human immunodeficiency virus–positive men and women were followed in 2 US cohort studies. During 4,054 person-years, 374 initiated highly active antiretroviral therapy, 211 developed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or died, and 173 dropped out. Accounting for measured confounders and determinants of dropout, the weighted hazard ratio for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or death comparing use of highly active antiretroviral therapy in the prior 2 years with no therapy was 0.36 (95% confidence limits: 0.21, 0.61). This association was relatively constant over follow-up (P 1⁄4 0.19) and stronger than crude or adjusted hazard ratios of 0.75 and 0.95, respectively. Accounting for measurement error in reported exposure using external validation data on 331 men and women provided a hazard ratio of 0.17, with bias shifted from the hazard ratio to the estimate of precision as seen by the 2.5-fold wider confidence limits (95% confidence limits: 0.06, 0.43). Marginal structural measurement-error models can simultaneously account for 3 major sources of bias in epidemiologic research: validated exposure measurement error, measured selection bias, and measured time-fixed and time-varying confounding.
Statins dose-dependently exert a significant chemopreventive effect on colon cancer in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A population-based cohort study

Purpose We evaluated the chemopreventive effect of statins on colon cancer in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and identified the statin exerting the strongest chemopreventive effect. Methods Using the National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified patients who received a COPD diagnosis in Taiwan between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2012, and included them in the study cohort. Each patient was followed to assess the colon cancer risk and protective factors. A propensity score was derived using a logistic regression model to estimate the effect of statins by accounting for covariates predicted during the intervention (statins). To examine the dose–response relationship, we categorized statin doses into four groups in each cohort [<28, 28–90, 91–365, and >365 cumulative defined daily dose]. Results Compared with the statin nonusers, the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for colon cancer decreased in the statin users (aHR = 0.52, 95% confidence interval = 0.44, 0.62). Hydrophilic statins exerted a stronger preventive effect against colon cancer. Regarding the statin type, lovastatin, pravastatin, and fluvastatin nonsignificantly reduced the colon cancer risk in the patients with COPD. Compared with the statin nonusers, the aHRs for colon cancer decreased in the individual statin users (rosuvastatin, simvastatin, and atorvastatin: aHRs = 0.28, 0.64, and 0.65, respectively). In the sensitivity analysis, statins dose-dependently reduced the colon cancer risk. Conclusions Statins dose-dependently exert significant chemopreventive effects on colon cancer in patients with COPD, with rosuvastatin exerting the largest chemopreventive effect.
Grasping of Unknown Objects Using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks Based on Depth Images

We present a data-driven, bottom-up, deep learning approach to robotic grasping of unknown objects using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (DCNNs). The approach uses depth images of the scene as its sole input for synthesis of a single-grasp solution during execution, adequately portraying the robot's visual perception during exploration of a scene. The training input consists of precomputed high-quality grasps, generated by analytical grasp planners, accompanied with rendered depth images of the training objects. In contrast to previous work on applying deep learning techniques to robotic grasping, our approach is able to handle full end-effector poses and therefore approach directions other than the view direction of the camera. Furthermore, the approach is not limited to a certain grasping setup (e. g. parallel jaw gripper) by design. We evaluate the method regarding its force-closure performance in simulation using the KIT and YCB object model datasets as well as a big data grasping database. We demonstrate the performance of our approach in qualitative grasping experiments on the humanoid robot ARMAR-III.
Distributed Fault Detection Based on Credibility and Cooperation for WSNs in Smart Grids

Due to the increasingly important role in monitoring and data collection that sensors play, accurate and timely fault detection is a key issue for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) in smart grids. This paper presents a novel distributed fault detection mechanism for WSNs based on credibility and cooperation. Firstly, a reasonable credibility model of a sensor is established to identify any suspicious status of the sensor according to its own temporal data correlation. Based on the credibility model, the suspicious sensor is then chosen to launch fault diagnosis requests. Secondly, the sending time of fault diagnosis request is discussed to avoid the transmission overhead brought about by unnecessary diagnosis requests and improve the efficiency of fault detection based on neighbor cooperation. The diagnosis reply of a neighbor sensor is analyzed according to its own status. Finally, to further improve the accuracy of fault detection, the diagnosis results of neighbors are divided into several classifications to judge the fault status of the sensors which launch the fault diagnosis requests. Simulation results show that this novel mechanism can achieve high fault detection ratio with a small number of fault diagnoses and low data congestion probability.
Characterization, modification and use of biomass: okra fibers

In the present study, fibers were extracted from different parts of okra stem and branches by way of biological retting. The extracted fibers were subjected to chemical and enzymatic treatments. The effects of the treatments on the fibers’ physical, mechanical, chemical and morphological aspects were investigated. The dyeability of the fibers with industrial green mate (Paraguayan tea) waste was studied. The heavy metal ion adsorption capability of okra bast fibers from aqueous systems was examined. The ranges for properties of the produced okra bast fibers can be summarized as linear density of 14·7–26·9 tex (g/km), initial modulus of 862–1358 cN/tex, breaking tenacity of 24–35 cN/tex, elongation of 2·5–3·2% and water absorption of 67·2–84·8%. As a mordant, iron sulfate resulted in higher color strength (K/S) for fibers dyed with the green mate tea waste compared to potassium aluminum sulfate (alum). Use of okra bast fibers resulted in iron (III), copper (II) and chromium (III) ion concentration decrease.
Processing older persons as clients in elderly care: A study of the micro-processes of care management practice

ABSTRACT Elder care has undergone a marketization in recent years in which various models for care management have been introduced with the aim of making assessments efficient. This article investigates the effects the care management model has on resource allocation for home care when handling the requests of older persons in the needs assessment process. Sixteen tape-recorded assessment conversations with associated case-file texts were analyzed through discourse analysis. The results show that a managerialist thinking has had a partial impact on the assessment process where the documentation requirements have entailed bureaucratization in terms of the transfer that occurs from talk to text. The findings from the study nevertheless indicate that the assessment conversations have clear elements of an individual-centred perspective in which there is room for a care rational dialogue. This constitutes a welfare policy dilemma today. Providing for older people’s requests should be on the basis of quality and an individual-centred perspective and care management has had a contrary effect in which focus is directed instead towards needs assessment and bureaucratic processes.
Mitochondrial DNA sequence of the hybrid of Squaliobarbus curriculus (♀) × Ctenopharyngodon idella (♂)

In this work, we reported the complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of the hybrid of Squaliobarbus curriculus (♀) × Ctenopharyngodon idella (♂), which was obtained by artificial hybridization. The total length of the mitochondrial genome is 16,616 bp, with the base composition of 31.15% A, 25.02% T, 27.66% C, and 16.17% G. It contains 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and a major non-coding control region (D-loop region). The arrangement of these genes is the same as that found in the teleosts. All the protein initiation codons are ATG, except for COX1 that begins with GTG. The complete mitogenome of the hybrid of S. curriculus (♀) × C. idella (♂) provides an important data set for the study in genetic mechanism.
Visual Scanning in Very Young Children with Autism and Their Unaffected Parents

This study of gaze patterns in very young children with autism and their parents included 23 cases (with 16 fathers and 19 mothers) and 46 controls (with 14 fathers and 28 mothers). Children (mean age 3.3 ± 1.5 years) with autism met DSM-IV and ADOS-G diagnostic criteria. The participants' gaze patterns were recorded while they viewed four simple movies that did not feature people. In children, severity of autism is related to spending more time watching irrelevant regions in one of the four movies. The mothers of children with autism showed an atypical pattern for three movies, whereas the fathers of children with autism did not show an atypical gaze pattern. The gaze pattern of the mothers was positively correlated with that of their children. The atypical viewing pattern of autistic individuals appears not to be restricted to people and social situations but is also seen in other situations, suggesting that there is a perceptual broad autism phenotype.
Looking at the Relationship Between Religions. An Empirical Study Among Secondary School Students

This paper explores the interreligious orientations of Dutch secondary school students. On the basis of a typology of four interreligious orientations, i.e. exclusivism, inclusivism, pluralism and dialogical-pluralism, a measuring instrument was designed that was used to inquire into the extent to which the students agreed or disagreed with these orientations. The relationship between these interreligious orientations and other student characteristics was also studied. The results showed, first, that the students do not differentiate between exclusivism and inclusivism. Rather they consider this to be one and the same orientation, with which they disagree. Second, the students are ambivalent about the dialogical-pluralist orientation, but clearly favour the pluralist orientation. This reinforces the idea that young people today tend to perceive religion as an interesting sociological phenomenon, but one that does not yet affect their personal lives. This idea is also confirmed by the finding, revealed by regression analysis, that the interreligious orientations of the students are influenced hardly at all by familiar religious characteristics like church attendance or religious belief. The students' preference for one of these interreligious orientations seems to be best explained by the positive or negative influence of the other interreligious orientations. In view of these findings, it is suggested that this way of looking at the relationship between religions may be a typical youth phenomenon, one which, in terms of Erikson's psychosocial theory of identity formation, can be called an identity moratorium.
Effects of Dexmedetomidine on Hippocampal Focal Adhesion Kinase Tyrosine Phosphorylation in Physiologic and Ischemic Conditions

Background:Dexmedetomidine is a potent and selective α2-adrenoceptor agonist that exhibits a broad pattern of actions, including sedation, analgesia, and neuroprotection. Some of these actions (e.g., neuroprotection) may require targets involved in long-term cellular changes. The authors hypothesized that dexmedetomidine increases the expression of active (autophosphorylated) focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase playing a pivotal role in cellular plasticity and survival. Therefore, we examined the cellular mechanisms involved in this effect and its sensitivity to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) in rat hippocampal slices. Methods:The effects of dexmedetomidine on phospho-tyrosine397 FAK phosphorylation were studied first with or without various pharmacologic agents in normoxic conditions, and second in a model of pharmacologic preconditioning of slices subjected to 30 min of OGD followed by 1 h of reperfusion. FAK phosphorylation and caspase-3 activation were examined by immunoblotting. Neuronal death was assessed by propidium iodide fluorescence. Results:Dexmedetomidine produced a dose-related increase in FAK phosphorylation (187 ± 4%, mean ± SD, from basal level, EC50 = 0.2 &mgr;m; 95% confidence interval, 0.09–0.5 &mgr;m). This effect was stereoselective and was completely blocked by yohimbine and the combination of the cyclic monophosphate permeant analog 8 bromo cyclic monophosphate and the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. It was mimicked by the protein kinase A inhibitor H 89. In contrast, prazosin and the protein kinase C inhibitors chelerythrine and bisindolylmaleimide I were ineffective. OGD induced a significant increase in immunoreactivity of the cleaved caspase-3 17-kd fragment (417 ± 22; P < 0.001), a decrease in FAK phosphorylation (78 ± 12% of control; P < 0.05), and production of significant neuronal death. In OGD conditions, a preconditioning application of dexmedetomidine (0.2 &mgr;m, 20-min application, 3 h before anoxia) significantly reduced neuronal death and cleaved caspase-3 expression and significantly attenuated the decrease in phosphorylated FAK content. The dexmedetomidine-induced reduction in caspase-3 expression was significantly decreased by the Src tyrosine kinase inhibitor PP2. Conclusion:Dexmedetomidine exhibits a preconditioning effect against ischemic injury in hippocampal slices subjected to OGD. Increase in phosphorylation of FAK via stimulation of α2 adrenoceptors and decrease in cleaved caspase-3 expression correlate with dexmedetomidine-induced cell survival.
Effects of low AIPL1 expression on phototransduction in rods.

PURPOSE To investigate the impact of aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein-like (AIPL)-1 on photoreception in rods. METHODS Photoresponses of mouse rods expressing lowered amounts of AIPL1 were studied by single-cell and electroretinogram (ERG) recordings. Phototransduction protein levels and enzymatic activities were determined in biochemical assays. Ca2+ dynamics were probed with a fluorescent dye. Comparisons were made to rods expressing mutant Y99C guanylate cyclase activating protein (GCAP)-1, to understand which effects arose from elevated dark levels of cGMP and Ca2+. RESULTS Except for PDE, transduction protein levels were normal in low-AIPL1 retinas, as were guanylate cyclase (GC), rhodopsin kinase (RK), and normalized phosphodiesterase (PDE) activities. Y99C and low-AIPL1 rods were more sensitive to flashes than normal, but flash responses of low-AIPL1 rods showed an abnormal delay, reduced rate of increase, and longer recovery not present in Y99C rod responses. In addition, low-AIPL1 rods but not Y99C rods failed to reach the normal light-induced minimum in Ca2+ concentration. CONCLUSIONS Reduced AIPL1 delayed the photoresponse, decreased its amplification constant, slowed a rate-limiting step in its recovery, and limited the light-induced decrease in Ca2+. Not all changes were attributable to decreased PDE or to elevated cGMP and Ca2+ in darkness. Therefore, AIPL1 directly or indirectly affects more than one component of phototransduction.
Numerical Modeling of the Interaction of Subsoil and Reinforced Concrete Slab

The influence of the physically-nonlinear behavior of the structure and interaction between the upper structure and foundation are the aspects which influence the results of the subsoil-structure interaction analysis. The aim of the application of computational model is to determine the most apposite distribution of stress and deformation due the contact stress in the footing bottom. This contact stress is especially dependent to the load. It also depends on the subsoil stiffness, upper structure stiffness and foundation stiffness too. Numerical analyses of contact task were made with FEM. The test sample for the task was a reinforced concrete foundation slab model loaded during experimental loading test. The subsoil is heterogeneous. Its properties are different from the idealized behavior of the linear elastic isotropic homogeneous material. Application of inhomogeneous half-space allows better capture the subsoil behavior because of increasing modulus of deformability with increasing depth of subsoil model. Results of FEM analyses were also confronted with the values measured during the experiment.
Role of macroscopic particles in deep-sea oxygen consumption

Macroscopic particles (>500 μm), including marine snow, large migrating zooplankton, and their fast-sinking fecal pellets, represent primary vehicles of organic carbon flux from the surface to the deep sea. In contrast, freely suspended microscopic particles such as bacteria and protists do not sink, and they contribute the largest portion of metabolism in the upper ocean. In bathy- and abyssopelagic layers of the ocean (2,000–6,000 m), however, microscopic particles may not dominate oxygen consumption. In a section across the tropical Atlantic, we show that macroscopic particle peaks occurred frequently in the deep sea, whereas microscopic particles were barely detectable. In 10 of 17 deep-sea profiles (>2,000 m depth), macroscopic particle abundances were more strongly cross-correlated with oxygen deficits than microscopic particles, suggesting that biomass bound to large particles dominates overall deep-sea metabolism.