Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Revisiting Snodgrass and Vanderwart's Object Pictorial Set: The Role of Surface Detail in Basic-Level Object Recognition

Theories of object recognition differ to the extent that they consider object representations as being mediated only by the shape of the object, or shape and surface details, if surface details are part of the representation. In particular, it has been suggested that color information may be helpful at recognizing objects only in very special cases, but not during basic-level object recognition in good viewing conditions. In this study, we collected normative data (naming agreement, familiarity, complexity, and imagery judgments) for Snodgrass and Vanderwart's object database of 260 black-and-white line drawings, and then compared the data to exactly the same shapes but with added gray-level texture and surface details (set 2), and color (set 3). Naming latencies were also recorded. Whereas the addition of texture and shading without color only slightly improved naming agreement scores for the objects, the addition of color information unambiguously improved naming accuracy and speeded correct response times. As shown in previous studies, the advantage provided by color was larger for objects with a diagnostic color, and structurally similar shapes, such as fruits and vegetables, but was also observed for man-made objects with and without a single diagnostic color. These observations show that basic-level ‘everyday’ object recognition in normal conditions is facilitated by the presence of color information, and support a ‘shape + surface’ model of object recognition, for which color is an integral part of the object representation. In addition, the new stimuli (sets 2 and 3) and the corresponding normative data provide valuable materials for a wide range of experimental and clinical studies of object recognition.
Influence of Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines in Th1 Polarization after Allogeneic Stimulation

The exogenous cytokine milieu can influence Th1/Th2 polarization. Besides the differential functional properties, T lymphocytes also acquire distinct profiles of chemokine receptors. Human Th1 lymphocytes preferentially express CCR5 and CXCR3 while Th2 lymphocytes express CCR3, CCR4 and CCR8. After their polarization into Th1 cells, grafted T lymphocytes mediate the development of graft-vs-host-disease, the major complication after bone marrow transplantation. We performed mixed lymphocyte cultures for ten days, with and without addition of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12 and IL-18 at the third and sixth day of cultures. The expression of CXCR3 and CCR5, in CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes was evaluated by flow cytometry, before and after ten days of culture. The exogenous addition of IL-2 or IL-12 favoured the Th1/Tc1 phenotype and IL-4 was also capable of inducing Th1 polarization. In opposition to IL-12, IL-18 didn’t induce a significant polarization into Th1 phenotype, an effect more similar to that induced by IL-10. This action could explain, at least in part, its possible protective effect in the incidence of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
Predicting restoration of competence to stand trial: Demographic, clinical, and legal variables

Predicting Restoration of Competence to Stand Trial: Demographic, Clinical, and Legal Variables Tracy A. Thomas, M.A. Introduction. Each year, a considerable number of defendants are referred for competency to stand trial evaluation. Of those judged incompetent to stand trial, a majority are regarded as having a significant likelihood of being restored to competency. While a majority of individuals are restored to competency after restoration treatment, others are deemed incompetent to stand trial and non-restorable. For individuals deemed non-restorable, a protracted stay in a forensic-psychiatric hospital or less-restrictive placement is the norm. This often lengthy period of inpatient commitment expends a great amount of staff and monetary resources. Rationale. In order that scarce monetary and staff resources be saved, early identification of individuals likely to be found incompetent and non-restorable is essential. Presently, minimal research has examined predictors of restoration to competence. Methodology. Retrospective chart review was used to collect demographic, clinical, and legal data from a sample of 80 men courtordered to inpatient competency restoration at a state-funded forensic-psychiatric facility. Univariate and logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the relations of these variables with final restoration status (i.e., restored to competency or incompetent and non-restorable). Results. Results of univariate analyses indicated that a history of outpatient treatment and performance on the Assessment of Depression Inventory (ADI) Reliability scale differentiated individuals found restored to competence from those found incompetent to stand trial and non-restorable (IST-NR). Patients who had previous outpatient psychological treatment were more likely to be restored to competence than found IST-NR. Patients who did not exhibit elevated ADI reliability scale scores were more often deemed competent than IST-NR. Those who exhibited elevated scores on the scale were more often found IST-NR than restored to competence. Logistic regression analysis indicated that patients without a history of outpatient treatment were more likely found IST-NR than restored to competence. Discussion. Results suggest history of outpatient treatment and reliability of responding to psychological tests are possible discriminators of likelihood of restoration to competence. Limitations of this study include small sample size, lack of power, and homogeneity of the study sample. This study suggests two variables as important for future replication in research. It is further suggested that past research be replicated and extended in an effort to develop a model of predicting those likely to be found IST-NR, which can be used in applied settings.
Amyloid β: one of three danger-associated molecules that are secondary inducers of the proinflammatory cytokines that mediate Alzheimer’s disease

This review concerns how the primary inflammation preceding the generation of certain key damage‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) arises in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In doing so, it places soluble amyloid β (Aβ), a protein hitherto considered as a primary initiator of AD, in a novel perspective. We note here that increased soluble Aβ is one of the proinflammatory cytokine‐induced DAMPs recognized by at least one of the toll‐like receptors on and in various cell types. Moreover, Aβ is best regarded as belonging to a class of DAMPs, as do the S100 proteins and HMBG1, that further exacerbate production of these same proinflammatory cytokines, which are already enhanced, and induces them further. Moreover, variation in levels of other DAMPs of this same class in AD may explain why normal elderly patients can exhibit high Aβ plaque levels, and why removing Aβ or its plaque does not retard disease progression. It may also explain why mouse transgenic models, having been designed to generate high Aβ, can be treated successfully by this approach.
Design and validation of an observational instrument for technical and tactical actions in beach volleyball

Technical and tactical actions determine performance in beach volleyball. This research develops and tests an instrument to monitor and evaluate the manner of execution and efficacy of the actions in beach volleyball. The purpose of this paper was to design and validate an observational instrument to analyze technical and tactical actions in beach volleyball. The instrument collects information regarding: a) information about the match (context), b) information about game situations, c) information about technical situations (serve, reception, set, attack, block, and court defense) in relation to player execution, role, manner of execution, execution zone, and efficacy, and d) information about the result of the play (win-lose and way point is obtained). Instrument design and validation was done in seven stages: a) review of literature and consultation of experts; b) pilot observation and data analysis; c) expert review of instrument (qualitative and quantitative evaluation); d) observer training test; e) expert review of instrument (content validity); f) measurement of the ability of the instrument to discriminate the result of the set; and g) measurement of the ability of the instrument to differentiate between competition age groups. The results show that the instrument allows for obtaining objective and valid information about the players and team from offensive and defensive technical and tactical actions, as well as indirectly from physical actions. The instrument can be used, in its entirety or partially, for researching and coaching purposes.
Organizing Thematic, Geographic, and Temporal Knowledge in a Well-Founded Navigation Space: Logical and Algorithmic Foundations for EFGT Nets

We introduce a family of symbolic logical formalisms for reasoning with named entities, associated topics or thematic fields, geographic areas, and temporal periods. We argue that this kind of knowledge is useful for various applications in a Semantic Web context, in other words, for the content-oriented description of Web services and yellow pages. In our approach, entities and their relationships are positioned in a well-founded (i.e., acyclic) navigation space, called an EFGT Net. Large (small) entries regarding the navigation order represent general (specific) topics and large (small) geographic or temporal areas. This acyclic organization of knowledge aims to support indexing, search, and classification tasks directly. Each entry comes with a unique identifier that describes the role of the corresponding concept, using techniques from description logics. A formal semantics for the language of identifiers is given. For the resulting logic, role hierarchies and role-value maps are characteristic and crucial. Based on the semantics of identifiers, a set of intensionally typed links is defined that induces the aforementioned navigation structure on the set of all entries. We then introduce a set of deduction rules and a saturation procedure for computing all links between concepts, as well as intensional types for links. We prove soundness, completeness, and termination of the link derivation calculus.
Preschool teachers' beliefs and practices: Emergent literacy in inclusive preschools

This study examines preschool teachers' beliefs and practices related to emergent literacy learning for both children who are typically developing as well as those with identified disabilities. The sixty-eight teachers who worked in preschool programs that enrolled children with and without disabilities were asked to indicate levels of agreement with belief statements about emergent literacy, children with disabilities, and instruction. They were also asked to indicate what specific emergent literacy learning strategies and activities (if any) they used in their classrooms. A new model of emergent literacy skills and understandings is used as a framework, indicating specific components of emergent literacy as well as the interactions between the components that lead to a greater understanding of literacy for young children. Survey results indicate two significant findings. First, preschool teachers indicted high levels of agreement with, and examples of, the need to provide emergent literacy learning opportunities for all students in their classrooms. Second, although teachers agree that children with disabilities should have access to emergent literacy learning, they do not generally provide additional support or materials to increase or ensure that access.
A qualitative study of self-transcendence in caregivers of terminally ill patients

Despite changes in social and cultural structure, the family has remained a consistent provider of in-home care needs for the chronically and terminally ill. The experience of a terminal illness is not limited to the individual patient and creates a myriad of challenges for the family, including the struggle to adjust and respond to the demands of the situation. The purpose of this study was to assess the caregivers’ sense of emotional well being and their ability to transcend and find meaning in the caregiving experience. The participants in this study were all caregivers of a family member who had died six to 12 months prior to the interview. They were able to find meaning as a result of their caregiving experience within the context of supportive networks, caregiving actions, grief and loss, fatigue, financial burdens and multiple challenges. Finding meaning involved “being with” or “doing for” their loved one as death approached. Finding meaning had positive consequences for the caregivers. They described a new life view and were able to reach out to help others as a result of their caregiving.
Mapping mountain vegetation using species distribution modeling, image-based texture analysis, and object-based classification

ABSTRACT Objective: The objective of this study was to map vegetation composition across a 24000 ha watershed. Location: The study was conducted on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, USA. Methods: Automated image segmentation was used to delineate image objects representing vegetation patches of similar physiognomy and structure. Image objects were classified using a decision tree and data sources extracted from individual species distribution models, Landsat spectral data, and life form cover estimates derived from aerial image-based texture variables. Results: A total of 12 plant communities were mapped with an overall accuracy of 75% and a ϰ-value of 0.69. Species distribution model inputs improved map accuracy by approximately 15% over maps derived solely from image data. Automated mapping of existing vegetation distributions, based solely on predictive distribution model results, proved to be more accurate than mapping based on Landsat data, and equivalent in accuracy to mapping based on all image data sources. Conclusions: Results highlight the importance of terrain, edaphic, and bioclimatic variables when mapping vegetation communities in complex terrain. Mapping errors stemmed from the lack of spectral discernability between vegetation classes, and the inability to account for the confounding effects of land use history and disturbance within a static distribution modeling framework. Nomenclature: Hickman (ed.) 1993.
ULTRAHIGH SPEED SWEPT SOURCE OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY OF RETINAL AND CHORIOCAPILLARIS ALTERATIONS IN DIABETIC PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT RETINOPATHY

Purpose: To investigate the utility of ultrahigh speed, swept source optical coherence tomography angiography in visualizing retinal microvascular and choriocapillaris (CC) changes in diabetic patients. Methods: The study was prospective and cross-sectional. A 1,050 nm wavelength, 400 kHz A-scan rate swept source optical coherence tomography prototype was used to perform volumetric optical coherence tomography angiography of the retinal and CC vasculatures in diabetic patients and normal subjects. Sixty-three eyes from 32 normal subjects, 9 eyes from 7 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, 29 eyes from 16 patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, and 51 eyes from 28 diabetic patients without retinopathy were imaged. Results: Retinal and CC microvascular abnormalities were observed in all stages of diabetic retinopathy. In nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy, optical coherence tomography angiography visualized a variety of vascular abnormalities, including clustered capillaries, dilated capillary segments, tortuous capillaries, regions of capillary dropout, reduced capillary density, abnormal capillary loops, and foveal avascular zone enlargement. In proliferative diabetic retinopathy, retinal neovascularization above the inner limiting membrane was visualized. Regions of CC flow impairment in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy were also observed. In 18 of the 51 of eyes from diabetic patients without retinopathy, retinal mircrovascular abnormalities were observed and CC flow impairment was found in 24 of the 51 diabetic eyes without retinopathy. Conclusion: The ability of optical coherence tomography angiography to visualize retinal and CC microvascular abnormalities suggests it may be a useful tool for understanding pathogenesis, evaluating treatment response, and earlier detection of vascular abnormalities in patients with diabetes.
A Two-Component Regulatory System, CsrR-CsrS, Represses Expression of Three Streptococcus pyogenesVirulence Factors, Hyaluronic Acid Capsule, Streptolysin S, and Pyrogenic Exotoxin B

ABSTRACT Certain Tn916 insertions in the chromosome of an M1-type, nonmucoid Streptococcus pyogenes isolate (MGAS166) were previously shown to result in stable mucoidy with increased expression of the capsular synthetic genes. The transposon insertions in these strains are directly upstream of an apparent operon encoding a two-component regulatory system, designated csrR-csrS. Compared with MGAS166, these mucoid mutants are more hemolytic and cause significantly more tissue damage in a murine model of skin infection. To extend these observations, we constructed an in-frame deletion in the gene encoding the response regulator, csrR, and we evaluated the expression of other known S. pyogenesvirulence factors. We discovered that csrR mutants have enhanced transcription of sagA, a gene associated with streptolysin S (SLS) and speB, the gene encoding pyrogenic exotoxin B (SpeB). The mutants also express substantially higher SLS activity and SpeB antigen in late-exponential-phase cultures. There is no change in expression of emm, scpA,sic, or cpa (genes encoding other S. pyogenes virulence factors). CsrR− strains but not the wild-type parental strain produce necrotizing lesions in a mouse model of subcutaneous infection. A double mutant with deletions in bothcsrR and the capsular synthesis genes caused fewer and smaller necrotic skin lesions than the csrR mutants. However, this nonmucoid csrR strain was more likely than the wild type to yield necrotic lesions, suggesting that mucoidy contributes to virulence in this model of infection but that there are other csrR-regulated factors involved in the production of necrotic lesions.
Single, Divorced, or Separated? Factors That Impact the Lives of Women Who Are Heads of Household in Lima, Peru

The rupture of a conjugal relationship has both a positive and negative impact on the lives of immediate family members. Although for many women terminating marriage may signal freedom from an oppressive, even violent conjugal relationship, it is undeniable that this separation also results in strong social pressure and discrimination in certain contexts, a situation which limits the woman’s freedom of action in and outside of the home. The purpose of this descriptive, phenomenological study is to explore the experiences of 15 Peruvian, urban-based mothers, all of whom made the decision to exchange marriage for single parenthood within the confines of a strong patriarchal system. The study follows the actions of the women as they seek to overcome obstacles related to parenting and the management of their respective households. Three emerging themes are identified in this study: (a) the development of the woman’s relationship as wife and mother, (b) impact of the separation/divorce on the maternal role, and (c) experiences in the single parent household. Implications for social research studies and practice are discussed.
Nursing and the collective action: accompanying child growth and development

O acompanhamento do crescimento e desenvolvimento (CD) da crianca e o eixo norteador das acoes basicas em saude voltadas ao publico infantil, sendo por vezes pautado no modelo biomedico. Tentando mudar essa realidade, e objetivo deste estudo descrever o processo de implantacao e desenvolvimento do acompanhamento coletivo do CD das criancas pela enfermagem. Desenvolvido pela metodologia da pesquisa acao em uma Unidade de Saude da Familia, Natal/RN. Envolvendo quatro enfermeiras e 26 cuidadores de criancas, no periodo de fevereiro a junho de 2010. No diagnostico situacional, evidencia-se a realidade atual deste acompanhamento; no planejamento, a proposta foi apresentada aos profissionais da unidade e discutiu-se o desenvolvimento da estrategia. A implementacao compreendeu a descricao do processo do acompanhamento coletivo junto aos cuidadores e enfermeiras, alem da avaliacao das acoes. O grupo educativo proporciona ao enfermeiro uma atuacao proxima ao usuario, voltando suas acoes as necessidades deste publico, tornando-os protagonistas do cuidar. Descritores: Assistencia Integral a Saude; Saude da Crianca; Educacao em Saude; Cuidados de Enfermagem; Atencao Primaria de Saude.
Dairy products consumption versus type 2 diabetes prevention and treatment; a review of recent findings from human studies.

INTRODUCTION It has been claimed that the appropriate consumption of dairy products can be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). OBJECTIVE The objective of this review is to critically analyze the main scientific evidence about this topic. METHODS MEDLINE, PubMEd, Science Direct, SCIELO and LILACS were searched for studies published over the past 12 years exploring the effects of the consumption of dairy products or its components (calcium, vitamin D and magnesium) on T2DM. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Epidemiological studies indicate that consumption of at least three servings of low-fat dairy products per day as a part of a healthy diet is crucial to reduce the risk of developing T2DM. The majority of the analyzed intervention studies reported beneficial effects of increased calcium and vitamin D ingestion on insulin sensitivity improvement and T2DM prevention. CONCLUSIONS Although the impact of dairy consumption to treat T2DM needs further investigation, the consumption of low-fat dairy products may be an important strategy to prevent and control T2DM.
Enhanced Production of Extracellular Lipase by Novel Mutant Strain of Aspergillus Niger

ABSTRACT Twelve fungal strains belonging to 9 different species of genera Aspergillus, Pencilillium, Trichoderma and Mucor were screened for extracellular lipase production. The most active lipase producing strain A. niger was selected for strain improvement by induced mutagenesis with UV light and N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (NMG). Chemical mutagenesis was found to be more effective in comparison to the physical one. By two stages mutagenesis with 200 μg cm−3 NMG for 4 h, lipase activity of parental strain was enhanced more than two times. The selected mutant A. niger NMG12/4 was stable and maximum lipase activity of 15.5 U cm−3 was reached at 96 h, which corresponded to the end of the exponential growth phase. The selected mutant is prospective for the development of industrial biotechnology for production of extracellular lipase.