Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Vestibular Component in Out-Of-Body Experiences: A Computational Approach

Neurological evidence suggests that disturbed vestibular processing may play a key role in triggering out-of-body experiences (OBEs). Little is known about the brain mechanisms during such pathological conditions, despite recent experimental evidence that the scientific study of such experiences may facilitate the development of neurobiological models of a crucial aspect of self-consciousness: embodied self-location. Here we apply Bayesian modeling to vestibular processing and show that OBEs and the reported illusory changes of self-location and translation can be explained as the result of a mislead Bayesian inference, in the sense that ambiguous bottom-up signals from the vestibular otholiths in the supine body position are integrated with a top-down prior for the upright body position, which we measure during natural head movements. Our findings have relevance for self-location and translation under normal conditions and suggest novel ways to induce and study experimentally both aspects of bodily self-consciousness in healthy subjects.
Characterization of Novel Precursor miRNAs Using Next Generation Sequencing and Prediction of miRNA Targets in Atlantic Halibut

Background microRNAs (miRNAs) are implicated in regulation of many cellular processes. miRNAs are processed to their mature functional form in a step-wise manner by multiple proteins and cofactors in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Many miRNAs are conserved across vertebrates. Mature miRNAs have recently been characterized in Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.). The aim of this study was to identify and characterize precursor miRNA (pre-miRNAs) and miRNA targets in this non-model flatfish. Discovery of miRNA precursor forms and targets in non-model organisms is difficult because of limited source information available. Therefore, we have developed a methodology to overcome this limitation. Methods Genomic DNA and small transcriptome of Atlantic halibut were sequenced using Roche 454 pyrosequencing and SOLiD next generation sequencing (NGS), respectively. Identified pre- miRNAs were further validated with reverse–transcription PCR. miRNA targets were identified using miRanda and RNAhybrid target prediction tools using sequences from public databases. Some of miRNA targets were also identified using RACE-PCR. miRNA binding sites were validated with luciferase assay using the RTS34st cell line. Results We obtained more than 1.3 M and 92 M sequence reads from 454 genomic DNA sequencing and SOLiD small RNA sequencing, respectively. We identified 34 known and 9 novel pre-miRNAs. We predicted a number of miRNA target genes involved in various biological pathways. miR-24 binding to kisspeptin 1 receptor-2 (kiss1-r2) was confirmed using luciferase assay. Conclusion This study demonstrates that identification of conserved and novel pre-miRNAs in a non-model vertebrate lacking substantial genomic resources can be performed by combining different next generation sequencing technologies. Our results indicate a wide conservation of miRNA precursors and involvement of miRNA in multiple regulatory pathways, and provide resources for further research on miRNA in non-model animals.
The effect of body position on sleep apnea in children younger than 3 years.

OBJECTIVE To determine the association between body position and obstructive events during sleep as determined by polysomnography (PSG) in very young children (age, < or = 3 years) with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. DESIGN Retrospective chart review. SUBJECTS Children aged 3 years and younger who underwent PSG to evaluate obstructive sleep apnea and subsequently underwent adenotonsillectomy between December 1, 2000, and November 30, 2003, were included in the study. The PSGs were analyzed for data on the respiratory disturbance index (RDI), time spent in each body position, number of apneic events in each position, oxygen saturation, and time spent in each stage of sleep. The results determined the statistical significance of these parameters. RESULTS Sixty patients satisfied the criteria for inclusion in the study. The mean supine sleep RDI was 8.5 compared with 4.9 for the mean nonsupine sleep RDI. The mean RDI increased from 5.6 to 8.5 when more than 50% of the time was spent in supine sleep. There was a further increase to 10.5 when supine sleep increased to 75% of the total sleep time. The mean RDI in rapid eye movement sleep was 20.5 compared with 5.3 in non-rapid eye movement sleep. The mean +/- SD supine sleep RDI was 18.5 +/- 5.1, and the mean nonsupine RDI was 7.2 +/- 1.9, which was statistically significant (P = .02). CONCLUSIONS There is an increase in the RDI with increased time spent in supine sleep in very young children with obstructive sleep apnea. Inadequate time spent in that position may lead to an underestimation of the severity of obstructive sleep apnea. A combination of reduced rapid eye movement sleep and increased nonsupine sleep may invalidate the findings of PSG in these children.
Variant of anorexia nervosa in Sri Lanka: a case series

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder characterised by abnormally low body weight at least 15% below the expected for the height or Body Mass Index (BMI) less than 17.5kg/m2, disturbed body image, intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, amenorrhea in women, loss of sexual interest and potency in men. In AN, low weight is achieved by intentional dieting, often accompanied by compulsive exercise, purging behaviour, use of appetite suppressants and or diuretics. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM 5) removed the diagnostic criteria of amenorrhea and some authorities have proposed a flexible approach with other diagnostic criterion too [1,2]. Patients with and without amenorrhea have different demographic and clinical characteristics [2]. Likewise, the absence of intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat has been described in individuals, particularly in non-Western populations, who otherwise meet all criteria of AN [3,4]. Some do not consider intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat as an essential criterion for diagnosis of AN because of the cultural variation in reasons for food refusal. However, others believe that intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat is an integral part of AN and therefore an essential criterion [5]. The phenomenology of nonfat phobic anorexia nervosa (NFP-AN) remains the same over time and during the course of treatment which indicates that it is not a feature seen only during early stages or during remission of AN, but a separate subtype of AN. [6,7]
PERSEPSI KETIDAKPASTIAN LINGKUNGAN, AMBIGUITAS PERAN DAN KONFLIK PERAN SEBAGAI MEDIAS! ANTARA PROGRAM MENTORING DENGAN KEPUASAN KERJA, PRESTASI KERJA DAN NIAT INGIN PINDAHStudi Empiris di Lingkungan Kantor Akuntan Publik (KAP) Besar

Penelitian ini mempunyai tujuan untuk menguji secara empiris dan menganalisis apakah program mentoring di lingkungan Kantor Akuntan Publik (KAP) besar berpengaruh terhadap kepuasan kerja, prestasi kerja dan niat ingin pindah dengan dimediasi ambiguitas peran, konflik peran dan persepsi ketidakpastian lingkungan. Pengujian ini perlu dilakukan, karena dengan memperhatikan stress peran dan persepsi ketidakpastian lingkungan yang digunakan sebagai mediasi program mentoring dengan variabel outcome yaitu kepuasan kerja prestasi kerja dan niat ingin pindah diharapkan dapat lebih meningkatkan kepuasan kerja, prestasi kerja dan menurunkan niat ingin pindah protege. Responden dalam penelitian ini adalah para staf KAP besar di Jakarta dengan jumlah 184 kuesioner yang dapat diolah. Hasil penelitian ini mengindikasikan adanya pengaruh program mentoring dalam menurunkan tingkat stres peran seperti konflik peran, ambiguity peran dan ketidakpastian lingkungan. Stres peran dapat dijadikan mediasi hubungan antara mentoring dengan kepuasan kerja, prestasi kerja dan niat pindah auditor. This research tends to test and analizes the mentoring programming in CPA (Big Four) influences on job satisfaction, performance and turnover intention mediated by role ambiguity, role conflict and environmental uncertainty perception, empirically. This examination is conducted, because by paying attention to the role stress and environmental uncertainty perception which is used as mediation mentoring program with the outcome variable are job satisfaction, job performance and turnover intention are expected to increase job satisfaction, job performance and decrease turnover intention protege. The Respondents in this research are all of big CPA staff in Jakarta with amount of questionnaires are 184 which can be processed. The result of this research indicates that there is an influence of mentoring program in decreasing role stress, role conflict, environmental uncertainty perception and role ambiguity. Role stress can be made as mediation among mentoring, job performance and auditor’s turnover intention.
Observational constraints on thawing quintessence models

We use a dynamical systems approach to study thawing quintessence models, using a multi-parameter extension of the exponential potential which can approximate the form of typical thawing potentials. We impose observational constraints using a compilation of current data, and forecast the tightening of constraints expected from future dark energy surveys, as well as discussing the relation of our results to analytical constraints already in the literature.
Molecular evolutionary signatures reveal the role of host ecological dynamics in viral disease emergence and spread

RNA viruses account for numerous emerging and perennial infectious diseases, and are characterized by rapid rates of molecular evolution. The ecological dynamics of most emerging RNA viruses are still poorly understood and difficult to ascertain. The availability of genome sequence data for many RNA viruses, in principle, could be used to infer ecological dynamics if changes in population numbers produced a lasting signature within the pattern of genome evolution. As a result, the rapidly emerging phylogeographic structure of a pathogen, shaped by the rise and fall in the number of infections and their spatial distribution, could be used as a surrogate for direct ecological assessments. Based on rabies virus as our example, we use a model combining ecological and evolutionary processes to test whether variation in the rate of host movement results in predictive diagnostic patterns of pathogen genetic structure. We identify several linearizable relationships between host dispersal rate and measures of phylogenetic structure suggesting genetic information can be used to directly infer ecological process. We also find phylogenetic structure may be more revealing than demography for certain ecological processes. Our approach extends the reach of current analytic frameworks for infectious disease dynamics by linking phylogeography back to underlying ecological processes.
Effects of a supervised walking program on the cognitive function, gait, fitness, and behaviour of inactive older adults

Supervisory Committee Dr. Ryan Rhodes, School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education Co-Supervisor Dr. Holly Tuokko, Department of Psychology Co-Supervisor Dr. Patti-Jean Naylor, School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education Departmental Member Dr. Stuart MacDonald, Department of Psychology Departmental Member Background & Objectives: Participation in cognitive, social and physical activity (PA) may play a role in prevention of cognitive decline in older adults. Literature supporting the benefits of healthy lifestyle behaviours, especially PA, on cognition continues to accumulate. Moreover, a strong association between gait and cognitive health is increasingly being recognized. Yet, a firm understanding of the individual differences and between-person effects of PA on cognition and gait of older adults is lacking. Thus, the primary objective of the main study was to distinguish the withinand betweenperson sources of variation in PA on cognition in a group of inactive older adults. Study 2 examined the withinand between-person effects of a) PA on gait and b) gait on cognition. Study 3 examined the social cognitive predictors of walking. Methods: The betweenand within-person of PA on cognition were examined in a single-group longitudinal design. Participants (n=159) were enrolled in a four-month supervised walking program and provided with materials and coaching to promote the adoption of behaviours to enhance and maintain their cognitive health. Group participants walked at least 3 times per week at a brisk intensity and were encouraged to get 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA per week. At baseline, participants completed measures of social cognitive predictors of walking. Assessments of cognition, diet, fitness, gait, PA and other health behaviours occurred at baseline, and at 6, 9, 12, and 16 weeks follow-up. Results and Discussion: Multilevel models revealed significant: 1) within-person effects of PA on select measures of executive functioning and 2) consistent between-group
Antifungal Penetration into Normal Rabbit Nucleus Pulposus

Study Design. A rabbit model was used to assess the penetration into the nucleus pulposus of 3 commonly used antifungal medications: amphotericin B, amphotericin B lipid complex, and fluconazole. Objectives. The purpose of this study was to quantitate the penetration of antifungal medications into the normal rabbit nucleus pulposus. Summary of Background Data. Fungal infections of the spine are rarely, if ever, treated with medical management alone. Although antibiotic penetration into the nucleus pulposus has been studied extensively, no previous studies have attempted to quantitate the penetration of antifungals into the nucleus pulposus. Methods. Twenty-four rabbits were given 2 doses of 1 of the antifungal medications studied. One hour after completion of the second dose, the animal was killed and the thoracolumbar spine was excised en bloc. Specimens of nucleus pulposus and serum were obtained and sent to an outside laboratory for analysis. Gas chromatography was used to determine the fluconazole tissue levels, and a bioassay was used to measure amphotericin B tissue levels. Results. Three animals in the amphotericin B group died either after the first or second dose of medication was administered. Although amphotericin B and amphotericin B lipid complex did not show adequate penetration into the nucleus pulposus in 12 out of 12 animals, fluconazole reached therapeutic tissue levels in 5 out of 7 animals. Conclusions. Fluconazole showed superior penetration into the nucleus pulposus in an uninfected rabbit model when compared to amphotericin B and amphotericin B lipid complex. These findings were found to be statistically significant (P = 0.021), and they suggest that fluconazole may be a better choice for empiric therapy of fungal spine infections while cultures and sensitivities are pending.
Further scale refinement for emotional labor: Exploring distinctions between types of surface versus deep acting using a difficult client referent

Purpose – Within the emotional labor (EL) literature, the paper's aim is to test for additional scale distinctions in surface acting and deep acting, using a “difficult client” referent.Design/methodology/approach – Working with existing definitions and operationalizations across prior EL studies, an on‐line sample of 1,975 massage therapists and bodywork practitioners (M&Bs) was used to test the hypotheses. Hinkin's recommended three steps for scale development: item development, scale development and scale evaluation were applied. The M&B sample was randomly split to carry out exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and then confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). A smaller validation sample of 203 working adults was also tested using EFA.Findings – Convergent support was found for EFA between the M&B and validation samples, as well as between EFA and CFA for the M&B sample. Two types of surface acting could be distinguished, basic surface acting (BSA) and challenged surface acting (CSA), while three types of dee.
Should Doctoral Programs Graduate Students with Fewer than two Years of Post-Msw Practice Experience? No!

s, 18(1), 29-34. Proctor, E. K. , & Snowden, R. (1991). Re sources for doctoral education in social work. Arete, 16( 1), 12-22. Soffen,J. (Ed.). (1969). The social work edu cator. New York: Council on Social Work
Algorithms and tools for protein-protein interaction networks clustering, with a special focus on population-based stochastic methods

MOTIVATION Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks are powerful models to represent the pairwise protein interactions of the organisms. Clustering PPI networks can be useful for isolating groups of interacting proteins that participate in the same biological processes or that perform together specific biological functions. Evolutionary orthologies can be inferred this way, as well as functions and properties of yet uncharacterized proteins. RESULTS We present an overview of the main state-of-the-art clustering methods that have been applied to PPI networks over the past decade. We distinguish five specific categories of approaches, describe and compare their main features and then focus on one of them, i.e. population-based stochastic search. We provide an experimental evaluation, based on some validation measures widely used in the literature, of techniques in this class, that are as yet less explored than the others. In particular, we study how the capability of Genetic Algorithms (GAs) to extract clusters in PPI networks varies when different topology-based fitness functions are used, and we compare GAs with the main techniques in the other categories. The experimental campaign shows that predictions returned by GAs are often more accurate than those produced by the contestant methods. Interesting issues still remain open about possible generalizations of GAs allowing for cluster overlapping. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION We point out which methods and tools described here are publicly available. CONTACT simona.rombo@math.unipa. it SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Bearing-Only SLAM for an Airborne Vehicle

This paper presents results of an application of vision-aided bearing-only Simultaneous Localisation And Mapping (SLAM) for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) while operating over unstructured, natural environments. A single colour vision camera is used to observe the terrain from which image points corresponding to both man-made and natural features are extracted. The SLAM algorithm estimates the complete 6-DoF motion of the UAV along with the three-dimensional position of the features in the environment. An Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) approach is used where a technique of delayed initialisation is performed to initialise the 3D position of features from bearing-only observations. Results are presented by running the algorithm using inertial sensor and vision data collected during a flight test of a UAV.
Birth Cohort Effects in Neurological Diseases: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Generational differences in disease rates are the main subject of age-period-cohort (APC) analysis, which is mostly applied in cancer and suicide research. This study applied APC analysis to selected neurological diseases: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease (PD) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: The analyses were based on Swiss mortality data. Age-stratified data has been available for MS, PD and ALS since 1901, 1921, and 1942, respectively. APC analysis was performed within the framework of logit models. Main effect models were extended by implementing nested effects, i.e. age effects nested in subperiods, in order to account for the fact that age profiles may change for reasons other than generational influences. Results: In preliminary analyses, APC analysis yielded noteworthy birth cohort effects in all three diseases. After implementing nested effects, the birth cohort effects disappeared in ALS, and smoothed out in PD, where they were greater for the generations born before the 1920s. In MS, the birth cohort effects remained stable, and exhibited a peak in cohorts born in the 1910s and 1920s. Conclusions: APC analysis yielded some evidence for birth cohort effects, i.e. predisposing risk factors that may change in historical terms, in MS and PD, but probably not in ALS.
Reduced foveolar choroidal blood flow in eyes with increasing AMD severity.

PURPOSE In an earlier study, the authors reported that foveolar choroidal blood flow (ChBFlow) decreases in patients with AMD and drusen. To explore further the choroidal circulatory changes in patients with AMD, the relationship between ChBFlow and fundus features associated with increased risk of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) were investigated. METHODS The study included 26 control eyes of 17 normal subjects and 163 eyes with early AMD characteristics of 123 patients with AMD. The AMD study eyes were divided into three groups according to increasing risk for development of CNV: (1) drusen > or =63 microm, no RPE hyperpigmentary changes in the study eye, and no CNV in the fellow eye; (2) drusen > or =63 microm, RPE hyperpigmentary changes in the study eye, and no CNV in the fellow eye; and (3) eyes with CNV in the fellow eye. Laser Doppler flowmetry was used to assess relative foveolar choroidal blood velocity (ChBVel), volume (ChBVol), and flow (ChBFlow). Differences in the mean circulatory parameters were assessed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and test of linear trend. RESULTS Mean ChBVel, ChBVol, and ChBFlow decreased with increased risk for CNV (linear trend, P < 0.05). The lowest circulatory parameters were observed in the eyes with the highest risk for CNV development. Trends for ChBVel and ChBFlow were still significant after adjustment for multiple factors. CONCLUSIONS There is a systematic decrease in choroidal circulatory parameters with an increase in the severity of AMD features associated with risk for the development of CNV, suggesting a role for ischemia in the development of CNV.
The acute effects of warm-up, static and dynamic stretching exercises on biceps brachii muscle function in female basketball players

Static and dynamic stretching exercises are often used in sports before competition and training sessions. Recent studies have shown different effects of dynamic and static stretching exercises on physical performance capacity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the acute effect of warm-up, 30s static and dynamic stretching exercises on biceps brachii muscle function. Nine athletes were examined twice in different days: after performing static and dynamic stretching exercise. Isometric maximal voluntary contraction characteristics were measured using dynamometry; muscle tone, elasticity and stiffness characteristics of biceps brachii muscle were measured using myotonometer Myoton-3. All measurements were performed before and after the warm-up (5-min jogging with self-selected speed), immediately after stretching exercise and after 10 min rest. Warm-up did not cause any changes in the isometric maximal voluntary contraction, strength of elbow flexor muscle as well as in muscle tone and elasticity. Static stretching was effective to increase elasticity of biceps brachii muscle, but did not influence the isometric strength characteristics of elbow flexor muscles. Shortening of isometric contraction latency of elbow flexor muscles after dynamic stretching exercise and increase of strength after 10 min rest were noted. Therefore this type of stretching can be recommended to prepare muscles for explosive maximal exercise.