Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Robots Have Needs Too: People Adapt Their Proxemic Preferences to Improve Autonomous Robot Recognition of Human Social Signals

An objective of autonomous socially assistive robots is to meet the needs and preferences of human users. However, this can sometimes be at the expense of the robot’s own ability to understand social signals produced by the user. In particular, human preferences of distance ( proxemics ) to the robot can have signiﬁcant impact on the performance rates of its automated speech and gesture recognition systems. In this work, we investigated how user proxemic preferences changed to improve the robot’s understanding human social signals. We performed an experiment in which a robot’s ability to understand social signals was artiﬁcially varied, either uniformly or attenuated across distance. Participants ( N = 100 ) instructed a robot using speech and pointing gestures, and provided their prox-emic preferences before and after the interaction. We report two major ﬁndings: 1) people predictably underestimate (based on a Power Law) the distance to the location of robot peak performance; and 2) people adjust their proxemic preferences to be near the perceived location of robot peak performance. This work offers insights into the dynamic nature of human-robot proxemics, and has signiﬁcant implications for the design of social robots and robust autonomous robot proxemic control systems.
Nutrient, chlorophyll, and water clarity relationships in Florida's nearshore coastal waters with comparisons to freshwater lakes

Models relating chlorophyll to nutrients and Secchi depth to chlorophyll using data from nearshore coastal waters of Florida were successfully developed. The models suggest that phosphorus is the primary limiting factor for phytoplankton in the nearshore coastal waters of Florida and that total phosphorus concentration accounts for 81% of the variance in chlorophyll concentration. The models also show that chlorophyll is the dominant factor determining Secchi depth in nearshore coastal waters of Florida and that chlorophyll concentrations account for 68% of the variance in Secchi depth. Thus, these models are robust and should be useful for eutrophication management of Florida's coastal marine systems. The models developed with data from nearshore coastal waters of Florida are similar to models developed for freshwater lakes in Florida, but the amount of chlorophyll per unit of phosphorus and Secchi depth per unit of chlorophyll are both significantly less for marine samples. This suggests that the chlorophyll to biovolume ratios in the nearshore coastal waters of Florida are less than in freshwater systems of Florida. Therefore, nutrient to chlorophyll and chlorophyll to Secchi depth models developed for freshwater systems are probably ill suited for use in Florida's marine systems.
Nerve growth factor treatment enhances nicotine-stimulated dopamine release and increases in cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate levels in PC12 cell cultures

In order to examine the relationship between cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels and evoked neurotransmitter release, experiments have been performed with cultures of clonal rat PC12 pheochromocytoma cells. Stimulation of the release of endogenous dopamine by nicotine in these cultures is calcium-dependent and blocked by d-tubocurarine, a specific nicotinic cholinergic antagonist. Similarly, nicotine causes increases in cAMP levels in PC12 cell cultures that are calcium-dependent and blocked by d-tubocurarine. Cultures treated for 6 days or longer with 2 X 10(-9) M nerve growth factor (NGF) release a 3- to 4-fold greater amount of dopamine than do control cultures in response to a maximal concentration of nicotine. Correspondingly, nicotine causes a 3-fold greater increase in cAMP levels in the NGF-treated cultures than in the controls. These results suggest that stimulation of the nicotinic cholinergic receptor in PC12 cells results in some manner in the activation of adenylate cyclase and further support the notion that cAMP is involved in the process of neurotransmitter release.
Ancient DNA complements microfossil record in deep-sea subsurface sediments

Deep-sea subsurface sediments are the most important archives of marine biodiversity. Until now, these archives were studied mainly using the microfossil record, disregarding large amounts of DNA accumulated on the deep-sea floor. Accessing ancient DNA (aDNA) molecules preserved down-core would offer unique insights into the history of marine biodiversity, including both fossilized and non-fossilized taxa. Here, we recover aDNA of eukaryotic origin across four cores collected at abyssal depths in the South Atlantic, in up to 32.5 thousand-year-old sediment layers. Our study focuses on Foraminifera and Radiolaria, two major groups of marine microfossils also comprising diverse non-fossilized taxa. We describe their assemblages in down-core sediment layers applying both micropalaeontological and environmental DNA sequencing approaches. Short fragments of the foraminiferal and radiolarian small subunit rRNA gene recovered from sedimentary DNA extracts provide evidence that eukaryotic aDNA is preserved in deep-sea sediments encompassing the last glacial maximum. Most aDNA were assigned to non-fossilized taxa that also dominate in molecular studies of modern environments. Our study reveals the potential of aDNA to better document the evolution of past marine ecosystems and opens new horizons for the development of deep-sea palaeogenomics.
Nursing Practices Recorded in Reports of Episodes of Seclusion

The purpose of this study is to describe the nursing practices recorded in reports of patient episodes of seclusion, with or without restraints, in a specialized psychiatric facility in Quebec. The reports for all adult patients secluded (n = 4863) in a psychiatric unit between April 1, 2007 and March 31, 2009, were examined. Descriptive analyses were performed. The main reasons for seclusion were agitation, disorganization, and aggressive behaviour. The alternative methods that were attempted included stimulus reduction, extra medication, and working with the patient to find a solution. Few families were notified about their relation's seclusion. More hours of seclusion were reported in the evening and at night. Our results are comparable to those obtained by other investigators. Some of the variables have not been the subject of much research: for example, health conditions during seclusion with or without restraint and partnerships with family members. Our findings also suggest that, in their analyses, studies should differentiate between cognitive-impairment and adult-psychiatry units as well as long-term seclusion and short-term seclusion. The information reported by the nurse makes no distinction between short-stay and long-stay adult psychiatric units. Only one psychiatric facility was investigated in this study, precluding generalization.
Statins and Cancer Development

There is epidemiologic evidence that the hydrophilic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor pravastatin increases the incidence of some extrahepatic cancers, although this finding has been attributed to chance. We hypothesize that pravastatin is able to promote the development of cancer by causing an induction of HMG-CoA reductase and, hence, mevalonate synthesis in extrahepatic tissues. We have shown that mevalonate, the product of HMG-CoA reductase, promotes the growth of breast cancer cells. Because there is no uptake of pravastatin by most extrahepatic cells, this statin will be unable to mitigate the increase in mevalonate synthesis in extrahepatic tissues that accompanies the decrease in circulating cholesterol caused by its inhibition of hepatic HMG-CoA reductase.
Measuring Citizens' Adoption of Electronic Complaint Service (ECS) in Jordan: Validation of the Extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)

The﻿review﻿of﻿Jordanian﻿e-government﻿literature﻿revealed﻿that﻿not﻿much﻿effort﻿has﻿been﻿made﻿yet﻿toward﻿ empirically﻿examine﻿the﻿factors﻿impacting﻿citizens’﻿adoption﻿of﻿electronic﻿government﻿(e-government)﻿ systems. ﻿The﻿undertaken﻿research﻿fills﻿this﻿gap﻿by﻿testing﻿the﻿extended﻿technology﻿acceptance﻿model﻿ (TAM)﻿as﻿an﻿aide﻿for﻿understanding﻿the﻿factors﻿influencing﻿citizens’﻿adoption﻿the﻿Jordanian﻿electronic﻿ complaint﻿service﻿(ECS). ﻿The﻿research﻿has﻿also﻿considered﻿two﻿additional﻿factors﻿such﻿as﻿facilitating﻿ conditions﻿and﻿trust﻿to﻿understand﻿their﻿impact﻿on﻿Jordanian﻿citizens’﻿intention﻿to﻿adopt﻿such﻿system. ﻿ A﻿total﻿of﻿250﻿usable﻿responses﻿were﻿obtained﻿from﻿the﻿respondents﻿for﻿this﻿purpose. ﻿The﻿proposed﻿ research﻿model﻿prescribed﻿five﻿hypotheses﻿and﻿all﻿these﻿hypotheses﻿were﻿supported﻿by﻿the﻿data. ﻿The﻿ results﻿indicated﻿perceived﻿trust﻿as﻿the﻿strongest﻿whereas﻿facilitating﻿conditions﻿as﻿the﻿weakest﻿though﻿ significant﻿predictor﻿of﻿behavioral﻿intention. KEywoRdS Adoption, Citizens, ECS, e-Government, Jordan, TAM, Trust
Evidence of interaction between fluoxetine and isosorbide dinitrate on neuroleptic-induced catalepsy in mice.

Drugs which influence 5-HTergic mechanisms can modify neuroleptic-induced catalepsy (NC) in rodents, a phenomenon produced by striatal dopamine (DA) receptor blockade. Previous research also suggests a role for endogenous nitric oxide (NO) in the modulation of striatal DAergic neurotransmission; in addition, NO seems to play a role in the 5-HT reuptake mechanism. It is known that clomipramine potentiates NC in mice, but the reported effects of selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in this model are rather contradictory. We then decided to re-address this issue, investigating the effect of fluoxetine (FX), an SSRI, on NC. In view of the ubiquitous role of NO as a central neuromodulator, we also studied the effect of isosorbide dinitrate (ID), a centrally active NO donor, and how both drugs interact to affect the phenomenon of NC. Catalepsy was induced in male albino mice with haloperidol (H; 1 mg/kg, i.p.) and measured at 30-min interval by means of a bar test. Drugs (FX, ID and FX + ID) or saline (controls) were injected i.p. 30 min before H, with each animal used only once. FX (5 mg/kg) significantly reduced NC, with maximal attenuation (about 74%) occurring at 150 min after H. ID (5 mg/kg) also inhibited NC (150 min: 62% attenuation). The combined drugs (FX + ID group), however, caused a great potentiation of NC (4.7-fold at its maximum, at 90 min). The effect observed with ID is compatible with the hypothesis that NO increases DA release in the striatum. The attenuation of NC observed with FX may be due to a preferential net effect on the raphe somatodendritic synapse, where inhibitory 5-HT1A autoreceptors are operative. The enhancement of NC caused by combined administration of FX and ID suggests the presence of a pharmacodynamic interaction, whose mechanism, still unclear, may be related to a decrease in striatal DA release.
Dual Series-Resonant Active-Clamp Converter

A dual series-resonant active-clamp dc-dc converter is proposed to obtain high efficiency. The proposed converter employs an active-clamp technique, while a series-resonant scheme controls the output voltage with the complementary pulsewidth modulation controller. The active-clamp circuit serves to recycle the energy stored in the leakage inductance or the magnetizing inductance and provides zero-voltage turn-on switching. The voltage stresses of the main switch are clamped. Moreover, the proposed dual series-resonant circuit provides two resonant-current paths formed by the leakage inductance and the output resonant capacitors, and a zero-current turn-off switching of diodes is achieved by its dual resonance. In addition, voltage stresses of the output diodes are clamped to the output voltage. Thus, the proposed active-clamp dc-dc converter using a dual series-resonant circuit is analyzed and optimized for high power efficiency. Experimental results for a 400 W dc-dc converter at a constant switching frequency of 100 kHz are obtained to show the performance of the proposed converter.
Starling Flock Networks Manage Uncertainty in Consensus at Low Cost

Flocks of starlings exhibit a remarkable ability to maintain cohesion as a group in highly uncertain environments and with limited, noisy information. Recent work demonstrated that individual starlings within large flocks respond to a fixed number of nearest neighbors, but until now it was not understood why this number is seven. We analyze robustness to uncertainty of consensus in empirical data from multiple starling flocks and show that the flock interaction networks with six or seven neighbors optimize the trade-off between group cohesion and individual effort. We can distinguish these numbers of neighbors from fewer or greater numbers using our systems-theoretic approach to measuring robustness of interaction networks as a function of the network structure, i.e., who is sensing whom. The metric quantifies the disagreement within the network due to disturbances and noise during consensus behavior and can be evaluated over a parameterized family of hypothesized sensing strategies (here the parameter is number of neighbors). We use this approach to further show that for the range of flocks studied the optimal number of neighbors does not depend on the number of birds within a flock; rather, it depends on the shape, notably the thickness, of the flock. The results suggest that robustness to uncertainty may have been a factor in the evolution of flocking for starlings. More generally, our results elucidate the role of the interaction network on uncertainty management in collective behavior, and motivate the application of our approach to other biological networks.
Type II Collagen Expression Is Regulated by Tissue-specific miR-675 in Human Articular Chondrocytes*

miRNAs have been shown to be essential for normal cartilage development in the mouse. However, the role of specific miRNAs in cartilage function is unknown. Using rarely available healthy human chondrocytes (obtained from 8 to 50 year old patients), we detected a most highly abundant primary miRNA H19, whose expression was heavily dependent on cartilage master regulator SOX9. Across a range of murine tissues, expression of both H19- and H19-derived miR-675 mirrored that of cartilage-specific SOX9. miR-675 was shown to up-regulate the essential cartilage matrix component COL2A1, and overexpression of miR-675 rescued COL2A1 levels in H19- or SOX9-depleted cells. We thus provide evidence that SOX9 positively regulates COL2A1 in human articular chondrocytes via a previously unreported miR-675-dependent mechanism. This represents a novel pathway regulating cartilage matrix production and identifies miR-675 as a promising new target for cartilage repair.
Maternal Chlamydia trachomatis Infections and Preterm Births in a University Hospital in Vitoria, Brazil

Background Preterm birth (PTB) is a major determinant of neonatal morbimortality with adverse consequences for health. The causes are multifactorial, with intrauterine infection probably explaining most of these outcomes. It is believed that infection with Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is also involved in PTB and premature rupture of membranes. Objetives To evaluate the prevalence of and associated factors for CT among cases of PTB attended at a University Hospital in Vitoria, Brazil. Methods A cross-sectional study performed among parturient who had preterm birth from June 2012 to August 2013 in Vitoria, Brazil. Participants answered a questionnaire including demographic, behavioral, and clinical data. A sample of urine was collected and screened for CT using polymerase chain reaction. Chi-square tests were used for proportion differences and Student’s-t tests and variance analysis were used for testing differences between mean values. Odds ratio was used as a measure of association with a 95% confidence interval. Results The prevalence of PTB during the period of the study was 26% and the prevalence of CT among them was 13.9%. A total of 31.6% pregnant women were younger than 25 years old and women infected by CT were even younger than women not infected by CT (p = 0.022). Most of them (76.2%) were married or had a living partner, and CT infection was more frequent among the single ones (p = 0.018); 16.7% of women reported their first sexual intercourse under 14 years old. The causes of prematurity were maternal-fetal in 40.9%; rupture of the membranes in 29.7% and premature labor in 29.4%. In multivariate analysis, being married was a protective factor for infection [OR = 0.48 (95%CI:0.24–0.97)]. None of the other characteristics were associated with CT infection. Conclusions This study shows a high prevalence of CT infection among parturient who have preterm birth. This high prevalence highlight the need for defining screening strategies focused on young pregnant women in Brazil.
Changes in quality of life over 1 year in patients with head and neck cancer.

OBJECTIVES To characterize and compare quality of life (QOL) in patients with head and neck cancer shortly before initial treatment and 1 year later and to study the predictors of changes in QOL over 1 year. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Three otolaryngology clinics. PATIENTS Three hundred sixteen patients having newly diagnosed squamous cell head and neck cancer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Health-related QOL was assessed using the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey and a head and neck cancer-specific QOL scale. RESULTS Over 1 year, QOL decreased for physical functioning measures and eating but improved for mental health QOL. Depression and smoking were major predictors of poor QOL at baseline. Major predictors of change in QOL from baseline to 1 year were treatment factors, especially feeding tube placement (9 scales), chemotherapy (3 scales), and radiation therapy (3 scales). Baseline smoking and depressive symptoms also remained significant predictors of several QOL scales at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS Health-related physical QOL tended to decline over 1 year and mental health QOL improved. The major predictors of change in QOL were treatment factors, smoking, and depressive symptoms. Physicians should alert patients to the relative effects on QOL one may experience with different treatments.
Testing for statistical discrimination in health care.

OBJECTIVE To examine the extent to which doctors' rational reactions to clinical uncertainty ("statistical discrimination") can explain racial differences in the diagnosis of depression, hypertension, and diabetes. DATA SOURCES Main data are from the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS), a 1986 study conducted by RAND Corporation in three U.S. cities. The study compares the processes and outcomes of care for patients in different health care systems. Complementary data from National Health And Examination Survey III (NHANES III) and National Comorbidity Survey (NCS) are also used. STUDY DESIGN Across three systems of care (staff health maintenance organizations, multispecialty groups, and solo practices), the MOS selected 523 health care clinicians. A representative cross-section (21,480) of patients was then chosen from a pool of adults who visited any of these providers during a 9-day period. DATA COLLECTION We analyzed a subsample of the MOS data consisting of patients of white family physicians or internists (11,664 patients). We obtain variables reflecting patients' health conditions and severity, demographics, socioeconomic status, and insurance from the patients' screener interview (administered by MOS staff prior to the patient's encounter with the clinician). We used the reports made by the clinician after the visit to construct indicators of doctors' diagnoses. We obtained prevalence rates from NHANES III and NCS. FINDINGS We find evidence consistent with statistical discrimination for diagnoses of hypertension, diabetes, and depression. In particular, we find that if clinicians act like Bayesians, plausible priors held by the physician about the prevalence of the disease across racial groups could account for racial differences in the diagnosis of hypertension and diabetes. In the case of depression, we find evidence that race affects decisions through differences in communication patterns between doctors and white and minority patients. CONCLUSIONS To contend effectively with inequities in health care, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms behind the problem. Discrimination stemming from prejudice is of a very different character than discrimination stemming from the application of rules of conditional probability as a response to clinical uncertainty. While in the former case, doctors are not acting in the best interests of their patients, in the latter, they are doing the best they can, given the information available. If miscommunication is the culprit, then efforts should be aimed at reducing disparities in the ways in which doctors communicate with patients.
Postcleavage Sequence Specificity in V(D)J Recombination

ABSTRACT Unintended DNA rearrangements in a differentiating lymphocyte can have severe, oncogenic consequences, but the mechanisms for avoiding pathogenic outcomes in V(D)J recombination are not well understood. The first level at which fidelity is instituted is in discrimination by the recombination proteins between authentic and inauthentic recombination signal sequences. Nevertheless, this discrimination is not absolute and cannot fully eliminate targeting errors. To learn more about the basis of specificity during V(D)J recombination, we have investigated whether it is possible for the recombination machinery to detect an inaccurately targeted sequence subsequent to cleavage. These studies indicate that even postcleavage steps in V(D)J recombination are sequence specific and that noncanonical sequences will not efficiently support the resolution of recombination intermediates in vivo. Accordingly, interventions after a mistargeting event conceivably occur at a late stage in the joining process and the likelihood may well be crucial to enforcing fidelity during antigen receptor gene rearrangement.
Position of the American Dietetic Association: Vegetarian Diets

m t BSTRACT t is the position of the American Ditetic Association that appropriately lanned vegetarian diets, including otal vegetarian or vegan diets, are ealthful, nutritionally adequate, and ay provide health benefits in the revention and treatment of certain iseases. Well-planned vegetarian dits are appropriate for individuals uring all stages of the life cycle, inluding pregnancy, lactation, infancy, hildhood, and adolescence, and for thletes. A vegetarian diet is defined s one that does not include meat (inluding fowl) or seafood, or products ontaining those foods. This article eviews the current data related to ey nutrients for vegetarians includng protein, n-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, odine, calcium, and vitamins D and -12. A vegetarian diet can meet curent recommendations for all of these utrients. In some cases, supplements r fortified foods can provide useful mounts of important nutrients. An evdence-based review showed that vegtarian diets can be nutritionally adquate in pregnancy and result in ositive maternal and infant health utcomes. The results of an evidenceased review showed that a vegetaran diet is associated with a lower risk f death from ischemic heart disease. egetarians also appear to have lower ow-density lipoprotein cholesterol levls, lower blood pressure, and lower ates of hypertension and type 2 diabees than nonvegetarians. Furthermore, egetarians tend to have a lower body ass index and lower overall cancer ates. Features of a vegetarian diet hat may reduce risk of chronic disease nclude lower intakes of saturated fat nd cholesterol and higher intakes of ruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, oy products, fiber, and phytochemi-