Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Targeted Radioiodine Therapy of Neuroblastoma Tumors following Systemic Nonviral Delivery of the Sodium Iodide Symporter Gene

Purpose: We recently reported the significant therapeutic efficacy of radioiodine therapy in various tumor mouse models following transcriptionally targeted sodium iodide symporter (NIS) gene transfer. These studies showed the high potential of NIS as a novel diagnostic and therapeutic gene for the treatment of extrathyroidal tumors. As a next crucial step towards clinical application of NIS-mediated radionuclide therapy we aim at systemic delivery of the NIS gene to target extrathyroidal tumors even in the metastatic stage. Experimental Design: In the current study, we used synthetic polymeric vectors based on pseudodendritic oligoamines with high intrinsic tumor affinity (G2-HD-OEI) to target a NIS-expressing plasmid (CMV-NIS-pcDNA3) to neuroblastoma (Neuro2A) cells. Results: Incubation with NIS-containing polyplexes (G2-HD-OEI/NIS) resulted in a 51-fold increase in perchlorate-sensitive iodide uptake activity in Neuro2A cells in vitro. Through 123I-scintigraphy and ex vivo gamma counting Neuro2A tumors in syngeneic A/J mice were shown to accumulate 8% to 13% ID/g 123I with a biological half-life of 13 hours, resulting in a tumor-absorbed dose of 247 mGy/MBq 131I after i.v. application of G2-HD-OEI/NIS. Nontarget organs, including liver, lung, kidneys, and spleen revealed no significant iodide uptake. Moreover, two cycles of systemic NIS gene transfer followed by 131I application (55.5 MBq) resulted in a significant delay in tumor growth associated with markedly improved survival. Conclusions: In conclusion, our data clearly show the high potential of novel pseudodendritic polymers for tumor-specific NIS gene delivery after systemic application, opening the prospect of targeted NIS-mediated radionuclide therapy of nonthyroidal tumors even in metastatic disease. (Clin Cancer Res 2009;15(19):6079–86)
Scalability of niche PSO

In contrast to optimization techniques intended to find a single, global solution in a problem domain, niching (speciation) techniques have the ability to locate multiple solutions in multimodal domains. Numerous niching techniques have been proposed, broadly classified as temporal (locating solutions sequentially) and parallel (multiple solutions are found concurrently) techniques. Most research efforts to date have considered niching solutions through the eyes of genetic algorithms (GA), studying simple multimodal problems. Little attention has been given to the possibilities associated with emergent swarm intelligence techniques. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) utilizes properties of swarm behaviour not present in evolutionary algorithms such as GA, to rapidly solve optimization problems. This paper investigates the ability of two genetic algorithm niching techniques, sequential niching and deterministic crowding, to scale to higher dimensional domains with large numbers of solutions, and compare their performance to a PSO-based niching technique, Niche PSO.
Assessment of Human Environment Interactions on Health and Safety Behaviour of Construction Workers

Construction worksite health and safety in Nigeria has remained a source of concern despite several efforts to addressing the issues. This study therefore examined the perceived level of influence of components of human environment on the construction workers' health and safety behaviour, based on social ecological and social cognitive theories. Data collected through questionnaires and distributed to the construction workers were statistically analysed. The Mean Score Index and standard deviation, and ANOVA of the weighted responses were computed to ascertain the level and significance of influence of components of human environment on the health and safety behaviour of construction workers. On the average, it was found that the perceived level of influence of components of human environment on the health and safety behaviour of construction workers was very high and significant. Individually, Organisational norms (4.8652), National, state and local laws (4.8539), Ethos (4.7266), Work environment (4.6742) and Culture characteristics (4.6067) were found to be the five most influential human environment variables that affect health and safety behaviours of construction workers, while public policy components (4.4095) exert the greatest influence on health and safety behaviours of construction workers when the variables are grouped. This implies that work environment as part of organisation psychology is indispensable in shaping the behavioural pattern of construction workers. Thus, to improve construction workplace health and safety, workers' human environment and personal attributes need to be assessed before engagement.
The non-classical nucleation of crystals: microscopic mechanisms and applications to molecular crystals, ice and calcium carbonate

Crystals form via nucleation followed by growth. Often nucleation data are interpreted using the classical theory of nucleation, which is essentially a simple theory for the nucleation of a fluid phase. I characterise this classical theory as making six assumptions; I discuss each assumption in turn. I then review experiments and simulations that find nucleation behaviour that cannot be described by the classical theory. The experiments are on the crystallisation from solution of molecules such as drugs and related molecules, ice and calcium carbonate. The review also covers work on non-classical nucleation in solutions of the protein lysozyme, and work on the fascinating phenomenon of nucleation induced by laser pulses. I hope this review will be of interest to those studying the crystallisation of both molecules and ions from solution. The review aims to advance our understanding of the crucial first step in crystallisation, and to enable researchers studying crystallisation in one system to learn from what others have done in studying analogous phenomena in different systems.
Tutorial on Support Vector Machine ( SVM )

In this tutorial we present a brief introduction to SVM, and we discuss about SVM from published papers, workshop materials & material collected from books and material available online on the World Wide Web. In the beginning we try to define SVM and try to talk as why SVM, with a brief overview of statistical learning theory. The mathematical formulation of SVM is presented, and theory for the implementation of SVM is briefly discussed. Finally some conclusions on SVM and application areas are included. Support Vector Machines (SVMs) are competing with Neural Networks as tools for solving pattern recognition problems. This tutorial assumes you are familiar with concepts of Linear Algebra, real analysis and also understand the working of neural networks and have some background in AI.
Health Care Professionals, Rurality, and Intimate Femicide

Research demonstrates that disparities exist in access to quality rural health care. With studies showing that intimate partner violence is more severe and homicide is more prevalent in rural areas, scholars have begun to turn to the inaccessibility of health care in these areas as an explanation. The current study sets out to further this limited body of literature by examining the importance of rurality on the relationship between the availability of health care professionals and intimate femicide at the county level. Results indicate that rurality moderates the relationship between the availability of health care professionals and intimate femicide; however, results are not as predicted.
From Three-Dimensional Space Vision to Prehensile Hand Movements: The Lateral Intraparietal Area Links the Area V3A and the Anterior Intraparietal Area in Macaques

The posterior parietal cortex is included in the dorsal cortical visual pathway underlying the three-dimensional (3-D) visual recognition of space and objects. The neurons in the lateral intraparietal area (LIP) respond visually to the three-dimensional objects, whereas those in the anterior intraparietal area (AIP) respond to hand movements to grasp them. LIP receives visual inputs from V3A, whereas AIP projects to the premotor areas; however, it is not known whether the neurons in LIP project to AIP. We herein investigated the connectional substrates that underlie the transformation of three-dimensional vision to prehensile hand movements in the Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata). After identifying the three-dimensional visually responsive region in the posterior part of LIP by the unit recordings, we injected a bidirectional tracer, wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase, into one of the recording sites. We found that LIP receives neuronal projections from V3A and sends axons to AIP. To confirm our findings, we injected several orthograde tracers into V3A and retrograde tracers into AIP in the same hemispheres. We found that the V3A neurons projecting to LIP terminate in the vicinity of the LIP neurons projecting to AIP. The results suggest that the cortical connections of V3A–LIP–AIP in the lateral bank of the intraparietal sulcus play an important role in the visuomotor transformation for prehensile hand movements.
Temporal Characteristics of the Influence of Punishment on Perceptual Decision Making in the Human Brain

Perceptual decision making is the process by which information from sensory systems is combined and used to influence our behavior. In addition to the sensory input, this process can be affected by other factors, such as reward and punishment for correct and incorrect responses. To investigate the temporal dynamics of how monetary punishment influences perceptual decision making in humans, we collected electroencephalography (EEG) data during a perceptual categorization task whereby the punishment level for incorrect responses was parametrically manipulated across blocks of trials. Behaviorally, we observed improved accuracy for high relative to low punishment levels. Using multivariate linear discriminant analysis of the EEG, we identified multiple punishment-induced discriminating components with spatially distinct scalp topographies. Compared with components related to sensory evidence, components discriminating punishment levels appeared later in the trial, suggesting that punishment affects primarily late postsensory, decision-related processing. Crucially, the amplitude of these punishment components across participants was predictive of the size of the behavioral improvements induced by punishment. Finally, trial-by-trial changes in prestimulus oscillatory activity in the alpha and gamma bands were good predictors of the amplitude of these components. We discuss these findings in the context of increased motivation/attention, resulting from increases in punishment, which in turn yields improved decision-related processing.
The Diversity of Non-instrumental Qualities in Human-Technology Interaction

Quality aspects that go beyond the instrumental value of an interactive system are one area of research in the field of user experience. In this paper we describe an approach to the measurement of non-instrumental qualities that defines aesthetic and symbolic aspects as main sub-categories and discuss further relevant sub-dimensions. An exemplary study on three mobile phones is presented that used the discussed assumptions as theoretical basis and applied various questionnaire dimensions from the literature. The results demonstrate the usefulness of the approach and show that a consideration of diverse aspects of non-instrumental qualities makes it possible to better explain users’ overall judgments. Implications for the evaluation and design of interactive systems and ideas for future work are discussed.
Familial deficiency of vitamin K‐dependent clotting factors

Summary. Combined deficiency of vitamin K‐dependent clotting factors II, VII, IX and X (and proteins C, S, and Z) is usually an acquired clinical problem, often resulting from liver disease, malabsorption, or warfarin overdose. A rare inherited form of defective γ‐carboxylation resulting in early onset of bleeding was first described by McMillan and Roberts in 1966 and subsequently has been termed ‘vitamin K‐dependent clotting factor deficiency’ (VKCFD). Biochemical and molecular studies identify two variants of this autosomal recessive disorder: VKCFD1, which is associated with point mutations in the γ‐glutamylcarboxylase gene (GGCX), and VKCFD2, which results from point mutations in the vitamin K epoxide reductase gene (VKOR). Bleeding ranges in severity from mild to severe. Therapy includes high oral doses of vitamin K for prophylaxis, usually resulting in partial correction of factor deficiency, and episodic use of plasma infusions or prothrombin complex concentrate. Recent molecular studies have the potential to further our understanding of vitamin K metabolism, γ‐carboxylation, and the functional role this post‐translational modification has for other proteins. The results may also provide potential targets for molecular therapeutics and pharmacogenetics.
A reliable effective terascale linear learning system

We present a system and a set of techniques for learning linear predictors with convex losses on terascale data sets, with trillions of features, billions of training examples and millions of parameters in an hour using a cluster of 1000 machines. Individually none of the component techniques are new, but the careful synthesis required to obtain an efficient implementation is. The result is, up to our knowledge, the most scalable and efficient linear learning system reported in the literature. We describe and thoroughly evaluate the components of the system, showing the importance of the various design choices.
Examining the Kinetic Changes in Pupillary Response and Listening Effort

Chapter 1: Examining the Kinetic Changes in Pupillary Response and Listening Effort A. Introduction 1. Reflex pupillary response to light 2. Pupillary response to cognitive effort 3. Research motivation 4. Summary and hypotheses B. Methods C. Results D. Discussion Chapter 2: Effects of Healthy aging on pupillary kinetics in response to auditory stimuli that vary in complexity: A pilot study A. Introduction 1. Effects of aging on pupillary light reflex 2. Effects of aging on pupillometry in response to cognitive efforts 3. Research motivation 4. Hypotheses B. Preliminary Results and Discussion C. Conclusions D. Acknowledgments E. Appendices F. References
Using Home Spirometry for Follow up of Lung Transplant Recipients: “A Pilot Study”

Background Lung transplantation is considered the ultimate treatment for some patients, but due to the specific condition of patients undergoing it, follow up is a major concern. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of home spirometry in follow up of lung transplant recipients and early detection of complications in these patients. Materials and Methods A PC-based portable spirometry set was used to evaluate the well being of two lung transplant recipients on a regular daily basis for a 6-month period. Patient satisfaction and compliance, and device sensitivity in detecting complications were evaluated. Results of follow up were compared with 2 matched control patients. Results Patient adherence to home spirometry was 80% in one and 61% in the other patient and both patients were satisfied with the method, although this satisfaction declined towards the end of the study period. The main reason for low adherence was insufficient internet access. This method succeeded in early detection of infectious complications. Conclusion Home spirometry seems to be a reliable method for follow up of lung transplant recipients, but further studies in a larger group of patients is recommended.
To Each According to Her Luck and Power: Optimal Corporate Governance and Compensation Policy in a Dynamic World

We model long-run firm performance, management compensation, and corporate governance in a dynamic, nonstationary world. We show that managerial compensation and governance policies, which, in a single-period context, can best be rationalized by self-serving managerial influence over board policy, are shareholder-wealth maximizing in a dynamic setting. For example, shareholder wealth is maximized by governance policies that tie board deference to generous compensation and link the level of current compensation more to luck than performance. Further, under shareholder-wealth maximizing polices, managerial diversion of firm resources for private consumption is likely to accompany stock price declines which immediately follow sustained price increases and lax board oversight. Unless the the likelihood of a control transfer is large, stock-based managerial compensation may not produce as much shareholder value as simple salary contracts.
Cross-cultural differences in the multisensory perception of emotion

Our recent study [1] showed that culture modulates the manner of the multisensory integration of affective information. Specifically, Japanese are more tuned to vocal processing than Dutch in the multisensory perception of emotion. The current study aimed to extend the findings by adding an experiment and conducting further analyses on the results of their study. In the experiments, pairs of affective faces and voices, expressing either congruent or incongruent emotion, were presented simultaneously. In Experiment 1, although the performance on the facial judgment was very high, a selective interference that angry voice interfered with judgment of happy face was found for the in-group judgment of Japanese participants. Also, the interference effect of to-beignored face on the judgment of vocal expressions was smaller in the Japanese group than in the Dutch group. The results suggest that Japanese are more tuned to vocal processing in the multisensory perception of emotion, regardless of whether the difficulty is matched between judgments of facial and vocal expressions. In Experiment 2, the effect of to-be-ignored voice was larger for the in-group than out-group speakers when judging the facial expression, whereas the opposite result was found in the vocal judgment. The results suggest that the relative weight of facial and vocal expressions can be modulated by the familiarity with the speakers.
On the Cognitive Validity of Interpretations of Scores from Alternative Concept-Mapping Techniques.

The validity of connected understanding interpretation of three concept mapping techniques was studied, focusing on the correspondence between mapping-intended task demands, inferred cognitive activities, and scores obtained. The concurrent and retrospective verbalizations of subjects at different levels of competency as they performed the mapping task were studied, and the directedness of the mapping tasks, the characteristics of the verbalizations, and the scores were compared. Subjects were nine chemistry students and two chemistry teachers. The three mapping techniques were: (1) construct a map from scratch; (2) fill in the nodes of a skeleton map; and (3) fill in the linking lines. The three mapping techniques provided different pictures of student knowledge. With high-directed techniques (fill-in-the-map), students' knowledge was close to the maximum criterion, but with a low-directed technique (construct-the-map), students' knowledge was revealed as partial. Low-directed tasks seemed to provide students with more opportunities to reflect their actual conceptual understanding. In addition, the magnitude of the correlation between construct-a-map and fill-in-the-lines scores was much higher than that observed in previous studies. An appendix contains a table of verbal units by subcategory, group, and assessment. (Contains 16 references.) (SLD) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** Cognitive Validity 1 On the Cognitive Validity of Interpretations of Scores From Alternative Concept-Mapping Techniques* Maria Araceli Ruiz-Primo, Susan E. Schultz, MM Li, & Richard J. Shavelson**
Is fluency being ‘neglected’ in the classroom? Teacher understanding of fluency and related classroom practices

This article reports on a study examining second language (L2) teachers’ understanding of speech fluency and their self-reported classroom practices for promoting it. Qualitative and quantitative data collected from 84 L2 teachers in England were analysed to answer the research questions. In addition to the descriptive statistics and lexical frequency analysis used to explore teacher understanding of fluency, Rossiter, Derwing, Manimtim and Thomson’s (2010) framework was employed to analyse the teachers’ reported classroom practices. The results suggest that teachers often define fluency in a broad sense, with many using fluency and speaking ability interchangeably. Similarly, a large majority of the activities reported by the teachers were useful for enhancing speaking practice rather than focusing on fluency specifically. The findings underline the interaction between teacher understanding and their methodology (Borg, 2003), and highlight a mismatch between what fluency research recommends and what teachers do in class. Though the study highlights the complex and multifaceted nature of L2 oral fluency, we argue that adopting a narrower understanding could help teachers take a more active and practical approach to promoting fluency in the classroom.
Theoretical Study of the Diels-Alder Reaction in the Synthesis of Abietane Diterpenes

Density Functional Theory (DFT),at the B3LYP/6-311 G(d,p) level of theory and Moller-Plesse Theory (MP2/6-311G (d,p)) has been performed to study the mechanism, potential energy surface of the Diels-Alder reaction in the Synthesis of abietane diterpenes. The obtained results indicate that the reaction is concerted and synchronous processes. The transannular product is formed via a six-member ring transition state; yield of the endo product is higher. And finally, the enthalpie and activation energie of the reaction are given respectively. The reaction is exothermic,which accords well with experimental observation.
The Role of Executive Function in Arithmetic Problem-Solving Processes: A Study of Third Graders

ABSTRACT This study investigated the roles of different executive function (EF) components (inhibition, shifting, and working memory) in 2-step arithmetic word problem solving. A sample of 139 children aged 8 years old and regularly attending the 3rd grade of primary school were tested on 6 EF tasks measuring different EF components, a reading task and a reading comprehension task, an arithmetic facts task evaluating basic knowledge of calculation, and three 2-step arithmetic word problems. Multiple hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to investigate the roles of the different EF components in the various phases of the problem-solving process. The results showed that EF affects the various phases of problem solving differently over and above calculation knowledge and reading abilities. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to further understanding the role of cognitive skills in mathematical problem solving and in relation to instructional approaches that may increase children’s performance on 2-step arithmetic word problems.
Employing zSlices based general type-2 fuzzy sets to model multi level agreement

In this paper, we introduce the concept of Multi Level Agreement (MLA) based on (zSlices based) general type-2 fuzzy sets. We define the notion of MLA and describe how it can be computed based on a series of interval type-2 fuzzy sets. We provide examples, visualizing the nature of MLA sets and discuss their properties and interpretation. Moreover, we specifically address the reason for introducing MLA in order to allow the modeling of agreement in real world applications using fuzzy sets while still maintaining an uncertainty model and show that the use of general type-2 fuzzy sets is essential for MLA as classical sets, type-1 and interval type-2 fuzzy sets do not provide a degree of freedom which could be employed to model agreement.