Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The RIG-I-like receptor IFIH1/MDA5 is a dermatomyositis-specific autoantigen identified by the anti-CADM-140 antibody.

OBJECTIVES Various autoantibodies are detected in the sera of PM/DM patients. Some of them are specific to PM/DM patients and closely associated with clinical manifestations of the diseases. Recently, the anti-CADM-140 antibody was reported to be found specifically in clinically amyopathic DM (C-ADM) patients and to be associated with acute interstitial lung disease (ILD). We assessed the clinical significance of the anti-CADM-140 antibody and then investigated the autoantigen recognized by the anti-CADM-140 antibody. METHODS Autoantibodies were screened in 192 patients with various CTDs and 21 healthy controls using immunoprecipitation with [(35)S]methionine-labelled HeLa cells. Immunoabsorbent column chromatography was used to purify an autoantigen that was subsequently subjected to peptide mass fingerprinting. RESULTS The anti-CADM-140 antibody was revealed to be specific to DM. Most of the anti-CADM-140-positive patients were C-ADM although some of them showed apparent myositis. The anti-CADM-140-positive patients frequently showed hyperferritinaemia and acute progressive ILD with poor prognosis. The anti-CADM-140 antibody was shown to recognize IFN induced with helicase C domain protein 1 (IFIH1), also known as the melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5), which is one of the RIG-I-like receptors and plays a role in innate immune responses. CONCLUSION The anti-CADM-140 antibody was a marker of DM and intractable ILD and recognized IFIH1/MDA5, which is involved in innate immunity. These findings may give a new insight into the pathogenesis of DM.
Understanding neural system dynamics through task modulation and measurement of functional MRI amplitude, latency, and width

Estimates of hemodynamic amplitude, delay, and width were combined to investigate system dynamics involved in lexical decision making. Subjects performed a lexical decision task using word and nonword stimuli rotated 0°, 60°, or 120°. Averaged hemodynamic responses to repeated stimulation were fit to a Gamma-variate function convolved with a heavyside function of varying onset and duration to estimate each voxel's activation delay and width. Consistent with prolonged reaction times for the rotated stimuli and nonwords, the motor cortex showed delayed hemodynamic onset for both conditions. Language areas such as the lingual gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, fusiform gyrus, and precuneus all showed delayed hemodynamic onsets to rotated stimuli but not to nonword stimuli. The inferior frontal gyrus showed both increased onset latency for rotated stimuli and a wider hemodynamic response to nonwords, consistent with prolonged processing in this area during the lexical decision task. Phonological processing areas such as superior temporal and angular gyrus showed no delay or width difference for rotated stimuli. These results suggest that phonological routes but not semantic routes to the lexicon can proceed regardless of stimulus orientation. This study demonstrates the utility of estimating hemodynamic delay and width in addition to amplitude allowing for more quantitative measures of brain function such as mental chronometry.
Prevalence of and risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: The Dionysos nutrition and liver study

The prevalence of and the risk factors for fatty liver have not undergone a formal evaluation in a representative sample of the general population. We therefore performed a cross‐sectional study in the town of Campogalliano (Modena, Italy), within the context of the Dionysos Project. Of 5,780 eligible persons aged 18 to 75 years, 3,345 (58%) agreed to participate in the study. Subjects with suspected liver disease (SLD), defined on the basis of elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and γ‐glutamyl‐transferase (GGT) activity, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), or hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐RNA positivity, were matched with randomly selected subjects of the same age and sex without SLD. A total of 311 subjects with and 287 without SLD underwent a detailed clinical, laboratory, and anthropometrical evaluation. Fatty liver was diagnosed by ultrasonography, and alcohol intake was assessed by using a 7‐day diary. Multinomial logistic regression was used to detect risk factors for normal liver versus nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and for alcoholic fatty liver (AFLD) versus NAFLD. The prevalence of NAFLD was similar in subjects with and without SLD (25 vs. 20%, P = .203). At multivariable analysis, normal liver was more likely than NAFLD in older subjects and less likely in the presence of obesity, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and systolic hypertension; AFLD was more likely than NAFLD in older subjects, males, and in the presence of elevated GGT and hypertriglyceridemia, and less likely in the presence of obesity and hyperglycemia. In conclusion, NAFLD is highly prevalent in the general population, is not associated with SLD, but is associated with many features of the metabolic syndrome. (HEPATOLOGY 2005.)
A new transcutaneous bone anchored hearing device - the Baha® Attract System: the first experience in Turkey.

OBJECTIVES In this study, we reported our experience with a new transcutaneous bone conduction hearing device, the Baha® Attract System. PATIENTS AND METHODS This multi-center clinical study included the first 12 patients (8 females, 4 males; mean age 27.6 years; range 5 to 65 years) in whom a new transcutaneous bone conduction system was implanted in Turkey. RESULTS The mean air-bone gap was 41 dB. Bone smoothing around the implant was needed in five patients. We placed a sound processor in the fourth postoperative week for all patients. CONCLUSION Our study results suggest that the new bone conduction implant is promising for the patients with conductive or mixed hearing loss who are unable to wear conventional air conduction hearing aid and comparable to percutaneous systems.
Empirical Validity of the Thematic Apperception Test

This study of interpretation of abstract meaning in Thematic Apperception Test (TAT; Murray, 1943) cards investigated three questions; (a) is meaning predicted by personality theory, (b) is meaning consensual or idiosyncratic, and (c) how does emotional response relate to meaning? A visual triad task using 21 TAT cards was presented to 32 subjects. Subjects also rated intensity of emotional response to each card using a Likert scale. Multidimensional scaling and consensus analysis applied to results showed a correlation between emotional rating and cognitive judgment, with consensus for both meaning and emotional response. No support was found for normative themes reported by Bellak (1986), but results supported Westen's (1991) claim that TAT responses reveal object relations.
Is freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease related to asymmetric motor function?

Freezing of gait (FOG) is a disabling phenomenon common in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). The cause of FOG is unclear. The objective of this study was to explore a novel hypothesis stating that FOG is related to asymmetric motor performance. We compared PD patients that experience FOG episodes (PD+FOG) with PD patients that do not (PD−FOG) and studied the relationship of FOG to asymmetry in gait and in rhythmic hand movement performance to determine whether potential FOG‐related gait asymmetry is unique to walking or whether it is systemic. Subjects were tested in an “off” (unmedicated) and again in an “on” (medicated) state. Gait was more asymmetric in PD+FOG than in PD−FOG during “off” state (p = 0.005) and during “on” (p = 0.016). Rhythmicity of foot swing in one leg was correlated with the other leg in PD−FOG but not in PD+FOG. There was no difference in asymmetry in performance of rhythmic hand movements between the two groups. No correlation was found between asymmetry of clinical symptoms and gait asymmetry. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that bilateral uncoordinated gait and marked gait asymmetry, but not asymmetry in motor performance in general, are associated with FOG. Ann Neurol 2005;57:656–663
Discovery of the surface polarity gradient on iridescent Morpho butterfly scales reveals a mechanism of their selective vapor response

Significance Morpho butterflies are a brilliant spectacle of nature’s capability for photonic engineering. Their conspicuous appearance arises from the interference and diffraction of light within tree-like nanostructures on their scales. Scientific lessons learned from these butterflies have already inspired designs of new displays, fabrics, and cosmetics. This study reports a vertical surface polarity gradient in these tree-like structures. This biological pattern design may be applied to numerous technological applications ranging from security tags to self-cleaning surfaces, gas separators, protective clothing, and sensors. Here it has allowed us to unveil a general mechanism of selective vapor response in photonic Morpho nanostructures and to demonstrate attractive opportunities for chemically graded sensing units for high-performance sensing. For almost a century, the iridescence of tropical Morpho butterfly scales has been known to originate from 3D vertical ridge structures of stacked periodic layers of cuticle separated by air gaps. Here we describe a biological pattern of surface functionality that we have found in these photonic structures. This pattern is a gradient of surface polarity of the ridge structures that runs from their polar tops to their less-polar bottoms. This finding shows a biological pattern design that could stimulate numerous technological applications ranging from photonic security tags to self-cleaning surfaces, gas separators, protective clothing, sensors, and many others. As an important first step, this biomaterial property and our knowledge of its basis has allowed us to unveil a general mechanism of selective vapor response observed in the photonic Morpho nanostructures. This mechanism of selective vapor response brings a multivariable perspective for sensing, where selectivity is achieved within a single chemically graded nanostructured sensing unit, rather than from an array of separate sensors.
Is the SATAP test an indicator of academic preparedness for first year university students

Various reasons may be advanced for conducting proficiency tests in academic literacy at higher education institutions. The Standardised Assessment Test for Access and Placement (SATAP) aims at determining the academic literacy skills that entry-level students should demonstrate as a predictor of their preparedness and success in tertiary education. At the CPUT the test was written by first year students in the Business Faculty as a means of identifying students who might need academic intervention in order to cope with their studies. The present study investigated whether the SATAP test is a reasonable predictor of academic literacy abilities. The quantitative methodology of data collection, that is, the Swedish ratings of the matriculation examination results were compared with the scores obtained in the SATAP test and their first semester results. A correlations analysis and other statistical techniques were computed using the SPSS package. This study was limited to five groups of students in the Business Faculty. The findings indicate that the SATAP test is actually adequate for assessing and predicting future academic performance of first year students at tertiary institutions, albeit with certain qualifications. J South African Journal of Higher Education Vol. 21 (7) 2008: pp. 919-939
Wavelet analysis to detect regime shifts in animal movement

Animals most often move in a non-homogeneous way as a long movement path through a heterogeneous landscape that corresponds to a sequence of various behavioural states. Hence, a large majority of movement analyses make the assumption that long movements combine typical behaviours like intensive search or resting which are separated by sharp transitions. This study aimed at providing an alternative method for identifying intensive search areas using sharp as well as more continuous (smooth) transitions. I proposed analyzing movement data over temporal and spatial scales by the use of the wavelet analysis and drew inferences about the behaviours that shape movements. I computed a synthetic index built with wavelet time-spectra of turning angle and speed parameters, this method offered a robust and automatic way to characterize movement transitions. The first step was to work on simulated movements to define the confidence levels of detection. The second was to illustrate the use of wavelet analysis on the movements of wandering albatrosses. As a result, this study outlined two fundamental areas of interest in animal movement analysis: i) it is relevant to select behavioural modes with continuous transitions between them along the animal’s movement, as it is done with usual segmentation methods; ii) to suppose that every behaviour and every transition between them is intrinsically multiscale (i.e. with a scaling property) appeared to be an interesting approach to identify and characterize them. The mathematical robustness and predictive ability of wavelet analysis make it a promising road towards multiscale movement ecology that fuses insights from the study of animal behaviour and environmental properties.
Will Genetically Modified Canola be Adopted in WA

Despite approval being given by the Gene Technology Regulator to plant genetically modified (GM) canola varieties in Australia, the question as to whether farmers would be prepared to grow GM canola is still being explored. The purpose of this paper is to establish not only if producers would grow GM canola in south Western Australia but how they make this decision. Results from a survey aimed at canola producers found that adoption of GM canola will ultimately depend upon price premiums for non-GM canola and personal risk likely to be incurred by growers.
Adopting Paivio's General Analytic Framework to Examine Imagery Use in Sport

This study examined the use of imagery according to Paivio's (1985) general analytic framework. The aims were to examine functional differences in imagery use according to the five subscales of the SIQ, to investigate differences in imagery use by competitive level, and to explore the influence on the use of imagery of skills involving a perceptual target (reactive tasks) and without a perceptual target (nonreactive tasks). Participants included 484 individuals (280 male, 204 female), with a mean age of 20.39 (SD = 4.10) from the United Kingdom, Finland, and Australia. The group comprised 84 national, 210 state, 120 district, and 70 recreational level athletes representing 54 sports. Participants completed a demographic information sheet and the Sport Imagery Questionnaire (SIQ). Participants were classified according to competitive level and task type. Results indicated that overall participants used more motivational general-mastery imagery. A one-way multivariate analysis of variance revealed that there were significant differences among the four competitive levels on imagery use with the district level participants reporting significantly higher use of motivational general-arousal (MG-A) imagery than state and national level participants and national level participants reporting higher use of cognitive specific (CS) imagery than recreational level participants. There was also a significant difference between tasks with a perceptual target and tasks with no target for motivational-specific imagery, with higher scores for tasks with a perceptual target. The results suggest the continued evaluation of imagery use in relation to competitive level and support that task type may influence the functional use of imagery in sport.
Evidence for preferences of Italian patients for physician attire

Background The relationship between patient and physician is a complex interaction that includes multiple factors. The objective of this study was to explore Italian patients’ preferences regarding physician appearance. Methods A questionnaire was developed to survey patients in different medical and surgical settings; each subject was asked to choose one picture of either a male or female physician from a selection of different attires (professional, casual, surgical scrubs, trendy, and careless). Patients were also surveyed about issues such as the presence of a name tag, hair length, trousers on women, amount of makeup, presence of tattoos, and body piercing. Statistical analysis was performed using a Chi-square test. Results A total of 765 questionnaires (534 completed from patients waiting for an internal medicine visit and 231 for other subspecialties) were completed. The majority (45%) of patients preferred the gastroenterologist to wear a surgical scrub with a white coat. For the other specialists, patients accepted either scrubs or formal dress under a white coat (P ≤ 0.05), with a name tag. Trendy attire was preferred by nine patients (1.1%). The entire sample judged it inappropriate for clinicians to have long hair, visible tattoos, body piercing, and, for women, to wear trousers and use excessive makeup. Conclusion This is the first study conducted in Italy regarding physician attire. As in other Western countries, Italian patients favor physicians in professional attire with a white coat. Wearing professional dress is part of “etiquette based medicine” and may favorably influence clinician–patient relationships and patient compliance.
Social Influence in Using ICT among Fishermen in Malaysia

One of the main factors that changes individuals’ behavior is social influence. Social influence is defined as a change in an individual’s thinking, feelings, attitudes, or behavior that results from interaction with other individuals or groups. Within the scope of ICT adoption among fishermen, social influence is expected to spread, and this study attempts to discover the social influence that impinges on fishermen’s use of ICT in their fishing routine. This is a quantitative study in which a total of 400 respondents have been selected based on multi-stage simple random sampling. SPSS is used to gain the required analyses, and descriptive analysis is also performed. The results reveal that social influence has less impact on fishermen’s use of ICT based on the low level of mean scores recorded for each of the eight statements studied.
An analysis of the most common types of hand injury mistakes and their cost in the acute setting

This study aimed to explore the most common hand injury errors occurring in Emergency Departments in England. A Freedom of Information request was made to the NHS Litigation Authority for claims data related to hand injuries in English Emergency Departments from 2004 to 2014. All successful hand injury claims against an individual DGH ED were also analysed. Two hundred and eighteen successful claims were made, costing a total of £6,273,688.22. Diagnosis error was the most common successful claim (97). Four successful claims were brought against the Emergency Department. Causes of error included the use of inappropriate views and failure to correlate imaging with clinical findings. Hand injury diagnostic error has been the most common cause of successful litigious claims against Emergency Departments over the past 10 years. This paper demonstrates that fracture recognition and clinical diagnosis of hand injuries are key areas to target to reduce error rates.
Semi-supervised vs. Cross-domain Graphs for Sentiment Analysis

The lack of labeled data always poses challenges for tasks where machine learning is involved. Semi-supervised and cross-domain approaches represent the most common ways to overcome this difficulty. Graph-based algorithms have been widely studied during the last decade and have proved to be very effective at solving the data limitation problem. This paper explores one of the most popular stateof-the-art graph-based algorithms - label propagation, together with its modifications previously applied to sentiment classification. We study the impact of modified graph structure and parameter variations and compare the performance of graph-based algorithms in cross-domain and semi-supervised settings. The results provide a strategy for selecting the most favourable algorithm and learning paradigm on the basis of the available labeled and unlabeled data.
Attitudes Toward Peers With Physical Disabilities at High School

The aim of this work was to study attitudes toward people with disabilities from the viewpoint of the integrated threat theory of prejudice. This theory postulates that threat may cause negative attitudes toward a group and posits that such threat may come from different sources. To test this model, a study was carried out with high school students (N = 228), which included social dominance orientation (SDO) as antecedent variable. Perceived threat for resources and intergroup anxiety were the mediating threats investigated in this process. Results showed support for the theory: Perceived threat for resources and intergroup anxiety seemed to be effective mediators. SDO also appeared as a potent antecedent predictor of attitudes toward people with physical disabilities.
Institutional ecological footprint analysis ‐ A case study of the University of Newcastle, Australia

With documented declines in the biophysical state of the planet, there is a need to develop indicators of sustainability. Ecological footprint analysis (EFA) can be considered an indicator of sustainability that converts consumption and waste production into units of equivalent land area. Based on the reality of biophysical limits to growth, and presenting data in an aggregated, quantifiable, yet easily comprehensible form, EFA is also a useful tool for environmental policy and management. EFA has typically been applied at the national and regional level as well, as for assessment of technology. This paper develops an ecological footprint model for institutional contexts and this study of the University of Newcastle (NSW) is the first institutional level EFA undertaken in Australia. The case study shows tertiary institutions to be net importers of consumption items and thus dependent on a vast external environment. The EFA highlights those areas of consumption which constitute the largest part of the footprint and thus provides the opportunity for targeting those areas for active management. EFA for this tertiary institution clearly identifies that a reduced ecological footprint would mean a movement towards sustainability.
Differential effector mechanisms induced by vaccination with MUC1 DNA in the rejection of colon carcinoma growth at orthotopic sites and metastases

The effects of MUC1 DNA vaccination on the orthotopic growth and liver metastasis of colon carcinoma cells were investigated in mice. Vaccination with MUC1 DNA resulted in immune responses that were effective in suppressing mouse colon carcinoma cells transfected with MUC1 cDNA. CD4+ T cells but not CD8+ T cells mediated this antitumor response as shown by the in vivo depletion of lymphocyte subpopulations with the use of anti‐CD4 or anti‐CD8 antibody. The effects of neutralizing antibodies in vivo revealed that the predominant effector molecule in preventing orthotopic tumor growth was FasL, whereas the effector molecule effective in preventing liver metastasis was tumor necrosis factor‐α. Colon carcinoma cells isolated from tumors growing in the ceca, spleens, and livers were shown to be equally sensitive to FasL and tumor necrosis factor‐α. The results strongly suggest that elimination of tumor cells initiated by DNA vaccination in the present protocol is mediated by antigen‐specific CD4+ T cells and the effector mechanisms in the cecum and in the liver are distinct due to a unique organ microenvironment. (Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 2477–2484)