Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Categorical perception of gender: No evidence for unfamiliar faces

We investigated whether male and female faces are discrete categories at the perceptual level. We created artificial gender continua between male and female faces using a 3D-morphing algorithm and used classical categorization and discrimination tasks to investigate categorical perception of gender. In Experiments 1 and 3, 3D morphs were computed between male and female faces. The results of the discrimination task suggest that the gender of unfamiliar faces is not categorically perceived. When participants were familiarized with the male and female endpoint faces before testing (Experiment 3), a categorical effect was found. In Experiment 2, only shape or texture of unfamiliar 3D morphs was indicative of gender, while other information (e.g. texture or shape) was kept constant. Again there was no evidence of a categorical effect in the discrimination task. In Experiments 1, 2 and 3, changes in the gender of a face were also coupled with changes in identity which may have confounded the findings. In Experiments 4 and 5, we used face continua in which only the gender of the facial features changed, while the characteristic of the facial features remained constant. When the faces were unfamiliar (Experiment 4), there was no evidence of categorical perception of gender. In Experiment 5, participants learned to classify the face images in two gender categories using a feedback procedure. A clear categorical effect for gender was present after training. Our findings suggest that despite the importance of faces, gender information present in faces is not naturally perceived categorically. Consequently participants showed categorical perception of gender only after training with the face stimulus set.
Correlates of physical fitness and activity in Taiwanese children.

AIM This cross-sectional study examined factors related to children's physical fitness and activity levels in Taiwan. METHODS A total of 331 Taiwanese children, aged 7 and 8, and their mothers participated in the study. Children performed physical fitness tests, recorded their physical activities during two weekdays and completed self-esteem questionnaires. Research assistants measured the children's body mass and stature. Mothers completed demographic, parenting style and physical activity questionnaires. RESULTS Attending urban school, lower body mass index (BMI), older age and better muscular endurance contributed to the variance in better aerobic capacity, and attending rural school and better aerobic capacity contributed to the variance in better muscular endurance in boys. Attending urban school, lower BMI and better athletic competence contributed to the variance in better aerobic capacity, and younger age, rural school and higher household income contributed to the variance in better flexibility in girls. CONCLUSION Despite the limitations of the study, with many countries and regions, including Taiwan, now emphasizing the importance of improving physical fitness and activity in children, an intervention that is gender-, geographically, and developmentally appropriate can improve the likelihood of successful physical fitness and activity programmes.
mRNA-Mediated Gene Delivery Into Human Progenitor Cells Promotes Highly Efficient Protein Expression

Gene transfer into human CD34+ haematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) and multi‐potent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) is an essential tool for numerous in vitro and in vivo applications including therapeutic strategies, such as tissue engineering and gene therapy. Virus based methods may be efficient, but bear risks like tumorigenesis and activation of immune responses. A safer alternative is non‐viral gene transfer, which is considered to be less efficient and accomplished with high cell toxicity. The truncated low affinity nerve growth factor receptor (ÄLNGFR) is a marker gene approved for human in vivo application. Human CD34+ HPC and human MSC were transfected with in vitro‐transcribed mRNA for ΔLNGFR using the method of nucleofection. Transfection efficiency and cell viability were compared to plasmid‐based nucleofection. Protein expression was assessed using flow cytometry over a time period of 10 days. Nucleofection of CD34+ HPC and MSC with mRNA resulted in significantly higher transfection efficiencies compared to plasmid transfection. Cell differentiation assays were performed after selecting ΔLNGFR positive cells using a fluorescent activating cell sorter. Neither cell differentiation of MSC into chondrocytes, adipocytes and osteoblasts, nor differentiation of HPC into burst forming unit erythroid (BFU‐E) colony forming unit‐granulocyte, erythrocyte, macrophage and megakaryocyte (CFU‐GEMM), and CFU‐granulocyte‐macrophage (GM) was reduced. mRNA based nucleofection is a powerful, highly efficient and non‐toxic approach for transient labelling of human progenitor cells or, via transfection of selective proteins, for transient manipulation of stem cell function. It may be useful to transiently manipulate stem cell characteristics and thus combine principles of gene therapy and tissue engineering.
Differential Effects of Polyphenols on Proliferation and Apoptosis in Human Myeloid and Lymphoid Leukemia Cell Lines

Background: Mortality rates for leukemia are high despite considerable improvements in treatment. Since polyphenols exert pro-apoptotic effects in solid tumors, our study investigated the effects of polyphenols in haematological malignancies. The effect of eight polyphenols (quercetin, chrysin, apigenin, emodin, aloe-emodin, rhein, cis-stilbene and trans-stilbene) were studied on cell proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis in four lymphoid and four myeloid leukemic cells lines, together with normal haematopoietic control cells. Methods: Cellular proliferation was measured by CellTiter-Glo® luminescent assay; and cell cycle arrest was assessed using flow cytometry of propidium iodide stained cells. Apoptosis was investigated by caspase-3 activity assay using flow cytometry and apoptotic morphology was confirmed by Hoescht 33342 staining. Results: Emodin, quercetin, and cis-stilbene were the most effective polyphenols at decreasing cell viability (IC50 values of 5-22 µM, 8-33 µM, and 25-85 µM respectively) and inducing apoptosis (AP50 values (the concentration which 50% of cells undergo apoptosis) of 2-27 µM, 19-50 µM, and 8-50 µM respectively). Generally, lymphoid cell lines were more sensitive to polyphenol treatment compared to myeloid cell lines, however the most resistant myeloid (KG-1a and K562) cell lines were still found to respond to emodin and quercetin treatment at low micromolar levels. Non-tumor cells were less sensitive to all polyphenols compared to the leukemia cells. Conclusions: These findings suggest that polyphenols have anti-tumor activity against leukemia cells with differential effects. Importantly, the differential sensitivity of emodin, quercetin, and cis-stilbene between leukemia and normal cells suggests that polyphenols are potential therapeutic agents for leukemia.
Dietary and supplementary betaine: acute effects on plasma betaine and homocysteine concentrations under standard and postmethionine load conditions in healthy male subjects.

BACKGROUND Betaine comes from the diet and from choline, and it is associated with vascular disease in some patient groups. Betaine supplementation lowers plasma total homocysteine. OBJECTIVE We compared the acute effects of dietary and supplementary betaine and choline on plasma betaine and homocysteine under standard conditions and after a methionine load. DESIGN In a randomized crossover study, 8 healthy men (19-40 y) consumed a betaine supplement (approximately 500 mg), high-betaine meal (approximately 517 mg), choline supplement (500 mg), high-choline meal (approximately 564 mg), high-betaine and -choline meal (approximately 517 mg betaine, approximately 622 mg choline), or a low-betaine and -choline control meal under standard conditions or postmethionine load. Plasma betaine, dimethylglycine, and homocysteine concentrations were measured hourly for 8 h and at 24 h after treatment. RESULTS Dietary and supplementary betaine raised plasma betaine concentrations relative to control (P < 0.001) under standard conditions. This was not associated with raised plasma dimethylglycine concentration, and no significant betaine appeared in the urine. A small increase in dimethylglycine excretion was observed when either betaine or choline was supplied (P = 0.011 and < 0.001). Small decreases in plasma homocysteine 6 h after ingestion under standard conditions (P < or = 0.05) were detected after a high-betaine meal and after a high-betaine and high-choline meal. Dietary betaine and choline and betaine supplementation attenuated the increase in plasma homocysteine at both 4 and 6 h after a methionine load (P < or = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Dietary betaine and supplementary betaine acutely increase plasma betaine, and they and choline attenuate the postmethionine load rise in homocysteine concentrations.
Data modeling versus simulation modeling in the big data era: case study of a greenhouse control system

Recently, big data has received greater attention in diverse research fields, including medicine, science, engineering, management, defense, politics, and others. Such research uses big data to predict target systems, thereby constructing a model of the system in two ways: data modeling and simulation modeling. Data modeling is a method in which a model represents correlation relationships between one set of data and the other set of data. On the other hand, physics-based simulation modeling (or simply simulation modeling) is a more classical, but more powerful, method in which a model represents causal relationships between a set of controlled inputs and corresponding outputs. This paper (i) clarifies the difference between the two modeling approaches, (ii) explains their advantages and limitations and compares each characteristic, and (iii) presents a complementary cooperation modeling approach. Then, we apply the proposed modeling to develop a greenhouse control system in the real world. Finally, we expect that this modeling approach will be an alternative modeling approach in the big data era.
Vibration Evaluation of Wrinkled Membrane Inflated Beam

Inflated booms are under increasing application in various membrane spacecraft structures. A specific emphasis is often placed on determining static characteristics of inflated beams in bending. There is a lack of knowledge in dynamic conditions, especially for simple and accurate solutions for wrinkled inflated beams. This article deals with the theoretical evaluation on the natural frequencies of wrinkled inflated beams. Three factors, including the inflated pressure, the wrinkles, and the aspect ratio, are introduced into the vibration equation of the beam to predict the first-order natural frequency of the wrinkled inflated beams. The predictions on the first-order natural frequency agree well with the vibration simulations. The parametric studies on the vibration characteristics of the wrinkled inflated beam are performed in the end. Results reveal that the wrinkles decrease the first-order natural frequency of the inflated beam greatly. The first-order frequency of the wrinkled inflated beam is sensitive to the aspect ratio. The results and conclusions are good references to the design and the wrinkling control of the inflated booms.
Evaluation of placental syndecan‐1 expression in early pregnancy as a predictive fetal factor for pregnancy outcome

Early expression of syndecan‐1, a regulator of growth factor and chemokine function, in animal and human abortuses or placenta at delivery suggests a potential role during embryonic development. The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between early placental syndecan expression and fetal outcome in ongoing pregnancies.
Distributed multiple generator control using nonlinear state feedback

Due to the inherently distributed and heterogeneous nature of the microgrids, distributed control can be a promising approach to improving the stability, reliability and scalability of the microgrids compared with centralized control strategies. This work studies the distributed reactive power sharing problem for a microgrid with connected AC inverters. Under the lossless assumption of the microgrid, the reactive power flow of each inverter is dependent on the voltage amplitudes of its neighboring inverters connected by electrical power lines. Using the Lyapunov approach, a novel distributed voltage controller with nonlinear state feedback is proposed for reactive power sharing of the microgrid. It is proven that the inverters can achieve accurate reactive power sharing under the proposed controller if the communication network of inverters is connected. The proposed controller is validated by simulations on a group of inverters with time-varying loads.
The Influence of Random Filament Packing on the Transverse Stiffness of Unidirectional Composites

Existing micromechanics analyses for the prediction of composite material properties, which are based upon the assumption of various idealized regular filament packings, indicate the significant influence of the assumed geometry on numerical results obtained. To represent the random filament packing of actual composite materials more accurately, a method of analyzing random arrays is presented in this paper. Although certain geometric constraints have necessarily been retained for mathematical reasons, it has been dem onstrated that as the degree of randomness is increased, the agree ment between analytical predictions and available experimental data is improved. Because of the necessary approximations and additional complexities involved in random array analyses, the methods presented here are not intended to replace regular array analyses, but rather to supplement them, indicating the influence of this difficult-to-predict characteristic of real materials.
Using High Spatio-Temporal Optical Remote Sensing to Monitor Dissolved Organic Carbon in the Arctic River Yenisei

In Arctic regions, a major concern is the release of carbon from melting permafrost that could greatly exceed current human carbon emissions. Arctic rivers drain these organic-rich watersheds (Ob, Lena, Yenisei, Mackenzie, Yukon) but field measurements at the outlets of these great Arctic rivers are constrained by limited accessibility of sampling sites. In particular, the highest dissolved organic carbon (DOC) fluxes are observed throughout the ice breakup period that occurs over a short two to three-week period in late May or early June during the snowmelt-generated peak flow. The colored fraction of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) which absorbs UV and visible light is designed as chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM). It is highly correlated to DOC in large arctic rivers and streams, allowing for remote sensing to monitor DOC concentrations from satellite imagery. High temporal and spatial resolutions remote sensing tools are highly relevant for the study of DOC fluxes in a large Arctic river. The high temporal resolution allows for correctly assessing this highly dynamic process, especially the spring freshet event (a few weeks in May). The high spatial resolution allows for assessing the spatial variability within the stream and quantifying DOC transfer during the ice break period when the access to the river is almost impossible. In this study, we develop a CDOM retrieval algorithm at a high spatial and a high temporal resolution in the Yenisei River. We used extensive DOC and DOM spectral absorbance datasets from 2014 and 2015. Twelve SPOT5 (Take5) and Landsat 8 (OLI) images from 2014 and 2015 were examined for this investigation. Relationships between CDOM and spectral variables were explored using linear models (LM). Results demonstrated the capacity of a CDOM algorithm retrieval to monitor DOC fluxes in the Yenisei River during a whole open water season with a special focus on the peak flow period. Overall, future Sentinel2/Landsat8 synergies are promising to monitor DOC fluxes in Arctic rivers and advance our understanding of the Earth’s carbon cycle.
The osmotic effects of some simple molecules and ions on gastric emptying

The idea that the rate of emptying of the stomach is strongly influenced by the osmotic pressure of the gastric contents stems from the experiments of Carnot & Chassevant (1905). They found that in dogs with duodenal fistulae saline nearly isosmotic with plasma left the stomach more rapidly than saline solutions which were more concentrated or more dilute. The influence of the concentration of salt on gastric emptying appears to be much the same in man as it is in dogs. Shay & Gershon-Cohen (1934) in their radiographic studies noted that tap water left the stomach more slowly than isotonic saline. They also concluded that in order to slow emptying-presumably relative to the emptying oftap water-' hypertonic' solutions of salts and glucose were necessary, whereas hydrochloric acid slowed emptying in solutions less concentrated than plasma in terms of milli-osmoles per litre. The present experiments, extending those described by Hunt in 1956, are a study of the working of the receptors concerned in the slowing of gastric emptying that appear to be sensitive to the osmotic properties of the luminal contents of the duodenum and small intestine (Shay & Gershon-Cohen, 1934). The results of some experiments with acids which probably work differently (Sircus, 1958) are also described for comparison.
Development of two species-specific fingerprinting probes for broad computer-assisted epidemiological studies of Candida tropicalis

Candida tropicalis has emerged as the second most frequent colonizing Candida species, and it has been documented in nosocomial infections. To develop an effective fingerprinting system for this species, which is amenable to computer-assisted analyses and which provides information on the genetic relatedness of independent isolates, two DNA fragments, Ct3 (18,000 bp) and Ct14 (20,000 bp), were cloned from a genomic library of Sau3AI partial digestion products. Both probes generate complex Southern blot patterns containing 8 to 20 bands, when hybridized to EcoRI- or EcoRI-HaeIII-digested DNA of independent C. tropicalis isolates. The two probes show no cross-hybridization and are both species specific for C. tropicalis. A comparison of the capacity of the two probes to identify the same strain in different isolates, and differentiate unrelated strains, using computer-assisted computation of similarity coefficients and the genesis of dendrograms, suggests that while Ct14 is more effective in grouping independent isolates, Ct3 is more effective in discriminating small differences in the patterns of highly related isolates and is therefore a more effective probe for determining microevolution within a clonal population and substrain shuffling in recurrent infections. Because of their alternative attributes, it is suggested that both probes be used in fingerprinting studies of C. tropicalis.
The predictive value of CD8, CD4, CD68, and human leukocyte antigen‐D‐related cells in the prognosis of cutaneous malignant melanoma with vertical growth phase

To establish the prognostic value of immune system cells that infiltrate melanoma, the authors evaluated the distribution and density of T lymphocyte subsets, macrophages, and dendritic cells in samples of primary cutaneous melanoma from 47 patients with Stage I and II melanoma according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system.
A light and electron microscopic study of intracellularly HRP‐labeled lumbar motoneurons after intramedullary axotomy in the adult cat

In contrast to many other neurons in the central nervous system, spinal motoneurons in adult cats have been shown to regenerate their axons after an axotomy accomplished within the CNS compartment. This regenerative capacity may be the result of extrinsic influences, or intrinsic properties of the motoneurons themselves, or interactions between extrinsic and intrinsic factors. As part of the effort to establish circumstances of importance for this central regeneration, a detailed analysis of the morphology of lumbar motoneurons was performed 3–11 weeks following a ventral funiculus axotomy. Fourteen large neurons considered to be intramedullarly axotomized alpha motoneurons were labeled intracellularly with horseradish peroxidase.
Production and purification of heat-stable enterotoxin b from a porcine Escherichia coli strain

Production of heat-stable enterotoxin b (STb) by porcine Escherichia coli strains belonging to serogroup O115 was evaluated in ligated intestinal segments of adult rats. The conditions for optimal production and detection of STb were studied by using the STb-producing strain 4247. As STb production was similar in complex Trypticase soy broth and minimal Davis medium, the latter was used for the fermentation of strain 4247 and the production of STb in large quantities. STb was then purified to apparent homogeneity by sequential ultrafiltration, ultracentrifugation, and preparative gel electrophoresis. The enterotoxin was purified more than 500-fold and exhibited a molecular weight of approximately 5,000 as determined by urea-sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. Purified STb retained such chemical characteristics as resistance to heating (60 degrees C/30 min) and sensitivity to trypsin. A rabbit polyclonal antiserum was produced against the purified toxin. Numerous booster doses were required to obtain a significant enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titer, suggesting that STb is a poor immunogen. Nevertheless, the antiserum was used successfully to discriminate between culture supernatants of STb-positive and STb-negative O115 E. coli strains, thus demonstrating the immunogenicity of purified STb.