Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Developmental changes in calcium channel types mediating synaptic transmission in rat auditory brainstem

1 Calcium channel blockers were tested on excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) at the synapse formed by the calyx of Held on the principal cells in the medial nucleus of trapezoid body (MNTB) in brainstem slices of 4‐ to 14‐day‐old rats. 2 At postnatal day 4‐9 (P4‐9), EPSCs were irreversibly suppressed by the P/Q‐type Ca2+ channel blocker ω‐agatoxin‐IVA (ω‐Aga‐IVA, 200 nM) and also by the N‐type Ca2+ channel blocker ω‐conotoxin GVIA (ω‐CgTx, 2 μM). A small fraction of EPSCs was resistant to both toxins but abolished by Cd2+ (100 μM). 3 After P7, the ω‐CgTx‐sensitive EPSC fraction diminished and eventually disappeared after P10. Concomitantly the fraction insensitive to both toxins decreased and became undetectable after P10. 4 In contrast, the ω‐Aga‐IVA‐sensitive EPSC fraction increased with development and became predominant after P10. All through the developmental period examined, the L‐type Ca2+ channel blocker nicardipine (10 μM) had no effect. 5 We conclude that presynaptic Ca2+ channel types triggering transmitter release undergo developmental switching during the early postnatal period.
Developing Robust Models for Favourability Analysis

Locating documents carrying positive or negative favourability is an important application within media analysis. This paper presents some empirical results on the challenges facing a machine-learning approach to this kind of opinion mining. Some of the challenges include: the often considerable imbalance in the distribution of positive and negative samples; changes in the documents over time; and effective training and quantification procedures for reporting results. This paper begins with three datasets generated by a media-analysis company, classifying documents in two ways: detecting the presence of favourability, and assessing negative vs. positive favourability. We then evaluate a machine-learning approach to automate the classification process. We explore the effect of using five different types of features, the robustness of the models when tested on data taken from a later time period, and the effect of balancing the input data by undersampling. We find varying choices for the optimum classifier, feature set and training strategy depending on the task and dataset.
Learning and Understanding

Short texts containing rather difficult pieces of logical argument were presented, sometimes with illustrative graphs and sometimes without, to girls from the sixth form of a grammar school. They were required to study these, and recall afterwards what they were about. It was found that frequently there was a comparatively accurate recall of many of the individual items of the texts, but that certain essential points in the argument were omitted. Thus learning of detail could occur when there was no general understanding of the meaning. The effect of the illustrative graphs was to make the recalls even less coherent.
A Comparison of Item Exposure Control Methods in Computerized Adaptive Testing

Two new methods for item exposure control were proposed. In the Progressive method, as the test progresses, the influence of a random component on item selection is reduced and the importance of item information is increasingly more prominent. In the Restricted Maximum Information method, no item is allowed to be exposed in more than a predetermined proportion of tests. Both methods were compared with six other item-selection methods (Maximum Information, One Parameter, McBride and Martin, Randomesque, Sympson and Hetter, and Random Item Selection) with regard to test precision and item exposure variables. Results showed that the Restricted method was useful to reduce maximum exposure rates and that the Progressive method reduced the number of unused items. Both did well regarding precision. Thus, a combined Progressive-Restricted method may be useful to control item exposure without a serious decrease in test precision. One of the main goals of computerized adaptive testing (CAT) is to obtain precise ability estimates with a small number of items. To achieve this goal, items are selected specifically for each examinee from a large bank. Selection is based on characteristics of examinees (their provisional estimated ability) and items (their difficulty and discrimination parameters). Thus, a different subset of items may be administered to each person (Hambleton, Swaminathan, & Rogers, 1991).
Clinical features of elderly chronic urticaria

Background/Aims Chronic urticaria (CU) is defined as itchy wheals lasting 6 weeks or more. As the aged population increases worldwide, it is essential to identify the specific features of this disease in the elderly population. Methods We investigated the prevalence and clinical features of CU in elderly patients. Medical records of 837 CU patients from the outpatient Allergy Clinic of Ajou University Hospital, Korea were analyzed retrospectively. Patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria according to the EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF/WAO guidelines were included. Patients older than 60 years were defined as elderly. Results Of the 837 patients, 37 (4.5%) were elderly. In elderly versus nonelderly CU patients, the prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) was significantly higher (37.8% vs. 21.7%, respectively; p = 0.022), while that of aspirin intolerance was lower (18.9% vs. 43.6%, respectively; p = 0.003) in terms of comorbid conditions. The prevalences of serum specific immunoglobulin E antibodies to staphylococcal enterotoxin A and staphylococcal enterotoxin B were considerably higher in elderly CU patients with AD than in those without AD (37.5% vs. 0%, respectively). Conclusions Elderly patients with CU had a higher prevalence of AD. Therefore, there is a need to recognize the existence of AD in elderly CU patients.
Function of a conserved loop of the beta-domain, not involved in thiamin diphosphate binding, in catalysis and substrate activation in yeast pyruvate decarboxylase.

The X-ray crystal structure of pyruvamide-activated yeast pyruvate decarboxylase (YPDC) revealed a flexible loop spanning residues 290 to 304 on the beta-domain of the enzyme, not seen in the absence of pyruvamide, a substrate activator surrogate. Site-directed mutagenesis studies revealed that residues on the loop affect the activity, with some residues reducing k(cat)/K(m) by at least 1000-fold. In the pyruvamide-activated form, the loop located on the beta domain can transfer information to the active center thiamin diphosphate (ThDP) located at the interface of the alpha and gamma domains. The sigmoidal v(0)-[S] curve with wild-type YPDC attributed to substrate activation is modulated for most variants, but is not abolished. Pre-steady-state stopped-flow studies for product formation on these loop variants provided evidence for three enzyme conformations connected by two transitions, as already noted for the wild-type YPDC at pH 5.0 [Sergienko, E. A. , and Jordan, F. (2002) Biochemistry 41, 3952-3967]. (1)H NMR analysis of the intermediate distribution resulting from acid quench [Tittmann et al. (2003) Biochemistry 42, 7885-7891] with all YPDC variants indicated that product release is rate limiting in the steady state. Apparently, the loop is not solely responsible for the substrate activation behavior, rather it may affect the behavior of residue C221 identified as the trigger for substrate activation. The most important function of the loop is to control the conformational equilibrium between the "open" and "closed" conformations of the enzyme identified in the pyruvamide-activated structure [Lu et al. (2000) Eur. J. Biochem. 267, 861-868].
More Questions on Assumptions about Cloze Testing

The author takes up the suggestion made by Johnson (1981) that some of the assumptions made about cloze tests may be mis leading. Research which has now been going for thirty years indicates that cloze procedure is a criterion-referenced test which will identify whether an individual or a group possesses the basic skills in the target language. Cloze is a very blunt instrument for testing but within its limits it is valid and reliable. However, changing the variables such as deletion rate, scoring procedure or using a different text may well result in a radically different test each time. The raw data obtained from a cloze test cannot be used as continuous data, such as would be derived from most psychometric-type tests, but as an indicator of one of three levels: frustrational, instructional and independent. Finally, guidelines are given for the preparation of a cloze test.
Underlying Assumptions and Designated Verifier Signatures

In this paper, we define an underlying computational problem and its decisional problem. As an application of their problems, we propose an efficient designated verifier signature (DVS) scheme without random oracles (related to symmetric pairings). We formally redefine the (Strong) Privacy of Signature’s Identity, and prove our DVS scheme satisfying security based on the difficulty of the problems. Also we prove that the difficulty of the computational problem is tightly equivalent to the Strong Unforgeability of our proposed conventional signature scheme (without random oracles) related to asymmetric pairings. We believe that our underlying problems are profitable to propose many efficient cryptographic schemes.
Depression, Disability, and Rehabilitation Services for Women

The purpose of this paper is to review scientific evidence for the co-occurrence of major depressive illness and disability, and to examine this phenomenon specifically for women in the United States today. Following a discussion of different ways of operationalizing the concept of disability, the analysis addresses gender biases in disability measurement as well as in recent research on depression and functional impairment. Next, the results of research regarding co-occurrence of disability and depression are reviewed, highlighting those studies focused specifically on women. Turning to research on rehabilitation services for those with psychiatric disabilities, studies suggest that service delivery models fail to address needs specific to women with mental illness in general, as well as those women experiencing severe depression. Thus, the analysis concludes with a series of suggestions and future directions for investigators seeking to better understand the linkages between depression, disability, and rehabilitation services for women.
Predicting Stock Price Movements Based on Different Categories of News Articles

Publications of financial news articles impact the decisions made by investors and, therefore, change the market state. It makes them an important source of data for financial predictions. Forecasting models based on information derived from news have been recently developed and researched. However, the advantages of combining different categories of news articles have not been investigated. This research paper studies how the results of financial forecasting can be improved when news articles with different levels of relevance to the target stock are used simultaneously. Integration of information extracted from five categories of news articles partitioned by sectors and industries is performed using the multiple kernel learning technique for predicting price movements. News articles are divided into these five categories based on their relevance to a targeted stock, its sub industry, industry, group industry and sector while separate kernels are employed to analyze each one. The experimental results show that the simultaneous usage of five news categories improves the prediction performance in comparison with methods based on a lower number of news categories.
Gone Primitive: Savage Intellects, Modern Lives

In this acclaimed book, Torgovnick explores the obsessions, fears, and longings that have produced Western views of the primitive. Crossing an extraordinary range of fields (anthropology, psychology, literature, art, and popular culture), Gone Primitive will engage not just specialists but anyone who has ever worn Native American jewelry, thrilled to Indiana Jones, or considered buying an African mask. "A superb book; and--in a way that goes beyond what being good as a book usually implies--it is a kind of gift to its own culture, a guide to the perplexed. It is lucid, usually fair, laced with a certain feminist mockery and animated by some surprising sympathies. "--Arthur C. Danto, New York Times Book Review
Effect of airborne-particle abrasion and mechanico-thermal cycling on the flexural strength of glass ceramic fused to gold or cobalt-chromium alloy.

PURPOSE To evaluate the effect of airborne-particle abrasion and mechanico-thermal cycling on the flexural strength of a ceramic fused to cobalt-chromium alloy or gold alloy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Metallic bars (n = 120) were made (25 mm × 3 mm × 0.5 mm): 60 with gold alloy and 60 with Co-Cr. At the central area of the bars (8 mm × 3 mm), a layer of opaque ceramic and then two layers of glass ceramic (Vita VM13, Vita Zahnfabrick) were fired onto it (thickness: 1 mm). Ten specimens from each alloy group were randomly allocated to a surface treatment [(tungsten bur or air-particle abrasion (APA) with Al(2) O(3) at 10 mm or 20 mm away)] and mechanico-thermal cycling (no cycling or mechanically loaded 20,000 cycles; 10 N distilled water at 37°C and then thermocycled 3000 cycles; 5°C to 55°C, dwell time 30 seconds) combination. Those specimens that did not undergo mechanico-thermal cycling were stored in water (37°C) for 24 hours. Bond strength was measured using a three-point bend test, according to ISO 9693. After the flexural strength test, failure types were noted. The data were analyzed using three factor-ANOVA and Tukey's test (α= 0.05). RESULTS There were no significant differences between the flexural bond strength of gold and Co-Cr groups (42.64 ± 8.25 and 43.39 ± 10.89 MPa, respectively). APA 10 and 20 mm away surface treatment (45.86 ± 9.31 and 46.38 ± 8.89 MPa, respectively) had similar mean flexural strength values, and both had significantly higher bond strength than tungsten bur treatment (36.81 ± 7.60 MPa). Mechanico-thermal cycling decreased the mean flexural strength values significantly for all six alloy-surface treatment combinations tested when compared to the control groups. The failure type was adhesive in the metal/ceramic interface for specimens surface treated only with the tungsten bur, and mixed for specimens surface treated with APA 10 and 20 mm. CONCLUSIONS Considering the levels adopted in this study, the alloy did not affect the bond strength; APA with Al(2) O(3) at 10 and 20 mm improved the flexural bond strength between ceramics and alloys used, and the mechanico-thermal cycling of metal-ceramic specimens resulted in a decrease of bond strength.
How do shy people expand their social networks? Using social surrogates as a strategy to expand one's network

The authors examined the use of social surrogates by shy people to expand their social network when entering a new environment, following Bradshaw's social surrogate hypothesis. The authors conducted a panel survey of 70 friendship pairs of students 7 months after they entered university. The results revealed that when a friend acted as a surrogate, the shy students extended their joint networks more. In contrast, not-shy students extended their networks regardless of whether a friend acted as a surrogate. These results indicate that even shy people can adjust indirectly to new social circumstances because they can expand their social networks by using a close friend as a surrogate.
The Affective Consequences of Service Work

Understanding the social-psychology effects of frontline service work requires attention to the emotional labor performed by incumbents of these positions. Using Hochschild's 1983 classification of jobs requiring emotional labor, this study examines the effects of emotional labor on workers employed in the banking and hospital industries. The results suggest that performance of emotional labor does not have uniformly negative consequences for workers, as some accounts imply. Instead, the effects of emotional labor are conditioned by workers' level of job autonomy and job involvement, and their self-monitoring abilities. The conditions under which emotional labor has negative and positive social-psychological consequences are discussed.
Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) in a Sample of Cypriot High School Students: The Rasch Measurement Perspective

As Greek Cypriot senior high school teachers, the researchers believe that instruments assessing Internet addiction should be developed and validated for use wherever there are adolescents (the most at-risk population) and Internet access. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Internet Addiction Test (IAT). A sample of 604 randomly selected high school students from five high schools in Limassol, Cyprus participated in the study. The Rasch Rating Scale Model was used for the analyses of the data collected. Results suggested the modification of the IAT in two ways. First, the 5-point rating scale was replaced by a 3-point scale, which was found to be optimal in the pilot study. Second, item 8 was replaced by a self-rating item because it was found to be identical to item 6 both statistically and semantically. The respondents’ reliability was satisfactory (0.86) and item reliability very high (0.99). All 20 items were sufficiently spread out and describe distinct levels along the variable and do define a linear continuum of increasing difficulty. All the evidence collected supports the unidimensionality and the high degree of construct validity of the scale. Finally four recommendations for the modification of the scale and future research are proposed.
Development and Validation of the Academic Competence Evaluation Scales

The purpose of this study was to clarify the construct of academic competence and develop a valid teacher rating instrument to assess this construct. A 95-item pilot scale, the Academic Competence Evaluation Scales (ACES), was developed to assess the theoretical components (i.e., academic skills, study skills, academic motivation, interpersonal skills, and academic self-concept) hypothesized to contribute to the construct of academic competence. The ACES was administered to 56 teachers who rated 300 students in Grades 1 through 6. To explore convergent and discriminant validity, 13 teachers completed ratings of social skills, problem behaviors, and academic competence (as measured by the Social Skills Rating System; SSRS) for 60 students. In addition, 32 students completed the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS), a popular measure of academic achievement. Teacher feedback, item Importance ratings, item-ITBS correlations, and the results of an exploratory factor analysis were used to eliminate 35 items from the pilot scale. The resulting 60-item version of the ACES consists of five related scales: Academic Skills, Interpersonal Skills, Academic Motivation, Participation, and Study Skills. Internal consistency (median a = .95) and test-retest stability (median r= .83) were high for the ACES, and correlational analyses indicated that scores from the ACES are valid indicators of student academic competence. Implications for using the ACES are discussed, and suggestions are offered for research necessary to advance the development of the ACES as a reliable and valid clinical tool.
Liver transplantation in 100 children: Cambridge and King's College Hospital series.

OBJECTIVE--To review the results of the Addenbrooke's and King's College Hospital children's liver transplantation programme. DESIGN--Retrospective analysis of the first 100 children to receive liver grafts at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, from December 1983 to March 1990. SETTING--Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, and King's College Hospital, London. SUBJECTS--153 children assessed for liver transplantation, of whom 22 died before a donor became available and 31 were considered unsuitable. 100 children received grafts, of whom 27 had second grafts. RESULTS--One year actuarial patient survival was 71%, with 57% one year graft survival. In the last two years survival rates had improved considerably, with 86% of patients and 63% of grafts surviving for at least one year. Sixty five children were alive 12 to 86 months after transplantation; 63 were well and leading normal active lives and 56 had entirely normal liver function. Children's growth and development were essentially normal, with many showing remarkable catch up growth. CONCLUSIONS--Liver transplantation offers children with terminal liver disease a high chance of a return to full quality life and normal development. Improved surgical and medical care have progressively improved survival. The timing of transplantation is critical but has been constrained particularly by the availability of donors and resources.
Assessing the Perceived Restorative Qualities of Vacation Destinations

The objective of this study was to develop a tool for assessing how and why a destination can facilitate vacationers’ recovery from mental fatigue. Using attention restoration theory as a theoretical foundation, this research developed an initial instrument for assessing the perceived restorative qualities of vacation destinations (i.e., perceived destination restorative quality [PDRQ]). A 30-item, six-factor structure of destination restorativeness was identified. The six dimensions are compatibility, extent, mentally away, physically away, discord, and fascination. The proposed PDRQ provides a baseline measure for understanding the specific restorative properties of a particular destination. The proposed PDRQ instrument can potentially be valuable to researchers and industry practitioners interested in planning, designing, and delivering optimal restorative vacation experiences. The assessment of how a tourism destination may provide restorative properties is an understudied area. This research brings much needed attention to this topic.
Molecular Simulations of Disulfide-Rich Venom Peptides with Ion Channels and Membranes

Disulfide-rich peptides isolated from the venom of arthropods and marine animals are a rich source of potent and selective modulators of ion channels. This makes these peptides valuable lead molecules for the development of new drugs to treat neurological disorders. Consequently, much effort goes into understanding their mechanism of action. This paper presents an overview of how molecular simulations have been used to study the interactions of disulfide-rich venom peptides with ion channels and membranes. The review is focused on the use of docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and free energy calculations to (i) predict the structure of peptide-channel complexes; (ii) calculate binding free energies including the effect of peptide modifications; and (iii) study the membrane-binding properties of disulfide-rich venom peptides. The review concludes with a summary and outlook.
Direct Control of Visual Perception with Phase-specific Modulation of Posterior Parietal Cortex

We examined the causal relationship between the phase of alpha oscillations (9–12 Hz) and conscious visual perception using rhythmic TMS (rTMS) while simultaneously recording EEG activity. rTMS of posterior parietal cortex at an alpha frequency (10 Hz), but not occipital or sham rTMS, both entrained the phase of subsequent alpha oscillatory activity and produced a phase-dependent change on subsequent visual perception, with lower discrimination accuracy for targets presented at one phase of the alpha oscillatory waveform than for targets presented at the opposite phase. By extrinsically manipulating the phase of alpha before stimulus presentation, we provide direct evidence that the neural circuitry in the parietal cortex involved with generating alpha oscillations plays a causal role in determining whether or not a visual stimulus is successfully perceived.