Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Decrease in rate of myopia progression with a contact lens designed to reduce relative peripheral hyperopia: one-year results.

PURPOSE To determine whether a novel optical treatment using contact lenses to reduce relative peripheral hyperopia can slow the rate of progress of myopia. METHODS Chinese children, aged 7 to 14 years, with baseline myopia from sphere -0.75 to -3.50 D and cylinder ≤1.00 D, were fitted with novel contact lenses (n = 45) and followed up for 12 months, and their progress was compared with that of a group (n = 40) matched for age, sex, refractive error, axial length, and parental myopia wearing normal, single-vision, spherocylindrical spectacles. RESULTS On adjusting for parental myopia, sex, age, baseline spherical equivalent (SphE) values, and compliance, the estimated progression in SphE at 12 months was 34% less, at -0.57 D, with the novel contact lenses (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.45 -0.69 D) than at -0.86 D, with spectacle lenses (95% CI, -0.74 to -0.99 D). For an average baseline age of 11.2 years, baseline SphE of -2.10 D, a baseline axial length of 24.6 mm, and 320 days of compliant lens wear, the estimated increase in axial length (AL) was 33% less at 0.27 mm (95% CI, 0.22-0.32 mm) than at 0.40 mm (95% CI, 0.35-0.45 mm) for the contact lens and spectacle lens groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The 12-month data support the hypothesis that reducing peripheral hyperopia can alter central refractive development and reduce the rate of progress of myopia. (chictr.org number, chiCTR-TRC-00000029 or chiCTR-TRC-00000032.).
Geo-climatic gradient shapes functional trait variations in Salix eriocephala Michx

Intraspecific variations in seasonal phenology and growth physiology reflect adaptation to local climate. To explore the patterns of local adaptation along latitudinal and longitudinal clines, we used thirty-four populations of Salix eriocephala sourced from its natural ranges across Canada. The genotypes were examined for 6 phenology and 19 ecophysiology traits over two growing seasons under common garden condition. Photosynthetic assimilation rate (A) increased with increasein latitude when measured during free growth. In spite, the negative correlation between stomatal density and stomatal conductance (gs), higher A is facilitated via larger pore length among genotypes from short growing seasons. In addition, higher A, was positively associated with total leafnitrogen and leaf mass per unit area. No population level differences wereobserved for water use-efficiency (Δ13C), however nitrogen isotope discrimination (δ15N) displayed latitudinalclines. Growing season phenological traits considered in this study accounted highheritability (H2 = 0.65-0.94). Melampsora rust infestation also displayed a strong latitudinal cline with high-latitude genotypes being more susceptible. Overall, the results support the hypothesis that functional trait variations are largely explained by climate of origin and facilitate selection of parents with superior adaptive traits in the Canadian willow improvement program forbioenergy and environmental applications.
The Dynamics of Voter Preferences in the 2016 Presidential Election

Abstract Using daily polling data collected during the 2016 election, we examine the impact of fundamental conditions, campaign events, media coverage, and other relevant events and announcement on preference dynamics. We observe shifts in voter preferences for president over the course of the campaign and find evidence that these dynamics can be explained by specific circumstances and conditions. Our findings reinforce the potency of fundamental conditions, like presidential approval, but they also demonstrate that political events like national nominating conventions and debates can affect preferences in meaningful and enduring ways. Importantly, our research also suggests that developments commonly perceived to have affected voter preferences in 2016, like FBI Director James Comey’s memo to Congress about Hillary Clinton’s e-mails in October, likely exerted a minimal impact on the election, at least once the impact of other factors are taken into account. In this respect, some of our findings conflict with conventional accounts of campaign dynamics in 2016.
Fatal Leukemia in Interleukin 15 Transgenic Mice Follows Early Expansions in Natural Killer and Memory Phenotype Cd8+ T Cells

Inflammation likely has a role in the early genesis of certain malignancies. Interleukin (IL)-15, a proinflammatory cytokine and growth factor, is required for lymphocyte homeostasis. Intriguingly, the expression of IL-15 protein is tightly controlled by multiple posttranscriptional mechanisms. Here, we engineered a transgenic mouse to overexpress IL-15 by eliminating these posttranscriptional checkpoints. IL-15 transgenic mice have early expansions in natural killer (NK) and CD8+ T lymphocytes. Later, these mice develop fatal lymphocytic leukemia with a T-NK phenotype. These data provide novel evidence that leukemia, like certain other cancers, can arise as the result of chronic stimulation by a proinflammatory cytokine.
A qualitative analysis of strategies for managing suicide-related events during deployment from the perspective of Army behavioral health providers, chaplains, and leaders

ABSTRACT The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the use of strategies for managing suicide-related events (SREs; i.e., suicide deaths, suicide attempts, and suicidal ideation with a plan and intent to die) during deployment from the perspective of Army decision makers: behavioral health providers (BHPs), chaplains, and leaders. A total of 76 Army personnel participated in individual interviews or focus groups. Participants identified unit watch, weapon removal, medical evacuations, and debriefings as common strategies used to manage SREs in deployed settings. Many of these strategies were highlighted as short-term solutions only. Participants also underscored the importance of unit cohesion and communication among leaders, BHPs, and chaplains to effectively manage SREs. The need for structured guidelines for successfully managing SREs in deployed settings is discussed.
Self-Actualization Measurement on Non-English Coastal Students’ Achievement: Rasch Model Analysis

The measurement of self-actualization can assist facilitators in knowing their students’ learning achievement in English. The dynamism of high and low self-actualization through their origins will impact learning processes. Their abilities to seize the best achievement in learning correspond to their multiple talents. The objectives of this study are: (1) describing those whose self-actualization is high and who will have satisfactory achievement in learning English, and (2) deducing those whose self-actualization is low who will have poor achievement in English learning. The researcher used descriptive qualitative research which was conducted in Universitas Maritim Raja Ali Haji (UMRAH), located in Riau Archipelago in December 2017. The subject was the first-year intake of non-English students. The data were in the form of qualitative and quantitative taken from documents and questionnaires to learn the students’ self-actualization levels. The researchers analysed the data by using the Rasch model measurement approach. The results are: (1) Those whose self-actualization is high (60.71%) come from rural areas (36.90%), from urban areas (23.81%), female participants (47.62%), and male (13.10%). They can maximize their potential and ability to reach satisfactory achievement in learning English; and (2) Those whose self-actualization is low (38.10%), come from rural areas (17.86%), from urban areas (20.24%) female participants (33.33%), and male (4.76%). They cannot develop their potential and ability, resulting in poor achievement in learning English. As a result, the facilitators will find it easy to reflect on what should be done in their classes in the future.
Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Human Breast Cancer Tissues

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women in the world today. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of endopeptidases that can degrade extracellular matrix proteins and promote cell invasion and metastasis. MMPs are differentially expressed and their expressions are often associated with a poor prognosis for patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate and compare the expression of MMPs in different grades of human breast cancer tissues with normal breast tissues. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We collected 39 breast cancer samples (24 grade II and 15 grade III) along with 16 normal breast tissues from outside the tumor margin during cancer removal surgery. The samples were analysed for the expression of all known MMPs using real-time quantitative PCR. RESULTS: The results indicate that mRNA expressions of MMP-1, -9,-11,-15,-24 and -25 were upregulated in breast cancer tissues when compared to normal breast tissues. But, the mRNA expressions of MMP-10 and MMP-19 were downregulated in cancer tissue. In membrane associated MMPs like MMP-15 and MMP-24 we found a grade dependent increase of their mRNA expression. CONCLUSION: Our studies demonstrate that MMPs are differentially regulated in breast cancer tissues and they might play various roles in tumor invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis. Thus, MMPs are of immense value to be studied as diagnostic markers and drug target.
The Influence of Source and Cost of Information Access on Correct and Errorful Interactive Behavior

Routine interactive behavior reveals patterns of interaction among the cognitive, perceptual, and motor elements of embodied cognition and the task and artifact used to perform the task. Such interactions are difficult to study, in part, because they require collecting a large quantity of mostly correct behavior. The current study varied conditions that were designed to affect the ease and likelihood that information would be stored in-the-world versus in-the-head. The data are examined to determine how subtle differences in the source and cost of information access may lead to different patterns of correct and errorful behavior.
The Mr. Big technique on trial by jury

ABSTRACT Mr. Big is a Canadian undercover police technique used to elicit confessions. Undercover officers befriend the suspect, and gradually draw them into a fictitious criminal organization. Upon meeting the boss of the organization, ‘Mr. Big’, the suspect is pressured to confess. When evidence from the sting operation, including the confession, is presented later in court, it may induce juror moral prejudice towards a defendant. We evaluated how situational and dispositional sting factors (crime task severity, financial incentive, and defendant intelligence) influence mock juror moral prejudice and decision-making in Mr. Big cases. Results from Experiment 1 (N = 270) showed fewer guilty verdicts in the high incentive conditions. In Experiment 2 (N = 1,666), high incentive and low defendant intelligence were related to fewer guilty verdicts, more favorable ratings of defendant character, and more skeptical evaluations of confession evidence. Additionally, there were differences between community and student participants on multiple outcomes.
Testing TSV-based three-dimensional stacked ICs

To meet customer's product-quality expectations, each individual IC needs to be tested for manufacturing defects incurred during its many high-precision, and hence defect-prone manufacturing steps; these tests should be both effective and cost-efficient. The semiconductor industry is preparing itself now for three-dimensional stacked ICs (3D-SICs) based on Through-Silicon Vias (TSVs), which, due to their many compelling benefits, are quickly gaining ground. Test solutions need to be ready for this new generation of ‘super chips’. 3D-SICs are chips where all basic, as well as most advanced test technologies come together. In addition, they pose some truly new test challenges with respect to complexity and cost, due to their advanced manufacturing processes and physical access limitations. This presentation focuses on the available solutions and still open challenges for testing 3D-SICs. It discusses flows for wafer-level and package-level tests, the challenges with respect to test contents and wafer-level probe access, and the on-chip Design-for-Test (DfT) infrastructure required for 3D-SICs.
Emotional Intelligence of medical students and its association with their Psychological health

Introduction: Emotional intelligence (EI) involves perception, expression and management of intrapersonal and interpersonal emotions. The potential role of EI in emotional health and professional success amongst various healthcare personnel has been reported recently. This study was conducted to evaluate psychological health and EI of newly admitted medical undergraduate students, explore association between the two and to determine their socio-demographic correlates. Methods: It was a cross-sectional, self-reported, questionnaire-based study conducted on 224 undergraduate medical students who had completed their first week in the medical college. Psychological health was assessed by Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and EI was measured by Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-short form (TEIQue-sf). Results: The prevalence of symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress amongst participants was 49.55%, 71.43% and 33.93% respectively. Significant negative correlation (p<0.001) of DASS-21 with global trait EI and its subscale scores was found. Females, metropolitan residents and participants who self-chose medical career scored significantly higher on global EI as compared to their counterparts. Females scored higher in wellbeing and emotionality subscale as compared to males. High sociability score was seen in day-scholars, metropolitan residents and students who self-chose medical career. Conclusions: Results indicate a high prevalence of psychological morbidity amongst newly admitted medical undergraduate students. Moreover, the strong negative association seen between EI and psychological health indicates that high EI contributes towards better self-perception of psychological wellbeing. Furthermore, EI is also influenced by both personal and environmental factors. Key-words: Emotional Intelligence, medical students, mental wellbeing, psychological health.
Visual Presentation Effects on Identification of Multiple Environmental Sounds

This study examined how the contents and timing of a visual stimulus affect the identification of mixed sounds recorded in a daily life environment. For experiments, we presented four environment sounds as auditory stimuli for 5 s along with a picture or a written word as a visual stimulus that might or might not denote the source of one of the four sounds. Three conditions of temporal relations between the visual stimuli and sounds were used. The visual stimulus was presented either: (a) for 5 s simultaneously with the sound; (b) for 5 s, 1 s before the sound (SOA between the audio and visual stimuli was 6 s); or (c) for 33 ms, 1 s before the sound (SOA was 1033 ms). Participants reported all identifiable sounds for those audio–visual stimuli. To characterize the effects of visual stimuli on sound identification, the following were used: the identification rates of sounds for which the visual stimulus denoted its sound source, the rates of other sounds for which the visual stimulus did not denote the sound source, and the frequency of false hearing of a sound that was not presented for each sound set. Results of the four experiments demonstrated that a picture or a written word promoted identification of the sound when it was related to the sound, particularly when the visual stimulus was presented for 5 s simultaneously with the sounds. However, a visual stimulus preceding the sounds had a benefit only for the picture, not for the written word. Furthermore, presentation with a picture denoting a sound simultaneously with the sound reduced the frequency of false hearing. These results suggest three ways that presenting a visual stimulus affects identification of the auditory stimulus. First, activation of the visual representation extracted directly from the picture promotes identification of the denoted sound and suppresses the processing of sounds for which the visual stimulus did not denote the sound source. Second, effects based on processing of the conceptual information promote identification of the denoted sound and suppress the processing of sounds for which the visual stimulus did not denote the sound source. Third, processing of the concurrent visual representation suppresses false hearing.
Mobilization of long-term reconstituting hematopoietic stem cells in mice by recombinant human interleukin 7

Administration of recombinant human interleukin 7 (rh)IL-7 to mice has been reported by our group to increase the exportation of myeloid progenitors (colony-forming unit [CFU]-c and CFU-granulocyte erythroid megakarocyte macrophage) from the bone marrow to peripheral organs (blood, spleen[s], and liver). We now report that IL-7 also stimulates a sixfold increase in the number of more primitive CFU-S day 8 (CFU-S8) and day 12 (CFU-S12) in the peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) of mice treated with rhIL-7 for 7 d. Moreover, > 90% of lethally irradiated recipient mice that received PBL from rhIL-7-treated donor mice have survived for > 6 mo whereas none of the recipient mice that received an equal number of PBL from diluent-treated donors survived. Flow cytometry analysis at 3 and 6 mo after transplantation revealed complete trilineage (T, B, and myelomonocytic cell) repopulation of bone marrow, thymus, and spleen by blood-borne stem/progenitor cells obtained from rhIL-7-treated donor mice. Thus, IL-7 may prove valuable for mobilizing pluripotent stem cells with long-term repopulating activity from the bone marrow to the peripheral blood for the purpose of gene modification and/or autologous or allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
Emphatic TD Bellman Operator is a Contraction

Recently, \citet{SuttonMW15} introduced the emphatic temporal differences (ETD) algorithm for off-policy evaluation in Markov decision processes. In this short note, we show that the projected fixed-point equation that underlies ETD involves a contraction operator, with a $\sqrt{\gamma}$-contraction modulus (where $\gamma$ is the discount factor). This allows us to provide error bounds on the approximation error of ETD. To our knowledge, these are the first error bounds for an off-policy evaluation algorithm under general target and behavior policies.
Deceptively simple … The “deception-general” ability and the need to put the liar under the spotlight

This Focused Review expands upon our original paper (You can't kid a kidder": Interaction between production and detection of deception in an interactive deception task. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 6:87). In that paper we introduced a new socially interactive, laboratory-based task, the Deceptive Interaction Task (DeceIT), and used it to measure individuals' ability to lie, their ability to detect the lies of others, and potential individual difference measures contributing to these abilities. We showed that the two skills were correlated; better liars made better lie detectors (a “deception general” ability) and this ability seemed to be independent of cognitive (IQ) and emotional (EQ) intelligence. Here, following the Focused Review format, we outline the method and results of the original paper and comment more on the value of lab-based experimental studies of deception, which have attracted criticism in recent years. While acknowledging that experimental paradigms may fail to recreate the full complexity and potential seriousness of real-world deceptive behavior, we suggest that lab-based deception paradigms can offer valuable insight into ecologically-valid deceptive behavior. The use of the DeceIT procedure enabled deception to be studied in an interactive setting, with motivated participants, and importantly allowed the study of both the liar and the lie detector within the same deceptive interaction. It is our thesis that by addressing deception more holistically—by bringing the liar into the “spotlight” which is typically trained exclusively on the lie detector—we may further enhance our understanding of deception.
Content-Based Classification and Retrieval of Wild Animal Sounds Using Feature Selection Algorithm

Automatic animal sound classification and retrieval is very helpful for bioacoustic and audio retrieval applications. In this paper we propose a system to define and extract a set of acoustic features from all archived wild animal sound recordings that is used in subsequent feature selection, classification and retrieval tasks. The database consisted of sounds of six wild animals. The Fractal Dimension analysis based segmentation was selected due to its ability to select the right portion of signal for extracting the features. The feature vectors of the proposed algorithm consist of spectral, temporal and perceptual features of the animal vocalizations. The minimal Redundancy, Maximal Relevance (mRMR) feature selection analysis was exploited to increase the classification accuracy at a compact set of features. These features were used as the inputs of two neural networks, the k-Nearest Neighbor (kNN), the Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) and its fusion. The proposed system provides quite robust approach for classification and retrieval purposes, especially for the wild animal sounds.
Contractile properties of mouse single muscle fibers, a comparison with amphibian muscle fibers

SUMMARY Single fibers, 25-40 μm wide and 0.5-0.7 mm long, were isolated from the flexor digitorum brevis muscle of the mouse. Force and movement were recorded (21-27°C) from the fiber as a whole and, in certain experiments, from a short marked segment that was held at constant length by feedback control. The maximum tetanic force, 368±57 kN/m2 (N=10), was not significantly different from that recorded in frog muscle fibers at equal temperature. However, the rising phase of the tetanus was considerably slower in the mammalian fibers, 202±20 ms (N=17) being required to reach 90% of maximum tetanic force as compared with 59±4 ms (N=20) in the frog muscle fibers. Similar to the situation in frog muscle fibers, the force-velocity relation exhibited two distinct curvatures located on either side of a breakpoint near 80% of the isometric force. Maximum speed of shortening was 4.0±0.3 fiber lengths s-1 (N=6). The relationship between tetanic force and sarcomere length was studied between 1.5 and 4.0 μm sarcomere spacings, based on length-clamp recordings that were free of `tension creep'. There was a flat maximum (plateau) of the length-tension relation between approximately 2.0 and 2.4 μm sarcomere lengths. The descending limb of the length-tension relation (linear regression) intersected the length axis (zero force) at 3. 88μ m and reached maximum force at 2.40 μm sarcomere length. The slope of the descending limb is compatible with a thick filament length of 1.63 μm and an average thin filament length of 1.10 μm. These values accord well with recent electron microscope measurements of myofilament length in mammalian muscle.