Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Postnatal development of corneal curvature and thickness in the cat.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the postnatal development of central corneal curvature and thickness in the domestic cat. Animals studied Six Domestic Short-haired (DSH) kittens starting at 9 weeks of age and 6 adult cats. PROCEDURES Kittens were evaluated biweekly to monthly for a 12-month period, starting at age 9 weeks. Corneal development was monitored by hand-held keratometry and ultrasound biomicroscopy. Standard regression analysis using a nonlinear least squares method was used to generate a formula that would predict corneal curvature as a function of age. RESULTS Mean keratometry (K) values for the 9-week-old cats were 54.51 (+/-1.02) diopters (D) and these values steeply declined over the next 3 months to 44.95 (+/-0.90) D. Thereafter, K-values gradually decreased to reach a plateau by 12-15 months of age of 39.90 (+/-0.42) D. Because K-values still appeared to be slightly diminishing at this point, six other > 2-year-old cats were evaluated by keratometry and were found to have K-values of 38.99 (+/-0.81). Two to four diopters of astigmatism was common in young kittens whereas adult cats had a low mean degree of astigmatism (< 1 D). A formula that predicted keratometry values in diopters (K) as a function of age in weeks (w) was established as follows: K = 39.83 + 26.87 exp(-0.074 w). The central cornea increased in thickness primarily during the first 4 months of life with 9 week-old kittens having values of 0.379 (+/-0.012) mm; 16-week-old kittens, 0.548 (+/-0.021) mm and 67 week-old cats, 0.567 (+/-0.012) mm. CONCLUSIONS The maturation process of the feline cornea proceeds over the first 1-2 years of life to attain an adult status that is characterized by a roughly spherical state of approximately 39 D corneal curvature, substantially flatter than the human cornea, and a central thickness similar to the human cornea. Research studies of the refractive or optical properties of the cornea in which cats are used as experimental animals should be conducted on animals greater than 18 months of age.
On-the-Job Experience and Skill at Detecting Deception1

The role of on-the-job experience in fostering skill at detecting deception was examined. A deception-detection test was administered to three samples of more than 100 subjects each: a group of undergraduates with no special experiences at detecting deceit; a group of new recruits to a federal law enforcement training program, who had some limited on-the-job experience at detecting deceit; and a group of advanced federal law enforcement officers, with years of experience working at jobs in which the detection of deception is very important. Although the officer samples were more confident about their judgments of deceptiveness than were the students, they were no more accurate than the students. None of the three groups showed a significant improvement in deception-detection success from the first half to the second half of the test; however, the advanced officers felt increasingly confident about their performance as they progressed through the test. Correlational analyses of the relationship between accuracy and confidence provided further evidence that experience does not improve people's awareness oi the accuracy or inaccuracy of their judgments. The findings from this research are compared to the results of research on other kinds of professional decision-makers (e.g., clinical psychologists), and several theoretical perspectives on the role of experience in decision making are discussed.
SOCIAL EMOTIONS: CONFIDENCE, TRUST AND LOYALTY

Confidence, trust and loyalty are three social emotions necessary respectively for the social processes of agency, cooperation and organization. In addition to the centrality of emotion in social life, an examination of these emotions demonstrates the importance of future‐time in social structure. Temporality is seldom discussed in the sociological literature, but unavoidable in a consideration of confidence, trust and loyalty. An examination of confidence, trust and loyalty from the perspective of temporality clarifies issues of social rationality and indicates some of the limitations of rational choice theory.
Deciphering Systemic Wound Responses of the Pumpkin Extrafascicular Phloem by Metabolomics and Stable Isotope-Coded Protein Labeling1[C][W]

In cucurbits, phloem latex exudes from cut sieve tubes of the extrafascicular phloem (EFP), serving in defense against herbivores. We analyzed inducible defense mechanisms in the EFP of pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) after leaf damage. As an early systemic response, wounding elicited transient accumulation of jasmonates and a decrease in exudation probably due to partial sieve tube occlusion by callose. The energy status of the EFP was enhanced as indicated by increased levels of ATP, phosphate, and intermediates of the citric acid cycle. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry also revealed that sucrose transport, gluconeogenesis/glycolysis, and amino acid metabolism were up-regulated after wounding. Combining ProteoMiner technology for the enrichment of low-abundance proteins with stable isotope-coded protein labeling, we identified 51 wound-regulated phloem proteins. Two Sucrose-Nonfermenting1-related protein kinases and a 32-kD 14-3-3 protein are candidate central regulators of stress metabolism in the EFP. Other proteins, such as the Silverleaf Whitefly-Induced Protein1, Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase6, and Heat Shock Protein81, have known defensive functions. Isotope-coded protein labeling and western-blot analyses indicated that Cyclophilin18 is a reliable marker for stress responses of the EFP. As a hint toward the induction of redox signaling, we have observed delayed oxidation-triggered polymerization of the major Phloem Protein1 (PP1) and PP2, which correlated with a decline in carbonylation of PP2. In sum, wounding triggered transient sieve tube occlusion, enhanced energy metabolism, and accumulation of defense-related proteins in the pumpkin EFP. The systemic wound response was mediated by jasmonate and redox signaling.
Cell-Free Transmission of Human Adenovirus by Passive Mass Transfer in Cell Culture Simulated in a Computer Model

ABSTRACT Viruses spread between cells, tissues, and organisms by cell-free and cell-cell transmissions. Both mechanisms enhance disease development, but it is difficult to distinguish between them. Here, we analyzed the transmission mode of human adenovirus (HAdV) in monolayers of epithelial cells by wet laboratory experimentation and a computer simulation. Using live-cell fluorescence microscopy and replication-competent HAdV2 expressing green fluorescent protein, we found that the spread of infection invariably occurred after cell lysis. It was affected by convection and blocked by neutralizing antibodies but was independent of second-round infections. If cells were overlaid with agarose, convection was blocked and round plaques developed around lytic infected cells. Infected cells that did not lyse did not give rise to plaques, highlighting the importance of cell-free transmission. Key parameters for cell-free virus transmission were the time from infection to lysis, the dose of free viruses determining infection probability, and the diffusion of single HAdV particles in aqueous medium. With these parameters, we developed an in silico model using multiscale hybrid dynamics, cellular automata, and particle strength exchange. This so-called white box model is based on experimentally determined parameters and reproduces viral infection spreading as a function of the local concentration of free viruses. These analyses imply that the extent of lytic infections can be determined by either direct plaque assays or can be predicted by calculations of virus diffusion constants and modeling.
Change in IgG1 Fc N‐linked glycosylation in human lung cancer: Age‐ and sex‐related diagnostic potential

The interactions of IgG Fc region with Fc receptors are optimized by the tailoring of a single‐conserved N‐linked glycosylation site at Asn‐297. Our previous study has demonstrated that the age‐related Fc‐glycosylation change is featured by sex specificity and that the Fc‐glycosylation has the potential for disease discrimination. Here, we conducted a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance MS‐based profiling study involving 410 control individuals and 259 lung cancer (LC) patients. As compared to healthy controls, the marked increase in IgG1 Fc‐agalactosylation and decrease in galactosylation were observed in LC patients. The binary logistic regression in combination with the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the diagnostic ability of IgG1 Fc‐glycosylation. It was found that this diagnostic ability was both sex and age dependent. Additionally, the change in Fc‐glycosylation upon many different physiological and pathological conditions was retrospectively discussed. The data furthered the understanding of the immune‐associated change in human LC, and also might be useful in the future attempts for Fc‐glycosylation‐associated diagnostic evaluations and clinical assays.
Crime Victims and their Social Network: A Field Study on the Cognitive Effects of Victimisation, Attributional Responses and the Victim-Blaming Model

A field study is reported focusing on the cognitive effects of criminal victimisation, on the types of responses victims encounter in their social network, and on the validity of the ‘victim blaming model’. Data reveal that victimisations have a negative impact on the perceived benevolence of the world. Perceptions of self control and control over outcomes are reduced, and victims consider themselves less as persons having luck in life. These cognitive effects appear to stretch out beyond those directly involved. Results generally do not support the theoretically dominant position in the victimological literature on ‘blaming the victim’. Empathical responses and external attributions from the social network are much more common than internal responses to victimisation. Moreover, internal attributions from the social network appear to work more positively on the wellbeing of victims than external attributions. These outcomes - which are in line with the Janoff-Bulman model - are clearly in contrast to the ‘victim blaming model’. Some implications for future studies are discussed.
Dancing with Ethnic Identities: An Aboriginal Dance Club in a Taiwanese Middle School

Research in Taiwan has shown that aboriginal students often have low self-esteem and a negative view of their life due to their heritage. This research studied 14 Taiwan aboriginal students to understand how the experience of aboriginal dance club influenced their ethnic identity. The result showed that the experiences of socializing with other aboriginal group members and learning about traditional tribal culture creating a more positive ethnic identity. Moreover, through international performances, they gained self-confidence and diverse perspectives. The study suggests that schools should give support to students to learn about their ethnic culture to explore their ethnic identity.
Mitochondria, oxidative stress and aging

In the eighties, Miquel and Fleming suggested that mitochondria play a key role in cellular aging. Mitochondria, and specially mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), are major targets of free radical attack. At present, it is well established that mitochondrial deficits accumulate upon aging due to oxidative damage. Thus, oxidative lesions to mtDNA accumulate with age in human and rodent tissues. Furthermore, levels of oxidative damage to mtDNA are several times higher than those of nuclear DNA. Mitochondrial size increases whereas mitochondrial membrane potential decreases with age in brain and liver. Recently, we have shown that treatment with certain antioxidants, such as sulphur-containing antioxidants, vitamins C and E or the Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761, protects against the age-associated oxidative damage to mtDNA and oxidation of mitochondrial glutathione. Moreover, the extract EGb 761 also prevents changes in mitochondrial morphology and function associated with aging of the brain and liver. Thus, mitochondrial aging may be prevented by antioxidants. Furthermore, late onset administration of certain antioxidants is also able to prevent the impairment in physiological performance, particularly motor co-ordination, that occurs upon aging.
Intraband Absorption Coefficient in Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Nanocomposite—A Pathway to Room-Temperature, Mid- and Long-Wavelength Infrared Detection

Size reduction in materials into nanometer range leads to discrete energy levels depending on the size of the structure. Control over dimensions as well as the composition of structures makes it possible to tailor material properties for specific applications. Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are solution phase processed nanostructure, which are coated with a surface ligand material that is comprised of short, organic molecules to prevent the CQDs from aggregation when placed in solution. In fact, mostly, they are embedded in a matrix material, which necessarily affects the electronic levels of the nanostructure. Hybrid nanocomposite is mainly composed of inorganic CQDs embedded in an organic conjugated polymer. In this paper, we present a method for calculating the electronic structure, such as intraband energy levels and wave functions in a hybrid nanocomposite thin-film structure. This model converts the Schrödinger equation into a matrix equation, which can be easily solved by programming languages. Moreover, based on the model, optical intraband absorption coefficient for an embedded CQD into conducting polymer is calculated and compared with experimental data. Our analysis shows that hybrid nanocomposite can be considered as a good candidate for absorber material in mid- and long-wavelength infrared detectors. In addition, the impact of the CQD average size is also studied as design parameter on the absorption spectra of the hybrid nanocomposites. The model is verified by comparing the results with reported data in the literature.
Measurement of Perceived Body Size

There is an extensive body of literature dealing with the problems of the body image. This term "body image" is perhaps the most widespread, but many terms are employed to describe the various connotations of the basic concept. These terms vary with both the theoretical framework and the experimental mechod of a particular investigation. One meets such terms as body image, body percept, body concepc, self image, etc., but these terms are not used interchangeably. The methods of study are many. Projective techniques, especially the Rorschach, have been used extensively by Fisher and Cleveland ( 2 ) . Bennett (1 ) instructed his Ss to name the parts of the body and then ranked the parts in terms of frequency of occurrence. Weckowicz and Somer ( 4 ) have used figure drawings. Similarly, Werner and Wapner, and their associates ( 3 ) have used figure drawings but in conjunction with the administration of lysergic acid. Direct measurements are rare, but do exist (3, 5 ) . The author devised a n instrument for the direct measurement of perceived body size. The experiment to be reported here was a pilot investigation in the use of this device. It was decided to determine, under conditions of minimal reduction in environmental cues, if persons using this device could give valid and reliable estimates of their body size, and to compare a group of hospitalized psychiatric patients with a group of non-patient controls.
Systemic bioavailability of inhaled steroids: the importance of appropriate and comparable methodology.

To the Editors: Recently, the systemic bioavailability of mometasone furoate (MF) via the TwisthalerTM (Schering Corp., Kenilworth, NJ, USA) has been reported to be <1% in healthy subjects 1. This unusual result, however, was based on a study with sparse data, a low dose ( i.e . 400 µg) and a relatively insensitive assay (lower limit of detection of 50 pg·mL−1). Plasma concentrations were said to be undetectable in 10 of the 24 subjects in whom this assay was used. The absolute systemic bioavailability for an inhaled drug is calculated by comparing the area under the plasma concentration-time curve for inhaled dosing, with that obtained following intravenous dosing. To obtain a reliable estimate, the administered doses need to be large enough to produce measurable plasma concentrations. Therefore, an estimate of the true systemic bioavailability of MF cannot reliably be made based on incomplete data and an insensitive assay, and certainly not compared with …
Coping with Work Stressors in Nursing

The effect of coping behaviors on nurses' affective reactions to work-generated stressors was assessed, using data gathered from 215 nurses in a medical center hospital in the Midwest. Adaptive coping, reflecting problem-solving behaviors, was found to moderate the relationships of work overload and resource inadequacy with felt stress, and the stressors of resource inadequacy and assignment changes with organizational commitment. Maladaptive coping, representing emotional, self-protective behaviors, had significant main effects on the outcome measures, and was associated with increased felt stress, as well as decreased job satisfaction and organizational commitment.
Activation of high and low affinity dopamine receptors generates a closed loop that maintains a conductance ratio and its activity correlate

Neuromodulators alter network output and have the potential to destabilize a circuit. The mechanisms maintaining stability in the face of neuromodulation are not well described. Using the pyloric network in the crustacean stomatogastric nervous system, we show that dopamine (DA) does not simply alter circuit output, but activates a closed loop in which DA-induced alterations in circuit output consequently drive a change in an ionic conductance to preserve a conductance ratio and its activity correlate. DA acted at low affinity type 1 receptors (D1Rs) to induce an immediate modulatory decrease in the transient potassium current (IA) of a pyloric neuron. This, in turn, advanced the activity phase of that component neuron, which disrupted its network function and thereby destabilized the circuit. DA simultaneously acted at high affinity D1Rs on the same neuron to confer activity-dependence upon the hyperpolarization activated current (Ih) such that the DA-induced changes in activity subsequently reduced Ih. This DA-enabled, activity-dependent, intrinsic plasticity exactly compensated for the modulatory decrease in IA to restore the IA:Ih ratio and neuronal activity phase, thereby closing an open loop created by the modulator. Activation of closed loops to preserve conductance ratios may represent a fundamental operating principle neuromodulatory systems use to ensure stability in their target networks.
Hospital Variation in Patient-Reported Outcomes at the Level of EQ-5D Dimensions

Background. The English Department of Health has introduced routine collection of patient-reported outcome data for selected surgical procedures to facilitate patient choice and increase hospital accountability. However, using aggregate health outcome scores, such as EQ-5D utilities, for performance assessment purposes causes information loss and raises statistical and normative concerns. Objectives. For hip replacement surgery, we explore a) the change in patient-reported outcomes between baseline and follow-up on 5 health dimensions (EQ-5D), b) the extent to which treatment impact varies across hospitals, and c) the extent to which hospital performance on EQ-5D dimensions is correlated with performance on the EQ-5D utility index. Methods. We combine information on pre- and postoperative EQ-5D outcomes with routine inpatient data for the financial year 2009–2010. The sample consists of 21,000 patients in 153 hospitals. We employ hierarchical ordered probit risk-adjustment models that recognize the multilevel nature of the data and the response distributions. The treatment impact is modeled as a random coefficient that varies at the hospital level. We obtain hospital-specific empirical Bayes (EB) estimates of this coefficient. We estimate separate models for each EQ-5D dimension and the EQ-5D utility index and analyze correlations of EB estimates across these. Results. Hospital treatment is associated with improvements in all EQ-5D dimensions. Variability in treatment impact is most pronounced on the mobility and usual activities dimensions. Conversely, only pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression correlate well with performance measures based on utilities. This leads to different assessments of hospital performance across metrics. Conclusions. Our results indicate which hospitals are better than others in improving health across particular EQ-5D dimensions. We demonstrate the importance of evaluating dimensions of the EQ-5D separately for the purposes of hospital performance assessment.
Joint Graph Decomposition & Node Labeling: Problem, Algorithms, Applications

We state a combinatorial optimization problem whose feasible solutions define both a decomposition and a node labeling of a given graph. This problem offers a common mathematical abstraction of seemingly unrelated computer vision tasks, including instance-separating semantic segmentation, articulated human body pose estimation and multiple object tracking. Conceptually, it generalizes the unconstrained integer quadratic program and the minimum cost lifted multicut problem, both of which are NP-hard. In order to find feasible solutions efficiently, we define two local search algorithms that converge monotonously to a local optimum, offering a feasible solution at any time. To demonstrate the effectiveness of these algorithms in tackling computer vision tasks, we apply them to instances of the problem that we construct from published data, using published algorithms. We report state-of-the-art application-specific accuracy in the three above-mentioned applications.
Research on Markets for Inventions and Implications for R&D Allocation Strategies

Several streams of literature have examined the phenomenon of “markets for inventions”, that is, the trade of elements of knowledge which are “disembodied” from individuals, organizations, and products. The aims of this paper are to bring together the various streams of research in this area and discuss their major assumptions and limitations, in order to provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the phenomenon, and identify promising paths for future research. We start our review by identifying the object of market exchange—that is, an invention whose knowledge has been codified and disembodied from individuals, organizations, or artifacts. We then identify those factors that enable firms to trade inventions, distinguishing between institutional-, firm-, and industry-level factors. We close our analysis of the extant literature by discussing the implications of markets for inventions for firm behavior and performance. Against this background, we highlight an important avenue for future research. A neglected implication of the development of invention markets is that firms are confronted with a wide variety of technological paths from which to choose, because the opportunity to acquire technologies on the market offers them a greater variety that can their internal R&D departments. However, the streams of research on markets for inventions and on R&D allocation strategies have been surprisingly disconnected so far. Hence, in the final section, we start to establish and explore the link between these literatures, and to identify a research agenda in this domain.