Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantitative Trait Locus Based Virulence Determinant Mapping of the HSV-1 Genome in Murine Ocular Infection: Genes Involved in Viral Regulatory and Innate Immune Networks Contribute to Virulence

Herpes simplex virus type 1 causes mucocutaneous lesions, and is the leading cause of infectious blindness in the United States. Animal studies have shown that the severity of HSV-1 ocular disease is influenced by three main factors; innate immunity, host immune response and viral strain. We previously showed that mixed infection with two avirulent HSV-1 strains (OD4 and CJ994) resulted in recombinants that exhibit a range of disease phenotypes from severe to avirulent, suggesting epistatic interactions were involved. The goal of this study was to develop a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of HSV-1 ocular virulence determinants and to identify virulence associated SNPs. Blepharitis and stromal keratitis quantitative scores were characterized for 40 OD4:CJ994 recombinants. Viral titers in the eye were also measured. Virulence quantitative trait locus mapping (vQTLmap) was performed using the Lasso, Random Forest, and Ridge regression methods to identify significant phenotypically meaningful regions for each ocular disease parameter. The most predictive Ridge regression model identified several phenotypically meaningful SNPs for blepharitis and stromal keratitis. Notably, phenotypically meaningful nonsynonymous variations were detected in the UL24, UL29 (ICP8), UL41 (VHS), UL53 (gK), UL54 (ICP27), UL56, ICP4, US1 (ICP22), US3 and gG genes. Network analysis revealed that many of these variations were in HSV-1 regulatory networks and viral genes that affect innate immunity. Several genes previously implicated in virulence were identified, validating this approach, while other genes were novel. Several novel polymorphisms were also identified in these genes. This approach provides a framework that will be useful for identifying virulence genes in other pathogenic viruses, as well as epistatic effects that affect HSV-1 ocular virulence.
The development and revitalisation of shrinking cities: a twin city comparison

The twin cities of Niagara Falls Ontario (ON) and New York (NY) share a natural wonder and an industrial past; however, respective local economic and governance structures have led to a stark demographic divergence between the two cities. Analysis reveals that the economic and demographic processes, as well as government interventions, that led to the divergence between the cities occurred predominantly outside of the local geographic scale. Local perceptions of and strategies to cope with shrinkage and slow growth were comparable in both cities. Niagara Falls, ON’s relative success in retaining population and jobs can be largely attributed to provincial intervention.
What to do With Healthcare Incident Reporting Systems

Incident Reporting Systems (IRS) are and will continue to be an important influence on improving patient safety. They can provide valuable insights into how and why patients can be harmed at the organizational level. However, they are not the panacea that many believe them to be. They have several limitations that should be considered. Most of these limitations stem from inherent biases of voluntary reporting systems. These limitations include: i) IRS can’t be used to measure safety (error rates); ii) IRS can’t be used to compare organizations; iii) IRS can’t be used to measure changes over time; iv) IRS generate too many reports; v) IRS often don’t generate in-depth analyses or result in strong interventions to reduce risk; vi) IRS are associated with costs. IRS do offer significant value; their value is found in the following: i) IRS can be used to identify local system hazards; ii) IRS can be used to aggregate experiences for uncommon conditions; iii) IRS can be used to share lessons within and across organizations; iv) IRS can be used to increase patient safety culture. Moving forward, several strategies are suggested to maximize their value: i) make reporting easier; ii) make reporting meaningful to the reporter; iii) make the measure of success system changes, rather than events reported; iv) prioritize which events to report and investigate, report and investigate them well; v) convene with diverse stakeholders to enhance the value of IRS. Significance for public health Incident Reporting Systems (IRS) are and will continue to be an important influence on improving patient safety. However, they are not the panacea that many believe them to be. They have several limitations that should be considered when utilizing them or interpreting their output: i) IRS can’t be used to measure safety (error rates); ii) IRS can’t be used to compare organizations; iii) IRS can’t be used to measure changes over time; iv) IRS generate too many reports; v) IRS often don’t generate in-depth analyses or result in strong interventions to reduce risk; vi) IRS are associated with costs. Moving forward, several strategies are suggested to maximize their value: i) make reporting easier; ii) make reporting meaningful to the reporter; iii) make the measure of success system changes, rather than events reported; iv) prioritize which events to report and investigate, do it well; v) convene with diverse stakeholders to enhance their value.
Handedness and earnings

We examine whether handedness is related to performance in the labour market and, in particular, to earnings. We find a significant wage effect for left-handed men with high levels of education. This positive wage effect is strongest among those who have lower than average earnings relative to those of similar high education. This effect is not found among women.
Modeling and Comparison of Machine and Converter Losses for PWM and PAM in High-Speed Drives

For variable-speed drives, the interaction of the machine and the converter is becoming increasingly important, especially for high-speed applications, mainly due to the effect of the converter modulation on the machine losses. The allocation of the losses to different components of the drive system needs to be known in order to choose the ideal machine and modulation combination. In this paper, individual models are introduced for calculating the rotor, copper, and core losses of the machine as well as the inverter losses, taking the modulation type into account. These models are developed by considering two typical high-speed permanent-magnet synchronous motor topologies (slotted and slotless machines) driven by pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM) and pulsewidth modulation (PWM) converters. The models are applied to two off-the-shelf machines and a converter operating with either PAM or PWM. The test bench used to experimentally verify the models is also described, and the model results are compared to the measurements. The results show that PAM produces a higher overall efficiency for the high-speed machines considered in this paper. However, PWM can be used to move the losses from the rotor to the converter at the expense of decreasing the overall drive efficiency. The possible benefits of these results are discussed.
The Role of Attention in Spatial Learning during Simulated Route Navigation

Previous research has demonstrated the importance of attention in the development of survey (or configurai) knowledge of the environment. However, it is unclear if attention is also necessary for the development of route knowledge. Our aim in this paper is to evaluate the specific role of attention in the acquisition of both route and survey knowledge during simulated navigation. In four experiments, subjects in a condition of full or divided attention were presented a series of routes through a simulated environment. Spatial learning was assessed by having subjects discriminate between old and novel route segments in a subsequent recognition test. Novel route segments consisted of old landmarks from the same route but in the wrong order or with wrong turns, or consisted of old landmarks from two separate routes, or contained old landmarks in new spatial relations to one another. Divided attention disrupted memory for sequences of landmarks (experiment 1), landmark—turn associations (experiment 2), landmark—route associations (experiment 3), and spatial relations between landmarks (experiment 4). Together, these results show that even relatively simple components of spatial learning during navigation require attention. Furthermore, divided attention disrupts the acquisition of spatial knowledge at both the route level and the survey level.
Cell Cycle Genes Are the Evolutionarily Conserved Targets of the E2F4 Transcription Factor

Maintaining quiescent cells in G0 phase is achieved in part through the multiprotein subunit complex known as DREAM, and in human cell lines the transcription factor E2F4 directs this complex to its cell cycle targets. We found that E2F4 binds a highly overlapping set of human genes among three diverse primary tissues and an asynchronous cell line, which suggests that tissue-specific binding partners and chromatin structure have minimal influence on E2F4 targeting. To investigate the conservation of these transcription factor binding events, we identified the mouse genes bound by E2f4 in seven primary mouse tissues and a cell line. E2f4 bound a set of mouse genes that was common among mouse tissues, but largely distinct from the genes bound in human. The evolutionarily conserved set of E2F4 bound genes is highly enriched for functionally relevant regulatory interactions important for maintaining cellular quiescence. In contrast, we found minimal mRNA expression perturbations in this core set of E2f4 bound genes in the liver, kidney, and testes of E2f4 null mice. Thus, the regulatory mechanisms maintaining quiescence are robust even to complete loss of conserved transcription factor binding events.
On Monitoring and Motivation in the Self-Regulation of Behaviour: The Roles of Self-Awareness, Self-Consciousness and Self-Determination in the Context of Dieting and Weight Management

Why are some goal pursuits more successful than others? What personal variables help achieve successful self-regulation? The goal of the present program of research is to investigate the relationships between two important components of effective self-regulation: motivation and monitoring. This dissertation suggests that an organismic approach to selfregulation such as self-determination theory (SDT) can supplement the view brought forward by control theory's (CT) mechanistic self-monitoring system, by proposing that people may have different regulation styles based on their motivational orientation. More specifically, it is argued that SDT and CT may be in congruence with regard to general dispositional styles of monitoring and motivation, such that that public self-consciousness may be associated with a nonself-determined motivational orientation, while private selfconsciousness may be associated with a self-determined motivational orientation. However, it is also argued that SDT and CT make different predictions with regard to the effects of situational manipulations of public and private self-awareness, and that these effects may influence people differentially based on their motivational orientation. It is hypothesized that: (a) conditions conducive to private self-awareness affect individuals with selfdetermined and nonself-determined motivational orientations differently as they become more aware of their respective personal style of behavioural regulation and their different personal goals (i.e., intrinsic versus extrinsic goals respectively), and (b) conditions conducive to public self-awareness create a controlling environment and lead individuals with both self-determined and nonself-determined motivational orientations to focus on selfpresentation, their public image and the ways others perceive them. To test these ideas, a series of four studies is proposed to answer a progression of research questions using survey
Smaug variants in neural and non-neuronal cells

ABSTRACT Mammalian Smaug1/Samd4a is an mRNA regulator involved in synapse plasticity and additional non-neuronal functions. Here we analyzed the expression of Smaug1/Samd4a variants and Smaug2/Samd4b in primary hippocampal neurons and non-neuronal cell lines. We found that multiple Smaug proteins are present in several mammalian cell lines, including a canonical full length Smaug1, a Smaug1 variant that lacks the third exon, termed ΔEIII, and Smaug2, the product of a highly homologous gene. These three major isoforms are expressed differentially along neuron development and form cytosolic bodies when transfected in cell lines. By using luciferase reporters, we found that the ΔEIII isoform, which lacks 10 amino acids in the sterile α motif involved in RNA binding, shows a RNA-binding capacity and repressor activity comparable to that of the full length Smaug1. These observations are an important groundwork for molecular studies of the Smaug post-transcriptional pathway, which is relevant to neuron development, mitochondrial function and muscle physiology in health and disease.
Clinical Outcomes of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for Metastatic Brain Tumors from Gynecologic Cancer : Prognostic Factors in Local Treatment Failure and Survival

Objective Brain metastases in gynecologic cancer (ovarian, endometrial, and cervical cancer) patients are rare, and the efficacy of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery (GKRS) to treat these had not been evaluated. We assessed the efficacy of GKRS and prognostic factors for tumor control and survival in brain metastasis from gynecologic cancers. Methods This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board. From May 1995 to October 2012, 26 women (mean age 51.3 years, range 27–70 years) with metastatic brain tumors from gynecologic cancer were treated with GKRS. We reviewed their outcomes, radiological responses, and clinical status. Results In total 24 patients (59 lesions) were available for follow-up imaging. The median follow-up time was 9 months. The mean treated tumor volume at the time of GKRS was 8185 mm3 (range 10–19500 mm3), and the median dose delivered to the tumor margin was 25 Gy (range, 10–30 Gy). A local tumor control rate was 89.8% (53 of 59 tumors). The median overall survival was 9.5 months after GKRS (range, 1–102 months). Age-associated multivariate analysis indicated that the Karnofsky performance status (KPS), the recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) classification, and the number of treated lesions were significant prognostic factors for overall survival (HR=0.162, p=0.008, HR=0.107, p=0.038, and HR=2.897, p=0.045, respectively). Conclusion GKRS is safe and effective for the management of brain metastasis from gynecologic cancers. The clinical status of the patient is important in determining the overall survival time.
Problems Encountered by Distance Education Students in Online Test Module: A Case Study From the Distance Education Research and Application Center, Karadeniz Technical University, Turkey.

This study aims to determine the problems faced by students taking an online exam during a graduate degree program administered by the Distance Education Research and Application Center, KTU (Karadeniz Technical University). The research was conducted with 106 students during the spring semester of the 2009-2010 academic years in the department of educational administration, inspection, planning and economy program (discipline) in the Institute of Social Sciences, KTU. The data obtained from e-mails of students about problems in the exam process are analyzed descriptively. The data were read twice by different researchers and then organized in codes. Themes that were revealed as a result of the compilation of encodings were put into a meaningful structure to be presented to the reader. The results showed that the following problems occurred in the process of the students taking the online exams, the students’ level of computer literacy, the test environment being new to the students, the presentation of the questions in a computer environment and technical difficulties. The students’ ability to use a computer is an important factor in the emergence of problems. The main outcome of the research was the need for an orientation program which will assist the students taking online exams and the online courses.
In The Eyes of The Law: Survivor Experiences and Image Construction Within Sexual Assault Cases

Research has clearly documented the challenges that sexual assault survivors face within the legal system, yet little attention has been devoted to the ways in which survivors demonstrate agency during this process. The present study explored the ways in which sexual assault survivors navigate the power structures and stereotypes present within the Canadian criminal justice system, particularly during pre-trial preparatory activities and testifying experiences. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with eight adult female sexual assault survivors who testified against their assailant at a preliminary hearing or trial, as well as four service providers responsible for assisting survivors within the legal system. Data collection and analysis was informed by constructivist grounded theory (Charmaz, 2006). Findings showed that survivors’ experiences testifying and interacting with defense attorneys were predominantly negative, while experiences with police and Crown Attorneys were comprised of both supportive and unsupportive aspects depending on the level of belief, support and
Boredom-Triggered Proactive Recommendations

We propose the concept of boredom-triggered proactive recommendations for mobile phones. Given that more and more services attempt to attract mobile phone users' attention via push notifications, attention in this context can be considered as an increasingly scarce resource. However, when people are bored, by definition, they seek stimuli and hence often turn to their mobile phones. We cite evidence from our most recent work that boredom can be inferred from patterns of mobile phone usage and that during inferred phases of boredom, people are more likely to engage with suggested content. Thus, using boredom as content-independent trigger might help to make proactive recommendations a more pleasant experience and, in consequence, more successful.
Rules and Equilibrium Broadband Deployment

Investment in advanced communications infrastructure promises such tantalizing payoffs as accelerated economic growth and enhanced national competitiveness. Relatively little disagreement arises in policy debates that such benefits are possible—usually only their size and distribution across the population are at issue. Bitter disputes, however, have broken out over which path will lead the communications sector to deploy these technologies most expeditiously and equitably. While competition is now widely accepted as essential to effective broadband policy, policy makers have adopted a wide array of alternative rules to promote advanced network investment. Arguably, the most contentious of these policies forces incumbent network owners to share their facilities and equipment to enable rival broadband service providers. Opponents protest that such sharing destroys incentives to undertake the expense and risk of deploying new technologies. Such policies, they contend, will likely delay the rollout of innovative services, and possibly forestall deployment in some markets altogether. Proponents of ‘open access,’1 in contrast, emphasize how sharing creates competition in retail service competition without the waste of duplicate investment. In its strong form, this view foresees future facilities-based competition the results in net increase in advanced network investment. The impact of pro-competition policy on broadband deployment has generated a considerable body of empirical evidence. This literature predates the opening of many advanced service markets to competition.2 Several early econometric investigations concluded that liberalized regulation of incumbent telephone companies had the effect of stimulating their investment in advanced technology.3 The empirical evidence on this question is far less conclusive once those communications markets were open to competition, no doubt partly a result that
Developmental Regulation of Neurotransmitter Phenotype through Tetrahydrobiopterin

During development, sympathetic neurons innervating rodent sweat glands undergo a target-induced change in neurotransmitter phenotype from noradrenergic to cholinergic. Although the sweat gland innervation in the adult mouse is cholinergic and catecholamines are absent, these neurons continue to express tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme in catecholamine synthesis. The developmental suppression of noradrenergic function in these mouse sympathetic neurons is not well understood. We investigated whether the downregulation of the enzyme aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) or the TH cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) could account for the loss of catecholamines in these neurons. AADC levels did not decrease during development, and adult cholinergic sympathetic neurons were strongly immunoreactive for AADC. In contrast, BH4 levels dropped significantly in murine sweat gland-containing footpads during the time period when the gland innervation was switching from making norepinephrine to acetylcholine. Immunoreactivity for the rate-limiting BH4 synthetic enzyme GTP cyclohydrolase (GCH) became undetectable in the sweat gland neurons during this phenotypic conversion, suggesting that sweat glands reduce BH4 levels by suppressing GCH expression during development. Furthermore, extracts from sweat gland-containing footpads suppressed BH4 in cultured mouse sympathetic neurons, and addition of the BH4 precursor sepiapterin rescued catecholamine production in neurons treated with footpad extracts. Together, these results suggest that the mouse sweat gland-derived cholinergic differentiation factor functionally suppresses the noradrenergic phenotype during development by inhibiting production of the TH cofactor, BH4. These data also indicate that GCH expression, which is often coordinately regulated with TH expression, can be controlled independently of TH during development.
The Effect of A Multisensory Program on Children with Autism

Children with autism often show a wide range of difficulties in sensory processing where they might experience over or under sensitivity to sound, touch, taste, smell and light. There is a need to provide appropriate sensory stimulation or comfort to help children with autism to integrate their senses and have more pleasurable interactions with people and their environment. Snoezelen® is a multisensory environment that provides a range of sensory stimulations that are tailored to meet the needs of children with autism. The multisensory environment provides direct and indirect stimulation of sensory modalities and can be used individually or collectively to provide sensory training. The purpose of this study was to experiment with the use of equipment in the multisensory program, as an intervention approach to provide appropriate sensory stimulation or comfort in a sensory environment that addresses the sensory processing needs of children with autism. The study focused on three main sensory areas - visual, auditory and tactile. The study comprised of six children with autism from ages 5-8 years old. Each autistic child attended an hour session twice a month over a year (24 sessions). The findings show that children with autism improve in their visual, auditory and tactile sensory functioning, using a structured program. The children learn to follow instructions, understand specific concepts, and became more aware of their surroundings.
Decay of C/Zn: exact supergravity solutions

We present a simple method to derive the general exact solution describing monopole scalar radiation coupled to gravity in 2+1 dimensions. The solution confirms the conjecture of Adams, Polchinski, and Silverstein regarding the late time behavior of the decay of the C/Zn orbifold in type-II string theory.