Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Peer researchers in post-professional healthcare: A glimpse at motivations and partial objectivity as opportunities for action researchers

Peer researchers are members of a population under study who have a decision-making role or staff position on a research team. Peer researchers are increasingly required for funding proposals to succeed in Canadian HIV/AIDS research, and are strongly recommended for community-based participatory research in other fields. There is a need to better understand peer researchers’ motivations and their impact, both positive and negative, on studies they take part in. The emerging theory of post-professionalism informed a bounded system case study approach, whereby four peer researchers from an HIV, social work, and brain health study were conveniently sampled, then interviewed concerning their experiences and insider-outsider positioning. Personal interest and community leadership were key motivations behind their involvement; language barriers and managing multiple roles were key challenges. Participants identified a risk inherent in the performative interval, considering whether their contributions were a projection of self rather than a representation of participant contributions. Tension between social location and the insider positioning expected of peer researchers requires that academic researchers recognize the personal and social investments that peers make to a study. This paper presents considerations for how healthcare researchers can better engage as peers with peer researchers.
Deoxynivalenol as a New Factor in the Persistence of Intestinal Inflammatory Diseases: An Emerging Hypothesis through Possible Modulation of Th17-Mediated Response

Background/Aims Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium species which is commonly found in temperate regions worldwide as a natural contaminant of cereals. It is of great concern not only in terms of economic losses but also in terms of animal and public health. The digestive tract is the first and main target of this food contaminant and it represents a major site of immune tolerance. A finely tuned cross-talk between the innate and the adaptive immune systems ensures the homeostatic equilibrium between the mucosal immune system and commensal microorganisms. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of DON on the intestinal immune response. Methodology Non-transformed intestinal porcine epithelial cells IPEC-1 and porcine jejunal explants were used to investigate the effect of DON on the intestinal immune response and the modulation of naive T cells differentiation. Transcriptomic proteomic and flow cytometry analysis were performed. Results DON induced a pro-inflammatory response with a significant increase of expression of mRNA encoding for IL-8, IL-1α and IL-1β, TNF-α in all used models. Additionally, DON significantly induced the expression of genes involved in the differentiation of Th17 cells (STAT3, IL–17A, IL-6, IL-1β) at the expenses of the pathway of regulatory T cells (Treg) (FoxP3, RALDH1). DON also induced genes related to the pathogenic Th17 cells subset such as IL–23A, IL-22 and IL-21 and not genes related to the regulatory Th17 cells (rTh17) such as TGF-β and IL-10. Conclusion DON triggered multiple immune modulatory effects which could be associated with an increased susceptibility to intestinal inflammatory diseases.
Geometry of Spectral Curves and All Order Dispersive Integrable System

We propose a definition for a Tau function and a spinor kernel (closely related to Baker{Akhiezer functions), where times parametrize slow (of order 1=N) deformations of an algebraic plane curve. This definition consists of a formal asymptotic series in po- wers of 1=N, where the coefficients involve theta functions whose phase is linear in N and therefore features generically fast oscillations when N is large. The large N limit of this construction coincides with the algebro-geometric solutions of the multi-KP equation, but where the underlying algebraic curve evolves according to Whitham equations. We check that our conjectural Tau function satisfies Hirota equations to the first two orders, and we conjecture that they hold to all orders. The Hirota equations are equivalent to a self-replication property for the spinor kernel. We analyze its consequences, namely the possibility of reconstructing order by order in 1=N an isomonodromic problem given by a Lax pair, and the relation between \correlators", the tau function and the spinor kernel. This construction is one more step towards a unified framework relating integrable hierarchies, topological recursion and enumerative geometry.
Singularity Analysis and Representation of the General Gough-Stewart Platform

In this paper, the singularity loci of the Gough-Stewart platform are studied and a graphical representation of these loci in the manipulator’s workspace is obtained. The algorithm presented is based on analytical expressions of the determinant of the Jacobian matrix, using two different approaches, namely, linear decomposition and cofactor expansion. The first approach is used to assess the effect of the architecture parameters on the nature of the singularity loci, while the second approach leads to a significant reduction of the computational complexity of the determinant. It is shown that, for a given orientation of the platform, the singularity locus in the Cartesian space is represented by a polynomial of degree three. Moreover, this polynomial equation is applied to several simplified Gough-Stewart architectures and it is shown that the expression is reduced when the base of the mechanism is coplanar and for other special geometries. A comparison with the results obtained using Grassmann geometry is then presented, which illustrates the advantages of using one single compact equation for the singularity loci. The generalization of Fichter’s singular configuration is also developed, and several observations are then made. Finally, a brief discussion on the architecture singularities is presented and a graphical representation of the singularity loci in the Cartesian workspace of the manipulator is obtained. Two examples clearly illustrate the usefulness of the results for the analysis and design of parallel manipulators.
Operability study on the multisensory illusion inducible in microsurgical robotic systems

The Rubber Hand Illusion is a well known multisensory illusion in which the participant feels their own unseen hand become a rubber hand that is placed at the position where their hand is supposedly placed, triggered by synchronized haptic stimuli on their hand and the rubber hand. Our previous study showed that a robotized 1-degree-of-freedom rubber hand in the form of a master-slave system significantly enhanced the illusion compared with the classic rubber hand illusion. The illusion gives the sense that the part of body becomes part of the robot - it is thus assumed that this multisensory illusion is a potentially effective way to increase intuitiveness, and therefore increase the operability of a multi-degrees-of-freedom master-slave system. To further investigate the concept, we built a multisensory illusion inducible microsurgical robotic system based on the findings of the previous study and conducted a series of psychophysical experiments. The experimental results reveal that the multisensory illusion and operability is significantly correlated.
NMR analysis of the interaction of picornaviral proteinases Lb and 2A with their substrate eukaryotic initiation factor 4GII

Messenger RNA is recruited to the eukaryotic ribosome by a complex including the eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4E (the cap‐binding protein), the scaffold protein eIF4G and the RNA helicase eIF4A. To shut‐off host–cell protein synthesis, eIF4G is cleaved during picornaviral infection by a virally encoded proteinase; the structural basis of this reaction and its stimulation by eIF4E is unclear. We have structurally and biochemically investigated the interaction of purified foot‐and‐mouth disease virus (FMDV) leader proteinase (Lbpro), human rhinovirus 2 (HRV2) 2A proteinase (2Apro) and coxsackievirus B4 (CVB4) 2Apro with purified eIF4GII, eIF4E and the eIF4GII/eIF4E complex. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), we completed 13C/15N sequential backbone assignment of human eIF4GII residues 551–745 and examined their binding to murine eIF4E. eIF4GII551–745 is intrinsically unstructured and remains so when bound to eIF4E. NMR and biophysical techniques for determining stoichiometry and binding constants revealed that the papain‐like Lbpro only forms a stable complex with eIF4GII551–745 in the presence of eIF4E, with KD values in the low nanomolar range; Lbpro contacts both eIF4GII and eIF4E. Furthermore, the unrelated chymotrypsin‐like 2Apro from HRV2 and CVB4 also build a stable complex with eIF4GII/eIF4E, but with KD values in the low micromolar range. The HRV2 enzyme also forms a stable complex with eIF4E; however, none of the proteinases tested complex stably with eIF4GII alone. Thus, these three picornaviral proteinases have independently evolved to establish distinct triangular heterotrimeric protein complexes that may actively target ribosomes involved in mRNA recruitment to ensure efficient host cell shut‐off.
Inhibition of the virulence, antibiotic resistance, and fecal shedding of multiple antibiotic-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium in broilers fed Original XPC™

Salmonella carriage is an insidious problem for the poultry industry. While most Salmonella serotypes are avirulent in poultry, these bacteria can contaminate chicken meat during processing, leading to one of the most important food safety hazards. In this study, we examined the anti-Salmonella effects of Diamond V Original XPC™ (XPC) included in the finisher diet fed to commercial broilers. On 3 occasions between day one (D1) and D20, broilers were experimentally infected with multiple antibiotic-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium. After confirming that the chicks were shedding Salmonella in the feces on D21, broiler chicks were fed a diet containing XPC (n = 57 birds; 1.25 kg/MT) or an XPC-free control diet (CON) (n = 57 birds) to D49. Fecal samples were obtained weekly and subjected to selective culture for enumerating and determining the antibiotic resistance of the Salmonella. Salmonella isolates were then subjected to an in vitro virulence assay, which predicts the ability of Salmonella to cause illness in a mammalian host. Broilers were euthanized on D49 and a segment of the large intestine was removed and subjected to the same assays used for the fecal samples. When compared to the birds fed the CON diet, Salmonella fecal shedding, virulence (invasion and invasion gene expression), and antibiotic resistance were significantly decreased in birds fed XPC (5-fold, 7.5-fold, 6-fold, and 5.3-fold decreases, respectively). Birds fed XPC exhibited heavier body weight (BW) and greater BW gains than those fed the CON diet. The decrease in virulence was associated with a decreased expression of a genetic regulator of Salmonella invasion into cells (hilA), while the decrease in antibiotic resistance was due to a loss of an integron (SGI1) from the input strain. This study revealed that Original XPC™ inhibits the shedding, downstream virulence, and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella residing in broilers.
Measurement of the quadriceps (Q) angle with respect to various body parameters in young Arab population

The quadriceps angle (Q angle), formed between the quadriceps muscles and the patella tendon, is considered clinically as a very important parameter which displays the biomechanical effect of the quadriceps muscle on the knee, and it is also regarded a crucial factor for the proper posture and movement of the knee patella. The Q angle is routinely and regularly used as an assessment parameter during the diagnosis of many knee-related problems, including the anterior knee pain, osteoarthritis, and degenerative knee disorders. This study had been conducted so as to measure the normal Q angle values range in the Arab nationalities and determine the correlation between Q angle values and several body parameters, including gender, height, weight, dominant side, and the condylar distance of the femur. The study includes 500 healthy young Arab students from the Yarmouk University and Jordan University of Science and Technology. The Q angle of those volunteers was measured using a universal manual Goniometer with the subjects in the upright weight-bearing position. It was found that Q angle was greater in young women than young men. Also, the analysis of the data revealed an insignificant increase in the dominant side of the Q angle. In addition, the Q angle was significantly higher in the taller people of both sexes. However, the Q angle did not present any considerable correlation with weight in the study population; conversely, it was clearly observed that there was a link with the condylar distance of the femur in both sexes. It was also noticed that the Q angle increased remarkably when there was an increase in the condylar distance. Consequently, it turned out that the gender, height, and the condylar distance were momentous factors that had impact on the Q angle in our study samples. However, weight and dominancy factors did not show to have any influence on the values in our study.
Peritoneal Dialysis in Diabetics: There Is Room for More

End stage renal disease diabetic patients suffer from worse clinical outcomes under dialysis-independently of modality. Peritoneal dialysis offers them the advantages of home therapy while sparing their frail vascular capital and preserving residual renal function. Other benefits and potential risks deserve discussion. Predialysis intervention with early nephrology referral, patient education, and multidisciplinary support are recommended. Skilled and updated peritoneal dialysis protocols must be prescribed to assure better survival. Optimized volume control, glucose-sparing peritoneal dialysis regimens, and elective use of icodextrin are key therapy strategies. Nutritional evaluation and support, preferential use of low-glucose degradation products solutions, and prescription of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system acting drugs should also be part of the panel to improve diabetic care under peritoneal dialysis.
Impaired duration mismatch negativity in developmental dyslexia

A mismatch negativity event-related potential protocol was administered to dyslexic children and their respective controls to test whether a specific auditory deficit concerning phonetic processing or a lower level auditory processing deficit was present in developmental dyslexia. Three different contrast conditions were explored, including nonphonological sounds, contrasted in pitch and duration, and phonemes. Mismatch negativity amplitudes differed significantly between groups in the duration condition, whereas no differences were found in the frequency and phoneme conditions. Moreover, the dyslexic children had delayed mismatch negativity latencies in the three contrast conditions. Our results suggest a deficit in low-level auditory discrimination in dyslexic children, in particular when detecting stimulus duration, and support the rapid auditory processing theory of dyslexia.
Informing Student Success in College: Is It Possible without the Use of Standardized Test Scores?.

Since the 1920, colleges and universities have leveraged standardized testing as a way to determine worthiness of access to higher education. Nearly 100 years since its first appearance, the use of standardized testing has become commonplace despite the growing evidence of the socioeconomic and racial disparities among test takers. While some high school students are able to afford expensive test preparation and multiple attempts at standardized tests, others struggle to relate to or even access it altogether. The results for many colleges and universities are homogenized student bodies and young people who are not as prepared as their test scores may indicate. In response to the increasing disconnect between standardized testing and academic and social success for students in college, Hampshire College in Massachusetts became the first college to go completely test blind in their admission process by not considering standardized testing at any point when reviewing a student for admission. This case study provides first hand accounts of the impact that Hampshire’s test blind policy is having on the academic and social integration of students on campus, particularly the students of the Class of 2019, the first cohort admitted under the new policy. A qualitative research approach provided insights into the student body through the perceptions of individuals with administrative roles on campus. These administrators interact directly with students and have been continuously employed at the college since at least 2013, meaning they have worked at Hampshire since before they banned the use of standardized testing in their admission process. The results of the case study provide a comprehensive view of the test blind policy and show how academic and social integration of students have impacted institutional retention patterns. The findings of the study highlight the fact that while the college initially experienced a dip in application numbers, the move to eliminate standardized testing has led to a perceived increase in student academic success and,
The BTNL2 G16071A gene polymorphism increases granulomatous disease susceptibility

Objective:The butyrophilin-like 2 (BTNL2) G16071A gene polymorphism has been implicated in the susceptibility to granulomatous diseases, but the results were inconclusive. The objective of the current study was to precisely explore the relationship between BTNL2 G16071A gene polymorphism and granulomatous disease susceptibility by the meta-analysis including false-positive report probability (FPRP) test. Methods:A systematic literature search in the PubMed, Embase, and Wanfang databases, China National Knowledge Internet, and commercial Internet search engines was conducted to identify studies published up to April 1, 2016. The odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to assess the effect size. Statistical analysis was conducted using the STATA 12.0 software and FPRP test sheet. Results:In total, all 4324 cases and 4386 controls from 14 eligible studies were included in the current meta-analysis. By the overall meta-analysis, we found a significant association between BTNL2 G16071A gene polymorphism and granulomatous disease susceptibility (A vs G: OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.07–1.45, P = 0.005). The meta-regression analyses showed that a large proportion of the between-study heterogeneity was significantly attributed to the ethnicity (A vs G, P = 0.013) and the types of granulomatous diseases (A vs G, P = 0.002). By the subgroup meta-analysis, the BTNL2 G16071A gene polymorphism was associated with granulomatous disease susceptibility in Caucasians (A vs G: OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.18–1.58, P < 0.001). Moreover, a significant relationship between the BTNL2 G16071A gene polymorphism and sarcoidosis susceptibility (A vs G: OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.39–1.66, P < 0.001) was found. However, to avoid the “false-positive report,” we further investigated the significant associations observed in the present meta-analysis by the FPRP test. Interestingly, the results of FPRP test indicated that the BTNL2 G16071A gene polymorphism was truly associated with sarcoidosis susceptibility (A vs G, FPRP < 0.001). Additionally, the FPRP test confirmed that the BTNL2 G16071A gene polymorphism was associated only with granulomatous disease susceptibility among Caucasians (A vs G, FPRP < 0.001) at the level of a prior probability, which was 0.001. Conclusion:The meta-analysis indicated that BTNL2 G16071A gene polymorphism may as a likelihood factor contributed to granulomatous disease susceptibility, especially increasing the sarcoidosis susceptibility. In addition, the polymorphism may be greatly associated with likelihood of granulomatous diseases among Caucasians.
A Spatially Filtered Finite-Difference Time-Domain Scheme With Controllable Stability Beyond the CFL Limit: Theory and Applications

A 3-D finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) scheme with controllable stability beyond the stability limit of FDTD is presented. The key to controlling the FDTD stability limit is a spatial filter applied to the electromagnetic field vectors in order to ensure that unstable spatial harmonics are eliminated. A significant advantage of this approach is the simplicity of its incorporation into existing FDTD codes. Moreover, this method is employed as a means to implement a late-time stable 3-D sub-gridding scheme. Applications include waveguide filters and the analysis of screens for near-field sub-wavelength focusing at microwave frequencies.
Does the Diversification–Firm Performance Relationship Change Over Time? A Meta‐Analytical Review

We study the relationship between diversification and firm performance in the context of the decline in levels of diversification over time. We argue that the pressure to reduce diversification may have more strongly affected those firms whose diversification strategies were most detrimental to firm performance. We employ meta‐analytical regression (MARA) in order to test our hypotheses, using a total of 267 primary studies containing 387 effect sizes based on 150,000 firm‐level observations from over 60 years of research on the diversification–firm performance relationship. The findings suggest that levels of unrelated diversification have decreased, whereas levels of related diversification have increased since the mid‐1990s, following an initial decrease in the 1970s and 1980s. Furthermore, we find that the relationship between unrelated diversification and firm performance has improved significantly over time, whereas the relationship between related diversification and performance has remained relatively stable.
Why do firms undertake diversifying mergers ? An analysis of the investment policies of merging firms

Recent empirical literature documents value-destroying \crosssubsidization" among the divisions of diversi ̄ed ̄rms. However, this literature relies upon two maintained hypotheses: that divisions of diversi ̄ed ̄rms are randomly allocated to their corporate parents and that the investment opportunities facing conglomerate divisions are identical to those of stand-alone ̄rms in their industries. This paper provides a benchmark of the importance of these selection biases. Using a sample of ̄rms that undertake diversifying mergers between 1980 and 1995, I examine the investment behavior of these ̄rms prior to their mergers. I show that investment patterns that the literature has attributed to cross-subsidization between divisions are apparent in the pairs of merging ̄rms prior to their mergers. Thus, the main results of the paper suggest that some of the cross-subsidization results in the literature may be attributable to selection bias. I also examine stock market responses to the announcement of diversifying acquisitions. The market believes that these acquisitions will create value, although there is some evidence that the most diversifying mergers in the sample are viewed unfavorably. I gratefully acknowledge research support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. Seminar participants at the University of Chicago and the NBER Summer Institute provided helpful comments. I am extremely grateful to Mark Mitchell and the Center for Research in Securities prices for making the merger database available to me.