Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Response Variability in Attention-Deficit Disorders

Reaction times in a mental rotation task were measured across a diverse population that sorted into two groupings based on overall variability. Although both the low- and the high-variance groups produced data that displayed the trends typical of mental rotation, the two groups' reaction time sequences had very different auto-correlation functions. Power spectra derived from the two groups' data showed the presence of distinctive noise processes with long memory. Normal levels of variance were associated with 1/f noise, whereas high-variance data had substantial traces of random walk contour. These findings provide new perspectives on cognitive assessments of attention dysfunction.
Learning Science Through Writing: The Role of Rhetorical Structures

In a 2 X 2 between-groups study, 85 preservice education students observed a science experiment concerning either buoyancy or the forces acting on a stationary object. Each student then wrote an initial explanation of the phenomenon followed by a journal-style note, then a final explanation. For each science experiment half the students received a list of strategy prompts intended to facilitate learning through writing, and half wrote without these prompts. Forty-three percent of the "buoyancy" students and 14% of the "forces" students increased the complexity of their explanations during the writing interval. Strategy prompting did not increase explanatory gains. Textual analysis showed that for the buoyancy problem, writing comparisons among trials and explanations of individual trials correlated with explanatory gains during the writing interval. For the forces problem, writing a concluding summary correlated negatively with explanatory gains. Qualitative analysis suggested that rhetorical structures (explanation, comparison, argumentation, and summarization) contributed to learning during three phases of building explanations: reviewing experimental trials, analyzing these trials to identify causal variables, and generalizing these analyses to form new explanations. These rhetorical structures stimulated, rather than structured, the construction of new knowledge and mapped onto the logical operations through which writers coordinated hypotheses and experimental trials in a many-to-many, rather than a one-to-one, fashion.
Effects of rituximab on morphofunctional abnormalities of membranous glomerulopathy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES In idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN), CD(20) B-cell depletion by rituximab may induce nephrotic syndrome (NS) remission. Whether this is associated with kidney function restoration and regression of the glomerular pathology was evaluated. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS Treatment-induced morphofunctional changes were evaluated in 7 IMN patients consenting to repeat functional and morphologic evaluations after stable disease remission achieved by four weekly rituximab (375 mg/m(2)) infusions. RESULTS Over a median of 21 mo from rituximab administration, NS remission was associated with 8.5-fold increase versus baseline in sodium fractional clearance from 1.56 to 13.25, decrease in renal plasma flow from 440.8 to 276.6 ml/min per 1.73 m(2), stable glomerular filtration rate, and increased renal vascular resistances. Changes in sodium fractional clearance and hemoglobin concentration were positively correlated (r = 0.82). Biopsy reevaluations showed complete or partial reabsorption of subepithelial deposits. Median (interquartile range) IgG4 staining score decreased from 3 (3-3) to 1 (0-2), whereas total numbers of slit diaphragms (0.27; range, 0.19 to 0.30 versus 0.86; range, 0.53 to 1.16 slits/mum glomerular basement membrane) and percentages of those with electron-dense diaphragm (55.2; range, 42.0 to 62.0 versus 78.5; range, 73.0 to 82.7 of all slits) significantly increased in parallel with amelioration of glomerular ultrastructural changes. Changes in slit frequency and albumin fractional clearance were negatively correlated (r = -0.79). CONCLUSIONS In human IMN, treatment-induced NS remission is associated with restoration of sodium homeostasis and kidney hemodynamics, and regression of the glomerular changes underlying proteinuria. These effects are likely to translate into long-term renoprotection.
Immunobiological activities of Helicobacter pylori porins

Studies were carried out on some biological activities of Helicobacter pylori porins in vitro. We extracted and purified a porin with an apparent molecular mass of 30 kDa. Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes preincubated with H. pylori porins showed a decrease of chemotaxis, of adherence to nylon wool, and of chemiluminescence. Used as chemotaxins in place of zymosan-activated serum or as chemotaxinogens in place of zymosan, the porins induced polymorphonuclear leukocyte migration. Human monocytes and lymphocytes cultivated in the presence of H. pylori porins released cytokines. Release of the various cytokines studied was obtained with differentiated kinetics and at various porin concentrations. Starting only 3 h after culture, tumor necrosis factor alpha is released quickly, reaching a peak at 18 h, at a porin concentration of 1 microgram/ml/10(6) cells. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) appears later, with a peak at 10 micrograms/ml/10(6) cells, while IL-8 is released after 6 h of culture, with a peak at 24 h, at a porin concentration of 10 micrograms/ml/10(6) cells, while IL-8 is released after 6 h of culture, with a peak at 24 h, at a porin concentration of 10 micrograms/ml/10(6) cells. Lymphocytes stimulated by H. pylori porins release gamma interferon after 18 h of culture at higher concentrations of porins (20 micrograms/ml/10(6) cells). Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor is released from 6 to 48 h at a concentration of 1 microgram/ml/10(6) cells, while both IL-3 and IL-4 are released after 18 h of culture at different porin concentrations (0.1 and 1 microgram/ml/10(6) cells, respectively). Our results lead us to think that during H. pylori infection, surface components, porins in particular, are able to induce a series of chain reactions ranging from the inflammatory to the immunological responses.
Viral Evolution toward Change in Receptor Usage: Adaptation of a Major Group Human Rhinovirus To Grow in ICAM-1-Negative Cells

ABSTRACT Major receptor group common cold virus HRV89 was adapted to grow in HEp-2 cells, which are permissive for minor group human rhinoviruses (HRVs) but which only marginally support growth of major-group viruses. After 32 blind passages in these cells, each alternating with boosts of the recovered virus in HeLa cells, HRV89 acquired the capacity to effectively replicate in HEp-2 cells, attaining virus titers comparable to those in HeLa cells although no cytopathic effect was observed. Several clones were isolated and shown to replicate in HeLa cells whose ICAM-1 was blocked with monoclonal antibody R6.5 and in COS-7 cells, which are devoid of ICAM-1. Blocking experiments with recombinant very-low-density lipoprotein receptor fragments and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays indicated that the mutants bound a receptor different from that used by minor-group viruses. Determination of the genomic RNA sequence encoding the capsid protein region revealed no changes in amino acid residues at positions equivalent to those involved in the interaction of HRV14 or HRV16 with ICAM-1. One mutation was within the footprint of a very-low-density lipoprotein receptor fragment bound to minor-group virus HRV2. Since ICAM-1 not only functions as a vehicle for cell entry but has also a “catalytic” function in uncoating, the use of other receptors must have important consequences for the entry pathway and demonstrates the plasticity of these viruses.
Topological Properties and Spatial Organization of Villous Capillaries in Normal and Diabetic Placentas

Spatial arrangement and complexity of the capillary bed of placental terminal villi were analyzed in 9 normal and 11 diabetic placentas. Specimens were taken by systematic random sampling, fixed and stained in toto, and embedded in paraffin. Fifteen fields of view were sampled systematically from 120-µm-thick sections of specimens and examined using a confocal laser scanning microscope. Series of thin optical sections of terminal villi and their developmental forms were recorded by the confocal microscope and used as initial data for three-dimensional visualization of the spatial arrangement of villous capillaries. Vascular topology and branching were studied by focusing through the villus, making a schematic drawing of the villous capillary bed and counting redundant capillary connections. It was found that the basic arrangement of villous capillaries is similar in both normal and diabetic placentas. Nevertheless, the proportion of simple forms of the capillary bed without redundant connections is significantly higher in normal placentas and the mean number of redundant connections per villus is significantly higher in diabetic placentas. It is concluded that both the longitudinal growth and branching of capillaries contribute to the increase in the placental capillary bed in late gestation and that the capillary bed of diabetic villi is more complicated due to more intense capillary branching.
Psychosocial adversities and depression in mothers of children with cerebral palsy in Nigeria

Abstract This study was aimed at examining possible correlation of psychosocial adversities with depression in mothers of children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Nigeria. The cross-sectional survey involved 45 consenting mothers of children with CP attending physiotherapy clinics of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, the Federal Medical Center and King Fahd Ibn Abdul-Aziz Women and Children Hospital Gusau, Nigeria. The psychosocial adversities scale (PAS) was used to assess psychosocial adversity while depression was measured with the patient health questionnaire depression scale. The mean age of the mothers was 32.0 ± 5.0 yr and that of their children was 2.4 ± 1.5 yr. Spearman's rank order correlation showed a significant positive correlation between PAS and patient health questionnaire depression scale scores (r = 0.4; P = 0.006). Significant associations (P < 0.001) were found between depression and each item on the PAS, i.e. separated household, problem with extended family, lack of confidants, feeling of loneliness and isolation of mother. Logistic regression analysis indicated negligible risk of depression for mothers with low educational status (odds ratio = 0.4; 95% confidence interval = 0.08–1.1; P = 0.08). The depression risk was more than fourteen-fold in mothers whose husbands earned low incomes (odds ratio = 14.6; 95% confidence interval = 2.6–82.1 P = 0.002). Psychosocial adversities are significantly associated with depression in mothers of children with CP. Poor marital relationships (separated household and problem with extended family) and inadequate social interaction (feeling of loneliness and lack of confidants) were the most important psychosocial stressors associated with depression among mothers of children with CP in Nigeria.
Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Among Adults — 18 States, 2012

Reducing consumption of calories from added sugars is a recommendation of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and an objective of Healthy People 2020. Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) are major sources of added sugars in the diets of U.S. residents. Daily SSB consumption is associated with obesity and other chronic health conditions, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. U.S. adults consumed an estimated average of 151 kcal/day of SSB during 2009-2010, with regular (i.e., nondiet) soda and fruit drinks representing the leading sources of SSB energy intake. However, there is limited information on state-specific prevalence of SSB consumption. To assess regular soda and fruit drink consumption among adults in 18 states, CDC analyzed data from the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Among the 18 states surveyed, 26.3% of adults consumed regular soda or fruit drinks or both ≥1 times daily. By state, the prevalence ranged from 20.4% to 41.4%. Overall, consumption of regular soda or fruit drinks was most common among persons aged 18‒34 years (24.5% for regular soda and 16.6% for fruit drinks), men (21.0% and 12.3%), non-Hispanic blacks (20.9% and 21.9%), and Hispanics (22.6% and 18.5%). Persons who want to reduce added sugars in their diets can decrease their consumption of foods high in added sugars such as candy, certain dairy and grain desserts, sweetened cereals, regular soda, fruit drinks, sweetened tea and coffee drinks, and other SSBs. States and health departments can collaborate with worksites and other community venues to increase access to water and other healthful beverages.
Experiments on an RGB-D Wearable Vision System for Egocentric Activity Recognition

This work describes and explores novel steps towards activity recognition from an egocentric point of view. Activity recognition is a broadly studied topic in computer vision, but the unique characteristics of wearable vision systems present new challenges and opportunities. We evaluate a challenging new publicly available dataset that includes trajectories of different users across two indoor environments performing a set of more than 20 different activities. The visual features studied include compact and global image descriptors, including GIST and a novel skin segmentation based histogram signature, and state-of-the art image representations for recognition, including Bag of SIFT words and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) based features. Our experiments show that simple and compact features provide reasonable accuracy to obtain basic activity information (in our case, manipulation vs. non-manipulation). However, for finer grained categories CNN-based features provide the most promising results. Future steps include integration of depth information with these features and temporal consistency into the pipeline.
Insights into the Emergence of Convergence in Group Discussions

Understanding how complex group discussions converge presents a major challenge for collaborative problem-solving research (Fischer & Mandl, 2005). From a complex systems perspective, convergence in group discussions is an emergent behavior arising from the transactional interactions between group members. Leveraging on the concepts of emergent simplicity and emergent complexity (Bar-Yam, 2003), a set of theoretically-sound yet simple rules was hypothesized: Interactions between group members were conceptualized as goal-seeking adaptations that either help the group move towards or away from its goal, or maintain its status quo. Operationalizing this movement as a Markov walk, we present quantitative and qualitative findings from a study of online problem-solving groups. Findings suggest high (low) quality contributions have a greater positive (negative) impact on convergence when they come earlier in a discussion than later. Significantly, convergence analysis was able to predict a group's performance based on what happened in the first 30--40% of its discussion.
Social Investing: What Matters From the Perspective of Social Enterprises?

Due to a massive increase in available social venture capital (SVC), social entrepreneurs often get to choose among various financing options. As financial parameters can easily be adapted or replicated, this article analyzes how social entrepreneurs evaluate the central nonfinancial features of these funders. Based on an experiment with 44 social entrepreneurs, we assess their perception of the five most relevant criteria for evaluating investor attractiveness: business advisory, network access, information rights, control rights, and reputation of the investor. Our analysis of 1,056 hypothetical decisions reveals that the investor’s reputation is the single most important criterion and that the positive effect of support provided through business advisory and network access strongly outweighs the negative effect of oversight via information rights and control rights. These findings indicate that social entrepreneurs perceive the behavior of SVC investors as steward like rather than principal like.
Binocular Spherical Stereo

A fish-eye camera has a wide field of view (FOV), and the realization of a binocular fish-eye stereo for sensing the surrounding 3-D information of the environment around a vehicle is useful for safe driving. However, since a fish-eye camera may have a wider-than-hemispherical FOV, the conventional stereo approach of obtaining a perspective image based on the pinhole camera model cannot directly be applied. However, using a spherical camera model and defining the disparity of a spherical stereo, the conventional binocular stereo problem is reformulated as a binocular spherical stereo problem. A binocular spherical stereo is a generalized paradigm that can cope with cameras having any FOV, including conventional cameras and fish-eye cameras. Moreover, by transforming the rectified spherical images to latitude-longitude representation, the feature point matching of the spherical stereo images can be sped up by using the processing used for perspective stereo images. The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated by realizing a binocular spherical stereo using a pair of fish-eye cameras. Finally, the application of the proposed approach to vehicles in the future is considered.
Anxiety Disorders and Depression in Older Adults

textabstractAnxiety disorders and depression are common and complex disorders. Despite decades of research, their etiology is largely unknown. Study of the occurrence and determinants, i.e. the epidemiology of anxiety disorders and depression, helps unravel their etiology. This thesis examines the epidemiology of anxiety disorders and depression in older adults. In particular, comorbidity, health care use, cortisol and atherosclerosis and genetic factors are studied in relation to anxiety and, or depression.
On prospects of positioning in 5G

Technologies envisaged for a 5G communications system provide interesting prospects which are beneficial for co-operative positioning. Since 5G development is in the early stages, there is a unique opportunity to develop and integrate mobile radio based positioning technology in 5G from the beginning. In this paper we discuss 5G concepts to ensure seamless positioning by cooperative positioning. In cooperative positioning, mobile terminals (MTs) collaborate to help each other to determine their own position. We address key 5G prospects like smaller cells, higher MT densities and the capability of device-to-device (D2D) communication to enable cooperative positioning. By using the Cramér-Rao lower bound we investigate cooperative positioning performance for signal propagation delay based pseudo ranging in an exemplary typical urban environment. Numerical results for an exemplary environment have shown that with MT densities D > 1100 MTs per square kilometer sub-meter positioning accuracy with outage probabilities converging to zero can be achieved.
Assessing the construct validity of a measure of learning agility

OF THE DISSERTATION ASSESSING THE CONSTRUCT VALIDITY OF A MEASURE OF LEARNING AGILITY by James Connolly Florida International University, 2001 Miami, Florida Professor Chockalingam Viswesvaran, Major Professor This study examined the construct validity of the Choices questionnaire that purported to support the theory of Learning Agility. Specifically, Learning Agility attempts to predict an individual's potential performance in new tasks. The construct validity will be measured by examining the convergent/discriminant validity of the Choices Questionnaire against a cognitive ability measure and two personality measures. The Choices Questionnaire did tap a construct that is unique to the cognitive ability and the personality measures, thus suggesting that this measure may have considerable value in personnel selection. This study also examined the relationship of this new measure to job performance and job promotability. Results of this study found that the Choices Questionnaire predicted job performance and job promotability above and beyond cognitive ability and personality. Data from 1 07 law enforcement officers, along with two of their co-workers and a supervisor resulted in a correlation of . 08 between Learning Agility and cognitive ability. Learning Agility correlated . 07 with Learning
The Rage of a Privileged Class

Polls consistently indicate that affluent and college-educated African-Americans are at least as disaffected and pessimistic as those struggling at society's periphery. They report more encounters with racial prejudice and voice strong reservations about the ability of this country to deliver on the promise of the American dream. This study examines how and why discrimination haunts the most affluent and best-educated African-Americans in the United States today. It addresses this question, the affirmative action dilemma and the ultimate prospects for interethnic harmony. Drawing from his own experiences, those of other successful African-Americans and the views of Daniel Moynihan, Jack Kemp, Bill Bradley and others in a position to shed light on this subject, Ellis Cose offers an analysis of the divisive conditions in American society. Cose is the author of "A Nation of Strangers".
A Dibasic Amino Acid Pair Conserved in the Activation Loop Directs Plasma Membrane Localization and Is Necessary for Activity of Plant Type I/II Phosphatidylinositol Phosphate Kinase1[W]

Phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase (PIPK) is an enzyme involved in the regulation of cellular levels of phosphoinositides involved in various physiological processes, such as cytoskeletal organization, ion channel activation, and vesicle trafficking. In animals, research has focused on the modes of activation and function of PIPKs, providing an understanding of the importance of plasma membrane localization. However, it still remains unclear how this issue is regulated in plant PIPKs. Here, we demonstrate that the carboxyl-terminal catalytic domain, which contains the activation loop, is sufficient for plasma membrane localization of PpPIPK1, a type I/II B PIPK from the moss Physcomitrella patens. The importance of the carboxyl-terminal catalytic domain for plasma membrane localization was confirmed with Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) AtPIP5K1. Our findings, in which substitution of a conserved dibasic amino acid pair in the activation loop of PpPIPK1 completely prevented plasma membrane targeting and abolished enzymatic activity, demonstrate its critical role in these processes. Placing our results in the context of studies of eukaryotic PIPKs led us to conclude that the function of the dibasic amino acid pair in the activation loop in type I/II PIPKs is plant specific.