Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Experiencing stigma as a nurse with mental illness

Accessible summary What is known on the subject? Stigma involves connecting individuals with a particular label to negative characteristics; this is based not on the stigmatized condition itself, but cultural reactions to it.Stigma exists towards nurses with mental illness. What this paper adds to existing knowledge? This paper offers a first‐person account of experiencing stigma as a nurse with a mental illness.This paper incorporates the existing literature to offer a broader cultural perspective on the experiences of a nurse with a mental illness. What are the implications for practice? Nurses are likely to encounter a nurse with a mental illness at some point in their practice.Nurses’ reactions towards colleagues with mental illness can have significant implications for those colleague(s)’ wellbeing.Nurses with mental illness will have to navigate their person and professional journey while giving consideration to the attitudes of their nursing peers and leaders. Abstract Limited research has been done on the stigma faced by nurses with mental illness from their nursing peers. Mental illness is not generally considered acceptable within the context of nursing culture, so when nurses do experience mental illness, their experiences in a professional context may be influenced by stereotypes, particularly those relating to dangerousness. Using autoethnography as a research method, the author examines her own subjective experiences of stigma as a nurse with a mental illness, and draws upon existing literature on stigma, deviance and the phenomenon of mental illness in nurses to analyse broader cultural implications for nursing. Assessment of suitability to return to work arises throughout the narratives, and consideration is given to the way that risk assessment by nursing leaders is impacted by negative stereotypes that surround mental illness.
Reply from Dwain L. Eckberg and the Neurolab Autonomic Team

My Neurolab colleagues and I studied autonomic mechanisms of healthy subjects on Earth and in space, and in two articles (Eckberg et al. 2016a,b) drew several conclusions, including this one: that at usual breathing frequencies ( 0.25 Hz), R-R interval changes occur too soon after systolic pressure changes to be mediated by vagal baroreflex mechanisms. Karemaker & DeBoer (2017) challenged this conclusion on three bases. (1) They simulated blood pressure fluctuations with a 0.25 Hz sinusoid and calculated latencies between the peaks of the waveforms and the intervals between waveforms (presumably) offset by 0.6 s. Their calculated phase angles were −54 deg (latency of 1.35 s) for 0.1 Hz oscillations, and 0 deg (latency of 0 s) for 0.25 Hz oscillations. (2) They cited evidence that baroreflex slopes calculated after pressor injections yield higher correlation coefficients when each systolic pressure is correlated with the R-R interval in which it occurs, rather than the next. (3) They speculated that the longer latencies calculated at 0.1 Hz reflect sympathetic stimulation, which shifts pressure pulse to P wave intervals. We thank Karemaker and DeBoer for their careful reading of our article, and for their thoughtful comments. Their challenge focuses on several interrelated aspects of the physiology we studied: respiratory sinus arrhythmia; sinoatrial node responses to individual, or trains of successive, experimental or spontaneous baroreceptor stimuli; and the kinetics of sinoatrial node responses to noradrenaline and acetylcholine. Data derived from animal research indicate that about 72% of the total baroreflex latency reflects the kinetics of sinoatrial node responses to released acetylcholine (Eckberg & Sleight, 1992). A human study published 40 years ago (Eckberg, 1976) delineates the time course of sinoatrial node responses to baroreflex inhibition. Carotid baroreceptors were stimulated by precise, highly reproducible 60 mmHg, 0.58 s neck suction pulses, timed to sweep entire R-R intervals. Figure 1 shows the responses of one subject to 73 individual applications of neck suction. The author assumed that each stimulus provokes equal releases of acetylcholine and that, therefore, the variability of responses reflects changing sinoatrial membrane properties. Since during brief held expiration R-R intervals are nearly constant, responses to baroreceptor stimuli can be plotted as functions of their timing before the next P waves. These data document an absolute latency between the onset of stimulation and P waves of 0.54 s, and QRS complexes of 0.7 s, and illustrate the time course of sinoatrial responses to released acetylcholine. Phase angles are functions of the kinetics of sinoatrial node responses; it is unclear how
Functional Anatomy of Polycomb and Trithorax Chromatin Landscapes in Drosophila Embryos

Polycomb group (PcG) and trithorax group (trxG) proteins are conserved chromatin factors that regulate key developmental genes throughout development. In Drosophila, PcG and trxG factors bind to regulatory DNA elements called PcG and trxG response elements (PREs and TREs). Several DNA binding proteins have been suggested to recruit PcG proteins to PREs, but the DNA sequences necessary and sufficient to define PREs are largely unknown. Here, we used chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) on chip assays to map the chromosomal distribution of Drosophila PcG proteins, the N- and C-terminal fragments of the Trithorax (TRX) protein and four candidate DNA-binding factors for PcG recruitment. In addition, we mapped histone modifications associated with PcG-dependent silencing and TRX-mediated activation. PcG proteins colocalize in large regions that may be defined as polycomb domains and colocalize with recruiters to form several hundreds of putative PREs. Strikingly, the majority of PcG recruiter binding sites are associated with H3K4me3 and not with PcG binding, suggesting that recruiter proteins have a dual function in activation as well as silencing. One major discriminant between activation and silencing is the strong binding of Pleiohomeotic (PHO) to silenced regions, whereas its homolog Pleiohomeotic-like (PHOL) binds preferentially to active promoters. In addition, the C-terminal fragment of TRX (TRX-C) showed high affinity to PcG binding sites, whereas the N-terminal fragment (TRX-N) bound mainly to active promoter regions trimethylated on H3K4. Our results indicate that DNA binding proteins serve as platforms to assist PcG and trxG binding. Furthermore, several DNA sequence features discriminate between PcG- and TRX-N–bound regions, indicating that underlying DNA sequence contains critical information to drive PREs and TREs towards silencing or activation.
Acidification of uterine epithelium during embryo implantation in mice

Abstract Uterine luminal epithelium (LE) is essential for establishing uterine receptivity. Previous microarray analysis revealed upregulation of Atp6v0d2 in gestation day 4.5 (D4.5) LE in mice. Realtime PCR showed upregulation of uterine Atp6v0d2 starting right before embryo attachment ∼D4.0. In situ hybridization demonstrated specific uterine localization of Atp6v0d2 in LE upon embryo implantation. Atp6v0d2 encodes one subunit for vacuolar-type H+-ATPase (V-ATPase), which regulates acidity of intracellular organelles and extracellular environment. LysoSensor Green DND-189 detected acidic signals in LE and glandular epithelium upon embryo implantation, correlating with Atp6v0d2 upregulation in early pregnant uterus. Atp6v0d2-/- females had significantly reduced implantation rate and marginally reduced delivery rate from first mating only, but comparable number of implantation sites and litter size compared to control and comparable fertility to control from subsequent matings, suggesting a nonessential role of Atp6v0d2 subunit in embryo implantation. Successful implantation in both control and Atp6v0d2-/- females was associated with uterine epithelial acidification. No significant compensatory upregulation of Atp6v0d1 mRNA was detected in D4.5 Atp6v0d2-/- uteri. To determine the role of V-ATPase instead of a single subunit in embryo implantation, a specific V-ATPase inhibitor bafilomycin A1 (2.5µg/kg) was injected via uterine fat pad on D3 18:00 h. This treatment resulted in reduced uterine epithelial acidification, delayed implantation, and reduced number of implantation sites. It also suppressed oil-induced artificial decidualization. These data demonstrate uterine epithelial acidification as a novel phenomenon during embryo implantation and V-ATPase is involved in uterine epithelial acidification and uterine preparation for embryo implantation. Summary Sentence Our findings that mouse uterine epithelium becomes more acidic upon embryo implantation initiation and suppression of uterine epithelial acidification adversely affects embryo implantation provide a novel direction for understanding mechanisms in establishing uterine receptivity.
Elevational Patterns in Archaeal Diversity on Mt. Fuji

Little is known of how archaeal diversity and community ecology behaves along elevational gradients. We chose to study Mount Fuji of Japan as a geologically and topographically uniform mountain system, with a wide range of elevational zones. PCR-amplified soil DNA for the archaeal 16 S rRNA gene was pyrosequenced and taxonomically classified against EzTaxon-e archaeal database. At a bootstrap cut-off of 80%, most of the archaeal sequences were classified into phylum Thaumarchaeota (96%) and Euryarchaeota (3.9%), with no sequences classified into other phyla. Archaeal OTU richness and diversity on Fuji showed a pronounced ‘peak’ in the mid-elevations, around 1500 masl, within the boreal forest zone, compared to the temperate forest zone below and the alpine fell-field and desert zones above. Diversity decreased towards higher elevations followed by a subtle increase at the summit, mainly due to an increase in the relative abundance of the group I.1b of Thaumarchaeota. Archaeal diversity showed a strong positive correlation with soil NH4 +, K and NO3 − . Archaeal diversity does not parallel plant diversity, although it does roughly parallel bacterial diversity. Ecological hypotheses to explain the mid diversity bulge on Fuji include intermediate disturbance effects, and the result of mid elevations combining a mosaic of upper and lower slope environments. Our findings show clearly that archaeal soil communities are highly responsive to soil environmental gradients, in terms of both their diversity and community composition. Distinct communities of archaea specific to each elevational zone suggest that many archaea may be quite finely niche-adapted within the range of soil environments. A further interesting finding is the presence of a mesophilic component of archaea at high altitudes on a mountain that is not volcanically active. This emphasizes the importance of microclimate – in this case solar heating of the black volcanic ash surface – for the ecology of soil archaea.
Currency Momentum Strategies

We provide a broad empirical investigation of momentum strategies in the foreign exchange market. We find a significant cross-sectional spread in excess returns of up to 10% p.a. between past winner and loser currencies. This spread in excess returns is not explained by traditional risk factors, it is partially explained by transaction costs and shows behavior consistent with investor under- and over-reaction. Moreover, cross-sectional currency momentum has very different properties from the widely studied carry trade and is not highly correlated with returns of benchmark technical trading rules. However, there seem to be very effective limits to arbitrage which prevent momentum returns from being easily exploitable in currency markets.
Cataract Surgery and Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the 2008-2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

IMPORTANCE In the past, concern has been raised that cataract surgery may be associated with the incidence or progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD); inconsistent findings from previous studies have puzzled clinicians. In addition, data addressing this association in Asian populations and in the era of phacoemulsification are scarce. OBJECTIVE To determine the associations between cataract surgery and AMD in a representative Korean population. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cross-sectional study used a multistage, probability-cluster survey sample to produce nationally representative estimates. Data were analyzed from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), which included results for cataract surgery status and AMD grading from 2008 to 2012. A total of 20 419 participants 40 years or older were included. Data were analyzed from February 5 to August 20, 2015. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The association between cataract surgery and AMD was assessed in each right and left eye using logistic regression models and in both eyes using generalized estimating equation models. Sample weights were applied to adjust for survey design, nonresponse, and stratification to generate nationally representative population-based results. RESULTS From the 20 419 eligible individuals (11 642 women [51.9%] and 5777 men [48.1%]; mean [SE] age, 55.83 [0.14] years), 17 987 had information regarding cataract surgery status and gradable fundus photographs of at least 1 eye. A total of 34 863 eyes (17 616 right eyes and 17 247 left eyes) underwent analysis. Of these, 1264 right eyes (5.5%) and 1235 left eyes (5.4%) had cataract surgery. Of 1056 right eyes and 949 left eyes with any AMD (early or late), 167 right eyes (15.2%) and 147 left eyes (13.7%) had cataract surgery. The analyses did not show any association between cataract surgery and any form of AMD (early, late, and all) except in left eyes, where cataract surgery was associated with late AMD (odds ratio, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.13-4.85). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The results suggest that the association between cataract surgery and AMD is uncertain in the current era of phacoemulsification. The association for left eyes might be a chance finding.
A torsional MRE joint for a C-shaped robotic leg

Serving to improve stability and energy efficiency during locomotion, in nature, animals modulate their leg stiffness to adapt to their terrain. Now incorporated into many locomotive robot designs, such compliance control can enable disturbance rejection and improved transition between changing ground conditions. This paper presents a novel design of a variable stiffness leg utilizing a magnetorheological elastomer joint in a literal rolling spring loaded inverted pendulum (R-SLIP) morphology. Through the semi-active control of this hybrid permanent-magnet and coil design, variable stiffness is realized, offering a design which is capable of both softening and stiffening in an adaptive sort of way, with a maximum stiffness change of 48.0%. Experimental characterization first serves to assess the stiffness variation capacity of the torsional joint, and through later comparison with force testing of the leg, the linear stiffness is characterized with the R-SLIP-like behavior of the leg being demonstrated. Through the force relationships applied, a generalized relationship for determining linear stiffness based on joint rotation angle is also proposed, further aiding experimental validation.
Investigating the association between diabetes mellitus, depression and psychological distress in a cohort of South African teachers.

BACKGROUND Diabetes mellitus (DM) may increase the risk of depression as a result of a sense of threat of debilitating complications or because of associated lifestyle changes. Depression may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes as a result of poor health behaviours. OBJECTIVE To determine the association between diabetes mellitus, depression and psychological distress in a cohort of South African (SA) teachers. METHODS Teachers from 111 public schools in the Metro South District of the Cape Metropolitan area, SA, were invited to participate in this study. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) were used to assess depression and psychological distress, respectively. A professional nurse completed a physical examination and collected blood for measurement of glucose, cholesterol and serum creatinine. RESULTS Of the 388 teachers who completed the questionnaires, 67.5% were female and the average age was 46.2 years (standard deviation 8.7). Psychological distress was identified in 28.1% of the cohort and depression in 15.5%, and 7.7% were found to fulfil criteria for DM. A diagnosis of DM was associated with an increased risk of depression (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.90; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.33-11.37) and psychological distress (AOR 3.62; 95% CI 1.31-10.00). CONCLUSION The high prevalence of obesity and DM in this cohort of SA teachers is of concern. A diagnosis of DM was strongly associated with an increased risk of depression and psychological distress.
Quantitative sensory testing response patterns to capsaicin- and ultraviolet-B–induced local skin hypersensitization in healthy subjects: a machine-learned analysis

Abstract The comprehensive assessment of pain-related human phenotypes requires combinations of nociceptive measures that produce complex high-dimensional data, posing challenges to bioinformatic analysis. In this study, we assessed established experimental models of heat hyperalgesia of the skin, consisting of local ultraviolet-B (UV-B) irradiation or capsaicin application, in 82 healthy subjects using a variety of noxious stimuli. We extended the original heat stimulation by applying cold and mechanical stimuli and assessing the hypersensitization effects with a clinically established quantitative sensory testing (QST) battery (German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain). This study provided a 246 × 10-sized data matrix (82 subjects assessed at baseline, following UV-B application, and following capsaicin application) with respect to 10 QST parameters, which we analyzed using machine-learning techniques. We observed statistically significant effects of the hypersensitization treatments in 9 different QST parameters. Supervised machine-learned analysis implemented as random forests followed by ABC analysis pointed to heat pain thresholds as the most relevantly affected QST parameter. However, decision tree analysis indicated that UV-B additionally modulated sensitivity to cold. Unsupervised machine-learning techniques, implemented as emergent self-organizing maps, hinted at subgroups responding to topical application of capsaicin. The distinction among subgroups was based on sensitivity to pressure pain, which could be attributed to sex differences, with women being more sensitive than men. Thus, while UV-B and capsaicin share a major component of heat pain sensitization, they differ in their effects on QST parameter patterns in healthy subjects, suggesting a lack of redundancy between these models.
Discovering New Digital Business Model Types - a Study of Technology Startups from the Mobility Sector

In the 1990s, the broad diffusion of the internet allowed firms such as Amazon, eBay, and Google to invent new digital business models. Since then, research has formalized recurring configurations as digital business model types, still frequently being used to analyze existing business models and develop new ones. Now, the next wave of digital transformation – enabled by ongoing improvements in processing power, the miniaturization of hardware, and ubiquitous wireless connectivity – is again driving innovation. For instance, in the mobility sector, startups such as Uber, Turo, and Streetline have formed business logics that cannot be understood with existing types. Therefore, we identified and formalized new business model configurations by systematically analyzing a comprehensive data set of technology startups from the US mobility sector. We found that, in order to adequately account for the new digital logics, 14 digital business model types must be added to existing collections: app developer, autonomous products/robots manufacturer, data analytics provider, integrator of thirdparty services, IT-enabled self-service provider, IT-guided service provider, manufacturer of connected physical products, manufacturer of connectivity devices for physical products, mobilized service provider, P2P goods sharing platform, P2P information sharing community, P2P service provision platform, seller of sensor information, and sensor-enabled service innovator.
FDK-Type Algorithms with No Backprojection Weight for Circular and Helical Scan CT

We develop two Feldkamp-type reconstruction algorithms with no backprojection weight for circular and helical trajectory with planar detector geometry. Advances in solid-state electronic detector technologies lend importance to CT systems with the equispaced linear array, the planar (flat panel) detectors, and the corresponding algorithms. We derive two exact Hilbert filtered backprojection (FBP) reconstruction algorithms with no backprojection weight for 2D fan-beam equispace linear array detector geometry (complement of the equi-angular curved array detector). Based on these algorithms, the Feldkamp-type algorithms with no backprojection weight for 3D reconstruction are developed using the standard heuristic extension of the divergent beam FBP algorithm. The simulation results show that the axial intensity drop in the reconstructed image using the FDK algorithms with no backprojection weight with circular trajectory is similar to that obtained by using Hu's and T-FDK, algorithms. Further, we present efficient algorithms to reduce the axial intensity drop encountered in the standard FDK reconstructions in circular cone-beam CT. The proposed algorithms consist of mainly two steps: reconstruction of the object using FDK algorithm with no backprojection weight and estimation of the missing term. The efficient algorithms are compared with the FDK algorithm, Hu's algorithm, T-FDK, and Zhu et al.'s algorithm in terms of axial intensity drop and noise. Simulation shows that the efficient algorithms give similar performance in axial intensity drop as that of Zhu et al.'s algorithm while one of the efficient algorithms outperforms Zhu et al.'s algorithm in terms of computational complexity.
How computer science can help in understanding the 3D genome architecture

Chromosome conformation capture techniques are producing a huge amount of data about the architecture of our genome. These data can provide us with a better understanding of the events that induce critical regulations of the cellular function from small changes in the three-dimensional genome architecture. Generating a unified view of spatial, temporal, genetic and epigenetic properties poses various challenges of data analysis, visualization, integration and mining, as well as of high performance computing and big data management. Here, we describe the critical issues of this new branch of bioinformatics, oriented at the comprehension of the three-dimensional genome architecture, which we call 'Nucleome Bioinformatics', looking beyond the currently available tools and methods, and highlight yet unaddressed challenges and the potential approaches that could be applied for tackling them. Our review provides a map for researchers interested in using computer science for studying 'Nucleome Bioinformatics', to achieve a better understanding of the biological processes that occur inside the nucleus.