Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measuring social invisibility and erasure: Development of the Asexual Microaggressions Scale

Measuring Social Invisibility and Erasure: Development of the Asexual Microaggressions Scale Aasha Foster The purpose of this dissertation was to create a psychometrically sound measure of asexual prejudice through microaggressions that can be used to document and identify the unique experiences of asexual people (i.e., those reporting a lack of sexual attraction towards others). Asexual prejudice encompasses anti-asexual beliefs and attitudes that stem from sexual normativity which promotes sexuality as the norm while positioning asexuality as deviant (Carrigan 2011; Chasin, 2011; Flore, 2014; Gupta, 2013). Applying Sue’s (2010) description of microaggressions, asexual microaggressions are conscious and/or unconscious daily occurrences of insults and invalidation that stem from implicit bias against asexual people and asexuality. Development of the scale included creating items with content that was derived from close readings of the literature on asexuality and related measures of discrimination, prejudice or bias as well as expert review for clarity and verifying applicability of content. A total of 738 participants participated on-line and half were randomly assigned to Phase 1 for the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) while the other half was assigned to Phase 2 for the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Results of the EFA indicate a 16 item four-factor structure for the AMS that capture expectations of sexuality, denial of legitimacy, harmful visibility, and assumptions of causality as descriptors of the types of microaggressions that occur. The CFA revealed support for the AMS total score with good internal consistency and strong validity as reflected in strong positive relationships with stigma consciousness, collective self-esteem, and another measure of discrimination and bias. Combined, the AMS is a valid and reliable measure of asexual prejudice. Contextualization of these results as well as implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed
Renal tubular epithelial cell death and cyclosporin A.

BACKGROUND The pathogenesis of chronic cyclosporin A (CsA) nephrotoxicity is largely unknown. In this study we examined whether CsA produces cell death through necrosis or apoptosis of either cultured human proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTEC) or the porcine tubular cell line LLC-PK(1). METHODS Primary isolates of human PTEC and LLC-PK(1) cells were treated for various time periods with CsA at concentrations of 0.01-100 microg/ml. Apoptosis was studied by the assessment of annexin binding and propidium iodide uptake, the measurement of cellular DNA content and cell cycle analysis, and by the evaluation of nuclear morphology. Cell death was studied by the trypan blue exclusion method. Hypoxic conditions were simulated through chemical ATP depletion. RESULTS In human PTEC, cell death was observed at CsA concentrations higher than 10 microg/ml; at these concentrations PTEC died as a result of necrosis and the toxicity of its vehicle Cremophore EL, and not as a result of CsA inducing apoptosis. The addition of cycloheximide to relieve a possible block in the apoptotic process had no effect on human PTEC, but did result in apoptosis of LLC-PK(1). In human PTEC, CsA did not augment cell death induced by chemical ATP depletion. CONCLUSIONS The results of this in vitro study do not support the hypothesis that CsA directly induces cell death of proximal tubular epithelial cells.
VET practitioner’s perceptions of VET higher-education qualifications

Abstract The quality of vocation education and training (VET) teaching in Australia has long been contested. Six Australian universities jointly conducted an online survey exploring the experiences of practitioners who were undertaking undergraduate studies in VET. This paper explores the experiences of VET practitioners as students in one regional university who were enrolled in a Bachelor of Vocational Educational and Training and compared them to the larger national cohort. While the background and capabilities of these practitioners differed in numerous ways there were similarities in their perceptions of what constitutes quality VET teacher education and the knowledge and skills they gained from studying a Bachelor-level qualification when compared to the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
Building Development Monitoring in Multitemporal Remotely Sensed Image Pairs with Stochastic Birth-Death Dynamics

In this paper, we introduce a new probabilistic method which integrates building extraction with change detection in remotely sensed image pairs. A global optimization process attempts to find the optimal configuration of buildings, considering the observed data, prior knowledge, and interactions between the neighboring building parts. We present methodological contributions in three key issues: 1) We implement a novel object-change modeling approach based on Multitemporal Marked Point Processes, which simultaneously exploits low-level change information between the time layers and object-level building description to recognize and separate changed and unaltered buildings. 2) To answer the challenges of data heterogeneity in aerial and satellite image repositories, we construct a flexible hierarchical framework which can create various building appearance models from different elementary feature-based modules. 3) To simultaneously ensure the convergence, optimality, and computation complexity constraints raised by the increased data quantity, we adopt the quick Multiple Birth and Death optimization technique for change detection purposes, and propose a novel nonuniform stochastic object birth process which generates relevant objects with higher probability based on low-level image features.
A Brain-Computer Interface Based Cognitive Training System for Healthy Elderly: A Randomized Control Pilot Study for Usability and Preliminary Efficacy

Cognitive decline in aging is a pressing issue associated with significant healthcare costs and deterioration in quality of life. Previously, we reported the successful use of a novel brain-computer interface (BCI) training system in improving symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Here, we examine the feasibility of the BCI system with a new game that incorporates memory training in improving memory and attention in a pilot sample of healthy elderly. This study investigates the safety, usability and acceptability of our BCI system to elderly, and obtains an efficacy estimate to warrant a phase III trial. Thirty-one healthy elderly were randomized into intervention (n = 15) and waitlist control arms (n = 16). Intervention consisted of an 8-week training comprising 24 half-hour sessions. A usability and acceptability questionnaire was administered at the end of training. Safety was investigated by querying users about adverse events after every session. Efficacy of the system was measured by the change of total score from the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) before and after training. Feedback on the usability and acceptability questionnaire was positive. No adverse events were reported for all participants across all sessions. Though the median difference in the RBANS change scores between arms was not statistically significant, an effect size of 0.6SD was obtained, which reflects potential clinical utility according to Simon’s randomized phase II trial design. Pooled data from both arms also showed that the median change in total scores pre and post-training was statistically significant (Mdn = 4.0; p<0.001). Specifically, there were significant improvements in immediate memory (p = 0.038), visuospatial/constructional (p = 0.014), attention (p = 0.039), and delayed memory (p<0.001) scores. Our BCI-based system shows promise in improving memory and attention in healthy elderly, and appears to be safe, user-friendly and acceptable to senior users. Given the efficacy signal, a phase III trial is warranted. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01661894
Association between serum osteocalcin and markers of metabolic phenotype.

CONTEXT Osteocalcin has been reported to contribute to the regulation of glucose tolerance and insulin secretion and sensitivity in experimental animals. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to examine the association between serum osteocalcin concentration and markers of dysmetabolic phenotype using data from a completed clinical trial in adults age 65 and older [n = 380, mean age 71 yr, body mass index (BMI) 26.9 kg/m(2), 5% with diabetes]. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In cross-sectional analyses (baseline data), we estimated the associations of serum osteocalcin and urine N-telopeptide with markers of metabolic phenotype including fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (primary outcome), fasting insulin, insulin sensitivity estimated by homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance, plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, IL-6, and measures of adiposity (BMI and body fat) (secondary outcomes) after multivariate adjustment for potential confounders. In prospective analysis (placebo arm), we estimated the associations of osteocalcin and N-telopeptide with change in the primary outcome, FPG, over a 3-yr period. RESULTS In cross-sectional analyses, serum osteocalcin concentration was inversely associated with FPG (P = 0.01), fasting insulin (P = 0.006), homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (P = 0.002), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P = 0.01), IL-6 (P = 0.02), BMI (P < 0.001), and body fat (P < 0.001). When participants were divided into tertiles by serum osteocalcin, mean FPG was 97.1 vs. 104.8 mg/dl in the highest vs. lowest osteocalcin tertile, respectively (P < 0.01). In prospective analyses, exposure to higher osteocalcin levels during follow-up was associated with a significantly lower rise in FPG at 3 yr. Urine N-telopeptide was not associated with any marker of metabolic phenotype. CONCLUSIONS Serum osteocalcin concentration was inversely associated with blood markers of dysmetabolic phenotype and measures of adiposity. Our findings should be considered hypothesis generating, and they need to be replicated in human studies designed to test the hypothesis that osteocalcin affects metabolism.
The Influence of Local Ethnic Diversity on Group-Centric Crime Attitudes

Several studies provide evidence of group-centric policy attitudes, that is, citizens evaluating policies based on linkages with visible social groups. The existing literature generally points to the role of media imagery, rhetoric and prominent political sponsors in driving group-centric attitudes. This article theorizes and tests an alternative source: exposure to rising local ethnic diversity. Focusing on the issue of crime, it first develops a theoretical account of how casual observation in the local context can give rise to ethnic stereotypes. Then, using two large, nationally representative datasets on citizen group and policy attitudes linked with registry data on local ethnic diversity, each spanning 20 years, it shows that crime attitudes become more strongly linked with immigration attitudes as local ethnic diversity rises. The results suggest that the typically emphasized ‘top-down’ influence on group-centric attitudes by elite actors is complemented by ‘bottom-up’ local processes of experiential learning about group–policy linkages.
Sample Efficient Feature Selection for Factored MDPs

In reinforcement learning, the state of the real world is often represented by feature vectors. However, not all of the features may be pertinent for solving the current task. We propose Feature Selection Explore and Exploit (FS-EE), an algorithm that automatically selects the necessary features while learning a Factored Markov Decision Process, and prove that under mild assumptions, its sample complexity scales with the in-degree of the dynamics of just the necessary features, rather than the in-degree of all features. This can result in a much better sample complexity when the in-degree of the necessary features is smaller than the in-degree of all features.
Thermal conductivity of half-Heusler compounds from first-principles calculations

We demonstrate successful application of ﬁrst-principles-based thermal conductivity calculation on half-Heusler compounds that are promising, environmentally friendly thermoelectric materials. Taking the case of a p -type half-Heusler structure, the harmonic and anharmonic interatomic force constants were obtained from a set of force-displacement data calculated by the density functional theory. Thermal conductivity was obtained by two different methods: (1) Boltzmann-Peierls formula with phonon relaxation times calculated by either Fermi’s golden rule of three-phonon scattering processes or spectral analysis of molecular dynamics phase space trajectoriesand(2)Green-Kuboformulaforheatcurrentobtainedbyequilibriummoleculardynamicssimulations. The calculated temperature dependence of thermal conductivity is in reasonable agreement with experiments. The method was extended to alloy crystals assuming the transferability of interatomic force constants. By having access to accurate phonon-dependent transport properties, the contribution from an arbitral subset of phonon modes can be quantiﬁed. This helps understanding the inﬂuence of nanostructures on thermal conductivity.
An unsupervised hybrid network for blind separation of independent non-Gaussian source signals in multipath environment

This paper is concerned with the problem of recovering multiple source signals that are transmitted through a linear Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) system, without resorting to any prior knowledge. Source signals are assumed to be spatially independent and temporally i.i. d. non-Gaussian sequences. We present an unsupervised hybrid network (a linear feedback network with FIR synapses followed by a linear memoryless feedforward network) which is able to recover multiple source signals blindly. A simple criterion for multichannel blind deconvolution and an associated learning algorithm are presented. Extensive computer simulation results confirm the validity and high performance of the proposed method.
Osteoporosis Knowledge of Students in Relevant Healthcare Academic Programs

For healthcare professionals who treat individuals with osteoporosis, it is vital that they receive adequate education on osteoporosis to ensure sufficient knowledge of osteoporosis to properly treat individuals with the disease. To test for adequate osteoporosis education, a study was conducted to measure osteoporosis knowledge in 206 students in relevant healthcare academic programs, such as nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, and dietetics. The study showed that differences existed in osteoporosis knowledge in general between the programs and between different years of students in the same programs. There were also discrepancies in specific areas of osteoporosis knowledge between the classes of students, and the average scores of correctly answered items were only as high as 24.40 (76.3%) out of 32 items on osteoporosis knowledge. This study shows that students have osteoporosis knowledge and that it is not completely inadequate; however, osteoporosis knowledge could still be more sufficient, and results demonstrate the need to increase osteoporosis education in the curriculum for these healthcare academic programs to increase osteoporosis knowledge and better prepare graduates and professionals to treat individuals with the disease.
On the tidal evolution of Hot Jupiters on inclined orbits

Tidal friction is thought to be important in determining the long-term spin-orbit evolution of short-period extrasolar planetary systems. Using a simple model of the orbit-averaged effects of tidal friction, we study the evolution of close-in planets on inclined orbits, due to tides. We analyse the effects of the inclusion of stellar magnetic braking by performing a phase-plane analysis of a simplified system of equations, including the braking torque. The inclusion of magnetic braking is found to be important, and its neglect can result in a very different system history. We then present the results of numerical integrations of the tidal evolution equations, where we find that it is essential to consider coupled evolution of the orbital and rotational elements, including dissipation in both the star and planet, to accurately model the evolution. The main result of our integrations is that for typical Hot Jupiters, tidal friction aligns the stellar spin with the orbit on a similar time as it causes the orbit to decay. This tells us that if a planet is observed to be aligned, then it probably formed coplanar. This reinforces the importance of Rossiter–McLaughlin effect observations in determining the degree of spin-orbit alignment in transiting systems. We apply these results to the only observed system with a spin-orbit misalignment, XO-3, and constrain the efficiency of tidal dissipation (i.e. the modified tidal quality factors Q′) in both the star and the planet in this system. Using a model in which inertial waves are excited by tidal forcing in the outer convective envelope and dissipated by turbulent viscosity, we calculate Q′ for a range of F-star models, and find it to vary considerably within this class of stars. This means that using a single Q′, and assuming that it applies to all stars, is probably incorrect. In addition, we propose an explanation for the survival of two of the planets on the tightest orbits, WASP-12 b and OGLE-TR-56 b, in terms of weak dissipation in the star, as a result of their internal structures and slow rotation periods.
Presence and dynamics of leptin, GLP-1, and PYY in human breast milk at early postpartum

Objective: The presence of appetite hormones, namely glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1), peptide YY (PYY), and leptin in breast milk may be important in infant feeding regulation and infant growth. This study evaluated whether concentrations of GLP‐1, PYY, and leptin change across a single feeding (from fore‐ to hindmilk), and are associated with maternal and infant anthropometrics.
Antibodies against a lysosomal membrane antigen recognize a prelysosomal compartment involved in the endocytic pathway in cultured prolactin cells

Antibodies against a lysosomal membrane antigen (A-Ly-M) have recently been obtained and characterized (Reggio, H., D. Bainton, E. Harms, E. Coudrier, and D. Louvard, 1984, J. Cell Biol., 99:1511-1526). They recognize a 100,000-mol-wt antigen immunologically related to a purified [H+,K+]ATPase from pig gastric mucosa. In the present study, we have localized this antigen during adsorptive endocytosis in rat prolactin cells in culture using cationized ferritin (CF) as a tracer. CF was rapidly internalized (after 5 min) in coated pits and vesicles that were labeled by antibodies against clathrin. The tracer was then delivered (after 15 min) to vacuoles and multivesicular bodies. These structures were labeled with A-Ly-M. These organelles were devoid of acid phosphatase activity. At later stages (after 30 min) CF was observed within larger structures that were strongly stained by A-Ly-M and displayed a strong acid phosphatase activity. These findings clearly indicate that A-Ly-M react with prelysosomal and lysosomal compartments involved in the endocytic pathway in cultured prolactin cells. The membrane of these structures therefore contains antigenic determinant(s) related to the 100,000-mol-wt polypeptide. Our results suggest that the prelysosomal structure stained by A-Ly-M may represent in GH3 cells the acidic prelysosomal compartment recently described in the early steps of endocytosis in other cell types (Tycko, B., and F. R. Maxfield, 1982, Cell, 28:643-651).
Differences in the Phagocytic Response of Microglia and Peripheral Macrophages after Spinal Cord Injury and Its Effects on Cell Death

Macrophages in the injured spinal cord arise from resident microglia and infiltrating, peripherally derived monocytes. It is still not clear if macrophages derived from these two populations differ in their roles after CNS injury. The aims of this study are to investigate the phagocytic response and clearance of damaged axons and tissue debris by these distinct subsets of macrophages and assess their viability after spinal cord injury (SCI). The lysozyme M EGFP-knockin mouse tags hematogenous macrophages, but not microglia. Using a combination of immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and neuronal tracing techniques, we show that microglia contact damaged axons early (24 h) after SCI and are the main type of macrophage to contain phagocytic material at 3 d. Thereafter, infiltrating macrophages become the predominant cell in contact with degenerating axons and contain more phagocytic material, which in contrast to microglia, persists for up to 42 d. Furthermore, after phagocytosis of myelin in vitro, bone marrow-derived macrophages are much more susceptible to apoptotic and necrotic cell death than CNS microglia, which is mirrored in vivo with apoptotic TUNEL-positive cells of infiltrating macrophage origin. This work suggests that microglia play a major role in the early response to SCI, by phagocytosing damaged and degenerating tissue, processing phagocytic material efficiently, and remaining viable. Later, macrophages of peripheral origin contribute predominantly to phagocytosis but are less efficient at processing CNS debris, and their death, in situ, may contribute to the secondary damage after CNS injury.
Association of Polymorphism rs198977 in Human Kallikrein-2 Gene (KLK2) with Susceptibility of Prostate Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Objectives To assess the association of polymorphism rs198977 in the human kallikrein-2 gene (KLK2) and risk of prostate cancer (PCa). Methods Two investigators independently searched the PubMed, Elsevier, EMBASE, Web of Science, Wiley Online Library and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for rs198977 and PCa were calculated in a fixed-effects model (the Mantel-Haenszel method) and a random-effects model (the DerSimonian and Laird method) when appropriate. Results Six studies met the inclusion criteria in this meta-analysis, which included 5859 PCa cases and 4867 controls. Overall, rs198977 was associated with the PCa risk (TT+CT vs. CC, pooled OR = 1.163, 95% CI = 1.076–1.258, P-value <0.0001). When stratified by ethnicity, significant association was observed in Caucasian samples under both allele comparison (T vs. C, pooled OR = 1.152, 95% CI = 1.079–1.229, P-value <0.0001) and dominant model (TT+CT vs. CC, pooled OR = 1.197, 95% CI = 1.104–1.297, P-value <0.0001). In the overall analysis, a comparably significant increase in the frequency of allele T for rs198977 was detected between cases and controls in Caucasian. Conclusion This meta-analysis suggests that rs198977 of KLK2 was associated with susceptibility of PCa in Caucasian and the allele T might increase the risk of PCa in Caucasian.