Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Age-Related Changes in Body Proportions, Body Size, and Perceived Cuteness

Two experiments investigated the hypothesis that age-related changes in physical appearance can alter perceived cuteness. In both experiments 67 undergraduates viewed line drawings displaying growth-produced changes in body proportions or size. In Exp. 1, they were required to select the cuter of humans depicted in 20 pairs of drawings varying in either body proportions or body size. Analysis indicated that perceived cuteness is not a monotonic function of age-related changes in body proportions or size. In Exp. 2, the subjects were asked to rank-order from least to most cute, five drawings depicting the changes in body proportions during growth. The resultant rankings indicated that perceived cuteness, as determined by body proportions, is greater for individuals from age 2 to 12 yr. than for newborns or adults. These and other observations are discussed in terms of an ethological view of the perception of cuteness.
An Investigation of the Ward and Hudson Pathways Model of the Sexual Offense Process With Child Abusers

In all, 87 male child abusers, who had sexually offended exclusively against children, were included in this study. The participants' ages ranged from 21 to 75 (M = 39.5,SD = 12.6). The majority of the participants (62%) had offended outside the family, 15% had offended inside the family, and 23% had offended both inside and outside the family. Of the participants, 36% had offended against boys, 33% against girls, and 31% had offended against both sexes. And 53% of the sample had a previous conviction for a sexual offense.
The analysis and design of concurrent learning algorithms for cooperative multiagent systems

Concurrent learning is the application of several machine learning algorithms in parallel to automatically discover behaviors for teams of agents. As machine learning techniques tend to find better and better solutions if they are allowed additional time and resources, the same would be expected from concurrent learning algorithms. Surprisingly, previous empirical and theoretical analysis has shown this not to be the case. Instead, concurrent learning algorithms often drift towards suboptimal solutions due to the learners' coadaptation to one another. This phenomenon is a significant obstacle to using these techniques to discover optimal team behaviors. This thesis presents theoretical and empirical research on what causes the aforementioned drift, as well as on how to minimize it altogether. I present evidence that the drift often occurs because learners have poor estimates for the quality of their possible behaviors. Interestingly, improving a learner's quality estimate does not require more sophisticated sensing capabilities; rather, it can be simply achieved if the learner ignores certain reward information that it received for performing actions. I provide formal proofs that concurrent learning algorithms will converge to the globally optimal solution, provided that each learner has sufficiently accurate estimates. This theoretical analysis provides the foundation for the design of novel concurrent learning algorithms that benefit from accurate quality estimates. First, the estimates of learners employing the biased cooperative coevolutionary algorithm are greatly improved based on reward information that was received in the past. Second, the informative cooperative coevolutionary algorithm provides learners with simpler, functionally-equivalent estimates at a reduced computational cost. Finally, I describe the lenient multiagent Q-learning algorithm, which benefits from more accurate estimates when tackling challenging coordination tasks in stochastic domains.
Anxiety and Depression in Marines Sent to War in Iraq and Afghanistan

Abstract Although the effects of combat deployment on posttraumatic stress disorder have been extensively studied, little is known about the effects of combat deployment on depression and anxiety. This study examined the factors associated with anxiety and depression in a sample of 1560 US Marines who were deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Eleven demographic and psychosocial factors were studied in relation to depression and anxiety. Five factors emerged as significant in relation to depression: deployment-related stressors, combat exposure, attitudes toward leadership, mild traumatic brain injury symptoms, and marital status. The same factors, with the exception of marital status, emerged as significant in relation to anxiety. Deployment-related stressors had a stronger association with both depression and anxiety than any other variable, including combat exposure. This finding is important because deployment-related stressors are potentially modifiable by the military.
Phase II Study of Biweekly Pemetrexed Plus Irinotecan as Second-Line Therapy for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Background. This open-label, single-arm, two-stage, Phase II study investigated the efficacy and safety of bi-weekly pemetrexed combined with irinotecan, in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), after first-line chemotherapy using FOLFOX regimen. Patients and methods. Patients received pemetrexed 400 mg/m² as a 10-minute intravenous infusion (with vitamin supplementation) followed by irinotecan 180 mg/m² as a 90-minute infusion on day 1 of a 14-day cycle, for a maximum of 12 cycles. The primary endpoint was response rate (RR; H0 ≤ 5%, Ha ≥ 20%, α = 0.05, power = 90%). Secondary endpoints were duration of response, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicities. Results. Partial response was observed in six out of 44 patients enrolled in the study (RR = 13.6%). The median PFS and OS were 4.0 and 13.9 months, respectively. The most common grade 3-4 toxicities were fatigue: 20.5% of patients, neutropenia: 18.6%, diarrhea: 13.6%, elevated transaminases: 9.5%, anemia: 9.3%, and vomiting: 6.8%. Conclusion. Pemetrexed plus irinotecan administered every two weeks is an active and well-tolerated regimen in mCRC patients pretreated with FOLFOX regimen. However, this regimen does not seem to provide clinically relevant advantage over historical data of a classical FOLFIRI regimen.
1H NMR metabolomics study of age profiling in children

Metabolic profiling of urine provides a fingerprint of personalized endogenous metabolite markers that correlate to a number of factors such as gender, disease, diet, toxicity, medication, and age. It is important to study these factors individually, if possible to unravel their unique contributions. In this study, age‐related metabolic changes in children of age 12 years and below were analyzed by 1H NMR spectroscopy of urine. The effect of age on the urinary metabolite profile was observed as a distinct age‐dependent clustering even from the unsupervised principal component analysis. Further analysis, using partial least squares with orthogonal signal correction regression with respect to age, resulted in the identification of an age‐related metabolic profile. Metabolites that correlated with age included creatinine, creatine, glycine, betaine/TMAO, citrate, succinate, and acetone. Although creatinine increased with age, all the other metabolites decreased. These results may be potentially useful in assessing the biological age (as opposed to chronological) of young humans as well as in providing a deeper understanding of the confounding factors in the application of metabolomics. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Comparison of Retinyl Palmitate and Red Palm Oil β-Carotene as Strategies to Address Vitamin A Deficiency

Vitamin A deficiency continues to be an international public health problem with several important health consequences including blindness and overall increased rates of morbidity and mortality. To address this widespread issue, a series of strategies have been put into place from dietary diversification to supplementation and fortification programs. Retinyl palmitate has been used successfully for decades as a supplement as well as a way to fortify numerous foods, including vegetable oil, rice, monosodium glutamate, cereal flours and sugar. Recently, there has been rising interest in using a natural source of carotenoids, β-carotene from red palm oil (RPO), for fortification. Although RPO interventions have also been shown to effectively prevent Vitamin A deficiency, there are numerous challenges in using beta-carotene from RPO as a fortification technique. β-Carotene can induce significant changes in appearance and taste of the fortified product. Moreover, costs of fortifying with beta-carotene are higher than with retinyl palmitate. Therefore, RPO should only be used as a source of Vitamin A if it is produced and used in its crude form and regularly consumed without frying. Furthermore, refined RPO should be fortified with retinyl palmitate, not β-carotene, to ensure that there is adequate Vitamin A content.
Sphenoid sinus: An anatomic and endoscopic study in Asian cadavers

An anatomic and endoscopic study of 48 cadaveric heads (96 sphenoid sinuses) was undertaken to describe the anatomy of the sphenoid sinus in Asians. Sellar type of sphenoid sinus is the most common, present in 53 out of 96 sides (55%). Forty‐five of the 48 heads had a dominant sphenoid cavity, of which 11 contained vital structures from both sides of the sphenoid sinus. The incidence of accessory septae, carotid artery, optic nerve, maxillary nerve, and vidian nerve bulges were 70.8%, 67.7%, 69.8%, 61.5%, and 64.6%, respectively. There is a significantly higher number of overriding ethmoid sinuses in Asian cadavers (46/96 sides) compared to western studies (P < 0.0005). Seven (15%) of these 46 sides were also Onodi positive. The rest of the overriding ethmoid cells were Onodi negative. Surgeons should be aware of the significantly higher number of overriding posterior ethmoid cells in Asian populations during functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). The optic nerve is at risk during FESS surgery if the sphenoid sinus is sought behind the deepest point of these posterior ethmoid cells. These overriding posterior ethmoid cells may also confuse the unwary surgeon that he has entered the sphenoid sinus where in fact he is still operating in the posterior ethmoid cells. Clin. Anat. 20:745–750, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comprehending the Scottish caution: Do offenders understand their right to remain silent?

Objectives. The Scottish legal system differs from that which pertains in the rest of the United Kingdom, for example, there is no standard police caution to administer to suspects in Scotland. The absence of a standardized caution may result in suspects being presented with a caution which is both semantically and syntactically complex. Over the last 30 years the central role given to an individual's appreciation that he/she has the right to remain silent has diminished when evaluating whether a confession has been obtained fairly. This study examines the extent to which offenders understand the caution and the factors which influence their level of comprehension.Methods. A Scottish Comprehension of Caution instrument was developed. One hundred convicted young offenders were assessed using this instrument, a short form of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Revised and a range of measures of criminal experience and attitudes.Results. The overall level of comprehension was low: while 89 per cent claimed to fully understand the caution only 11 per cent were considered to have a complete understanding. Level of understanding was linked to cognitive functioning and not linked to demographic or criminal justice variables.Conclusions. It is argued that the semantic and syntactic complexity of the caution is a significant barrier to understanding. This may reflect the fact that the archival function of legal language takes precedence over its communicative function. Language: en
Prevalence and determinants of weight misperception in an urban Swiss population.

AIM Weight misperception precludes effective management of pre-obesity and obesity, but little is known regarding its status in the Swiss population. Our study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of weight over- and underestimation in an adult urban Swiss population. METHODS Cross-sectional study conducted between 2009 and 2012 in the city of Lausanne. Height and weight were measured using standardised procedures. Weight perception and other socio-demographic variables were collected through questionnaires. RESULTS Data from 4284 participants (2261 women, 57.5 ± 10.4 years) were analysed. Overall, almost one-fifth (18%) of participants underestimated their weight, while only 7% overestimated it. One quarter of women and half of men with overweight underestimated their weight; the corresponding values for obese subjects were 7% and 10%. Multivariate analysis showed male gender (odds ratio [OR] 3.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.54-3.76), increasing age or body mass index (p-value for trend <0.001), being born in Portugal (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.42-3.10), low education (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.47-2.47), and absence of diagnosis of pre-obesity or obesity by the doctor (OR 5.61, 95% CI 4.51-7.00) to be associated with weight underestimation. Overestimation was significantly higher in women (19.6%) than in men (8.5%). Weight overestimation was negatively associated with male gender (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.22-0.39), increasing age (p-value for trend <0.001), being born in Portugal (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.16-0.87) and positively associated with absence of diagnosis (OR 3.11, 95% CI 2.23-4.34). CONCLUSION Almost one quarter of the Swiss population aged 40 to 80 has weight misperception, underestimation being over twice as frequent as overestimation. Adequate diagnosis of overweight or obesity might be the best deterrent against weight misperception.
From Traders to Teachers: A History of Elite Women in Onitsha, Nigeria, 1928—1940

In Onitsha, an important commercial center in Nigeria, success as a merchant was the usual route for women who aspired to elite status in the period before the 1930s. In 1928, a school for girls was opened by the Holy Rosary Sisters, a Catholic order created especially by the bishop in charge of Onitsha Diocese. The opening of this convent school in Onitsha heralded a major transformation in the lives of Onitsha women, marking the transition between two epochs with regard to how women achieved elite status. From the mid-1930s a new class of elite women began to appear in Onitsha, all products of mission education; this transition from traders to teachers marks a major shift in the lives and roles of elite women. The colonial government contributed to this transformation with policies that undermined women’s ascendancy in the market by placing men in leadership positions there.
Anaerobic Toluene Activation by Benzylsuccinate Synthase in a Highly Enriched Methanogenic Culture

ABSTRACT Permeabilized cells of a highly enriched, toluene-mineralizing, methanogenic culture catalyzed the addition of toluene to fumarate to form benzylsuccinate under anaerobic conditions. The specific in vitro rate of benzylsuccinate formation was >85% of the specific in vivo rate of toluene consumption. This is the first report of benzylsuccinate synthase activity in a methanogenic culture; the activity has previously been reported to occur in denitrifying, sulfate-reducing, and anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria.
The Power of Two Choices in Randomized Load Balancing

We consider the following natural model: customers arrive as a Poisson stream of rate /spl lambda/n, /spl lambda/<1, at a collection of n servers. Each customer chooses some constant d servers independently and uniformly at random from the n servers and waits for service at the one with the fewest customers. Customers are served according to the first-in first-out (FIFO) protocol and the service time for a customer is exponentially distributed with mean 1. We call this problem the supermarket model. We wish to know how the system behaves and in particular we are interested in the effect that the parameter d has on the expected time a customer spends in the system in equilibrium. Our approach uses a limiting, deterministic model representing the behavior as n/spl rarr//spl infin/ to approximate the behavior of finite systems. The analysis of the deterministic model is interesting in its own right. Along with a theoretical justification of this approach, we provide simulations that demonstrate that the method accurately predicts system behavior, even for relatively small systems. Our analysis provides surprising implications. Having d=2 choices leads to exponential improvements in the expected time a customer spends in the system over d=1, whereas having d=3 choices is only a constant factor better than d=2. We discuss the possible implications for system design.
Being(s) in relation at home: socio-natures of patio ‘gardens’ in Managua, Nicaragua

Human–nature relations of home have been gaining more attention in geography, especially in the study of gardens. This article contributes to this growing literature, but in contrast to much research, it examines human–nature relations in the patios (garden) of homes in a marginalized barrio (slum) of Managua, Nicaragua. I suggest that the human–nature relations in these patios need to be understood differently than those in North American and European gardens. Based on research carried out in Managua, I argue that such relations are at the centre of everyday domestic activities and are critical in producing home as a liveable space in the city. The article draws on feminist geographic understandings of home and current work around human–environment relations, and identifies three different sets of socio-ecological relations: corporeal, aesthetic and economic. It argues that these three different relations between humans and the plants and trees in their patios are critical in the imaginaries around home and in the production of habitable spaces in cities, as well as to our understanding of urban natures.
First Metatarsal Proximal Opening Wedge Osteotomy for Correction of Hallux Valgus Deformity: Comparison of Straight versus Oblique Osteotomy

Purpose The aim of this study was to compare clinical and radiographic outcomes of proximal opening wedge osteotomy using a straight versus oblique osteotomy. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed 104 consecutive first metatarsal proximal opening wedge osteotomies performed in 95 patients with hallux valgus deformity. Twenty-six feet were treated using straight metatarsal osteotomy (group A), whereas 78 feet were treated using oblique metatarsal osteotomy (group B). The hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), distal metatarsal articular angle, and distance from the first to the second metatarsal (distance) were measured for radiographic evaluation, whereas the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) forefoot score was used for clinical evaluation. Results Significant corrections in the HVA, IMA, and distance from the first to the second metatarsal were obtained in both groups at the last follow-up (p<0.001). There was no difference in the mean IMA correction between the 2 groups (6.1±2.7° in group A and 6.0±2.1° in group B). However, a greater correction in the HVA and distance from the first to the second metatarsal were found in group B (HVA, 13.2±8.2°; distance, 25.1±0.2 mm) compared to group A (HVA, 20.9±7.7°; distance, 28.1±0.3 mm; p<0.001). AOFAS scores were improved in both groups. However, group B demonstrated a greater improvement relative to group A (p=0.005). Conclusion Compared with a straight first metatarsal osteotomy, an oblique first metatarsal osteotomy yielded better clinical and radiological outcomes.
Combination of In Silico Methods in the Search for Potential CD4+ and CD8+ T Cell Epitopes in the Proteome of Leishmania braziliensis

The leishmaniases are neglected tropical diseases widespread throughout the globe, which are caused by protozoans from the genus Leishmania and are transmitted by infected phlebotomine flies. The development of a safe and effective vaccine against these diseases has been seen as the best alternative to control and reduce the number of cases. To support vaccine development, this work has applied an in silico approach to search for high potential peptide epitopes able to bind to different major histocompatibility complex Class I and Class II (MHC I and MHC II) molecules from different human populations. First, the predicted proteome of Leishmania braziliensis was compared and analyzed by modern linear programs to find epitopes with the capacity to trigger an immune response. This approach resulted in thousands of epitopes derived from 8,000 proteins conserved among different Leishmania species. Epitopes from proteins similar to those found in host species were excluded, and epitopes from proteins conserved between different Leishmania species and belonging to surface proteins were preferentially selected. The resulting epitopes were then clustered, to avoid redundancies, resulting in a total of 230 individual epitopes for MHC I and 2,319 for MHC II. These were used for molecular modeling and docking with MHC structures retrieved from the Protein Data Bank. Molecular docking then ranked epitopes based on their predicted binding affinity to both MHC I and II. Peptides corresponding to the top 10 ranked epitopes were synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their capacity to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from post-treated cutaneous leishmaniasis patients, with PBMC from healthy donors used as control. From the 10 peptides tested, 50% showed to be immunogenic and capable to stimulate the proliferation of lymphocytes from recovered individuals.
Thrombocytopenia in the parturient

Thrombocytopenia in pregnant women can be associated with substantial maternal and neonatal morbidity. It may result from a range of conditions and early implementation of some specific treatment may improve both maternal and neonatal outcome. In this review we discuss the clinical features of the more common causes of thrombocytopenia associated with pregnancy, and provide an overview of the anaesthetic considerations.
Bone functional changes in intact, ovariectomized, and ovariectomized, hormone‐supplemented adult cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) evaluated by serum markers and dynamic histomorphometry

Several parameters of bone mass and function were investigated in three experiments involving intact, ovariectomized, or hormone‐supplemented ovariectomized female cynomolgus monkeys. Ovariectomized animals had increased serum levels of alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase compared with intact and hormone‐supplemented animals. Vertebral bone mass measured ex vivo by dual‐photon absorptiometry was reduced by 11–19% in ovariectomized animals compared with intact and hormone‐supplemented animals. The most dramatic effects observed with ovariectomy were markedly increased (30–60%) bone formation rates in vertebral cancellous bone, primarily caused by higher activation frequency of basic multicellular units of bone. In addition, combined resorption and reversal periods were decreased and formation period increased in untreated ovariectomized animals. Changes in static histomorphometry parameters were less dramatic, cancellous bone volume being 1–14% lower in ovariectomized animals compared with intact or ovariectomized hormone‐supplemented animals. The data indicate that changes in bone resorption are primarily responsible for the lower bone mass of estrogen deficiency and increased bone mass in hormone‐supplemented animals. Bone changes in ovariectomized cynomolgus monkeys resemble those in women after menopause and similarly respond positively to hormone supplementation. As such, cynomolgus monkeys are an excellent model for studying the basic mechanisms of osteoporosis and for the development of suitable therapeutic regimens.