Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
POLAR DISK GALAXY FOUND IN WALL BETWEEN VOIDS

We have found an isolated polar disk galaxy in what appears to be a cosmological wall situated between two voids. This void galaxy is unique as its polar disk was discovered serendipitously in an H i survey of SDSS void galaxies, with no optical counterpart to the H i polar disk. Yet the H i mass in the disk is comparable to the stellar mass in the galaxy. This suggests slow accretion of the H i material at a relatively recent time. There is also a hint of a warp in the outer parts of the H i disk. The central, stellar disk appears relatively blue, with faint near-UV emission, and is oriented (roughly) parallel to the surrounding wall, implying gas accretion from the voids. The considerable gas mass and apparent lack of stars in the polar disk, coupled with the general underdensity of the environment, supports recent theories of cold flow accretion as an alternate formation mechanism for polar disk galaxies.
Antioxidants and atherosclerosis: A current assessment

Numerous recently published studies demonstrate that, once altered by free radical oxidation, plasma lipoproteins undergo dramatic change, both in the manner in which they can interact with cells and in the ways in which they influence cell function. For example, with increasing degrees of oxidation, low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) will cease to be recognizable by the LDL receptor and ultimately can become a ligand for “scavenger” receptors on macrophages. Gene expression and production of certain cytokines and growth factors can be modified through the interaction of oxidized LDL with the cell sources of these potent cell regulators. These discoveries have stimulated the formulation of hypotheses of roles played in vivo by oxidized lipoproteins or their various oxidized lipid moieties in cellular regulation and in various disease processes. Among the more detailed of these hypotheses is a putative sequence in which LDL becomes oxidized and subsequently participates in the various facets of atherosclerotic lesion development, including monocyte recruitment, foam cell formation, vascular cell injury, and cellular proliferation. The evidence supporting this scenario makes a compelling story, one that is fed by reports that certain antioxidants favorably alter the course of vascular lesion development. However, other studies suggest that antioxidants do not inhibit lesion progression or that any alleviation is secondary to lipid lowering. This brief accounting examines some of the more recent studies dealing specifically with the effects of antioxidants on atherosclerosis.
Identification of Streptococcus agalactiae Isolates from Various Phylogenetic Lineages by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry

ABSTRACT Variations in proteins related to bacterial diversity may affect species identification performed using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI)-time of flight mass spectrometry. Using this method, we identified 110 Streptococcus agalactiae isolates characterized by serotyping and multilocus sequence typing. Serotype III and sequence type 23 strains expressed the widest variation in molecular weight of putative “species-identifying” biomarker ions. Recognition of the diversity of MALDI patterns observed in strains that represent all major intraspecies lineages assists in the constitution of an optimal reference database.
Nature of the Relationship Between Individual Learning Styles of Female Police Officers and Their Career Aspirations and Experiences

This research was undertaken by a serving female police officer, within a British police force. It builds upon the existing literature concerning the career aspirations and experiences of female police officers on the one hand, and learning styles theory on the other. It uses the Honey and Mumford (1992) Learning Styles Questionnaire (LSQ) widely used within police training. It examines whether any relationship can be demonstrated between learning styles theory (and in particular the LSQ) and female police officer career aspirations. The methodology is qualitative, starting with creating an introductory baseline drawn from 286 qualitative questionnaires completed by new recruits during their training, (74 female). These clarified issues about learning styles with both sexes, against which the female perspective could be better understood. The main research was based on semi-structured interviews which were conducted with female officers with a range of policing experience and service, from constable to chief constable rank. Officers were found to uniformly have a moderate preference for the Activist, Reflector and Theorist learning styles, with a low preference for Pragmatist. New recruits average on Reflector style was found to be higher than other groups which could reflect some bias in the selection process. Learning styles were found to be not static but malleable, and not a central factor in career aspiration and decisions. During the interviews, the most popular career aspirations for women were community/family support duties, C.I. D. and firearms. There was no evidence found to indicate that females are more undecided in their career aspirations than men. Female officers rated highly the need to undertake challenging work, including the opportunity to specialize, calling into question the decrease of the availability of such roles for police officers. The findings reveal a gap in the way in which the police gather deployment data, and interviewees claimed that officers of ACPO rank were reported as interfering with the career choices of subordinates. No strong relationship was found between learning styles and career aspirations, albeit some weak relationships were found between learning style preferences and career experiences. This study is a contribution to knowledge through its emphasis on the experiences of individual officers and their preferred learning styles. Findings contribute to existing knowledge by developing a conceptual framework identifying the combination of attributes exhibited by successful officers.
Evidence for the High Importance of Co-Morbid Factors in HFE C282Y/H63D Patients Cared by Phlebotomies: Results from an Observational Prospective Study

Despite type I haemochromatosis (HC) is mainly associated with the HFE C282Y/C282Y genotype, a second genotype -C282Y/H63D- has mostly been described in other patients. Its association with HC, apart from any associated co-morbid factors, remains unclear and complex to interpret for physicians. This study assesses the weight of this genotype and the role of co-morbid factors in the occurrence of iron overload. This prospective study included the C282Y/C282Y (n = 172) and C282Y/H63D (n = 58) patients enrolled in a phlebotomy program between 2004 and 2007 in a blood centre of western Brittany (Brest, France), where HC is frequent. We compared prevalence of these two genotypes, as well as patients’ profile regarding degree of iron overload and prevalence of co-morbid factors. First, we confirmed the obvious deficit of C282Y/H63D compound heterozygotes among patients cared by phlebotomies. This genotype was 3.0 times less frequent than the C282Y/C282Y genotype among those patients (18.9% vs. 56.0%) whereas it was 4.9 times more frequent in the general population (4.3% vs. 0.9%; p<0.0001). Despite a similar level of hyperferritinaemia, the C282Y/H63D patients who came to medical attention had a milder plasma iron overload, reflected by a lower transferrin saturation median (52.0% vs. 84.0%; p<0.0001). They also exhibited more frequently co-morbid factors, as heavy drinking (26.0% vs. 13.9%; p = 0.0454), overweight (66.7% vs. 39.4%; p = 0.0005) or both (21.3% vs. 2.6%; p<0.0001). Ultimately, they required a lower amount of iron removed to reach depletion (2.1 vs. 3.4 g; p<0.0001), clearly reflecting their lower tissue iron. This study confirms that H63D is a discrete genetic susceptibility factor whose expression is most visible in association with other co-factors. It highlights the importance of searching for co-morbidities in these diagnostic situations and of providing lifestyle and dietary advice.
Time Series Photometry of Variable Stars in the Globular Cluster NGC 6397

Time series BVI photometry is presented for 16 short-period variables located in the central region of the globular cluster NGC 6397. The sample includes nine newly detected variables. The light curve of cataclysmic variable CV6 shows variability with a period of 0.2356 days. We confirm an earlier reported period of 0.472 days for cataclysmic variable CV1. Phased light curves of both CVs exhibit sinelike light curves, with two minima occurring during each orbital cycle. The secondary component of CV1 has a low average density of 0.83 g cm-3, indicating that it cannot be a normal main-sequence star. Variables among the cluster blue stragglers include a likely detached eclipsing binary with orbital period of 0.787 days, three new SX Phoenicis stars (one of which has the extremely short period of 0.0215 days), and three low-amplitude variables that are possible γ Doradus variables.
Draft Genome Assembly for the Tibetan Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus thibetanus)

Species in the bear genus are well-known for their adaptation to various environments; examples are the polar bear from the Arctic (Thiemann et al., 2008), the sun bear from rainforests (Linkie et al., 2007), and the Tibetan black bear, which inhabits the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) (Liu, 2004). The QTP is known as the “Third Pole” since it is the largest and highest plateau in the world, with an average altitude of 4,500m above sea level. Like the polar regions, the environment of the QTP is inimical to living organisms due to the low temperature and low level of oxygen. Large mammals, such as humans and taurine cattle, usually suffer from severe pulmonary hypertension when inhabiting high altitudes (Wu et al., 2007). Previous studies on indigenous species of the QTP have found many adaptive changes in the genes and pathways related to hypoxia responses, oxygen transport, etc. (Qiu et al., 2012). However, when bears arrived on the QTP and how they have been able to survive and thrive there remains largely unknown. The Tibetan black bear (Ursus thibetanus thibetanus) is a subspecies of the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) and is one of the four known bear species living on the QTP (Lan et al., 2017). Tibetan black bears are typical forest animals. They are omnivorous but feed mainly on plants. Their sense of smell and hearing are very sensitive. Most Tibetan black bears rely on hibernation to survive the cold and lack of food in winter (Liu, 2004). In recent years, due to the expansion of human activity and poaching, the Tibetan black bear has experienced a rapid population reduction. It is now classified as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Here, we report a high-quality genome assembly for the Tibetan black bear based on 10× genomic sequencing technology. This assembly and associated resources will serve as an important genetic resource for specialize, species protection, and the evolution of the bear genus.
P2P Multi-agent Data Transfer and Aggregation in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) enable pervasive, ubiquitous, and seamless communication with the physical world. This paper presents P2P multi-agent data transfer and aggregation system architecture in WSNs. The architecture includes four types of agents: interface, query, routing, and data acquisition agents. The interface agent interacts with the users to fulfil their interests. The routing agent is responsible for energy efficient data transfer. The query agent facilitates the collaboration between the interface and routing agents, and is responsible for creating optimized plans to achieve their desired goals. Both interface and query agents are placed at the resource-enriched base station because they require computation intensive operations. The data acquisition agent is responsible to acquire, filter, and format the sensor data. Sensor nodes have limited energy and computing resources. Thus, we create proxy agents for query and routing agents to act as peer agents with similar capabilities. The proxy query agents receive query execution plans from query agent, and proxy routing agents receive routing plans from routing agent. This paper provides the agents' architecture and design that enable them to coordinate and communicate with each other to transfer and aggregate data in WSNs
Adeno-associated virus serotype-9 efficiently transduces the retinal outer plexiform layer

Purpose Adeno-associated virus serotype-9 (AAV-9) is a promising gene delivery vector. In this study, we evaluated AAV-9 transduction in the mouse retina. Methods Three different AAV vectors were used in our study: AAV-9.RSV. AP, AAV-9.CMV. eGFP, and AAV-9.CMV. ∆R4–23/∆C. In these vectors, two different promoters (the cytomegalovirus promoter-CMV promoter and the Rous sarcoma virus-RSV promoter) were used to express three different transgenes including the alkaline phosphatase (AP) gene, the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) gene, and a therapeutic microdystrophin gene (the ∆R4–23/∆C). Specifically, 1 µl AAV-9 reporter gene vectors (1×109 viral genome particles of AAV-9.RSV.AP or 1×1010 viral genome particles of AAV-9.CMV.eGFP) were administered subretinally to young (2–3-week-old), adult (3-month-old), and old (12-month-old) C57BL/6J mice. To evaluate AAV-9 transduction in a diseased retina, we injected subretinally 1×109 viral genome particles of AAV-9.CMV. ∆R4–23/∆C to mdx3cv mice, which we used as a model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Transgene expression was examined by histochemical as well as immunofluorescence staining at three and five weeks after injection. Electroretinograms were recorded five weeks after subretinal AAV-9.RSV. AP injection. Results Subretinal injection yielded widespread transduction throughout the retina in all age groups. Robust expression was seen in the retinal pigment epithelium, outer nuclear layer, and in Müller cells. Interestingly a synaptic layer, the outer plexiform layer (OPL), also showed intensive expression. Transduction of the synaptic layer was further confirmed by immunostaining for C-terminal binding protein 2 (CtBP2), a marker for the photoreceptor synaptic ribbon. Dystrophin is normally expressed in the OPL photoreceptor terminals. This expression is lost in DMD patients and mdx3cv mice. Consistent with our findings in normal mice, we observed efficient microdystrophin expression in the OPL after AAV-9.CMV. ∆R4–23/∆C infection. At five weeks after subretinal delivery of AAV-9.RSV. AP, no morphology or ERG abnormalities were observed. Conclusions We demonstrated that AAV-9 is a potent vector for retinal gene delivery. Furthermore, subretinal AAV-9 administration did not cause appreciable acute retinal damages. In summary, AAV-9-mediated OPL transduction holds promise for treating diseases that primarily affect this layer.
A Psychometric Evaluation and Validation of the Preferences Scale

The Preferences Scale (PS) is a new measure of morningness and therefore requires intensive investigation to establish its measurement properties and validity. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of Smith and colleagues (2002) posited model structure was not optimal in both a student (n=731) and working sample (n=218). However, significant differences (p<0.01) were found for times to sleep and wake between morning and evening types. Principal components and reliability analyses were used to develop a 6‐item model comprising 2 factors using a student sample (n=368). Cronbach's α for the PS was 0.73 and the factors explained 61% of the variance. The revised model was replicated via CFA in a separate student sample (n=363). A subsequent CFA confirmed the model structure in the working sample. Cronbach's α was 0.74 and the factors explained 64% of the variance. Significant differences (p<0.01) in self‐reported alertness ratings between morning and evening types were obtained by time‐of‐day. These results provide preliminary support for the PS. The predictive efficacy of the PS requires further validation against a number of health and work‐related variables.
The mind on paper: The role of interpretive mind and iconicity in children's symbolic development

A defining characteristic of human cognition is the ability to communicate referentially. In order to use symbols to refer to something, one must recognize that other minds do not necessarily share one’s own knowledge of, intentions for, or interpretation of symbols. The current study examined the development of this component of symbol understanding in 6to 9-year-old children. Children made a map to communicate to a symbol-user about hidden toys. Additionally, they evaluated whether maps made by other children communicated effectively. In both tasks, the resemblance between the symbol and referent was manipulated – children either received iconic symbols that somewhat resembled the referents, or they received abstract symbols that did not resemble the referents. It was predicted that children’s success on these symbol-communicative tasks would be related to their awareness that other minds construe meaning in many different but equally valid ways (interpretive mind). In particular, success should depend upon children’s recognition that even when symbols resemble their referents, resemblance alone is not sufficient to convey meaning to a naïve symbol-user. This is particularly true in a context (such as the one used here) in which the same symbol might reasonably have been assigned to represent a different referent. Results showed that all children relied primarily on notations (words or pictures) rather than symbol resemblance to communicate meaning. Older children were especially sensitive to the information that the symbol-user needed to know, and were more likely than younger children to attempt map keys to communicate this knowledge. Specifically, older children were more likely than younger children to create categorical representations, using one type of symbol to represent one type of toy. Furthermore, interpretive theory of mind predicted children’s success on the symbol-communication tasks above and beyond chronological age, global intelligence, or memory. Overall, this study shows that 6to 9-year-olds’ symbolic development is associated with their ability to recognize that people actively interpret and assign meaning to symbols. Elementary school-aged children gradually come to understand that graphic symbols do not have inherent, fixed meaning, but rather reflect the intentions and decisions of the people who create them.
Teaching Social Skills As A Component To Reduce Problem Behavior In A Preschool: A Clinical Case Study

Follow this and additional works at: http://opensiuc.lib. siu.edu/gs_rp I wanted to submit this to make sure the formatting was correct. I will be submitting the final paper tomorrow, late morning, but I just wanted to mak sure all the formatting was correct, so that I wouldn't be cutting it too close to the deadline incase there was a formatting revisions that needed to be done from the grad school after my final submision tomorrow. Thank you.
Accuracy of endoscopic ultrasonography in diagnosing ascites and predicting peritoneal metastases in gastric cancer patients

Background: Preoperative diagnosis of peritoneal metastases (PM) is difficult in patients with gastric cancer (GC). Aims: To assess the accuracy of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in diagnosing ascites and its predictability for the presence of PM in GC patients. Subjects: Consecutive patients with newly diagnosed GC from 1998 to 2004 were studied. Methods: All patients underwent EUS, ultrasound (US), and computed tomography (CT) scan for preoperative staging and the presence of ascites. The results were compared with operative findings. The diagnosis of PM was confirmed by histopathology or peritoneal fluid cytology. Results: A total of 301 patients were recruited and in 250 patients the presence of ascites (n = 93) and PM (n = 71) were confirmed. EUS was more sensitive (87.1%) than combined US and CT scan examinations (16.1%) and operative findings (laparoscopy or laparotomy) (40.9%) in diagnosing ascites. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy for predicting the presence of PM were 73%, 84%, 64%, 89%, and 81% by EUS; 18%, 99%, 87%, 75%, and 76% by combining US and CT scan; and 77%, 94%, 83%, 91%, and 89% by operative findings, respectively. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, EUS detected ascites was the only significant independent predictor for the presence of PM (p<0.001; odds ratio 4.7 (95% confidence interval 2.0–11.2)). Conclusion: EUS is a sensitive method for diagnosing ascites which is an important predictive factor for the presence of PM in GC patients.
A real-time spike-domain sensory information processing system [image processing applications]

We present an architecture for processing spike-based sensory information in real-time. The system is based on a re-configurable silicon array of general-purpose integrate-and-fire neurons (as opposed to application-specific circuits), which can emulate arbitrary cortical networks. A combined retinal/cortical network has been designed and tested with a neuromorphic silicon retina. Neural activity is communicated between chips at rates of up to 1,000,000 spikes/sec with a bit-parallel address-event representation protocol. This work represents the first step in constructing an autonomous, continuous-time, biologically-plausible hierarchical model of visual information processing using large-scale arrays of identical silicon neurons.
A Formal Model for the Availability Analysis of Cloud Deployed Multi-tiered Applications

High availability is a critical requirement for cloud deployed services. Cloud providers offer different availability zones with geo-redundancy to protect their infrastructure and consequently their tenants against failures and natural disasters. Nevertheless, different zones may have different reliability levels depending on the hardware equipment, the geo-location, the energy source powering the facility, etc. Hence, the ability to assess the expected availability of a given deployment is extremely important for both the cloud tenants and providers that are bound by a service level agreement. Due to the stochastic nature of failures, a formal stochastic model is needed to quantify the expected availability offered by an application deployment. This paper presents a Stochastic Petri Net model to evaluate the availability of cloud services and their deployment in geographically distributed data centers. The proposed Stochastic Petri Net model captures the characteristics of the cloud provider and user. It translates them into elements of an availability model that can be solved to calculate the expected availability and subsequently be used to guide the cloud scheduling solution.