Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Silencing of carboxypeptidase E inhibits cell proliferation, tumorigenicity, and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells

Carboxypeptidase E (CPE), a prohormone processing enzyme, has been implicated in the progression of multiple malignancies. However, the biological role and molecular mechanisms of CPE in osteosarcoma remain elusive. In this study, we assessed the effects of CPE on cell proliferation, tumorigenicity, migration, and invasion in osteosarcoma. Our results showed that silencing of CPE significantly inhibited cell proliferation, caused cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase, decreased the expression levels of cell cycle protein, cyclin D1, and inhibited tumorigenicity in vivo. Additionally, CPE downregulation repressed the migratory and invasive capacities of osteosarcoma cells in vitro. Furthermore, overexpression of CPE-ΔN (a splice variant of CPE) enhanced the cell growth, migration, and invasion of osteosarcoma cells. It is possible that both CPE forms are involved in the tumorigenesis and development of osteosarcoma, and therefore CPE may provide a promising biological target for osteosarcoma therapy.
Facial Cosmetics Exert a Greater Influence on Processing of the Mouth Relative to the Eyes: Evidence from the N170 Event-Related Potential Component

Cosmetic makeup significantly influences facial perception. Because faces consist of similar physical structures, cosmetic makeup is typically used to highlight individual features, particularly those of the eyes (i.e., eye shadow) and mouth (i.e., lipstick). Though event-related potentials have been utilized to study various aspects of facial processing, the influence of cosmetics on specific ERP components remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between the application of cosmetic makeup and the amplitudes of the P1 and N170 event-related potential components during facial perception tasks. Moreover, the influence of visual perception on N170 amplitude, was evaluated under three makeup conditions: Eye Shadow, Lipstick, and No Makeup. Electroencephalography was used to monitor 17 participants who were exposed to visual stimuli under each these three makeup conditions. The results of the present study subsequently demonstrated that the Lipstick condition elicited a significantly greater N170 amplitude than the No Makeup condition, while P1 amplitude was unaffected by any of the conditions. Such findings indicate that the application of cosmetic makeup alters general facial perception but exerts no influence on the perception of low-level visual features. Collectively, these results support the notion that the application of makeup induces subtle alterations in the processing of facial stimuli, with a particular effect on the processing of specific facial components (i.e., the mouth), as reflected by changes in N170 amplitude.
Theoretical Calculation of the Longitudinal Spherical Aberration of Rigid and Soft Contact Lenses

Although previous investigators have attempted to calculate the longitudinal spherical aberration inherent in soft and rigid contact lenses both on and off the eye, the use of inappropriate assumptions on which to base their calculations has left the problem unresolved. In this study, the longitudinal spherical aberration of both soft and rigid contact lenses was calculated surface by surface both in air and on the eye using a two-dimensional, exact ray tracing program. The erroneous assumptions made by previous investigators were avoided by using an elliptical model for the anterior corneal surface and assuming that the posterior surfaces of soft lenses aligned exactly with the anterior corneal surface after flexure onto the eye. The results demonstrated that, with a 6-mm pupil, contact lenses induce significant levels of spherical aberration in the ocular system for soft lenses of back vertex power greater than +3.00 D or −6.00 D and for rigid lenses of powers more positive than −3.00 D. It is suggested that visual disturbance due to induced spherical aberration has not been a major clinical problem in the past because these conditions fall outside those experienced by a large proportion of the contact lens-wearing public.
Excessive Incidence of Stroke in Iran: Evidence From the Mashhad Stroke Incidence Study (MSIS), a Population-Based Study of Stroke in the Middle East

Background and Purpose— The epidemiology of stroke and its subtypes in the Middle East is unclear. Most previous studies have been performed in Western countries, and incidence rates are unlikely to apply in the Middle East. We aimed to determine the incidence of stroke in Mashhad, northeastern Iran. Methods— During a 12-month period (2006–2007), we prospectively ascertained all strokes occurring in a population of 450 229. Multiple overlapping sources were used to identify people with stroke. A large number of volunteers assisted in finding stroke patients not admitted to hospital. Potential cases were reviewed by a group of stroke experts before inclusion. Results— A total of 624 first-ever strokes occurred during the study period, 98.4% undergoing imaging. Despite a relatively low crude annual incidence rate of first-ever stroke FES (139; 95% CI, 128 to 149) per 100 000 residents, rates adjusted to the European population aged 45 to 84 years were higher than in most other countries: 616 (95% CI, 567 to 664) for ischemic stroke, 94 (95% CI, 75 to 113) for intracerebral hemorrhage, and 12 (95% CI, 5 to 19) for subarachnoid hemorrhage. Age-specific stroke incidence was higher in younger patients than is typically seen in Western countries. Comparison of age-specific incidence rates between regions revealed that stroke in Mashhad occurs approximately 1 decade earlier than in Western countries. Conclusions— The results of this study provide evidence that the incidence of stroke in Iran is considerably greater than in most Western countries, with stroke occurring at younger ages. Ischemic stroke incidence was also considerably greater than reported in other regions.
Patterns of Assistance among Parents and the Childless in Very Old Age

This research examined patterns of assistance among very old parents and childless persons and considered the relationship between receiving help and a measure of well-being. Analysis of interviews with 551 older men and women indicated that parental status was less important than marital status in determining whether individuals received help from others in tasks of daily living. It was concluded that the childless relative to parents were not greatly disadvantaged in obtaining assistance or in their evaluations of life.
The Effects of Overcrowding in Prison

Prison crowding is often identified as the cause of inmate ill health and misconduct and of postrelease recidivism. Crowding can be measured objectively in several ways: in terms of floor space per prisoner, prisoners per living unit, and institutional population relative to stated capacity. Whether an inmate perceives conditions as crowded depends on objective crowding conditions and on the relative differences in crowding within a prison's housing accommodations. Research on prison crowding has not, however, convincingly demonstrated many adverse effects of crowding. The major findings on which most researchers agree are (1) that prisoners housed in large, open bay dormitories are more likely to visit clinics and to have high blood pressure than are prisoners in other housing arrangements (single-bunked cells, double-bunked cells, small dormitories, large partitioned dormitories); (2) that prisons that contain dormitories have somewhat higher assault rates than do other prisons; and (3) that prisons housing significantly more inmates than a design capacity based on sixty square feet per inmate are likely to have high assault rates. The relationship of crowding to the distribution and availability of prison resources has not been investigated. Crowding may act as an intensifier of stressful conditions that have been precipitated by other causes. Under extreme conditions, crowding can itself induce stress reactions. The limited number of research findings that can be asserted with confidence is the product of inherent difficulties confronting efforts to conduct well-controlled research studies in prison.
Quasi-three-dimensional numerical model for flow through flexible, rigid, submerged and non-submerged vegetation

The effects of the resistance caused by vegetation on flow velocity and water depth has become a major interest for ecologists and those who deal with river restoration projects. Some numerical and experimental works have been performed to analyse and formulate the drag effects induced by vegetation. Here we introduce a quasi-three-dimensional (Q3D) numerical solution, which is constructed by coupling the finite volume solution of the two-dimensional shallow water equations with a finite difference solution of Navier–Stokes equations for vertical velocity distribution. The drag forces are included in both sets of equations. Turbulence shear stresses are computed in two alternative ways: the parabolic eddy viscosity approach with a correction term introduced in this study, and a combination of the eddy viscosity and mixing length theories in the vertical direction. In order to deal with flexible vegetation, a cantilever beam theory is used to compute the deflection of the vegetation. The model COMSIM (complex flow simulations) has been developed and applied in experimental cases. The results are shown to be satisfactory.
MI-SIFT: mirror and inversion invariant generalization for SIFT descriptor

The best known Scale-Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) shows its superior performance in a variety of image processing tasks due to its distinctiveness, invariance to scale, rotation and local geometric distortion. Despite its remarkable performance, SIFT is not invariant to mirror images and grayscale-inverted images. This paper proposes an improved SIFT descriptor named MI-SIFT which keeps the advantages of the standard SIFT and is additionally invariant to mirror images and grayscale-inverted images. MI-SIFT is achieved by combining SIFT histogram bins in an elegant way at slight expense of distinctiveness. Most importantly, MI-SIFT can be applied to mirror-like images and inversion-like images which are abundant in real world. Experiments show that MI-SIFT outperforms the standard SIFT on mirror-like and inversion-like images while achieve comparable performance on other images.
Graphical Methods for Assessing Effect Size: Some Alternatives to Cohen's d

ABSTRACT. Reporting effect size plays an integral role in educational and psychological research and is required by many journals. Certainly, the best-known measure of effect size is Cohen's d, which represents a substantial improvement over using p values. But Cohen's d is known to suffer from some fundamental concerns. The author's goal was to illustrate some graphical methods aimed at addressing those concerns. These methods can be applied in a wide range of situations, including situations in which the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test is used.
The Internet as Enabler for New Forms of Innovation: New Challenges for Research

The paper analysis the role of the Internet for different types of innovation not only focusing on the traditional set of product, process, organizational and marketing innovation, but also extending to innovation in the public sector. In addition to the role of the Internet for various types of innovations, it has also implications for new forms of innovation, especially for the new paradigm of open innovation, which involves collaborative efforts of numerous partners often with a heterogeneous background. The Internet reduces geographical distance, but its moderating effect on other forms of ‘distance’ relevant for innovation success, like institutional, organizational, technological, and relational distance is also elaborated. Finally, the implications for innovation at the regional level are derived. The paper concludes with a set of research questions and an integrative approach to measure Internet-enabled innovation at the regional level.
Intervention study of needle stick injury in Iran.

OBJECTIVES Injury resulting from contaminated sharp devices among health care workers (HCWs) is one of the most important concerns in medical centers. This can lead to dangerous infections such as human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus among such people. The documentation of needle stick injuries started in Sadi Hospital, Isfahan, Iran in 2003, and our objective was to study cases of injuries by sharp devices before and after the implementation of intervention methods. METHODS In an intervention survey of the type of before and after study, we studied injuries by needle and other sharp devices among 87 HCWs in Sadi Hospital, a private hospital in Isfahan, Iran, during the years 2003-2004. The groups under study were workers and paramedical staff; and the wards under study included surgery, internal, lab, x-ray and laundry. We entered and evaluated the data in SPSS software. RESULTS In the first phase of the study in 2003, 55.2% of those injured had been injured by sharp devices. After intervention in 2004, this percentage was reduced to 19.5% (p < 0.05). At the beginning of the study, 26.4% of the injured had been injured by sharp devices more than twice, and at the end of the study this number was reduced to 2.3% (p < 0.05). Also, injuries resulting from recapping were 45.8% at the beginning of the study, which was reduced to 5.9% at the end (p < 0.05). DISCUSSION With regard to this study and other studies carried out in other countries, a large number of injuries by contaminated sharp devices can be prevented by implementing suitable educational programs regarding disposal of sharp devices, and by using safe needle devices.
Enamel Hypomineralization Viewed From the Pattern of Progressive Mineralization of Human and Monkey Developing Enamel

Microradiograms and their computer-aided image analysis of ground sections of the developing enamel of human permanent third molars and monkey permanent teeth (Macaca fuscata) indicate that the mode of progressive mineralization of enamel is completely different between the matrix formation and maturation stages. During the former stage, the enamel matrix is slightly mineralized. During the latter stage, which takes a much longer period than the previous stage, the increase in the secondary mineralization takes place first slightly, from the surface toward the inner layer, and then heavily, from the inner layer toward the surface. The narrow outer layer mineralizes very slowly during the middle and late stages of maturation, but finally achieves the highest mineralization of the entire enamel layer. The very narrow innermost layer mineralizes slowly without expanding its width. The former three processes seem to be under the direct control of the ameloblasts. Hypoplastic areas which appear during the matrix formation stages are not necessarily accompanied by hypomineralization. Dysfunction of the cells immediately after the completion of matrix formation appears to cause hypomineralization throughout the entire width of matrix except for the innermost layer. Disorders of the cells occurring during the middle and/or the late stage of maturation—due to chronic metabolic disturbances, such as fluorosis—induced hypomineralization localized mainly at the outer layer. The hypomineralized enamel is not necessarily accompanied by hypoplasia. The process of enamel mineralization is not necessarily fully synchronized with that of tooth eruption. Therefore, the narrow outer layer, especially in the fissure and cervical regions, is sometimes hypomineralized even after the teeth have erupted normally.
The effects of single doses of lorazepam on event‐related potentials and cognitive function

Twelve healthy participants received double‐blind single doses of lorazepam 1 mg, 2 mg and placebo at weekly intervals using a Latin square design. Prior to administration and 2 h afterwards, a battery of tests was used to assess psychomotor and cognitive function and to elicit event‐related potentials (ERPs), concentrating on the P300 wave. This wave, elicited reliably using two paradigms (Rugg– Nagy and ‘oddball’), was prolonged in latency and reduced in amplitude in a dose‐related manner by lorazepam. Cognitive and psychomotor performance was impaired by the benzodiazepine. Subjective sedation was induced by the drug. However, no relationships were found between drug effects and the ERPs and on psychological functioning. It was concluded that the lack of correlation could reflect relatively low participant numbers or carry‐over effects of the medication.
Understanding the indigenous Chinese concept of suzhi (素质) from an HRM perspective: A conceptual analysis

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the indigenous Chinese concept of suzhi (素质) with the aim of furthering the development of Chinese human resource management (HRM) research and practice. Design/methodology/approach – An extensive review of the literature on suzhi, published in the West, as well as in China, is the basis for proffering an organizational-level conceptualization of suzhi in the Chinese context. Findings – Instead of understanding it as a free-floating signifier, we argue that suzhi can be considered as a criterion-based framework for HRM research and practice. Suzhi research is classified into two major sources – indigenous Chinese and indigenized Western constructs. We further make a distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic suzhi, and analyze a popular set of suzhi criteria, considering de (morality) and cai (talent), while focusing on de in HRM selection (德才兼备, 以德为先). As multilevel and multidimensional framework, suzhi criteria may form different gestalts in different o.
Punishment Suppression: Some Effects on Alternative Behaviour

Three experiments using a multiple response technique (Dunham, 1978) with Mongolian gerbils were designed to investigage die effect of different methods of producing response suppression on nonsuppressed (alternative) behaviour. In the first experiment white noise was used to punish eating, running or digging, respectively, in three groups of gerbils. Noise suppressed the target behaviour in each group, and the behaviour suppressed seemed to determine which alternative would increase in duration to take its place. In the second experiment eating was suppressed with white noise, shock, or by removing the food. Regardless of the method of suppression, the same alternative–digging–increased to replace eating. In the third experiment eating was again suppressed by shock, food removal, or satiation. Again in the shock and removal groups digging increased, but in the satiated group running increased. We argue that these results are consistent with a description of response suppression that claims that the increase in alternative behaviours is secondary to the suppression mechanism and that the behaviour that will increase to replace the suppressed behavior is determined by the underlying momentary motivational hierarchy at the time of response suppression.
Neuroimage: Clinical Impact of Neonate Haematocrit Variability on the Longitudinal Relaxation Time of Blood: Implications for Arterial Spin Labelling Mri

Keywords: Blood T 1 Neonates Arterial spin labelling Cerebral blood flow Haematocrit MRI a b s t r a c t Background and purpose: The longitudinal relaxation time of blood (T 1b) is influenced by haematocrit (Hct) which is known to vary in neonates. The purpose of this study was threefold: to obtain T 1b values in neonates, to investigate how the T 1b influences quantitative arterial spin labelling (ASL), and to evaluate if known relationships between T 1b and haematocrit (Hct) hold true when Hct is measured by means of a point-of-care device. Materials and methods: One hundred and four neonates with 120 MR scan sessions (3 T) were included. The T 1b was obtained from a T 1 inversion recovery sequence. T 1b-induced changes in ASL cerebral blood flow estimates were evaluated. The Hct was obtained by means of a point-of-care device. Linear regression analysis was used to investigate the relation between Hct and MRI-derived R 1 of blood (the inverse of the T 1b). Results: Mean T 1b was 1.85 s (sd 0.2 s). The mean T 1b in preterm neonates was 1.77 s, 1.89 s in preterm neonates scanned at term-equivalent age (TEA) and 1.81 s in diseased neonates. The T 1b in the TEA was significantly different from the T 1b in the preterm (p < 0.05). The change in perfusion induced by the T 1b was −11% (sd 9.1%, p < 0.001). The relation between arterial-drawn Hct and R 1b was R 1b = 0.80 × Hct + 0.22, which falls within the confidence interval of the previously established relationships, whereas capillary-drawn Hct did not correlate with R 1b. Conclusion: We demonstrated a wide variability of the T 1b in neonates and the implications it could have in methods relying on the actual T 1b as for instance ASL. It was concluded that arterial-drawn Hct values obtained from a point-of-care device can be used to infer the T 1b whereas our data did not support the use of capillary-drawn Hct for T 1b correction. blood flow quantified with a T 1b of 1.6 s; CBF 1.85 , cerebral blood flow quantified with a T 1b of 1.85 s; CBF cor , cerebral blood flow quantified with the corrected T 1b ; CBF mean , cerebral blood flow quantified with the mean T 1b found in
Design and effects of an academic development programme on leadership for educational change

This article describes and assesses the design and effects of one of the first academic development programmes on Leadership for Educational Change. The participants are senior academics, involved in leadership of teaching and learning. We report on an evaluation using a mixed-method approach employing a self-report questionnaire administered to former participants and interviews with heads of department, followed by a questionnaire. Both groups agreed on the programme impact. The main aspects contributing to these effects were the way the programme catered to participants’ needs as advanced learners by giving them influence on the content, and addressed their practice, the study tour abroad, and the opportunities for discussions with colleagues.
Family matters: Directionality of turning bias while kissing is modulated by context

ABSTRACT When leaning forward to kiss to a romantic partner, individuals tend to direct their kiss to the right more often than the left. Studies have consistently demonstrated this kissing asymmetry, although other factors known to influence lateral biases, such as sex or situational context, had yet to be explored. The primary purpose of our study was to investigate if turning direction was consistent between a romantic (parent–parent) and parental (parent–child) kissing context, and secondly, to examine if sex differences influenced turning bias between parent–child kissing partners. An archival analysis coded the direction of turning bias for 161 images of romantic kissing (mothers kissing fathers) and 529 images of parental kissing (mothers or fathers kissing sons or daughters). The results indicated that the direction of turning bias differed between kissing contexts. As expected, a right-turn bias was observed for romantic kissing; however, a left-turn bias was exhibited for parental kissing. There was no significant difference of turning bias between any parent–child kissing partners. Interpretations for the left-turn bias discuss parental kissing as a learned lateral behaviour.
Taming Linux

This paper describes the overall design, partial implement ation and brief performance evaluation of a system in which Linux and i ts applications run besides real-time applications. The separation of the real -time and time-sharing subsystems is not restricted to the use of the CPU but enforce d as well for other resources, namely main memory and caches. This paper details t he changes needed for the original Linux to decouple it from real-time processand analyzes the performance of the resulting system.