Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validity evidence for a modified version of the Orthotics and Prosthetics Users’ Survey

Purpose: To evaluate the validity of a modified version of the Orthotics and Prosthetics Users’ Survey (OPUS) with persons using different prosthetic and orthotic (P&O) devices.Method: Two-hundred-and-eighty-two adults using prosthesis, orthosis, shoe insoles or orthopaedic shoes completed OPUS. OPUS comprises five modules - Lower and Upper Extremity Functional Status, respectively (LEFS and UEFS), Client Satisfaction with Device and Services, respectively (CSD and CSS), and, Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). Eight new items were added to LEFS and six to UEFS. Rasch analysis was used for data analyses.Results: Rating scales functioned satisfactory after some modifications. All modules demonstrated a ceiling effect. Unidimensionality was satisfactory after deleting some items and dividing HRQoL into two subscales, although somewhat weak on CSD and CSS. Item reliability was excellent for all modules and person reliability good for all but CSD and CSS. Some items demonstrated differential item functioning related to sex and age, but the impact on person measures was small.Conclusions: This study supports the validity of a modified version of OPUS for persons using different P&O devices, but also reveals limitations to be addressed in future studies. OPUS could be useful in clinical rehabilitation and research to evaluate P&O outcomes. Implications for Rehabilitation The rehabilitation of individuals with musculoskeletal dysfunction often includes prosthetic or orthotic devices. There is a need for validated instruments to assess the outcomes of prosthetic and orthotic (P&O) interventions. This study provides validity evidence in support of using the Orthotics and Prosthetics Users’ Survey (OPUS) as an outcome measure for P&O interventions.
Examining cues that signal mental illness stigma

Abstract Erving Goffman (1963) distinguished between stigmas that are readily perceived (like ethnic group and gender) versus those that might be hidden (like sexual orientation or religious affiliation). Mental illness stigma falls into this latter group; it is not readily obvious but instead inferred from a variety of social cues. The impact of three cues—bizarre behavior, poor social skills, and low physical attractiveness—on stigma is examined in this study. One hundred seventeen research participants read four vignettes about meeting a person in public who varied in symptoms (positive versus negative symptoms) and appearance (clean versus unkempt). After completing each vignette, they answered questions about three types of stigmatizing attitudes: dangerousness, threat, and social avoidance. Results suggest research participants rated the person in the vignette as more dangerous, threatening, and worthy of avoidance when he manifested positive symptoms compared to negative symptoms. Physical appearan.
Social validation: a motivational theory of doping in an online bodybuilding community

Abstract Doping research has predominantly been framed through an ethical lens, implicitly restricted to the realms of elite sport. Despite increasing anecdotal evidence of growing prevalence rates amongst recreational athletes, such as bodybuilders, these populations have largely been neglected within psychological research. This study aims to develop a theoretical framework relevant to these athletes. Data were collected over a five-month period from an online community forum dedicated to recreational bodybuilders. Purposive sampling was used to gather 118 webpages of doping-related discussion, which were qualitatively analysed using grounded theory applying Strauss’s coding paradigm. Inductive categories were integrated into a motivational framework that related recreational doping to social validation. Categories included the online community’s rite of passage, normative-inferences that facilitated doping, and deterrence factors related to fear of perceived health risks. Findings demonstrate that, for recreational bodybuilders, psychosocial processes are significantly related to doping motives, and that health factors are primary doping deterrents.
In vitro antibacterial activity of trospectomycin (U-63366F), a novel spectinomycin analog

Trospectomycin (U-63366F) is a novel spectinomycin analog with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. The in vitro activity of this analog was compared with that of spectinomycin and other reference antibiotics against 411 clinical isolates of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. MICs were determined by agar or broth dilution methods. The stability of trospectomycin in the presence of an enzyme extract derived from spectinomycin-resistant Escherichia coli was determined. Trospectomycin was more active than spectinomycin (4- to 32-fold) against strains of numerous bacterial species, including staphylococci, streptococci, Haemophilus influenzae, Branhamella catarrhalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Proteus species, Bacteroides species, Clostridium difficile, Clostridium species, and Chlamydia trachomatis. Trospectomycin demonstrated a moderate level of activity (comparable to that of spectinomycin) for most species of the family Enterobacteriaceae tested and was generally cross resistant with spectinomycin. Trospectomycin was susceptible to inactivation by crude enzyme preparations from spectinomycin-inactivating strains of E. coli. Trospectomycin inhibited a variety of clinically important organisms, including agents of sexually transmitted diseases and pelvic inflammatory disease. Clinical studies with this novel aminocyclitol antibiotic are in progress.
Using innovative pedagogical practices in disciplines of engineering and computing graduation in Brazil

The use of innovative teaching practices has helped professors in universities, thus contributing to the improvement of undergraduate education. Within the engineering and computing areas of undergraduate courses, there is a more specific challenge to professors when ministering information technology management disciplines. This paper presents a study concerning the difficulties faced by IT management professors. We proceed with a review of innovative teaching practices used to improve the results of an IT governance discipline within a graduation course undertaken at the Federal University of Ceará (UFC), Brazil. Results taken from an interview and an assessment of the professor by students in the discipline were proven to be quite promising.
A Novel Enterovirus 71 (EV71) Virulence Determinant: The 69th Residue of 3C Protease Modulates Pathogenicity

Human enterovirus type 71 (EV71), the major causative agent of hand-foot-and-mouth disease, has been known to cause fatal neurological complications. Unfortunately, the reason for neurological complications that have been seen in fatal cases of the disease and the relationship between EV71 virulence and viral genetic sequences remains largely undefined. The 3C protease (3Cpro) of EV71 plays an irreplaceable role in segmenting the precursor polyprotein during viral replication, and intervening with host life activity during viral infection. In this study, for the first time, the 69th residue of 3C protease has been identified as a novel virulence determinant of EV71. The recombinant virus with single point variation, in the 69th of 3Cpro, exhibited obvious decline in replication, and virulence. We further determined the crystal structure of 3C N69D at 1.39 Ǻ resolution and found that conformation of 3C N69D demonstrated significant changes compared with a normal 3C protein, in the substrate-binding site and catalytic active site. Strikingly, one of the switch loops, essential in fixing substrates, adopts an open conformation in the 3C N69D-rupintrivir complex. Consistent with this apparent structural disruption, the catalytic activity of 3C N69D decreased sharply for host derived and viral derived substrates, detected for both in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, in addition to EV71, Asp69 was also found in 3C proteases of other virus strains, such as CAV16, and was conserved in nearly all C type human rhinovirus. Overall, we identified a natural virulence determinant of 3C protease and revealed the mechanism of attenuated virulence is mediated by N69D substitution. Our data provides new insight into the enzymatic mechanism of a subdued 3C protease and suggests a theoretical basis for virulence determinantion of picornaviridae.
Forming Parasocial Relationships in Online Communities

Parasocial interaction theory has been used to describe the one-sided relationships that can occur between a media user and the media being consumed. Used to understand the process by which individuals form attachments to media personae, the theory may also help explain the behavior of those consumers who use Internetbased online communities. This paper provides an overview of parasocial interaction theory, and explores how parasocial interaction can affect the consumption behavior of online community users. Following a review of the extant literature, a number of research questions are outlined to help guide future research in this area.
Inter- vs intra-individual variation and temporal repeatability of escape responses in the coral reef fish Amblyglyphidodon curacao

ABSTRACT Fast-start escape responses are critical behaviours used by fishes during predator-prey encounters and some interactions with hetero- and conspecifics. In experimental studies, escape responses are often measured once per individual and considered representative of maximum performance. However, few studies have compared variability and repeatability in escape performances within and among individuals. Using the tropical damselfish Amblyglyphidodon curacao, we quantified inter- and intra-individual variation in behavioural and kinematic components of escape performance during repeated presentations of a stimulus at 15 min intervals. Individual maximum escape performance was repeatable through time, but there was considerable variation in the magnitude of responses both among and within fish. We found no evidence of habituation or fatigue due to repeated stimulations, suggesting that fish can be stimulated multiple times to ensure that an accurate estimate of maximum escape performance is obtained. Summary: Quantification of the inter- and intra-individual variation in behavioural and kinematic components of escape performance of the tropical damselfish Amblyglyphidodon curacao found no evidence of habituation or fatigue due to repeated stimulations.
GAMMA MOVEMENT AND TIME ERROR

Three experiments explored the possibility that gam ma movement affects the time error in the successive comparison of the lengths o f two briefly presented lines. The first experiment discovered that gamma movement was greatly reduced in peripheral vision. The second indicated that time err ors had two components, one attributable to gamma movement and one to the absolute-impression bias. In agreement with the finding that gamma movement was reduced peripherally, the third experiment showed that for peripheral lines the tim e-error component attributable to gamma movement vanished while that attributable to the absolute-impression bias persisted. Thus, it seems likely that gamma mo vement affects time errors. In the successive comparison of line lengths, McCl elland (1943) found that time errors depended on whether the compared lines faded away or disappeared abruptly. Fading lines apparently contract. McClell and (1943, p. 89) asserted that this apparent contraction was "discovered by K orte in 1916 and named by him 'gamma movement'. " However, gamma movement is the apparent expansion or contraction of a visual stimulus that abruptly appears or disappears, respectively (Kanizsa, 1979; Kenkel, 1913) . Correctly, Guilford (1954, p. 311) called the effect found by McClelland the e ffect of stimulus-cessation gradient, not the effect of gamma movement. Thus, a briefly presented line that abruptly appea rs and disappears looks as if it first expands and then contracts. We may ask whe ther comparative judgment is affected by this gamma expansion. For example, a time error could occur because subjects compare the maximum perceived length of a current line with the minimum or average remembered length of a preceding line. The following experiments explored this possibility. Erlebacher and Sekuler (1974) first demonstrated t hat in about 1 sec the perceived length of a briefly presented line progre ssively increased with time from an initial value up to a maximum value. However, Jaeger and Kraemer (1980) found this length to decrease with time. To resolve this disagreement, Experiment 1 first repeated these experiments. Conc urrently, it also tested the possible effects of attention and retinal eccentric ity on gamma movement.
Biochemical and molecular effects of gestational and lactational coexposure to lead and cadmium on ovarian steroidogenesis are associated with oxidative stress in f1 generation rats

Few studies have characterized the molecular and biochemical mechanisms involved in ovarian steroidogenesis disruption by heavy metals, such as lead and cadmium coexposure, on F1 generation offspring. In this study, adult pregnant female rats were treated subcutaneously (0.05 mg/kg of body weight per day) with sodium acetate (control), lead acetate, and cadmium acetate separately and in combination throughout gestational and lactational period, and all animals from each of the experimental groups were sacrificed by decapitation on postnatal day 56 for various assays. The activities of key steroidogenic enzymes (17β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) decreased in all the metal‐treated groups. But the most significant decrease in the activities was observed in the cadmium‐treated group, whereas the combined exposure group showed an intermediate effect. Serum estradiol and progesterone levels were also significantly altered in all the metal‐treated groups, with the cadmium‐exposed group showing maximum reductions as compared with the control group. The inhibitory effects of lead and cadmium on ovarian steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) mRNA levels along with CYP11 mRNA levels were also observed. Ovarian cholesterol content measured also showed significant depletion in all the metal‐treated groups, with the cadmium‐exposed group showing the maximum depletion. The activities of ovarian enzymatic antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, were all significantly diminished along with significant depletion in nonenzymatic antioxidants. Lipid peroxidation was elevated significantly in all the metal‐treated groups. In conclusion, lead and cadmium inhibit ovarian steroidogenesis by downregulating StAR gene expression along with inhibiting activities of steroidogenic enzymes and antioxidant system. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 24:384–394, 2010; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/jbt.20351
The Tomato Fni3 Lysine-63–Specific Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzyme and Suv Ubiquitin E2 Variant Positively Regulate Plant Immunity[C][W]

The Ubc13-type ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme catalyzes Lys-63–specific ubiquitination, which usually plays a nonproteolytic, regulatory role in the cell. In this study, Fni3, the tomato homolog of Ubc13, and its cofactor Suv were identified and shown to regulate Fen-mediated and other R protein–mediated, immunity-associated cell death, revealing an important mechanism for regulation of the plant immune system. The activation of an immune response in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) against Pseudomonas syringae relies on the recognition of E3 ligase–deficient forms of AvrPtoB by the host protein kinase, Fen. To investigate the mechanisms by which Fen-mediated immunity is regulated, we characterize in this study a Fen-interacting protein, Fni3, and its cofactor, S. lycoperiscum Uev (Suv). Fni3 encodes a homolog of the Ubc13-type ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme that catalyzes exclusively Lys-63–linked ubiquitination, whereas Suv is a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme variant. The C-terminal region of Fen was necessary for interaction with Fni3, and this interaction was required for cell death triggered by overexpression of Fen in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Fni3 was shown to be an active E2 enzyme, but Suv displayed no ubiquitin-conjugating activity; Fni3 and Suv together directed Lys-63–linked ubiquitination. Decreased expression of Fni3, another tomato Ubc13 homolog, Sl-Ubc13-2, or Suv in N. benthamiana leaves diminished cell death associated with Fen-mediated immunity and cell death elicited by several other resistance (R) proteins and their cognate effectors. We also discovered that coexpression of Fen and other R proteins/effectors with a Fni3 mutant that is compromised for ubiquitin-conjugating activity diminished the cell death. These results suggest that Fni3/Sl-Ubc13-2 and Suv regulate the immune response mediated by Fen and other R proteins through Lys-63–linked ubiquitination.
On-demand Provisioning of Infrastructure, Middleware and Services for Simulation Workflows

Service orientation is a mainstream paradigm in business applications and gains even greater acceptance in the very active field of eScience. In SOC service binding strategies have been defined to specify the point in time a service can be discovered and selected for use, namely static binding, dynamic binding at deployment or at run time, and dynamic service deployment. The basic assumption in all these strategies is that the software stack and infrastructure necessary to execute the services are already available. While in service-based business applications this is typically a valid assumption in scientific applications it is often not the case. Therefore, in this work we introduce a new binding strategy for services we call on-demand provisioning which entails provisioning of the software stack necessary for the service and subsequent dynamic deployment of the service itself. Towards this goal, we also contribute a middleware architecture that enables the provisioning of the software stack - functionality unavailable in conventional service middlewares. We demonstrate the approach and the capabilities of the middleware and the current state of the implementation of our approach. For this purpose we use an example application from the field of eScience that comprises a scientific workflow management system for simulations.
LEVAMISOLE AND INOSIPLEX: ANTIVIRAL AGENTS WITH IMMUNOPOTENTIATING ACTION *

The clinical need for agents to modify immune response in the treatment of patients with cancer has lead to an increased interest in cellular and biochemical mechanisms regulating the immune response and to the development of a variety of biological and chemical substances with immunomodulatory activity. Concomitantly, there has evolved an increasing awareness of the importance of viruses, particularly herpesviruses, both as pathogens producing severe infections complicating the course of cancer, and as possible contributory or etiologic agents of cancer. Enhanced appreciation of the functional similarities of host responses to viruses and to cancer has prompted interest in possible use of immunomodulators in the therapy of viral infections. Recent observations suggest that such agents may have application in the apparently normal individual with moderately severe or recurrent viral infection. The present report will present data and review the immunomodulatory status of two agents: levamisole and inosiplex. Levamisole, the levoisomer of tetramisole, was initially developed as an antihelminthic agent and later found by Renoux to be an immunopotentiating agent in mice infected with brucella or immunized with sheep erythrocytes.l. 2 This agent has been extensively analyzed as a prohost anticancer agent and has been demonstrated to reverse certain depressed cellular immune responses in cancer-bearing animals and humans and to induce remission o r to forestall the recurrence of cancer in a limited number of circumstance^. ^ Levamisole does not appear to exert any direct antitumor effects, and to date a considerable amount of evidence has accumulated to indicate that its in vivo effects derive from modulation of host resistance mechanisms, particularly those related to cellular immunity. Recently, levamisole has been employed in the treatment of herpes virus infection in rats and in man and has been shown to have a therapeutic Inosiplex, the p-acetamidobenzoic acid salt of inosine N,N-dimethylaminoisopropanol, on the other hand, was developed as an antiviral agent. In a number of clinical studies this agent has been shown to ameliorate the course of herpes and rhinovirus infection.8-'0 The evidence supporting a direct antiviral action of this agent has been variable and difficult to interpret. 'O In several studies, inosiplex treatment was associated with augmented serum antibody responses.11. 12 Further, the effects of this agent to protect h a m s t e r ~ ' ~ and micelo from herpes and influenza virus, respectively, are abrogated by antilymphocyte globulin or cortisone acetate, two well-recognized suppressors of the cellular immune response. Recently, we14 have reported a direct
Suppression of Intestinal Neoplasia by Deletion of Dnmt3b

ABSTRACT Aberrant gene silencing accompanied by DNA methylation is associated with neoplastic progression in many tumors that also show global loss of DNA methylation. Using conditional inactivation of de novo methyltransferase Dnmt3b in Apc Min/+ mice, we demonstrate that the loss of Dnmt3b has no impact on microadenoma formation, which is considered the earliest stage of intestinal tumor formation. Nevertheless, we observed a significant decrease in the formation of macroscopic colonic adenomas. Interestingly, many large adenomas showed regions with Dnmt3b inactivation, indicating that Dnmt3b is required for initial outgrowth of macroscopic adenomas but is not required for their maintenance. These results support a role for Dnmt3b in the transition stage between microadenoma formation and macroscopic colonic tumor growth and further suggest that Dnmt3b, and by extension de novo methylation, is not required for maintaining tumor growth after this transition stage has occurred.
Difference in learning style preference of medical,dental and B pharma students

Introduction: The aim of the study was to analyze the learning styles and the difference if any between medical, dental and B Pharmaceutical students. Methods: 112 medical, 110dental and 106 B pharma students were studied in each group. Each of the group completed the VARK (visual, auditory, read-write and kinesthetic) questionnaire and their learning style was analyzed. Then the values of each group were compared to get the result. The goal was to identify the preferred learning pattern and to attempt to improve the teaching methods. Results: statistically one way ANOVA was applied to study the data generated. The results reflect that there is predominance of kinesthetic learners individually though not significant. When multimodal group as a whole compared to unimodal groups there was significant difference seen. Conclusion: This study corroborates the findings of previous studies done on this subject. The study also underlines the need to adopt varied pattern of teaching to cater different groups of learner in different as well as different groups.