Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Early visual deficits in streptozotocin-induced diabetic long evans rats.

PURPOSE Although diabetic retinopathy (DR) is clinically diagnosed based on vascular pathology, diabetic patients with angiographically normal retinas have been found to exhibit subtle defects in vision. This has led to the theory that diabetes-associated metabolic abnormalities directly impair neural retinal function before the development of vasculopathy, thereby resulting in visual deficits. In this study, we sought to delineate the temporal relationship between retinal dysfunction and visual deficits in a rat model of Type 1 diabetes. Moreover, we investigated the relative contribution of retinal dysfunction versus diabetes-induced lens opacity, to the visual deficits found in early-stage DR. METHODS Pigmented Long Evans rats were rendered diabetic with streptozotocin (STZ). Control and diabetic rats were assessed across 12 weeks of hyperglycemia for visual function with optokinetic tracking weekly visual acuity and monthly contrast sensitivity, retinal function with dark-adapted electroretinograms (monthly electroretinograms [ERGs]), and cataract formation with slit lamp exam (biweekly). RESULTS Diabetic rats exhibited significantly reduced visual function and delayed ERG responses by 1 month post-STZ. Significant cataracts did not develop until 6 weeks post-STZ. Moreover, increases in lens opacity (r = -0.728) and ERG implicit times (r = -0.615 for rod-dominated response and r = -0.322 for rod/cone mixed response) showed significant correlations with reductions in visual acuity in diabetic rats. CONCLUSIONS STZ-induced hyperglycemia reduces visual function, affecting both visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. The data suggest that visual defects found in early-stage DR may initially involve abnormalities of the neural retina and worsen with later development of cataracts.
Psychology as a Science within Comte's Hypothesized Hierarchy: Empirical Investigations and Conceptual Implications

Auguste Comte suggested that the main sciences could be grouped into a hierarchical ordering that reflected their objective characteristics (viz., generality, dependence, and complexity). In particular, the empirical sciences could be placed in the following order: astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, and sociology. Although his idea was initially discredited in the sociology of science, subsequent research indicates that the conjecture has considerable empirical merit. Significantly, that research inserts psychology between biology and sociology, with significantly more proximity with biology. After replicating the earlier findings using new measures, the metatheoretical basis for the hierarchical arrangement is then examined. The article closes with suggestions for further empirical and theoretical research on psychology's placement in the hierarchical arrangement.
FATORES ANTECEDENTES DA ACEITAÇÃO DE JOGOS ELETRÔNICOS: UMA REPLICAÇÃO DO MODELO UTAUT2 EM JOVENS USUÁRIOS

O objetivo desta pesquisa e identificar os fatores antecedentes da aceitacao de jogos eletronicos por jovens usuarios utilizando o modelo Unified Theory of Acceptance and use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) desenvolvido por Venkatesh, Thong e Xu (2012). A pesquisa, do tipo survey em corte transversal unico, foi realizada em uma IES publica, localizada no municipio de Osasco-SP, utilizando questionario estruturado com vinte e oito afirmativas respondidas por meio de uma escala Likert. Os dados foram analisados por meio de modelagem de equacoes estruturais, e os resultados obtidos demonstraram a forte influencia da Expectativa de Desempenho, da Expectativa de Esforco, do Habito e da Motivacao Hedonica na Intencao de Usar Jogos Eletronicos, foi tambem encontrada uma relacao positiva entre a Intencao de Uso e o Comportamento, e identificada uma variavel moderadora, relacionada a Experiencia, que afetou a influencia das Condicoes Facilitadoras sobre o Consumo.
Focusing real-time systems analysis on user operations

A way is presented to model and validate complex, real-time systems by describing these systems from the viewpoints of the major parties in system development: the customer, the user, and the implementer. The models representing these points of view are called, respectively, the requirements model, the operations-concept model, and the implementation model. The focus is on how the concept of operations can be formally factored into established real-time system-analysis methods in terms a nontechnical user can understand. The approach integrates and refines several real-time-oriented modeling methods, including structured analysis, finite-state machines, and threads. Modeling needs are discussed, the multiview paradigm is presented, and an extensive example of a bottle-filling system is given to illustrate the use of the method. <<ETX>>
AHTPDB: a comprehensive platform for analysis and presentation of antihypertensive peptides

AHTPDB (http://crdd.osdd.net/raghava/ahtpdb/) is a manually curated database of experimentally validated antihypertensive peptides. Information pertaining to peptides with antihypertensive activity was collected from research articles and from various peptide repositories. These peptides were derived from 35 major sources that include milk, egg, fish, pork, chicken, soybean, etc. In AHTPDB, most of the peptides belong to a family of angiotensin-I converting enzyme inhibiting peptides. The current release of AHTPDB contains 5978 peptide entries among which 1694 are unique peptides. Each entry provides detailed information about a peptide like sequence, inhibitory concentration (IC50), toxicity/bitterness value, source, length, molecular mass and information related to purification of peptides. In addition, the database provides structural information of these peptides that includes predicted tertiary and secondary structures. A user-friendly web interface with various tools has been developed to retrieve and analyse the data. It is anticipated that AHTPDB will be a useful and unique resource for the researchers working in the field of antihypertensive peptides.
GBR: Grid Based Random Key Predistribution for Wireless Sensor Network

Resource constraints of sensor nodes make infeasible to use traditional key management techniques such as public key cryptography for security service of distributed sensor network. Pairwise key establishment is one of the efficient ways to achieve security service. To alleviate the study of novel pairwise key predistribution techniques, this paper presents an efficient framework for establishing pairwise keys based on polynomial key pre-distribution adopting the idea of random key predistribution scheme and grid based scheme. We named our scheme as grid based random (GBR) scheme. The concept and analysis of this scheme explains its better improved resilience to node capture than the existing schemes along with a very high probability to establish pairwise keys between nodes in an efficient way
Clinicopathological and Prognostic Value of Ki-67 Expression in Bladder Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background Ki-67 is an established marker of cell proliferation, and the Ki-67 index correlates with the clinical course of several cancer types, including bladder cancer (BC). However, the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of Ki-67 in bladder cancer remains unclear. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to clarify this relationship. Methods A comprehensive literature search for relevant studies published up to February 1, 2016, was performed using PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase and ISI Web of Knowledge. The effects of Ki-67 expression on survival outcome in patients with BC and BC subtypes were evaluated. Furthermore, the relationship between Ki-67 expression and the clinicopathological features of BC were assessed. Results Thirty-one studies with 5147 bladder cancer patients were selected for evaluation. Ki-67 expression was significantly associated with shorter recurrence-free (HR 1.69, 95% CI: 1.33–2.14), progression-free (HR 1.89, 95% CI: 1.43–2.51), overall (HR 2.03, 95% CI: 1.31–3.16), and cancer-specific (HR 1.69, 95% CI: 1.47–1.95) survival. Moreover, whereas high expression was more common in high tumor stage, recurrence status, tumor size, there was no correlation between high Ki-67 expression and age, gender, smoking habits, and tumor number. Importantly, analysis of the different subgroups of BC suggested that significant correlations between high Ki-67 expression and survival outcome (recurrence-free/progression-free/overall/cancer-specific survival) are present only in European-American patients. Conclusion The present results indicate that over-expression of Ki-67 is distinctly correlated with poor patient survival. Ki-67 may serve as a valuable biomarker for prognosis in BC patients, particularly in non-Asian BC patients. The results suggest no significant association between Ki-67 expression and BC prognosis in Asian patients. Further efforts are needed to fully clarify this relationship.
HUBUNGAN ANTARA SELF-EFFICACY DENGAN BURNOUT PADA PENGAJAR TAMAN KANAK-KANAK SEKOLAH “X” DI JAKARTA

Abstract Teacher needs to have a s elf-efficacy as the main factor which can help them to perform well when they have to face the demand as a teacher. Teachers who have lack of Self-efficacy in doing their job as a teacher tend to have stress and get b urnout. Therefore, there is a correlation between Self-efficacy and Burnout. This research is a quantitative, with statistical techniques correlations. The sample in this study involved 40 of The “X” Preschool Teacher in Jakarta. Sample was taken by census method. The instrument used are s elf-efficacy and b urnout scale with reliability coefficient (α) 0,965 for Burnout variable with 45 valid items and (α) 0,978 for Self-efficacy variable with 58 valid items.The results showed the strong correlation coefficient of -0,691 with sig. 0,000 (p 0,005) showed there is no correlation between age, marital satus, education and job with Burnout. Keyword s : t eacher, s elf-efficacy, b urnout Abstrak Faktor yang perlu dimiliki oleh seorang pengajar diantaranya adalah Self-efficacy yang dapat membantu pengajar menghadapi kendala dalam menjalani tuntutan tugasnya. Ketidakyakinan pengajar akan kemampuan dirinya dalam menghadapi tuntutan tugasnya dapat menimbulkan stres dan menyebabkan Burnout. Penelitian ini bersifat kuantitatif korelasioal non-eksperimental. Sampel penelitian berjumlah 40 pengajar TK sekolah “X” di Jakarta. Teknik sampling yang digunakan ada-lah sampel jenuh. Instrumen penelitian yang digunakan adalah kuesioner Burnout dan kuesioner Self-efficacy. Masing-masing kuesioner memiliki tingkat reliabilitas (α) 0,965 untuk variabel Burnout dengan 45 item valid dan (α) 0,978 untuk variabel Self-efficacy dengan 58 item valid. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan koefisien korelasi kuat sebesar -0,691 dengan sig. 0,000 (p 0,005) menunjukkan tidak terdapat hubungan antara Burnout dengan usia, status, pendidikan dan jabatan pada pengajar TK sekolah “X” di Jakarta. Kata kunci: pengajar, s elf-efficacy, b urnout
Bilateral representation in the deep cerebellar nuclei

The cerebellum is normally assumed to represent ipsilateral movements. We tested this by making microelectrode penetrations into the deep cerebellar nuclei (mainly nucleus interpositus) of monkeys trained to perform a reach and grasp task with either hand. Following weak single electrical stimuli, many sites produced clear bilateral facilitation of multiple forelimb muscles. The short onset latencies, which were similar for each side, suggested that at least some of the muscle responses were mediated by descending tracts originating in the brainstem, rather than via the cerebral cortex. Additionally, cerebellar neurones modulated their discharge with both ipsilateral and contralateral movements. This was so, even when we carefully excluded contralateral trials with evidence of electromyogram modulation on the ipsilateral side. We conclude that the deep cerebellar nuclei have a bilateral movement representation, and relatively direct, powerful access to limb muscles on both sides of the body. This places the cerebellum in an ideal position to coordinate bilateral movements.
Generics for the masses

A generic function is a function that can be instantiated on many data types to obtain data type specific functionality. Examples of generic functions are the functions that can be derived in Haskell, such as show, read, and '=='. The recent years have seen a number of proposals that support the definition of generic functions. Some of the proposals define new languages, some define extensions to existing languages. As a common characteristic none of the proposals can be made to work within Haskell 98: they all require something extra, either a more sophisticated type system or an additional language construct. The purpose of this pearl is to show that one can, in fact, program generically within Haskell 98 obviating to some extent the need for fancy type systems or separate tools. Haskell's type classes are at the heart of this approach: they ensure that generic functions can be defined succinctly and, in particular, that they can be used painlessly.
Distinct neural mechanisms underlie the success, precision, and vividness of episodic memory

A network of brain regions have been linked with episodic memory retrieval, but limited progress has been made in identifying the contributions of distinct parts of the network. Here, we utilized continuous measures of retrieval to dissociate three components of episodic memory: retrieval success, precision, and vividness. In the fMRI scanner, participants encoded objects that varied continuously on three features: color, orientation, and location. Participants’ memory was tested by having them recreate the appearance of the object features using a continuous dial, and continuous vividness judgments were recorded. Retrieval success, precision, and vividness were dissociable both behaviorally and neurally: successful versus unsuccessful retrieval was associated with hippocampal activity, retrieval precision scaled with activity in the angular gyrus, and vividness judgments tracked activity in the precuneus. The ability to dissociate these components of episodic memory reveals the benefit afforded by measuring memory on a continuous scale, allowing functional parcellation of the retrieval network. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.18260. 001
Using differences among replications of software engineering experiments to gain knowledge

In no science or engineering discipline does it make sense to speak of isolated experiments. The results of a single experiment cannot be viewed as representative of the underlying reality. The concept of experiment is closely related to replication. Experiment replication is the repetition of an experiment to double-check its results. Multiple replications of an experiment increase the credibility of its results. Software engineering has tried its hand at the identical repetition of experiments in the way of the natural sciences (physics, chemistry, etc.). After numerous attempts over the years, excepting experiments repeated by the same researchers at the same site, no exact replications have yet been achieved. One key reason for this is the complexity of the software development setting. This complexity prevents the many experimental conditions from being reproduced identically. This paper reports research into whether non-exact replications can be of any use. We propose a process that allows researchers to generate new knowledge when running non-exact replications. To illustrate the advantages of the proposed process, two different replications of an experiment are shown.
Changes in Cognitive Function over 3 Years after First-Ever Stroke and Predictors of Cognitive Impairment and Long-Term Cognitive Stability: The Erlangen Stroke Project

Background and Purpose: Cognitive impairment (CI) is frequent after stroke, but data from population-based stroke cohorts on the natural course of CI are limited. The purpose of this study was to determine changes in cognitive status over 3 years after stroke. Methods: Data were collected from the Erlangen Stroke Project, an ongoing population-based stroke registry. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for assessing global cognitive function was used; CI was defined as an MMSE score <24. Results: From February 1998 to January 2006, 630 patients with first-ever stroke were included. Prevalence rates of CI at 3 months, 1 and 3 years were 15, 13, and 12%. In multivariable analysis, stroke severity, i.e. Barthel index (p < 0.001), age (OR = 1.03; 95% CI = 1.00–1.05) and diabetes mellitus (OR = 2.03; 95% CI = 1.13–3.67) were associated with CI at 3 months. Recovery rate from CI at 3 months after stroke was found to be 31% over the following 3 years. Intact cognitive function rate was 71% over 3 years and inversely associated with age (OR = 0.96; 95% CI = 0.96–0.94) and stroke severity (p < 0.001). Conclusion: CI is frequent among stroke survivors and associated with age, stroke severity, and diabetes mellitus, but recovery occurs in approximately one third of the patients over the course of 3 years. Factors affecting intact cognitive function over time are increasing age and stroke severity.
Information search and information distortion in the diagnosis of an ambiguous presentation

Physicians often encounter diagnostic problems with ambiguous and conflicting features. What are they likely to do in such situations? We presented a diagnostic scenario to 84 family physicians and traced their information gathering, diagnoses and management. The scenario contained an ambiguous feature, while the other features supported either a cardiac or a musculoskeletal diagnosis. Due to the risk of death, the cardiac diagnosis should be considered and managed appropriately. Forty-seven participants (56%) gave only a musculoskeletal diagnosis and 45 of them managed the patient inappropriately (sent him home with painkillers). They elicited less information and spent less time on the scenario than those who diagnosed a cardiac cause. No feedback was provided to participants. Stimulated recall with 52 of the physicians revealed differences in the way that the same information was interpreted as a function of the final diagnosis. The musculoskeletal group denigrated important cues, making them coherent with their representation of a pulled muscle, whilst the cardiac group saw them as evidence for a cardiac problem. Most physicians indicated that they were fairly or very certain about their diagnosis. The observed behaviours can be described as coherence-based reasoning, whereby an emerging judgment influences the evaluation of incoming information, so that confident judgments can be achieved even with ambiguous, uncertain and conflicting information. The role of coherence-based reasoning in medical diagnosis and diagnostic error needs to be systematically examined.
Increases in Individualistic Words and Phrases in American Books, 1960–2008

Cultural products such as song lyrics, television shows, and books reveal cultural differences, including cultural change over time. Two studies examine changes in the use of individualistic words (Study 1) and phrases (Study 2) in the Google Books Ngram corpus of millions of books in American English. Current samples from the general population generated and rated lists of individualistic words and phrases (e.g., “unique,” “personalize,” “self,” “all about me,” “I am special,” “I’m the best”). Individualistic words and phrases increased in use between 1960 and 2008, even when controlling for changes in communal words and phrases. Language in American books has become increasingly focused on the self and uniqueness in the decades since 1960.
Higher blood glucose level associated with body mass index and gut microbiota in elderly people

Background Some dominant bacterial divisions of the intestines have been linked to metabolic diseases such as overweight and diabetes. Objective A pilot study aimed to evaluate the relations between the culturable intestinal bacteria with body mass index (BMI) and some principal cellular and metabolic markers of blood in people older than 65. Design Altogether 38 generally healthy elderly people were recruited: ambulatory (n=19) and orthopedic surgery (n=19). Questionnaires on general health, anthropometric measurements, routine clinical and laboratory data, and quantitative composition of cultivable gut microbiota were performed. Results Blood glucose level was positively correlated with BMI (r=0.402; p=0.014). Higher blood glucose level had negative correlation with relative share of intestinal anaerobic bacteria such as bacteroides (r=−0.434; p=0.0076) and gram-positive anaerobic cocci (r=−0.364; p=0.027). In contrast, the relative share of bifidobacteria (r=0.383; p=0.019) and staphylococci (r=0.433; p=0.008) was positively correlated to blood glucose level. In elderly people, a higher blood glucose concentration was predicted by the reduction of the anaerobes’ proportion (adj. sex, age, and BMI R2=0.192, p=0.028) and that of Bacteroides sp. (adj. R2=0.309, p=0.016). Conclusion A tight interplay between increased BMI, level of blood glucose, and the reduced proportion of cultivable bacteroides is taking place in the gut microbiota of elderly people.
Monetary policy without reserve requirements: case studies and options for the United States

Over the past decade, the level of required balances held by depository institutions in the United States has declined dramatically. The decline in reserve balances has fueled a debate over the role of reserve requirements. On the one hand, proponents of reserve requirements argue that low reserve balances may complicate monetary policy operations and increase short-term interest rate volatility. On the other hand, critics of reserve requirements argue that lower reserve requirements remove a distortionary tax on depository institutions and need not complicate monetary policy operations. ; In this article, the authors examine how three countries - Canada, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand conduct monetary policy without using reserve requirements. The experience of these three countries provides insight into the linkages between the payments system and monetary policy and into the connection between reserve requirements and interest rate volatility. This insight is particularly helpful in understanding the implications of a further reduction of reserve balances in the United States.