Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Online Educational Program Improves Pediatric Oncology Nurses’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Spiritual Care Competence

This study evaluated the potential impact of an online spiritual care educational program on pediatric nurses’ attitudes toward and knowledge of spiritual care and their competence to provide spiritual care to children with cancer at the end of life. It was hypothesized that the intervention would increase nurses’ positive attitudes toward and knowledge of spiritual care and increase nurses’ level of perceived spiritual care competence. A positive correlation was expected between change in nurses’ perceived attitudes toward and knowledge of spiritual care and change in nurses’ perceived spiritual care competence. A prospective, longitudinal design was employed, and analyses included one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance, linear regression, and partial correlation. Statistically significant differences were found in nurses’ attitudes toward and knowledge of spiritual care and nurses’ perceived spiritual care competence. There was a positive relationship between change scores in nurses’ attitudes toward and knowledge of spiritual care and nurses’ spiritual care competence. Online spiritual care educational programs may exert a lasting impact on nurses’ attitudes toward and knowledge of spiritual care and their competence to provide spiritual care to children with cancer at the end of life. Additional studies are required to evaluate the direct effects of educational interventions patient outcomes.
The mycobacteriophage Ms6 encodes a chaperone‐like protein involved in the endolysin delivery to the peptidoglycan

Like most double‐stranded (ds) DNA phages, mycobacteriophage Ms6 uses the holin‐endolysin system to achieve lysis of its host. In addition to endolysin (lysA) and holin (hol) genes, Ms6 encodes three accessory lysis proteins. In this study we investigated the lysis function of Gp1, which is encoded by the gp1 gene that lies immediately upstream of lysA. Escherichia coli lysis was observed after coexpression of LysA and Gp1 in the absence of Ms6 holin. Gp1 does not belong to the holin class of proteins, and we provide evidence that it shares several characteristics with molecular chaperones. We show that Gp1 interacts with LysA, and that this interaction is necessary for LysA delivery to its target. In addition, PhoA fusions showed that, in Mycobacterium smegmatis, LysA is exported to the extracytoplasmic environment in the presence of Gp1. We also show that Gp1 is necessary for efficient M. smegmatis lysis, as Ms6 gp1 deletion results in host lysis defects. We propose that delivery of Ms6 endolysin to the murein layer is assisted by Gp1, a chaperone‐like protein, in a holin‐independent manner.
Vomeronasal Organ Growth and Development in Normal and Cleft Lip and Palate Human Fetuses

As part of an ongoing investigation of normal and cleft lip and palate (CLP) fetal midfacial development, the vomeronasal organ (VNO) was examined in 35 human fetuses (26 normal and 9 CLP) ranging in age from 8 to 30 weeks postmenstrual age. All specimens were examined histologically, and a computer reconstruction technique was used to quantify lengths and volumes of right and left VNOs and anterior paraseptal cartilages (PCs). Growth curves were generated for these data and were compared between normal and cleft samples. VNOs and PCs were present in all normal fetuses, whereas VNOs were found in only 5 of 9 CLP specimens and PCs were found in 8 CLP specimens. The side of the palatal cleft in specimens with unilateral CLP was associated with PC dysmorphologies but appeared to have no influence on VNO presence or absence. Septal dysmorphologies were observed in most CLP specimens with absent or abnormal VNOs. VNO length increased in a linear fashion across ages, and VNO volume was seen to change in a logarithmic fashion. Individual CLP specimens did not differ significantly from the mean of the normal sample for VNO length or volume. PC length was seen to change in a sigmoidal fashion, and PC volume changes were best described by a logarithmic curve. In contrast to findings on the VNO, CLP specimens exhibited significantly different growth rates (line slopes) for PC length and volume compared to the normal sample. Results on the normal sample suggested that the human fetal VNO exhibits volumetric increases between the 16th and 30th weeks of development, but this increase begins later and proceeds more slowly than that of the PCs. Examination of the CLP sample suggested that the VNOs were of “normal” size for age, but may be vulnerable to septal dysmorphologies that result in altered location or disruption.
Price Discrimination with Search ∗

We study price discrimination in a model of search. Two novel features of our model are that (i) buyers differ in size, and (ii) buyers endogenously choose whether to participate in search. Large buyers gain more from search. However, since the small buyers’ participation constraint is binding, conditional on search, small buyers are expected to have lower search costs. Since sellers compete more strongly for buyers with higher willingness to search, the relationship between buyers’ size and prices depends on which of these two countervailing effects dominates. We find that for sufficiently large buyers, size is always advantageous. For smaller buyers, size is (not) advantageous if the elasticity of the search cost distribution is decreasing (increasing); if it is iso-elastic, all small buyers get uniform prices. In this case, a ban on price discrimination would foster more participation by small buyers, unambiguously increasing overall welfare.
Reversal of short front vowel raising in Australian English

In this paper we present the results of a trend analysis comparing acoustic vowel data collected from Australian English speakers over the past 40 years. Results reveal the final stage of short front vowel raising and provide evidence for subsequent lowering as a change in progress. We argue that this result reflects the reversal of a series of vowel changes that have been in progress for over 100 years. These findings raise interesting theoretical questions about the nature of vowel shifts and challenge Bybee’s [1] assertion that sound change reversals cannot occur.
Partial Least Squares Modelling of the Acute Toxicity of Aliphatic Compounds to Tetrahymena pyriformis

The aim of this study was to evaluate a multivariate statistical model, utilising Partial Least Squares (PLS) analysis, for the prediction of the acute toxicity of aliphatic chemicals to the ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis. A model was developed that was capable of making a prediction regardless the mechanism of toxic action. The toxicity of 476 compounds, possessing different mechanisms of toxic action was considered. A set of 74 descriptors, including the octanol–water partition coefficient, molecular-orbital descriptors, geometrical, topological and connectivity indices, was generated. A three-component, eight-descriptor PLS model was developed. It was validated by a Y-permutation test and by simulation of external prediction for complementary subsets. A comparison with existing class or mechanism-based models, derived on the same data set, was made.
Acute Liver Failure

Acute liver failure is life threatening liver injury with coagulopathy and hepatic encephalopathy within 26 weeks and generally, in the absence of preexisting liver disease. Fulminant liver failure occurs when hepatic encephalopathy occurs within 8 weeks of jaundice. The majority of patients with ALF are women with the median age of 38 years. In the United States, drug induced liver injury including acetaminophen causes the majority of ALF cases. The etiology of ALF should be determined, if possible, because many causes have a specific treatment. The mainstay for ALF is supportive care and liver transplantation, if necessary. There are multiple prognostic criteria available. Prognosis can be poor and patients should be referred to a liver transplantation center as soon as possible.
A Study of Filtering Approaches for Sliding Window Pedestrian Detection

To finding pedestrian in images, a common technique employed is to sample the image densely via sliding window, generating a large number of detection windows which are presented to a classifier. This approach requires a high computational cost once several windows are generated. There are several solutions aiming at reducing the computational cost, but they still are unable to handle large amounts of visual data. In this work, we study the employment of simple filtering techniques not based on machine learning techniques to quickly discard parts of the image without losing relevant information to the pedestrian detection task. To evaluate the gain provided by such filtering approaches, we apply a variety of detectors only to the maintained regions of the scene. Experimental results demonstrate that a high number of detection windows can be discarded by the evaluated filters without compromising the accuracy and speeding up the detection process. Keywords—gradient filter; orientation filter; saliency map; oblique random forest; HOG detector; PLS detector.
Combining hybrid information descriptors and DCT for improved CBIR performance

Content Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) aims to retrieves images in the database that are similar to a query image based on the contents of the image rather than metadata. The algorithm used to extract features from images is one of the most influential factors towards a CBIR system's performance. In this paper, we take a look at hybrid information descriptors (HID) as the feature extraction algorithm for our CBIR system and supplement HID with information in the compressed domain using discrete cosine transform (DCT). The HID+DCT algorithm proposed was compared with the HID algorithm on the Corel Dataset. We found out that the HID+DCT algorithm performs better than HID algorithm. We have used and compared Manhattan Distance and Euclidian Distance as distance metrics during the process of feature matching and observed that Manhattan Distance gave the best precision value for HID+DCT feature. However, the use of DCT results in a larger feature vector size which could potentially lead to slow queries. We consider using minimal-redundancy-maximal-relevance criterion (mRMR) for feature selection to reduce the size of feature vector to avoid speed related issues. We observe that the difference in precision for a feature vector reduced to almost the same size as HID's feature vector and HID+DCT is negligible.
In Vivo and In Vitro Modulation of HLA-DM and HLA-DO Is Induced by B Lymphocyte Activation1

Ag presentation via HLA class II molecules in B lymphocytes depends on the coordinated action of HLA-DM, the catalyst of class II-peptide loading, and HLA-DO, a pH-dependent modulator of DM, the expression of which is almost completely restricted to B lymphocytes. The relative expression levels of both class II modulators are critical for the composition of the HLA class II peptide repertoire. The data in this work demonstrate that DO and DM expression are both dependent on the cellular activation status in primary human B lymphocytes. In vivo low-density activated primary human B lymphocytes show a prominent reduction in DO and DM expression when compared with high-density resting primary B lymphocytes. In vitro, reduction of DO and DM expression can be induced by B lymphocyte activation via the B cell receptor or by use of the phorbol ester, PMA. Specific inhibition of protein kinase C resulted in a significant reduction of HLA-DO and is potentially due to protein degradation in lysosomal compartments as the phenomenon is reversed by chloroquine. Thus, the expression of the dedicated HLA class II chaperone DM and its pH-dependent modulator DO is regulated and tightly controlled by the activation status of the B lymphocyte.
Effect of Iron Deficiency on the Respiration of Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) Cells

The effects of iron deficiency on cell culture growth, cell respiration, mitochondrial oxidative properties, and the electron transport chain were studied with suspension-cultured sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) cells. Iron deprivation considerably decreased the initial growth rates and limited the maximum density of the cells. Under these conditions, the cells remained swollen throughout their growth. The absence of iron led to a steady decline in the uncoupled rate of O2 consumption. When the uncoupled rate of O2 uptake closely approximated the respiratory rate, the cells began to collapse. At this stage, the level of all the cytochromes and electron paramagnetic resonance-detectable Fe-S clusters of the mitochondrial inner membrane were dramatically decreased. Nevertheless, it appeared from substrate oxidation measurements that this overall depletion in iron-containing components solely disturbed the functioning of complex II, whereas neither complexes I, III, or IV, nor the machinery involved in ATP synthesis, was apparently impaired in iron-deficient mitochondria. However, our results suggest that the impairment of complex II resulted in a strong reduction of the overall capacity of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, which was responsible for determining the rate of endogenous respiration in sycamore cells. Finally, this situation led to a depletion of various energy metabolites that could contribute to the premature cell death.
An object transport system using flexural ultrasonic progressive waves generated by two-mode excitation

An object transport system using low amplitude and high frequency progressive waves generated by two-mode excitation is presented. A theoretical model for the system was developed using normal mode expansion and the modal participation factor. To identify the factors that affect the transport speed, the changes with the mass of objects on the beam, the input power, the phase difference, and the excitation frequency were experimentally investigated. With a power input of 40 W, a transport speed of 10 cm/s was obtained for an object weighing 30 g. The tests indicate that, not only the phase difference but also the excitation frequency, were the dominant factors in determining the transport speed and direction. Specifically, when the excitation frequency was chosen to be at the exact midpoint of the two modes, the object stopped moving. A slight change of frequency in either direction resulted in change of object transport direction. For actual factory application, a simple stop-go and tracking control using the General Purpose Interface Bus (GPIB) were implemented.
Face Super-Resolution Through Wasserstein GANs

Generative adversarial networks (GANs) have received a tremendous amount of attention in the past few years, and have inspired applications addressing a wide range of problems. Despite its great potential, GANs are difficult to train. Recently, a series of papers (Arjovsky & Bottou, 2017a; Arjovsky et al. 2017b; and Gulrajani et al. 2017) proposed using Wasserstein distance as the training objective and promised easy, stable GAN training across architectures with minimal hyperparameter tuning. In this paper, we compare the performance of Wasserstein distance with other training objectives on a variety of GAN architectures in the context of single image super-resolution. Our results agree that Wasserstein GAN with gradient penalty (WGAN-GP) provides stable and converging GAN training and that Wasserstein distance is an effective metric to gauge training progress.
Optimization of silver nanowire networks for polymer light emitting diode electrodes

Silver nanowire (Ag NW) networks are promising candidates for replacement of indium tin oxide (ITO). However, transparent conductors based on Ag NW networks often suffer from ‘haziness’ resulting from surface roughness. Thus, in addition to achieving suitable transparency and conductivity, surface roughness must be minimized if realistic implementation of Ag NW networks as transparent conductors is to be realized. In this work, we have reduced the surface roughness of Ag NW networks to below 5 nm as compared to 54 nm for as-deposited Ag NWs through optimization of the low temperature annealing treatment and planarization by poly(3,4 ethylenedioxythiophene)–poly(styrenesulfanate). Using this method, we have been able to produce Ag NW networks with transmittances and sheet resistances of 87% and 11Ω/sq, respectively. These are some of the best values reported for non-oxide-based transparent conductors. Incorporation of these smooth Ag networks into polymer light emitting diodes fabricated in our laboratory yields device characteristics that are comparable to or better than those with commercially available ITO.
Update on ocular graft-versus-host disease

Ocular graft-versus-host disease (oGVHD) occurs as a complication following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and is associated with significant ocular morbidity resulting in a marked reduction in the quality of life. With no current consensus on treatment protocols, management becomes challenging as recurrent oGVHD often refractory to conventional treatment. Most authors now diagnose and grade the disease based on criteria provided by the National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference (NIH CC) or the International Chronic oGVHD (ICCGVHD) consensus group. This article will provide an insight into the diagnostic criteria of oGVHD, its classification, and clinical severity grading scales. The inflammatory process in oGVHD can involve the entire ocular surface including the eyelids, meibomian gland, corneal, conjunctiva, and lacrimal system. The varied clinical presentations and treatment strategies employed to manage them have been discussed in the present study. The recent advances in ocular surface imaging in oGVHD patients such as the use of meibography and in vivo confocal microscopy may help in early diagnosis and prognostication of the disease. Researching tear proteomics and identification of novel potential tear biomarkers in oGVHD patients is an exciting field as they may help in objectively diagnosing the disease and monitoring the response to treatment.
Subjective memory complaints of Chinese HIV-infected patients in Hong Kong: Relationships with social support, depressive mood and medical symptoms

Abstract The present study aimed at investigating the contribution of social support, depressive mood, medical symptoms and objective memory performance to the subjective memory complaints of Chinese HIV-infected persons in Hong Kong. Ninety HIV-infected persons were administered the Hong Kong List Learning Test (HKLLT) as an objective measure of memory. They also reported their subjective memory complaints, HIV-related medical symptoms, depressive mood and perceived social support by self-administered questionnaires. Path analyses were conducted to evaluate models that depicted the relationships among the variables. The final model that showed the best fit to the data suggested that objective memory performance had no significant role to play in patients’ subjective memory complaints. Depressive mood was found to be a significant factor that directly affected patient's subjective memory complaints and social support played an indirect role with depressive mood as a mediating variable. These findings suggest that memory complaints might be an indicator of mood disturbance and social support might be useful in ameliorating depressive mood and these complaints. The need of assessment of other cognitive functions in future research is also discussed.
Rehabilitation of Executive Functioning After Focal Damage to the Cerebellum

Executive dysfunction accounts for significant disability in patients with many types of brain injury in many locations. Clinical reports have described impaired executive functioning after damage to the cerebellum, and anatomical and neuroimaging studies have identified the likely basis for this effect: a cortico—ponto—cerebellar network through which the cerebellum is densely connected to areas of frontal cortex. The patterns of executive impairment attributable to cerebellar damage have been extensively described in the past 15 years, but there has been no assessment of the efficacy of rehabilitation in this patient population. Here, the use of a cognitive rehabilitation technique, Goal Management Training, in a patient with persisting executive dysfunction after a right cerebellar hemorrhage is described. The patient made and maintained modest gains on measures of sustained attention, planning, and organization that translated into significant improvement in real-life functioning. This is the first report on the rehabilitation of impaired executive functioning following focal damage to the cerebellum and in the presence of intact frontal cortex.
THE MILKY WAY TOMOGRAPHY WITH SDSS. III. STELLAR KINEMATICS

We study Milky Way kinematics using a sample of 18.8 million main-sequence stars with r < 20 and proper-motion measurements derived from Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and POSS astrometry, including ∼170,000 stars with radial-velocity measurements from the SDSS spectroscopic survey. Distances to stars are determined using a photometric-parallax relation, covering a distance range from ∼100 pc to 10 kpc over a quarter of the sky at high Galactic latitudes (|b|>20°). We find that in the region defined by 1 kpc <Z< 5 kpc and 3 kpc <R< 13 kpc, the rotational velocity for disk stars smoothly decreases, and all three components of the velocity dispersion increase, with distance from the Galactic plane. In contrast, the velocity ellipsoid for halo stars is aligned with a spherical coordinate system and appears to be spatially invariant within the probed volume. The velocity distribution of nearby (Z < 1 kpc) K/M stars is complex, and cannot be described by a standard Schwarzschild ellipsoid. For stars in a distance-limited subsample of stars (<100 pc), we detect a multi-modal velocity distribution consistent with that seen by HIPPARCOS. This strong non-Gaussianity significantly affects the measurements of the velocity-ellipsoid tilt and vertex deviation when using the Schwarzschild approximation. We develop and test a simple descriptive model for the overall kinematic behavior that captures these features over most of the probed volume, and can be used to search for substructure in kinematic and metallicity space. We use this model to predict further improvements in kinematic mapping of the Galaxy expected from Gaia and the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope.
Characterization of Two Novel Polyomaviruses of Birds by Using Multiply Primed Rolling-Circle Amplification of Their Genomes

ABSTRACT Polyomaviruses are small nonenveloped particles with a circular double-stranded genome, approximately 5 kbp in size. The mammalian polyomaviruses mainly cause persistent subclinical infections in their natural nonimmunocompromised hosts. In contrast, the polyomaviruses of birds—avian polyomavirus (APV) and goose hemorrhagic polyomavirus (GHPV)—are the primary agents of acute and chronic disease with high mortality rates in young birds. Screening of field samples of diseased birds by consensus PCR revealed the presence of two novel polyomaviruses in the liver of an Eurasian bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula griseiventris) and in the spleen of a Eurasian jackdaw (Corvus monedula), tentatively designated as finch polyomavirus (FPyV) and crow polyomavirus (CPyV), respectively. The genomes of the viruses were amplified by using multiply primed rolling-circle amplification and cloned. Analysis of the FPyV and CPyV genome sequences revealed a close relationship to APV and GHPV, indicating the existence of a distinct avian group among the polyomaviruses. The main characteristics of this group are (i) involvement in fatal disease, (ii) the existence of an additional open reading frame in the 5′ region of the late mRNAs, and (iii) a different manner of DNA binding of the large tumor antigen compared to that of the mammalian polyomaviruses.