Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
"Fun, Fun, Fun": Types of Fun, Attitudes to Fun, and their Relation to Personality and Biographical Factors

This study explores the psychologically neglected concept of fun, a concept that contributes strongly to many people’s perceptions of quality in life, and looks both at the different types of behaviour that people regard as fun and the atti-tudes that people have towards fun. Through focus groups and interviews, a 40-item attitude questionnaire was devel-oped and completed by 1100 people. Factor analysis identified five attitudinal factors, which were labelled as “Fun involving risk-taking”; “Fun dependent on fun people”; “Fun causing happiness”; “Money needed to have fun”; and “Spontaneity as fun”. These different factors showed different patterns of correlation with demographic and personality measures. The different types of situation that people described as fun were assessed by asking participants to use an adjective check-list to describe a situation they had found to be fun. Factor analysis identified five types of fun (“Sociability”, “Contentment”, “Achievement”, “Sensual” and “Ecstatic”), the different types correlating systematically with participants’ demography, personality and attitudes to fun. Although often used as if it were a single concept, “fun” is actually a complex phenomenon that has different meanings for different types of people.
H-Y antigens as Y chromosome-encoded gene products and serologically detectable male antigens (SDM) as testis- or spermatogenesis-linked autosomal gene products

Abstract. Male-specific transplantation antigen H-Y was proposed to be the testis-determining factor (TDF) in 1975, while SRY was found to be the TDF gene in 1990. What then of H-Y antigen? H-Y antigen was categorized into two entities, viz., T-cell mediated H-Y antigens (H-Y) and serologically detectable male antigens (SDM). Several HY genes such as Smcy , Uty and Dty have been identified and these are all Y-Iinked. H-Y is male-specific and clinically important in cell, tissue, or organ transplantations. Male-enhanced antigen 1 ( Meal ) was isolated from an expression library using polyclonal anti-H-Y antibody. We cloned and characterized mouse and bovine Meal/MEAI , the gene product of which was mainly localized in elongated spermatids. Mea2 was identified using monoclonal anti-H-Y antibody. MEA2 protein is localized in the Golgi apparatus of spermatocytes and spermatids. Colocalization of MEA2 protein with y-adaptin in clathrin-coated vesicles was demonstrated. Disruption of Mea2 resulted in spermatogenic failure. These findings suggest that Mea2 is involved in transportation of materials needed for acrosome components in spermatogenesis. Its human homologue is Golgin-160 which was detected in an SLE autoimmune disease patient. Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS) was reported to have SDM activity. Taken together, SDM is a collective name for protein antigens associated with testis activity (MIS) or spermatogenesis (MEA1, MEA2) and may be antigenic when expressed in females. From the viewpoint of autoimmune diseases, the Identification and characterization of SDMs will be clinically important.
Action of manganese on puberty

Action of Manganese on Puberty. (May 2007) Bo Yeon Lee, B.S., Chonnam National University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. W. Les Dees Manganese (Mn) is considered important for normal growth and reproduction. Because Mn can cross the blood brain barrier and accumulate in the hypothalamus, and because it has been suggested that infants and children are potentially more sensitive to Mn than adults, we wanted to determine the effects of Mn exposure on puberty-related hormones and the onset of puberty, and discern the site and mechanism of Mn action. We demonstrated that the central administration of manganese chloride (MnCl2) stimulated luteinizing hormone (LH) release in prepubertal rats. Incubation of medial basal hypothalamus (MBH) in vitro showed this effect was due to a Mn-induced stimulation of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH). Further demonstration that this is a hypothalamic site of action was shown by in vivo blockade of LHRH receptors and the lack of a direct pituitary action of Mn to stimulate LH release in vitro. Chronic supplementation of low dose of MnCl2 caused elevated serum levels of LH, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol or testosterone. Importantly, Mn supplementation advanced the timing of puberty in both sexes. We investigated the mechanism by which Mn induces LHRH/LH release from the hypothalamus. Blocking the NMDA receptor, IGF1 receptor, or inhibiting nitric oxide synthase in vivo was ineffective in altering Mn-induced LH release. Dose-
Release from Human Granulocytes during Phagocytosis

or staphylococci), an abrupt increase in extracellular peroxide concentration was observed (>50-fold above basal levels) after latencies as short as 10 s. Release reflected increased intracellular H202 production during phagocytosis in that it paralleled the respiratory burst and was absent when phagocytosis was prevented or when cells from patients with chronic granulomatous disease were utilized. Evidence that scopoletin oxidation occurred predominantly in the extracellular medium was obtained by demonstrating a marked inhibition when HPO was omitted from the reaction mixture or when exogenous catalase was added. Similarly, it was found that exogenous serum also inhibited scopoletin oxidation, apparently because of the presence of competing hydrogen donors. H202 formation and release were observed at rates which closely paralleled those of phagocytosis. With O2 consumption as an approximate index of H202 formation, the fractions released during maximal rates of Portions of this work were presented at the Eastern and National Meetings of the American Federation for Clinical Research on 12 January and 4 May 1974 and have appeared in abstract form in Clin. Res., September 1973, 21: 976, and April 1974, 22: 452a. Dr. Root is the recipient of Research Career Development Award number 70052. Received for publication 17 September 1974 and in revised form 7 January 1975. particle uptake were calculated as follows: for latex, 15.7%. ; for staphylococci, 10.3%; and for yeast, 4.9%. It is postulated that release is due to diffusion of free H202 from an expanded intracellular pool of this substance that develops during phagocytosis. This pool represents the net of increased synthesis versus catabolism by various enzymatic pathways for H*O2 disposal within the cells. The close relationship between rates of H202 formation and rates of phagocytosis by human granulocytes suggests a role for specialized areas of the cell membrane, involved in particle ingestion, in the trigger mechanism for HsO2 synthesis. The consequences of H202 release to other cells or organisms in the immediate environment of phagocytizing granulocytes remain to be determined.
Depth Images Could Tell us More: Enhancing Depth Discriminability for RGB-D Scene Recognition

Recently depth-modal information has been witnessed effectively in computer vision community, especially for scene analysis related tasks. However, it still suffers severely from depth data scarcity as well as improperly transferring pre-trained RGB models to fit depth-modal data. In this study, we propose a novel two-step training strategy to address these problems and focus on enhancing the recognition power for depth-modal images in RGB-D scene recognition task. Specifically, we build an effective “Res-U” architecture on a GAN (generative adversarial networks) based RGB-to-depth modality translation model, which is endowed with both short and long skips for residual learning. On one hand, this could first well pre-train a depth-modal-specific discriminator network from scratch in an unsupervised manner, which is effectively transformed for the subsequent recognition task instead of directly fitting pre-trained RGB model to depth-specific one. On the other hand, new depth images with helpful perturbations, generated from the modality translation model, help argument the original training set and regularize the learning process in some sense. This two-step training strategy makes it more effective for training a modal-specific network to discriminate depth scenes. Besides, we extensively explore the modality translation network to investigate the effects in recognizing depth-modal scenes, which encourages a reasonable way to take full advantage of multi-modalities. The proposed method achieves state-of-the-art accuracy on NYU Depth v2 and SUN RGB-D benchmark datasets, especially on depth data only evaluation.
Investigation of Lethal Poisonings among Dead Bodies Referred to Regional Office of Iranian Legal Medicine Organization in Shiraz

Background:Death due to acute poisoning is of medical, legal and social significance. This study was designed to investigate lethal poisonings among dead bodies referred to a regional office of Iranian Legal Medicine Organization (ILMO). Methods:This was a retrospective descriptive-analytical study on dead bodies referred to Fars province regional office of ILMO in Shiraz, Iran, during April 2013 to the end of March 2014. For data analysis, only subjects with poisoning as the definitive cause of death were included. Results:During the study period, 2,594 autopsies were conducted in Fars province office of ILMO, among which poisoning was found to be the cause of death in 147 autopsies (5.7%). Eighty-eight cases (59.9%) were men. The majority of subjects aged 20 to 30 years (50.3%). The greatest number of subjects (73.5%) was unmarried persons. Regarding the occupation, most subjects were unemployed (49.7%) followed by housewives (19.7%). Over half of the cases (54.42%) had died within less than 6 hours after the poisoning. The majority of cases were found dead at home (73.5%), while the rest had died in outpatient department or hospital wards. Suicide cases were far more common than unintentional cases (75.5% vs. 24.5%). Suicidal intention was significantly higher in subjects with lower educational status (P = 0.033). The most common causes of poisoning were pharmaceutical products (66.7%) followed by aluminum phosphide (10.9%) and other types of pesticides (7.2%). Conclusion:Lethal poisonings is mostly seen in young adults, and those with lower educational level and unemployment. Suicidal intention is the main cause of lethal poisonings.
Group-Centered Leading Factor as a Scale for Measuring Altruism

The study (Cerff, 2006) on which this paper is based, investigated whether there is a connection between hope, self-efficacy and motivation to lead (MTL) in the development of leaders in South Africa. The data collected for the MTL component were gathered using a revised two-factor model of Chan’s (1999) MTL Instrument, comprising the Leading For SelfBenefit Factor (MTL-S) and the Group-Centered Leading Factor (MTL-G). The revised twofactor model of Chan’s (1999) MTL Instrument is a meaningful redevelopment of Chan’s MTL Instrument for the South African context and potentially in other nations as well. The GroupCentered Leading Factor, comprising seven items, is of particular interest as a scale for measuring altruism. This research makes a contribution to servant leadership by establishing the connection between MTL-G and altruism, and adds a valuable dimension to the research of Patterson (2003).
Local Injection of Bupivacaine Hydrochloride to Reduce Postoperative Pain in Obstetrical and Gynaecological Surgical Incision

Background and objectives: The post-operative pain experienced by patients after abdominal surgery is significant and this has necessitated studying the efficacy of local injection of Bupivacaine to decrease severity of this pain. Patients and methods: A prospective, randomized, comparative clinical trial was conducted on 800 women admitted to Maternity Hospital, Erbil, Iraq, for either Caesarean section or any gynaecological abdominal surgery. All were classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-II. The sample was divided in two groups by systematic random sampling (400 each). Group A was designed to receive 25 mg of Bupivacaine hydrochloride as infiltration at the site of the incision after skin closure and Group B was treated with standard of care. The degree of pain was assessed after 6, 12, 24, 48,72 and 96 h from the operation by using defense and veterans pain rating scale (0-10). The amount and type of systemic painkiller medicine used during the operation day and the first three post-operative days were recorded. Patient satisfaction, time of first mobilization, h of confinement to bed per day and complication rates were compared in both groups. Chi-square (χ2) test and Fisher’s exact test Student’s t-test was used in data analyses. p value of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant and p value of ≤ 0.01 was considered highly significant. Results: The group treated with post-operative wound infiltration with bupivacaine hydrochloride had lower pain score (p>0.001), earlier mobilization (p<0.001), fewer h of confinement to bed (p<0.001), better patient satisfaction (p<0.001), lower consumption of painkiller medicine (p<0.05, but no significant difference in complication rates (p=0.158). Conclusion: Instillation of Bupivacaine hydrochloride into the surgical incision is a safe, well-tolerated treatment and it is superior to traditional systemic pain medication in both self-reported and clinical outcomes.
Thermodynamic pathway for the formation of SnSe and SnSe2 polycrystalline thin films by selenization of metal precursors

In this work, tin selenide thin films (SnSex) were grown on soda lime glass substrates by selenization of dc magnetron sputtered Sn metallic precursors. Selenization was performed at maximum temperatures in the range 300 °C to 570 °C. The thickness and the composition of the films were analysed using step profilometry and energy dispersive spectroscopy, respectively. The films were structurally and optically investigated by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and optical transmittance and reflectance measurements. X-Ray diffraction patterns suggest that for temperatures between 300 °C and 470 °C, the films are composed of the hexagonal-SnSe2 phase. By increasing the temperature, the films selenized at maximum temperatures of 530 °C and 570 °C show orthorhombic-SnSe as the dominant phase with a preferential crystal orientation along the (400) crystallographic plane. Raman scattering analysis allowed the assignment of peaks at 119 cm−1 and 185 cm−1 to the hexagonal-SnSe2 phase and those at 108 cm−1, 130 cm−1 and 150 cm−1 to the orthorhombic-SnSe phase. All samples presented traces of condensed amorphous Se with a characteristic Raman peak located at 255 cm−1. From optical measurements, the estimated band gap energies for hexagonal-SnSe2 were close to 0.9 eV and 1.7 eV for indirect forbidden and direct transitions, respectively. The samples with the dominant orthorhombic-SnSe phase presented estimated band gap energies of 0.95 eV and 1.15 eV for indirect allowed and direct allowed transitions, respectively.
Gender Differences among Suspected Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients undergoing Sputum Smear Microscopy

Background: This retrospective study was carried out in the Department of Physiology Nishtar Medical College/Hospital Multan in collaboration with Department of Chest Medicine and Tuberculosis to assess the gender differences among pulmonary tuberculosis suspects undergoing diagnostic sputum smear microscopy. Data from Pulmonology Ward Nishtar Hospital, Multan during January 2005 to October 2007 was summarized and analyzed for this study. Objective: To assess the gender differences among suspected pulmonary tuberculosis patients undergoing diagnostic sputum smear microscopy. Study Design: Retrospective, hospital based study. Materials and Methods: The hospital records of 2468 newly diagnosed patients of pulmonary tuberculosis were analyzed. The patients were classified into various groups according to gender and age. Results: Female to Male ratio of more than one (1.05/1) was found among pulmonary tuberculosis suspects undergoing sputum examination attending the Out Patient Department of Chest Medicine. However, AFB sputum smear positive cases were less among female patients, and female to male ratio was less than one (0.84 / 1.0). The overall AFB sputum smear positive cases were significantly higher in male patients. Conclusion: Gender & age are both traditionally known variables in terms of incidence and prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis. The existing gender disparity and pattern of gender specific treatment seeking is one of such indicators which call for more attention to both males and females, especially because they are in economically productive age group.
Unlocking Organizational Potential: A Computational Platform for Investigating Structural Interdependence in Design

A team’s design—the structuring of its resources and flows of knowledge—is an important element determining its effectiveness. An essential element in achieving a team’s problem-solving potential is the role that interdependence, in both the task and the organization, plays in determining the dynamic and emergent system-level properties of the organization. In this paper, we present a computational platform for experimentally investigating the influence of informational dependencies found in the design of a complex system for exploring their role in determining system behaviors and performance. The approach presented in this paper is a multiagent simulation of the conceptual design of space mission plans by Team X, an advanced project design group at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The algorithm is composed of rich descriptive models of both the team-types and timing of interactions, collaborative methods, sequencing, rates of convergence- and the task-primary variables, their behaviors and relations, and the approaches used to resolve them. The objective is to create an environment of interaction representative of that found in actual design sessions. Better understanding how the dynamics arising from organizational and domain interdependencies impact an organization’s ability to effectively resolve its task should lead to the development of guidelines for better coping with task complexities, suggest ways to better design organizations, as well as suggest ways for improving the search for innovative solutions.
Total phenolic compounds and antioxidant potential of quince (Cydonia oblonga Miller) leaf methanol extract

Natural products continue to play a significant role in drug discovery and development processes, and many plants have already provided valuable clues for potentially bioactive compounds. Additionally, it has become evident that significant health risks and benefits are associated with dietary food choice. Studies conducted in the past few years have demonstrated that quince (Cydonia oblonga Miller) is a good, safe, and low-cost natural source of different classes of interesting metabolites. In particular, phenolic compounds have application as preventive or therapeutic agents in diseases in which free radicals are involved. Despite the fact that quince fresh or processed fruit properties have attracted most attention, this study focused on antioxidant activities of phenolic compounds extracted from leaves of the Tunisian local variety. Accordingly, chromatographic characterization of methanol extract revealed the existence of nine compounds corresponding to phenolic acids and flavonoids. However, only six compounds could be systematically identified namely, 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, quercetin-3-O-galactoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol-3-O-glycoside, and kaempferol-3-O-glucoside. Total phenolic compounds and flavonoids showed respectable content as compared to common medicinal plants: 52.5 mg/g dw and 4 mg/g dw, respectively. Consequently, DPPH free radical-scavenging activity and the inhibition of pre-formed radical ABTS. + by leaf extract were comparable to or even higher than the effect of synthetic antioxidant BHT. In addition, both tests were very highly correlated (r = 0.82) under the effect of quince leaf extract testifying to the sufficiency of only one test to highlight antioxidant potential.
The computer support of diagnostics of circle crystallizers

J. David, R. Frischer, P. Švec, R. Garzinová, Faculty of Metallurgy and Material Engineering, VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava, Czech Republic This paper is f ocused on c omputer aided t echnological processes of c ontinuous steel casting devic es. The paper characterized the fundamental aspects of creating computer aided control process of continuous steel casting operations. There is in detail described sof tware system AMKO (Algorithm Modelling conicities). The impor tance of software AMKO consists in extending the usability of copper enclosure in the case of its weariness and the possibility of its fur ther use. Using this sof tware to create graphical model of the w ear, which sho ws the c onicity of the studied mold along all its lengths and speciĀ es the possibility of its further use in various compositions sequences. Such modelling and pr ediction is possible with usage of c ybernetic modelling principles and methods k nown as soft-computing.
ClinicalUtilityof MeasuringFree Thyroxinand Free Triiodothyroninein Serum of CriticallyIll Patientsby Ultrafiltration

Free thyroxin (FT4) measurements by ultrafiltrationwere compared with resultsobtained by equilibriumdialysisand commercial AlA methods. In a group of criticallyill patients, the mean ± 2 SD FT, value by ultrafiltration (26.5 ± 21.4 ng/L) was higher than in the healthy reference population (19.3 ± 9.8 ng/L, p <0.0001), and correlated well with equilibrium dialysis (23.8 ± 20 ng/L,r = 0.87). By a two-step AlA method (ClinicalAssays), the FT4 value was greater in the critically ill (14.7 ± 9.6 ng/L) than in the reference population(12.8 ± 5 ng/L, p <0.001) and was also correlated with ultrafiltrationresults(r = 0.71). FT4 values for the ill patients were lowerthan for the referencepopulationin two one-step AlA methods(ClinicalAssays:8.6 ± 7.1 ng/L;Corning Medical: 12.7 ± 9.4 ng/L), neither of which gave results correlated with ultrafiltration (r = 0.16 and 0.22, respectively). The concentrationof free triiodothyronine (Fr3), also measured by ultrafiltration, was 4.5 ± 2.2ng/Linhealthy subjects, 12.5 ± 14.2 ng/L in hyperthyroidism,1.7 ± 2.0 ng/L in hypothyroidism,2.2 ± 1.9 ng/L in the criticallyill subjects, and 3.8 ± 0.9 ng/L in pregnancy. Thus, FT4 and FT3 measured by ultrafiltration accurately affects assessment of the thyroid status of the patientexcept in criticalillnessesin which FT3 values are indistinguishable from those in hypothyroidism.