Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Orientation-invariance of individual differences in three face processing tasks

Numerous studies have reported impairments in perception and recognition, and, particularly, in part-integration of faces following picture-plane inversion. Whether these findings support the notion that inversion changes face processing qualitatively remains a topic of debate. To examine whether associations and dissociations of the human face processing ability depend on stimulus orientation, we measured face recognition with the Cambridge Face Memory Test (CFMT), along with experimental tests of face perception and selective attention to faces and non-face objects in a sample of 314 participants. Results showed strong inversion effects for all face-related tasks, and modest ones for non-face objects. Individual differences analysis revealed that the CFMT shared common variance with face perception and face-selective attention, however, independent of orientation. Regardless of whether predictor and criterion had same or different orientation, face recognition was best predicted by the same test battery. Principal component decomposition revealed a common factor for face recognition and face perception, a second common factor for face recognition and face-selective attention, and two unique factors. The patterns of factor loadings were nearly identical for upright and inverted presentation. These results indicate orientation-invariance of common variance in three domains of face processing. Since inversion impaired performance, but did not affect domain-related associations and dissociations, the findings suggest process-specific but orientation-general mechanisms. Specific limitations by constraints of individual differences analysis and test selection are discussed.
The role of indirect genetic effects in the evolution of interacting reproductive behaviors in the burying beetle, Nicrophorus vespilloides

Abstract Social interactions can give rise to indirect genetic effects (IGEs), which occur when genes expressed in one individual affect the phenotype of another individual. The evolutionary dynamics of traits can be altered when there are IGEs. Sex often involves indirect effects arising from first‐order (current) or second‐order (prior) social interactions, yet IGEs are infrequently quantified for reproductive behaviors. Here, we use experimental populations of burying beetles that have experienced bidirectional selection on mating rate to test for social plasticity and IGEs associated with focal males mating with a female either without (first‐order effect) or with (second‐order effect) prior exposure to a competitor, and resource defense behavior (first‐order effect). Additive IGEs were detected for mating rate arising from (first‐order) interactions with females. For resource defense behavior, a standard variance partitioning analysis provided no evidence of additive genetic variance—either direct or indirect. However, behavior was predicted by focal size relative to that of the competitor, and size is also heritable. Assuming that behavior is causally dependent on relative size, this implies that both DGEs and IGEs do occur (and may potentially interact). The relative contribution of IGEs may differ among social behaviors related to mating which has consequences for the evolutionary trajectories of multivariate traits.
Prevalence of carotid artery stenosis in ischaemic heart disease patients in Bangladesh

Background: Concurrent carotid artery stenosis and ischaemic heart disease rates are increasing day by day in Bangladesh. Moreover, carotid artery stenosis has been identified as a high-risk factor for postoperative ischaemic cerebral inconvenience following coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate 200 study patients from July 2017 to June 2018. Patients with coronary artery disease scheduled for isolated elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery were included in the study, excluding those with coexisting valvular or congenital heart disease and emergency coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Results: About two-thirds of the study patients were 50–59 years old, with a mean age of 57.7 ± 3.06 years. Approximately 70% patients were male; the male:female ratio was 2.1:1. Most of the patients (74.5%) were Muslim. The majority of patients (59.0%) were overweight, and severe carotid artery stenosis was significantly higher in obese patients (p ⩽ 0.05). Furthermore, hypertension and diabetes mellitus were significantly associated with moderate to severe carotid artery stenosis (p ⩽ 0.05). Multi-vessel coronary artery disease was significantly associated with the severity of carotid artery stenosis. Bilateral carotid artery stenosis was significantly associated with the severity of carotid artery stenosis (p ⩽ 0.05). Conclusion: Routine duplex screening will identify significant carotid artery disease and will subsequently reduce the risk of perioperative stroke in ischaemic heart disease patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
Information‐anchored sensitivity analysis: theory and application

Analysis of longitudinal randomized clinical trials is frequently complicated because patients deviate from the protocol. Where such deviations are relevant for the estimand, we are typically required to make an untestable assumption about post‐deviation behaviour to perform our primary analysis and to estimate the treatment effect. In such settings, it is now widely recognized that we should follow this with sensitivity analyses to explore the robustness of our inferences to alternative assumptions about post‐deviation behaviour. Although there has been much work on how to conduct such sensitivity analyses, little attention has been given to the appropriate loss of information due to missing data within sensitivity analysis. We argue that more attention needs to be given to this issue, showing that it is quite possible for sensitivity analysis to decrease and increase the information about the treatment effect. To address this critical issue, we introduce the concept of information‐anchored sensitivity analysis. By this we mean sensitivity analyses in which the proportion of information about the treatment estimate lost because of missing data is the same as the proportion of information about the treatment estimate lost because of missing data in the primary analysis. We argue that this forms a transparent, practical starting point for interpretation of sensitivity analysis. We then derive results showing that, for longitudinal continuous data, a broad class of controlled and reference‐based sensitivity analyses performed by multiple imputation are information anchored. We illustrate the theory with simulations and an analysis of a peer review trial and then discuss our work in the context of other recent work in this area. Our results give a theoretical basis for the use of controlled multiple‐imputation procedures for sensitivity analysis.
Coral microbiome diversity reflects mass coral bleaching susceptibility during the 2016 El Niño heat wave

Abstract Repeat marine heat wave‐induced mass coral bleaching has decimated reefs in Seychelles for 35 years, but how coral‐associated microbial diversity (microalgal endosymbionts of the family Symbiodiniaceae and bacterial communities) potentially underpins broad‐scale bleaching dynamics remains unknown. We assessed microbiome composition during the 2016 heat wave peak at two contrasting reef sites (clear vs. turbid) in Seychelles, for key coral species considered bleaching sensitive (Acropora muricata, Acropora gemmifera) or tolerant (Porites lutea, Coelastrea aspera). For all species and sites, we sampled bleached versus unbleached colonies to examine how microbiomes align with heat stress susceptibility. Over 30% of all corals bleached in 2016, half of which were from Acropora sp. and Pocillopora sp. mass bleaching that largely transitioned to mortality by 2017. Symbiodiniaceae ITS2‐sequencing revealed that the two Acropora sp. and P. lutea generally associated with C3z/C3 and C15 types, respectively, whereas C. aspera exhibited a plastic association with multiple D types and two C3z types. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that bacterial communities were coral host‐specific, largely through differences in the most abundant families, Hahellaceae (comprising Endozoicomonas), Rhodospirillaceae, and Rhodobacteraceae. Both Acropora sp. exhibited lower bacterial diversity, species richness, and community evenness compared to more bleaching‐resistant P. lutea and C. aspera. Different bleaching susceptibility among coral species was thus consistent with distinct microbiome community profiles. These profiles were conserved across bleached and unbleached colonies of all coral species. As this pattern could also reflect a parallel response of the microbiome to environmental changes, the detailed functional associations will need to be determined in future studies. Further understanding such microbiome‐environmental interactions is likely critical to target more effective management within oceanically isolated reefs of Seychelles.
Extracellular Hsp90α clinically correlates with tumor malignancy and promotes migration and invasion in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Purpose Extracellular Hsp90α (eHsp90α) is known to be involved in tumor invasiveness and metastasis, and its prognostic value in many kinds of tumors has been identified. We aimed to evaluate the clinical and functional role of eHsp90α in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Patients and methods A total of 193 patients with newly diagnosed ESCC were retrospectively evaluated. The relationship between serum Hsp90α levels before treatment and ESCC malignancy of the patients was analyzed. To test the role of eHsp90α in migration and invasion of ESCC cell lines, transwell assay was performed. Western blotting was used to explore the possible mechanism in which eHsp90α promotes ESCC migration and invasion. Results We found that the serum Hsp90α level before treatment is positively correlated with ESCC malignancy. Moreover, high serum Hsp90α level before treatment was significantly correlated with positive lymph node (LN) metastasis, which is the main prognostic factor for ESCC patients. Meanwhile, we demonstrated that eHsp90α promoted migration and invasion of ECA109 and ECA9706 in vitro. Further investigations revealed that eHsp90α stabilized MMP-2 and promoted epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition evidenced by downregulation of E-cadherin and upregulation of N-cadherin. On the other hand, Hsp90α neutralizing antibody functionally blocked the secreted Hsp90α and reversed those effects. Conclusion Our findings prove the critical role of eHsp90α in promoting ESCC migration and invasion, indicating it can be not only a promising predictor for ESCC LN status, but also an effective target in ESCC therapeutics, especially in preventing LN metastasis.
Effect of Intense Pulsed Light Therapy on Tear Proteins and Lipids in Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Purpose: To assess the effect of a novel intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy on tear proteins and lipids in eyes with Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Methods: Twenty-four eyes of 12 patients with MGD were recruited and received five overlapping flashes (565-1400 nm) directed at the lower eyelid. The IPL parameters include intensity: 2.5 to 6.5 J/cm2, voltage: 100 to 240 V, frequency: 50 to 60 Hz, input: 16 W, maximum optical energy: 23 J, pulse duration: <2.0 ms, and repetition time: 1-3.5 s. Tear samples were evaluated immediately before and 2 weeks after IPL therapy and included measurements of protein concentration, electrophoretic mobility by using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, lipid profile assessments, and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) for phospholipids. Results: Significant improvements were observed in tear protein concentrations and molecular weight after IPL therapy. The most pronounced effect was in the molecular weight of tear lysozyme, lactoferrin, and albumin. Tear lipids showed an improvement in the concentrations of total lipids, triglycerides, cholesterol, and phospholipids. On TLC, the tears in patients with MGD had significantly lower amounts of anionic phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidylserine but amounts zwitterionic neutral phospholipid phosphatidylcholine were normal. These anionic phospholipids showed obvious recovery after IPL therapy. Conclusion: IPL therapy is effective in eyes with MGD. It improved tear protein and lipid content and composition. The anionic phospholipids were more responsive to IPL therapy than were the other zwitterionic phospholipids.
OPTIMIZATION THE PARAMETER PROCESS OF SOLID-STATE FERMENTATION TO PRODUCE THE FUNGAL Α-AMYLASE ON AGRO-INDUSTRIAL BY-PRODUCTS

The present work is concerned with optimization the process parameter of the production of fungal α-amylase enzyme by Aspergillus niger ATCC 102 and Aspergillus oryzae NRRL 6270 using solid-state fermentation (SSF) process on two agro-industrial by-products. Different cultural parameter and conditions such as moisture content of prepared agro-industrial by-product (30 to 70%), fermentation period (12 to 120 h.) and incubation temperature (25-35°C) were optimized to obtain the maximum yield of α-amylase activity. The study is concerned to produce fungal αamylase on agro-industrial by-products such as inner layers of sugarcane bagasse (Saccharum officinarum) (SCB) and corn gluten meal (Zea mays) after addition of germ cake and corn steep liquor (CGM ) were used as solid substrates. The optimum conditions for SSF as follows temperature at 30°C and two moisture content level (60 - 30%) for SCB by Aspergillus niger and CGM after addition of germ cake and corn steep liquor by two fungal strains, respectively and incubation period of 72, 48, 24 hours for SCB by Aspergills niger, CGM by two fungal strains, respectively and SCB by Aspergillus oryzae, producing α-amylase activity 3.49U/g (solid substrate) with SCB by SSF after 24 hours by Aspergillus niger, whereas 3.78U/g (solid substrate) by Aspergillus oryzae after 48 hours. The highest record of amylase activity was obtained on SCB by SSF 3.49U/g (solid substrate) after 24 hours by Aspergillus niger, whereas 3.78U/g (solid substrate) by Aspergillus oryzae after 48 hours. Optimum α-amylase enzyme activity was observed at 30°C. Utilization of agroindustrial by-product provides an alternative method and value-addition in cost effectiveness of bioprocess. The obtained results demonstrated that, the potential application of the used strategy for αamylase enzyme production from agro-industrial by-products.
Predicting packed red blood cell transfusion in living donor liver transplantation: A retrospective analysis

Background and Aims: Blood transfusion is unpredictable in liver transplantation and is associated with increased patient morbidity, mortality and cost. This retrospective analysis was conducted to detect factors which could predict intraoperative transfusion of more than four units of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) during elective living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Methods: This was a single-centre retrospective study. Demographic, clinical and intraoperative data of 258 adult patients who underwent LDLT from March 2009 to January 2015 were analysed. Univariate and multivariate regression model was used to identify factors responsible for transfusion of more than four PRBCs (defined as massive transfusion [MT]). Results: On univariate regression analysis, preoperative factors like aetiology of liver disease, hypertension, history of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, low haemoglobin and fibrinogen, high serum bilirubin, high blood urea and creatinine, high model for end-stage liver disease score, portal venous thrombosis, increased duration of surgery and anhepatic phase as well as increased use of other blood products were found to be significantly associated with MT. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the only independent factor associated with MT was the number of units of fresh frozen plasma transfused (odds ratio = 1.54 [95% CI (1.12–2.12)]). Conclusion: Many factors are responsible for the need for transfusion during LDLT. Preoperative factors alone do not accurately and consistently predict the need for MT as in our study. It is important to be prepared for need for MT during each transplant.
Fungal Keratitis: Epidemiology, Rapid Detection, and Antifungal Susceptibilities of Fusarium and Aspergillus Isolates from Corneal Scrapings

Fungal aetiology of keratitis/corneal ulcer is considered to be one of the leading causes of ocular morbidity, particularly in developing countries including India. More importantly, Fusarium and Aspergillus are reported commonly implicating corneal ulcer and against this background the present work was undertaken so as to understand the current epidemiological trend of the two fungal keratitis. During the project period, a total of 500 corneal scrapings were collected from suspected mycotic keratitis patients, of which 411 (82.2%) were culture positive for bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Among fungal aetiologies, Fusarium (216, 52.5% of 411) and Aspergillus (68, 16.5% of 411) were predominantly determined. While the study revealed a male preponderance with both the fungal keratitis , it further brought out that polyene compounds (natamycin and amphotericin B) and azoles were active, respectively, against Fusarium spp. and Aspergillus spp. Additionally, 94.1% of culture proven Fusarium keratitis and, respectively, 100% and 63.6% of A. flavus and A. fumigatus were confirmed by multiplex PCR. The sensitivity of the PCR employed in the present study was noted to be 10 fg/μl, 1 pg/μl, and 300 pg/μl of DNA, respectively, for Fusarium, A. flavus, and A. fumigatus. Alarming fact was that Fusarium and Aspergillus regionally remained to be the common cause of mycotic keratitis and the Fusarium isolates had a higher antifungal resistance than Aspergillus strains against most of the test drugs.
Analytical verification of 12 most commonly used urine dipsticks in Croatia: comparability, repeatability and accuracy

Introduction Variability among manufacturers of urine dipsticks, respective to their accuracy and measurement range, may lead to diagnostic errors and thus create a serious risk for the patient. Our aims were to determine the level of agreement between 12 most commonly used urine dipsticks in Croatia, examine their accuracy for glucose and total protein and to test their repeatability. Materials and methods A total of 75 urine samples were used to examine comparability and accuracy of 12 dipstick brands (Combur 10 TestM, ChoiceLine 10, Combur 10 TestUX, ComboStik 10M, ComboStik 11M, CombiScreen 11SYS, CombiScreen 10SL, Combina 13, Combina 11S, Combina 10M, UriGnost 11, Multistix 10SG). Agreement between each dipstick and the reference (Combur 10 TestM) was expressed as kappa coefficient (acceptable κ ≥ 0.80). Accuracy for glucose and total protein was tested by comparison with quantitative measurements on analysers: AU400 (Beckman Coulter, USA), Cobas 6000 c501 (Roche Diagnostics, Germany) and Architect plus c4000 (Abbott, USA). Repeatability was assessed on 20 replicates (acceptable > 90%). Results Best agreement was achieved for glucose, total protein and nitrite (11/11, k > 0.80) and the lowest for bilirubin (5/5, k < 0.60). Sensitivities for total protein were 41-75% (AU400) and 56-92% (Cobas and Architect); while specificities were 41-75% (AU400, Cobas, Architect). Dipsticks’ sensitivity and specificity for glucose were 68-98%. Most of the dipsticks showed unacceptable repeatability (6/12, < 90%) for one parameter, most prominently for pH (3/12, < 90%). Conclusions Most commonly used dipsticks in Croatia showed low level of agreement between each other. Moreover, their repeatability varies among manufacturers and their accuracy for glucose and proteins is poor.
Experimental investigation on the effects of website aesthetics on user performance in different virtual tasks

In Human-Computer Interaction research, the positive effect of aesthetics on users’ subjective impressions and reactions is well-accepted. However, results regarding the influence of interface aesthetics on a user’s individual performance as an objective outcome are very mixed, yet of urgent interest due to the proceeding of digitalization. In this web-based experiment (N = 331), the effect of interface aesthetics on individual performance considering three different types of tasks (search, creative, and transfer tasks) is investigated. The tasks were presented on an either aesthetic or unaesthetic website, which differed significantly in subjective aesthetics. Goal orientation (learning versus performance goals) was included as a possible moderator variable, which was manipulated by using different task instructions. Both aesthetics and goal orientation were a between-subject factor, leading to a 2 × 2 between subject design. Manipulation checks were highly significant. Yet the results show neither significant main effects of aesthetics and goal orientation on performance regarding both accuracy and response times in each of the three tasks, nor significant interaction effects. Nevertheless, from a practical perspective aesthetics still should be considered due to its positive effects on subjective perceptions of users, even as no substantial effects on user performance occurred in the present experiment.
Neostagonosporellasichuanensis gen. et sp. nov. (Phaeosphaeriaceae, Pleosporales) on Phyllostachysheteroclada (Poaceae) from Sichuan Province, China

Abstract Neostagonosporellasichuanensis sp. nov. was found on Phyllostachysheteroclada collected from Sichuan Province in China and is introduced in a new genus Neostagonosporella gen. nov. in this paper. Evidence for the placement of the new taxon in the family Phaeosphaeriaceae is supported by morphology and phylogenetic analysis of a combined LSU, SSU, ITS and TEF 1-α DNA sequence dataset. Maximum-likelihood, maximum-parsimony and Bayesian inference phylogenetic analyses support Neostagonosporella as a distinct genus within this family. The new genus is compared with related genera of Phaeosphaeriaceae and full descriptions and illustrations are provided. Neostagonosporella is characterised by its unique suite of characters, such as multiloculate ascostromata and cylindrical to fusiform, transversely multiseptate, straight or curved ascospores, which are widest at the central cells. Conidiostromata are multiloculate, fusiform to long fusiform or rhomboid, with two types conidia; macroconidia vermiform or subcylindrical to cylindrical, transversely multiseptate, sometimes curved, almost equidistant between septa and microconidia oval, ellipsoidal or long ellipsoidal, aseptate, rounded at both ends. An updated phylogeny of the Phaeosphaeriaceae based on multigene analysis is provided.