Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Emotional Aspects of Hearing Loss

T^VEAFNESS is a subtle yet drastic form of ill•*—' ness. Historically the deaf man has been ridiculed or shunned. With medical enlightenment has come recognition that his disease affects his personality. This assumption is implicit in the activity of schools and leagues for the hard of hearing. Just how such an effect takes place, or to what degree, remains obscure. The journals devoted to deafness report considerable work by psychologists, much of it done with children in special schools. Subjective accounts by persons with hearing loss about their own affliction, and the impressions of several otologists (2, 6), add to this literature, which is ably summarized in the monographs of Barker (1) and Heiders (12). One of the few articles by an Anglo-American psychiatrist is that by Menninger (18), in which he comments on the variety of defenses employed by those deprived of their hearing. A paragraph in Dunbar's book (8) alludes to continental writing about deafness. But there are few detailed investigations from the point of view of present-day psychiatry. History has raised other questions about hearing loss. "Who is as deaf as he that will not hear? " asked George Herbert in 1640. It is folklore that hearing loss varies with convenience. As is often the case, science has lagged behind folklore. Zilboorg (21) abstracting Russian reports, and Hurst (14) recounting British experiences in World War I, comment on the importance of hysterical deafness in the military setting. Papers by Martin (17), Truex (20), and others, emphasize the existence of this syndrome during the recent war. Acoustic research, however, has continued to center about objective investigation of the pathology and physiology of the hearing organ. Medicine has maintained its basically dualistic contrast between "organic" and "functional," and has paid little attention to possible interaction of psychic with somatic factors in the realm of hearing.
Approach to thermal roughening of Ni(110): A study by high-resolution low-energy electron diffraction.

Le processus de rugosite intervient en 2 etapes reversibles. Au-dessus de 900 K, les vibrations deviennent une fraction significative de la longueur de liaison, et une grande anharmonicite dans l'amplitude des vibrations apparai←t. Une grande asymetrie entre les vibrations dans et hors plan existe provoquant la decroissance rapide des pics de diffraction non speculaire. Pres de 1200 K, une densite de lacunes se forme. Au-dessus de 1300 K, la surface devient rugueuse
Leadership and Persistency in Spontaneous Dishonesty

Extensive evidence shows that when given the opportunity, people cheat for monetary rewards, but only to the extent that they can keep a positive self-concept. In this study, we investigate various factors that may influence the degree to which people can keep their positive self-concept while cheating for monetary gains. We find that authentic leadership, gender, cheating norm, experience of cheating, and expectations of others’ cheating behavior have no effect on participants’ spontaneous dishonestyon an abstract task. Therefore, reducing people’s cheating behavior might be a long-term project for the management of fraudulent organizations and more difficult than might be expected.
Empirical Studies of Bio-Inspired Self-Organized Secure Autonomous Routing Protocol

A wireless sensor network (WSN) depends on miniaturized wireless sensor nodes that are deployed to monitor physical phenomena by communicating with each other with limited resources. The major factor to be tackled in the WSN is the network lifetime. A recent WSN routing protocol defined as secure real-time load distribution (SRTLD) uses broadcast packets to perform neighbor discovery and calculation at every hop while transferring data packets. Thus, it has high energy consumption. The proposed novel biological inspired self-organized secure autonomous routing protocol (BIOSARP) enhances SRTLD with an autonomous routing mechanism. In the BIOSARP mechanism, an optimal forwarding decision is obtained using improved ant colony optimization (IACO). In IACO, the pheromone value/probability is computed based on the end-to-end delay, remaining battery power, and link quality metrics. The proposed BIOSARP has been designed to reduce the broadcast and packet overhead in order to minimize the delay, packet loss, and power consumption in the WSN. In this paper, we present the architecture, implementation, and detailed outdoor experimental testbed results of the proposed BIOSARP. These results show that BIOSARP outperforms energy and delay ants algorithm, improved energy-efficient ant-based routing, and SRTLD in simulations and as well as in real testbed experimentation. The empirical study confirmed that BIOSARP offers better performance and can be practically implemented in the WSN applications for structural and environmental monitoring or battlefield surveillance.
Prevalence and characterization of class 1 and class 2 integrons in Escherichia coli isolated from meat and meat products of Norwegian origin.

OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of integrons and to characterize inserted gene cassettes in Escherichia coli isolated from meat and meat products of Norwegian origin. METHODS The strains investigated (n = 241 resistant out of 944 investigated) were collected within the frame of the Norwegian monitoring programme for antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from feed, food and animals (NORM-VET) during the years 2000-2003. PCR and DNA sequencing were used for detection of the integrase genes and gene cassettes within the integrons. RESULTS Integrons were detected in 43 (18%) of the 241 resistant isolates. Class 1 integrons were detected in 29 (12%) strains and class 2 integrons were detected in 14 (6%) strains. Ten different gene cassettes were detected: dfrA1, dfr2a, dfrA12, aadA1, aadA2, catB2, oxa-30, sat, sat1 and orfF. The dfrA1 + aadA1 combination was the most prevalent cassette combination, detected in 12 of 29 class 1 integrons. Twelve (of 14) class 2 integrons contained a cassette area consistent with that on Tn7, the remaining two contained the cassettes sat + sat1 + aadA1. Nearly one-third of the class 1 integrons (9 of 29) lacked the sul1 gene. Ten gene cassettes (one dfr2a, two catB2 and seven aadA1) were expressed at levels below breakpoint values normally used to classify strains as resistant. CONCLUSIONS Integrons of class 1 or 2 were present in approximately 18% of the resistant E. coli strains investigated. Certain cassette combinations in class 1 integrons seem to be more widespread than others, like the dfrA1 + aadA1. Low-level expression of antimicrobial resistance, caused by the expression of certain gene cassettes in some integrons represents an obstacle in classifying strains as susceptible or resistant.
Lithospheric deformation beneath the San Gabriel Mountains in the southern California Transverse Ranges

High-resolution tomographic images from Los Angeles Region Seismic Experiment (LARSE) array and southern California Seismic Network (SCSN) teleseismic data suggest that the entire lithosphere below the San Gabriel Mountains and San Andreas fault in the Transverse Ranges has thickened in a narrow, vertical sheet. P wave travel time inversions of the combined data support the presence of the well-documented upper mantle high-velocity anomaly that extends ∼200 km into the mantle under the northernmost Los Angeles basin and Transverse Ranges, and is associated with mantle downwelling due to oblique convergence. We find that the high-velocity, high-density upper mantle anomaly comprises a 60–80 km wide sheet of mantle material that lies directly below a substantial crustal root in the San Gabriel Mountains. The velocity perturbations are as large as 3% in the anomaly, corresponding to a ∼2% density increase. The tomographic images suggest that deformation in the ductile lower crust and mantle lithosphere may be partially coupled mechanically and thermally if the thickening is occurring together in response to convergence and that it may be a local compressional feature.
Reactive cysteine persulfides and S-polythiolation regulate oxidative stress and redox signaling

Significance Reactive sulfur-containing compounds, such as l-cysteine hydropersulfide (CysSSH), reportedly form in mammals. However, the biological relevance of these reactive sulfur species remains unclear. We determined that CysSSH was synthesized from cystine by cystathionine β-synthase and cystathionine γ-lyase, which in turn may contribute to high levels of glutathione hydropersulfide (>100 μM) and other CysSSH derivatives of peptides/proteins formed in cells, tissues, and plasma from mice and humans. Compared with glutathione and hydrogen sulfide, CysSSH derivatives were superior nucleophiles and reductants and capable of regulating electrophilic cell signaling mediated by 8-nitroguanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate. Altogether, it is proposed that reactive Cys persulfides and S-polythiolation have critical regulatory functions in redox cell signaling. Using methodology developed herein, it is found that reactive persulfides and polysulfides are formed endogenously from both small molecule species and proteins in high amounts in mammalian cells and tissues. These reactive sulfur species were biosynthesized by two major sulfurtransferases: cystathionine β-synthase and cystathionine γ-lyase. Quantitation of these species indicates that high concentrations of glutathione persulfide (perhydropersulfide >100 μM) and other cysteine persulfide and polysulfide derivatives in peptides/proteins were endogenously produced and maintained in the plasma, cells, and tissues of mammals (rodent and human). It is expected that persulfides are especially nucleophilic and reducing. This view was found to be the case, because they quickly react with H2O2 and a recently described biologically generated electrophile 8-nitroguanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate. These results indicate that persulfides are potentially important signaling/effector species, and because H2S can be generated from persulfide degradation, much of the reported biological activity associated with H2S may actually be that of persulfides. That is, H2S may act primarily as a marker for the biologically active of persulfide species.
Job Security Satisfaction in Australia : Do Migrant Characteristics and Gender Matter ?

This paper utilises the HILDA Survey to examine the job security satisfaction of migrant workers. Using fixed effects models, stratified by migrant status and gender, we uncover native-migrant differences in the factors influencing workers’ job security satisfaction. The adverse effects of non-permanent contracts on job security satisfaction are greater for male migrants than their native counterparts. However, the job security satisfaction of male migrant workers is boosted by union membership and wage increases. Among female migrant workers, education is positively correlated with job security satisfaction. We investigate the influences of assimilation and English-speaking background on migrants’ job security satisfaction and find that the negative impacts of non-permanent contracts on job security satisfaction levels are augmented among female workers who are well-assimilated or who possess an English-speaking background. Variances in expectations between assimilated and non-assimilated workers and English-proficient versus non-English-proficient workers may explain these divergent outcomes within female migrant worker groups. JEL classification: J150; J160; J280
Mothers' appreciation of chromosomal microarray analysis for autism spectrum disorder.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to examine mothers' experiences with chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) for a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). DESIGN AND METHODS This is a descriptive qualitative study using thematic content analysis of in-depth interview with 48 mothers of children who had genetic testing for ASD. RESULTS The principal theme, "something is missing," included missing knowledge about genetics, information on use of the results, explanations of the relevance to the diagnosis, and relevance to life-long care. Two subordinate themes were (a) disappreciation of the helpfulness of scientific information to explain the diagnosis, and (b) returning to personal experience for interpretation. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS The test "appreciated" in value when results could be linked to the phenotype.
Sensitivity of HIV-1 to entry inhibitors correlates with envelope/coreceptor affinity, receptor density, and fusion kinetics

HIV entry inhibitors include coreceptor antagonists and the fusion inhibitor T-20. T-20 binds the first helical region (HR1) in the gp41 subunit of the viral envelope (Env) protein and prevents conformational changes required for membrane fusion. HR1 appears to become accessible to T-20 after Env binds CD4, whereas coreceptor binding is thought to induce the final conformational changes that lead to membrane fusion. Thus, T-20 binds to a structural intermediate of the fusion process. Primary viruses exhibit considerable variability in T-20 sensitivity, and determinants outside of HR1 can affect sensitivity by unknown mechanisms. We studied chimeric Env proteins containing different V3 loop sequences and found that gp120/coreceptor affinity correlated with T-20 and coreceptor antagonist sensitivity, with greater affinity resulting in increased resistance to both classes of entry inhibitors. Enhanced affinity resulted in more rapid fusion kinetics, reducing the time during which Env is sensitive to T-20. Reduced coreceptor expression levels also delayed fusion kinetics and enhanced virus sensitivity to T-20, whereas increased coreceptor levels had the opposite effect. A single amino acid change (K421D) in the bridging sheet region of the primary virus strain YU2 reduced affinity for CCR5 and increased T-20 sensitivity by about 30-fold. Thus, mutations in Env that affect receptor engagement and membrane fusion rates can alter entry inhibitor sensitivity. Because coreceptor expression levels are typically limiting in vivo, individuals who express lower coreceptor levels may respond more favorably to entry inhibitors such as T-20, whose effectiveness we show depends in part on fusion kinetics.
Persisting motor control problems in 11‐ to 12‐year‐old boys previously diagnosed with deficits in attention, motor control and perception (DAMP)

The aim of this study was to examine whether boys who had been previously diagnosed between the ages of 5 and 8 years with deficits in attention, motor control and perception (DAMP) still have problems with motor control, which influence their spare‐time and everyday activities, at 11 to 12 years. The study comprised a well defined cohort of 10 boys with DAMP and a control group of 20 boys without DAMP matched for age, height, and weight. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children was used to assess motor control in ability to perform everyday activities, and the spare‐time activities in which the boys participated were recorded. Individually, the boys previously diagnosed with DAMP had a markedly higher total score (poor performance) than the boys without DAMP (P<0.001). The everyday activities of boys with DAMP were significantly affected, and they chose to participate in different sports from the control boys, i.e. none participated in team sports. The present study does not support the concept of improvements in motor control with age in children with DAMP.
Monte-Carlo Simulation and Automated Test Bench for Developing a Multichannel NIR-Based Vital-Signs Monitor

Unobtrusive, long-term monitoring of cardiac (and respiratory) rhythms using only non-invasive vibration sensors mounted in beds promises to unlock new applications in home and low acuity monitoring. This paper presents a novel concept for such a system based on an array of near infrared (NIR) sensors placed underneath a regular bed mattress. We focus on modeling and analyzing the underlying technical measurement principle with the help of a 2D model of a polyurethane foam mattress and Monte-Carlo simulations of the opto-mechanical interaction responsible for signal genesis. Furthermore, a test rig to automatically and repeatably impress mechanical vibrations onto a mattress is introduced and used to identify the properties of a prototype implementation of the proposed measurement principle. Results show that NIR-based sensing is capable of registering miniscule deformations of the mattress with a high spatial specificity. As a final outlook, proof-of-concept measurements with the sensor array are presented which demonstrate that cardiorespiratory movements of the body can be detected and that automatic heart rate estimation at competitive error levels is feasible with the proposed approach.
A Decade of Selective Use of Adjustable Cutting Seton Combined with Fistulotomy for Anal Fistula

Previous studies have demonstrated that the division of sphincter muscle in the treatment of anal fistula may precipitate fecal incontinence. Cutting setons may pose a particular risk of unrecoverable injury to the sphincter apparatus. To evaluate if the use of an adjustable cutting seton mitigates this risk, we performed a retrospective review of all patients operated on for anal fistulae in a 10-year period by a single surgeon. Adjustable cutting setons (consisting of heavy silk ligature with patient-controllable tension) were used selectively. Forty-seven patients met the study criteria. Ninety-four per cent of the fistulae treated were transsphincteric. All of the fistulae were treated with at least partial fistulotomy. Ninety-nine per cent of patients were followed to completion of treatment. One (2%) patient subsequently developed fecal incontinence, and four (9%) developed a recurrent or persistent fistula in the same location. Adjustable cutting setons have been used in our practice with a high success rate and low risk of complications. Our data support adjustable cutting setons as a useful tool in the surgeon's repertoire for treating fistulae that involve the anal sphincter complex.
Comparison of ICRP 67 and Other Plutonium Systemic Model Predictions with the Biokinetic Data from Nonhuman Primates

AbstractDespite the presence of a relatively large amount of human data available on the metabolism of plutonium, the experimental animal data is still important in constructing and parameterizing the biokinetic models. Recognizing this importance, the biokinetic data obtained from studies done by P.W. Durbin in nonhuman primates (NHP) were evaluated against the ICRP 67 systemic model and the two human models developed thereafter. The default transfer rates recommended for adult humans in these models predict the urinary excretion in NHP to a certain extent. However, they were unable to describe the fecal excretion rates several days post intake and the activities in skeleton and liver at the time of the death. These inconsistencies between the human reference models and the NHP biokinetic data are the result of metabolic and physiological differences between the species, as demonstrated by early biokinetic studies.
The effect of fiscal variables on economic growth in Asian economies: A dynamic panel data analysis

This paper investigates the effect of relationship between fiscal variables and economic growth in Asian economies using a generalized method of moments (GMM) method as a dynamic panel data analysis over the 1985 – 2001 periods. These data contain a number of time invariant and time varying variables, where the time varying variables are averaged over four year It examines two different channels through which fiscal policy can affect long run economic growth in Asia. The first channel is when components and aggregate government expenditure affects the real per capita GDP and the second channel is when the components and aggregate of other fiscal variables affects the real per capita GDP. The dynamic panel data result especially GMM-SYS establishes a long run relationship between fiscal policy and economic growth. We find positive and statistically significant impact of health and education expenditure, aggregate of government expenditure and aggregate of other fiscal variables on real per capita GDP. Furthermore, we find that the defence expenditure, distortionary taxation and budget balance are significantly and negatively related to real per capita GDP.
HPTLC analysis, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities of Arisaema tortuosum tuber extract

Abstract Context: Oxidative stress and inflammation are related to several chronic diseases including cancer and atherosclerosis. Arisaema tortuosum (Wall.) Schott (Araceae) is an Indian folk medicinal herb traditionally used for treatment of various diseases related to inflammation and stress. Objective: This study was carried out for HPTLC analysis and evaluation of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities of a methanol extract of A. tortuosum tuber. Materials and methods: The antioxidant activities of methanol extract of A. tortuosum tuber (1 mg/mL) were evaluated by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays and anti-inflammatory effects by diene-conjugate and β-glucuronidase assays, with in vitro tumor growth inhibition on HeLa cancer cells. The results for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects were compared using Trolox and salicylic acid as reference compounds, respectively. Results: The TLC and HPTLC analysis showed the presence of quercetin, rutin, luteolin and lectin (Rf values 0.97, 0.53, 0.59 and 1.58, respectively). The methanol fraction of tuber exhibit higher activity in each antioxidant system with a special attention for DPPH (IC50 = 852 μg/mL), ABTS (IC50 = 532 μg/mL), and FRAP (IC50 = 458 μg/mL), as compared with Trolox as standard, with a remarkable amount of phenolics (86.2 mg/100 g) and flavonoids (175.5 mg/100 g), along with potent anti-inflammatory activity indicated by diene-conjugate (86.20%) and β-glucuronidase (92.92%) inhibition, as compared with salicylic acid as reference compound. The antiproliferative activity at 100 mg/mL was 88% inhibition with HeLa cells. The inhibition of HeLa cell proliferation was greatest (p < 0.001) with the 100 mg/mL A. tortuosum tuber extract treatments and least with the 25 mg/mL dose. Discussion and conclusion: Our results suggested that A. tortuosum tuber might be used as a promising and potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative agent and might be used for standardization of potential drug after successful isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds.
Effect of acute physical exercise on patients with chronic primary insomnia.

STUDY OBJECTIVES The aim was to assess and to compare the acute effects of three different modalities of physical exercise on sleep pattern of patients with chronic primary insomnia. METHODS Forty-eight insomnia patients, 38 female (mean age 44.4 +/- 8 y) were randomly assigned to 4 groups: control (CTR, n=12), moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (MAE, n=12), high-intensity aerobic exercise (HAE, n=12), and moderate-intensity resistance exercise (MRE, n=12). The patients were assessed on sleep pattern (by polysomnogram and daily sleep log) and anxiety (STAI) before and after the acute exercise. RESULTS The polysomnogram data showed reduction in the sleep onset latency (SOL) (55%) and in the total wake time (TWT) (30%); increase in total sleep time (TST) (18%), and in the sleep efficiency (SE) (13%) in the MAE group. The daily sleep log data showed increase in the TST (26%) and reduction in the SOL (39%). In addition, reduction (15%) in anxiety was also observed after moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. CONCLUSIONS Acute moderate-intensity aerobic exercise appears to reduce pre-sleep anxiety and improve sleep in patients with chronic primary insomnia.