Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rarebit perimetry in normal subjects: test-retest variability, learning effect, normative range, influence of optical defocus, and cataract extraction.

PURPOSE To study normative ranges, learning effect (LE), test-retest variability (TRV), and influence of blur and cataract in normal subjects by using rarebit perimetry (RBP). METHODS Seventy-five normal subjects underwent visual field (VF) testing with standard automated perimetry (SAP) and RBP. LE and TRV for RBP were assessed in repeated examinations conducted on four different days. LE was evaluated by comparing results from the first with those of the other three sessions. TRV was studied by calculating differences between retest for each combination of single tests. The blur effect was evaluated by repeated tests with spherical lenses added to the optimum refractive correction (+/-1.00 to +/-6.00 D). The cataract effect was studied in 23 subjects who underwent RBP 1 week before and 1 month after cataract surgery. Mean hit rate (MHR) and mean miss rate (MMR) were analyzed for single areas and test duration. RESULTS The mean MHR was 91% +/- 5.7% (range, 78%-99%); the mean MMR ranged from 4.0% to 13.8%. MHR significantly decreased with age (mean, 0.21%/year). Mean test time was 268 +/- 34.1 seconds. No significant LE was observed. TRV was significantly higher in the central VF zone and in elderly subjects. MHR increased with refractive blur and significantly decreased after cataract surgery. Effects of blur and cataract extraction were significantly higher in the central VF zone, especially in elderly subjects. CONCLUSIONS RBP is a rapid and easily accessible VF test. RBP testing did not show a significant LE; however, inter- and intrasubject variability were consistent. Blur and media opacities may give false-positive results in RBP, especially in the central VF, and should be considered.
Melanoma-associated mutations in protein phosphatase 6 cause chromosome instability and DNA damage owing to dysregulated Aurora-A

Summary Mutations in the PPP6C catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 6 (PP6) are drivers for the development of melanoma. Here, we analyse a panel of melanoma-associated mutations in PPP6C and find that these generally compromise assembly of the PP6 holoenzyme and catalytic activity towards a model substrate. Detailed analysis of one mutant, PPP6C-H114Y, in both primary melanoma and engineered cell lines reveals it is destabilized and undergoes increased proteasome-mediated turnover. Global analysis of phosphatase substrates by mass spectrometry identifies the oncogenic kinase Aurora-A as the major PP6 substrate that is dysregulated under these conditions. Accordingly, cells lacking PPP6C or carrying the PPP6C-H114Y allele have elevated Aurora-A kinase activity and display chromosome instability with associated Aurora-A-dependent micronucleation. Chromosomes mis-segregated to these micronuclei are preferentially stained by the DNA damage marker &ggr;-H2AX, suggesting that loss of PPP6C promotes both chromosome instability and DNA damage. These findings support the view that formation of micronuclei rather than chromosome instability alone explains how loss of PPP6C, and more generally mitotic spindle and centrosome defects, can act as drivers for genome instability in melanoma and other cancers.
Practical Guide to Designed Experiments: A Unified Modular Approach

This section will review those books whose content and level reflect the general editorial policy of Technometrics. Publishers should send books for review to Eric R. Ziegel, BP Group Technology, Mail Code C-7, 150 West Warrenville Road, Naperville, IL 60563-8460 (eric.ziegel@bp.com). The opinions expressed in this section are those of the reviewers. These opinions do not represent positions of the reviewer’s organization and may not reflect those of the editors or the sponsoring societies. Listed prices reflect information provided by the publisher and may not be current. The book purchase programs of the American Society for Quality can provide some of these books at reduced prices for members. For information, contact the American Society for Quality, 1-800-248-1946.
Mbd3, a component of the NuRD co-repressor complex, is required for development of pluripotent cells

Mbd3 is a core component of the NuRD (Nucleosome Remodeling and Histone Deacetylation) co-repressor complex, and NuRD-mediated silencing has been implicated in cell fate decisions in a number of contexts. Mbd3-deficient embryonic stem (ES) cells made by gene targeting are viable but fail to form a stable NuRD complex, are severely compromised in the ability to differentiate, and show LIF-independent self-renewal. Mbd3 is known to be essential for postimplantation embryogenesis in mice, but the function of Mbd3 in vivo has not previously been addressed. Here we show that the inner cell mass (ICM) of Mbd3-deficient blastocysts fails to develop into mature epiblast after implantation. Unlike Mbd3-null ES cells, Mbd3-deficient ICMs grown ex vivo fail to expand their Oct4-positive, pluripotent cell population despite producing robust endoderm outgrowths. Additionally, we identify a set of genes showing stage-specific expression in ICM cells during preimplantation development, and show that Mbd3 is required for proper gene expression patterns in pre- and peri-implantation embryos and in ES cells. These results demonstrate the importance of Mbd3/NuRD for the development of pluripotent cells in vivo and for their ex vivo progression into embryonic stem cells, and highlight the differences between ES cells and the ICM cells from which they are derived.
Systematically evaluating the effectiveness of quality assurance programmes in leading to improvements in institutional performance

Higher education institutions worldwide invest significant resources in their quality assurance systems. Little empirical evidence exists that demonstrates the effectiveness (or otherwise) of these systems. Methodological approaches for determining effectiveness are also underdeveloped. Self-study-with-peer-review is a widely used model for ensuring the quality of the core teaching, research and engagement activities of higher education institutions. This article illustrates how an established social-programme evaluation methodology can be used to determine its effectiveness in leading to improvements in institutional performance. The concept of effectiveness and the particular challenges posed by the higher education organisational culture are considered. An example of the systematic evaluation of three self-study programmes is provided to illustrate the concept. It is concluded that social-programme evaluation has significant potential in evaluating the effectiveness of quality assurance initiatives in higher education.
Promotion of muscle regeneration by myoblast transplantation combined with the controlled and sustained release of bFGFcpr

Although myoblast transplantation is an attractive method for muscle regeneration, its efficiency remains limited. The efficacy of myoblast transplantation in combination with the controlled and sustained delivery of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was investigated. Defects of thigh muscle in Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were created, and GFP‐positive myoblasts were subsequently transplanted. The rats were divided into three groups. In control group 1 (C1) only myoblasts were transplanted, while in control group 2 (C2) myoblasts were introduced along with empty gelatin hydrogel microspheres. In the experimental group (Ex), myoblasts were transplanted along with bFGF incorporated into gelatin hydrogel microspheres. Four weeks after transplantation, GFP‐positive myoblasts were found to be integrated into the recipient muscle and to contribute to muscle fibre regeneration in all groups. A significantly higher expression level of GFP in the Ex group demonstrated that the survival rate of transplanted myoblasts in Ex was remarkably improved compared with that in C1 and C2. Furthermore, myofibre regeneration, characterized by centralization of the nuclei, was markedly accelerated in Ex. The expression level of CD31 in Ex was higher than that in both C1 and C2, but the differences were not statistically significant. A significantly higher expression level of Myogenin and a lower expression level of MyoD1 were both observed in Ex after 4 weeks, suggesting the promotion of differentiation to myotubes. Our findings suggest that the controlled and sustained release of bFGF from gelatin hydrogel microspheres improves the survival rate of transplanted myoblasts and promotes muscle regeneration by facilitating myogenesis rather than angiogenesis. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hepatitis B Virus Impairs TLR9 Expression and Function in Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) play a key role in detecting pathogens by producing large amounts of type I interferon (IFN) by sensing the presence of viral infections through the Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) pathway. TLR9 is a sensor of viral and bacterial DNA motifs and activates the IRF7 transcription factor which leads to type I IFN secretion by pDCs. However, during chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, pDCs display an impaired ability to secrete IFN-α following ex vivo stimulation with TLR9 ligands. Here we highlight several strategies used by HBV to block IFN-α production through a specific impairment of the TLR9 signaling. Our results show that HBV particle internalisation could inhibit TLR9- but not TLR7-mediated secretion of IFN-α by pDCs. We observed that HBV down-regulated TLR9 transcriptional activity in pDCs and B cells in which TLR9 mRNA and protein levels were reduced. HBV can interfere with TLR9 activity by blocking the MyD88-IRAK4 axis and Sendai virus targeting IRF7 to block IFN-α production. Neutralising CpG motif sequences were identified within HBV DNA genome of genotypes A to H which displayed a suppressive effect on TLR9-immune activation. Moreover, TLR9 mRNA and protein were downregulated in PBMCs from patients with HBV-associated chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Thus HBV has developed several escape mechanisms to avoid TLR9 activation in both pDCs and B lymphocytes, which may in turn contribute to the establishment and/or persistence of chronic infection.
Multiple intelligences of transformational leaders: an empirical examination

Purpose – To examine the impact of emotional, social, and cognitive intelligences on the dimensions of transformational leadership using both paper‐and‐pencil measures and assessment center dimensions.Design/methodology/approach – Multiple measurement methodologies were used to conceptualize emotional, cognitive, and social intelligence. Subordinate ratings of three dimensions of transformational leadership were used as the criteria. Correlation analysis and a series of multiple hierarchical regressions were used to determine the relationship between the multiple intelligences and three dimensions of transformational leadership.Findings – Results indicate that a multiple intelligences framework is a useful approach to predict transformational leadership. Correlation analyses and multiple regression results indicated that the multiple intelligence framework explained between 10 and 25 percent of the variance in perceptions of transformational leadership and that assessment center dimensions explained addit.
Using System Dynamics as a Knowledge-Based Decision Making Paradigm

In this paper, we suggest a method of knowledge-based decision making using system dynamics, with an emphasis to strategic concerns. The proposed method transforms individual mental models into explicit knowledge by translating partial and implicit knowledge into an integrated knowledge model. The scenario-based test of the organized knowledge model enables decision-makers to understand the structure of the target problem and identify its basic cause, which facilitates effective decision-making.
Reasons to seek medical attention for a skin check-up: the layman's perspective.

BACKGROUND The incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma has increased rapidly in Sweden during the last 20 years. One way of reducing mortality is through early diagnosis. The aim of this study was to explore the reasons why different people seek medical attention for pigmented skin lesions, using a qualitative approach. METHODS Three groups of laymen (N=90), all with varying experience of pigmented skin lesions, were interviewed. RESULTS Most of the respondents had sought medical attention primarily because they were worried about a specific skin lesion. Patients with melanoma mentioned concern about very dark skin lesions more often than other respondents did. Encouragement by family and friends was also important. CONCLUSION Very dark coloration in pigmented skin lesions might be added to public recommendations for early discovery of melanoma. No other new nonmedical feature or circumstance was identified when the results were compared with two established systems for clinical diagnosis of melanoma (the ABCD criteria and the seven-point checklist).
Impact of obstructive sleep apnoea on left ventricular mass and global function

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) might be a cause of heart failure. The present study aimed to assess left ventricular mass and myocardial performance index (MPI) in OSAS patients. A total of 67 subjects without any cardiac or pulmonary disease, referred for evaluation of OSAS, had overnight polysomnography and echocardiography. According to apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI), subjects were classified into three groups: mild OSAS (AHI: 5–14; n = 16), moderate OSAS (AHI: 15-29; n = 18), and severe OSAS (AHI: ≥30; n = 33). Thickness of interventricular septum (IVS) and posterior wall (LVPW) were measured by M-mode, along with left ventricular mass (LVM) and LVM index (LVMI). Left ventricular MPI was calculated as (isovolumic contraction time+isovolumic relaxation time)/aortic ejection time by Döppler echocardiography. There were no differences in age or body mass index among the groups, but blood pressures were higher in severe OSAS compared with moderate and mild OSAS. In severe OSAS, thickness of IVS (11.2±1.1 mm), LVPW (11.4±0.9 mm), LVM (298.8±83.1 g) and LVMI (144.7±39.8 g·m−2) were higher than in moderate OSAS (10.9±1.3 mm; 10.8±0.9 mm; 287.3±74.6 g; 126.5±41.2 g·m−2, respectively) and mild OSAS (9.9±0.9 mm; 9.8±0.8 mm; 225.6±84.3 g; 100.5±42.3 g·m−2, respectively). In severe OSAS, MPI (0.64±0.14) was significantly higher than in mild OSAS (0.50±0.09), but not significantly higher than moderate OSAS (0.60±0.10). In conclusion, severe and moderate obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome patients had higher left ventricular mass and left ventricular mass index, and also left ventricular global dysfunction.
Laser range data based semantic labeling of places

Extending metric space representations of an environment with other high level information, such as semantic and topological representations enable a robotic device to efficiently operate in complex environments. This paper proposes a methodology for a robot to classify indoor environments into semantic categories. Classification task, using data collected from a laser range finder, is achieved by a machine learning approach based on the logistic regression algorithm. The classification is followed by a probabilistic temporal update of the semantic labels of places. The innovation here is that the new algorithm is able to classify parts of a single laser scan into different semantic labels rather than the conventional approach of gross categorization of locations based on the whole laser scan. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm using a data set available in the public domain.
The Prevalence of UX Design in Agile Development Processes in Industry

The gap between how the academic world develops usability and user experience (UX) methods, and how the industry employs these methods is perceived as both broad and deep. But is that the real picture -- and has there been a change in how companies work within these fields over the past two years? By conducting interviews with eight companies, this paper tries to answer these two questions. The companies were initially interviewed in 2013 and by follow-up interviews in 2015 the paper draws a picture of how the companies work with UX and usability in an agile development environment. We identify the challenges they are facing and if, and how the work progresses. We found that the UX maturity during these two years had changed significantly. This was revealed by the fact that almost all of the companies in 2015 had implemented or were in the process of developing a UX strategy together with more formalized UX processes. They also allocated more resources to conduct UX and usability work than earlier. We found that all of the companies made use of low-fi prototyping, followed by usability testing, workshops, personas, expert evaluations, user or customer journeys, customer visits and user task analyses. Almost all the companies carried out development using the Scrum framework. All of the companies were interested in the idea of agile UX, and found the idea of using the developers as a UX resource interesting. This, together with an idea of modifying existing usability methods to be used in an agile, industrial setting could be a solution to bridge the gap between academia and the industry.
Clinical appropriateness and not race predicted referral for joint arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVE To understand the reasons behind racial disparities in the use of total joint arthroplasty (TJA), we sought to examine the predictors of time to referral to orthopedic surgery for consideration of joint replacement. METHODS In this prospective, longitudinal study of 676 primary care clinic patients with at least a moderately severe degree of hip or knee osteoarthritis (OA), we examined the effects of race, health beliefs (i.e., perceived benefits and risks) of TJA, and clinical appropriateness of TJA on referral to orthopedic surgery. RESULTS The sample included 255 African Americans (38%) and 421 whites (62%); 523 patients had knee OA (78%) and 153 had hip OA (22%). Subjects were 60% male, with a mean +/- SD age of 64 +/- 9 years, a mean +/- SD body mass index of 33.6 +/- 8 kg/m(2), and a mean +/- SD summary Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index score of 56 +/- 14, suggesting moderately severe OA. At baseline, African Americans perceived fewer benefits and greater risk from TJA than whites. There were no significant racial group differences in the proportions of cases deemed clinically appropriate for TJA. After controlling for potential confounders, clinical appropriateness (hazard ratio [HR] 1.95, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.15-3.32; P = 0.01) predicted referral to orthopedic surgery. Neither race (HR 1.30, 95% CI 0.94-2.05; P = 0.1) nor health beliefs (HR 1.0, P = 0.5) were associated with referral status. CONCLUSION In this sample of primary care clinic patients, African Americans and whites were equally likely to be referred by their physicians to orthopedic surgery. Clinical appropriateness predicted future referral to orthopedic surgery, and not race or TJA-specific health beliefs.
Developments in Spiritual Care of the Dying

Care of the dying is likely to be a useful indicator of trends in Christianity, a religion which for centuries has been deeply concerned with the problem of death. The article identifies three approaches to the spiritual dimension in contemporary terminal care—a religious approach, an ecclesiastical approach and an approach that identifies the spiritual as the search for meaning. Though the ecclesiastical approach dominates practice, the ‘meaning’ approach is becoming fashionable and represents a highly individualized, postmodern variety of religion with similarities to the New Age—a surprising conjunction in those hospices with a Christian foundation.
Automatically Exploring Tradeoffs Between Software Output Fidelity and Energy Costs

Data centers account for a significant fraction of global energy consumption and represent a growing business cost. Most current approaches to reducing energy use in data centers treat it as a hardware, compiler, or scheduling problem. This article focuses instead on the software level, showing how to reduce the energy used by programs when they execute. By combining insights from search-based software engineering, mutational robustness, profile-guided optimization, and approximate computing, the Producing Green Applications Using Genetic Exploration (PowerGAUGE) algorithm finds variants of individual programs that use less energy than the original. We apply hardware, software, and statistical techniques to manage the complexity of accurately assigning physical energy measurements to particular processes. In addition, our approach allows, but does not require, relaxing output quality requirements to achieve greater non-functional improvements. PowerGAUGE optimizations are validated using physical performance measurements. Experimental results on PARSEC benchmarks and two larger programs show average energy reductions of 14% when requiring the preservation of original output quality and 41% when allowing for human-acceptable levels of error.
Diversity decay in opportunistic content sharing systems

As content that users access on their mobile devices becomes bulkier, opportunistic networking is becoming a potential complement to centralised and infrastructure based downloads. We study how users share items of mutual interest with each other with a simple model based on a ‘networked urn process’. We investigate the effect of different content sharing policies upon a multi-category set of items. We find that the process of sharing mutual interests inherently disproportionately reinforces category replication disparity, i.e., the most popular categories become proportionally even more numerous. These findings uncover a major hurdle in the creation of automatic opportunistic file sharing between users. Even if users altruistically sacrifice battery power and network resources to share content not relevant to them, overall, the system may not be able to fairly distribute items that belong to niche categories.
Transcript Lifetime Is Balanced between Stabilizing Stem-Loop Structures and Degradation-Promoting Polyadenylation in Plant Mitochondria

ABSTRACT To determine the influence of posttranscriptional modifications on 3′ end processing and RNA stability in plant mitochondria, peaatp9 and Oenothera atp1 transcripts were investigated for the presence and function of 3′ nonencoded nucleotides. A 3′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends approach initiated at oligo(dT)-adapter primers finds the expected poly(A) tails predominantly attached within the second stem or downstream of the double stem-loop structures at sites of previously mapped 3′ ends. Functional studies in a pea mitochondrial in vitro processing system reveal a rapid removal of the poly(A) tails up to termini at the stem-loop structure but little if any influence on further degradation of the RNA. In contrast 3′ poly(A) tracts at RNAs without such stem-loop structures significantly promote total degradation in vitro. To determine the in vivo identity of 3′ nonencoded nucleotides more accurately, pea atp9 transcripts were analyzed by a direct anchor primer ligation-reverse transcriptase PCR approach. This analysis identified maximally 3-nucleotide-long nonencoded extensions most frequently of adenosines combined with cytidines. Processing assays with substrates containing homopolymer stretches of different lengths showed that 10 or more adenosines accelerate RNA processivity, while 3 adenosines have no impact on RNA life span. Thus polyadenylation can generally stimulate the decay of RNAs, but processivity of degradation is almost annihilated by the stabilizing effect of the stem-loop structures. These antagonistic actions thus result in the efficient formation of 3′ processed and stable transcripts.