Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of subjective concerns and characteristics of the moral issue in moral considerations

This paper addresses three issues of moral decision making within the framework of Jones' (1991) moral intensity model: (1) the effect of scope of justice for the moral agent and the target person of a moral issue on moral judgments; (2) the relative importance placed upon different characteristics of a moral issue in moral decisions; and (3) the empirical link between judgments of ethicality and fairness. Scope of justice was operationalized in terms of friendship, attitude similarity and justice concerns. A scenario approach was employed whereby each respondent read cases of ethical decisions involving two people known to them. The two people were either the respondent's ‘friend’ or ‘non-friend’ (high vs. low level of scope of justice), and they were cast in the scenarios as the decision maker and the target person. Respondents then made evaluations of the intensity, fairness and ethicality of the issue. Results show that scope of justice regarding either the moral agent or the target person affected moral judgments. However, these scope of justice effects were context dependent. Results also show that the issue dimension of social consensus was consistently accorded a greater weight in the overall ethicality judgment. A significant empirical link between judgments of ethicality and fairness was also evident. Implications for theories of morality are noted.
A longitudinal analysis of neurocognitive function in unipolar depression

Neurocognitive function is reduced in major depression, but uncertainties remain about if and to what extent improvement in neurocognitive function follows remission of depressive symptoms. A total of 30 patients with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) diagnosis of unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD) at baseline were tested neuropsychologically again, after a mean test–retest interval of 2 years. At retest, patients were partly or completely recovered from depression. Remission of depression was followed by improvement in verbal memory function up to the level of healthy controls, but no associations between improvement in depression and improvement in other dimensions of neurocognitive function were found. Neurocognitive function at baseline was not predictive of improvement in depressive symptoms over time. The present study provided some support for the state hypothesis as to the association between neurocognitive impairment and depression.
Identification of a Surface Protein of Streptococcus suis and Evaluation of Its Immunogenic and Protective Capacity in Pigs

ABSTRACT A Streptococcus suis surface protein reacting with convalescent-phase sera from pigs clinically infected by S. suis type 2 was identified. The apparent 110-kDa protein, designated Sao, exhibits typical features of membrane-anchored surface proteins of gram-positive bacteria, such as a signal sequence and an LPVTG membrane anchor motif. In spite of high identity with the partially sequenced genomes of S. suis Canadian strain 89/1591 and European strain P1/7, Sao does not share significant homology with other known sequences. However, a conserved avirulence domain that is often found in plant pathogens has been detected. Electron microscopy using an Sao-specific antiserum has confirmed the surface location of the Sao protein on S. suis. The Sao-specific antibody reacts with cell lysates of 28 of 33 S. suis serotypes and 25 of 26 serotype 2 isolates in immunoblots, suggesting its high conservation in S. suis species. The immunization of piglets with recombinant Sao elicits a significant humoral antibody response. However, the antibody response is not reflected in protection of pigs that are intratracheally challenged with a virulent strain in our conventional vaccination model.
A Randomized-controlled Trial of Using a Book of Metaphors to Reconceptualize Pain and Decrease Catastrophizing in People With Chronic Pain

Objectives:Reconceptualization of pain and reduction of pain-related catastrophizing are primary objectives in chronic pain rehabilitation. Teaching people about the underlying biology of pain has been shown to facilitate these objectives. The objective of this study was to investigate whether written metaphor and story can be used to increase knowledge of the biology of pain and reduce pain-related catastrophizing. Methods:In this randomized single-blind partial cross-over controlled trial, 79 people with chronic pain received either a booklet of metaphors and stories conveying key pain biology concepts or a booklet containing advice on how to manage chronic pain according to established cognitive-behavioral principles. The primary outcome variables, pain biology knowledge and catastrophizing, were measured before randomization, at 3 weeks and at 3 months, at which time the control group was crossed over to receive the metaphors and stories booklet. Pain and disability were secondary outcome variables. Results:The Metaphors group showed larger changes in both variables (time×group interactions: P<0.01, effect size Cohen d=0.7 for catastrophizing and 1.7 for pain biology knowledge). Gains were maintained for at least 3 months. Changes were replicated in the Advice group when crossed over. There was no change in pain or self-reported disability in either group. Discussion:We conclude that providing educational material through metaphor and story can assist patients to reconceptualize pain and reduce catastrophizing. Metaphor and story could be used as a precurser to other interventions that target functional capacity.
Access layer techniques for machine type communications in LTE/LTE-A. (Technique d'accès pour la communication machine-à-machine dans LTE/LTE-A)

Machine type communications is seen as a form of data communication, among devices and/or from devices to a set of servers, that do not necessarily require human interaction. However, it is challenging to accommodate MTC in LTE as a result of its specific characteristics and requirements. The aim of this thesis is to propose mechanisms and optimize the access layer techniques for MTC in LTE. For uplink access, we propose two methods to improve the performance of random access in terms of latency: a packet aggregation method and a Transmission Time Interval bundling scheme. To further reduce the uplink latency and enable massive number of connected device, we propose a new contention based access method (CBA) to bypass both the redundant signaling in the random access procedure and also the latency of regular scheduling. For downlink reception, we propose two methods to analyze the performance of discontinuous reception DRX mode for MTC applications: the first with the Poisson distribution and the second with the Pareto distribution for sporadic traffic. With the proposed models, the power saving factor and wake up latency can be accurately estimated for a given choice of DRX parameters, thus allowing to select the ones presenting the optimal tradeoff.
Sparse data bias: a problem hiding in plain sight

Effects of treatment or other exposure on outcome events are commonly measured by ratios of risks, rates, or odds. Adjusted versions of these measures are usually estimated by maximum likelihood regression (eg, logistic, Poisson, or Cox modelling). But resulting estimates of effect measures can have serious bias when the data lack adequate case numbers for some combination of exposure and outcome levels. This bias can occur even in quite large datasets and is hence often termed sparse data bias. The bias can arise or be worsened by regression adjustment for potentially confounding variables; in the extreme, the resulting estimates could be impossibly huge or even infinite values that are meaningless artefacts of data sparsity. Such estimate inflation might be obvious in light of background information, but is rarely noted let alone accounted for in research reports. We outline simple methods for detecting and dealing with the problem focusing especially on penalised estimation, which can be easily performed with common software packages.
Na currents and action potentials in rat myelinated nerve fibres at 20 and 37 degrees C.

(1) Action potentials and membrane currents were recorded in single myelinated rat nerve fibres at 20 and 37 degrees C. Three experiments were also performed in single cat nerve fibres. (2) K currents were blocked by internal CsCl and external TEA. The steady state and kinetic parameters of Na activation and inactivation were determined at both temperatures. (3) When the temperature was raised from 20 to 37 degrees C, steady state Na activation, m infinity (V), and inactivation, h infinity (V), did not change significantly. (4) The time constant of Na activation, tau m, was determined within the potential range of -40 to 125 mV at 20 degrees C and V = 40-60 mV at 37 degrees C. The temperature coefficient, Q10, of tau m was 2.2. (5) The decay in the Na current was described by two exponentials at both temperatures. The amplitude of the slow phase was 1-10%. The time constant of the fast phase of Na inactivation, tau h1, was determined at both temperatures within the potential range of -50 mV to 125 mV. The Q10 of tau h1 was 2.9 and did not depend on potential. (6) The Na equilibrium potential was 152 mV at 20 degrees C and 144 mV at 37 degrees C. The leakage conductance was 24 nS at 20 degrees C and 43 nS at 37 degrees C. These differences were interpreted as signs of fibre deterioration at higher temperature. (7) The results from the current and voltage clamp experiments performed in the cat nerve were essentially the same as those in the rat nerve fibres. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Capacity-achieving Input Covariance for Correlated Multi-Antenna Channels

Abstract This paper characterizes the capacity-achieving input covariance for multiantenna channels with (zero-mean) arbitrary distribution. The solution accommodates a wide range of correlation structures, not necessarily separate transmitreceive. Our characterization of the covariance encompasses both its eigenvectors, which are found explicitly, and its eigenvalues, for which we present necessary and sufficient conditions as well as an iterative algorithm. In addition, we identify the correlation structures for which an isotropic input achieves capacity.
A Web-Based Smart Inference System to Support Automated Generation of LCA Simulation Models

The decision on most eco-efficient production scheme for producing customized products is highly time consuming and error-prone as it depends on several factors most notably the geographical locations, legal requirements, materials characteristics and process related parameters. Furthermore, the planners must be experienced with the simulation tools as well as related terminologies, environmental laws and standards to conduct precise assessments. The limited functionalities of decision making tools as well as non-automated exchange of information and data, absence of environment related knowledge and non-standardized interfaces between the simulation tools and ERP/PLM systems make planners incapable of reaching quick decisions on eco-efficient choices. This paper proposes a web-based inference system seamlessly connected with the LCA simulation tools and legacy systems. The web-based software automatically analyzes the input on manufacturing alternatives to produce customized products and generates automatically the corresponding LCA simulation models. These models can be used inside LCA tools.
Automatic Face Detection & Identification Using Robust Face Name Graph Matching In Video & Live Streaming

Automatic face identification of characters in movies has drawn significant research interests and led to many interesting the applications. And it is the challenging problem due to the huge variation in the appearance of each character. Although these existing methods are demonstrate promising results in this the clean environment that the performances are limited in the complex movie scenes due to the noises can be generated during the face tracking and face clustering process. In this paper we can present two schemes of global face-name matching and based on the framework for robust character identification. In this the contributions of this work can be include: 1) A noise insensitive character and the relationship representation is incorporated. 2) We can introduce an edit operation based on the graph matching algorithm. 3) Complex character changes are can be handled by simultaneously graph partition and graph matching. 4) Beyond the existing character identification can be approaches; we can further perform an in-depth sensitivity analysis by introducing two types of simulated noises. There are the proposed schemes demonstrate state-of-the-art performance on this the movie character identification in various genres of movies. Keywords—face name matching, graph matching, character identification.
A possible role for chromium(III) in genotoxicity.

Chromium is found in the environment in two major forms: reduced CrIII and CrVI, or chromate. Chromate, the most biologically active species, is readily taken up by living cells and reduced intracellularly, via reactive intermediates, to stable CrIII species. CrIII, the most abundant form of chromium in the environment, does not readily cross cell membranes and is relatively inactive in vivo. However, intracellular CrIII can react slowly with both nucleic acids and proteins and can be genotoxic. We have investigated the genotoxicity of CrIII in vitro using a DNA replication assay and in vivo by CaCl2-mediated transfection of chromium-treated DNA into Escherichia coli. When DNA replication was measured on a CrIII-treated template using purified DNA polymerases (either bacterial or mammalian), both the rate of DNA replication and the amount of incorporation per polymerase binding event (processivity) were greatly increased relative to controls. When transfected into E. coli, CrIII-treated M13mp2 bacteriophage DNA showed a dose-dependent increase in mutation frequency. These results suggest that CrIII alters the interaction between the DNA template and the polymerase such that the binding strength of the DNA polymerase is increased and the fidelity of DNA replication is decreased. These interactions may contribute to the mutagenicity of chromium ions in vivo and suggest that CrIII can contribute to chromium-mediated carcinogenesis. ImagesFIGURE 3.
Effects of TRPC1 on epithelial mesenchymal transition in human airway in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: We investigated the effects of TRPC1 on epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human airway in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: A total of 94 patients who underwent lobectomy were selected and divided into COPD (49 cases) and control (45 cases) groups. Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect expression of E-cadherin and vimentin and TRPC1. Correlation of TRPC1 expression with E-cadherin and vimentin expression, and correlations of lung function indicators in COPD patients with expression of TRPC1, E-cadherin, and vimentin were analyzed. Human airway epithelial cells (16HBE) were used for cell experiments; and cigarette smoking extract (CSE) was adopted to establish the COPD model using TRPC1 recombinant plasmids and siRNA. Cells were assigned into the control, CSE, CSE + vector, CSE + TRPC1, CSE + si-NC, and CSE + si-TRPC1 groups. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot were implemented to detect expression of TRPC1, E-cadherin, and vimentin. Results: Compared with the control group, expression of TRPC1 and vimentin significantly increased while expression of E-cadherin decreased in the COPD group, and protein expression of TRPC1 was positively correlated with the protein expression of vimentin but negatively correlated with the protein expression of E-cadherin. Patients exhibiting positive expression of TRPC1 had lower FEV1, FEV1%Pred, and FEV1/FVC, compared with the patients exhibiting negative expression of TRPC1. Compared with the control group, expression of TRPC1 and vimentin increased, whereas expression of E-cadherin decreased in the CSE, CSE + vector, CSE + TRPC1, and CSE + si-NC groups. Compared with the CSE and CSE + vector groups, the expression of TRPC1 and vimentin increased but the expression of E-cadherin decreased in the CSE + TRPC1 group. Compared with the CSE and CSE + si-NC groups, the expression of TRPC1 and vimentin decreased but the expression of E-cadherin increased in the CSE + si-TRPC1 group. No significant differences were observed among the CSE, CSE + vector and CSE + si-NC groups. Conclusion: Overexpression of TRPC1 in COPD promoted EMT process and TRPC1 may be a new and interesting focus for COPD new treatment in the future.
A new PCR-based approach for the specific amplification of DNA from different Schistosoma species applicable to human urine samples

Currently available methods for the diagnosis of human schistosomiasis often lack enough sensitivity and specificity. Recently, several authors have developed more specific and sensitive diagnostic methods, mainly based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Nevertheless, these have been only applied for the diagnosis of 1 out of 4 Schistosoma species affecting man (S. mansoni). Additionally, application of specific PCR has been exclusively used for blood or faecal patients' samples. Here, we develop a new, high sensitive PCR approach that allows the genus- and species-specific amplification of the main 4 Schistosoma species causing disease in man plus S. bovis. We further successfully apply this technique for the detection of parasite DNA in easy-to-handle urine samples from patients with schistosomiasis. With these samples, we have found 94·4% sensitivity and 99·9% specificity when applying a genus-specific (Schistosoma spp.) primer pair, and 100% sensitivity and 98·9% specificity in a species-specific (S. mansoni) PCR.
Comparing Neural and Attractiveness-based Visual Features for Artwork Recommendation

Advances in image processing and computer vision in the latest years have brought about the use of visual features in artwork recommendation. Recent works have shown that visual features obtained from pre-trained deep neural networks (DNNs) perform extremely well for recommending digital art. Other recent works have shown that explicit visual features (EVF) based on attractiveness can perform well in preference prediction tasks, but no previous work has compared DNN features versus specific attractiveness-based visual features (e.g. brightness, texture) in terms of recommendation performance. In this work, we study and compare the performance of DNN and EVF features for the purpose of physical artwork recommendation using transactional data from UGallery, an online store of physical paintings. In addition, we perform an exploratory analysis to understand if DNN embedded features have some relation with certain EVF. Our results show that DNN features outperform EVF, that certain EVF features are more suited for physical artwork recommendation and, finally, we show evidence that certain neurons in the DNN might be partially encoding visual features such as brightness, providing an opportunity for explaining recommendations based on visual neural models.
School Grade Span and Kindergarten Learning

Using a nationally representative sample of over 12,000 children and nearly 750 schools from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study—kindergarten cohort and hierarchical linear modeling, we investigated the association between literacy and mathematics learning and grade configuration. Preprimary schools—those spanning only preschool through kindergarten—comprise over 12% of U.S. schools that offer kindergarten. These schools tend to be nonpublic, have smaller kindergarten enrollments, and attract more affluent and more academically prepared children than public primary and elementary schools. Despite the initial social and academic advantages of children attending preprimary schools, results indicated that kindergartners in these schools learned significantly less in mathematics and reading over the school year than kindergarten children in differently configured schools, even when children’s social and academic backgrounds were taken into account, as well as the structural, social, and academic composition of their schools. Referencing research on grade span and school transitions, we suggest that the influence of grade configuration on student achievement may be mediated by circumscribed opportunities for kindergartners to interact with older children and for kindergarten teachers to align their instruction and curriculum with first‐grade teachers’ expectations.
A Framework For Assessing Diagnostics Model Fidelity

“All models are wrong but some are useful" [1]. We address the problem of identifying which diagnosis models are more useful than others. Models are critical to diagnostics inference, yet little work exists to be able to compare models. We define the role of models in diagnostics inference, propose metrics for models, and apply these metrics to a tank benchmark system. Given the many approaches possible for model metrics, we argue that only information-theoretic methods address how well a model mimics real-world data. We focus on some well-known information-theoretic modelling metrics, demonstrating the trade-offs that can be made on different models for a tank benchmark system.
Human Müllerian-Inhibiting Substance Promoter Contains a Functional TFII-I-Binding Initiator1

Abstract Müllerian-inhibiting substance (MIS) plays an essential role in mammalian male sexual development; thus, it is important to determine how the tightly regulated expression of the MIS gene is transcriptionally controlled. Transcription of eukaryotic genes is dependent on regulatory elements in the enhancer and one or both distinct elements in the core promoter: the TATA box, and the initiator (Inr) element. Because the human MIS gene does not contain a consensus TATA and has not been reported to contain an Inr element, we hypothesized that the initiator region of the core promoter was essential for promoter activity. Transient transfection assays were conducted using an immortalized Embryonic Day 14.5 male rat urogenital ridge cell line (CH34) that expresses low levels of MIS. These studies revealed that promoter activity is dependent on the region around the start site (−6 to +10) but not on the nonconsensus TATA region. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that the human MIS initiator sequence forms a specific DNA-protein complex with CH34 cell nuclear extract, HeLa cell nuclear extract, and purified TFII-I. This complex could be blocked or supershifted by the addition of antibodies directed against TFII-I. These data suggest that the human MIS gene contains a functional initiator that is specifically recognized by TFII-I.