Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adaptation of performance during a week of simulated night work

This study aimed to provide a comparative index of the performance impairment associated with the fatigue levels frequently experienced in workplaces that require night work. To do this, we equated fatigue-related impairment with the impairment resulting from varying levels of alcohol intoxication. Fifteen young individuals participated in two counterbalanced conditions which required them to (1) ‘work’ seven consecutive 8-h night shifts, and (2) consume an alcoholic beverage at hourly intervals until their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reached 0.10%. In each condition, performance was measured at hourly intervals using a 10-min psychomotor vigilance task (PVT). Analysis indicated that as BAC increased, performance impairment significantly increased. Similarly, response times significantly increased during the first six simulated night-shifts, and lapse frequency significantly increased during the first two shifts. Equating the two conditions indicated that the first simulated night shift was associated with the greatest degree of performance impairment. In general, the impairment at the end of this shift was greater than that observed at a BAC of 0.10%. During the second and third simulated night shifts, the performance impairment was less than on the first night, but greater than that observed at a BAC of 0.05%. For the final four nights, the performance decrements generally did not exceed those observed at a BAC of 0.05%. This suggests that during a week of consecutive night shifts, adaptation of performance occurs.
The use of CBT in dementia care: a rationale for Communication and Interaction Therapy (CAIT) and therapeutic lies

Abstract At the very beginning of our lives we have similar needs, but as we get older the ways of maintaining our wellbeing will vary greatly. Quite simply, we get more different and complex as we age! Hence, attempts to both meet older people's needs and treat their psychological difficulties often require comprehensive assessments and biopsychosocial formulations. It is relevant to note that many of the latter formulations are informed by CBT theory, even when dealing with people presenting with dementia and challenging behaviour. Despite the conceptual complexities, there is increasing evidence to suggest that the most effective interventions for this ‘challenging’ population are basic communication strategies. This paper outlines the key principles of effective communication under the heading of Communication and Interaction Therapy (CAIT). The concepts underpinning CAIT are illustrated via a number of case studies of people living in 24-hour care. It will be argued that an implication of this approach is the judicious use of therapeutic lies, but only as a last resort.
Morphology of Human Fungiform Papillae after Severing Chorda Tympani Nerve

Objectives: We aimed to clarify the postoperative morphology of the fungiform papillae (FP) of the tongue in patients who recovered gustatory function after the chorda tympani nerve was severed during middle ear surgery. Methods: Fifty-four patients with normal preoperative gustatory function measured by electrogustometry (EGM) were included. The proximal and distal stumps of the severed nerves were re-adapted or re-approximated during surgery to promote regeneration of the nerve. The EGM thresholds over 2 years after surgery were compared with preoperative values. At the same time, the morphological characteristics of the FP in the midlateral region of the tongue were recorded with a digital microscope. Results: One month after surgery, EGM showed no response in any patients. At a time point of more than 2 years, the FP showed complete atrophy and no response to EGM on the surgical side in 21 of the 54 patients. In 16 patients who showed complete recovery of the EGM threshold (below 20 μA), the FP showed an almost normal appearance, and the mean number of FP was 77.5% (10 ± 4.1 papillae per square centimeter) of that on the contralateral side (12.9 ± 4.9 papillae per square centimeter; p > 0.05). Conclusions: The morphology of the FP was maintained in patients who recovered gustatory function after the chorda tympani nerve was severed. Because the results indicate regeneration of the taste buds, further observation is needed to detect regenerated taste buds in the FP.
Viral Mutation Rates

ABSTRACT Accurate estimates of virus mutation rates are important to understand the evolution of the viruses and to combat them. However, methods of estimation are varied and often complex. Here, we critically review over 40 original studies and establish criteria to facilitate comparative analyses. The mutation rates of 23 viruses are presented as substitutions per nucleotide per cell infection (s/n/c) and corrected for selection bias where necessary, using a new statistical method. The resulting rates range from 10−8 to10−6 s/n/c for DNA viruses and from 10−6 to 10−4 s/n/c for RNA viruses. Similar to what has been shown previously for DNA viruses, there appears to be a negative correlation between mutation rate and genome size among RNA viruses, but this result requires further experimental testing. Contrary to some suggestions, the mutation rate of retroviruses is not lower than that of other RNA viruses. We also show that nucleotide substitutions are on average four times more common than insertions/deletions (indels). Finally, we provide estimates of the mutation rate per nucleotide per strand copying, which tends to be lower than that per cell infection because some viruses undergo several rounds of copying per cell, particularly double-stranded DNA viruses. A regularly updated virus mutation rate data set will be available at www.uv. es/rsanjuan/virmut .
Voluntary Association Membership: A Longitudinal Analysis

Litt, Edgar. 1963 "Civic education, community norms and political indoctrination. " American Sociological Review 28 (February), p. 74. McClosky, Herbert; P. J. Hoffman; R. O'Hara. 1960 "Issue conflict and consensus among party leaders and and followers. " American Political Science Review 54 (June), 416. Milbrath, Lester W. 1965 Political Participation. Chicago: Rand McNally. Miller, S. M. and Martin Rein. 1966 "Poverty, inequality and policy. " In Howard S. Becker (ed.), Social Problems. New York: Wiley. Mills, C. Wright. 1956 The Power Elite. Pp. 269-297. New York: Oxford University Press. Prothro, James W. and Charles M. Grigg. 1960 "Fundamental principles of democracy: Bases of agreement and disagreement. " Journal of Politics 22 (May), 276-294. Riesman, David. 1953 The Lonely Crowd. Pp. 242-258. Garden City: Doubleday. Schatzman, Leonard and Anselm Strauss. 1955 "Social class and modes of communication. " American Journal of Sociology 60 (January), 329-338. Scheler, Max. 1961 Ressentiment. Lewis Coser (trans.). Glencoe, Illinois: The Free Press. U.S. Census of Population. 1960 General Summary, Social and Economic Characteristics. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office. Weber, Max. 1956 Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft: Grundriss der Verstehenden Soziologie I. P. 179. Johannes Winckelman (ed.), TUbingen: J.C. B. Mohr.
Using photography in research with young migrants: addressing questions of visibility, movement and personal spaces

This article discusses the experience of using photography in a research project with young (prospective) migrants in Ghana and Italy. Photography can be an empowering research tool, one that offers young participants a degree of control over the research process and thus allows their points of view to emerge. However, researchers need to consider that the choice of subjects may be influenced by the children’s desire to avoid taking photographs in public, as they may attract attention and the act of pointing a camera may provoke unwanted questions and comments. Moreover, young people often lack the means to move independently, and this may further restrict the subjects they are able to photograph. Finally, they may resent adults’ intrusion into their free time and therefore see taking photographs as a chore. I argue that all these factors need to receive greater attention when choosing photography in research with young participants.
A Three-Dimensional-Printed Soft Robotic Glove With Enhanced Ergonomics and Force Capability

This letter presents a novel soft robotic glove system for assistive and rehabilitative applications, offering a powerful, low-profile, and convenient solution for the growing elderly and patient population. The low-profile soft glove worn by the user weighs below 50 g, providing cable-driven flexion and extension actuations independently for all five fingers without any rigid joint or linkage, and therefore does not require joint alignment or custom fitting. Novel bidirectional linear soft actuators are developed to drive each finger with enhanced payload and improved user comfort. The actuators are regulated by novel soft orifice valves developed to provide airflow control using soft material deformation. The design, modeling, and fabrication procedure of the entire soft glove system is presented in detail. The system comprises entirely of three-dimensional (3-D) printed and commercially available components, it is therefore repeatable by anyone with access to a consumer-grade 3-D printer. The fabricated components and glove system were evaluated in a series of validation experiments. The lightweight and compliant soft glove could achieve full-range finger motion and forces up to 40 N at the fingertip with actuation pressure as low as 60 kPa, making the system capable for most grasping and interaction tasks in healthcare, service, as well as edutainment applications.
Consistent and fast inhibition of colon carcinogenesis by polyethylene glycol in mice and rats given various carcinogens.

We have previously shown that dietary polyethylene-glycol (PEG) suppresses the occurrence of azoxymethane-induced cancers in an accelerated rat model of colon carcinogenesis. To determine the consistency of this preventive effect, we carried out a long-term study in rats fed the standard American Institute of Nutrition 1976 diet, and 7 short-term prevention studies in rodents. A total of 337 F344 rats, 20 Sprague Dawley rats, and 40 OF1 mice were all given initiating dose(s) of colon carcinogen, and were randomly allocated to experimental groups 7 d later. Treated groups received drinking water containing 5% PEG. After 30 or 162 d, the animals were examined for aberrant crypt foci or tumors in the colon. After two 20 mg/kg azoxymethane injections, the number of F344 rats with colon tumor was lower in rats receiving PEG for 162 d than in carcinogen-injected controls, 5/21 versus 25/27 (P < 0.0001). PEG-fed rats had no invasive cancer, and 10 times fewer colon tumors than controls (0.3+/-0.1 and 3.1+/-0.5 respectively, P < 0.0001). A three-day PEG treatment was sufficient to halve the number of azoxymethane-induced aberrant crypt foci in F344 rats (P = 0.0006). After 16 d of treatment, PEG-fed rats had five times fewer foci than controls (21+/-14 and 100+/-23 respectively, P < 0.0001), but the inhibition was reversible in part when treatment was discontinued. Aberrant crypt foci initiated by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea intra-rectally (40 mg/kg) or by 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo(4,5-f)quinoline p.o. (2 x 200 mg/kg) were suppressed by PEG (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.003 respectively). PEG was active in F344 rats, in Sprague Dawley rats (P = 0.0005), and in OF1 mice (P = 0.001). PEGs with MW between 3350 and 12000 (but not PEG 400), and PEG 8000 from five suppliers, markedly inhibited azoxymethane-induced aberrant crypt foci (all P < 0.01). The prevention was stronger in rats fed a high-fat diet (P < 0.0001) than in rats fed a rodent chow (P = 0.02). PEG was thus a fast, consistent, and potent inhibitor of early colonic precursor lesions. Moreover, PEG is one of the most potent inhibitors of colon tumor in the standard rat model. Since PEG has no known toxicity in humans, we think it should be tested as a chemopreventive agent in a clinical trial.
Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells and Clinical Outcome in Patients with Aortic Stenosis

Background Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common valvular disease. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have a role in the repair of endothelial surfaces after injury. Reduced numbers of EPCs are associated with endothelial dysfunction and adverse clinical events, suggesting that endothelial injury in the absence of sufficient repair by circulating EPCs promotes the progression of vascular and possibly valvular disorders. The aim of this study was to assess EPC number in patients with AS and to study the predictive value of their circulating levels on prognosis. Methods The number of EPCs was determined by flow cytometry in 241 patients with AS and a control group of 73 pts. Thirty-eight, 52 and 151 patients had mild, moderate and severe AS, respectively. We evaluated the association between baseline levels of EPCs and death from cardiovascular causes during follow up. Results EPC level was significantly higher in patients with AS compared to the control group (p = 0.017). Two hundred and three patients with moderate and severe AS were followed for a median of 20 months. One hundred and twenty patients underwent an intervention. Thirty four patients died during follow up, 20 patients died due to cardiac causes. Advanced age, the presence of coronary artery disease, AS severity index (combination of high NYHA class, smaller aortic valve area and elevated pulmonary artery pressure) and a low EPC number were predictors of cardiac death in the univariate analysis. Multivariate logistic regression model identified low EPCs number and AS severity index as associated with cardiac death during follow up (p = 0.026 and p = 0.037, respectively). Conclusions EPC number is increased in patients with AS. However, in patients with moderate or severe AS a relatively low number of EPCs is associated with cardiac death at follow up. These results may help to identify AS patients at increased cardiovascular risk.
Sum-Rate Maximization Technique for Spectrum-Sharing MIMO OFDM Broadcast Channels

We investigate weighted sum-rate maximization and rate-balancing problems for spectrum-sharing multiple-input-multiple-output orthogonal frequency-division-multiplexing (MIMO OFDM) based broadcast channels. The problem is solved by converting the MIMO OFDM channel into a block-diagonal form and applying the principle of multiple-access channel-broadcast channel (MAC-BC) duality. The algorithm in its dual form is solved using subgradient methods. The simulation results demonstrate the convergence of the algorithms.
Treatment of chronic type B and C hepatitis with interferon alfa: An economic appraisal

The aim of this study is to assess the long‐term economic impact of treatment of chronic hepatitis B and C with interferon alfa. Estimates were made of the progression of the disease over a 30‐year period using a transitional probability model. Cohorts of 1,000 hypothetical patients with either chronic hepatitis B or C treated with interferon alfa were compared with an untreated cohort. The costs were estimated for therapy, monitoring, and treatment of the disease, including transplantation. The cost‐effectiveness of therapy was expressed in terms of cost per life saved, cost per year of life saved, and cost per quality‐adjusted year of life saved. The analysis was extended to include the indirect costs to patients. The analysis included two rates of progression, two mortality rates, and discounted and undiscounted costs. Mortality in the treated group was lower, saving 18 to 31 lives in the hepatitis B virus (HBV) cohort and 13 to 22 lives in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) cohort. Fewer patients progressed to cirrhosis or decompensated cirrhosis. Discounted costs per year of life saved ranged from £2,142 to £17,128. A cost‐benefit analysis indicated excess benefits over costs when values for life were included in the analysis. The potential usefulness of interferon alfa on the clinical and economic outcome of treatment is indicated from the model. These findings together with the benefits that are likely to accrue from the reduction in infectious individuals suggest that this therapy has a role to play in public health policy to contain the impact of hepatitis. (Hepatology 1995; 22:1863‐1873).
Finding Correlation between Content Based Features and the Popularity of a Celebrity on Twitter

XX Abstract - Popularity of a celebrity having twitter account is generally estimated by the number of twitter account holders following him on twitter. In this paper, we explore some content based features to evaluate their role for estimating the popularity of a celebrity. We try to find out the co-relation of celebrities' popularity with number of other features like frequency of tweets posted by a celebrity and the relevancy of tweets to their domains. We take support of named entity recognition for later task. For the data collection, we collected about 60K tweets of 60 different celebrities with the help of API method provided by twitter. The current study aims to reveal many unseen patterns existing in celebrities' twitter usage that includes computing per day tweet frequency and finding out how it correlates with number of followers. Also we find out the correlations of tweets with domains of the celebrities.
What do we know about the social networks of single parents who do not use supportive services?

The role that social support and social networks play in mediating isolation and stress experienced by vulnerable families is well established. However, a major issue facing supportive human services is to find and engage families with limited social networks and link them to supports that could improve outcomes for their families. This paper reports on the results of in-depth interviews with 20 sole parents with children aged under 5 who were not well connected to services. It documents their social networks with the use of a social network map. Using a social capital lens, the analysis attempts to differentiate the different relationships in the participants' lives. Most participants were not satisfied with their informal networks, with conflicted or ambivalent reliance on family, absence of support and community engagement and fragility of informal networks. Although this group of isolated mothers does encounter the formal service system, the opportunities to increase and strengthen their networks do not eventuate. Better understanding of the nature and extent of social networks can inform practitioners and policy-makers of the critical factors needed to increase service use for parents with limited resources.
Effects of hepatitis B virus S protein on human sperm function.

BACKGROUND Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been determined to exist in semen and male germ cells from patients with chronic HBV infection, but no data are yet available on the impact of HBV S protein (HBs), the main component of HBV envelop protein, on the human reproductive system. The purpose of this article was to investigate the effect of HBs on human sperm function. METHODS Sperm motility analyses, sperm penetration assays, mitochondrial membrane potential assays, immunolocalizations with confocal microscopy and flow cytometry analyses were performed. RESULTS HBs reduced sperm motility in a dose- and time-dependent manner and caused the loss of sperm mitochondrial membrane potential. HBs-HBs monoclonal antibody (MAb) complex apparently aggravated such impairments. After 4 h incubation with HBs at concentrations of 25, 50, 100 microg/ml, the percentages of sperm motility a+b significantly decreased compared with the control (P < 0.01). The fertilization rate and the fertilizing index in HBs-treated group were 40% and 0.57, respectively, which were significantly lower than 90% and 1.6, respectively, in the control (P < 0.01). The asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP-R) and HBs were found to localize mainly on the postacrosomal region. Both ASGP-R MAb and asialofoetuin, a high-affinity ligand of ASGP-R, inhibited the HBs-caused loss of sperm motility and mitochondrial membrane potential. CONCLUSIONS HBs had adverse effects on human sperm function, and ASGP-R may play a role in the uptake of HBs into sperm cells, as demonstrated by the competitive inhibition of ASGP-R MAb or asialofoetuin, resulting in diminished impairment caused by HBs.
Exercise as an intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Perspectives of education professionals

Research indicates physical exercise may have social, cognitive and behavioural benefits for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and therefore would be a suitable intervention for this population; however the existing literature fails to reach a consensus on the most effective mode of exercise intervention. Five education professionals currently working with children with ASDs participated in semi-structured interviews to investigate their perceptions of the use of exercise as an intervention strategy. A thematic analysis was conducted on the data following the framework identified by Braun and Clark (2006). Participants discussed barriers to exercise, positive outcomes of exercise and core features of a good intervention. Three key themes were revealed: increased adaptive behaviour, social skills and exercise and the need for tailored physical activity. The findings have implications for designing and implementing a successful exercise intervention for children with ASDs and for future research in this area.
Fine-grained tracking of Grid infections

Previous distributed anomaly detection efforts have operated on summary statistics gathered from each node. This has the advantage that the audit trail is limited in size since event sets can be succinctly represented. While this minimizes the bandwidth consumed and helps scale the detection to a large number of nodes, it limits the infrastructure's ability to identify the source of anomalies. We describe three optimizations that together allow fine-grained tracking of the sources of anomalous activity in a Grid, thereby facilitating precise responses. We demonstrate the scheme's scalability in terms of storage and network bandwidth overhead with an implementation on nodes running BOINC. The results generalize to other types of Grids as well.
Little Platoons v Big Data: agonistic pluralism, law and conservatism in Hildebrandt’s Smart Technologies and Oakeshott’s On Human Conduct

Mireille Hildebrandt’s Smart Technologies and the End(s) of Law (2015) is an extraordinary piece of work, looking back to the co-evolution of law, the state and the technology of the printing press, and forward to the contribution that smart technologies of machine learning, big data, artificial agents and pre-emptive environments will make to our society and the threats they make to us individuals (the onlife world). Smart Technologies presents history at an inflection point, where technology has the capacity to introduce a step-change in our relations with our selves, our fellows and our society. Hildebrandt defends our plural society with an agonistic reading, resisting the Rawlsian project of developing consensus, and instead suggesting a Mouffe-like position of accepting, even welcoming conflict. Yet the focus on forthcoming change implies that a more interesting philosophical lens would be conservatism, the ideology that problematizes and examines social change. And indeed, reading Smart Technologies through conservative spectacles results in many insights into the politics of technology, conservatism and Hildebrandt’s work as well. In its scope, scale and ambition, Smart Technologies brings Michael Oakeshott’s masterwork On Human Conduct (1975) to mind, and in many ways updates that statement of liberal conservatism for the 21st century. Both books focus on human decision-making and action at the individual level, the use and purpose of law for constraining action, and the role of the law and the state for creating the circumstances for autonomous, authentic, free individuals to flourish. Oakeshott’s themes of human behaviour and civil association, and modernity’s challenges to individuality, are replicated and extended in Hildebrandt’s work.