Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On Scope Effects in Contingent Valuation: Does the Statistical Distributional Assumption Matter?

In this paper, we test for scope effects in Contingent Valuation applying different distributional assumptions for WTP, a non-parametric estimation and an estimation based on an open-ended format. Mean WTP is sensitive to the distributional assumption, but so is the scope effect. The nonparametric model, without conditions on the distribution, is the best able to identify scope effects. More sophisticated models, such as the spike model, and open-ended follow-up question give more information about individual WTP and are thus more powerful in revealing scope effects. For small sample size, a non-parametric analysis, a spike model or an open-ended format may therefore be better than the classical parametric dichotomous choice analysis to identify scope effects.
CD36 is involved in lycopene and lutein uptake by adipocytes and adipose tissue cultures.

SCOPE Carotenoids are mainly stored in adipose tissue. However, nothing is known regarding the uptake of carotenoids by adipocytes. Thus, our study explored the mechanism by which lycopene and lutein, two major human plasma carotenoids, are transported. METHODS AND RESULTS CD36 was a putative candidate for this uptake, 3T3-L1 cells were treated with sulfosuccinimidyl oleate, a CD36-specific inhibitor. sulfosuccinimidyl oleate-treated cells showed a significant decrease in both lycopene and lutein uptake as compared to control cells. Their uptake was also decreased by partial inhibition of CD36 expression using siRNA, whereas the overexpression of CD36 in Cos-1 cells increased their uptake. Finally, the effect of CD36 on carotenoid uptake was confirmed ex vivo in cultures of adipose tissue explants from CD36(-/-) mice, which exhibited reduced carotenoid uptake as compared to wild-type mice explants. CONCLUSION For the first time, we report the involvement of a transporter, CD36, in carotenoid uptake by adipocytes and adipose tissue.
Quality and Acceptance of Crowdsourced Translation of Web Content

Organizations make extensive use of websites to communicate with people. Often, visitors to their sites speak many different languages and expect that they will be served in their native language. Translation of web content is a major challenge for many organizations because of high costs and frequent changes in the content. Currently, organizations rely on professional translators or machines to translate their content. The challenge is that professional translations is costly and too slow while machine translations do not produce high quality or accurate translations even though they may be faster and less expensive. Crowdsourcing has emerged as a technique with many applications. The purpose of this research is to test whether crowdsourcing can produce equivalent or better quality translations than professional or machine translators. A crowdsourcing study was undertaken and the results indicate that the quality of crowdsourced translations was equivalent to professional translations and far better than machine translations. The research and managerial implications are discussed.
Current Tools for Noninvasive Objective Assessment of Skin Scars

Background: Cutaneous scarring is affected by genetic, physiologic, and biochemical factors. These produce a continuum of scar types (i.e., keloid, hypertrophic, atrophic, contracted, and fine line) that can be symptomatic, aesthetically unsatisfactory, psychologically distressing, and functionally restrictive to the affected individual. Accurate scar assessment allows for quantification of scar evolution and management, and is key to evaluating the effectiveness of applied modulating therapies and treatments. Numerous objective instruments exist for the evaluation of different scar characteristics, but no consensus has been reached as to the most appropriate device. This review aims to explore the current range of noninvasive objective assessment tools available for cutaneous skin scarring, with specific emphasis on their application to research trials and clinical practice. Methods: An extensive search of the literature was completed to assemble comprehensive data surrounding the objective assessment of skin scars by both validation studies and clinical trials. Results: A wide range of tools exist to monitor cutaneous scar physical characteristics. Primarily, there are four parameters explored by these instruments: (1) color, including pigmentation and vascularity (e.g., laser Doppler); (2) surface area (e.g., three-dimensional scanning); (3) height/depth (e.g., ultrasonography); and (4) pliability (e.g., tonometry). Many studies appraise single instruments in specific scar patient groups with subjective comparator tools. Conclusions: There is no overall valid and reliable noninvasive objective assessment tool for measurement of cutaneous skin scar characteristics. Further studies are warranted that compare multiple, parameter-specific instruments in a single-sample group and across a range of scar types.
Automated analysis of non-verbal behaviour of schizophrenia patients

Automated Analysis of Non-verbal Behaviour of Schizophrenia Patients by Debsubhra Chakraborty Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Justin Dauwels 1 Nanyang Technological University, Singapore In this thesis, I present a framework for automated assessment of non-verbal behaviour of individuals with negative symptoms of schizophrenia, using speech and movement cues. Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental disorder that often begins in adolescence and runs a lifelong course. The presentations of schizophrenia are diverse – with positive symptoms (hallucinations and delusions), negative (avolition, asociality, blunted affect and alogia), and cognitive (attention and memory dysfunction). Negative symptoms are considered a significant unmet need in the clinical research domain since they are difficult to diagnose without expert clinician knowledge and have few to none effective drug treatments. This problem becomes even more acute in low-income countries with high patient-to-clinician ratio, where the patients are not monitored properly due to lack of trained experts. Individuals with negative symptoms of schizophrenia have almost always speech, emotion and motor impairments, and are muted in their display of such non-verbal behaviour. Therefore, these objective non-verbal cues, or their lack thereof, can be employed to assess and monitor the severity of the negative symptoms in a nonNanyang Technological University Singapore
Love the one you're with: proximity determines paternity success in the barnacle Tetraclita rubescens

A species' mating system sets limits on the strength of sexual selection. Sexual selection is widespread in dioecious species, but is less well documented in hermaphrodites, and may be less important. We used four highly polymorphic microsatellite markers to assign paternity to broods of the hermaphroditic eastern Pacific volcano barnacle Tetraclita rubescens. These data were used to describe the species' mating system and to examine factors affecting male reproductive success. Tetraclita can sire broods over distances of 11.2 cm, but proximity to the sperm recipient had a highly significant effect on the probability of siring success. There was no effect of body size or the mass of male reproductive tissues on siring success. Broods showed relatively low frequencies of multiple paternity; even at high densities, 75% of broods had only one father. High frequencies of single‐paternity broods imply either that this species does not compete via sperm displacement, or that sperm displacement is extremely effective, potentially explaining the lack of a positive relationship between male investment and paternity. In addition, there was low variance in siring success among individuals, suggesting a lack of strong sexual selection on male traits. Low variance among sires and the strong effect of proximity are probably driven by the unusual biology of a sessile copulating species.
Apoptosis in chronic adult periodontitis analyzed by in situ DNA breaks, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry.

BACKGROUND Apoptosis is an evolutionary form of physiological cell death. Previous studies suggest that apoptosis is involved in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. Therefore, we studied the apoptotic events in the gingival tissue of chronic adult periodontitis patients. METHODS Gingival tissue biopsies from 22 patients with chronic adult periodontitis and from 11 healthy controls were obtained. Criteria for patient inclusion in the periodontitis group were a minimum of 14 natural teeth, excluding third molars, with at least 10 posterior teeth; 5 to 6 sites with probing depth > or = 5 mm; attachment loss > or = 3 mm; and extensive radiographic bone loss. The control group included healthy subjects with no prior history of periodontal disease. Apoptosis was determined using the terminal TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) technique; electron microscopic analysis; and expression of Caspase-3, Fas, FasL, Bcl-2, and p53 by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS TUNEL-positive cells and cells exhibiting chromatin condensation by electron microscopy were observed in the inflammatory infiltrate of biopsies obtained from periodontitis patients. Most of the TUNEL-positive cells belonged to neutrophil cell populations as they were stained with anti-myeloperoxidase. Positive staining for active-caspase 3, Fas, FasL, and p53 was only observed in the inflammatory infiltrate from periodontitis biopsies, whereas Bcl-2 cells were present in both periodontitis patients and healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS Our findings establish that apoptosis is induced in the periodontal tissue by host and microbial factors and support the hypothesis that apoptotic mechanisms could be implicated in the inflammatory process associated with gingival tissue destruction observed in adult periodontitis patients.
Tunable external-cavity semiconductor laser using monolithically integrated tapered amplifier and grating coupler for collimation

A novel lensless tunable external-cavity laser using monolithically integrated tapered amplifier, grating coupler (GC) and an external half mirror is proposed and demonstrated. It can be fabricated by a simple process and emits a collimated output beam. By making use of wavelength dispersion of the GC, the lasing wavelength can be angle tuned. Wavelength tuning over a wide range of 21.5 nm by 4.5/spl deg/ device rotation and an 84-mW output power were achieved under continuous-wave operation. A well-collimated output beam with a divergence angle as small as 0.3/spl deg/ was maintained over the entire tuning range.
ECONOMIC VALUATION OF TRANSPORT-RELATED HEALTH EFFECTS: REVIEW OF METHODS AND DEVELOPMENT OF PRACTICAL APPROACHES, WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON CHILDREN

Review of methods and development of practical approaches, with a special focus on children The main objective of this project was to develop practical approaches to the economic valuation of transport-related health effects, including a focus on children. The development of the approaches was based on two reviews of relevant literature: one of recent epidemiological literature to identify the health endpoints related to road transport for which sufficient evidence exists for including them in economic valuation and another of literature on economic approaches to valuation of health costs due to road transport to derive guidance on the best way forward. A practical approach for road noise, transport-related air pollution and road crashes is presented; key issues regarding insufficient physical activity related to hindering effects of transport on commuter cycling and walking are discussed. The report also presents example calculations for the selected health endpoints which are based on the developed practical approaches for noise, air pollution and road crashes.
“It Is My Destiny as a Woman”

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to provide a greater understanding of the experience of the new Indonesian mother. Design: This study was a hermeneutic phenomenological study. Data were obtained from 13 first time Indonesian mothers through semi-structured interviews. Findings: Two main themes were identified: “trying to be a good mother “ and “confirming my destiny as a woman. ” A number of subthemes were identified to understand of how women in rural West Java perceived the meaning of being a new mother. These themes and subthemes described the woman’s responsibilities as a new mother and some of the challenges that she accepted as a part of her destiny. Conclusion: This study provides nurses and others with insights into the experiences of Indonesian women with early motherhood, their feelings about taking on the mothering role, and some of their needs during this period.
Functional analysis of novel DEAF1 variants identified through clinical exome sequencing expands DEAF1‐associated neurodevelopmental disorder (DAND) phenotype

Deformed epidermal autoregulatory factor‐1 (DEAF1), a transcription factor essential for central nervous system and early embryonic development, has recently been implicated in a series of intellectual disability‐related neurodevelopmental anomalies termed, in this study, as DEAF1‐associated neurodevelopmental disorder (DAND). We identified six potentially deleterious DEAF1 variants in a cohort of individuals with DAND via clinical exome sequencing (CES) and in silico analysis, including two novel de novo variants: missense variant c.634G > A p.Gly212Ser in the SAND domain and deletion variant c. 913_915del p.Lys305del in the NLS domain, as well as c.676C > T p.Arg226Trp, c.700T > A p.Trp234Arg, c.737G > C p.Arg246Thr, and c.791A > C p.Gln264Pro. Luciferase reporter, immunofluorescence staining, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that these variants had decreased transcriptional repression activity at the DEAF1 promoter and reduced affinity to consensus DEAF1 DNA binding sequences. In addition, c. 913_915del p.K305del localized primarily to the cytoplasm and interacted with wild‐type DEAF1. Our results demonstrate that variants located within the SAND or NLS domains significantly reduce DEAF1 transcriptional regulatory activities and are thus, likely to contribute to the underlying clinical concerns in DAND patients. These findings illustrate the importance of experimental characterization of variants with uncertain significance identified by CES to assess their potential clinical significance and possible use in diagnosis.
Vertical and seasonal variations in temperature responses of leaf respiration in a Chamaecyparis obtusa canopy

Leaf respiration (R) is a major component of carbon balance in forest ecosystems. Clarifying the variability of leaf R within a canopy is essential for predicting the impact of global warming on forest productivity and the potential future function of the forest ecosystem as a carbon sink. We examined vertical and seasonal variations in short-term temperature responses of leaf R as well as environmental factors (light and mean air temperature) and physiological factors [leaf nitrogen (N), leaf mass per area (LMA), and shoot growth] in the canopy of a 10-year-old stand of hinoki cypress [Chamaecyparis obtusa (Sieb. et Zucc.) Endl. ] in Kyushu, Japan. Leaf respiration rate adjusted to 20 °C (R20) exhibited evident vertical gradients in each season and was correlated with light, LMA and leaf N. In contrast, the temperature sensitivity of leaf R (Q10) did not vary vertically throughout the seasons. Seasonally, Q10 was higher in winter than in summer and was strongly negatively correlated to mean air temperature. A negative correlation of R20 with mean air temperature was also observed for each of the three canopy layers. These results clearly indicate that leaf R was able to adjust to seasonal changes in ambient temperature under field conditions and down-regulate during warmer periods. We also found that the degree of thermal acclimation did not vary with canopy position. Overall, our results suggest that vertical and seasonal variations in temperature responses of leaf R within a hinoki cypress canopy could be predicted by relatively simple parameters (light and temperature). There was an exception of extremely high R20 values in April that may have been due to the onset of shoot growth in spring. Understanding thermal acclimation and variations in leaf R within forest canopies will improve global terrestrial carbon cycle models.
RasGAP Shields Akt from Deactivating Phosphatases in Fibroblast Growth Factor Signaling but Loses This Ability Once Cleaved by Caspase-3*

Background: RasGAP and its stress-activated caspase-3-generated fragments N and N2 have the potential to regulate receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling. Results: RasGAP and fragment N favor FGF1-mediated signaling via different mechanisms, whereas fragment N2 blocks it. Conclusion: Stress, via the cleavage of RasGAP, modulates RTK signaling. Significance: This work provides a mechanistic framework of how stress impacts on cell signaling. Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) are involved in proliferative and differentiation physiological responses. Deregulation of FGFR-mediated signaling involving the Ras/PI3K/Akt and the Ras/Raf/ERK MAPK pathways is causally involved in the development of several cancers. The caspase-3/p120 RasGAP module is a stress sensor switch. Under mild stress conditions, RasGAP is cleaved by caspase-3 at position 455. The resulting N-terminal fragment, called fragment N, stimulates anti-death signaling. When caspase-3 activity further increases, fragment N is cleaved at position 157. This generates a fragment, called N2, that no longer protects cells. Here, we investigated in Xenopus oocytes the impact of RasGAP and its fragments on FGF1-mediated signaling during G2/M cell cycle transition. RasGAP used its N-terminal Src homology 2 domain to bind FGFR once stimulated by FGF1, and this was necessary for the recruitment of Akt to the FGFR complex. Fragment N, which did not associate with the FGFR complex, favored FGF1-induced ERK stimulation, leading to accelerated G2/M transition. In contrast, fragment N2 bound the FGFR, and this inhibited mTORC2-dependent Akt Ser-473 phosphorylation and ERK2 phosphorylation but not phosphorylation of Akt on Thr-308. This also blocked cell cycle progression. Inhibition of Akt Ser-473 phosphorylation and entry into G2/M was relieved by PHLPP phosphatase inhibition. Hence, full-length RasGAP favors Akt activity by shielding it from deactivating phosphatases. This shielding was abrogated by fragment N2. These results highlight the role played by RasGAP in FGFR signaling and how graded stress intensities, by generating different RasGAP fragments, can positively or negatively impact this signaling.
Determination of the poliovirus RNA polymerase error frequency at eight sites in the viral genome

The poliovirus RNA polymerase error frequency was measured in vivo at eight sites in the poliovirus genome. The frequency at which specific G residues in poliovirion RNA changed to another base during one round of viral RNA replication was determined. Poliovirion RNA uniformly labeled with 32Pi was hybridized to a synthetic DNA oligonucleotide that was complementary to a sequence in the viral genome that contained a single internal G residue. The nonhybridized viral RNA was digested with RNase T1, and the protected RNA oligonucleotide was purified by gel electrophoresis. The base substitution frequency at the internal G residue was measured by finding the fraction of this RNA oligonucleotide that was resistant to RNase T1 digestion. A mean value of 2.0 x 10(-3) +/- 1.2 x 10(-3) was obtained at two sites. A modification of the above procedure involved the use of 5'-end-labeled RNA oligonucleotides. The mean value of the error frequency determined at eight sites in the viral genome by using this technique was 4.1 x 10(-3) +/- 0.6 x 10(-3). Sequencing two of the RNase T1-resistant RNA oligonucleotides confirmed that the internal G was changed to a C, A, or U residue in most of these oligonucleotides. Thus, our results indicated that the polymerase had a high error frequency in vivo and that there was no significant variation in the values determined at the specific sites examined in this study.
Mutation Patterns in Human Menin

The menin is a tumour suppressor protein, whose deficiency is the cause of familial multiple endocrine neoplasia type I (MEN1). To understand its mutation pattern is very helpful for managing its clinical manifest and outcome. The amino-acid pair predictability is used to transfer the symbolized human menin and its 99 missense point mutants to scalar data and classify the amino-acid pairs as predictable and unpredictable, in order to analyse the mutation pattern. The majority (81.81%) of substituted pairs are characterized by one or both pairs whose actual frequency larger than predicted one. 39.39% of mutations bring out one or both substituting aminoacid pairs which are absent in normal human menin. 59.60% of mutations lead to one or both substituting amino-acid pairs with their actual frequency smaller than predicted frequency. The results show that the mutation is highly likely to occur at the unpredictable amino-acid pairs, and the mutation has the trend to make an amino-acid pair approach predictable. Keywords-amino-acid pair, menin, MEN1, mutation, probability
Using Virtual Team project communication as a means of predicting Virtual Team effectiveness

This paper provides a discussion of Virtual Teams and possible ways of predicting their effectiveness. The motivation for carrying out this research was to determine if there was a way of quantifying why Virtual Teams used in a particular company was proving to be very effective. A brief literature review of the topic of Virtual Teams and Virtual Team communication, as well as an overview of different Communication Models is provided. A case study is presented of a particular company (called DevCo Software Development as a pseudonym for the sake of confidentiality). In the case study the results of two online surveys are presented and discussed. One survey was sent to all the employees within the Labs Department and another sent to only the Virtual Team members of a specific Virtual Team within the Labs Department. The case study concludes with an analysis of relevant aspects of the company culture and the effect it appears to have on the way the employees use technology and the effect of this on Virtual Team success.