Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Upper extremity prosthesis user perspectives on unmet needs and innovative technology

The needs of individuals with upper limb amputation and congenital limb difference are not being fully met by current prostheses, as evidenced by prosthesis rejection, non-wear, and user reports of pain and challenging activities. Emerging technologies such as dexterous sensorized robotic limbs, osseointegrated prostheses, implantable EMG electrodes, and electrical stimulation for sensory feedback have the potential to address unmet needs, but pose additional risks. We plan to assess upper limb prosthesis user needs and perspectives on these new benefits and risks using an extensive quantitative survey. In preparation for this survey, we report here on qualitative interviews with seven individuals with upper limb amputation or congenital limb difference. Unstructured text was mined using topic modeling and the results compared with identified themes. A more complete understanding of how novel technologies could address real user concerns will inform implementation of new technologies and regulatory decision-making.
The Population of Weak Mg II Absorbers. II. The Properties of Single-Cloud Systems

We present an investigation of Mg II absorbers characterized as single-cloud "weak systems" [defined by Wr(λ2796) < 0.3 Å] at z ~ 1. We measured column densities and Doppler parameters for Mg II and Fe II in 15 systems found in High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer/Keck spectra at 6.6 km s-1. Using these quantities and C IV, Lyα, and Lyman limit absorption observed with the Faint Object Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope (resolution ~230 km s-1), we applied photoionization models to each system to constrain metallicities, densities, ionization conditions, and sizes. We find the following:
The Persistence of Parasitic Plasmids

The conditions under which plasmids are predicted to persist remain controversial. Here, we reevaluate the ordinary differential equations used previously to model plasmid persistence and conclude that the parameter space required for maintenance is far less stringent than has been supposed. Strikingly, our model demonstrates that purely parasitic plasmids may persist, even in the absence of heterogeneity in the host population, and that this persistence is expressed by oscillations or damped oscillations between the plasmid-bearing and the plasmid-free class.
Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men

You know you have encountered good sociology when someone explains things that you have often observed, but have never imagined in ways that reveal the social structure of your observations. We have been able to count on such sociological insights before from Michael Kimmel, and he has done it again in his new, thought-provoking book, Guyland. Kimmel has long provided some of the most thoughtful analyses of men and gender, and his new book is no exception. Written for the lay public, but intriguing for scholars as well, Guyland explores the everyday world of young men whom Kimmel describes as immersed in a new stage of social development, one transformed by social-historical changes that have made the world of young men less certain than it may have been in the past. Kimmel defines "Guyland" as a "stage of life, a liminal undefined time span between adolescence and adulthood" (p. 4). There are no fixed age boundaries to this life phase, though it spans roughly from the time young men are in their mid-teens (about age 16) to their mid-20s. Guyland is, in Kimmers words, a time of "suspended animation between boyhood and manhood" (p. 6). It is a social space marked by norms and values that allow men to feel like men even at a time when the broader social context makes young men feel insecure, uncertain of their future, and without the historic roadmaps with which to chart their adult identities. Guyland is the world of young men's fascination with shock jocks, sports and locker room talk, endless video games, bar hopping, and hanging with their "brothers. " Without the old social scripts that dictated the path to responsible adulthood, young men now drift into adulthood, passing through Guyland or sometimes staying in it along the way. Kimmel portrays Guyland as a "volatile stage, when one has access to all the tools of adulthood with few of the moral and familiar constraints that urge sober conformity" (p. 43). In this context, men struggle to "live up to a definition of masculinity they feel they had no part in creating, and yet from which they feel powerless to escape" (p. 43).
Subjective and objective picture assessment at supra-threshold levels

A method for subjective assessment of picture quality based on supra-threshold levels is presented. In the proposed approach, picture quality is graded relative to supra-threshold points in a recursive manner as opposed to the common absolute category rating scale. In addition, assessments were carried out with full resolution and sub-resolution pictures to measure the presence of quality disparity. Data collected from subjective tests were used to measure the capability of four human visual system based objective metric in quantifying picture quality relative to supra-threshold levels.
Distribution of cadmium in a cultivated soil in Britanny, France

Cadmium (Cd) can be potentially toxic to the environment, and its bioavailability is related to the chemical forms it occurs in the soils. The distribution of Cd into the solid phase and its availability was investigated in a cultivated soil in Britanny, France. Cd sequential extraction was performed using a modified Tessier's sequential extraction protocol. Total content of Cd (n = 22 samples) ranged from 0.13 to 0.37 mg kg1. Long term history of organic and mineral fertilizers application increased Cd concentration in the surface horizon. The fate of Cd was correlated with soil available P2O5 concentration and pH. The regression analysis (linear and non-linear) and Principal Component Analysis revealed the synergistic effect of P2O5 in the retention of Cd in cultivated soils. The following fractions' sequence was observed: bounded to Fe and Al oxides + phosphates > exchangeable > bound to organic matter » residual fraction.
Investigation on an arc-linear axial flux permanent-magnet synchronous machine

A kind of arc-linear axial flux permanent-magnet synchronous machine (AL-AF-PMSM) used for scanning system is researched in this paper. Due to the characteristics of the three-dimensional (3-D) magnetic field, 3-D finite element method (FEM) is usually required to analyze the AF-PMSM. However, 3-D FEM is generally too time consuming. In order to avoid this problem, an approximate equivalent 2-D calculating model is proposed based on the idea of Complex Simpson integral formula. Then this method is validated by comparing with the 3-D FEM results. Finally, with the help of this new method, the AL-AF-PMSM is optimized to reduce the torque fluctuation and improve the smooth operating range.
Learning Recurrent Event Queries for Web Search

Recurrent event queries (REQ) constitute a special class of search queries occurring at regular, predictable time intervals. The freshness of documents ranked for such queries is generally of critical importance. REQ forms a significant volume, as much as 6% of query traffic received by search engines. In this work, we develop an improved REQ classifier that could provide significant improvements in addressing this problem. We analyze REQ queries, and develop novel features from multiple sources, and evaluate them using machine learning techniques. From historical query logs, we develop features utilizing query frequency, click information, and user intent dynamics within a search session. We also develop temporal features by time series analysis from query frequency. Other generated features include word matching with recurrent event seed words and time sensitivity of search result set. We use Naive Bayes, SVM and decision tree based logistic regression model to train REQ classifier. The results on test data show that our models outperformed baseline approach significantly. Experiments on a commercial Web search engine also show significant gains in overall relevance, and thus overall user experience.
A Multimeasure Performance-Based Assessment of Social Competence in Young Children with Disabilities

Social competence is a concept that has been defined and measured in many ways. Odom and McConnell (1985) proposed a performance-based assessment of social competence that involved significant social agents in children's environments to make judgments about the competence of the children's social behavior. This study constructed and initially evaluated such an approach for assessing social competence of young children with disabilities. A multimethod assessment of children's social competence (i.e., direct observation, observer impressions, teacher rating, peer ratings) was conducted with 222 preschool children with and without disabilities. Principal component analysis yielded four factors, the first of which accounted for the largest percentage of variance and may be the better global assessment of social competence. Results of this investigation are discussed conceptually with respect to the adequacy of multiple-measure performance-based approaches and empirically with regard to the possibility of using these measures to evaluate factors affecting the development of social competence in early childhood special education.
Relationships Among Depression, PTSD, Methamphetamine Abuse, and Psychosis

Objective: Research suggests several possible associations among methamphetamine abuse, psychotic symptoms, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but the exact nature and clinical significance of these associations is unclear. Individuals who abuse methamphetamine increasingly present in hospital emergency rooms with acute psychiatric symptoms. The aim of this study was to identify patterns of depressive symptoms and explore predictors of acute versus sustained depressive symptoms in individuals who abuse methamphetamine and who have had psychotic symptoms. Methods: This longitudinal study, conducted in Vancouver, British Columbia, included 295 participants with methamphetamine use disorder who were seeking psychiatric help for depressive or psychotic symptoms, assessed at baseline and monthly for 6 months. Measures included substance use (including frequency, quantity, and route of administration), family history of psychosis and depression, trauma exposure, and PTSD symptoms. Results: Trajectory analyses on depressive symptoms revealed two profiles of depression: one with more severe and sustained depressive symptoms and one with decreasing and lower levels of depressive symptoms. Group comparisons showed that those with more severe and persistent depressive symptoms had more family history of depression ( p < .05), more years of alcohol and cocaine abuse ( p < .01), more traumatic events ( p < .001), and more PTSD symptoms ( p < .001). Logistic regression suggested that the strongest predictors of belonging to the high depression group were more severe psychotic symptoms at baseline (odds ratio [OR] = 2.03, p < .001), followed by quantity of methamphetamine used in the month preceding baseline (OR = 1.13, p < .05), severity of PTSD symptoms at baseline (OR = 1.07, p < .001), and the frequency of drug injection (OR = 1.25, p < .05). Conclusions: Our results are similar to those of other studies suggesting that depression and psychosis often coexist and that the intensity of methamphetamine abuse is linked to the severity of the depressive symptoms. The individuals who took part in this study had many coexisting problems, such as PTSD symptoms, polysubstance abuse, depression, and psychosis. In fact, depression, psychosis, PTSD, and substance abuse appeared to be intertwined in their development and expression. A more comprehensive treatment program to help individuals with multiple coexisting psychiatric and substance misuse issues is needed.
Pera Peras Poros

The attempt in this article is to reflect on the notion of hospitality, building on Derrida's engagement with the notion. In doing so, I visit some of the debates on cosmopolitanism, a term which, I believe, is sometimes used overenthusiastically, neglecting the negative implications it might carry. Besides, I observe the same uncritical stance towards the reception of Kant's notion of `universal hospitality', developed in his famous piece on `Perpetual Peace', a text that has been at the core of the recent debates on cosmopolitanism. I revisit Kant's text to discuss the implications of his project. I distinguish between `the other' and `the stranger', and try to develop a politics and ethics of hospitality due to the stranger. I conclude with some implications of `not being home'.
Plasma Autoantibodies Associated with Basal-like Breast Cancers

Background: Basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) is a rare aggressive subtype that is less likely to be detected through mammographic screening. Identification of circulating markers associated with BLBC could have promise in detecting and managing this deadly disease. Methods: Using samples from the Polish Breast Cancer study, a high-quality population-based case–control study of breast cancer, we screened 10,000 antigens on protein arrays using 45 BLBC patients and 45 controls, and identified 748 promising plasma autoantibodies (AAbs) associated with BLBC. ELISA assays of promising markers were performed on a total of 145 BLBC cases and 145 age-matched controls. Sensitivities at 98% specificity were calculated and a BLBC classifier was constructed. Results: We identified 13 AAbs (CTAG1B, CTAG2, TP53, RNF216, PPHLN1, PIP4K2C, ZBTB16, TAS2R8, WBP2NL, DOK2, PSRC1, MN1, TRIM21) that distinguished BLBC from controls with 33% sensitivity and 98% specificity. We also discovered a strong association of TP53 AAb with its protein expression (P = 0.009) in BLBC patients. In addition, MN1 and TP53 AAbs were associated with worse survival [MN1 AAb marker HR = 2.25, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03–4.91; P = 0.04; TP53, HR = 2.02, 95% CI, 1.06–3.85; P = 0.03]. We found limited evidence that AAb levels differed by demographic characteristics. Conclusions: These AAbs warrant further investigation in clinical studies to determine their value for further understanding the biology of BLBC and possible detection. Impact: Our study identifies 13 AAb markers associated specifically with BLBC and may improve detection or management of this deadly disease. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 24(9); 1332–40. ©2015 AACR.
Proximity-Based Sortase-Mediated Ligation.

Protein bioconjugation has been a crucial tool for studying biological processes and developing therapeutics. Sortase A (SrtA), a bacterial transpeptidase, has become widely used for its ability to site-specifically label proteins with diverse functional moieties, but a significant limitation is its poor reaction kinetics. In this work, we address this by developing proximity-based sortase-mediated ligation (PBSL), which improves the ligation efficiency to over 95 % by linking the target protein to SrtA using the SpyTag-SpyCatcher peptide-protein pair. By expressing the target protein with SpyTag C-terminal to the SrtA recognition motif, it can be covalently captured by an immobilized SpyCatcher-SrtA fusion protein during purification. Following the ligation reaction, SpyTag is cleaved off, rendering PBSL traceless, and only the labeled protein is released, simplifying target protein purification and labeling to a single step.
Alexithymia in Dutch violent forensic psychiatric outpatients

Abstract Until now alexithymia has not been investigated in Dutch low-educated offenders who are known for their violent behaviour. We therefore investigated a sample of aggressive forensic psychiatric outpatients, who are characterized by emotional dysregulation in conflict situations. For that purpose we used a Dutch questionnaire, the Bermond-Vorst Alexithymia Questionnaire (BVAQ; Vorst & Bermond, 2001), which we also administered in a sample of secondary vocational students for a comparison. Unfortunately, the five-factor structure of the BVAQ could not be confirmed in both samples, but in the patient sample the test-retest reliability of the total score turned out to be moderate, and meaningful correlations were found with measures of relevant personality domains and problem behaviours. When both samples were compared, patients were found to display significantly higher total scores on the BVAQ than the secondary vocational students, when controlled for age. Therefore, we concluded that alexithymia may contribute to the aggressive behaviour of violent forensic psychiatric outpatients. However, patients as well as students had much higher total scores on the BVAQ than found by Vorst and Bermond (2001) in a sample of Dutch psychology students. This indicates that alexithymia as measured by the BVAQ is also inversely related to educational level and perhaps to intelligence.
How eudaimonic and hedonic motives relate to the well-being of close others

Past research has examined the link of eudaimonic and hedonic motives with personal well-being, but less is known about their link with the well-being of close others. Also, empirical data on the link with the well-being of close others would address an ongoing debate regarding whether eudaimonia is egoistic and possibly detrimental to others. Participants completed self-report measures of their typical degrees of eudaimonic and hedonic motivation. We then asked their friends and relatives to tell us how the participant affected their well-being. When entering eudaimonia and hedonia simultaneously as predictors of close other well-being in multiple regressions, only eudaimonia related positively to the well-being of close others. Thus, eudaimonia had a positive, not negative, impact on other people. Furthermore, while past research shows that both eudaimonic and hedonic motives benefit personal well-being, this study suggests that eudaimonic motivation has more positive influences on close others.
Organizational Character of Education: Administrative Behavior

THE CENTRAL motif of recent research regarding administrative behavior may be stated, "This study is based on a theoretical construct from the social sciences. " Familiar counterpoint themes that recur with striking regularity relate to development and use of theory in administration, operation of the organization, organizational roles, measurement of personality variables, study of cultural and individual values, and assessment of leadership. Refreshing recent directions include increased emphasis on organizational change, analysis of interpersonal perception, and renewed interest in the administrative process. It is in terms of the foregoing themes that the research in this chapter is organized and reviewed. Development and Use of Theory The literature regarding the development and use of theory in administration has been enriched immeasurably during the past three years. In the sixty-third yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education (1964), Behavioral Science and Educational Administration, there is given both a description and an interpretation of recent theoretical developments, which should be of great value not only for researchers but also for practitioners of educational administration. Major sections of this valuable book provide historical perspective, new scientific bases of administration, and implications of new scientific bases for the profession and for education. If by no criterion other than volume of completed research, the theory of administration as a social process by Getzels (1958) continues to represent the most useful theory in the field of educational administration. As originally predicted, this theory has undergone substantial changes in light
Fluorescence Endoscopy of Cathepsin Activity Discriminates Dysplasia from Colitis

Background:Surveillance colonoscopy using random biopsies to detect colitis-associated cancer (CAC) suffers from poor sensitivity. Although chromoendoscopy improves detection, acceptance in the community has been slow. Here, we examine the usefulness of near infrared fluorescence (NIRF) endoscopy to image molecular probes for cathepsin activity in colitis-induced dysplasia. Methods:In patient samples, cathepsin activity was correlated with colitis and dysplasia. In mice, cathepsin activity was detected as fluorescent hydrolysis product of substrate-based probes after injection into Il10−/− colitic mice. Fluorescence colonoscopy and colonic whole-mount imaging were performed before complete sectioning and pathology review of resected colons. Results:Cathepsin activity was 5-fold and 8-fold higher in dysplasia and CAC, respectively, compared with areas of mild colitis in patient tissue sections. The signal-to-noise ratios for dysplastic lesions seen by endoscopy in Il10−/− mice were 5.2 ± 1.3 (P = 0.0001). Lesions with increased NIRF emissions were classified as raised or flat dysplasia, lymphoid tissue, and ulcers. Using images collected by endoscopy, a receiver operating characteristic curve for correctly diagnosing dysplasia was calculated. The area under the curve was 0.927. At a cutoff of 1000 mean fluorescence intensity, the sensitivity and specificity for detecting dysplasia were 100% and 83%, respectively. Analysis revealed that focally enhanced NIRF emissions derived from increased numbers of infiltrating myeloid-derived suppressor cells and macrophages with equivalent cathepsin activity. Conclusions:These studies indicate that cathepsin substrate-based probe imaging correctly identifies dysplastic foci within chronically inflamed colons. Combined white light and NIRF endoscopy presents unique advantages that may increase sensitivity and specificity of surveillance colonoscopy in patients with CAC.
Changes of Attention during Value-Based Reversal Learning Are Tracked by N2pc and Feedback-Related Negativity

Previously learned reward values can have a pronounced impact, behaviorally and neurophysiologically, on the allocation of selective attention. All else constant, stimuli previously associated with a high value gain stronger attentional prioritization than stimuli previously associated with a low value. The N2pc, an ERP component indicative of attentional target selection, has been shown to reflect aspects of this prioritization, by changes of mean amplitudes closely corresponding to selective enhancement of high value target processing and suppression of high value distractor processing. What has remained unclear so far is whether the N2pc also reflects the flexible and repeated behavioral adjustments needed in a volatile task environment, in which the values of stimuli are reversed often and unannounced. Using a value-based reversal learning task, we found evidence that the N2pc amplitude flexibly and reversibly tracks value-based choices during the learning of reward associated stimulus colors. Specifically, successful learning of current value-contingencies was associated with reduced N2pc amplitudes, and this effect was more apparent for distractor processing, compared with target processing. In addition, following a value reversal the feedback related negativity(FRN), an ERP component that reflects feedback processing, was amplified and co-occurred with increased N2pc amplitudes in trials following low-value feedback. Importantly, participants that showed the greatest adjustment in N2pc amplitudes based on feedback were also the most efficient learners. These results allow further insight into how changes in attentional prioritization in an uncertain and volatile environment support flexible adjustments of behavior.