Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Informing Response Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis. I: Discrimination Models Based on Data from 3 Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Randomized Studies

Objective. To develop statistical models, based on the analysis of data from phase III randomized placebo-controlled trials of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitors over a 24-week period, that may inform the definition of response measures for clinical trials in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Methods. Data from phase III randomized controlled trials with anti-TNF agents were used. A training set using baseline and 24-week data from 2 trials was used to derive the models, which were then tested on a dataset using baseline and interim data from the third trial, and baseline and interim data from the first 2 trials. Logistic regression, tree analysis, and factor analysis were considered in the development of the models. Receiver-operating characteristic curves were constructed and area under the curve (AUC) calculated to assess performance of the models. Results. Two models were derived. One was based on differences between baseline and last-visit values, which identified the current 68 tender joint count (TJC68), baseline and change in C-reactive protein (CRP), and the measure with the highest difference among the patient and physician global assessment of disease activity (GDA), patient assessment of pain and the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). The second model was based on percentage change from baseline and included TJC68, CRP, physician GDA, patient global assessment of arthritis pain, and HAQ. Both models provided high AUC of at least 0.8 for both the training and testing sets. Conclusion. Models for discriminating joint disease response patterns in PsA were derived from data from randomized controlled trials. These models can now be used to inform further consideration of response measures for trials.
Scanning Probe Microscopy in Technology of Solar Cells Production

: This article deals with implementation of Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) techniques to the characterization of crystalline silicon solar cells. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is used for the characterization of solar cells texture, because it allows three dimensional imaging of surface structure [1]. Aim of this part of work was to set up a new methodology for surface evaluation in terms of optimization of the texturing process in solar cells mass-production. Monocrystalline silicon (mono-Si) wafers were etched in strong and weak alkaline solutions, and in strong acid solution which corresponds to standard methods of solar cells production. A detailed description of the surface was based on inspection of roughness parameters which were determined by the analysis of surface images. The second part of this work deals with possibility of Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM) application for detection of Back Surface Field (BSF) presence and measurement its depth. KPFM enables to image surface electronic properties – specifically the Contact Potential Difference ( U CPD ) [2]. This method was used for checking the aluminum BSF (Al-BSF) layer presence and for measuring its depth.
Life and evolution as physics

ABSTRACT What is evolution and why does it exist in the biological, geophysical and technological realms — in short, everywhere? Why is there a time direction — a time arrow — in the changes we know are happening every moment and everywhere? Why is the present different than the past? These are questions of physics, about everything, not just biology. The answer is that nothing lives, flows and moves unless it is driven by power. Physics sheds light on the natural engines that produce the power destroyed by the flows, and on the free morphing that leads to flow architectures naturally and universally. There is a unifying tendency across all domains to evolve into flow configurations that provide greater access for movement. This tendency is expressed as the constructal law of evolutionary flow organization everywhere. Here I illustrate how this law of physics accounts for and unites the life and evolution phenomena throughout nature, animate and inanimate.
Human Decay-Accelerating Factor and CEACAM Receptor-Mediated Internalization and Intracellular Lifestyle of Afa/Dr Diffusely Adhering Escherichia coli in Epithelial Cells

ABSTRACT We used transfected epithelial CHO-B2 cells as a model to identify the mechanism mediating internalization of Afa/Dr diffusely adhering Escherichia coli. We provide evidence that neither the α5 or β1 integrin subunits nor α5β1 integrin functioned as a receptor mediating the adhesion and/or internalization of Dr or Afa-III fimbria-positive bacteria. We also demonstrated that (i) whether or not the AfaD or DraD invasin subunits were present, there was no difference in the cell association and entry of bacteria and that (ii) DraE or AfaE-III adhesin subunits are necessary and sufficient to promote the receptor-mediated bacterial internalization into epithelial cells expressing human decay-accelerating factor (DAF), CEACAM1, CEA, or CEACAM6. Internalization of Dr fimbria-positive E. coli within CHO-DAF, CHO-CEACAM1, CHO-CEA, or CHO-CEACAM6 cells occurs through a microfilament-independent, microtubule-dependent, and lipid raft-dependent mechanism. Wild-type Dr fimbria-positive bacteria survived better within cells expressing DAF than bacteria internalized within CHO-CEACAM1, CHO-CEA, or CHO-CEACAM6 cells. In DAF-positive cells, internalized Dr fimbria-positive bacteria were located in vacuoles that contained more than one bacterium, displaying some of the features of late endosomes, including the presence of Lamp-1 and Lamp-2, and some of the features of CD63 proteins, but not of cathepsin D, and were acidic. No interaction between Dr fimbria-positive-bacterium-containing vacuoles and the autophagic pathway was observed.
The influence of switching costs and satisfaction on loyalty towards smartphone service providers

Introduction: With the rapid development of communication technologies and the introduction of smartphones in the marketplace, the industry of mobile phone communication services is making great efforts to attract new customers and retain current ones. Purpose: This study aims to analyse how the switching costs and customer satisfaction influence customers' loyalty towards the smartphone service provides. Additionally, the mediating role of customer loyalty is also examined. Methodology: For this purpose, drawing on a sample of 370 customers, an analysis was developed through structural equation modelling. Findings: Our findings suggest that customer satisfaction with their smartphone services is determined by two key variables - service value and corporate image - while switching costs exert a low influence on customer satisfaction. Implications: Considering that our findings highlight low switching costs, service providers should focus their marketing efforts towards attracting new customers and increasing primary demand, rather than retaining their existing customers.
A BPK-CRIO Methodology for the Design and Implementation of a Multi-agent Based Business Process Monitoring System

With the development of information technologies and the furious market competitions, enterprises are facing an increasingly competitive market place. In this environment, the successes of enterprises depend critically on the quality and efficiency of their product business processes. Hence, an increasing number of enterprises has applied information technologies to help them understanding, modeling and monitoring their business processes. This paper presents a BPK-CRIO methodology for guiding the design of a multi-agent based business process monitoring system. The first procedure of the methodology is conceptualizing business processes with an organizational enterprise ontology, K-CRIO. The result of conceptualization indicates the design of organization structures, agent/roles and interactions of MAS in the second procedure of the methodology. Finally, this paper provides a related case study of the Scrum process monitoring system that is a system for modeling and monitoring the Scrum Software Development Process. It has been designed and implemented according to the proposed methodology.
New Compounds Induce Brassinosteroid Deficient-like Phenotypes in Rice

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are steroidal plant hormones with potent plant growth promoting activity. Because BR-deficient mutants of rice exhibit altered plant architecture and important agronomic traits, we conducted a systemic search for specific inhibitors of BR biosynthesis to manipulate the BR levels in plant tissues. Although previous studies have been conducted with BR biosynthesis inhibitors in dicots, little is known regarding the effects of BR biosynthesis inhibition in monocot plants. In this work, we used potent inhibitors of BR biosynthesis in Arabidopsis, and we performed a hydroponic culture of rice seedlings to evaluate the effects of BR biosynthesis inhibition. Among the test compounds, we found that 1-[[2-(4-Chlorophenyl)-4-(phenoxymethyl)-1,3-dioxolan-2-yl]methyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole (1) is a potent inhibitor that could induce phenotypes in rice seedlings that were similar to those observed in brassinosteroid deficient plants. The IC50 value for the retardation of plant growth in rice seedlings was approximately 1.27 ± 0.43 μM. The IC50 value for reducing the bending angle of the lamina joint was approximately 0.55 ± 0.15 μM.
Abnormal cross-frequency coupling in the tinnitus network

Neuroimaging studies have identified networks of brain areas and oscillations associated with tinnitus perception. However, how these regions relate to perceptual characteristics of tinnitus, and how oscillations in various frequency bands are associated with communications within the tinnitus network is still incompletely understood. Recent evidence suggests that apart from changes of the tinnitus severity the changes of tinnitus dominant pitch also have modulating effect on the underlying neuronal activity in a number of brain areas within the tinnitus network. Therefore, in a re-analysis of an existing dataset, we sought to determine how the oscillations in the tinnitus network in the various frequency bands interact. We also investigate how changes of tinnitus loudness, annoyance and pitch affect cross-frequency interaction both within and between nodes of the tinnitus network. Results of this study provide, to our knowledge, the first evidence that in tinnitus patients, aside from the previously described changes of oscillatory activity, there are also changes of cross-frequency coupling (CFC); phase-amplitude CFC was increased in tinnitus patients within the auditory cortex and the dorsolateral prefrontal regions between the phase of delta-theta and the amplitude of gamma oscillations (Modulation Index [MI] 0.17 in tinnitus patients vs. 0.08 in tinnitus free controls). Moreover, theta phase in the anterior cingulate region modulated gamma in the auditory (MI 0.1) and dorsolateral prefrontal regions (MI 0.19). Reduction of tinnitus severity after acoustic coordinated reset therapy led to a partial normalization of abnormal CFC. Also treatment induced changes in tinnitus pitch significantly modulated changes in CFC. Thus, tinnitus perception is associated with a more pronounced CFC within and between nodes of the tinnitus network. CFC can coordinate tinnitus-relevant activity in the tinnitus network providing a mechanism for effective communication between nodes of this network.
Characterization of fungi isolated from the equipment used in the International Space Station or Space Shuttle

As a part of a series of studies regarding the microbial biota in manned space environments, fungi were isolated from six pieces of equipment recovered from the Japanese Experimental Module “KIBO” of the International Space Station and from a space shuttle. Thirty‐seven strains of fungi were isolated, identified and investigated with regard to morphological phenotypes and antifungal susceptibilities. The variety of fungi isolated in this study was similar to that of several previous reports. The dominant species belonged to the genera Penicillium, Aspergillus and Cladosporium, which are potential causative agents of allergy and opportunistic infections. The morphological phenotypes and antifungal susceptibilities of the strains isolated from space environments were not significantly different from those of reference strains on Earth.
A Comparison of Traditional and World Wide Web Methodologies, Computer Anxiety, and Higher Order Thinking Skills in the In-Service Training of Mississippi 4-H Extension Agents

This research compared traditional and World Wide Web based Extension agent in-service training in Mississippi with respect to higher-order thinking skills and computer anxiety. While the experimental sample (n = 26) was small, the study examined agents’ ability to perform on two subject-matter post-tests at differing levels of Bloom’s taxonomy of the cognitive domain and examined the role that computer anxiety played in the agents’ performance. A hierarchical multiple linear regression was used in order to arrive at R 2 values to use in performing F tests at the . 10 level of significance. At the knowledge level of Bloom’s taxonomy, the researchers found no statistically significant difference in the post-test based on the training methodology (traditional or Web based), the agents’ level of computer anxiety, or the interaction of these two variables. However, at the application level of Bloom’s taxonomy, the interaction between type of training methodology (traditional or Web based) and computer anxiety was statistically significant at the . 10 level of significance. This treatment and computer anxiety interaction indicated that agents in the traditional group scored statistically significantly higher than agents in the Web-based group on the application level post-test.
Indomethacin: A survey of clinical trials

Clinical trials of indomethacin in rheumatic diseases are reviewed. In treating rheumatoid arthritis, the good results observed in uncontrolled subjective and objective evaluations have not been confirmed in recent controlled double‐blind trials. Failure to account for natural remission and cyclic variation in disease activity in uncontrolled trials probably explains these differences. There is no clear reason for preferring this drug over aspirin in treating rheumatoid arthritis. Indomethacin may be useful in treating other nonrheumatoid rheumatic diseases, but as yet few comparisons with standard therapies have been made. The drug has severe side effects and should be used with caution. Problems encountered in collecting information about this drug and its toxicity are discussed. The controlled double‐blind trial appears to be the only feasible method for assessing both the efficacy and the toxicity of drugs used in treating rheumatoid arthritis.
Fine‐needle aspiration of metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma found in the liver

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) metastasis to the liver is a rare event and may cause diagnostic dilemmas. In this study, we have reviewed the cytological features of metastatic PTC to the liver, tested the BRAF V600E status of these lesions, and discussed potential diagnostic pitfalls.
Dinosaur input device

We present a system for animating an articulate figure using a physical skeleton, or armature, connected to a workstation. The skeleton is covered with sensors that monitor the orientations of the joints and send this information to the computer via custom-built hardware. The system is precise, fast, compact, and easy to use. It lets traditional stop-motion animators produce animation on a computer without requiring them to learn complex software. The working environment is very similar to the traditional environment but without the nuisances of lights, a camera, and delicate foam-latex skin. The resulting animation lacks the artifacts of stop-motion animation, the pops and jerkiness, and yet retains the intentional subtleties and hard stops that computer animation often lacks.
Unsupervised segmentation of ceramic proppant particles in 3D microCT images

Oil and gas industry uses different types of ceramic proppants in millions of kilograms per year. X-ray microtomography (microCT) imaging can be applied for investigation of quality of the material. For analysis, it is necessary to segment spherical contacting particles of proppant. We apply a marker-controlled watershed for segmentation. The method of markers detection has several parameters which have crucial influence on segmentation outcome. To optimize segmentation quality, we propose unsupervised (nonreference) measure based on a compactness of 3D connected regions, where compactness is calculated via central geometric moments of second order. In addition, we demonstrate advantages of our technique for compactness estimation over the method based on ratio of surface area and volume of a region.
LIFE‐HISTORY EVOLUTION IN GUPPIES (POECILIA RETICULATA) 6. DIFFERENTIAL MORTALITY AS A MECHANISM FOR NATURAL SELECTION

We have previously reported a correlation between the life‐history patterns of guppies and the types of predators with which they coexist. Guppies from localities with an abundance of large predators (high predation localities) mature at an earlier age and devote more resources to reproduction than those found in localities with only a single, small species of predator (low predation localities). We also found that when guppies were introduced from a high to low predation locality, the guppy life history evolved to resemble what was normally found in this low predation locality. The presumed mechanism of natural selection is differences among localities in age/size‐specific mortality (the age/size‐specific mortality hypothesis); in high predation localities we assumed that guppies experienced high adult mortality rates while in the low predation localities we assumed that guppies experienced high juvenile mortality rates. These assumptions were based on stomach content analyses of wild‐caught predators and on laboratory experiments. Here, we evaluate these assumptions by directly estimating the mortality rates of guppies in natural populations. We found that guppies from high predation localities experience significantly higher mortality rates than their counterparts from low predation localities, but that these higher mortality rates are uniformly distributed across all size classes, rather than being concentrated in the larger size classes. This result appears to contradict the predictions of the age/size‐specific predation hypothesis. However, we argue, using additional data on growth rates and the probabilities of survival to maturity in each type of locality, that the age‐specific mortality hypothesis remains plausible. This is because the probability of survival to first reproduction is very similar in each type of locality, but the guppies from high predation localities have a much lower probability of survival per unit time after maturity. We also argue for the plausibility of two other mechanisms of natural selection. These results thus reveal mortality patterns that provide a potential cause of natural selection, but expand, rather than narrow, the number of possible mechanisms responsible for life‐history evolution in guppies.
PROPERTIES OF THE EMPIRICAL CHARACTERISTIC FUNCTION AND ITS APPLICATION TO TESTING FOR INDEPENDENCE

In this article, the asymptotic properties of the empirical characteristic function are discussed. The residual of the joint and marginal empirical characteristic functions is studied and the uniform convergence of the residual in the wider sense and the weak convergence of the scaled residual to a Gaussian process are investigated. Taking into account of the result, a statistical test for independence against alternatives is considered.
Conjugation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

N general terms, the characteristics of the conjugation system in Pseudomonas I aeruginosa show some similarities to those of the more intensively studied Escherichia coli. Mating occurs between parents differing in the possession of a fertility factor FP. Genetic transfer is from the male FP+ or donor parent to the female F P or recipient parent. The sex factor FP is infectious in that it can be transferred from some FP+ strains to the FPstrain 1 at a frequency far in excess of that found for the transfer and recovery of chromosomal markers. Not all FP+ strains are infectious and as male forms comparable to the E. coli Hfr have not yet been found, the role of FP in transferring chromosom? is uncertain. Two main issues have conditioned our approach in this further study of pseudomonad conjugation. Firstly the nature of chromosome transfer in P. aeruginosa, and secondly the use of conjugation for the general mapping of the P. aeruginoaa chromosome. In selecting the experimental system to do this, it became obvious that there were distinct advantages in carrying out matings between F P and FP+ forms of the same strain as has been done with E. coli K12. Recombination in P. aeruginosa was first demonstrated between four unrelated strains (HOLLOWAY 1955). However, we have since shown that in the best studied of these mating combinations, 1 . P x 2.FP+, the recombination of markers is considerably influenced by DNA host-specificity differences ( HOLLOWAY and ROLFE 1964; ROLFE and HOLLOWAY 1966). As FP from strain 2 can be introduced into strain 1 by recombinants from 1 X 2 crosses which are infectious for FP (HOLLOWAY and JENNINGS 1958), such differences can be avoided by using 1 . F P x 1 . FP+ crosses. Previously, mating in P . aeruginosa was carried out by plating washed saline suspensions of the two parents onto minimal agar. The analysis of recombinants derived from such a procedure can be used to determine some aspects of linkage but such results do not enable us to draw any conclusions as to how chromosome is transferred. In this paper we will describe the application of an interrupted mating technique to P. aeruginosa to show that there is an oriented transfer of chromosome; and to discuss the use of this technique for linkage studies.
Fixed Airflow Obstruction among Nonsmokers with Asthma:A Case-Comparison Study

Background. Airflow obstruction in asthma is usually reversible, but fixed obstruction develops in some individuals. Little is known about risk factors for development of fixed airflow obstruction in nonsmokers with asthma. Methods. This case-comparison study recruited nonsmokers aged over 45 years with physician-diagnosed asthma from specialist outpatient clinics and primary care. Two age-matched groups were recruited on the basis of spirometry: anobstructed group (post-bronchodilator FEV1 ≤ 70% predicted, FEV1/FVC ratio < lower limit of normal) and a control group with normal lung function. Subjects completed a questionnaire and interview, and underwent spirometry, venesection, exhaled nitric oxide (ENO) measurement, allergen skinprick testing, and formal lung function testing. Results. Thirty-four obstructed subjects and 40 controls participated in the study. Obstructed subjects exhibited greater evidence of systemic inflammation, abnormal glucose homeostasis, and central obesity than controls. Obstructed subjects reported longer duration of asthma, and childhood respiratory infection was commoner in that group. Metabolic syndrome prevalence was similar between groups, but several features of insulin resistance were associated with reduced FEV1. Cough and sputum were common among controls. Conclusions. Risk of fixed airflow obstruction may correlate with lifetime asthma duration. Individuals with coexisting asthma and fixed airflow obstruction have heightened systemic inflammation. A variety of chronic respiratory symptoms are common among “healthy” nonsmokers with asthma.