Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the Trail Making and Color Trails Tests in a Chinese Context: A Preliminary Report

The Color Trails Test developed as a culturally fair analogue of the Trail Making Test, was used to examine the relationship between the two tests with 35 undergraduate Chinese in Hong Kong recruited as the subjects. The scores on these two tests of the 12 men and 23 women were significantly correlated . 71. The equivalence of the Trail Making and Color Trails Tests when applied to Chinese in Hong Kong was discussed.
Semiautomatic and rapid quantification of heartbeat parameters in Drosophila using optical coherence tomography imaging

Abstract. We report a semiautomatic algorithm that is specialized for rapid analysis of beat-to-beat contraction-relaxation parameters of the heart in Drosophila. The presented algorithm adapts the general graph theoretical image segmentation algorithm and a histogram-based thresholding algorithm, which can measure many cardiac parameters, including heart rate, heart period, diastolic and systolic intervals, and end-diastolic and end-systolic areas. Additionally, dynamic cardiac functions, such as arrhythmia index and percent fractional shortening, can be automatically calculated for all the recorded heartbeats over significant periods of time.
Network of locally coupled cellular automata with random memory models

Cellular Automata with Random Memory (CARM) is a new Cellular Automata model which has been recently inroduced. In this model, instead of memories, delay lines are used. Therefore, how much previous times to be considered is a random process. Implementation of CARM model is not required any special hardware since delay in discrete time systems can be easily generated from a random delay characteristics of wires and transistors in programmable logic devices. In this paper, a network of locally coupled CARM model has been studied. Each CARM model is thought to be a random number generator and here we will present that these generators can synchronise with local coupling keeping random behaviour of each cells in the network.
Age and sex distribution of suspected adverse drug reactions to newly marketed drugs in general practice in England: analysis of 48 cohort studies.

AIMS Little is known about the frequency with which suspected adverse drug reactions are seen by general practitioners after the prescription of newly marketed drugs. We investigated age and sex specific incidence rates of suspected adverse drug reactions recorded by general practitioners in England after the prescription of selected newly marketed drugs. METHODS Information was collected from 48 national cohort studies of newly marketed drugs studied by prescription-event monitoring. Questionnaires were sent to prescribers asking for details of events and suspected adverse drug reactions recorded in the patients' notes occurring after the drugs were prescribed. RESULTS During the 48 cohort studies, a total of 513608 patients were investigated, of which 221781 (43.2%) were males and 285862 (55.7%) were females. The overall incidence of suspected adverse drug reactions in males was 12.9 per 10000 patient-months of exposure (95% confidence limits 12.3 to 13.5), and in females was 20.6 per 10000 patient-months of exposure (95% confidence limits 19.9 to 21.3). The overall age-standardised relative risk of an adverse drug reaction in females compared with males was 1.6 (1.5-1.7). This sex difference was significant in all age groups above 19 years of age, and was relatively consistent across all age groups (chi2 test for heterogeneity = 9.2, P=0.3). The highest rate of recording in males was in the 50-59 year age group, and in females was in the 30-39 year age group. CONCLUSIONS In general practice in England, suspected adverse drug reactions to newly marketed drugs are recorded more often in adults aged between 30 and 59 years of age and are 60% more common in women than in men. The sex difference occurs in all age groups over 19 years of age.
The forest and the trees: relational and specific factors in addiction treatment.

AIMS Increased expectations for the use of evidence-based methods in addiction treatment have fueled a debate regarding the relative importance of 'specific' versus 'common' factors in treatment outcome. This review explores the influence of these factors on addiction treatment outcome. METHODS The authors review and link findings from four decades of research on specific and general factors in addiction treatment outcome research. FINDINGS Although few would argue that what one does in addiction treatment is immaterial, outcome studies tend to find small to no difference when specific treatment methods are compared with each other or with treatment as usual. In contrast, there are usually substantial differences among therapists in client outcomes, and relational factors such as therapist empathy and therapeutic alliance can be significant determinants of addiction treatment outcome. CONCLUSIONS In addiction treatment, relational factors such as empathy, which are often described as common, non-specific factors, should not be dismissed as 'common' because they vary substantially across providers and it is unclear how common they actually are. Similarly they should not be relegated to 'non-specific' status, because such important relational influences can be specified and incorporated into clinical research and training.
The Nomological Network of Self-Reported Distress Tolerance

Distress tolerance (DT), or the ability to withstand psychological distress, is a popular construct in the psychological literature. However, research has not specified the nomological network of DT across self-report measures. The purpose of the current investigation was to understand what personality features, environmental stressors, current affective states, and behaviors contribute to DT in two different samples: college students and those in residential substance use treatment. Correlations revealed that self-reported DT was most strongly associated with trait negative emotionality, state negative affect, impulsivity, and perceived stress. In comparisons across samples, self-harm exhibited a stronger relationship with self-reported DT in the drug treatment than in the student sample, whereas perceived stress had a stronger association in the student sample. Correlations between self-report and behavioral measures of DT were nonsignificant. To understand this lack of associations, associations of outcomes with behavioral measures were assessed. In contrast to self-reported DT, behavioral DT was more closely related to achievement orientation, state negative affect, and state positive affect, but was not significantly related to psychopathology and maladaptive behaviors. It is necessary to continue investigating the construct validity of behavioral DT measures via the use of incremental utility analyses and experimental approaches.
Estimation of the initial distribution volume of glucose by an incremental plasma glucose level at 3 min after i.v. glucose in humans.

AIMS The initial distribution volume of glucose (IDVG) could be a clinically useful indicator of the central extracellular fluid (ECF) space volume, namely the interstitial fluid volume status of highly perfused organs. In this study, we determined the formula of IDVG using incremental plasma glucose levels after i.v. glucose. METHODS One hundred and fifty patients admitted to the general intensive care unit of the University of Hirosaki hospital were entered into this prospective study which was conducted in two stages. In the first stage 300 data points from 100 patients were used to measure the IDVG (3 determinations for each patients). This utilized a one compartment model to describe the incremental plasma glucose decay curve following an intravenous bolus injection of glucose which, in turn, was used to derive the parameters of an equation for IDVG prediction following a single plasma sample. The second stage was a validation of the equation using a separate data set (150 points) from a further 50 patients. RESULTS A one phase exponential decay model was well-fitted for the IDVG-postadministration glucose level curve, and indicated that the incremental glucose level at 3 min after i.v. glucose was best-correlated to the IDVG compared with those at 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7 min postadministration. The formula of the IDVG was obtained from the curve: IDVG=24.44xe-0.0298xDeltaGL+2.70, where DeltaGL=incremental glucose level at 3 min after i.v. glucose. Another 150 samples showed that the measured-IDVG from a one compartment model and predicted-IDVG from the formula were 7.24+/-1. 63 and 7.27+/-1.52 l, respectively, and that there was a significant correlation between the two IDVGs (r=0.966, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Using an incremental glucose level at 3 min after i.v. glucose, we have established the reliable formula for determination of the IDVG which could be a clinically useful indicator of the central ECF volume.
Nationalization in U.S. Senate and Gubernatorial Elections

Since the 1970s, American politics has taken an impressive turn away from political dealignment and moved toward a more responsible party system. As a result, elections have become more nationalized, a process by which presidential and national politics exert greater influence over down-ballot contests. We evaluate nationalization in electoral contests for two high-profile offices—U.S. Senate and governor—that encompass the same constituencies but constitute markedly different job descriptions and mandated responsibilities. Our analysis utilizes both macro- and micro-level data (election returns and surveys, respectively) to assess patterns of nationalization in these elections. Although it is perhaps not surprising that the linkage between presidential and senatorial contests has tightened, it appears national political forces now also exert greater influence over gubernatorial contests. Nonetheless, we do find regional variation in the nationalization of senatorial and gubernatorial politics, which is more evident in the latter office.
Hexagonal shaped fractal UWB antenna

We will discuss a small novel hexagonal shaped geometry for ultra wideband (UWB) monopole antenna with notch characteristics. The self-similar nature of this fractal like geometry provides higher effective antenna length and wide operating bandwidth because of the onset of multiple resonances. Notch characteristics are introduced using a rectangular slot in the ground plane, which enhances the reflection coefficient over the entire UWB frequency operating range for the proposed device. The optimized 19 mm × 15 mm dimensions, for the proposed antenna are the smallest among such geometries, exhibiting a large bandwidth from 3.1 GHz to 11.7 GHz with VSWR <; 2 over the entire frequency range. The proposed antenna demonstrates nearly omnidirectional radiation pattern, proper impedance matching, and good return loss over the entire UWB frequency range.
Micro-entrepreneurship Development in the Handloom Industry

Women entrepreneurship is gaining importance all over the world for addressing the development issues of women. Since the inception of the five-year plans, the Government of India has been giving attention towards mitigating the development issues of women such as labour force participation, empowerment, education and gender inequality. Women-owned micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are contributing significantly towards the economic development of the nation through employment and income generation, poverty eradication, and by bringing entrepreneurial diversity in the economic activities. The handloom industry offers an appropriate setting to analyse the significance of the rural women-owned micro-enterprises towards local economic development. With archaic hand-operated looms, the production mechanism takes place mostly in the rural areas. The present article analyses the factors that affect tribal women to own a handloom micro-enterprise. It is based on primary data collected at firm level from two major tribes in Assam, namely Bodo and Mising. The data were collected from five different districts in Assam where tribal communities are operating handloom businesses. Within the framework of random utility model of economic choice, the findings of the probit model show that age, knowing other handloom micro-entrepreneurs, past history of family business, access to borrowing and risk-taking behaviour have significant and positive influences on the decision of a woman in becoming a handloom micro-entrepreneur. The study suggests for an all-inclusive policy approach for the overall development of handloom industry in the tribal areas.
Slowly Adapting Mechanoreceptors in the Borders of the Human Fingernail Encode Fingertip Forces

There are clusters of slowly adapting (SA) mechanoreceptors in the skin folds bordering the nail. These “SA-IInail” afferents, which constitute nearly one fifth of the tactile afferents innervating the fingertip, possess the general discharge characteristics of slowly adapting type II (SA-II) tactile afferents located elsewhere in the glabrous skin of the human hand. Little is known about the signals in the SA-IInail afferents when the fingertips interact with objects. Here we show that SA-IInail afferents reliably respond to fingertip forces comparable to those arising in everyday manipulations. Using a flat stimulus surface, we applied forces to the finger pad while recording impulse activity in 17 SA-IInail afferents. Ramp-and-hold forces (amplitude 4 N, rate 10 N/s) were applied normal to the skin, and at 10, 20, or 30° from the normal in eight radial directions with reference to the primary site of contact (25 force directions in total). All afferents responded to the force stimuli, and the responsiveness of all but one afferents was broadly tuned to a preferred direction of force. The preferred directions among afferents were distributed all around the angular space, suggesting that the population of SA-IInail afferents could encode force direction. We conclude that signals in the population of SA-IInail afferents terminating in the nail walls contain vectorial information about fingertip forces. The particular tactile features of contacted surfaces would less influence force-related signals in SA-IInail afferents than force-related signals present in afferents terminating in the volar skin areas that directly contact objects.
Liquidity analysis and prediction in the processing industry by applying VG process: The case of the Czech Republic

This paper is devoted to liquidity analysis and prediction possibilities in the processing industry in the Czech Republic. The objective of this paper is to propose and apply pyramidal decomposition of the current liquidity ratio time series of the processing industry in the Czech Republic. Further, we analysed the primary factors affecting liquidity ratio evolution and predicted a two-year probability distribution of the current liquidity ratio by applying the variance gamma process. In the paper, we identified four main factors, which influence liquidity in the processing industry in Czech Republic. Based on these findings, we modelled probability distribution of the liquidity for the period 2016 and 2017 with respect to the empirical distribution. It was shown that when Gaussian distribution is used, the risk is undervalued especially for heavy tails (extreme values) of the probability distribution.
Bank Liquidity, Macroeconomic Risk, and Bank Risk: Evidence from the Financial Services Modernization Act

We investigate the empirical relationship between macroeconomic risk, bank liquidity, and bank risk surrounding the 1999 Financial Services Modernization Act. We propose that bank risk and liquidity are positively related as macroeconomic risk increases, and that this effect is particularly strong after the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act (GLBA). We test our hypotheses by collecting data from 1994 to 2006 for banks in the United States. The results show that banks flush with liquid assets in a high macroeconomic risk environment conducted more lending activities following the enactment of the GLBA, leading to higher bank risk. Our study complements the understanding of bank liquidity management.
The assessment of the United States quantitative easing policy: Evidence from global stock markets

This study assesses the performance of the quantitative easing policy implemented by the United States (US) on the stock markets with a framework of structure break. The empirical results show that the business cycle or the value of gross domestic production has a negative impact on the stock markets for most of the countries even if both gross domestic production and many stock prices are procyclical. Moreover, the purchases of US Treasury securities and mortgageâ€ backed securities respectively affect the stock markets synchronously and laggardly. Notably, they both have a positive impact on the stock markets during the study period. Finally, during the after structure break period, the volatility can be easily affected by bad news, and the investors have the lower profit or even the greater loss and bear the greater risk and variation of risk owing to the global financial crisis caused by the US. On the basis of the above findings, some policy implications are offered in this study.
Development of a Video Coding Scheme for Analyzing the Usability and Usefulness of Health Information Systems

Usability has been identified as a key issue in health informatics. Worldwide numerous projects have been carried out in an attempt to increase and optimize health system usability. Usability testing, involving observing end users interacting with systems, has been widely applied and numerous publications have appeared describing such studies. However, to date, fewer works have been published describing methodological approaches to analyzing the rich data stream that results from usability testing. This includes analysis of video, audio and screen recordings. In this paper we describe our work in the development and application of a coding scheme for analyzing the usability of health information systems. The phases involved in such analyses are described.
A Novel Monoclonal Antibody Against the Second Extracellular Loop of Occludin Disrupts Epithelial Cell Polarity

The tight junction (TJ) regulates epithelial cell polarity and paracellular permeability. In the present study, to investigate whether the second extracellular loop of occludin affects the localization of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CD26 expressed on apical membranes, and the fence function of the TJ, the human intestinal epithelial cell line T84 was treated with the monoclonal anti-occludin antibody (MAb) 1H8, corresponding to the second extracellular loop of occludin. In T84 cells treated with MAb 1H8, occludin disappeared, and CEA and CD26 were observed to diffuse from the apical membrane to the basolateral membrane. Furthermore, a decrease in the fence function of TJ was observed without changes in the TJ strands and barrier function. When T84 cells precultured in low calcium (Ca) medium were recultured in normal Ca medium in the presence of MAb 1H8, recruitment of occludin to the apical-most membranes and recovery in distribution of CEA and CD26 were markedly retarded compared with the control. These results suggested that MAb 1H8 against the second extracellular loop of occludin selectively affected formation of the apical/basolateral intramembrane diffusion barrier and that the second extracellular loop of occludin plays a crucial role in the maintenance of epithelial cell polarity by the TJ.
METHODS FOR AROMATIC AND HETEROCYCLIC AMINE CARCINOGEN-DNA ADDUCT ANALYSIS BY LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY-TANDEM MASS SPECTROMETRY

Xenobiotic-DNA adducts are used as biomarkers to assess the genotoxic effects of carcinogens. Rats were dosed with 4-aminobiphenyl (4-ABP), 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), or 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP). DNA was isolated from the colons of vehicle and carcinogen-treated rats and digested using different nucleases and alkaline phosphatase. Deoxyribonucleoside adducts were quantified by capillary liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using isotope dilution methods with deuterated internal standards. Major adducts were those bound to the C8 position of deoxyguanosine. 3′- and 5′- Exonucleases were the most efficient nucleases at isolating dG-C8-ABP adducts. However, bulky adducts such as dG-C8-MeIQx and dG-C8-PhIP were better isolated using nuclease P1 rather than a combination of micrococcal nuclease and spleen phosphodiesterase. The use of DNase I enhanced the detection of all three adducts. We describe LC-MS/MS methods for DNA adduct detection and support the testing of different nucleases that increase DNA digestion efficiency and make available more DNA adducts for detection.
Using partial least squares structural equation modeling in hospitality and tourism

Purpose The purpose of this study is to review the use of partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) in the field of hospitality and tourism and thereby to assess whether the PLS-SEM-based papers followed the recommended application guidelines and to investigate whether a comparison of journal types (hospitality vs tourism) and journal qualities (top-tier vs other leading) reveal significant differences in PLS-SEM use. Design/methodology/approach A total of 206 PLS-SEM based papers published between 2000 and April 2017 in the 19 SSCI-indexed hospitality and tourism journals were critically analyzed using a wide range of guidelines for the following aspects of PLS-SEM: the rationale of using the method, the data characteristics, the model characteristics, the model assessment and reporting the technical issues. Findings The results reveal that some aspects of PLS-SEM are correctly applied by researchers, but there are still some misapplications, especially regarding data characteristics, formative measurement model evaluation and structural model assessment. Furthermore, few significant differences were found on the use of PLS-SEM between the two fields (hospitality and tourism) and between the journal tiers (top-tier and other leading). Practical implications To enhance the quality of research in hospitality and tourism, the present study provides recommendations for improving the future use of PLS-SEM. Originality/value The present study fills a sizeable gap in hospitality and tourism literature and extends the previous assessments on the use of PLS-SEM by providing a wider perspective on the issue (i.e. includes both hospitality and tourism journals rather than the previous reviews that focus on either tourism or hospitality), using a larger sample size of 206 empirical studies, investigating the issue over a longer time period (from 2000 to April, 2017, including the in-press articles), extending the scope of criteria (guidelines) used in the review and comparing the PLS-SEM use between the two allied fields (hospitality and tourism) and between the journal tiers (top-tier and other leading).