Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Light-regulated compensation of wat1 (walls are thin1) growth and secondary cell wall phenotypes is auxin-independent

We previously reported the characterization of walls are thin1 (wat1), an Arabidopsis mutant that exhibits two developmental phenotypes in stems: (i) a severe decrease in fiber secondary cell wall thickness and (ii) a reduction in stem height.1 Auxin concentration and transport were also significantly reduced in the stem base of wat1 plants. In the original study, these characteristics were observed in plants grown under short day conditions (9h light /15h dark). Herein, we provide evidence for partial phenotypic complementation of both wat1 developmental phenotypes when grown under a continuous light regime. Interestingly, when auxin concentration and basipetal transport were measured in these plants, neither was restored to wild type levels. These results suggest that free auxin concentration is not responsible for the partial light–regulated complementation of wat1-mediated phenotypes.
Cardiac valve calcification: characteristics of patients with calcification of the mitral annulus or aortic valve

Aims To determine whether mitral annular calcification and aortic valve calcification, with or without stenosis, are expressions of atherosclerotic disease. Methods The incidence of atherosclerotic risk factors was analysed in patients with mitral annular calcification and aortic valve calcification and in control patients from a prospective echocardiographic database of 8160 consecutive patients; 657 patients (8%) were identified with mitral annular calcification and 815 (9%) with a calcified aortic valve, of whom 515 (6.3%) had stenosis with a minimal aortic valve gradient of 16 mm Hg. In these patients, cardiac and vascular risk factors were compared with 568 control patients using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results Age (odds ratio (OR) varying from 5.78 to 104, depending on age class), female sex (OR 1.75), hypertension (OR 2.38), diabetes mellitus (OR 2.85), and hypercholesterolaemia (OR 2.95) were strongly and significantly associated with aortic valve calcification without stenosis, as were age (OR varying from 8.82 to 67, depending on age class), female sex (OR 2.22), hypertension (OR 2.72), diabetes mellitus (OR 2.49), and hypercholesterolaemia (OR 2.86) with mitral annular calcification. Age (OR varying from 1.11 to 7.7), hypertension (OR 1.91), and hypercholesterolaemia (OR 2.55) were strongly and significantly associated with stenotic aortic valve calcification. Conclusions Mitral annular calcification and stenotic or non-stenotic aortic valve calcification have a high incidence of atherosclerotic risk factors, suggesting they should be considered as manifestations of generalised atherosclerosis.
Monitoring of neoadjuvant therapy response of soft-tissue and musculoskeletal sarcoma using fluorine-18-FDG PET.

UNLABELLED The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential role of FDG-PET in the monitoring of neoadjuvant therapy of soft-tissue and musculoskeletal sarcomas. METHODS Nine patients were studied. Neoadjuvant therapy consisted of either chemotherapy or combined radiotherapy and hyperthermia. The FDG-PET studies were obtained, when possible, prior to therapy, 1-3 wk after commencement of therapy, and prior to surgery after completion of neoadjuvant therapy. In two patients, all three studies were completed. The remainder of patients underwent one or two studies at varying timepoints. RESULTS In tumors treated with combined radiotherapy and hyperthermia, well-defined regions of absent uptake developed within responsive tumors, correlating pathologically with necrosis. Following treatment, a peripheral rim of FDG accumulation was found to correlate pathologically with the formation of a fibrous pseudocapsule. In tumors treated with chemotherapy, FDG accumulation decreased more homogeneously throughout the tumor, in responsive cases. Despite 100% tumor cell kill in some patients, persistent tumor FDG uptake was observed which correlated pathologically with uptake within benign therapy-related fibrous tissue. Significant FDG accumulation was also observed at the site of an uncontaminated incisional biopsy. CONCLUSION These initial results demonstrate changes in tumor accumulation of FDG during and after neoadjuvant therapy; these changes are dependent on the type of neoadjuvant therapy administered. Prominent FDG accumulation was observed in benign tissues both within and adjacent to the treated tumor.
Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor (CNTF) Enhances Myelin Formation: A Novel Role for CNTF and CNTF-Related Molecules

In multiple sclerosis, myelin repair is generally insufficient despite the relative survival of oligodendrocytes within the plaques and the recruitment of oligodendrocyte precursors. Promoting remyelination appears to be a crucial therapeutic challenge. Using a newly developed enzymatic index of myelination, we screened different neurotrophic factors for their ability to enhance myelination. Neurotrophins [NGF, neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), NT-4/5, BDNF], glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF)-related factors (GDNF, neurturin), and growth factors such as PDGF-AA, FGF-2, and insulin did not increase myelinogenesis. In contrast, among factors belonging to the CNTF family, CNTF, leukemia inhibitory factor, cardiotrophin-1, and oncostatin M induced a strong promyelinating effect. We provide evidence that CNTF acts on oligodendrocytes by favoring their final maturation, and that this effect is mediated through the 130 kDa glycoprotein receptor common to the CNTF family and transduced through the Janus kinase pathway. Our results demonstrate a novel role for neurotrophic factors of the CNTF family and raise the possibility that these factors might be of therapeutic interest to promote remyelination in multiple sclerosis.
Harnessing the power of social media for creativity support: A three-pronged approach

The article reviews past approaches to creativity support, differentiating between computer centric and human centric approaches. It identifies shortcomings of past creativity support systems, to propose a new three-pronged approach for creativity support through social media. The approach suggests drawing on collective intelligence for need identification, idea generation, and idea evaluation. Focusing on innovation in business, the article demonstrates how knowledge and creativity can be extracted from social media to facilitate all three activities. https://doi.org/10.34105/j.kmel. 2012.04. 016
Designing Experiments to Measure Spillover Effects

This paper formalizes the design of experiments intended specifically to study spillover effects. By first randomizing the intensity of treatment within clusters and then randomly assigning individual treatment conditional on this cluster-level intensity, a novel set of treatment effects can be identified. The paper develops a formal framework for consistent estimation of these effects, provides explicit expressions for power calculations, and shows that the power to detect average treatment effects declines precisely with the quantity that identifies the novel treatment effects. A demonstration of the technique is provided using a cash transfer program in Malawi.
The Effect of Hot or Cold Water Immersion on Isometric Strength Training

The purpose of this study was to compare the changes in force production resulting from isometric strength training, in combination with 3 different treatment conditions: control, cold water immersion, and hot water immersion. Forty-five noninjured subjects between the ages of 18 and 25 were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: control, cold, or hot. Subjects exercised only their right lower limb using static muscular contractions, consisting of 1 set of 4 repetitions, for 5 consecutive days. On the first day, after a few warm-up contractions, subjects were measured for maximum isometric force production (MIFP) of the hip extensor (HE) musculature at the end range of hip flexion. After this initial measure, subjects underwent their respective treatments. Control subjects rested for 10 minutes, subjects in the cold group stood in a cold water bath (8 ± 1° C) immersed up to their gluteal fold for 10 minutes, and subjects in the hot group stood in a hot water bath (43 ± 1° C) immersed up to their gluteal fold for 10 minutes. After the last training session, subjects were again measured for MIFP of the HE musculature at end range. Group results were assessed using a two-way analysis of variance procedure, comparing changes in isometric force production from pre-to posttest and between sexes. Multiple comparisons were performed to determine where significant (p < 0.05) differences occurred. All 3 groups had significant improvements in HE isometric force production (pre to post). The increase in MIFP for the cold group was significantly greater than that of the control and hot groups. Sex differences were evident in the cold group only, with men experiencing greater increases.
Potent PPARα Activator Derived from Tomato Juice, 13-oxo-9,11-Octadecadienoic Acid, Decreases Plasma and Hepatic Triglyceride in Obese Diabetic Mice

Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for development of several obesity-related diseases. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that regulates energy metabolism. Previously, we reported that 9-oxo-10,12-octadecadienoic acid (9-oxo-ODA) is presented in fresh tomato fruits and acts as a PPARα agonist. In addition to 9-oxo-ODA, we developed that 13-oxo-9,11-octadecadienoic acid (13-oxo-ODA), which is an isomer of 9-oxo-ODA, is present only in tomato juice. In this study, we explored the possibility that 13-oxo-ODA acts as a PPARα agonist in vitro and whether its effect ameliorates dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis in vivo. In vitro luciferase assay experiments revealed that 13-oxo-ODA significantly induced PPARα activation; moreover, the luciferase activity of 13-oxo-ODA was stronger than that of 9-oxo-ODA and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which is a precursor of 13-oxo-ODA and is well-known as a potent PPARα activator. In addition to in vitro experiment, treatment with 13-oxo-ODA decreased the levels of plasma and hepatic triglycerides in obese KK-Ay mice fed a high-fat diet. In conclusion, our findings indicate that 13-oxo-ODA act as a potent PPARα agonist, suggesting a possibility to improve obesity-induced dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis.
A Guide for Developers and Users of Observation Systems and Manuals

To guide users and developers of observation systems and manuals, a set of criteria was developed. The criteria were collected and revised during the construction of a system, the System for Analysing Lessons 2, and revised during its use in the field. Thirty-three criteria which observation systems should meet were identified and sorted into three main types: identifying, validity, and practicality criteria. Identifying criteria enable users to select the correct instrument for their purposes. Validity criteria, which include criteria pertaining to the degree of inference, context, reliability and validity, relate to the accuracy with which the instrument represents the observed events. Practicality criteria provide information about the ease of administration and dissemination of results. Examples are provided.
EEG Signal Description with Spectral-Envelope-Based Speech Recognition Features for Detection of Neonatal Seizures

In this paper, features which are usually employed in automatic speech recognition (ASR) are used for the detection of seizures in newborn EEG. In particular, spectral envelope-based features, composed of spectral powers and their spectral derivatives are compared to the established feature set which has been previously developed for EEG analysis. The results indicate that the ASR features which model the spectral derivatives, either full-band or localized in frequency, yielded a performance improvement, in comparison to spectral-power-based features. Indeed it is shown here that they perform reasonably well in comparison with the conventional EEG feature set. The contribution of the ASR features was analyzed here using the support vector machines (SVM) recursive feature elimination technique. It is shown that the spectral derivative features consistently appear among the top-rank features. The study shows that the ASR features should be given a high priority when dealing with the description of the EEG signal.
Time-Critical Ray-Cast Direct Volume Rendering

We present a system for time-critical ray-cast direct volume rendering which can be easily integrated into existing acceleration techniques. Our system modifies the global sampling rate of the scene based on knowledge of past frame rates and quickly and robustly converges on a user specified frame rate while requiring no overhead to implement. We have tested our technique on a wide variety of datasets and our system quickly adapts to any changes in scene complexity and transfer function and dramatically minimises the large change in frame rates that traditionally occur due to user navigation of a complex volume dataset.
Differential Microwave Imaging of the Breast Pair

A microwave technique for breast cancer detection utilizing the anatomical similarity between the left and right breasts of an individual is presented. The technique uses a differential approach in the images of the breast pair to enhance tumor detection and reduce the possibility of glands and other tissues producing false positive targets. To that end, the two breasts are simultaneously scanned using two symmetrical antenna arrays. To take the effect of the mirror-imaged orientation of the two breasts, one of the collected data as matrix is then flipped. The two matrices are then properly oriented using cross-correlation to take any asymmetry in the location of the breast with respect to the relevant antenna array. The two matrices are processed to form two individual images. The two images are then subtracted to form a differential image, which shows any suspected target without any significant positive targets. A comparison between the scattering intensity of the two breasts' images at the location of the maximum intensity in the differential image helps decide which breast includes a tumor. The obtained results from three breast pairs (fatty, slightly dense, and dense) imaged using a monostatic radar-based system operating across the band 2.5-6 GHz validate the capability of the proposed approach in enhancing breast tumor detection.
Factors determining uptake of a CD-ROM-based CBT self-help treatment for bulimia: Patient characteristics and subjective appraisals of self-help treatment

Background: Cognitive-behavioural self-help treatments are widely advocated as the first step in the management of bulimia nervosa. Very little is known about the characteristics and attitudes of patients who are able to utilize self-help treatments. Aims: The aim of this study was to identify whether there are any pre-treatment differences in patient characteristics and patients' expectations about computerized self-help between those who do or do not take up this type of treatment. Subjects and Methods: 81 patients who were offered a CD-ROM-based self-help treatment for bulimia nervosa completed baseline assessments including a questionnaire assessing their attitudes to and past experiences with self-help, confidence in using a computer and knowledge about and ability to manage aspects of their eating disorder. Results: Patients who did not take up the CD-ROM-based treatment had a significantly lower expectation of the usefulness of self-help for themselves but not for others. There were no baseline differences between groups in terms of mean BMI and symptom severity, in particular there were no differences in previous utilization of self-help or attitudes to previous self-help, or differences in confidence in using a computer. Qualitative comments of participants who failed to take up the package highlighted a diverse range of concerns and anxieties about computer treatment, some of which were based on misunderstandings about this treatment. Conclusions: These findings show that patients' views about self-help need to be carefully explored and misconceptions corrected if self-help treatment is to be considered by a subgroup of patients. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
The Role of Outcomes-Based National Qualifications in the Development of an Effective Vocational Education and Training System: The Case of England and Wales

This article analyses the increasingly diverse and sophisticated critique of ‘outcomes approaches’ in vocational qualifications; critique which has now moved well beyond the early claims of reductivism and behaviourism. Avoiding a naive position on extraction of points of consensus, this article attempts to extract key issues which have purchase on policy and practice relating to National Vocational Qualifications. It outlines not only the ways in which current policy and development processes associated with the qualifications may be defective, but also ways in which they might be enhanced. Crucially, the article points to the severe limitations of the concept of ‘competence’ which lies at the heart of outcomes approaches, and emphasises the need to reconsider a ‘formation’ model for initial vocational education and training, rather than a ‘competence’ model.
Questionnaire design, return rates, and response favorableness in an employee attitude questionnaire.

Topic order and location of demographic items were systematically varied in an employee attitude survey distributed to 1,188 office personnel of a single organization. With six questionnaire topic areas arranged in the order that matched employee representatives' perceptions of employee priorities, returns were higher (96%) than with any of five random orders (average 78%). Returns were higher with demographic items placed at the end (85%) than at the beginning (77%). Global attitudes and three of six topic attitudes varied with topic order and were more positive with the prioritized topic order than with the five random orders. The largest order effect was noted in employees' attitudes toward pay (p < .001), which was the most important topic. Methodological and practical implications are discussed. In this experiment, we examined two design features of an employee attitude survey—topic order and demographic item location. Criteria were questionnaire return rates and response favorableness, including favorableness of global attitudes and attitudes toward specific topics. Understanding such effects is important for both scientific and practical reasons. Earlier research on return rates in attitude surveys has investigated effects of several features of questionnaire design and administration (see reviews by Dillman, 1978; Kanuk & Berenson, 1975). Little previous research has examined the effects of item order in surveys. Kraut, Wolfson, and Rothenberg (1975) circulated two versions of a questionnaire in which the order of two 23-item sections (from a total of 168 items) was manipulated and analyzed. Favorableness of responses was not influenced by whether the items appeared in the first half or the last half of the survey. Bradburn and Mason (1964) varied the order of questions in face-to-face interviews but found no differences in responses. Martin and McConnell (1970) examined the effects of order of presentation on return rates. Two questionnaires were given, one more difficult than the other; higher return rates were obtained when the easier one was given first. None of these studies considered the possibility that there might be differences between the return rates of questionnaires whose topics are arranged logically, based on their relevance to
Investigation of Metallized and Nonmetallized Hydroxyl Terminated Polybutadiene/Hydrogen Peroxide Hybrid Rockets

DOI: 10.2514/1.22091 Resultsfrom15statictest firingsoflabscalehybridrocketmotorsusing90%concentratedunstabilizedhydrogen peroxide as an oxidizer with hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene fuel are presented. Thirteen of those tests used aluminum or aluminum/magnesium alloy additive in the fuel. The performance characteristics of the propellant combinations were determined. The experimental results indicated combustion efficiencies of 0.72–0.89 and regression rates of 0:5–1:3 mm=s for the metallized fuel combinations. A correlation of the regression rate data for the metallized propellants deviated from that which was derived for turbulent convective heat transfer dominated behavior. A numerical model of the hydrogen peroxide/nonmetallized hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene motor wasbuilt using a commercial computational fluid dynamics code. The model was combined with an in-house code to predict the regression rate of the propellant combination, and the flowfield characteristics at the initial operating conditionsfortwooftheexperimentaltests.Theresultsofthemodelindicatedthattheproposednumericalmodelisa promisingtoolformappingthetemporalandspatialvariationoftheregressionrateinhybridmotorsoperatingwith homogeneous hydrocarbon fuels.
Brush cytology and its comparison with histopathological examination in cases of diseases of the nose

Abstract Nasal cytology is a simple, easy, bloodless and quite reliable investigation. Although its utility was recognized as early as 1927 by Eyerman, it has not yet gained much popularity. Here, an attempt is made to assess its efficacy for the diagnosis of various inflammatory, benign and malignant conditions in 151 cases of common rhinological problems in the M. Y. Group of Hospitals, Indore MP India. This method can be used as an adjuvant to clinical diagnosis and histopathological diagnosis as an outpatient department (OPD) procedure with the help of a nasal endoscope, as it was found to be a simple, reliable and time-saving procedure for further management. It can also be used as a screening test for the detection of symptomless patients particularly in precancerous lesions.
Randomized Controlled Trial of Web-Based Treatment of Social Phobia Without Clinician Guidance

Objective: The aim of the present study was (Shyness 4) to determine which level of reminder best facilitated a clinician-free Internet treatment for social phobia. Method: A pragmatic randomized controlled trial of an enhanced Internet treatment, with and without weekly telephone reminders, was done. Participants consisted of 163 volunteers with social phobia, who completed six lessons of computerized cognitive behaviour therapy for social phobia with complex automated reminders. Main outcome measures were the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale and Social Performance Scale. Results: Social phobia improved in both groups. Adherence (68% vs 81%) and improvement in social phobia (effect size = 0.86 vs 1.15) was better in the group with the added telephone reminders. Conclusions: Enhanced Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy without clinician guidance is a strong treatment for social phobia. Telephone reminders further improve outcome. Because both interventions are effective, it is a pragmatic decision for a practice or a service as to whether the 33% increase in efficacy justifies 1 h of practice nurse or receptionist time.
On Popularity in the Blogosphere

The blogosphere's more outgoing and informal social nature provides an opportunity to exploit more socially oriented features, such as credibility and popularity, for searching, recommendation, and other tasks. In this article, the authors present evidence that blog popularity in particular has been underexploited by current search engines, including specialized ones, and that a low correlation exists between such popularity and a blog's perceived importance in a Web graph, as measured by PageRank. The authors suggest that incorporating popularity into search engine ranking could result in significant gains in retrieval effectiveness and thus user satisfaction.