Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Visual function following optic neuritis treatment

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To study the visual function, response to treatment and visual outcome in patients with optic neuritis presenting to the Neuroophthalmology clinic at Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, South India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 1. Prospective observational case study. 2. To analyse visual function, response to treatment and visual outcome in patients with optic neuritis. 3. Study period: January 2013 to December 2013. 4. Study duration: 13 months (including followup). 5. Data source: Hospital records. (Aravind Eye Hospital). 6. Sample size: 88 patients /98 eyes. 7. Follow up period of 2 weeks, 1 month. INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Age 16 -65 years. 2. Loss of visual acuity or visual field, with or without pain < 1month duration. 3. Unilateral / bilateral. 4. Fundus changes. 5. Field defects. EXCLUSION CRITERIA 1. Age < 16 years 2. Visual loss including toxic, metabolic, vascular, hereditary, compressive neuropathies. 3. Previous episode of optic neuritis in the affected eye. 4. Informed consent was obtained from all patients. STATISTICAL METHODS: Mean (SD) or Frequency (percentage) was used to describe summary data. Wilcoxon signed rank sum test was used to assess the difference between paired data. McNemar’s test was used to assess the difference between pre-post binary data. P-value is less than 0.05 considered as statistically significant. All statistical analysis was done by statistical software STATA 11.1 (Texas, USA). CONCLUSION: 1. The age range is 20 to 64 years with mean age 40.0(12.9) years. 2. 79.6 % of patients had unilateral presentation. 3. 20.4% patients had bilateral presentation. 4. There is a slight male preponderance in our study. 5. Defective vision followed by pain on eye movements are the chief complaints in our study. 6. There was a significant improvement in visual acuity. 7. The most common presentation was papillitis (65.3%) followed by retrobulbar neuritis (34.7%). 8. Visual function like central fields, colour vision, Brightness sensitivity, Red desaturation showed a significant improvement following treatment. 9. Neuro imaging showed signs of demyelination in 3 patients. 10. 3.9% of patients were considered as atypical and requires further follow up and investigations. 11. Demyelinating disease in association with ON was less common in our study. Visual function following optic neuritis treatment showed good recovery. There was less incidence of associated demyelination in our study.
Data analysis in transient electronic spectroscopy – an experimentalist's view

ABSTRACT Time-resolved electronic spectroscopy has grown into a technique that provides hundreds to thousands of electronic spectra with femtosecond time resolution. This enables complex questions to be interrogated, with an obvious cost that the data are more detailed and thus require accurate modelling to be properly reproduced. Analysis of these data comes in a variety of forms, starting with a variety of assumptions about how the data may be decomposed. Here, four different types of analysis commonly used are discussed: band-shape analysis, global kinetic analysis, lifetime distribution models, and soft-modelling. This review provides a ‘user's guide’ to these various methods of data analysis, and attempts to elucidate their successes, domains in which they may be useful, and potential pitfalls in their usage.
The future in the past: colonial modernity as urban heritage in contemporary Indonesia

ABSTRACT Across urban Indonesia, the surviving vestiges of ‘modern’ architecture and infrastructure built in the final decades of colonial rule are increasingly being re-defined as ‘heritage’. Through an ethnographic study of Pasar Johar – a striking marketplace in the city of Semarang designed by the Dutch architect and town planner Thomas Karsten in the 1930s – I argue that such cases of modernity-cum-heritage enable the contemporary challenge of hegemonic teleologies of what makes a ‘modern’ city, while also facilitating the perpetuation of insidious colonial-era notions of who counts as a ‘modern’ urban subject. By tracing the ‘afterlives’ of the marketplace and its Dutch creator in present-day debates over the trajectory of Semarang’s development, this article reveals how Indonesian heritage advocates are endeavouring to chart alternative urban futures via their city’s past. Through their lively campaign to save the structure, ‘being modern’ in the postcolonial city comes to be a project not of imitation but of recovery, as well as a passionate critique of urban politics as usual. However, such enthusiastic reclamations of colonial modernity as urban heritage also run the risk of reproducing the same logics of ‘progress’ that once governed the cityscape and its populace a century ago.
Optical properties of ferroelectric photonic structures

Abstract The optical properties of KIO3 photonic structures of various types were studied in this article. The composite photonic materials used were based on opal photonic crystals, monodisperse silica nanoparticles, and diamond microparticles, respectively. The size effect of the Raman intensity in these structures was investigated. At a certain size of globules or particles, the Raman intensity of ferroelectric photonic structures was greater than the initial Raman spectral intensity of KIO3.
Modelling spatial patterns of biodiversity for conservation prioritization in North‐eastern Mexico

Relationships between spatial patterns of bird and mammal species richness in north‐eastern Mexico were analysed in relation to the location of three biosphere reserves (El Abra‐Tanchipa, El Cielo, and Sierra Gorda) and 13 priority areas recently identified for conservation. Ecological niches were modelled and potential distributions delimited for 285 bird and 114 mammal species using a genetic algorithm based on locality information from museum specimens and 15 selected environmental attributes. Potential distributions were transformed into hypothesized current distributions based on species–habitat associations as reflected in a recent land‐use map. Although species richness was lower when distributions were reduced from potential to current, spatial patterns of potential and current richness were similar. Heuristic, complementarity‐based prioritization procedures were used to identify combinations of areas and sites with maximal species representation: the biosphere reserves included 79% of birds and 74% of mammal species; eight priority areas provided an additional 11% of birds and 13% of mammals; the remaining 10% of birds and 13% of mammals were concentrated in new sites across the study area.
Deep convolutional neural networks, features, and categories perform similarly at explaining primate high-level visual representations

This work was funded by a Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship (206521/Z/17/Z) to KMJ, a DFG grant CI 241-1/1 (Emmy Noether Programme) to RMC and a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship (PS 140117) to MM.
Social media is so easy to share

ABSTRACT Although accounting students are well trained in the field of ethical behaviour, recent technological developments have created challenges in the workplace. Having focused on the concept of virtue ethics and the fundamental principles of ethical conduct imposed by professional accounting bodies, the findings of this study revealed the need to find new ways of engaging students in ethics education in the modern world. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at 22 large, medium-sized and small accounting firms in South Africa, to obtain insight into graduates’ understanding of the concepts of professional and ethical conduct in the workplace. The findings suggest, inter alia, that graduates often fail to realise that there is a fine line between sharing personal and workplace information on social media. Proposed here are practical considerations for academia, professional bodies and employers, towards managing professional and ethical conduct associated with the use of social media in the ever-changing work environments.
Phylloporia yuchengii sp. nov. (Hymenochaetales, Basidiomycota) from Western Tien Shan Mountains of Uzbekistan Based on Phylogeny and Morphology

Abstract Phylloporia yuchengii is newly described and illustrated from alpine ecosystem, Western Tien Shan Mountains in the Tashkent Province of Uzbekistan. This species is distinguished from other Phylloporia species in a combination of hard corky consistency of basidiocarps with thick base (up to 3.5 cm) and azonate pileal surface, pores as 6–8 per mm, a monomitic hyphal system with regularly arranged, interwoven and subparallel generative hyphae, respectively, in context, tomentum and trama, and ellipsoid to oblong-ellipsoid and cyanophilous basidiospores (3.2-4 × 2.3-3 µm). In nLSU-based phylogeny, P. yuchengii nested within the Phylloporia clade and formed a distinct lineage with strong supports. The morphological differences between P. yuchengii and other related Phylloporia species in morphology and geography are discussed.
The Taxonomy of Selected Genera of the Subfamily Limoniinae (Diptera: Limoniidae) from Baltic Amber (Eocene), with Notes on Their Phylogeny

Abstract. A taxonomic review of Limoniinae (Diptera, Limoniidae) known from Eocene Baltic amber with particular references to the following genera is presented: Dicranoptycha Osten Sacken, 1860, Limonia Meigen, 1803, Lipsothrix Loew, 1873, Rhipidia Meigen, 1818, Thaumastoptera Mik, 1866, Toxorhina Loew, 1850, Trentepohlia Bigot, 1854. A new genus, Antohelia gen. nov., and two new species, Antohelia stanislawi sp. nov., Trentepohlia (Trentepohlia) bajdai sp. nov. are described. The phylogenetic relationships of the Limoniinae known from Eocene Baltic are discussed based on the results of a newly performed cladistic analysis. The illustrated key for the genera of subfamily Limoniinae recorded from the Baltic amber inclusions is provided
Examining the Moderating Role of Social Bonds in the Relationship between School Victimization and Educational Attainment

ABSTRACT School victimization affects a relatively small proportion of students each year, but this victimization may have long-term effects on a child’s life trajectory, including graduating high school and enrolling in college. Social bond theory posits that bonds – like commitment and involvement – may buffer the harmful effects of victimization. This research uses the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (n = 16,197) to examine the moderating role of social bonds between school victimization and these measures of educational attainment. The results of the study using moderation showed that student victimization does not affect graduating high school nor enrolling in college. The relationship between student victimization and these educational outcomes is partially moderated by involvement, but not commitment.
The effect of eight weeks occlusion strength training on oxidative stress responses to a graded maximal exercise test in overweight men

Low-intensity strength training with vascular occlusion was reported to result in muscle hypertrophy and strength increases similar to high-intensity training without occlusion. The effects of occlusion strength training on oxidative stress still remain to be more elucidate. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the effect of strength training with and without occlusion on oxidative stress biomarkers on basal and following to graded exercise test (GXT) in overweight men. Thirty volunteer subjects were randomized into occlusion strength training (OST), traditional strength training (TRT) and control (CON), were submitted to a GXT at baseline and after the 8-weeks of training protocol (30% 1-repetetion maximum for OST and 65-80% 1-repetetion maximum for TRT), with blood samples collected before, post, 1 and 24 h post-GXT test. Plasma malonaldehyde (MDA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels were evaluated. Following the eight weeks training, the OST and TRT groups displayed a significant decrease in MDA (in pre and 1-h post GXT), and increase in TAC (in 24-h post GXT) levels compared to CON group (P<0.05). For OST and TRT, MDA demonstrated a significant reduction and TAC demonstrated a significant increase in basal and 24-h post GXT than baseline (P<0.05). In conclusion, the OST similar to TRT protocol may be able to improve oxidative stress defense allowing overweight subjects to cope with the oxidative stress induced by an acute exercise more effectively.
Highly specific and sensitive non-radioactive molecular identification of Phytophthora cinnamomi

In response to the need for a faster, more reliable method for identifying Phytophthora cinnamomi in cork oak soils in Portugal, a simple, fast, sensitive molecular identification method is described. It is based on a colorimetric assay which involves an oligonucleotide capture probe covalently immobilised on microtitration wells, a multi-biotinylated oligonucleotide detection probe and the PCR-amplified target DNA. The target DNA is a 349 bp DNA fragment partially covering the 3′-translated and 3′-untranslated regions of the cinnamomin gene. When the specificity of the PCR reaction was evaluated in vitro using isolates of P. cinnamomi and eight other Phytophthora species, including the related P. cambivora , it was specific to P. cinnamomi . When 30 isolates of P. cinnamomi from oak roots in southern Portugal were assayed, 26 gave a strong positive response. The assay has a sensitivity of about 2–5 genome equivalents of P. cinnamomi . The reason for the negative response of four isolates remains unclear.
Rapid Sap Nutrient Analysis Methods in Malus Domestica Borkh Cv. ‘Gala’

ABSTRACT Sap quick tests are well established in vegetable crops. However, there is less equivalent investigation for perennial crops, such as apple trees. Accessing the nutrient content, as opposed to the foliar analysis, would increase the opportunity of adjusting the fertilization, along the growing cycle. This work evaluates the relation between the NO3 −, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, PO4 3- and NH4 + contents in apple petiole sap, measured with the RQflex® test strips and laboratory methods to assess the possibility of using this tool with accuracy in in-situ sap analysis. Petiole samples were collected from six apple tree orchards, frozen and pressed. Dilution was mandatory for all nutrient determination, except NO3 −. The dilution factor varied with the stage of the annual cycle. The levels of NO3 −, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ followed the same pattern during the growing cycle, with both methods. Regression analysis resulted in high determination coefficients for NO3 − (R2 = 0.85), K+ (R2 = 0.86), Mg2+ (R2 = 0.81) and Ca2+ (R2 = 0.95), between RQflex® and laboratory methods. No equivalent relation was found for ammonium and phosphate determination. These tests can be useful tools for rational fertilization management, mainly in high-density apple orchards. The calcium content in 45 DAFB leaves correlated well with the calcium content in sap at the same timing.
Levantamento da diversidade de formigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) na região urbana de Uberlândia, MG

Uberlândia, MG, Brazil, underwent an accelerated process of urbanization with a population growth of 3,54% each year, higher than the national average. One of the problems emergent from urbanization is the use of different habitats for a great variety of insects. The objective of this study was to identify species of house-invading ants that occur in the urban area of Uberlândia. The occurrence of the house-invading species in regard to the time of urbanization, neighborhood infrastructure, age and maintenance of private houses was also assessed. The ants were collected using bait-traps in 120 residences from 12 neighborhoods which were put in three groups. Fourteen species of ants were catalogued, with Camponotus (Mayr), Monomorium (Mayr) and Tapinoma (Foerster) being the most frequent genera. Only Camponotus vittatus (Forel), Monomorium pharaonis (L.), Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius) and Brachymyrmex sp. (Mayr) were collected in all three groups. The relation between the ants collected and the age and maintenance of the private houses showed that Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille) was most frequent (60%) in poorly preserved or precarious constructions. Whereas, C. vittatus and Camonotus melanoticus (Emery) occurred in all categories of maintenance. Overall, C. vittatus which had not been found in any previously published survey of urban ants, was the most frequent species in urban areas of the Cerrado.
Does Expropriation of Large Shareholders Change Corporate Investment Behaviors? Evidence from Chinese Listed Companies

ABSTRACT This paper presents a three-period dynamic model establishing the expropriation-investment relation for firms with financing constraints. Focusing on Chinese listed companies, we find that firms with less tight financing constraints overinvest before expropriation if the intended expropriation level is below a threshold, and underinvest if otherwise, while expropriation in these firms does not impact inefficient investment during and after expropriation even after relevant sanctions are imposed. We also find that expropriation in firms with tight financing constraints has no significant impacts on inefficient investment before expropriation, but further tightens firms’ financing constraints during and after expropriation, leading to underinvestment.
The sexual double standard and topic avoidance in friendships

ABSTRACT Grounded in sexual script theory, this research explored the relationships between casual sexual encounters, personal and perceived social endorsement of the sexual double standard (SDS), and topic avoidance about casual sex (TACS). Participants (N = 327) were recruited from Amazon.com’s Mechanical Turk and responded to a survey including measures assessing the aforementioned variables. A number of gender differences were apparent in the results. For men, personal and perceived social endorsement of the SDS were significantly and positively associated with casual sexual activity, whereas these same associations were not significant for women. For women, both personal and perceived social endorsement were significantly and positively associated with TACS, but for men, personal endorsement of the SDS was significantly inversely associated with TACS. Lastly, for men, the variable most strongly associated with TACS was personal endorsement of the SDS, whereas it was perceived social endorsement of the SDS for women. Explanations for these findings are offered based on the influence of individuals’ cognitions, behaviors, and cultural scripts.
Climate‐driven changes in spring plankton dynamics and the sensitivity of shallow polymictic lakes to the North Atlantic Oscillation

Climate is increasingly recognized as a major factor driving long‐term changes in plankton communities in both marine and limnetic ecosystems. In a shallow and polymictic lake, marked changes in the dynamics of phytoplankton and in the timing of distinctive successional events in spring were observed during two recent decades. We studied whether and how these changes were linked to a series of uncommonly warm winter and spring seasons, focusing on the predictive power of a macroscale atmospheric circulation pattern, the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). In the warm period 1988‐1998, phytoplankton developed about 1 month earlier than in the cool period 1979‐1987, and high total phytoplankton biomass was recorded in early spring. These changes were significantly related to the NAO, which explained about 35% of the variance, and can be attributed to a shortening or lack of ice cover periods in winter. Zooplankton (Keratella, Bosmina, Daphnia) developed about 2 weeks earlie in the warm period, consequently leading to an early establishment of the clearwater phase. The shift in the timing of the daphnid peak and of the clearwater phase required an additional warming trend in late April and early May and was not significantly correlated with the winter situation. The memory effect of the NAO was restricted to a rather short postwinter period and was overtaken by the prevailing weather in April. Our results suggest that assessments of potential impacts of climate warming on biological processes in freshwater ecosystems demand basic knowledge about the relationships between global climate indices, local meteorological conditions, and the thermal response of various lake type .
Attitudes, perceived competence, and social limitation among older adults with hearing problems

ABSTRACT Objectives This study aims to examine the association between attitudes, perceived competence, and social limitation among older adults with hearing impairment. Method Descriptive correlational design was used in the study. There were 114 participants mostly 70 years old and above from senior centers and churches. Participants were screened for hearing impairment using Shoebox Audiometry or the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly-Screening version (HHIE-S). Self-report questionnaires such as Attitudes toward Loss of Hearing Questionnaire (ALHQ v2.1), Perceived Competence Scale (PCS), and Hearing Handicap Questionnaire (HHQ) were given. Results Participants in the study had a favorable attitude toward hearing impairment. Less denial was associated with higher degree of hearing loss, higher hearing handicap, higher social limitation, and higher intention to engage in follow-up care. Negative coping strategies were associated with higher hearing handicap, higher social limitation, and lower scores in perceived competence in engaging in positive health behavior. Discussion The data represent the views of those willing to engage in positive health behavior. An opportunity exists to increase awareness in preventing further damage and hearing disability among older adults.
Six Trace Metals in White-Tailed Eagle from Northwestern Poland

Trace metal contents were determined in kidney, liver, breast muscle, and brain of 11 white-tailed ea - gles collected in 1995-2001 in northwestern Poland. Four essential metals (Fe, zn, Cu, Mn) and two highly toxic ones (Pb and Cd) were assayed. Concentrations of lead in kidney, liver, and brain of one of the indi - viduals were high enough to indicate lead poisoning; the concentrations in the second bird were sublethal and increased in the third. in the remaining birds the concentrations reflected the geochemical background levels. The cadmium level in the white-tailed eagles examined was low. numerous significant and positive numerous significant and positive (except for three cases) correlations between the metals within individual organs (three each in the brain in liver, two each in the kidney and muscle) and between the organs (the highest number - 9 - of significant correlations was detected between metal contents in the brain and the kidney) were revealed. The brain lead concentration was found to be positively correlated with the metal's concentrations in the kidney and liver as well as in the two latter organs (r S >0.88). The results of this study as well as literature data allow us to conclude that the white-tailed eagle in the area of study and in its neighbourhood is clearly exposed to considerable lead poisoning.
Report on Research with Biomimetic Autonomous Underwater Vehicle — Navigation and Autonomous Operation

The paper presents the second part of the final report on all the experiments with biomimetic autonomous underwater vehicle (BAUV) performed within the confines of the project entitled ‘Autonomous underwater vehicles with silent undulating propulsion for underwater ISR’, financed by Polish National Center of Research and Development. The report includes experiments on the swimming pool as well as in real conditions, that is, both in a lake and in the sea. The tests presented in this part of the final report were focused on navigation and autonomous operation.