Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigating the Relationship between Sensory Processing and Job Satisfaction in Occupational Therapists Working in Shiraz City

Background: job satisfaction is referred to a set of individual’s positive and negative attitudes toward his/her job. Personality traits of individuals are among the factors contributing to job satisfaction. According to Dunn model, people receive information based on their self-regulatory strategies and sensory thresholds. Then behave accordingly and in response to the environment. This paper examines the relationship between sensory processing and job satisfaction especially in occupational therapist employing in Shiraz (2014). Methods: This study is descriptive-analytic. The sample consisted of all 33occupational therapists working in Shiraz City who work in private and public sectors , part-time and full-time of both genders. After obtaining written consent, the demographic characteristics questionnaire, adult sensory profile and Minnesota Job Satisfaction Test were obtained. The results were analyzed by SPSS21 software as well as Spearman’s and Pearson chi square tests. Results: Nostatistical correlation wasfound between job satisfaction and all four quadrants including the first quadrant (P.value = 0.441) and second (P.value=0.943) and third (P.value=0.650) and fourth (P.value=0.338). In addition, statistically, there was no relationship between job satisfaction and various variables such as participants’ ages (P.value=0.51), gender (P.value=0.401), marital status (P.value=0.114), educational level (P.value=0.073), job experience (P.value=0.403), average of daily work hours (P.value=0.617) and at end the type of contract (P.value=0.079). Conclusion: The sensory processing cannot directly determine people's satisfaction with their jobs. Job satisfaction is a complex issue that is influenced by different internal and external factors, and cannot be considered as an element for determining job satisfaction of therapists .
Predictors of Cancer Risk in the Long-Term Solid-Organ Transplant Recipient

Malignancy is increasingly the leading cause of mortality in solid-organ recipients. Cancer incidence among the transplant population is overall threefold to fivefold higher than the general population with poorer outcomes for late-stage disease. Insights into the identification of patients at particular risk of developing a posttransplantation malignancy are imperative to ensure appropriate measures are instigated to reduce associated morbidity and mortality. This review focuses on potential clinical, immunologic, and genetic translational markers aimed at identifying long-term solid-organ transplant patients at high risk of developing cancer.
Dust emission in early-type galaxies: The mid-infrared view

We present mid-infrared (MIR) maps for a sample of 18 early-type galaxies observed at 4.5, 6.7 and 15 µm with the ISOCAM instrument on board the ISO satellite with a 6 �� spatial resolution. We model the Spectral Energy Distribution (SED) of these galaxies using the stellar evolutionary synthesis model P ´ EGASE and we derive the MIR excess over the stellar component. We then explore the nature of this excess in terms of dust and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon molecules (PAHs). We find that out of 18 galaxies, 10 show excess at 6.7 µm (due to the presence of PAH features) and 14 show excess at 15 µm (due to the presence of warm dust). In two galaxies, where a more complete wavelength coverage exists, an excess around 9.7 µm is seen (presumably due to silicate dust emission), while two other galaxies are totally devoid of dust. We also examine the morphology of the galaxies in these wavelengths by plotting the azimuthally averaged radial profiles as well as the MIR color profiles. We find that for the majority of the galaxies the 4.5 µm emission is well described by a de Vaucouleurs profile. The 6.7 µm and 15 µm emission is smoothly distributed throughout the galaxy while only a few galaxies show MIR emission which is more concentrated close to the center. Two dwarf galaxies in our sample show patchy distributions of the MIR emission while two other galaxies show edge-on disks. With color-color diagrams we delineate the regions occupied by late-type and early-type galaxies. Finally we show that the MIR excess found in strong radio galaxies like NGC 4486 (M87) can be explained by synchrotron emission.
Learning from semantically dependent multi-tasks

We consider a different setting from regular multitask learning, where data from different tasks share no common instances and no common feature dictionary, while the features can be semantically correlated and all tasks share the same class space. For example, in the two tasks of identifying terrorism information from English news and Arabic news respectively, one associated dataset could be news from Cable News Network (CNN), and the other be news crawled from websites of Arabic countries. Intuitively, these two tasks could help each other, although they share no common feature space. This new setting has brought obstacles to traditional multi-task learning algorithms and multi-view learning algorithms. We argue that these different data sources can be co-trained together by exploring the latent semantics among them. To this end, we propose a new graphical model based on sparse Gaussian Conditional Random Fields (GCRF) and Hilbert-Schmidt Independence Criterion (HSIC). In additional to output the prediction accuracy for each single task, it can also model (1) the dependency between the latent feature spaces of different tasks, (2) the dependency of the category spaces, and (3) the dependency between the latent feature space and the category space in each task. To make the model inference effective, we have provided an efficient variational EM algorithm. Experiments on both synthetic data sets and real-world data sets have indicated the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed framework.
Real-time video-based rendering for augmented spatial communication

In the field of 3-D image communication and virtual reality, it is very important to establish a method of displaying arbitrary views of a 3-D scene. It is sure that the 3-D geometric models of scene objects are very useful for this purpose, since computer graphics techniques can synthesize arbitrary views of the models. It is, however, not so easy to obtain the models of objects in the physical world. In order to avoid this problem, a new technique, called image-based rendering, has been proposed for interpolating between views by warping input images, using depth information or correspondences between multiple images. To date, most of the works on this new technique has been concentrated on static scenes or objects. In order to cope with 3-D scenes in motion, we must establish the ways of processing multiple video sequences in real-time, and constructing accurate camera array system. In this paper, the authors propose a real-time method of rendering arbitrary views of 3-D scenes in motion. The proposed method realizes a sixteen camera array system with software adjusting support and a video-based rendering system. According to the observer's viewpoint, appropriate views of 3- D scenes are synthesized in real-time. Experimental results show the potential applicability of the proposed method to the augmented spatial communication systems.
Affective State Recognition and Adaptation in Human-Robot Interaction: A Design Approach

It is argued that a robotic system that is capable of implicit communication with a human and can modify its behavior appropriately based on such communication could be useful. This paper presents a closed loop human-robot interaction framework where the robot can recognize the affective state of the human implicitly and adapt to it appropriately. Affective cues are inferred by a robot in real-time using psychophysiological analysis where the physiological signals are measured through wearable biofeedback sensors. A robot-based basketball game is designed where a robotic "coach" monitors the participant's anxiety to alter the difficulty level of the game in a real-time closed loop manner. The results are compared with situations when anxiety is not monitored and the game is adapted only according to the performance. Results show that monitoring and responding to affective cues led to higher performance improvement of the participants under lower anxiety. This is the first time, to our knowledge, that the impact of such implicit communication between a robot and a human has been demonstrated experimentally
Formulation and evaluation of controlled porosity osmotic pump for oral delivery of ketorolac

Background: The osmotic drug delivery systems suitable for oral administration typically consist of a compressed tablet core that is coated with a semipermeable membrane that has an orifice drilled on it by means of a laser beam or mechanical drill. Ketorolac is a nonsteroidal agent with powerful analgesic. Oral bioavailability of ketorolac was reported to be 90% with very low hepatic first-pass elimination; the biological half-life of 4-6 hours requires frequent administration to maintain the therapeutic effect. Aim: The aim of the current study was to design a controlled porosity osmotic pump (CPOP)based drug delivery system for controlled release of an NSAID agent, ketorolac tromethamine, which is expected to improve patient compliance due to reduced frequency; it also eliminates the need for complicated and expensive laser drilling and maintain continuous therapeutic concentration. Design: The CPOP was designed containing pore-forming water-soluble additives in the coating membrane, which after coming in contact with water, dissolve, resulting in an in situ formation of a micro porous structure. Materials and Methods: The effect of different formulation variables, namely level of pore former (PVP), plasticizer (dibutyl phthalate) in the membrane, and membrane weight gain were studied. Results and Conclusion: Drug release was inversely proportional to the membrane weight but directly related to the initial concentration of pore former (PVP) in the membrane. Drug release was independent of pH and agitational intensity, but dependent on the osmotic pressure of the release media. Based on the in vitro dissolution profile, formulation F3C1 (containing 0.5 g PVP and 1 g dibutyl phthalate in coating membrane) exhibited Peppas kinetic with Fickian diffusion-controlled release mechanism with a drug release of 93.67% in 12 hours and hence it was selected as optimized formulation. SEM studies showed the formation of pores in the membrane. The formulations were stable after 3 months of accelerated stability studies. CPOP was designed for effective administration of drugs for prolonged period of time.
Structural Reforms and the Exchange Rate Regime: A Panel Analysis for the World Versus OECD Countries

We test the significance of the relationship between the exchange rate regime and the degree of structural reforms by estimating panel regressions for a world and an OECD country sample. The empirical results suggest a positive correlation between on the one side the adoption of an exchange rate rule and on the other side overall structural reforms as well as reforms in the money and banking sector in the broad country sample. For government size and for market regulation, we do not find any robust significant effect, however. The results do not confirm the main implication of Calmfors-type models, namely a higher degree of reforms under monetary policy autonomy. They corroborate conditional policy convergence and, partly, that limiting monetary policy autonomy fosters structural reforms.
Cell-based therapy for heart failure

Purpose of review Chronic heart failure is a leading cause of hospitalization and is associated with a poor prognosis. Current therapeutic strategies do not address the underlying cause of the disease. Experimental studies have suggested that stem cells can exert beneficial effects on the failing heart by transdifferentiating into cardiac cell types and/or by providing a source of cardioprotective paracrine factors. Recent findings Early cell therapy studies in patients with heart failure have explored the suitability of distinct stem and progenitor cell populations for cardiac repair and the feasibility of different cell delivery methods. Autologous, unfractionated bone marrow cells or skeletal myoblasts have been used in the majority of clinical trials so far. One safety concern that has arisen from these studies is that myoblast grafts may represent an arrhythmogenic substrate. Improvements of regional systolic function and/or tissue viability have been reported. Due to the small number of patients in these studies and a lack of randomized control groups, meaningful conclusions regarding efficacy cannot be drawn at this time. Summary Cell therapy for patients with heart failure is still in its infancy. While early clinical studies suggest that stem and progenitor cell transfer to the failing heart may be feasible, firm conclusions regarding efficacy cannot be drawn at this time. The cell types that have undergone clinical testing so far, i.e. bone marrow cells and skeletal myoblasts, cannot promote true tissue regeneration. Further research into cell types with true cardiac transdifferentiation capacity is necessary in order to realize the prospects of cell therapy in this patient population.
Three Small-Receptive-Field Ganglion Cells in the Mouse Retina Are Distinctly Tuned to Size, Speed, and Object Motion

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are frequently divided into functional types by their ability to extract and relay specific features from a visual scene, such as the capacity to discern local or global motion, direction of motion, stimulus orientation, contrast or uniformity, or the presence of large or small objects. Here we introduce three previously uncharacterized, nondirection-selective ON–OFF RGC types that represent a distinct set of feature detectors in the mouse retina. The three high-definition (HD) RGCs possess small receptive-field centers and strong surround suppression. They respond selectively to objects of specific sizes, speeds, and types of motion. We present comprehensive morphological characterization of the HD RGCs and physiological recordings of their light responses, receptive-field size and structure, and synaptic mechanisms of surround suppression. We also explore the similarities and differences between the HD RGCs and a well characterized RGC with a comparably small receptive field, the local edge detector, in response to moving objects and textures. We model populations of each RGC type to study how they differ in their performance tracking a moving object. These results, besides introducing three new RGC types that together constitute a substantial fraction of mouse RGCs, provide insights into the role of different circuits in shaping RGC receptive fields and establish a foundation for continued study of the mechanisms of surround suppression and the neural basis of motion detection. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The output cells of the retina, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), are a diverse group of ∼40 distinct neuron types that are often assigned “feature detection” profiles based on the specific aspects of the visual scene to which they respond. Here we describe, for the first time, morphological and physiological characterization of three new RGC types in the mouse retina, substantially augmenting our understanding of feature selectivity. Experiments and modeling show that while these three “high-definition” RGCs share certain receptive-field properties, they also have distinct tuning to the size, speed, and type of motion on the retina, enabling them to occupy different niches in stimulus space.
Selective inhibition of miR-21 by phage display screened peptide

miRNAs are nodal regulators of gene expression and deregulation of miRNAs is causally associated with different diseases, including cancer. Modulation of miRNA expression is thus of therapeutic importance. Small molecules are currently being explored for their potential to downregulate miRNAs. Peptides have shown to have better potency and selectivity toward their targets but their potential in targeting and modulating miRNAs remain unexplored. Herein, using phage display we found a very selective peptide against pre-miR-21. Interestingly, the peptide has the potential to downregulate miR-21, by binding to pre-miR-21 and hindering Dicer processing. It is selective towards miR-21 inside the cell. By antagonising miR-21 function, the peptide is able to increase the expression of its target proteins and thereby increase apoptosis and suppress cell proliferation, invasion and migration. This peptide can further be explored for its anti-cancer activity in vivo and may be even extended to clinical studies.
Behavioral modeling of the Advanced Compact MOSFET (ACM) model with VHDL-AMS

This paper reports a VHDL-AMS implementation of the Advanced Compact MOSFET (ACM) model. This behavioral model aims at being a reference model for ACM code developers, helping to implement and maintain simulators specific code. Simulation results from classical testbenches are presented and confirm the correctness of the proposed model.
Power Inside

Abstract This paper describes the genesis and growth of Power Inside, a community-based program in Baltimore that serves women survivors of traumatic violence, the street economy, and the criminal justice system. It examines the social context and theoretical framework that define the program. The development of the organization was based on guiding principles grounded in our desire for social change as well as a dynamic exchange of information between the program and participants to design interventions. This paper also discusses Power Inside's client-centered, community-based, and institution-based interventions that are intended to foster individual empowerment and access to justice as well as contribute to social change movements. Lastly, the paper suggests future directions for Power Inside.
Isolation of rare cells from cell mixtures by dielectrophoresis

The application of dielectrophoretic field‐flow fractionation (depFFF) to the isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from clinical blood specimens was studied using simulated cell mixtures of three different cultured tumor cell types with peripheral blood. The depFFF method can not only exploit intrinsic tumor cell properties so that labeling is unnecessary but can also deliver unmodified, viable tumor cells for culture and/or all types of molecular analysis. We investigated tumor cell recovery efficiency as a function of cell loading for a 25 mm wide × 300 mm long depFFF chamber. More than 90% of tumor cells were recovered for small samples but a larger chamber will be required if similarly high recovery efficiencies are to be realized for 10 mL blood specimens used CTC analysis in clinics. We show that the factor limiting isolation efficiency is cell–cell dielectric interactions and that isolation protocols should be completed within ∼15 min in order to avoid changes in cell dielectric properties associated with ion leakage.
The Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual Version 2 (PDM-2): Assessing patients for improved clinical practice and research.

This article reviews the development of the second edition of the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual, the PDM-2. We begin by placing the PDM in historical context, describing the structure and goals of the first edition of the manual, and reviewing some initial responses to the PDM within the professional community. We then outline 5 guiding principles intended to maximize the clinical utility and heuristic value of PDM-2, and we delineate strategies for implementing these principles throughout the revision process. Following a discussion of 2 PDMderived clinical tools—the Psychodiagnostic Chart and Psychodynamic Diagnostic Prototypes, we review initial research findings documenting the reliability, validity, and clinical value of these 2 measures. Finally, we discuss changes proposed for implementation in PDM-2 and the potential for an updated version of the manual to enhance clinical practice and research during the coming years.
IgG subclass deficiency in asthma

Total immunoglobulin G (IgG) and subclasses were measured in serum samples from 82 children with chronic asthma, aged 1.5 to 6.3 years, and 76 controls. Concentrations of IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and total IgG were significantly lower in asthmatic children aged 1 to 5, and IgG2 concentrations were also significantly lower in asthmatic children over 5 years of age. Twenty eight asthmatic children had at least one value in the deficient range, and 26 had IgG2 deficiency alone or in combination. Five children had IgG2 and IgA deficiency. These 28 children were significantly younger and fewer had raised IgE concentrations than the remainder. IgG subclass deficiency, which may reflect delayed maturation of the immune system, is common in young asthmatic children, and may have a role in the pathogenesis of the disease.
Ensuring safety for sampled data systems: An efficient algorithm for filtering potentially unsafe input signals

A common design pattern in cyber-physical systems features a continuous plant and a discrete controller in a feedback loop. Sampled data analysis attempts to take into consideration both the continuous and discrete time elements of such a design. In this paper we adapt an earlier algorithm for efficient ellipsoidal approximation of robust sampled data finite horizon viability kernels to compute capture basins for systems with linear dynamics. Using these capture basins, we construct a hybrid automaton which can verify and if necessary modify an exogenous input signal to ensure safety. The hybrid automaton can be run online in the controller so that it can handle exogenous input signals arriving in real time, such as might be generated by human-in-the-loop control. The technique is demonstrated on a six dimensional nonlinear longitudinal model of a quadrotor with a human pilot in the loop. The capture basins' robustness is used to handle the model nonlinearity in a sound fashion.
Defining the relationship between plasma glucose and HbA(1c): analysis of glucose profiles and HbA(1c) in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial.

OBJECTIVE To define the relationship between HbA(1c) and plasma glucose (PG) levels in patients with type 1 diabetes using data from the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The DCCT was a multicenter, randomized clinical trial designed to compare intensive and conventional therapies and their relative effects on the development and progression of diabetic complications in patients with type 1 diabetes. Quarterly HbA(1c) and corresponding seven-point capillary blood glucose profiles (premeal, postmeal, and bedtime) obtained in the DCCT were analyzed to define the relationship between HbA(1c) and PG. Only data from complete profiles with corresponding HbA(1c) were used (n = 26,056). Of the 1,441 subjects who participated in the study, 2 were excluded due to missing data. Mean plasma glucose (MPG) was estimated by multiplying capillary blood glucose by 1.11. Linear regression analysis weighted by the number of observations per subject was used to correlate MPG and HbA(1c). RESULTS Linear regression analysis, using MPG and HbA(1c) summarized by patient (n = 1,439), produced a relationship of MPG (mmol/l) = (1.98 . HbA(1c)) - 4.29 or MPG (mg/dl) = (35.6 . HbA(1c)) - 77.3, r = 0.82). Among individual time points, afternoon and evening PG (postlunch, predinner, postdinner, and bedtime) showed higher correlations with HbA(1c) than the morning time points (prebreakfast, postbreakfast, and prelunch). CONCLUSIONS We have defined the relationship between HbA(1c) and PG as assessed in the DCCT. Knowing this relationship can help patients with diabetes and their healthcare providers set day-to-day targets for PG to achieve specific HbA(1c) goals.