Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
"It"+"I": Virtual Embodiments as Hybrid Experiences

A dichotomy exists in the way virtual embodiments are currently studied: embodied entities are considered by conversational approaches as other selves whereas avatar approaches study them as users' hosts. Virtual reality applications such as in our case study often propose a different, in between embodiment experience. In the context of a virtual house for sale visit, this paper aims at examining the user's self-reported embodiment perception resulting from such a hybrid experience. To induce variability in this embodiment experience, we manipulated avatar representations (high versus low anthropomorphism) and frame of reference (egocentric versus exocentric). Results show the importance of the entity humanness to foster both experiences. When controlled by humanness, having a conversational experience appears uncorrelated to an avatar experience. This highlights the need to study these hybrid experiences as a combination of both approaches.
Electromagnetic Compatibility to Bio-Medical Signals Using Shielding Methods

This paper presents The Electromagnetic Interference effect from power line noise in Multi Speciality Hospital to Bio-Medical signals. The study includes the design of Bio-Medical signal Generating circuits that is used to eliminate the power line noise from the signal. The Bio-Medical system basically is a combination of Instrumentation Amplifier, High pass filter, Low pass filter, and Notch filter. There are several other circuits developed in this study which are voltage reference, ac-coupling circuit and low pass filter for voltage input from USB power supply. The usage of shielding methods is to get the real Bio-Medical signal without electromagnetic interference from the power line. Shield Methods prevents a range of outside noise from coming into the shield. Therefore, the data taken inside the shield is free from Electrical noise without using notch filter. The result of this study showed that faraday shield can eliminate 50Hz power line noise in BioMedical signal
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and perioperative bleeding in paediatric tonsillectomy.

BACKGROUND Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used for pain relief following tonsillectomy in children. However, as they inhibit platelet aggregation and prolong bleeding time they could cause increased perioperative bleeding. The overall risk remains unclear. This review was originally published in 2005 and was updated in 2010 and in 2012. OBJECTIVES The primary objective of this review was to assess the effects of NSAIDs on bleeding with paediatric tonsillectomy. Our secondary outcome was to establish whether NSAIDs affect the incidence of other postoperative complications when compared to other forms of analgesia. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2012, Issue 10); MEDLINE (inception until October 2012); EMBASE (inception until October 2012); Current Problems (produced by the UK Medicines Control Agency), MedWatch (produced by the US Food and Drug Administration) and the Australian Adverse Drug Reactions Bulletins (to May 2010). The original search was performed in August 2004. We also contacted manufacturers and researchers in the field. SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomized controlled trials assessing NSAIDs in children, up to and including 16 years of age, undergoing elective tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted the data. We contacted study authors for additional information, where necessary. MAIN RESULTS We included 15 studies that involved 1101 children in this updated review. One study was added as a result of our 2012 search, another previously included study was removed due to lack of randomization. Fourteen included studies compared NSAIDs with other analgesics or placebo and reported on bleeding requiring surgical intervention. The use of NSAIDs was associated with a non-significant increase in the risk of bleeding requiring surgical intervention: Peto odds ratio (OR) 1.69 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.71 to 4.01). Ten studies involving 365 children reported perioperative bleeding requiring non-surgical intervention. NSAIDs did not significantly alter the number of perioperative bleeding events requiring non-surgical intervention: Peto OR 0.99 (95% CI 0.41 to 2.40) but the confidence intervals did not exclude an increased risk. Thirteen studies involving 1021 children reported postoperative vomiting. There was less vomiting when NSAIDs were used as part of the analgesic regime than when NSAIDs were not used: Mantel Haenszel (M-H) risk ratio (RR) 0.72 (95% CI 0.61 to 0.85). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS There is insufficient evidence to exclude an increased risk of bleeding when NSAIDs are used in paediatric tonsillectomy. They do however confer the benefit of a reduction in vomiting.
Narratives about their children by mothers hospitalized on a psychiatric unit.

The diagnosis of "mental illness" is accompanied by negative implications regarding a person's competence. Self- and other-descriptions about the "patient" are embedded within broader cultural and societal discourses, influencing his/her relationships. The parental role seems to be one of the most sensitive, especially for women. Mothers hospitalized in psychiatric units often have to separate themselves from their children either temporarily, during hospitalization, or permanently, after a loss of custody. However, many studies have shown that mothering remains important for them. We interviewed 20 women, inpatients on a psychiatric unit and mothers of 3.5-18-year-old children, recording their narratives about their children and exploring their thoughts and understanding of the concepts of motherhood and mental illness. We also explored the way in which the mother-child dyad interacted with the family and its social context. Most mothers had a consistent and coherent narrative about their children and they had certain expectations of them. The mother-child bond was strong, even when the children had been removed from their mothers' custody. However, mothers were facing great difficulties with their partner and with the broader family context. Also, the social discourses regarding mental illness, (e.g., violence and incapability for mothering), were extremely oppressive for these women. They felt that they were the victims of societal attitudes even before they became pregnant. These findings suggest the importance of listening to the voices of these women; acknowledging their competence in the therapeutic context; involving them with their families, and in legal and social contexts; and in planning supportive programs for them.
A novel biotinylated degradable polymer for cell-interactive applications.

We describe the development of a novel biodegradable polymer designed to present bioactive motifs at the surfaces of materials of any architecture. The polymer is a block copolymer of biotinylated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with poly(lactic acid) (PLA); it utilizes the high-affinity coupling of the biotin-avidin system to undergo postfabrication surface engineering. We show, using surface plasmon resonance analysis (SPR) and confocal microscopy that surface engineering can be achieved under aqueous conditions in short time periods. These surfaces interact with cell surface molecules and generate beneficial responses as demonstrated by the model study of integrin-mediated spreading of endothelial cells on polymer surfaces presenting RGD peptide adhesion sequences.
Investigational platelet-derived growth factor receptor kinase inhibitors in breast cancer therapy

Introduction: Aberrant regulation of platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) and their receptors (PDGFR) has been shown to be involved in many solid tumors, including breast cancer. PDGFR-α and PDGFR-β expressions were documented in breast cancer and are correlated with tumor aggressiveness and metastasis. Preclinical evidence further suggests tumor stimulatory roles of PDGFRs expressed by tumor stroma cells and indicates a deleterious effect of stromal PDGFRs on intratumoral drug uptake. Areas covered: This review summarizes the present understanding of PDGF signaling in breast cancer based on experimental studies and available clinical trials. It also provides a critical discussion of selected ongoing clinical trials in patients with breast cancer involving PDGFR inhibition with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, specifically in endocrine responsive breast cancer. Expert opinion: An increased molecular understanding of response and resistance mechanisms to endocrine therapy will be essential for therapeutic advances in PDGFR-directed cancer therapy. Future developments in the field will rely on clinical studies where prospective analyses of target expression in breast cancer cells and in the tumor stroma are included. More selective PDGFR inhibitors with reduced side effects will be crucial for combinatorial therapies. Development of sensitive diagnostics is of critical importance for patient selection and monitoring of therapeutic effects.
Fasting Reduces Plasma Leptin- and Ghrelin-Immunoreactive Peptide Concentrations of the Burbot (Lota lota) at 2°C But Not at 10°C

Abstract The effects of fasting at two water temperatures (2 and 10°C) on plasma leptin- and ghrelinimmunoreactive peptide concentrations and energy metabolism were investigated in the burbot (Lota lota), a freshwater gadoid, which lives in cold waters and tolerates long periods of fasting. Burbot were assigned to fed and fasted groups at 2 and 10°C. Leptin- and ghrelin-immunoreactive peptides were identified in burbot plasma. Fasting at 2°C reduced the plasma leptin- and ghrelin-immunoreactive peptide concentrations and reduced the relative liver weights and the liver and muscle glycogen concentrations. The concentrations of the leptin- and ghrelin-immunoreactivities correlated positively with each other. At 10°C there were decreased plasma thyroxine levels in both sexes, and slightly lower plasma testosterone concentrations in males. The results support previous studies in stating that immunoreactivities resembling mammalian leptin and ghrelin can be detected in burbot plasma and liver, but the specific functions of these peptides will have to be determined in future studies.
EFFECT OF VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENTATION AND PARTIAL SUBSTITUTION OF POLY- WITH MONO-UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS IN PIG DIETS ON MUSCLE, AND MICROSOME EXTRACT a-TOCOPHEROL CONCENTRATION AND LIPID OXIDATION

The experiment was organized in a 3×2 factorial arrangement with three dietary fat blends and a basal (20 mg kg−1 diet) or supplemented (220 mg kg−1) level of α-tocopheryl acetate. Dietary vitamin E and monounsaturated to polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio (dietary MUFA/PUFA) affected muscle α-tocopherol concentration (α-tocopherol [log μg g−1]=0.18 (±0.105)+0.0034 (±0.0003)·dietary α-tocopherol [mg kg−1 diet] (P<0.0001)+0.39 (±0.122)·dietary MUFA/PUFA (P<0.0036)). An interaction between dietary α-tocopherol and dietary MUFA/PUFA exists for microsome α-tocopherol concentration (α-tocopherol [log μg g−1]=1.14 (±0.169) (P<0.0001)+0.0056 (±0.00099)·dietary α-tocopherol [mg kg−1 diet] (P<0.0001)+0.54 (±0.206)·dietary MUFA/PUFA (P<0.0131)−0.0033 (±0.0011)·dietary α-tocopherol [mg kg−1)]×dietary MUFA/PUFA (P<0.0067)), and hexanal concentration in meat (hexanal [ng·g−1]=14807.9 (±1489.8)−28.8 (±10.6) dietary α-tocopherol [mg·kg−1] (P<0.01)−8436.6 (±1701.6)·dietary MUFA/PUFA (P<0.001)+24.0 (±11.22)·dietary α-tocopherol·dietary MUFA/PUFA (P<0.0416)). It is concluded that partial substitution of dietary PUFA with MUFA lead to an increase in the concentration of α-tocopherol in muscle and microsome extracts. An interaction between dietary α-tocopherol and fatty acids exists, in which at low level of dietary vitamin E inclusion, a low MUFA/PUFA ratio leads to a reduction in the concentration of α-tocopherol in microsome extracts and a concentration of hexanal in meat above the expected values.
Coupling of image states to quantum-well states for Au on Pd(111).

With two-photon photoelectron spectroscopy we have investigated the image states on a Pd(111) surface with Au coverages up to 10 ML. The energies of the image states are strongly influenced by the quantum well of the Au layers. The coupling of the image states to the quantum-well states is described by one-dimensional model calculations that reproduce the experimental results quantitatively.
Characterization of the nature of granulocytic myeloid‐derived suppressor cells in tumor‐bearing mice

MDSCs are a group of cells with potent immune‐suppressive activity. These cells accumulate in many pathologic conditions and play a major role in the regulation of immune responses. The nature of MDSC remains highly debatable. In cancer, most MDSCs are represented by cells with granulocytic phenotype and morphology, G‐MDSC. The relationship between G‐MDSCs and Neu remains unclear. In this study, we have found that G‐MDSCs, from tumor‐bearing, and Neu, from tumor‐free, mice share a common morphology and phenotype. However, in contrast to Neu, a substantial proportion of G‐MDSCs expressed M‐CSFR and a CD244 molecule. Neu had significantly higher phagocytic activity, expression of lysosomal proteins, and TNF‐α than corresponding G‐MDSCs, which had significantly higher activity of arginase, MPO, and ROS. In contrast to G‐MDSC, neither rested nor mobilized Neu suppressed T cells. G‐MDSC survived 2 days in culture in the presence of GM‐CSF and within 24 h, became phenotypic and functionally similar to Neu. Tumor‐associated G‐MDSC shared most characteristics of splenic G‐MDSC, rather then Neu. These data suggest that in cancer, despite morphological and phenotypic similarities, G‐MDSCs are functionally distinct from Neu and are comprised of pathologically activated precursors of Neu.
GBF1, a Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor for ADP‐Ribosylation Factors, is Localized to the cis‐Golgi and Involved in Membrane Association of the COPI Coat

Formation of coated carrier vesicles, such as COPI‐coated vesicles from the cis‐Golgi, is triggered by membrane binding of the GTP‐bound form of ADP‐ribosylation factors. This process is blocked by brefeldin A, which is an inhibitor of guanine nucleotide exchange factors for ADP‐ribosylation factor. GBF1 is one of the guanine nucleotide‐exchange factors for ADP‐ribosylation factor and is localized in the Golgi region. In the present study, we have determined the detailed subcellular localization of GBF1. Immunofluorescence microscopy of cells treated with nocodazole or incubated at 15 °C has suggested that GBF1 behaves similarly to proteins recycling between the cis‐Golgi and the endoplasmic reticulum. Immunoelectron microscopy has revealed that GBF1 localizes primarily to vesicular and tubular structures apposed to the cis‐face of Golgi stacks and minor fractions to the Golgi stacks. GBF1 overexpressed in cells causes recruitment of class I and class II ADP‐ribosylation factors onto Golgi membranes. Furthermore, overexpressed GBF1 antagonizes various effects of brefeldin A, such as inhibition of membrane recruitment of ADP‐ribosylation factors and the COPI coat, and redistribution of Golgi‐resident and itinerant proteins. These observations indicate that GBF1 is involved in the formation of COPI‐coated vesicles from the cis‐Golgi or the pre‐Golgi intermediate compartment through activating ADP‐ribosylation factors.
A genetic locus for the regulation of ribonucleic acid synthesis.

bacterial precipitate had been de- posited, was placed before a "thin-window" radiation counter. The formalin sample was used for spectrophotometric determination of the optical density at 650 mpA. (N.B. Strain J-53 is actu- ally an amino acid double auxotroph, requiring, besides methionine, also proline for its growth. In the experiment with this strain, 20 pg/ml proline was also present in the growth medium at all times.)
Back pain in Britain: comparison of two prevalence surveys at an interval of 10 years

In Britain, as in many other countries, back pain is a major cause of disability, especially in adults of working age. During the decade to 1993, outpatient attendances for back pain rose fivefold, and the number of days of incapacity from back disorders for which social security benefits were paid more than doubled.1 It is unclear whether this represents an increase in the occurrence of diseases affecting the back or a change in people's behaviour when they have symptoms. To address this question we compared the prevalence of low back pain and associated disability in two postal surveys 10 years apart.
Password Security: An Empirical Study

Organizations are more dependent than ever on the reliable operation of their information systems, which have become a key to their success and effectiveness. While the growing dependence on information systems creates an urgent need to collect information and make it accessible, the proliferation of computer technology has also spawned opportunities for ill-intentioned individuals to violate the information systems' integrity and validity.One of the most common control mechanisms for authenticating users of computerized information systems is the use of passwords. However, despite the widespread use of passwords, little attention has been given to the characteristics of their actual use. This paper addresses the gap in evaluating the characteristics of real-life passwords and presents the results of an empirical study on password usage. It investigates the core characteristics of user-generated passwords and associations among those characteristics.
Determinants of Hepcidin in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis: Role of Inflammation

Background/Aim: Hepcidin could be one of the most important regulators for iron metabolism in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). The factors affecting serum hepcidin levels were evaluated among indexes of anemia, iron metabolism, or inflammation, as well as the dose of erythropoietin. Methods: 198 MHD patients treated with recombinant human erythropoietin were recruited and serum hepcidin-25 levels were specifically measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Results: In multivariate analysis, only transferrin and ferritin were selected as significant predictors of hepcidin in all patients. In the selected patients with highly sensitive C-reactive protein of >0.3 mg/dl, however, ferritin as well as the IL-6 level were found to be significant predictors for serum hepcidin. The serum ferritin/hepcidin ratio was very similar among MHD and healthy volunteers, suggesting that uremic conditions do not affect the ratio. Serum hepcidin levels decreased by only 27% after a single hemodialysis session, but returned to basal levels 1 h after and remained so until the next hemodialysis session. Conclusions: In the absence of apparent inflammation, the serum hepcidin level could be exclusively associated with ferritin in MHD patients and was independent of inflammatory cytokines. Only in the presence of microinflammation, however, might IL-6 also affect hepcidin expression.
Intensity of tennis match play

This review focuses on the characteristics of tennis players during match play and provides a greater insight into the energy demands of tennis. A tennis match often lasts longer than an hour and in some cases more than five hours. During a match there is a combination of periods of maximal or near maximal work and longer periods of moderate and low intensity activity. Match intensity varies considerably depending on the players’ level, style, and sex. It is also influenced by factors such as court surface and ball type. This has important implications for the training of tennis players, which should resemble match intensity and include interval training with appropriate work to rest ratios.
How can extremism prevail? A study based on the relative agreement interaction model

Abstract: We model opinion dynamics in populations of agents with continuous opinion and uncertainty. The opinions and uncertainties are modified by random pair interactions. We propose a new model of interactions, called relative agreement model, which is a variant of the previously discussed bounded confidence. In this model, uncertainty as well as opinion can be modified by interactions. We introduce extremist agents by attributing a much lower uncertainty (and thus higher persuasion) to a small proportion of agents at the extremes of the opinion distribution. We study the evolution of the opinion distribution submitted to the relative agreement model. Depending upon the choice of parameters, the extremists can have a very local influence or attract the whole population. We propose a qualitative analysis of the convergence process based on a local field notion. The genericity of the observed results is tested on several variants of the bounded confidence model.
Social Functioning, Psychological Functioning, and Quality of Life in Epilepsy

Summary: Purpose: Part of our research intended to explain “Quality of Life” (QoL) differences between people with epilepsy. To this end, a series of already existing generic and disease‐specific health status measures were used. In this study, they were considered as determinants of people's QoL, whereas QoL itself was conceived as a general “value judgment” about one's life.
The Tumor Suppressor ARF Regulates Innate Immune Responses in Mice

The innate immune system is the first line of defense against invading organisms, and TLRs are the main sensors of microbial components, initiating signaling pathways that induce the production of proinflammatory cytokines and type I IFNs. An antiviral action for the tumor suppressor alternative reading frame (ARF) has been reported; however, the precise role of ARF in innate immunity is unknown. In this study, we show that ARF plays an important role in regulation of inflammatory responses. In peritoneal macrophages and bone marrow-derived macrophages from ARF-deficient animals, the induction of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines by TLR ligands was severely impaired. The altered responses of ARF−/− cells to TLR ligands result from aberrant activation of intracellular signaling molecules including MAPKs, IκBα degradation, and NF-κB activation. Additionally, animals lacking ARF were resistant to LPS-induced endotoxic shock. This impaired activation of inflammation in ARF−/− mice was not restricted to TLRs, as it was also shown in response to non-TLR signaling pathways. Thus, ARF−/− mice were also unable to trigger a proper inflammatory response in experimental peritonitis or in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate–induced edema. Overexpression of ARF, but not its downstream target p53, rescued the ARF-deficient phenotype, increasing TLR4 levels and restoring inflammatory reaction. An increase in the E2F1 protein levels observed in ARF−/− macrophages at basal condition and after LPS stimulation may be involved in the impaired response in this system, as E2F1 has been described as an inflammatory suppressor. These results indicate that tumor suppressor ARF is a new regulator of inflammatory cell signaling.
Genetic association studies: marking them well.

Human genomics is now, more than ever, poised to ask, and answer, challenging questions pertaining to the relationship between the inherent variability observed in populations and human diseases. Whether it is susceptibility or resistance, sensitivity to drugs or, indeed, differences in the host response to infection, it is evident that common genetic variants will emerge as a key component of a comprehensive understanding of many infectious diseases [1]. Traditionally, classical medical genetics has elucidated instances in which single, highly penetrant gene mutations have resulted in major defects in host defenses against infection. These rare instances of defects that result in immunodeficiency, which often segregate in families, have underscored key components of host defenses and have led to