Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A pilot study on simulating continuous sensation with two vibrating motors

This paper presents a pilot study to present a continuous touch sensation with low-resolution array of a vibrotactile device on human skin using funneling illusion. The funneling illusion occurs when two loud stimuli presented simultaneously to adjacent locations on the skin, and they are funneled to form a sensation between the two stimulators rather than felt separately. This sensation is affected by the separation of the stimuli, their relative amplitudes, and their temporal order. In this paper, the continuous touch sensation is simulated by changing the perceived intensities of two adjacent vibrating motors continuously on the skin. First of all, we obtain the relationship between the control intensity that affects Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) duration to actuate the vibrating motors and the perceived intensity of the sensation. Then, the continuous sensation is examined with two control conditions of the distance between two stimuli and the velocity of the simulated moving sensation for feasibility check. The results show that the continuously moving sensations can be presented by changing the perceived intensities of two vibrating motors opposite way in the condition of around 60 mm distance and 60 mm/s velocity.
Colorado Family Physicians' Attitudes Toward Medical Marijuana

Introduction: Over the last decade, the use of medical marijuana has expanded dramatically; it is now permitted in 16 states and the District of Columbia. Our study of family physicians in Colorado is the first to gather information about physician attitudes toward this evolving practice. Methods: We distributed an anonymous web-based electronic survey to the 1727 members of the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians' listserv. Items included individual and practice characteristics as well as experience with and attitudes toward medical marijuana. Results: Five hundred twenty family physicians responded (30% response rate). Of these, 46% did not support physicians recommending medical marijuana; only 19% thought that physicians should recommend it. A minority thought that marijuana conferred significant benefits to physical (27%) and mental (15%) health. Most agreed that marijuana poses serious mental (64%) and physical (61%) health risks. Eighty-one percent agreed that physicians should have formal training before recommending medical marijuana, and 92% agreed that continuing medical education about medical marijuana should be available to family physicians. Conclusions: Despite a high prevalence of use in Colorado, most family physicians are not convinced of marijuana's health benefits and believe its use carries risks. Nearly all agreed on the need for further medical education about medical marijuana.
Volumetric neural correlates of antisaccade eye movements in first-episode psychosis.

OBJECTIVE The authors investigated the structural brain correlates of antisaccade performance. METHOD Magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure the volumes of the prefrontal, premotor, sensorimotor, and occipitoparietal cortices as well as the caudate, thalamus, cerebellar vermis, and cerebrum in 20 first-episode psychosis patients and 18 healthy comparison subjects. Antisaccades were recorded by using infrared oculography. RESULTS Groups significantly differed in terms of antisaccade error rate and amplitude gain and tended to differ in terms of latency but not brain region volumes. Premotor cortex volume predicted antisaccade error rate among comparison subjects. In the patient group, caudate volume was related to latency and amplitude gain. Negative symptoms, independent of structural volumes, predicted error rate. CONCLUSIONS These findings point to altered structure-function relationships in first-episode psychosis.
Student Veteran Experiences in a Transition Seminar Course: Exploring the Thriving Transition Cycle

This holistic single-case study explores the experiences of 54 student veterans who participated in a veterans transition seminar course at a regional, comprehensive institution in the Mountain West. Employing the Harris, Myhill, and Walker (2012) Thriving Transition Cycle as a framework for the inquiry, the study examines participants’ experiences separating from the military, encountering the college and classroom environment associated with the transition seminar course, adjusting to the college student role, and their newfound stability as college students. Implications for student affairs practitioners and faculty, as well as additional research areas, are discussed.
Complications of Oral Anticoagulant Therapy: Bleeding and Nonbleeding, Rates and Risk Factors

Oral anticoagulant therapy is very effective in preventing thromboembolism. Its major complication is hemorrhage. The rate of intracranial bleeding from randomized trials and observational studies ranges from 0.1 to 0.9% per year and largely depends on the International Normalized Ratio (INR) target range. Risk factors for this often-fatal complication include INR intensity, older age, cerebrovascular disease, and hypertension. Recent insights into the pathogenesis of intracerebral hemorrhage have focused on underlying arterial vasculopathies that predispose to bleeding, particularly in the elderly. The rate of major extracranial hemorrhage on oral anticoagulant therapy ranges from 0.4 to 2% per year. Different definitions of major hemorrhage, INR target ranges, age distribution, burden of comorbid illness, and type of coumarin challenge comparability of studies. Additional risk factors for major hemorrhage include history of gastrointestinal bleeding, concurrent use of antiplatelet or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, genetic differences in warfarin metabolism, INR variability, type of coumarin, comorbid illnesses, and duration of oral anticoagulant therapy.
The determinants of attendance in live football - the Portuguese League

Declining attendance at Portuguese Football League match recently have become the focus of much concern. An econometric analysis of the demand for football is presented, using average attendance per match and per fixture data for the seasons 2006 to 2012 and 2006 to 2011, respectively. It is found that increases in real income a positive impact. Amongst other variables of importance in explaining demand are the derby, the regional derby and uncertainty of outcome. Elasticity of demand are calculates and it is shown that Portuguese Football is a luxury good.
Economic and ethical impact of extrarenal findings on potential living kidney donor assessment with computed tomography angiography

To determine the prevalence and spectrum of extrarenal findings in a screening population of potential living kidney donors undergoing renal Computed tomography angiography (CTA) and evaluate their impact on subsequent patient management and imaging costs. Two radiologists retrospectively reviewed 175 consecutive renal CTA's performed for assessment of potential living kidney donors. Extrarenal radiological findings were recorded and classified according to high, medium, or low importance based on clinical relevance and the need for further investigations and/or treatment. The cost of additional imaging examinations was calculated using 2002 Canadian (British Columbia) reimbursements. There were 73 extrarenal findings in 71/175 (40.6%) of the potential kidney donors in the study population. Findings were categorized as of high clinical importance in 18 (10.3%) cases, including lung lesions, bowel tumors, and liver tumors and as medium importance in 31 (17.7%). Twenty‐two (12.6%) individuals had findings categorized as low importance, probably of no clinical significance and requiring no follow‐up. Further potential evaluation of the 49 patients (28%) with highly and moderately significant extrarenal findings may require an additional $6137 (mean $35.1 per each case of all the screened patients). Transplantation of a kidney from a living donor is an excellent alternative to cadaveric allografts. Potential living kidney donors are a highly selected population of healthy individuals, screened for significant past or current medical conditions before undergoing CTA. Despite this screening, potentially significant extrarenal findings (classified as high or medium importance) were revealed in 28% of patients. These patients may require further investigations and/or treatment. The referring physician and patient should be aware of such potentially high probability, which may require further nontransplant related evaluation and treatment. This has medical, legal, economic, and ethical implications.
Teachers’ Views about Multicultural Instruction in Social Studies Course

Article History: Received 28.04. 2017 Received in revised form 21.06. 2017 Accepted 23.09. 2017 Available online 08.10. 2017 The purpose of this study is to examine Social Studies and classroom teachers' views about multicultural instruction in Social Studies course. This study, which utilized survey model, used interviews as the data collection tool, and the data were analyzed using content analysis methods. In their definitions of multiculturalism, the teachers were found to focus on dimensions such as language, religion, race, sect, ethnicity, age, gender, and social class but not to mention the dimensions about exceptional students and disability. As to realization of the objectives of the Social Studies course, the teachers think that multiculturalism is limited and superficial in the guidebooks, the attainments are not distributed well, they remain at knowledge level, they differentiate according to the units, they are not related to real life, and effective instructions cannot be conducted due to the features of the attainments. Besides, the teachers stated that they could not conduct the activities in the program due to such reasons as the limited number of course hours, the need for catching up with the curriculum, homework, theoretical and outdated nature of the activities, limitations of the programs in relation to multiculturalism, lack of parent involvement, and inadequacies related to the materials and teachers themselves. They stated that the program involved multiple-choice questions, interviews, observations and form-based activities that assess multiculturalism, but they were insufficient. Instead of allocating a separate unit or subject to multiculturalism in the Social Studies program, fundamental structure of the program should be based on multiculturalism, and there should be unity in the program components © 2018 IOJES. All rights reserved
Applying NFV/SDN in mitigating DDoS attacks

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) is a widely employed attacking scheme over network that interrupts services by creating network congestion, draining server resources, or disabling normal functions of network components. An attacker launches the DDoS attack from a large number of compromised while geographically distributed devices by sending low rate seemly legitimate traffic that disturbs server's service, or high rate large volume traffic that overwhelms victim's processing capacity. DDoS attack mitigating approaches that apply pre-established defending strategy, functionality or capacity, and guard at fixed locations are costly and not effective either. Network Function Virtualization (NFV) supports the flexibility in on-demand function instantiation and allocation, and recently finds its applications in handling DDoS attacks. This paper proposes a NFV and Software-Defined Networking (SDN) enabled DDoS mitigation framework. In the framework, network traffic is monitored and analyzed utilizing the SDN features of central control and global network view, and the detection of anomaly traffic will trigger the actions of corresponding countermeasure computation, defending resources virtualization, instantiation, deployment and interconnection. The paper presents an application example of the proposed framework in protecting an industrial control system, and shows its effectiveness in mitigating DDoS attacks in the control system.
3D Virtual environments as effective learning contexts for cultural heritage

3D technology can be a valid support to cultural heritage not only for visual presentation and documentation, but also for communication and educational purposes. In this paper, we will discuss the potential of 3D virtual environments as effective learning contexts for Cultural Heritage. This encompasses various disciplines such as history, art, and languages, and includes both tangible and intangible content like myths, beliefs and social values. We will analyse virtual and augmented reality and innovative interfaces, highlighting their affordances for successfully triggering learning experiences. A number of digital environments and serious games will be also analysed with respect to their potential for supporting immersion, presence and motivation. In the literature, these factors are considered key in raising learner interest, making 3D worlds a direct and engaging setting for informal learning in Cultural Heritage.
N‐Propanoylmannosamine interferes with O‐GlcNAc modification of the tyrosine 3‐monooxygenase and stimulates dopamine secretion

The most consistent neurochemical abnormality in Parkinson's disease is degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, leading to a reduction of striatal dopamine levels. The rate‐limiting step in the biosynthesis of dopamine, noradrenalin, and adrenalin is catalyzed by tyrosine 3‐monooxygenase (=tyrosine hydroxylase), which catalyzes the formation of L‐DOPA. In earlier studies, we demonstrated that the novel synthetic sialic acid precursor N‐propanoylmannosamine is a potent stimulator of axonal growth and promotes reestablishment of the perforant pathway from layer II of cortical neurons to the outer molecular layer of the dentate gyrus. Here we show that application of N‐propanoylmannosamine leads to increased biosynthesis and secretion of dopamine. This increased biosynthesis of dopamine is due to decreased expression of O‐linked N‐acetylglucosamine on tyrosine 3‐monooxygenase. Intracellular attachment of O‐linked N‐acetylglucosamine to serine and threonine residues hinders phosphorylation, thereby regulating the activity of the proteins concerned. We therefore propose a model in which the application of ManNProp leads to increased phosphorylation and activation of tyrosine 3‐monooxygenase, which in turn leads to an increased synthesis of dopamine. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Quantitative aspects of fecal Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi in foals

Quantitative aspects of fecal Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi in newborn foals for 12 weeks after birth were investigated on two horse breeding farms. R. equi was found in the feces of foals during week 1 of life. The greatest numbers of R. equi were present in the feces of foals during the first 8 weeks of their lives, which coincides with the age when foals are most liable to be exposed to R. equi.
BRCA1 requirement for the fidelity of plasmid DNA double‐strand break repair in cultured breast epithelial cells

The tumor suppressor breast cancer susceptibility protein 1 (BRCA1) protects our cells from genomic instability in part by facilitating the efficient repair of DNA double‐strand breaks (DSBs). BRCA1 promotes the error‐free repair of DSBs through homologous recombination and is also implicated in the regulation of nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) repair fidelity. Here, we investigate the role of BRCA1 in NHEJ repair mutagenesis following a DSB. We examined the frequency of microhomology‐mediated end joining (MMEJ) and the fidelity of DSB repair relative to BRCA1 protein levels in both control and tumorigenic breast epithelial cells. In addition to altered BRCA1 protein levels, we tested the effects of cellular exposure to mirin, an inhibitor of meiotic recombination enzyme 11 (Mre11) 3′–5′‐exonuclease activity. Knockdown or loss of BRCA1 protein resulted in an increased frequency of overall plasmid DNA mutagenesis and MMEJ following a DSB. Inhibition of Mre11‐exonuclease activity with mirin significantly decreased the occurrence of MMEJ, but did not considerably affect the overall mutagenic frequency of plasmid DSB repair. The results suggest that BRCA1 protects DNA from mutagenesis during nonhomologous DSB repair in plasmid‐based assays. The increased frequency of DSB mutagenesis and MMEJ repair in the absence of BRCA1 suggests a potential mechanism for carcinogenesis. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. , 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Parent management training in a Chinese population: application and outcome.

OBJECTIVE To examine the applicability and outcome of parent management training in a group of Chinese children referred for aggressive and defiant behaviors. METHOD Twenty-five children (aged 4-10 years) were assigned to a standardized 8 to 12 sessions of parent management training. Trained child and adolescent psychiatric nurses conducted the treatment. Measures taken at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 4-month follow-up period included the Child Behavior Checklist, direct observation of parent-child interactions, and a parent perception inventory. RESULTS Significant therapeutic gains occurred in parent-child interactions, externalizing behaviors, and parents' perception of their parenting behaviors. These were maintained at 4-month follow-up. Fifty-two percent of cases improved to a level below clinical cutoffs. Poor parent-child interactions had stronger correlation with externalizing disturbances than internalizing disturbances. The changes in parent-child interactions had low correlation with the changes in the symptom profiles. CONCLUSIONS The data provide preliminary evidence for the efficacy of parent management training for Chinese children with conduct problems. The rationale for its success and modifications to improve its cultural sensitivity are discussed.
Statin treatment and adherence to national cholesterol guidelines after ischemic stroke

Background: National cholesterol guidelines have defined high vascular risk individuals as those who could potentially benefit most from statin therapy. The authors aimed to determine the rate of statin use, its predictors, and the achievement of national guideline target lipid goals among ischemic stroke survivors. Methods: The authors abstracted data from the Vitamin Intervention for Stroke Prevention (VISP) study database from the United States and Canada to incorporate into algorithms for initiating statin therapy according to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines for high-risk individuals. The authors applied these algorithms to all study subjects. Univariate as well as multivariate associations for target lipid levels and statin implementation were then evaluated utilizing pertinent demographic, clinical, and laboratory data. Results: Of 2,894 subjects in the analysis dataset, 38% were women; 71% were recruited in the United States and 29% in Canada. Of 769 high-risk subjects, 262 (34%) had a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level ≥130 mg/dL and 124 of these (47%) were not on statin. Among those high-risk persons on statin treatment, only 42% had an LDL ≤100 mg/dL. Subjects in the overall cohort were more likely to be on a statin if they were treated in the United States or had a history of hypertension or coronary artery disease. Conclusions: Approximately one out of three guideline-eligible high vascular risk ischemic stroke patients in this study had low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations above qualifying levels for pharmacologic therapy, but half of these patients were not taking a statin, and of those receiving statin treatment, less than half were within recommended lipid goals.
Neurotransmitter release changes induced by low power 830 nm diode laser irradiation on the neuromuscular junctions of the mouse

Treating patients with a Gallium‐Aluminum‐Arsenide (GaAlAs) infrared (IR) diode laser reduces muscle spasm and increases mobility in the muscles. The effect of low intensity laser irradiation on nerve function, growth, and repair mechanisms is a contentious area of research. We have addressed one aspect of this controversy by systematically examining the influence of 830 nm laser radiation on neurotransmitter release in neuromuscular junctions (NMJ) of the mouse diaphragm.
Increased Risk of Parvovirus B19 Infection in Young Adult Cancer Patients Receiving Multiple Courses of Chemotherapy

ABSTRACT An increased human parvovirus B19 infection rate has been observed in immunocompromised hosts. In this study, we sought to determine the prevalence of parvovirus B19 infection in adult cancer patients receiving multiple courses of systemic chemotherapy. From March 1999 through April 2000, 59 men and 68 women, with a median age of 49 (18 to 79) years, were enrolled in this study. They had received an average of 7.1 (4 to 32) courses of systemic chemotherapy. The median duration from the date of starting chemotherapy to the date of blood sampling was 11 (4 to 88) months. Serum B19 immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM levels were examined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and B19 DNA was examined by a nested PCR. A group of 400 healthy blood donors served as the control group. The overall prevalences of anti-B19 IgG in adult cancer patients and healthy blood donors were 61.4 and 25.0%, respectively (P < 0.01). Anti-B19 IgM and B19 DNA were not detectable in these anti-B19 IgG-seropositive individuals. A further age-stratified comparison revealed that only patients younger than 40 years had a significantly higher anti-B19 IgG seropositivity rate than the controls (19 of 39 versus 53 of 310; P < 0.001). The increased prevalence of B19 infection in these 39 adult patients younger than 40 years might be clinically significant, since unexplained anemia, a common sequela of B19 infection, was detected in 3 of 20 seronegative patients (15.0%) and in 12 of 19 seropositive patients (63.2%) (P < 0.005). The results of this study suggest that adult patients younger than 40 years and receiving multiple courses of systemic chemotherapy may have a significantly increased risk of B19 infection. Prospective studies to define the time course and clinical consequence of B19 infection in this group of patients are needed.
Regulation of HIV-1 Long Terminal Repeats by Interaction of C/EBP(NF-IL6) and NF-κB/Rel Transcription Factors*

We report the characterization of a CAAT enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) (NF-IL6) element encompassing the region from −174 to −166 of the U3 long terminal repeat (LTR) region of HIV-1. This C/EBP cis sequence was found to bind to C/EBPβ and C/EBPδ factors in DNA band shift assay. Transfection of NTera-2 cells with a HIV-1-LTR CAT construct (pC15CAT), together with C/EBPβ or C/EBPδ expression plasmids showed that C/EBP proteins strongly activated the HIV-1 promoter. Deletions encompassing the C/EBP-binding site resulted in the enhancement of the LTR activation mediated by C/EBP proteins, suggesting that other sequences located 3′ to −170 were indeed the target for C/EBP factors. This possibility was confirmed by using the pCD54E9CAT plasmid, in which the NF-κB enhancer was inserted 5′ to the HIV-1 LTR TATA box. A NF-κB1(p50) expression plasmid was also utilized to test for functional co-operation between NF-κB and C/EBP factors. We observed that p50·C/EBPβ and p50·C/EBPδ complexes were generated in tested cells and strongly activated the HIV-1 LTR by binding to the NF-κB sequences. The physical association of NF-κB1(p50) with C/EBP factors was assayed by direct interaction of in vitro translated p50 proteins with C/EBPβ or C/EBPδ produced as glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins. Moreover, p50·C/EBPβ complexes were observed in vivo by using DNA affinity studies with biotinylated NF-κB oligonucleotides. By using mutant forms of p50 or C/EBPβ proteins we found that the transactivation of HIV-1 LTR by p50·C/EBPβ complexes required the DNA-binding domain of p50 and the transcription activation domain of C/EBPβ.