jimnoneill/paper-to-field-training huggingface dataset:
Microvascular endothelial function and primary open angle glaucoma

Field: Medicine (Health Sciences)

Purpose: To determine the role of microvascular endothelial dysfunction as risk factor for primary open angle glaucoma. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 114 Malay patients with POAG seen at the eye clinic of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. Patients aged between 40 and 80 years who were diagnosed with other types of glaucoma, previous glaucoma filtering surgery or other surgeries except uncomplicated cataract surgery and pterygium surgery were excluded. A total of 101 patients who were followed up for dry eyes, age-related cataracts or post cataracts extraction surgery were recruited as control subjects. Those with family history of glaucoma or glaucoma suspect were excluded. Microvascular endothelial function was assessed using laser Doppler fluximetry and the process of iontophoresis. Iontophoresis with acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was used to measure microvascular endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilatations, respectively. Results: In general, POAG patients demonstrated lower ACh% and ACh max values compared with controls. There was significant difference in microvascular endothelial function [ACh%: mean, 95% confidence interval = 503.1 (378.0, 628.3), and ACh max : mean, 95% confidence interval = 36.8 (30.2, 43.5)] between primary open angle glaucoma cases ( p < 0.001) and controls [ACh%: mean, 95% confidence interval = 1378.4 (1245.4, 1511.3), and ACh max : mean, 95% confidence interval = 79.2 (72.1, 86.2)]; this difference remained significant even after controlling for potential confounders. Similar difference was also found in SNP% and SNP max between POAG and controls ( p < 0.001). Age and diastolic blood pressure were inversely correlated with microvascular endothelial function. Conclusion: There was an impairment of microvascular endothelial function and endothelial-independent vasodilatation in POAG patients. Microvascular endothelial function is a potential risk factor for POAG.
Impact of SERQUAL Model on the Customer Citizenship Behavior in the Airline Services Companies of Pakistan Mediating role of Behavioral Intention

Field: Business, Management and Accounting (Social Sciences)

The study was carried out to explore the Impact of SERQUAL Model on the Customer Citizenship Behavior (CCB) in the Airline Services Companies of Pakistan with mediating role of Behavioral Intention (BI). The data was collected from frequently users of the sample airlines. The data of these frequent users were collected from the travel agents. These frequent users were approach and then after taking consent, paid visit for the data collection. A questionnaire was the main tool used in the current study to collect data. There was 27-item question sheet. The researcher emailed the airline's concerned HR division to make contact. The list of frequent and devoted airline customers, along with their email addresses and phone numbers, was obtained from them. The findings of reliability statistics showed that the variables included in the data collection were found reliable. The results of correlation test showed that reliability, responsiveness, tangibility, assurance, empathy and BI are having positive and significant correlation with CCB. The findings of regression model showed that reliability, responsiveness, tangibility, assurance and empathy have significant impact on the CCB. Reliability, responsiveness, tangibility, assurance and empathy have significant impact on the BI. BI showed significant effect CCB. The findings of mediating analysis showed that BI are having significant mediating role between reliability, responsiveness, tangibility, assurance and empathy and CCB.
Simulated Dopamine Modulation of a Neurorobotic Model of the Basal Ganglia

Field: Neuroscience (Life Sciences)

The vertebrate basal ganglia play an important role in action selection—the resolution of conflicts between alternative motor programs. The effective operation of basal ganglia circuitry is also known to rely on appropriate levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine. We investigated reducing or increasing the tonic level of simulated dopamine in a prior model of the basal ganglia integrated into a robot control architecture engaged in a foraging task inspired by animal behaviour. The main findings were that progressive reductions in the levels of simulated dopamine caused slowed behaviour and, at low levels, an inability to initiate movement. These states were partially relieved by increased salience levels (stronger sensory/motivational input). Conversely, increased simulated dopamine caused distortion of the robot’s motor acts through partially expressed motor activity relating to losing actions. This could also lead to an increased frequency of behaviour switching. Levels of simulated dopamine that were either significantly lower or higher than baseline could cause a loss of behavioural integration, sometimes leaving the robot in a ‘behavioral trap’. That some analogous traits are observed in animals and humans affected by dopamine dysregulation suggests that robotic models could prove useful in understanding the role of dopamine neurotransmission in basal ganglia function and dysfunction.
HEMORRHAGIC PURPURA IN SCARLET FEVER

Field: Medicine (Health Sciences)

Hemorrhagic conditions in scarlet fever fortunately are rare. References to them in current textbooks are brief or absent and are often coupled with the statement that some of the cases reported may have been instances of hemorrhagic smallpox. In a survey of the literature of the past thirty years, about 62 cases of hemorrhagic purpura and fulminating purpura which occurred during or after scarlet fever have been found. Most of the references have been to case reports. In a study of the cases of 5,000 patients with scarlet fever admitted to the Durand Hospital during a period of twenty years, only 2 such cases were observed. The purpose of this paper is to report these 2 cases and to discuss in a brief manner some of the pertinent questions relating to the condition. Fulminating purpura as a complication of scarlet fever is a type of disease usually rapidly fatal and
Sympathy in Mary Shelley's "Matilda" and Frankenstein

Field: Arts and Humanities (Social Sciences)

This dissertation will discuss the significance of sympathy – “our fellow-feeling” (Smith 13) – in “Matilda” and Frankenstein. In both works, characters display a range of emotional responses that reveals their sensibility: their “faculty of feeling, [their] capacity for extremely refined emotion and [their] quickness to display compassion for suffering” (Todd, Sensibility 7). These emotional responses reveal how sympathetic feelings develop in characters and their relationships with each other. By evaluating these relationships, this dissertation will show that both works emphasise the importance of sympathy. In addition, it will also reveal its problematic aspect. This dissertation will argue that sympathisers can choose whether or not to sympathise with someone. It will show that sympathy can be manipulated and exploited and so, cannot be relied upon to form judgement. As a result, the narrative suggests that characters should make informed judgements, and prevent, if not take responsibility for any misjudgements formed as a result of an overdependence on sympathy.
Effect of different plant hormones on callus induction in Gymnema sylvestris R.Br. (Asclepiadaceae)

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences (Life Sciences)

The use of Gymnema sylvestris as an alternative remedy for diabetes was well known from ancient times in India and the plant is valuable for its pharmaceutical properties. The present study describes callus induction of the plant G. sylvestris using internodal explants and the influence of different plant hormones like 2,4-D, kinetin, IAA, BAP on the growth of calli. Internodes were proved to be the best explant for culture, which were grown on MS basal medium (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) with different concentration of various growth regulators. The standard plant tissue culture protocol for callus culture and/or micropropagation was adopted. The highest efficiency of callus formation was observed in the medium containing different concentration of 2,4-D and kinetin.
Statistical learning and the critical period: how a continuous learning mechanism can give rise to discontinuous learning

Field: Psychology (Social Sciences)

Infants and children are generally more successful than adults in learning novel languages, a phenomenon referred to as a critical or sensitive period for language acquisition. One explanation for this critical period is the idea that children have access to a set of language learning processes or mechanisms unavailable to adults. From this perspective, developmental change is explained in terms of a discontinuity of learning processes. We suggest that this is not the only possible explanation for developmental change in language learning outcomes. Instead, we propose that the mechanisms underlying language acquisition (in particular, we highlight statistical learning) are largely continuous across the lifespan. From this perspective, developmental change is explained in terms of experience, differences in the input with age, and maturational changes in the cognitive architecture supporting learning, even while the learning process itself operates continuously across developmental time. WIREs Cogn Sci 2016, 7:276–288. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1394 This article is categorized under: Linguistics > Language Acquisition Psychology > Language
The Effect of Glycosylation on Interparticle Interactions and Dimensions of Native and Denatured Phytase

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (Life Sciences)

Glycosylation affects the physical properties of proteins in a number of ways including solubility and aggregation behavior. To elucidate the mechanism underlying these effects, we have measured second virial coefficients (A2) of the heavily glycosylated pheniophora lycii phytase (Phy) and its enzymatically deglycosylated counterpart (dgPhy) in native and in denatured form by means of small angle x-ray scattering. The measured A$_2$-values show that the native forms of Phy and dgPhy are equally repulsive at the studied pH 8 where A$_2$ equals 10.9 ± 0.1 × 10$^4$ mL mol g $^{−2}$. However, when thermally denatured, the A$_2$ of dgPhy decreases to 10.9 ± 0.2 × 10$^4$ g mL mol g $^{−2}$ whereas it remained unchanged for Phy. In accord with earlier investigations, the p(r)-function measured here suggested that the glycans did not affect the peptide structure of the native protein. Conversely, glycosylation markedly changed the structure of thermally denatured protein. This was evident from the radius of gyration, which increased by 32% for Phy and only 11% for dgPhy on denaturation. We suggest that this expanding effect of the glycans on the denatured protein conformation relies on steric hindrance that limits the range of torsion angles available to the polypeptide.
Equations over Polyhedral Semirings

Field: Mathematics (Physical Sciences)

We study the theory of equations in one variable over polyhedral semirings. The article revolves around a notion of solution to a polynomial equation over a polyhedral semiring. Our main results are a characterisation of local solutions in terms of the coefficients, a local-global principle, and the basics of multiplicity and discriminants. Our primary sources of motivation are tropical geometry and the theory of exceptional points in non-Hermitian physics.
Pertussis Vaccine Candidate Based on Outer Membrane Vesicles Derived From Biofilm Culture

Field: Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics (Life Sciences)

Outer membrane vesicles (OMV) derived from Bordetella pertussis— the etiologic agent of the resurgent disease called pertussis—are safe and effective in preventing bacterial colonization in the lungs of immunized mice. Vaccine formulations containing those OMV are capable of inducing a mixed Th1/Th2/Th17 profile, but even more interestingly, they may induce a tissue-resident memory immune response. This immune response is recommended for the new generation of pertussis-vaccines that must be developed to overcome the weaknesses of current commercial acellular vaccines (second-generation of pertussis vaccine). The third-generation of pertussis vaccine should also deal with infections caused by bacteria that currently circulate in the population and are phenotypically and genotypically different [in particular those deficient in the expression of pertactin antigen, PRN(-)] from those that circulated in the past. Here we evaluated the protective capacity of OMV derived from bacteria grown in biofilm, since it was observed that, by difference with older culture collection vaccine strains, circulating clinical B. pertussis isolates possess higher capacity for this lifestyle. Therefore, we performed studies with a clinical isolate with good biofilm-forming capacity. Biofilm lifestyle was confirmed by both scanning electron microscopy and proteomics. While scanning electron microscopy revealed typical biofilm structures in these cultures, BipA, fimbria, and other adhesins described as typical of the biofilm lifestyle were overexpressed in the biofilm culture in comparison with planktonic culture. OMV derived from biofilm (OMVbiof) or planktonic lifestyle (OMVplank) were used to formulate vaccines to compare their immunogenicity and protective capacities against infection with PRN(+) or PRN(-) B. pertussis clinical isolates. Using the mouse protection model, we detected that OMVbiof-vaccine was more immunogenic than OMVplank-vaccine in terms of both specific antibody titers and quality, since OMVbiof-vaccine induced antibodies with higher avidity. Moreover, when OMV were administered at suboptimal quantity for protection, OMVbiof-vaccine exhibited a significantly adequate and higher protective capacity against PRN(+) or PRN(-) than OMVplank-vaccine. Our findings indicate that the vaccine based on B. pertussis biofilm-derived OMV induces high protection also against pertactin-deficient strains, with a robust immune response.
‘Co-constructing’ changes to classroom practice: Processes developed with early childhood teachers for students at educational risk.

Field: Social Sciences (Social Sciences)

Current research confirms that high quality teaching makes the difference in students’ learning outcomes. In addition, contemporary views of teacher education highlight the benefits of teachers being involved as active learners in their own professional development and whole school planning. This research examines processes by which teachers construct change in their thinking and classroom practice to better meet the needs of students at educational risk in early childhood classrooms. Ten early childhood teachers, in one rural primary school were supported in their professional growth by the participant researcher. The most important outcome of this teacher-researcher action learning project was the development of “co-constructed” learning processes in classrooms. Teachers valued co-constructed practice more than the development and use of an Oral and Written Language Database (OWLD) for each student at risk. Teachers negotiated their individual beliefs about child language development, literacy learning and early childhood pedagogy with the participant researcher in order to plan, implement and reflect on effective classroom practice from Kindergarten to school Year Two. Participant observer and participant researcher roles sustained the collection of teacher interview data, oral and written language samples, classroom language plans, critical language teaching - learning incidents, and student learning outcomes during one school year. Comprehensive teacher data are reported through structured narrative to confirm that co-constructed classroom language development practice made participants’ thoughts explicit and enhanced their practice. Co-constructed classroom practice engaged participants in learning about teaching in their classrooms and schools, effecting sustained change for all participants. This study verifies factors shaping change in teachers’ thought and pedagogy. It emphasizes interactive and reciprocal learning as catalysts for self-reflection and developing knowledge and expertise. Positive implications for the co-construction of school-based language support services, teacher education and for managing whole-school change are discussed.
Quantifying Relative Displacement and Phase at the Skull-Brain Interface using MR Elastography

Field: Medicine (Health Sciences)

This study uses a novel multishot spiral magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) pulse sequence to simultaneously measure skull and brain motion in vivo in a single acquisition. Results in a healthy volunteer and a fat-water phantom showed a reduced transmission of motion from the skull to the brain in all three directions of motion. Additionally, the skull and brain appear to be out of phase in motion in both the x (left-right) and z (superior-inferior) directions. This research provides a basis for future studies quantifying skull-brain coupling including with multiple actuation frequencies and excitation directions.
The politics of global warming: conservative, liberal and radical perspectives on climate change in 21st century British press

Field: Social Sciences (Social Sciences)

This dissertation will assess the representation of global warming through 21st Century British press, focusing on three main perspectives: conservative, liberal and radical. Although the media show a wide coverage on the topic of climate change, it is questionable as to how informative and influential they are towards the general public. The causes and effects of global warming which result in the ‘greenhouse effect’ were acknowledged by most industrialised countries, with the exception of China and America, and protocols were initiated. This will be examined, followed by an in depth discussion of the Conservative, Liberal and Radical ideologies. A critical discourse analysis will be conducted to further support this research, which will include the many factors linked to global warming, such as man- made and human activities. Overall, this study will highlight the conflicting messages expressed by conservative and liberal newspapers and will analyse radical authors' critiques of both newspapers.
‘Regina’ on three dwarf cherry rootstocks and different planting distances in Alpe Adria Region

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences (Life Sciences)

In spring 2006 sweet cherry cultivar ʻReginaʼ was planted on Gisela 3, Gisela 5 and Weiroot 72 at three tree spacings 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 m in several locations of Alpe Adria region in Europe. After the sixth leaf results for tree vigour, productivity and fruit weight were evaluated. Tree vigour was affected by location, rootstock and rootstock × location combination. Trees in Maribor and Sondrio were significantly more vigorous than in Zagreb and Bilje. Gisela 5 was more vigorous than Weiroot 72 and Gisela 3 was the most dwarfing rootstock. Tree distances had no significant impact on Gisela 3, but only on Gisela 5 and Weiroot 72. There were significant effects of year and rootstock × location combination on average yield and fruit weight. Average yield tree-1, beside influence of year, was significantly affected also by rootstock × location and plant distance × location interactions. The highest tree production was obtained in Zagreb at plant distances 2.0 and 2.5 m than in Sondrio, Maribor and Bilje. Yield efficiency of ʻReginaʼ was significantly affected by rootstocks and locations. The highest fruit weight was measured from trees on Gisela 3, Gisela 5 and Weiroot 72 in Sondrio, but it did not significantly differ from fruits on Weiroot 72 in Maribor. Fruit weight was influenced also by year and tree distance: the highest values were obtained at 2.5 m and the lowest at 1.5 m.
Lung penetration, bronchopulmonary pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profile and safety of 3 g of ceftolozane/tazobactam administered to ventilated, critically ill patients with pneumonia

Field: Medicine (Health Sciences)

Abstract Objectives Ceftolozane/tazobactam is approved for hospital-acquired/ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia at double the dose (i.e. 2 g/1 g) recommended for other indications. We evaluated the bronchopulmonary pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profile of this 3 g ceftolozane/tazobactam regimen in ventilated pneumonia patients. Methods This was an open-label, multicentre, Phase 1 trial (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02387372). Mechanically ventilated patients with proven/suspected pneumonia received four to six doses of 3 g of ceftolozane/tazobactam (adjusted for renal function) q8h. Serial plasma samples were collected after the first and last doses. One bronchoalveolar lavage sample per patient was collected at 1, 2, 4, 6 or 8 h after the last dose and epithelial lining fluid (ELF) drug concentrations were determined. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by non-compartmental analysis and pharmacodynamic analyses were conducted to graphically evaluate achievement of target exposures (plasma and ELF ceftolozane concentrations &gt;4 mg/L and tazobactam concentrations &gt;1 mg/L; target in plasma: ≥30% and ≥20% of the dosing interval, respectively). Results Twenty-six patients received four to six doses of study drug; 22 were included in the ELF analyses. Ceftolozane and tazobactam Tmax (6 and 2 h, respectively) were delayed in ELF compared with plasma (1 h). Lung penetration, expressed as the ratio of mean drug exposure (AUC) in ELF to plasma, was 50% (ceftolozane) and 62% (tazobactam). Mean ceftolozane and tazobactam ELF concentrations remained &gt;4 mg/L and &gt;1 mg/L, respectively, for 100% of the dosing interval. There were no deaths or adverse event-related study discontinuations. Conclusions In ventilated pneumonia patients, 3 g of ceftolozane/tazobactam q8h yielded ELF exposures considered adequate to cover ceftolozane/tazobactam-susceptible respiratory pathogens.
DOE ORDER 435.1 IMPLEMENTATION AND COMPLIANCE DECLARATION AT THE SAVANNAH RIVER SITE AND ACROSS THE DOE COMPLEX

Field: Environmental Science (Physical Sciences)

DOE issued Order 435.1, “Radioactive Waste Management,” on July 9, 1999 for immediate implementation. The requirements for Low Level Mixed, Transuranic, and High Level Waste have been completely rewritten. The entire DOE complex has been struggling with how to implement these new requirements within the one year required timeframe. This paper will chronicle the implementation strategy and actual results of the work to carry out that strategy at the Savannah River Site. DOE-SR and the site contractors worked closely together to implement each of the new requirements across the SRS, crossing many barriers and providing innovative solutions to the many problems that surfaced throughout the year. The results are that SRS declared compliance with all of the requirements of the Order within the prescribed timeframe. The challenge included all waste types in SRS facilities and programs that handle LLW, MLLW, TRU, and HLW. This paper will describe the implementation details for development of Radioactive Waste Management Basis for each facility, Identification of Wastes with No Path to Disposal, Waste Incidental to Reprocessing Determinations, Low Level Waste 90-Day Staging and One Year Limits for Storage Programs, to name a few of the requirements that were addressed by the SRS 435.1 Implementation Team.