Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tunable Current-Mode Multifunction Filter Using Universal Current Conveyors

In the paper a novel current-mode multifunction filter is presented, where changing the characteristic frequency f0 and the quality factor Q0 independently of each other and of other parameters is allowed. The whole design procedure is shown, with the Generalized Current Conveyor (GCC) being used in the initial design and the resultant multifunction filter containing the universal current conveyor UCC-N1B. On the basis of measurement results of this element a simulation model in the OrCAD software for computer analysis of the properties of the filter designed was proposed.
On the neural bases of the spatial mapping system: Hippocampus vs. hippocampal formation

As pointed out by Lynn Nadel in the lead article of this forum, since Thr Hippocumpus ns CI Cognitive M a p first appeared in 1978 many of the published studies have been concerned in some way with comparing the spatial mapping hypothesis with rival theoretical formulations. Basing their interpretations primarily on the results of lesion studies, investigators have suggested that the hippocampus is crucially involved in processes like working memory (Olton et al., 1979), the storage of intermediate-term memory (Rawlins, 1985), and configural associations ( Sutherland and Rudy, 1989). Why has it been so difficult to obtain convincing evidence 10 support one theory of hippocampal function to the exclusion of the others‘? While there are several reasons that could be given, most of them center around a failure on the part of many investigators to take into account the relevant neuroanatomy. Thus, one problem has been the confusion resulting from failing to always make a clear-cut distinction between the hippocampus and the hippocampal formation (see below). A second problem has been the variety of effects on behavior that are found when different structures and/or areas within the hippocampal formation are damaged. This is not surprising, since conventional lesion techniques (aTpiration, electrolytic, radio frequency) cause damage not only to cells in the area of interest, but usually to adjacent structures and the vasculature, as well as interrupt fibers of passage. In this essay, consideration will be given first to the relevant neuroanatomy. Selective hippocampal lesions obtained with neurotoxins will then be described. This will be followed by a brief description of the results obtained in a number of experiments designed to study the involvement of different components of the hippocampal formation in the processing of spatial information.
Mechanisms underlying orientation selectivity of neurons in the primary visual cortex of the macaque.

1. Effects of blocking intracortical inhibition by microiontophoretic administration of bicuculline methiodide (BMI), a selective antagonist for GABAA receptors, on orientation selectivity of 109 neurones were studied in the primary visual cortex (V1) of anaesthetized and paralysed monkeys. 2. The averaged orientation tuning of visual responses of cells was poor in cytochrome oxidaserich blobs of layer II/III and in layer IVc beta, moderate in layers IVb, IVc alpha and V, and sharp in the interblob region of layer II/III and in layers IVa and VI. 3. Iontophoretic administration of BMI reduced the sharpness of orientation tuning of cells to a varying extent in each layer. In most cells, furthermore, the originally ineffective stimuli induced visual responses during the BMI administration, suggesting that excitatory inputs evoked by the non‐optimally oriented stimuli were masked by GABAergic inhibition. Nevertheless, the maximal facilitation was observed in the response to the optimally or near‐optimally oriented stimuli. 4. There was a difference in such an effect of BMI among layers. Orientation selectivity of cells in interblobs in layer II/III and in layer IVb was sensitive to BMI whereas that of cells in layer VI was relatively insensitive to BMI, suggesting a larger contribution of excitatory mechanisms to the orientation selectivity in this layer. 5. In the orientation‐selective cells, an analysis of the magnitude of excitation and inhibition evoked by stimuli at various orientations suggests that both inputs tune around the optimal orientation and their magnitudes are almost proportional to each other except at the optimal orientation. This analysis also indicates that the orientation tuning of inhibition had a less prominent peak around the optimal orientation than that of excitation. This dominance of excitation over inhibition around the optimal orientation may function to accentuate the response to the optimally oriented stimulus. 6. These results suggest that, in the monkey V1, the orientation selectivity of cells is largely dependent on the orientation‐biased excitatory and inhibitory inputs which have a broader tuning profile, covering from the optimal to null‐orientation, than that observed in extracellularly recorded responses at the control level.
Acoustic models of orangutan hand-assisted alarm calls

ABSTRACT Orangutans produce alarm calls called kiss-squeaks, which they sometimes modify by putting a hand in front of their mouth. Through theoretical models and observational evidence, we show that using the hand when making a kiss-squeak alters the acoustics of the production in such a way that more formants per kilohertz are produced. Our theoretical models suggest that cylindrical wave propagation is created with the use of the hand and face as they act as a cylindrical extension of the lips. The use of cylindrical wave propagation in animal calls appears to be extremely rare, but is an effective way to lengthen the acoustic system; it causes the number of resonances per kilohertz to increase. This increase is associated with larger animals, and thus using the hand in kiss-squeak production may be effective in exaggerating the size of the producer. Using the hand appears to be a culturally learned behavior, and therefore orangutans may be able to associate the acoustic effect of using the hand with potentially more effective deterrence of predators. Highlighted article: Orangutans modify the calls they make to predators with their hands. The acoustic effect is that their calls then sound as if they were made by a bigger animal.
Asymptotic Confidence Intervals of Spectra and Cross-spectra of Continuous Time Processes Based on Uniformly Spaced Samples

It is well known that if the power spectrum of a continuous time stationary stochastic process is not limited to a finite interval, data sampled from that process at any uniform sampling rate leads to biased and inconsistent spectrum estimators. As a result, depending on the range of frequency of interest, one uses anti-alias filtering and subsequently treats the filtered process as bandlimited. However, if the spectrum has a large peak in the ‘stop band’ of the filter, and the filter is not an ideal one, then spectrum estimation would be problematic, even if the sample size is large. In this paper, we use the well-known smoothed periodogram estimator to construct asymptotic confidence intervals shrinking to the true spectra, by taking into account the decay rate of the filtered process and allowing the sampling rate to go to infinity suitably fast as the sample size goes to infinity. The proposed method requires minimal computation, as it does not involve bootstrap or other resampling. The method is illustrated through a MonteCarlo simulation study, and its performance is compared with conventional methods based on uniform and Poisson sampling.
Theories of Personal Income Distribution: A Survey

I wish to express my appreciation to thefollowingfor their comments and suggestions either in their capacity as the referees of this journal or otherwise: Anthony Atkinson, Zvi Griliches, Martin Bronfenbrenner, Rudolph Blitz, James Buchanan, Milton Friedman, James Meade, Jacob Mincer, Franco Modigliani, Naomi Perlman, John Rawls, Paul Schultz, Gerald Sazama, Joseph Stiglitz, Paul Taubman, Lester Thurow, and Charles Wilson. None of them, however, bears any responsibility for my errors and my appraisal of different theories. I dedicate this paper to the memory of Harry G. Johnson, my teacher, who died at the early age of 53 on 9 May 1977, a few months after we had exchanged correspondence on this survey and had plans for further discussion, especially on the development of his ideas about cultural inheritance. Alas, that was the end.
Disability and health status in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy

Purpose. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a disorder affecting the peripheral nerves. The purpose of this study was to describe disability and health status in patients with CIDP in Sweden. Methods. All 22 adult patients with CIDP at the Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge were invited to participate. Twenty-one patients performed all measures. Their mean age was 54 years. The following measures were used: vibration perception threshold (VPT); the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS); the Berg Balance Scale; finger dexterity using the Nine-Hole Peg Test (NHPT); functional mobility using the Timed ‘Up and Go’ Test; health status with the SF-36 questionnaire. Results. Fifty-seven per cent of the patients had a higher thumb and ankle VPT than published normative data. The FSS showed that 38% scored over 5, indicating severe fatigue. The majority of the patients had reduced functional balance. Sixty-two per cent had a subnormal result on the NHPT. Results of the SF-36 showed lower scores than the Swedish norm on the sub-scales describing physical health. Conclusions. The majority of the patients with CIDP had disabilities and decreased physical health status. The presence of fatigue may be taken into consideration in immunomodulatory treatments and during physical rehabilitation.
Prenatal Organochlorine and Methylmercury Exposure and Memory and Learning in School-Age Children in Communities Near the New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site, Massachusetts

Background: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides, and methylmercury (MeHg) are environmentally persistent with adverse effects on neurodevelopment. However, especially among populations with commonly experienced low levels of exposure, research on neurodevelopmental effects of these toxicants has produced conflicting results. Objectives: We assessed the association of low-level prenatal exposure to these contaminants with memory and learning. Methods: We studied 393 children, born between 1993 and 1998 to mothers residing near a PCB-contaminated harbor in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Cord serum PCB, DDE (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene), and maternal peripartum hair mercury (Hg) levels were measured to estimate prenatal exposure. Memory and learning were assessed at 8 years of age (range, 7–11 years) using the Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning (WRAML), age-standardized to a mean ± SD of 100 ± 15. Associations with each WRAML index—Visual Memory, Verbal Memory, and Learning—were examined with multivariable linear regression, controlling for potential confounders. Results: Although cord serum PCB levels were low (sum of four PCBs: mean, 0.3 ng/g serum; range, 0.01–4.4), hair Hg levels were typical of the U.S. fish-eating population (mean, 0.6 μg/g; range, 0.3–5.1). In multivariable models, each microgram per gram increase in hair Hg was associated with, on average, decrements of –2.8 on Visual Memory (95% CI: –5.0, –0.6, p = 0.01), –2.2 on Learning (95% CI: –4.6, 0.2, p = 0.08), and –1.7 on Verbal Memory (95% CI: –3.9, 0.6, p = 0.14). There were no significant adverse associations of PCBs or DDE with WRAML indices. Conclusions: These results support an adverse relationship between low-level prenatal MeHg exposure and childhood memory and learning, particularly visual memory. Citation: Orenstein ST, Thurston SW, Bellinger DC, Schwartz JD, Amarasiriwardena CJ, Altshul LM, Korrick SA. 2014. Prenatal organochlorine and methylmercury exposure and memory and learning in school-age children in communities near the New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site, Massachusetts. Environ Health Perspect 122:1253–1259; http://dx.doi. org/10.1289/ehp.1307804
Altered emotionality, hippocampus-dependent performance and expression of NMDA receptor subunit mRNAs in chronically stressed mice

Abstract N-Methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-mediated neurotransmission in the hippocampus is implicated in cognitive and emotional disturbances during stress-related disorders. Here, using quantitative RT-PCR, we investigated the hippocampal expression of NR2A, NR2B and NR1 subunit mRNAs in a mouse stress paradigm that mimics clinically relevant conditions of simultaneously affected emotionality and hippocampus-dependent functions. A 2-week stress procedure, which comprised ethologically valid stressors, exposure to a rat and social defeat, was applied to male C57BL/6J mice. For predation stress, mice were introduced into transparent containers that were placed in a rat home cage during the night; social defeat was applied during the daytime using aggressive CD1 mice. This treatment impaired hippocampus-dependent performance during contextual fear conditioning. A correlation between this behavior and food displacement performance was demonstrated, suggesting that burrowing behavior is affected by the stress procedure and is hippocampus-dependent. Stressed mice (n = 22) showed behavioral invigoration and anomalous anxiolytic-like profiles in the O-maze and brightly illuminated open field, unaltered short-term memory in the step-down avoidance task and enhanced aggressive traits, as compared to non-stressed mice (n = 10). Stressed mice showed increased basal serum corticosterone concentrations, hippocampal mRNA expression for the NR2A subunit of the NMDAR and in the NR2A/NR2B ratio; mRNA expression of NR2B and NR1 was unchanged. Thus, stress-induced aberrations in both hippocampal-dependent performance and emotional abnormalities are associated with alterations in hippocampal mRNA NR2A levels and the NR2A/NR2B ratio and not with mRNA expression of NR2B or NR1.
The Ethical Consumer

Introduction - Rob Harrison, Terry Newholm and Deirdre Shaw PART ONE: THEORISING ETHICAL CONSUMPTION Philosophy and Ethical Consumption - Clive Barnett, Philip Cafaro and Terry Newholm The Consumer as Economic Voter - Roger A Dickinson and Mary L Carsky PART TWO: CAMPAIGNERS AND CONSUMERS A Brief History of Consumer Activism - Tim Lang and Yiannis Gabriel Pressure Groups, Campaigns and Consumers - Rob Harrison Informing Ethical Consumers - Hannah Berry and Morvern McEachern The Effectiveness of Ethical Consumer Behaviour - Scott Clouder and Rob Harrison PART THREE: UNDERSTANDING ETHICAL CONSUMERS Case Studying Ethical Consumers' Projects and Strategies - Terry Newholm Using Existential-Phenomenological Interviewing to Explore Meanings of Consumption - H[ac]el[gr]ene Cherrier Modelling Consumer Decision Making in Fair Trade - Deirdre Shaw Identifying and Profiling Apparel Label Users - Marsha A Dickson Focus Group on Consumers' Ethical Beliefs - Barry Clavin and Alex Lewis Surveying Ethical and Environmental Attitudes - Robert Worcester and Jenny Dawkins PART FOUR: RESPONDING TO ETHICAL CONSUMERS Corporate Disclosure and Auditing - Carol A Adams and Ambika Zutshi Meeting the Ethical Gaze - Andrew Crane Challenges for Orientating to the Ethical Market
Te Manaakitanga i roto i ngā ahumahi Tāpoi - the interpretation of manaakitanga from a Māori tourism supplier perspective

Manaakitanga plays an important role in Māori society. There are several meanings associated to this Māori cultural concept, one of which refers to the fostering and nurturing of relationships between a host and a visitor. The well-being of the visitor is paramount to the development of this relationship as the mana (prestige) of the host is at stake. If the host fails to manaaki (support) their visitor this could result in the loss of mana within the Māori community as the host has shown they are incapable of attending to the needs of others. In recent times, there has been an increased presence of the term manaakitanga in tourism related documents, which has generated several interpretations of this cultural concept. Currently, various government organisations use this concept as a basis for developing both short and long-term strategies. This is particularly noticeable in the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2015. However, there are varied interpretations of the term manaakitanga by the tourism industry, which are in conflict with Māori operators understanding and knowledge of manaakitanga reflected in their businesses. In order to contextualise the experiences and perspectives provided by Māori tourism operators, a theoretical framework has been developed. This framework called ‘Te Kōhai’ located in kaupapa Māori (Māori ideology) ideology best reflects the world-view of the participants who form the basis of this study. Thus, this study has been prompted by the research question - how is manaakitanga interpreted in a Māori tourism operation? Possible misinterpretation of manaakitanga may result in the concept being used incorrectly and the transgression of cultural practices, thus compromising the experiences offered by Māori tourism operations. It is important then, to investigate, whether manaakitanga is understood as ‘hospitality’ in the tourism industry and more specifically, by people who work within a Māori tourism operation. Additionally, it is important to determine how staff employed in a Māori tourism operation, understand and portray this concept. Subsequently, interpretations of manaakitanga from the perspective of Māori tourism operators, forms the basis of this thesis.
Circulating Soluble Cytokine Receptors and Colorectal Cancer Risk

Background: Soluble cytokine receptors and receptor antagonist of proinflammatory cytokines can modify cytokine signaling and may affect cancer risk. Methods: In a case–cohort study nested within the Women's Health Initiative cohort of postmenopausal women, we assessed the associations of plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and the soluble receptors of IL-1 (sIL-1R2), IL-6 (sIL-6R and sgp130), and TNF (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2) with risk of colorectal cancer in 433 cases and 821 subcohort subjects. Baseline levels of estradiol, insulin, leptin, IL-6, and TNF-α measured previously were also available for data analysis. Results: After adjusting for significant covariates, including age, race, smoking, colonoscopy history, waist circumference, and levels of estrogen, insulin, and leptin, relatively high levels of sIL-6R and sIL-1R2 were associated with reduced colorectal cancer risk [HRs comparing extreme quartiles (HRQ4-Q1) for sIL-6R, 0.56; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.38–0.83; HRQ4-Q1 for sIL-1R2, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.29–0.67]. The associations with IL-1Ra, sgp130, sTNFR1, and sTNFR2 were null. The inverse association of sIL-1R2 with colorectal cancer risk persisted in cases diagnosed ≤5 and >5 years from baseline blood draw; the association with sIL-6R, however, was not evident in the latter group, possibly indicating that relatively low levels of sIL-6R in cases might be due to undiagnosed cancer at the time of blood draw. Conclusions: High circulating levels of sIL-1R2 may be protective against colorectal carcinogenesis and/or be a marker of reduced risk for the disease. Impact: sIL-1R2 has potential to be a chemopreventive and/or immunotherapeutic agent in inflammation-related diseases. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(1); 179–88. ©2013 AACR.
Quantitative assessment of altered rectal mucosal permeability due to rectally applied nonoxynol-9, biopsy, and simulated intercourse.

BACKGROUND Microbicide toxicity may reduce the efficacy of topical preexposure prophylaxis for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. Noninvasive quantitative measures of microbicide toxicity would usefully inform microbicide development. METHODS Ten subjects received 3 one-time interventions: 5 mL of Normosol-R fluid alone (negative control), 5 mL of 2% nonoxynol-9 (N-9) gel, and 5 mL of Normosol-R with coital simulation and sigmoidoscopic biopsy (CS + BX). Each dose of N-9 and Normosol-R contained 500 µCi of (99m)technetium-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid. Plasma and urine radioactivity was assessed over 24 hours. RESULTS The plasma radioisotope concentration peaked 1 hour after N-9 dosing. The mean maximum radioisotope concentration after N-9 receipt was 12.0 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.8-21.0) and 8.4 times (95% CI, 5.2-13.5) the mean concentration after Normosol-R control receipt and CS + BX receipt, respectively; paired differences persisted for 24 hours. After N-9 dosing, the urine isotope level was 3.6 times (95% CI, 1.1-11.4) the level observed 8 hours after Normosol-R control receipt and 4.0 times (95% CI, 1.4-11.4) the level observed 4 hours after CS + BX receipt. Permeability after CS + BX receipt was greater than that after Normosol-R control receipt in 0-2-hour urine specimens only (mean permeability, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.0-5.8) but was not greater in blood. CONCLUSIONS Plasma sampling after rectal radioisotope administration provided quantitative estimates of altered mucosal permeability after chemical and mechanical stresses. Permeability testing may provide a useful noninvasive adjunct to assess the mucosal effects of candidate microbicides. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT00389311.
Race and trust in post-apartheid South Africa

I examine the impact of racial identity on behavior in trust games played by White, Black and Colored high school students in South Africa. There is a systematic pattern of distrust towards Black partners, even by Black proposers, partially attributable to mistaken expectations. White proposers are significantly less likely to engage in a strategic interaction at all when paired with a Black partner, while Colored and Black proposers engage in exchange but at lower levels than when paired with nonBlacks. However, greater racial diversity in schools and friendship groups is positively and significaantly associated with greater trust towards Black partners.
A Potential Role of Salmonella Infection in the Onset of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes a set of pathologies that result from a deregulated immune response that may affect any portion of the gastrointestinal tract. The most prevalent and defined forms of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Although the etiology of IBD is not well defined, it has been suggested that environmental and genetic factors contribute to disease development and that the interaction between these two factors can trigger the pathology. Diet, medication use, vitamin D status, smoking, and bacterial infections have been proposed to influence or contribute to the onset or development of the disease in susceptible individuals. The infection with pathogenic bacteria is a key factor that can influence the development and severity of this disease. Here, we present a comprehensive review of studies performed in human and mice susceptible to IBD, which supports the notion that infection with bacterial pathogens, such as Salmonella, could promote the onset of IBD due to permanent changes in the intestinal microbiota, disruption of the epithelial barrier and alterations of the intestinal immune response after infection.