Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Depth Perception in Virtual Reality: Distance Estimations in Peri- and Extrapersonal Space

The present study investigated depth perception in virtual environments. Twenty-three participants verbally estimated ten distances between 40 cm and 500 cm in three different virtual environments in two conditions: (1) only one target was presented or (2) ten targets were presented at the same time. Additionally, the presence of a metric aid was varied. A questionnaire assessed subjective ratings about physical complaints (e.g., headache), the experience in the virtual world (e.g., presence), and the experiment itself (self-evaluation of the estimations). Results show that participants underestimate the virtual distances but are able to perceive the distances in the right metric order even when only very simple virtual environments are presented. Furthermore, interindividual differences and intraindividual stabilities can be found among participants, and neither the three different virtual environments nor the metric aid improved depth estimations. Estimation performance is better in peripersonal than in extrapersonal space. In contrast, subjective ratings provide a preferred space: a closed room with visible floor, ceiling, and walls.
Women Police Officers and the Use of Coercion

Abstract Despite numerous advances in the last thirty years, women police officers continue to face acceptance issues in a male-dominated occupation. Qualitative accounts of policewomen have noted that many of the integration barriers stem from traditional assumptions about police work, much of which revolves around the cultural mandate to display one's coercive authority over citizens. Female officers are often perceived as unwilling (or lacking in ability) to use coercion when encountering citizens. Unfortunately, little empirical evidence is available to support this claim, as gender studies that specifically examine the use of coercion have tended to focus on excessive force. Using data collected as part of a systematic social observation study in Indianapolis, Indiana, and St. Petersburg, Florida, this research examines both verbal and physical coercion that policewomen use in day-to-day encounters with citizens. The results of this study challenge one of the most fundamental stereotypes levied against women police officers. Contrary to traditional assumptions, female police officers (compared to their male counterparts) are not reluctant to use coercive force, and examinations of both verbal and physical force reveal few differences in not only the prevalence of each behavior, but also in the commonly associated explanatory factors. The article concludes with the implications of these
Loops Determine the Mechanical Properties of Mitotic Chromosomes

We introduce a new polymer model for mitotic chromosomes. The key assumption of the model is the ability of the chromatin fibre to cross-link to itself due to binding proteins. These protein-chromatin interactions are included by a probabilistic and dynamic mechanism. The hypothesis is motivated by the observation of high repulsive forces between ring polymers. We performed computer simulations to validate our model. Our results show that the presence of loops leads to a tight compaction and contributes significantly to the bending rigidity of chromosomes. Moreover, our qualitative prediction of the force elongation behaviour is close to experimental findings. The Dynamic Loop Model presented here indicates that the internal structure of mitotic chromosomes is based on self-organization of the chromatin fibre rather than attachment of chromatin to a protein scaffold. It also shows that the number and size of loops have a strong influence on the mechanical properties. We suggest that changes in the mechanical characteristics of chromosomes in different stages of the cell cycle, for example, can be explained by an altered internal loop structure.
Durum wheat quality in Mediterranean environments I . Quality expression under different zones , latitudes and water regimes across Spain

Ten durum wheat genotypes were studied in a total of 10 field trials in three different regions of Spain, associated with two latitudes (north and south) under both irrigated and rainfed conditions during the 1998 and 1999 growing seasons. Different technological and commercial quality parameters were studied: thousand kernel weight (TKW), test weight, vitreousness, ash content, protein content, pigment content and the SDS sedimentation test. The results demonstrated the strong influence of environmental conditions on the majority of quality traits in durum wheat, with growing zones, latitudes and moisture regimes showing the greatest effects. Genotypic effects were mainly observed for pigment content and SDS volume. These appear to be predominantly under genetic control. TKW and protein content were higher in Lleida in the north, probably due to the greater amount of nitrogen applied in comparison with Granada and Jerez in the south. Grain quality under the growing conditions of Lleida, however, was negatively influenced by the high percentages of ash accumulated in the grain. In general, Granada and Jerez provided an acceptable grain quality, and Jerez in particular favoured good semolina colour and higher test weights. Moisture stress increased mainly protein content and vitreousness, and reduced TKW and ash content at both latitudes. It is clear that rainfed conditions in the south offer the best opportunity for production of durum wheat of good quality. # 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
CILIATE‐SYMBIONT SPECIFICITY OF FRESHWATER ENDOSYMBIOTIC CHLORELLA (TREBOUXIOPHYCEAE, CHLOROPHYTA) 1

The nature of Chlorella symbioses in invertebrates and protists has attracted much interest, but the uncertain taxonomy of the algal partner has constrained a deeper ecological understanding of this symbiosis. We sequenced parts of the nuclear 18S rDNA, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)‐1 region, and the chloroplast 16S rDNA of several Chlorella isolated from pelagic ciliate species of different lakes, Paramecium bursaria symbionts, and free‐living Chlorella to elucidate phylogenetic relationships of Chlorella‐like algae and to assess their host specificity. Sequence analyses resulted in well‐resolved phylogenetic trees providing strong statistical support for a homogenous ‘zoochlorellae’ group of different ciliate species from one lake, but clearly different Chlorella in one of those ciliate species occurring in another lake. The two Chlorella strains isolated from the same ciliate species, but from lakes having a 10‐fold difference in underwater UV transparency, also presented a distinct physiological trait, such as the ability to synthesize UV‐absorbing substances known as mycosporine‐like amino acids (MAAs). Algal symbionts of all P. bursaria strains of different origin resolved in one clade apart from the other ciliate symbionts but split into two distinct lineages, suggesting the existence of a biogeographic pattern. Overall, our results suggest a high degree of species specificity but also hint at the importance of physiological adaptation in symbiotic Chlorella.
A taxonomic review of Penicillium species producing conidiophores with solitary phialides, classified in section Torulomyces

The genus Torulomyces was characterised by species that typically have conidiophores consisting of solitary phialides that produce long chains of conidia connected by disjunctors. Based on the phylogenetic position of P. lagena (generic ex-neotype), the genus and its seven species were transferred to Penicillium and classified in sect. Torulomyces along with P. cryptum and P. lassenii. The aim of this study was to review the species currently classified in sect. Torulomyces using morphology and phylogenies of the ITS, BenA, CaM and RPB2 regions. Based on our results, we accept 16 species in sect. Torulomyces, including 12 new species described as P. aeris, P. austricola, P. cantabricum, P. catalonicum, P. oregonense, P. marthae-christenseniae, P. riverlandense, P. tubakianum, P. variratense, P. williamettense, P. wisconsinense and P. wollemiicola. In addition, we reclassify P. laeve and P. ovatum in sect. Exilicaulis and correct the typification of P. lagena. We provide descriptions and notes on the identification of the species.
The Temperature Distribution in Turbulent Interstellar Gas

We discuss the temperature distribution in a two-dimensional, thermally unstable numerical simulation of the warm and cold gas in the Galactic disk, including the magnetic field, self-gravity, the Coriolis force, stellar energy injection, and a realistic cooling function. We find that ~50% of the turbulent gas mass has temperatures in what would be the thermally unstable range if thermal instability were to be considered alone. This appears to be a consequence of there being many other forces at play than just thermal pressure, constituting a different process from that proposed in time-dependent models based on stochastic heating followed by cooling, although the latter mechanism may also be present. We also point out that a bimodal temperature probability distribution function is a simple consequence of the form of the interstellar cooling function and is not necessarily a signature of discontinuous phase transitions.
Indications for Intravitreal Bevacizumab in Ibadan, Sub-Saharan Africa

Background : Angiogenesis is a contributing factor in some retinal diseases, hence the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as a common pathway in proliferative retinopathies. Bevacizumab has been found to be effective in the treatment of these diseases. The aim of this study was to review all cases of intravitreal bevacizumab given in the retinal unit of the University College Hospital, Ibadan from July, 2010 to June 2012, pointing out the common indications. Methods : After obtaining ethical approval from the University College Hospital/University of Ibadan Review Board for the study, all cases of intravitreal injections of bevacizumab recorded in the retinal register during the study period (July 2010 to June 2012) were retrieved. Age, sex, diagnoses and indication for injection were recorded in the data sheet prepared for the study. Results were analyzed using proportions and percentages. Results : A total of one hundred and thirty four injections of bevacizumab were given in the study period. The most common indication was cystoid macular edema from retinal vein occlusion ([26(19.4%)] followed by wet age related maculopathy [23(17.1%)] and sickle cell retinopathy [(22(16.4)]. Emerging indications included idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy [8(6%) and retinal macroaneurism with macular edema [6(4.5%)]. Conclusion : Cystoid macular edema from vascular occlusion and wet age related macular degeneration are the major indications for intravitreal bevacizumab injection in Ibadan.
Adenovirus-Mediated Gene Therapy to Restore Expression and Functionality of Multiple UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase 1A Enzymes in Gunn Rat Liver

The Gunn rat has been a valuable model for investigating the effect of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A (UGT1A) deficiencies on drug metabolism and toxicity, but it is limited in some aspects. For example, the native Gunn rat model cannot distinguish between hepatic and extrahepatic UGT1A deficiencies in toxicological mechanisms. To extend the model's utility, we investigated the use of replication-defective recombinant UGT1A adenoviruses for the purpose of selectively restoring hepatic UGT1A function. Mycophenolic acid, the active metabolite of the anti-transplant rejection drug mycophenolate mofetil and suspected gastrointestinal toxicant, was used as a model UGT1A-dependent substrate. Treatment with UGT1A adenoviruses normalized the plasma mycophenolic acid and 7-O-mycophenolate glucuronide (MPAG) (concentration-time curves after mycophenolic acid administration (80 mg/kg intraperitoneally). Functional reconstitution was also apparent in the correction of the mycophenolic acid t½α and the area under the curve (AUC)MPA,0-8 h/AUCMPAG,0-8 h ratio. Twenty-four hours after administration of mycophenolic acid, severe signs of toxicity were noted in the naive Gunn group, including reduced food consumption. The effect on food consumption was reduced but not completely prevented in the UGT adenovirus-treated Gunn rats. In vitro analyses indicated adenovirus dose-dependent reconstitution of mycophenolic acid UGT activities and UGT1A contents in liver but not intestinal microsomes. In the highest adenovirus dose group, the liver microsomal UGT1A markers exceeded those of the heterozygote controls. The ability to selectively manipulate multiple hepatic UGT1A enzymes in Gunn rats should provide a novel way to assess the importance of intestinal or other extrahepatic UGT1A enzymes in toxicities induced by mycophenolic acid and other cytotoxic drugs and dietary agents.
Annihilating filter-based decoding in the compressed sensing framework

Recent results in compressed sensing or compressive sampling suggest that a relatively small set of measurements taken as the inner product with universal random measurement vectors can well represent a source that is sparse in some fixed basis. By adapting a deterministic, non-universal and structured sensing device, this paper presents results on using the annihilating filter to decode the information taken in this new compressed sensing environment. The information is the minimum amount of nonadaptive knowledge that makes it possible to go back to the original object. We will show that for a k-sparse signal of dimension n, the proposed decoder needs 2k measurements and its complexity is of O(k2) whereas for the decoding based on the l1 minimization, the number of measurements needs to be of O(k log(n)) and the complexity is of O(n3). In the case of noisy measurements, we first denoise the signal using an iterative algorithm that finds the closest rank k and Toeplitz matrix to the measurements matrix (in Frobenius norm) before applying the annihilating filter method. Furthermore, for a k-sparse vector with known equal coefficients, we propose an algebraic decoder which needs only k measurements for the signal reconstruction. Finally, we provide simulation results that demonstrate the performance of our algorithm.
Eating-Out Motivations and Variety-Seeking Behavior: An Exploratory Approach on Loyalty Behavior

The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of several consumer motivations (i.e., hedonic and utilitarian value, atmospheric, subjective well-being, and deal proneness) on loyalty behavior in the wide-ranging, eating-out context. Within the research framework, moderating roles of variety-seeking behavior are further analyzed. Results show that major eating-out motivations had different effects on customers' loyalty behavior, especially between high and low variety-seeking groups. The results of this study entail the importance of experiential, quality of life, and affective aspects of consumptions. The concepts of variety-seeking behavior illustrate a need for further investigations from both managers and researchers because of their seemingly important role in consumers' eating-out motivations.
Abnormalities in Structural Covariance of Cortical Gyrification in Parkinson's Disease

Although abnormal cortical morphology and connectivity between brain regions (structural covariance) have been reported in Parkinson's disease (PD), the topological organizations of large-scale structural brain networks are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated large-scale structural brain networks in a sample of 37 PD patients and 34 healthy controls (HC) by assessing the structural covariance of cortical gyrification with local gyrification index (lGI). We demonstrated prominent small-world properties of the structural brain networks for both groups. Compared with the HC group, PD patients showed significantly increased integrated characteristic path length and integrated clustering coefficient, as well as decreased integrated global efficiency in structural brain networks. Distinct distributions of hub regions were identified between the two groups, showing more hub regions in the frontal cortex in PD patients. Moreover, the modular analyses revealed significantly decreased integrated regional efficiency in lateral Fronto-Insula-Temporal module, and increased integrated regional efficiency in Parieto-Temporal module in the PD group as compared to the HC group. In summary, our study demonstrated altered topological properties of structural networks at a global, regional and modular level in PD patients. These findings suggests that the structural networks of PD patients have a suboptimal topological organization, resulting in less effective integration of information between brain regions.
Beyond Disparity: Changes in Federal Sentencing After Booker and Gall?

333 Federal Sentencing Reporter, Vol. 23, No. 5, pp. 333–341, ISSN 1053-9867 electronic ISSN 1533-8363. ©2011 Vera Institute of Justice. All rights reserved. Please direct requests for permission to photocopy or reproduce article content through the University of California Press’s Rights and Permissions website, http://www.ucpressjournals. com/reprintInfo.asp. DOI: 10.1525/fsr.2011. 23.5. 333. Beyond Disparity: Changes in Federal Sentencing After Booker and Gall?
Magnetic resonance imaging findings in sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). METHODS Fifty-four consecutive patients affected by SSNHL were investigated using brain MRI. MRI was performed with an eight-channel phased-array head coil to study the entire audiovestibular pathway and the whole brain. The protocol study consisted of a high-resolution study of the temporal bone, internal auditory canal (IAC), cerebellopontine angle (CPA), and brainstem combining 2 mm thin-slice axial T(2)-weighted two-dimensional fast spin echo (FSE) and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences, pre- and postcontrast (gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid) administration fat-suppressed axial T(1)-weighted two-dimensional FSE sequences, and a T(2)*-weighted three-dimensional Fourier transformation-constructive interference in steady state sequence (FT-CISS) , with 0.4 mm ultrathin partitions. The rest of the brain was studied with a 4 mm axial T(2)-weighted FLAIR sequence. RESULTS Thirty-one of 54 (57%) cases of SSNHL presented with MRI abnormalities. In 6 of 54 cases, the detected abnormality was directly correlated to the clinical picture (2 labyrinthine hemorrhage, 1 cochlear inflammation, 1 acoustic neuroma, 1 arachnoid cyst of the CPA, and 1 case of white matter lesions in the pons, compatible with demyelinating plaques along the central audiovestibular nervous pathway, as the first expression of multiple sclerosis). CONCLUSIONS An extensive MRI study of the audiovestibular nervous pathway and of the whole brain, pre- and postparamagnetic contrast administration, is recommended to rule out the wide spectrum of abnormalities that can cause SSNHL.
‘Religious’ and ‘spiritual’ capitals: the experience of the celebration of Mass in the English Catholic secondary school

One of the many challenges that English Catholic secondary schools face in an increasingly secular and plural society is to maintain the Catholicity of their schools. The celebration of Mass in school may function as a means of maintaining the memory of the Catholic faith tradition. In this article the experience of Mass in school is examined through the lens of religious and spiritual capital; the data for analysis were generated in an in-depth ethnographic study of English Catholic secondary schools. The findings suggest that religious capital is diminishing within Catholic schools and the concept of spiritual capital is more relevant to an understanding of the experiences of the students and staff in these schools. There are implications here both for the connection between the Catholic Church and the Catholic school, and for the role of the Catholic school in generating, or maintaining the memory of the Catholic faith tradition.
Low-density pheochromocytoma on CT: a mimicker of adrenal adenoma.

OBJECTIVE Attenuation values on CT of less than 10 H are considered characteristic of adrenal adenomas. Adrenal pheochromocytomas can infrequently contain fat that could result in low attenuation on CT. The purpose of our study was to determine if pheochromocytomas could be confused with adenomas by virtue of their attenuation values on unenhanced CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS CT attenuation and size of nine adrenal nodules producing pheochromocytoma syndrome were measured on unenhanced CT in nine patients. For five patients who received IV contrast material, washout profiles were also calculated. RESULTS Two of the nine patients had adrenal lesions with attenuation values of less than 10 H; one had a pheochromocytoma with an attentuation of 9.0 H, and the other had a medullary hyperplasia with an attenuation of 1.8 H. These two nodules showed evidence of microscopic fat at histologic examination. No macroscopic fat was seen on the CT scans. The remaining seven patients had lesions with attenuation values exceeding 10 H (mean value, 25.6 H; range, 1.8-41 H). Mean diameter of the nine tumors (including the hyperplastic nodule) was 3.2 cm (range, 0.8-6.7 cm; SD, +/- 2.3 cm). The two low-attenuation lesions also mimicked adenomas by displaying more than 60% contrast washout on 10-min-delayed contrast-enhanced scans, unlike the other three pheochromocytomas for which we had washout data. CONCLUSION On CT, pheochromocytomas may have attenuation values less than 10 H and also may display more than 60% washout of contrast agents on delayed scanning. Adrenal pheochromocytomas should be included with adenomas in the differential diagnosis both for masses with low attenuation on unenhanced CT and for lesions exhibiting a high percentage of contrast washout.
Improved redundancy of a version of the Lempel-Ziv algorithm

The fixed-database Lempel-Ziv algorithm (FDLZ) closely resembles practical versions of the LZ algorithm that are widely in use. Bender and Wolf (1991) suggested a variant of LZ which empirically appears to perform well. We suggest a finite memory version of their scheme, and show that it has redundancy /spl rho//sub n/=O(1/log n) where n is the memory size. We are concerned with a data source which is a stationary, finite-memory random sequence that takes values in an alphabet of finite size A. The data source can be losslessly encoded using (H+/spl rho//sub n/) bits per source symbol, where n is a measure of the complexity of the code, and /spl rho//sub n//spl rarr/0, as n/spl rarr//spl infin/. The LZ algorithm is a universal procedure (which does not depend on the source statistics) for encoding the source at a rate close to the entropy. <<ETX>>
Early post-metamorphic, Carboniferous blastoid reveals the evolution and development of the digestive system in echinoderms

Inferring the development of the earliest echinoderms is critical to uncovering the evolutionary assembly of the phylum-level body plan but has long proven problematic because early ontogenetic stages are rarely preserved as fossils. Here, we use synchrotron tomography to describe a new early post-metamorphic blastoid echinoderm from the Carboniferous (approx. 323 Ma) of China. The resulting three-dimensional reconstruction reveals a U-shaped tubular structure in the fossil interior, which is interpreted as the digestive tract. Comparisons with the developing gut of modern crinoids demonstrate that crinoids are an imperfect analogue for many extinct groups. Furthermore, consideration of our findings in a phylogenetic context allows us to reconstruct the evolution and development of the digestive system in echinoderms more broadly; there was a transition from a straight to a simple curved gut early in the phylum's evolution, but additional loops and coils of the digestive tract (as seen in crinoids) were not acquired until much later.