Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rod and cone visual cycle consequences of a null mutation in the 11-cis-retinol dehydrogenase gene in man

Vertebrate vision starts with photoisomerization of the 11-cis-retinal chromophore to all-trans-retinal. Biosynthesis of 11-cis-retinal is required to maintain vision. A key enzyme catalyzing the oxidation of 11-cis-retinol is 11-cis-retinol dehydrogenase (11-cis-RDH), which is encoded by the RDH5 gene. 11-cis-RDH is expressed in the RPE and not in the neural retina. The consequences of a lack of 11-cis-RDH were studied in a family with fundus albipunctatus. We identified the causative novel RDH5 mutation, Arg157Trp, that replaces an amino acid residue conserved among short-chain alcohol dehydrogenases. Three-dimensional structure modeling and in vitro experiments suggested that this mutation destabilizes proper folding and inactivates the enzyme. Studies using RPE membranes indicated the existence of an alternative oxidizing system for the production of 11-cis-retinal. In vivo visual consequences of this null mutation showed complex kinetics of dark adaptation. Rod and cone resensitization was extremely delayed following full bleaches; unexpectedly, the rate of cone recovery was slower than rods. Cones showed a biphasic recovery with an initial rapid component and an elevated final threshold. Other unanticipated results included normal rod recovery following 0.5% bleach and abnormal recovery following bleaches in the 2–12% range. These intermediate bleaches showed rapid partial recovery of rods with transitory plateaux. Pathways in addition to 11-cis-RDH likely provide 11-cis-retinal for rods and cones and can maintain normal kinetics of visual recovery but only under certain constraints and less efficiently for cone than rod function.
Perceptions of Southern Mindanao Farmers On the Quality of Temperate Vegetables

In Barangay Kapatagan, Digos City, Southern Mindanao Philippines, vegetable farmers hold a specific worldview on what quality vegetables are. This paper aims to define this worldview, compare this with expectations of marketing intermediaries down the vegetable supply chain, and assess the gaps between these views. Discrepancies between and among the definitions of the different groups affect the entire chain because of incompatible decisions in production, marketing and quality management. These decisions contribute to the efficiency or inefficiency of the entire chain. Introduction
KORUPSI, DEMOKRASI DAN KAPITALISME: SEBUAH MANIFESTO BAGI GERAKAN SOSIAL ANTI KORUPSI

As any article on corruption in Indonesia, this article is also in line with the idea that corruption taken here is extremely big and having infected the society so severely. Owing to that, the writer insists on seeing the strategic agenda of corruption enforcement and prevention. The writer also in favor of one element of that agenda, that ito form a confederation of non governmental organization having specific focus on corruption enforcement and prevention.
Macroeconomic Shocks and Financial Vulnerability

The aim of this paper is to identify the relationship between macroeconomic shocks and financial vulnerability in the Argentine case for the period 1977-2004, by using VEC models. The results show that falls in the deposit-currency ratio (indicator of crisis or financial vulnerability) would be associated with capital outflows, drops in the terms of trade, contractions in real GDP, depreciations in real exchange rates, and increases in international real interest rates. Economic recessions Granger-cause deposit-currency ratio declines; whereas real GDP would behave like a (weak and strong) exogenous variable.
The synaptic vesicle proteins synapsin I and synaptophysin (protein P38) are concentrated both in efferent and afferent nerve endings of the skeletal muscle

Synapsin I and synaptophysin (protein p38) are 2 major protein components of the membranes of small synaptic vesicles of virtually all presynaptic nerve endings. Synapsin I, a phosphoprotein regulated by both Ca2+ and cAMP, is a peripheral protein of the cytoplasmic surface of the vesicle membrane. It is thought to anchor the vesicle surface to the cytoskeleton of the terminal and to play a regulatory role in neurotransmitter release. Synaptophysin is an intrinsic transmembrane glycoprotein. We report here that both proteins are present and concentrated also in afferent nerve endings, which provide the sensory innervation of the skeletal muscle and of the tendon. The distribution of both antigens in sensory nerve endings is consistent with their localization on the microvesicles that have been described in such endings. Thus, our results suggest the existence of important biochemical, and possibly functional, similarities between small synaptic vesicles of presynaptic nerve endings and microvesicles of sensory endings. Such findings provide new clues to the understanding of the physiology of sensory endings.
ON THE DESIGN AND RELIABILITY ANALYSIS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC ABSORBERS USING REAL- CODED GENETIC ALGORITHM AND MONTE CARLO SIMULATION

In this paper, we propose an approach for designing and quantitatively assessing the performance of the multilayered radar- absorbing structure. In our proposed approach, a flve layered radar- absorbing materials design is optimized from the predeflned materials database. But to determine the optimal choice of the material and thickness of each layer, a combined binary and real-coded genetic algorithm (GA) is used to handle the integer and real variables involved in such designs. Further, the proposed approach employs the Latin hypercube sampling with Monte Carlo Simulation to carry out the performance based reliability analysis of the design. Absorber synthesized results are compared with the published work using other algorithms. The outcomes of our approach show that the combined GA works quite well, and most prominently the reliability analysis provides the decision maker a means to select among the several design alternatives available before him.
DNA Methyltransferase Inhibitors Coordinately Induce Expression of the Human Reelin and Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase 67 Genes

Reelin and glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) mRNAs and protein levels are substantially reduced in postmortem brains of patients with schizophrenia. Increasing evidence suggests that the observed down-regulation of reelin and GAD67 gene expression may be caused by dysfunction of the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms operative in cortical GABAergic interneurons. To explore whether human reelin and GAD67 mRNAs are coordinately regulated through DNA methylation-dependent mechanisms, we studied the effects of DNA methyltransferase inhibitors on reelin and GAD67 expression in NT-2 neuronal precursor cells. Competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction with internal standards was used to quantitate mRNA levels. The data showed that reelin and GAD67 mRNAs are induced in the same dose- and time-dependent manners. We further demonstrated that the activation of these two genes correlated with a reduction in DNA methyl-transferase activity and DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) protein levels. Time course Western blot analysis showed that DNMT1 protein down-regulation occurs temporally before the reelin and GAD67 mRNA increase. In addition, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that the activation of the reelin gene correlates with the dissociation of DNMT1 and methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) from the promoter, and an increased acetylation of histones H3 in the region. Together, our data strongly imply that human reelin and GAD67 genes are coordinately regulated through epigenetic mechanisms that include the action of DNMT1. Our study also suggests that negative regulation of the reelin gene involves methylation-dependent recruitment of DNMT1, MeCP2, and certain histone deacetylases, which most likely reduce the activity of the promoter by shifting the surrounding chromatin into a more compact state.
The rise in female labour force participation in South Africa : an analysis of household survey data , 1995-2001.

~ x Introduction. •. 1 Chapter One: The Economic Theory of Labour Supply 6 A. Introduction 6 B. The Theory of Individual Labour Supply 8 B.1 The Basic Work-Leisure ModeL 8 B.2 Some Criticisms of the Basic Model and Developments in the Literature 12 C. The Extended Model ofLabour Supply: Becker's Theory of the Allocation of Time and Joint Labour Supply Decisions within the Household 16 C.1 The Allocation ofTime and Household Production 16 C.2 The Sexual Division of Labour. 20 C3 The Unitary Household Model 22 CA Some Criticisms of the Unitary Model 24 D. Bargaining Models of Household Behaviour 26 E. Concluding Remarks 31 Chapter Two: A Review of the International Literature on the Feminisation of the Labour Force: Trends, Causes and Consequences 33 A. Introduction 33 B. International Trends in Labour Force Participation 34 C. Reasons for Rising Female Labour Force Participation 41 Cl Rising Real Wage Rates and Education for Women 42 C.2 Rising Productivity in the Household 44 C.3 Declining Fertility Rates 46 CA Changing Preferences and Attitudes 48 C5 Rising Divorce Rates and Deferred Marriage 51
How do teachers with different ESOL teaching backgrounds approach form-focused instruction?

Form-focused instruction makes up an important part of the literature on second language acquisition research. Current approaches to second language instruction have called for an integration of message-focused and form-focused instruction in the L2 classroom. At the same time, a growing interest is the pedagogical applications of form-focused research, which proposes a means of addressing form in the classroom using various instructional options, some of which involve incidental and pre-planned focus on form. This study examined the nature and occurrence of pre-planned and incidental focus on form in two secondary school ESOL classrooms, and what thinking underlay the two teachers’ practices in choosing a particular option. The study reports on the methods and approaches that two teachers employed in the context of their own ESOL classrooms, in which formfocused instruction occurred, and explored the extent to which different levels of experience influenced the instructional decisions of two ESOL teachers. The results showed that there was a considerable amount of attention to form in lessons that purported to be ‘communicative’ and certainly were so. It also became clear that in these classes, a focus-on-form was not just a reactive phenomenon, it was also proactive since the students played an important part in both initiating and responding focus on form episodes. Much of the focus on form that arose was triggered by a problem in using English accurately, not by a problem in communication. That means that, although the lessons were ‘communicative’, the students regularly paid attention to language for its own sake. It is suggested that both pedagogy and teacher education/development may benefit from a perspective in which both good and not-so-good practice is seen as cognitive and reflective activity.
Maternal Care and Hippocampal Plasticity: Evidence for Experience-Dependent Structural Plasticity, Altered Synaptic Functioning, and Differential Responsiveness to Glucocorticoids and Stress

Maternal licking and grooming (LG) in infancy influences stress responsiveness and cognitive performance in the offspring. We examined the effects of variation in the frequency of pup LG on morphological, electrophysiological, and behavioral aspects of hippocampal synaptic plasticity under basal and stress-like conditions. We found shorter dendritic branch length and lower spine density in CA1 cells from the adult offspring of low compared with high LG offspring. We also observed dramatic effects on long-term potentiation (LTP) depending on corticosterone treatment. Low LG offspring, in contrast to those of high LG mothers, displayed significantly impaired LTP under basal conditions but surprisingly a significantly enhanced LTP in response to high corticosterone in vitro. This enhanced plasticity under conditions that mimic those of a stressful event was apparent in vivo. Adult low LG offspring displayed enhanced memory relative to high LG offspring when tested in a hippocampal-dependent, contextual fear-conditioning paradigm. Hippocampal levels of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors were reduced in low compared with high LG offspring. Such effects, as well as the differences in dendritic morphology, likely contribute to LTP differences under resting conditions, as well as to the maternal effects on synaptic plasticity and behavior in response to elevated corticosterone levels. These results suggest that maternal effects may modulate optimal cognitive functioning in environments varying in demand in later life, with offspring of high and low LG mothers showing enhanced learning under contexts of low and high stress, respectively.
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Subclinical Thyroid Disease

Subclinical thyroid disease is defined biochemically by an abnormal thyrotropin (TSH) level and normal serum-free thyroxine level. The prevalence of this condition varies according to the reference range for TSH and geographic or demographic factors. Recently, several studies, including our community-based cohort studies, have reported on the incidence of subclinical thyroid disease in Korea. Using these studies, we reviewed the prevalence and risk factors of subclinical thyroid disease, focusing on subclinical hypothyroidism.
Refinement of variant selection for the LDL cholesterol genetic risk score in the diagnosis of the polygenic form of clinical familial hypercholesterolemia and replication in samples from 6 countries.

BACKGROUND Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal-dominant disorder caused by mutations in 1 of 3 genes. In the 60% of patients who are mutation negative, we have recently shown that the clinical phenotype can be associated with an accumulation of common small-effect LDL cholesterol (LDL-C)-raising alleles by use of a 12-single nucleotide polymorphism (12-SNP) score. The aims of the study were to improve the selection of SNPs and replicate the results in additional samples. METHODS We used ROC curves to determine the optimum number of LDL-C SNPs. For replication analysis, we genotyped patients with a clinical diagnosis of FH from 6 countries for 6 LDL-C-associated alleles. We compared the weighted SNP score among patients with no confirmed mutation (FH/M-), those with a mutation (FH/M+), and controls from a UK population sample (WHII). RESULTS Increasing the number of SNPs to 33 did not improve the ability of the score to discriminate between FH/M- and controls, whereas sequential removal of SNPs with smaller effects/lower frequency showed that a weighted score of 6 SNPs performed as well as the 12-SNP score. Metaanalysis of the weighted 6-SNP score, on the basis of polymorphisms in CELSR2 (cadherin, EGF LAG 7-pass G-type receptor 2), APOB (apolipoprotein B), ABCG5/8 [ATP-binding cassette, sub-family G (WHITE), member 5/8], LDLR (low density lipoprotein receptor), and APOE (apolipoprotein E) loci, in the independent FH/M- cohorts showed a consistently higher score in comparison to the WHII population (P < 2.2 × 10(-16)). Modeling in individuals with a 6-SNP score in the top three-fourths of the score distribution indicated a >95% likelihood of a polygenic explanation of their increased LDL-C. CONCLUSIONS A 6-SNP LDL-C score consistently distinguishes FH/M- patients from healthy individuals. The hypercholesterolemia in 88% of mutation-negative patients is likely to have a polygenic basis.
Cognitive maps beyond the hippocampus

We present a conceptual framework for the role of the hippocampus and its afferent and efferent structures in rodent navigation. Our proposal is compatible with the behavioral, neurophysiological, anatomical, and neuropharmacological literature, and suggests a number of practical experiments that could support or refute it.
An adaptive matching pursuit algorithm for sparse channel estimation

This paper examines the problem of compressed sensing-based sparse channel estimation in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. In particular, we present an improved estimation algorithm based on the sparsity adaptive matching pursuit (SAMP), which is referred to as the adaptive step size SAMP (AS-SAMP), and compare it with the existing algorithms. Without requiring a priori knowledge of the sparsity, the proposed algorithm adjusts the step size adaptively to approach the true sparsity, thus improving the estimation accuracy. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm provides a better trade-off between the mean squared error (MSE) performance and complexity when compared with conventional methods.
Price formation by bargaining and posted prices

We study markets with two types of agents. Sellers have an indivisible good for sale, and their reservation value is zero. Buyers are randomly matched with sellers, and they value the good at unity. Sellers may be matched with any positive number of buyers, and they may choose to determine the price of the good either by bargaining or by posting prices. These choices are relevant only when a seller meets exactly one buyer. If two or more buyers are matched to a seller the buyers engage in an auction. The agents may choose whether to go to markets with bargaining or posted prices. We show that both market structures are equilibria but that they do not co-exist. Markets with posted prices are shown to be the unique evolutionary stable equilibrium.
Transmission Schemes for Lifetime Maximization in Wireless Sensor Networks: Uncorrelated Source Observations

We study transmission schemes for lifetime maximization in wireless sensor networks. Specifically we consider the network where all the sensors observe uncorrelated signals and forward the quantized observations to a common fusion center. We demonstrate how the minimum node lifetime is maximized under individual estimation accuracy constraints through adapting transmission times and powers assigned to different sensor nodes. A partially distributed algorithm is proposed to implement joint time sharing and power control, for which each sensor node only needs local information and little common information. In addition, we obtain a necessary and sufficient condition for convergence of the algorithm. Simulation results show a significant lifetime gain over existing schemes, especially when the sensing environment becomes more heterogeneous and the number of nodes increases.
The role of the geothermal heat flux in driving the abyssal ocean circulation

The results presented in this paper demonstrate that the geothermal heat flux (GHF) from the solid Earth into the ocean plays a non‐negligible role in determining both abyssal stratification and circulation strength. Based upon an ocean data set, we show that the map of upward heat flux at the ocean floor is consistent (within a factor of 2) with the ocean floor age‐dependent map of GHF. The observed buoyancy flux above the ocean floor is consistent with previous suggestions that the GHF acts to erode the abyssal stratification and thereby enhances the strength of the abyssal circulation. Idealized numerical simulations are performed using a zonally averaged single‐basin model which enables us to address the GHF impact as a function of the depth dependence of diapycnal diffusivity. We show that ignoring this vertical variation leads to an under‐prediction of the influence of the GHF on the abyssal circulation. Independent of the diffusivity profile, introduction of the GHF in the model leads to steepening of the Southern Ocean isopycnals and to strengthening of the eddy‐induced circulation and the Antarctic bottom water cell. The enhanced circulation ventilates the GHF derived heating to shallow depths, primarily in the Southern Ocean.
Characteristic Expressions of GABA Receptors and GABA Producing/Transporting Molecules in Rat Kidney

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an important neurotransmitter, but recent reports have revealed the expression of GABAergic components in peripheral, non-neural tissues. GABA administration induces natriuresis and lowers blood pressure, suggesting renal GABA targets. However, systematic evaluation of renal GABAergic components has not been reported. In this study, kidney cortices of Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) were used to assay for messenger RNAs of GABA-related molecules using RT-PCR. In WKY kidney cortex, GABAA receptor subunits, α1, β3, δ, ε and π, in addition to both types of GABAB receptors, R1 and R2, and GABAC receptor ρ1 and ρ2 subunit mRNAs were detected. Kidney cortex also expressed mRNAs of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) 65, GAD67, 4-aminobutyrate aminotransferase and GABA transporter, GAT2. Western blot and/or immunohistochemistry were performed for those molecules detected by RT-PCR. By immunofluorescent observation, co-staining of α1, β3, and π subunits was observed mainly on the apical side of cortical tubules, and immunoblot of kidney protein precipitated with π subunit antibody revealed α1 and β3 subunit co-assembly. This is the first report of GABAA receptor π subunit in the kidney. In summary, unique set of GABA receptor subunits and subtypes were found in rat kidney cortex. As GABA producing enzymes, transporters and degrading enzyme were also detected, a possible existence of local renal GABAergic system with an autocrine/paracrine mechanism is suggested.
Deep learning ensembles for melanoma recognition in dermoscopy images

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. While curable with early detection, only highly trained specialists are capable of accurately recognizing the disease. As expertise is in limited supply, automated systems capable of identifying disease could save lives, reduce unnecessary biopsies, and reduce costs. Toward this goal, we propose a system that combines recent developments in deep learning with established machine learning approaches, creating ensembles of methods that are capable of segmenting skin lesions, as well as analyzing the detected area and surrounding tissue for melanoma detection. The system is evaluated using the largest publicly available benchmark dataset of dermoscopic images, containing 900 training and 379 testing images. New state-of-the-art performance levels are demonstrated, leading to an improvement in the area under receiver operating characteristic curve of 7.5% (0.843 vs. 0.783), in average precision of 4% (0.649 vs. 0.624), and in specificity measured at the clinically relevant 95% sensitivity operating point 2.9 times higher than the previous state-of-the-art (36.8% specificity compared to 12.5%). Compared to the average of 8 expert dermatologists on a subset of 100 test images, the proposed system produces a higher accuracy (76% vs. 70.5%), and specificity (62% vs. 59%) evaluated at an equivalent sensitivity (82%).
Local Procrustes for Manifold Embedding : Quality of Embedding Measure and Embedding Algorithms

We present the Procrustes measure, a novel measure based on Procrustes rotation that enables quantitative comparison of the output of manifold-based embedding algorithms (such as LLE (Roweis and Saul, 2000) and Isomap (Tenenbaum et al, 2000)). The measure also serves as a natural tool when choosing dimension-reduction parameters. We also present two novel dimension-reduction techniques that attempt to minimize the suggested measure, and compare the results of these techniques to the results of existing algorithms.
Benefits and Barriers of HUD Neighborhood Stabilization Program as Perceived by Stakeholders

Benefits and Barriers of HUD Neighborhood Stabilization Program As Perceived by Stakeholders by L. Diane Bennett MRP, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1980 BA, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 1978 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy & Administration