Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Social Factors in Aesthetics: Social Conformity Pressure and a Sense of Being Watched Affect Aesthetic Judgments

The present study is a first attempt to experimentally test the impact of two specific social factors, namely social conformity pressure and a sense of being watched, on participants’ judgments of the artistic quality of aesthetic objects. We manipulated conformity pressure with a test form in which a photograph of each stimulus was presented together with unanimously low (downward pressure) or high quality ratings (upward pressure) of three would-be previous raters. Participants’ sense of being watched was manipulated by testing each of them in two settings, one of which contained an eyespots stimulus. Both social factors significantly affected the participants’ judgments—unexpectedly, however, with conformity pressure only working in the downward direction and eyespots leading to an overall downward shift in participants’ judgments. Our findings indicate the relevance of including explicit and implicit social factors in aesthetics research, thus also reminding us of the limitations of overly reductionist approaches to investigating aesthetic perception and experience.
Epilepsy and Pregnancy ‐ A Review of 98 Pregnancies

Summary: This study presents the clinical and management problems in 81 epileptic patients attending the Queen Victoria Hospital for 98 pregnancies between 1985 and 1988. Epileptic women were found to have a 26.1% risk of seizure deterioration during pregnancy and the single most important factor for predicting seizure prognosis was the severity of epilepsy prepregnancy. There was a significant increase in the complications of vaginal bleeding, preeclampsia, and preterm delivery, compared with a control group of women. Infants of epileptic mothers had an increased incidence of low birth‐weight and lower Apgar scores at 5 minutes. The congenital abnormality rate was 14.3% (9 major and 5 minor abnormalities). These results confirm that pregnant epileptic women are a high risk group.
Sib mating avoidance Collet 1 Insects and incest : field evidence for dangerous liaisons in a parasitoid wasp

1. Sib mating avoidance is a pervasive behaviour, which likely evolves in species that sare subject to inbreeding depression. Laboratory studies have provided elegant demonstrations, but small-scale bioassays often minimize the costs associated with mate finding and mate-choice and may for this reason produce spurious findings. 2. We inferred the mating behaviour of the parasitoid wasp Venturia canescens from the genetic analyses of natural populations. We used V. canescens as a model organism because in this species, laboratory experiments have shown that sib mating yields a 25% decrease in fertile offspring, and congruently, sib mating is partially avoided. 3. Our study consisted in genotyping 86 wild-caught males, 155 wild-caught-females and their 226 daughters at eighteen microsatellite loci. With these data, we were able to reconstruct the genotype of females’ mate and estimate the relatedness of each mating pairs. 4. We found that the effective rate of sib mating does not differ from the probability that sibs encounter one another at random, which suggest a sib mating tolerance in this species. However, complementary lab experiments confirmed that kin discrimination exist in this species, with related pairs having a lower mating latency. 5. These results suggest that V. canescens tolerate sib mating in the field despite kin discrimination, and therefore call into question the common beliefs on inbreeding depression in species with single-locus complementary sex determination. This inbreeding tolerance also opens up the question of the maintenance of the kin discrimination in this species. Key-words: Field assay, Inbreeding tolerance, Kin recognition, Parasitoid wasp, single-locus Complementary Sex Determination
Intracutaneous keratinising epithelioma in a mynah bird (Gracula religiosa)

plasm and occasional intracytoplasmic keratohyalin granules. These cells had euchromic vesicular nuclei with inconspicuous nucleoli, and distinct cell borders connected by desmosomes. Extending outward from the central cavity, cords of epithelial cells conformed the peripheral zone of the tumour, forming small cysts, with concentric lamellar aggregates of keratin within the cyst lumina (keratin pearls). These cells had central nuclei, more hyperchromatic than those of the luminal cells, a moderate amount of eosinohilic cytoplasm and distinct cell borders. A compressed fibrovascular stroma surrounded the tumour and also extended into the tumour between the anastomosing cords of epithelial cells. Focal rupture of the lesion was common and stimulated a pyogranulomatous inflammatory response, with abundant heterophils and multinucleated giant cells in the surrounding dermis mixed with necrotic cell debris. Skin tumours are infrequently reported in domestic and captive birds (Tell and others 1997, Frasca and others 1999). Intranuclear inclusion bodies in the epithelium of feather follicles around the tumour, indicative of Marek’s disease (Riddell 1987), or intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies compatible with poxvirus infection (Riddell 1987, Orós and others 1997), were not demonstrated in the present case. Integumentary neoplasms of epithelial origin in birds include papillomas, squamous cell carcinomas, uropygial gland adenomas and carcinomas, feather folliculomas and basal cell carcinomas (Riddell 1987, Latimer 1994). Intracutaneous keratinising epitheliomas have been previously reported on the faces of three adult chickens, on the ventrum of a glossy ibis and on the wing of a canary (Reece 1992, Intracutaneous keratinising epithelioma in a mynah bird (Gracula religiosa)
Cost variation analysis of oral anti-dyslipidaemic drugs available in Indian pharmaceutical market

Background: Dyslipidaemia is one of major risk factor contributing to cardiovascular disease, which further causes mortality and morbidity, so requires a long course of treatment. Physicians should be aware of the cost of drugs. Methods: Cost of the oral anti-dyslipidaemic drug, either as single drug or in combination manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies in the same strength and dosage form was obtained from current index of medical specialities (CIMS) April-July 2019. The difference in the maximum and minimum price of the same drug manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies and percentage cost variation per 10 tablets was calculated. Results: In this study, existing findings showed a wide cost variation among different brands of the same oral anti-dyslipidaemic drug. Percentage cost variation for individual oral anti-dyslipidaemic drug was found to be highest with atorvastatin (80 mg film coated (FC) tablet): 358.84% followed by atorvastatin (5 mg FC tablet): 247%, fenofibrate (200 mg FC tablet): 134.22%, lovastatin (10 mg FC tablet): 108.56%, rosuvastatin (10 mg FC tablet): 78.60%, while lowest cost variation is seen with rosuvastatin 40 mg FC Tb: 1.598%. Among fixed dose combination therapy percentage cost variation was found to be highest with atorvastatin and fenofibrate (10 mg and 160 mg, FC tablet): 256%, followed by atorvastatin and ezetimibe (10 mg and 10 mg, tablet): 132.39%, while minimum cost variation was for rosuvastatin and fenofibrate (10 mg and 67 mg, tablet): 22.6%. Conclusions: These study findings showed that there is a wide variation in the cost of the same oral anti-dyslipidaemic drug. So, it is very necessary for regulatory authorities to regulate the wide variation in the cost, as well as physicians, should be sensitized to be aware of their cost variations to reduce the economic burden of drug-therapy to the patients.
An Hybrid Architecture for consolidating mixed criticality applications on multicore systems

The paper proposes a novel hybrid architecture to consolidate avionic applications with different levels of criticality in a multicore processor. The architecture stems from the need of deploying into one computer different applications with conflicting requirements in terms of criticalities that today are mapped into multiple independent computers. The architecture relies on a type-1 hypervisor to separate the applications exposing different criticalities levels, to avoid that low-criticality applications might corrupt high-criticality applications. Moreover, the architecture exploits custom-designed hardware watchdogs to enforce error detection. Fault-injection results are presented to illustrate the robustness of the architecture.
How disruption of endo‐epicardial electrical connections enhances endo‐epicardial conduction during atrial fibrillation

Aims Loss of side‐to‐side electrical connections between atrial muscle bundles is thought to underlie conduction disturbances predisposing to atrial fibrillation (AF). Putatively, disruption of electrical connections occurs not only within the epicardial layer but also between the epicardial layer and the endocardial bundle network, thus impeding transmural conductions (‘breakthroughs’). However, both clinical and experimental studies have shown an enhancement of breakthroughs during later stages of AF. We tested the hypothesis that endo‐epicardial uncoupling enhances endo‐epicardial electrical dyssynchrony, breakthrough rate (BTR), and AF stability. Methods and results In a novel dual‐layer computer model of the human atria, 100% connectivity between the two layers served as healthy control. Atrial structural remodelling was simulated by reducing the number of connections between the layers from 96 to 6 randomly chosen locations. With progressive elimination of connections, AF stability increased. Reduction in the number of connections from 96 to 24 resulted in an increase in endo‐epicardial dyssynchrony from 6.6 ± 1.9 to 24.6 ± 1.3%, with a concomitant increase in BTR. A further reduction to 12 and 6 resulted in more pronounced endo‐epicardial dyssynchrony of 34.4 ± 1.15 and 40.2 ± 0.52% but with BTR reduction. This biphasic relationship between endo‐epicardial coupling and BTR was found independently from whether AF was maintained by re‐entry or by ectopic focal discharges. Conclusion Loss of endo‐epicardial coupling increases AF stability. There is a biphasic relation between endo‐epicardial coupling and BTR. While at high degrees of endo‐epicardial connectivity, the BTR is limited by the endo‐epicardial synchronicity, at low degrees of connectivity, it is limited by the number of endo‐epicardial connections.
LEDA 074886: A REMARKABLE RECTANGULAR-LOOKING GALAXY

We report the discovery of an interesting and rare rectangular-shaped galaxy. At a distance of 21 Mpc, the dwarf galaxy LEDA 074886 has an absolute R-band magnitude of −17.3 mag. Adding to this galaxy's intrigue is the presence of an embedded, edge-on stellar disk (of extent 2 Re, disk = 12″ = 1.2 kpc) for which Forbes et al. reported vrot/σ ≈ 1.4. We speculate that this galaxy may be the remnant of two (nearly edge-on) merged disk galaxies in which the initial gas was driven inward and subsequently formed the inner disk, while the stars at larger radii effectively experienced a dissipationless merger event resulting in this “emerald cut galaxy” having very boxy isophotes with a4/a = −0.05 to −0.08 from 3 to 5 kpc. This galaxy suggests that knowledge from simulations of both “wet” and “dry” galaxy mergers may need to be combined to properly understand the various paths that galaxy evolution can take, with a particular relevance to blue elliptical galaxies.
Subthreshold current in MODFETs of tenth-micrometer gate

The subthreshold current of conventional GaAs/AlGaAs MODFETs and pseudomorphic InGaAs/AlGaAs MODFETs with the gate length down to 0.12 mu m is investigated. The gate swing increases with the drain voltage and decreases with the gate length. It is attributed to charge injection from source to drain, limited by the channel potential barrier, which is a function of both the drain and the gate voltages. The pseudomorphic InGaAs/AlGaAs MODFETs show much better control than the conventional GaAs/AlGaAs MODFETs for the subthreshold current, especially with high drain biases. This shows that the pseudomorphic quantum-well structures can suppress the subthreshold current passing through the GaAs buffer region and reduce the undesirable short-channel effects. <<ETX>>
Targeted exon sequencing in Usher syndrome type I.

PURPOSE Patients with Usher syndrome type I (USH1) have retinitis pigmentosa, profound congenital hearing loss, and vestibular ataxia. This syndrome is currently thought to be associated with at least six genes, which are encoded by over 180 exons. Here, we present the use of state-of-the-art techniques in the molecular diagnosis of a cohort of 47 USH1 probands. METHODS The cohort was studied with selective exon capture and next-generation sequencing of currently known inherited retinal degeneration genes, comparative genomic hybridization, and Sanger sequencing of new USH1 exons identified by human retinal transcriptome analysis. RESULTS With this approach, we were able to genetically solve 14 of the 47 probands by confirming the biallelic inheritance of mutations. We detected two likely pathogenic variants in an additional 19 patients, for whom family members were not available for cosegregation analysis to confirm biallelic inheritance. Ten patients, in addition to primary disease-causing mutations, carried rare likely pathogenic USH1 alleles or variants in other genes associated with deaf-blindness, which may influence disease phenotype. Twenty-one of the identified mutations were novel among the 33 definite or likely solved patients. Here, we also present a clinical description of the studied cohort at their initial visits. CONCLUSIONS We found a remarkable genetic heterogeneity in the studied USH1 cohort with multiplicity of mutations, of which many were novel. No obvious influence of genotype on phenotype was found, possibly due to small sample sizes of the genotypes under study.
Spreading Dynamics of a Viral Infection in a Complex Network

We report a computational study of the spreading dynamics of a viral infection in a complex (scale-free) network. The final epidemic size distribution (FESD) was found to be unimodal or bimodal depending on the value of the basic reproductive number 0 R. The FESDs occurred on time-scales long enough for intermediate-time epidemic size distributions (IESDs) to be important for control measures. The usefulness of 0 R for deciding on the timeliness and intensity of control measures was found to be limited by the multimodal nature of the IESDs and by its inability to inform on the speed at which the infection spreads through the population. A reduction of the transmission probability at the hubs of the scale-free network decreased the occurrence of the larger-sized epidemic events of the multimodal distributions. For effective epidemic control, an early reduction in transmission at the index cell and its neighbours was essential.
The effects of irritation at various levels of the airway upon tracheal mucus secretion in the cat.

1. Sulphated glycoprotein output from the trachea, isolated in situ, has been measured in anaesthetized cats by a radio‐isotopic method. The effects of irritation of various parts of the airway on this mucus output were studied. 2. Mechanical stimulation of the nose and nasopharynx increased tracheal mucus output by reflexes which involved parasympathetic and probably also sympathetic motor pathways. 3. Laryngeal stimulation had a similar through the same motor pathways. 4. Inhalation of ammonia vapour into the lower airways reflexly increased mucus output from the isolated trachea. The efferent pathway for this reflex was mainly or entirely parasympathetic. It is argued that the afferent pathway involved cough receptors. 5. Lung inflation, inhalation of histamine aerosol and intravenous injection of phenyl diguanide (which excite mainly lung stretch receptors, lung 'irritant' receptors and alveolar 'J‐receptors' respectively) had no consistent effect on tracheal mucus secretion. 6. The afferent and efferent pathways of these reflexes are discussed.
Reproducibility of retinal thickness measurements in patients with age‐related macular degeneration using 3D Fourier‐domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) (Topcon 3D‐OCT 1000)

Purpose: Conventional time‐domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) has become an important tool for following dry or exudative age‐related macular degeneration (AMD). Fourier‐domain three‐dimensional (3D) OCT was recently introduced. This study tested the reproducibility of 3D‐OCT retinal thickness measurements in patients with dry and exudative AMD.
Hepatocellular carcinoma incidence, mortality, and survival trends in the United States from 1975 to 2005.

PURPOSE Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Incidence rates are increasing in the United States. Monitoring incidence, survival, and mortality rates within at-risk populations can facilitate control efforts. METHODS Age-adjusted incidence trends for HCC were examined in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries from 1975 to 2005. Age-specific rates were examined for birth cohorts born between 1900 and 1959. Age-adjusted incidence and cause-specific survival rates from 1992 to 2005 were examined in the SEER 13 registries by race/ethnicity, stage, and treatment. United States liver cancer mortality rates were also examined. RESULTS Age-adjusted HCC incidence rates tripled between 1975 and 2005. Incidence rates increased in each 10-year birth cohort from 1900 through the 1950s. Asians/Pacific Islanders had higher incidence and mortality rates than other racial/ethnic groups, but experienced a significant decrease in mortality rates over time. From 2000 to 2005, marked increases in incidence rates occurred among Hispanic, black, and white middle-aged men. Between 1992 and 2004, 2- to 4-year HCC survival rates doubled, as more patients were diagnosed with localized and regional HCC and prognosis improved, particularly for patients with reported treatment. Recent 1-year survival rates remained, however, less than 50%. CONCLUSION HCC incidence and mortality rates continue to increase, particularly among middle-aged black, Hispanic, and white men. Screening of at-risk groups and treatment of localized-stage tumors may contribute to increasing HCC survival rates in the United States. More progress is needed.
Usefulness of 23S rRNA Amplification by PCR in the Detection of Bacteria in CAPD Peritonitis

Background: Peritonitis is the most common complication of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), and the spectrum of organisms causing CAPD peritonitis is broad. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has recently broadened its diagnostic capabilities in infectious diseases. PCR can provide a sensitive method for identifying causative infectious organisms. Methods: To evaluate the usefulness of 23S bacterial ribosomal RNA amplification and direct sequencing for the detection of infectious organisms, we compared PCR with bacteriological culture for the analysis of dialysates from CAPD peritonitis patients. Thirty-two samples from CAPD peritonitis patients with current antibiotic use and control samples from 30 CAPD patients without peritonitis were examined by PCR with sequencing analysis and by conventional bacteriological culture. In addition, 95 culture-positive samples and 39 culture-negative samples from CAPD peritonitis patients before antibiotic treatment were analyzed by PCR assay. Results: In the control samples from patients without CAPD peritonitis, false-positive rates were relatively rare: 3 of 30 in the PCR study and 2 of 30 in the culture study. Of the 134 CAPD peritonitis samples collected before antibiotic therapy, positive cultures were obtained in 70.9% (95/134) of them. In 75 of the culture-positive samples, the same microorganisms were confirmed by PCR assay, and the others showed discrepant results as compared with culture study. In 30 of the 39 culture-negative samples, microbial organisms were detected by PCR assay. Of the 32 samples from patients who developed CAPD peritonitis during antibiotic treatment, 17 (53.1%) were positive by PCR assay, and 5 (15.6%) were positive by culture. Conclusion: Our study suggests that broad-spectrum PCR with RNA sequencing can complement culture methods in the diagnosis of CAPD peritonitis, especially in patients with previous or current antibiotic use.
Carbon Monoxide Inhibition of Apoptosis during Ischemia-Reperfusion Lung Injury Is Dependent on the p38 Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathway and Involves Caspase 3*

Carbon monoxide (CO), a reaction product of the cytoprotective gene heme oxygenase, has been shown to be protective against organ injury in a variety of models. One potential mechanism whereby CO affords cytoprotection is through its anti-apoptotic properties. Our studies show that low level, exogenous CO attenuates anoxia-reoxygenation (A-R)-induced lung endothelial cell apoptosis. Exposure of primary rat pulmonary artery endothelial cells to minimal levels of CO inhibits apoptosis and enhances phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation in A-R. Transfection of p38α dominant negative mutant or inhibition of p38 MAPK activity with SB203580 ablates the anti-apoptotic effects of CO in A-R. CO, through p38 MAPK, indirectly modulates caspase 3. Furthermore, we correlate our in vitro apoptosis model with an in vivo model of A-R by showing that CO can attenuate I-R injury of the lung. Taken together, our data are the first to demonstrate in models of A-R that the anti-apoptotic effects of CO are via modulation of p38 MAPK and caspase 3.
Deep Feature Consistent Deep Image Transformations: Downscaling, Decolorization and HDR Tone Mapping

Building on crucial insights into the determining factors of the visual integrity of an image and the property of deep convolutional neural network (CNN), we have developed the Deep Feature Consistent Deep Image Transformation (DFC-DIT) framework which unifies challenging one-to-many mapping image processing problems such as image downscaling, decolorization (colour to grayscale conversion) and high dynamic range (HDR) image tone mapping. We train one CNN as a non-linear mapper to transform an input image to an output image following what we term the deep feature consistency principle which is enforced through another pretrained and fixed deep CNN. This is the first work that uses deep learning to solve and unify these three common image processing tasks. We present experimental results to demonstrate the effectiveness of the DFC-DIT technique and its state of the art performances.