Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pitch identification of simultaneous diotic and dichotic two-tone complexes.

This study examines subjects' ability to recognize the pitches of two missing fundamentals in two simultaneous two-tone complexes whose partials are distributed in various ways between subjects' ears. The data show that identification performance is affected on different levels. Limited frequency resolution in the peripheral auditory system can degrade performance, but only if none of the four stimulus partials is aurally resolved. Identification performance is only weakly dependent on the manner of distributing partials between the ears. In some cases it was found that, probably at a very central level (e.g., attention), the identification processes of both simultaneous pitches interfere with one another. Some subjects are more likely to identify the pitch of one two-tone complex when the harmonic order of the other complex is higher than when this harmonic order is lower. Finally, some subjects tend to hear the complex tones analytically, i.e., perceive pitches of single partials instead of the missing fundamentals for some distribution of partials between the ears.
Comparison of serotonin 5‐HT1 receptors and innervation in the visual cortex of normal and dark‐reared cats

The visual cortical serotoninergic system was compared in normal and dark‐reared cats to determine whether visual experience is necessary for its normal development. In vitro receptor binding of [3H]5‐HT indicated an increase in 5‐HT1 receptor number in dark‐reared cats with no change in affinity. This elevation was specific to the visual cortex and no changes were found in the frontal cortex as a result of dark rearing. Autoradiographic histology revealed that in the normal cat visual cortex, 5‐HT1 receptors were present in all cortical layers and were slightly more dense in supragranular and infragranular layers. In dark‐reared cats, there was a marked elevation in receptor density in supragranular and infragranular layers and little change within layer IV.
White pine blister rust resistance in limber pine: evidence for a major gene.

Limber pine (Pinus flexilis) is being threatened by the lethal disease white pine blister rust caused by the non-native pathogen Cronartium ribicola. The types and frequencies of genetic resistance to the rust will likely determine the potential success of restoration or proactive measures. These first extensive inoculation trials using individual tree seed collections from >100 limber pine trees confirm that genetic segregation of a stem symptom-free trait to blister rust is consistent with inheritance by a single dominant resistance (R) gene, and the resistance allele appears to be distinct from the R allele in western white pine. Following previous conventions, we are naming the R gene for limber pine "Cr4. " The frequency of the Cr4 allele across healthy and recently invaded populations in the Southern Rocky Mountains was unexpectedly high (5.0%, ranging from 0 to 13.9%). Cr4 is in equilibrium, suggesting that it is not a product of a recent mutation and may have other adaptive significance within the species, possibly related to other abiotic or biotic stress factors. The identification of Cr4 in native populations of limber pine early in the invasion progress in this region provides useful information for predicting near-term impacts and structuring long-term management strategies.
Effect of angiotensin II and deoxycorticosterone infusion on vascular angiotensin II receptors in rats.

The effect of angiotensin II (ANG II) and deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) on the density (Bmax) and affinity (Kd) of binding sites for 125I-ANG II was investigated in a particulate fraction prepared from rat mesenteric arteriolar arcades. Rats were infused with ANG II via Alzet osmotic minipumps at a dose of 200 ng X kg-1 X min-1 intraperitoneally or 60 and 200 ng X kg-1 X min-1 intravenously for 5 days. Bmax was 127 +/- 5 fmol/mg protein, and Kd was 0.8 +/- 0.1 nM in controls and was reduced significantly after the intraperitoneal infusion (111 +/- 10 fmol/mg) or the lower intravenous dose (111 +/- 9 fmol/mg), whereas after the higher intravenous dose Bmax did not change (144 +/- 14 fmol/mg). Kd was unaffected in all groups. Plasma renin activity (PRA) was reduced, and plasma ANG II increased in a dose-dependent fashion after ANG II infusion. Plasma aldosterone concentration increased only in the group infused with ANG II at 200 ng X kg-1 X min-1 intravenously (to 33.8 +/- 8.0 ng/dl from 11.6 +/- 3.4). In rats implanted subcutaneously with silicone rubber impregnated with DOCA, Bmax for 125I-ANG II was significantly increased (to 142 +/- 4 fmol/mg), whereas rats receiving 1% NaCl in their drinking water had no change in binding capacity, although PRA was lower in both groups. DOCA infusion, when combined with the intravenous dose of ANG II that reduced Bmax, antagonized this action of ANG II. DOCA infusion into sodium-depleted rats partially corrected the down-regulation of vascular ANG II receptors independent of changes in PRA. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Monetary Policy in the Presence of Random Wage Indexation

Empirical estimations suggest heavy-tailed unconditional distributions for inflation, the output gap and the interest rate. However, standard NK models used in policy analysis imply normal distributions for these variables. In this study, we propose a model which replicates the above mentioned empirical features of inflation,the output gap and the interest rate and subsequently investigate the conduct of monetary policy in this model. The novelty of this study is the introduction of random wage indexation as a source of multiplicative shocks. The findings of this study include the following: Firstly, the unconditional distributions of inflation, the output gap and the interest rates exhibit heavy-tailed characteristics. Secondly, under an indexation to lagged inflation scheme, there exists a positive relationship between expected inflation and conditional variance of inflation. Finally, it is better to target current inflation rather than lagged inflation when conducting monetary policy under a Taylor rule.
Effects of Composition, Solvent, and Salt Particles on the Physicochemical Properties of Polyglycolide/Poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide) Scaffolds

Polyglycolide (PGA)/poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide) (PLGA) scaffolds were fabricated by a solvent casting/particulate leaching method using hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) or acetone for material dissolution and NaCl particles as porogen. The results revealed that the mechanical strength increased as the PGA percentage in a HFIP‐processed scaffold increased. Chemical ingredients did not substantially affect the mechanical strength of acetone‐processed scaffolds. Large NaCl particles led to weak mechanical strength, low porosity, and small specific surface area. For a fixed composition, PGA crystals in a HFIP‐processed scaffold were smaller than those in an acetone‐processed scaffold. High PGA fractions yielded partly fused PGA/PLGA scaffolds. A faster degradation rate of a scaffold could result from a higher PGA percentage, smaller NaCl particles, or the existence of chondrocytes. The combination of PGA and PLGA, which compensated each other for bioactivity, would be beneficial to cartilage regeneration.
Benchmarking Macroprudential Policies: An Initial Assessment

In recognition of the severe consequences of the recent international financial crisis, the topic of macroprudential policy has elicited considerable research effort. The present study constructs, for 46 economies around the globe, an index of the capacity to deploy macroprudential policies. Building on elements that have been the subject of recent research, we develop an index that aims to represent the essence of what constitutes a macroprudential regime. Specifically, the index quantifies: (1) how existing macroprudential frameworks are organized; and (2) how far a particular jurisdiction is from reaching the goals established by the Group of Twenty (G20) and the Financial Stability Board (FSB). The latter is a benchmark that has not been considered in the burgeoning literature that seeks to quantify the role of macroprudential policies.
Oxygen sensing by mitochondria at complex III: the paradox of increased reactive oxygen species during hypoxia

All eukaryotic cells utilize oxidative phosphorylation to maintain their high‐energy phosphate stores. Mitochondrial oxygen consumption is required for ATP generation, and cell survival is threatened when cells are deprived of O2. Consequently, all cells have the ability to sense O2, and to activate adaptive processes that will enhance the likelihood of survival in anticipation that oxygen availability might become limiting. Mitochondria have long been considered a likely site of oxygen sensing, and we propose that the electron transport chain acts as an O2 sensor by releasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to hypoxia. The ROS released during hypoxia act as signalling agents that trigger diverse functional responses, including activation of gene expression through the stabilization of the transcription factor hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF)‐α. The primary site of ROS production during hypoxia appears to be complex III. The paradoxical increase in ROS production during hypoxia may be explained by an effect of O2 within the mitochondrial inner membrane on: (a) the lifetime of the ubisemiquinone radical in complex III; (b) the relative release of mitochondrial ROS towards the matrix compartment versus the intermembrane space; or (c) the ability of O2 to access the ubisemiquinone radical in complex III. In summary, the process of oxygen sensing is of fundamental importance in biology. An ability to control the oxygen sensing mechanism in cells, potentially using small molecules that do not disrupt oxygen consumption, would open valuable therapeutic avenues that could have a profound impact on a diverse range of diseases.
Metabolic flux analysis for recombinant protein production by Pichia pastoris using dual carbon sources: Effects of methanol feeding rate

The intracellular metabolic fluxes through the central carbon pathways in the bioprocess for recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) production by Pichia pastoris (Mut+) were calculated to investigate the metabolic effects of dual carbon sources (methanol/sorbitol) and the methanol feed rate, and to obtain a deeper understanding of the regulatory circuitry of P. pastoris, using the established stoichiometry‐based model containing 102 metabolites and 141 reaction fluxes. Four fed‐batch operations with (MS‐) and without (M‐) sorbitol were performed at three different constant specific growth rates (h−1), and denoted as M‐0.03, MS‐0.02, MS‐0.03, and MS‐0.04. Considering the methanol consumption pathway, the M‐0.03 and MS‐0.02 conditions produced similar effects and had >85% of formaldehyde flux towards the assimilatory pathway. In contrast, the use of the dual carbon source condition generated a shift in metabolism towards the dissimilatory pathway that corresponded to the shift in dilution rate from MS‐0.03 to MS‐0.04, indicating that the methanol feed exceeded the metabolic requirements at the higher µ0. Comparing M‐0.03 and MS‐0.03 conditions, which had the same methanol feeding rates, sorbitol addition increased the rHuEPO synthetic flux 4.4‐fold. The glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and PPP pathways worked uninterruptedly only at MS‐0.02 condition. PPP and TCA cycles worked with the highest disturbances at MS‐0.04 condition, which shows the stress of increased feeding rates of methanol on cell metabolism. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010; 105: 317–329. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
From smile to smirk: The relevance Of implied volatility skew changes in swaption VaR estimation

This thesis aims to provide contribution to further development of Value at Risk (VaR) models utilized in the risk measurement and management of financial instruments. More specifically, this study concentrates on VaR measurement of swaptions by employing Historical Simulation and its variations. Furthermore, the objective is to find out whether or not it is worth the added measurement system complexity to incorporate fluctuations in the observed shape of swaption volatility smile as a risk factor into VaR estimation process. A set of interest rate and swaption implied volatility data from the period between March 8, 2011 and February 1, 2013 is used in this study to generate VaR estimates, the validity of which are evaluated using a variety of backtesting methods that compare the estimates with actual profit and loss figures. The VaR estimates are computed for swaption contracts including maturity-tenor -pairs of 1x2, 1x5, 5x2, 5x5, 10x2 and 10x5. Moreover, the considered contract strike rates in addition to at-the-money (ATM) level comprise the following: +25 bps, +50 bps, +100 bps and +200 bps with respect to the ATM levels. The different main VaR models employed are Historical Simulation (HS), Filtered Historical Simulation (FHS) and Time-Weighted Historical Simulation (TW). These models are applied with modifications regarding the method used for incorporating different implied volatility fluctuations into the simulation. The VaR estimates are generated using a historical observation period of 250 trading days, which leaves 228 trading as the backtesting period. The backtesting results show partial support with mixed evidence for the validity of the considered VaR models. None of them is able to pass each of the backtests with all tested swaption contracts, but some models could be considered sufficiently accurate in terms of regulatory boundaries. Overall, TW models seem to yield best results, but the estimates suffer from clustering of VaR exceptions, which leads to rejection by Christoffersen’s (1998) test of conditional coverage. All of the considered models perform adequately well when tested with short positions, but the number of VaR breaches for long positions is in most cases clearly above the acceptable region.
Trace metal contents of three tricalcium silicate materials: MTA Angelus, Micro Mega MTA and Bioaggregate.

AIM To investigate the levels of nine metals [aluminium (Al), antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), lead (Pb) and molybdenum (Mo)] in MTA Angelus, Micro Mega MTA and Bioaggregate using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). METHODOLOGY Each material (0.2 g) was digested using a mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acids and then filtered. The levels of nine metals in the resulting filtrates were measured by ICP-OES. The results were statistically analysed using one-way anova and the Bonferroni test. RESULTS MTA Angelus contained more aluminium, beryllium and chromium than Micro Mega MTA (P < 0.05), whilst their levels of arsenic, cadmium and iron were similar. Antimony, lead and molybdenum were not detected in any of the three tested cements. Bioaggregate contained trace amounts of aluminium. CONCLUSIONS MTA Angelus and Micro Mega MTA contained small amounts of seven tested metal oxides. Bioaggregate only contained trace amounts of aluminium.
Non-tuberculous mycobacterial pleurisy: an 8-year single-centre experience in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with pleurisy due to non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), which are currently unclear. DESIGN From 2000 to 2007, patients with NTM and Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from pleural effusion (PE) samples were identified and compared. RESULTS Thirty-five NTM patients and 140 tuberculosis (TB) patients were reviewed. Patients with NTM pleurisy were less likely to have lung involvement and receive anti-mycobacterial treatment compared with those with tuberculous pleurisy. NTM pleurisy had a higher PE leukocyte count and a lower percentage of lymphocytes. M. avium complex (MAC) was the most common pathogen in NTM pleurisy. Patients with MAC pleurisy were younger and tended to have more extra-pleural involvement and immune dysfunction. One-year mortality in the NTM pleurisy group was 37%, and anti-NTM treatment was associated with better survival. Patients with additional diagnostic evidence were more likely to receive anti-NTM treatment. CONCLUSION NTM pleurisy is common and has a high 1-year mortality rate. Anti-NTM treatment may provide better 1-year survival and should be considered once NTM pleurisy is diagnosed.
Regulation of the kinase RSK1 by arsenic trioxide and generation of antileukemic responses

Arsenic Trioxide (As2O3) is one of the most effective agents in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), but has no significant efficacy in other forms of AML. The mechanisms of relative resistance of non-APL cells are not well understood, but emerging evidence suggests that activation of negative feedback regulatory loops and pathways contributes to such resistance. We provide evidence that a signaling cascade involving the kinase RSK1 is engaged in a negative feedback manner during arsenic-treatment of cells and exhibits regulatory effects on growth and survival of AML cells in response to treatment with As2O3. Our data demonstrate that pharmacological inhibition or molecular disruption of expression of RSK1 enhances As2O3-dependent apoptosis and/or growth inhibition of AML cells. Importantly, combination of a pharmacological inhibitor of RSK and As2O3 results in enhanced suppression of primary AML leukemic progenitors. Altogether, our findings suggest an important regulatory role for RSK1 in the generation of the effects of As2O3 in AML cells. They also raise the potential of RSK1 targeting in combination with As2O3 as a novel approach to promote antileukemic responses.
The bone mineral status of patients with marfan syndrome

Osteopenia at the hip and low total body calcium content have been reported in women with Marfan syndrome. Using dual X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA), we evaluated the lumbar spine L2‐L4 and proximal femur bone mineral density (BMD, g/cm2) in 32 women and 16 children with Marfan syndrome. The women were 38 ± 10 (SD) years old (23–58 years); their mean height was 178.6 ± 8 cm. The children (9 boys and 5 girls) were 9.9–17.5 years old. Children were tall for their ages but of normal weight. All subjects were moderately active, without previous nontraumatic fracture. In the women, BMD was reduced at L2–L4, femoral neck (fnk), trochanter (tr), and intertrochanter (intr) (p < 0.0001–0.006), compared with age‐predicted values. Z scores for L2–L4 and for the fnk, tr, and intr, were –0.59 ± 1.06, –1.25 ± 0.99, –1.03 ± 1.10, and –1.31 ± 0.91, respectively. The average hip axis length (HAL) of 11.5 ± 0.093 cm was at the 80th percentile for women. No significant change was observed in 1 year follow‐up BMD measurements in 13 women (fnk = –0.23 ± 23%/year, L2–L4 = –0.43 ± 1.57%/year). In Marfan children, BMD correlated with age, height, and pubertal development. Femoral neck BMD was reduced (Z = –0.74 ± 1.22, p < 0.05) with a nonsignificant trend toward decreased BMD at L2–L4 (Z = –0.33 ± 1.48). Resorption markers in Marfan women were normal and did not correlate with bone status. We conclude that women with Marfan syndrome have both axial and peripheral osteopenia as well as an increased HAL. This combination of findings likely increases substantially their long‐term risk for hip fracture. Presence of osteopenia in Marfan children indicates that the skeletal deficits of Marfan syndrome may reflect inadequate bone acquisition.
Angiogenic factors for prediction of preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction onset in high-risk women: AngioPred study

Abstract Objective: The study aimed to compare the level of two angiogenic factors, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt1) and soluble endoglin (sEng), for the prediction of preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction in high-risk pregnant women. Methods: A prospective multicenter cohort study of 200 pregnant patients was conducted between June 2008 and October 2010. sFlt1 and sEng were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Forty-five patients developed a placenta-mediated adverse pregnancy outcome. Plasma levels of sFlt1 and sEng were higher in patients who will experience a preeclampsia at 28, 32, and 36 weeks compared with patients with no complication. The same results were observed for intrauterine growth restriction. Plasma levels of sFlt1 and sEng were not significantly different for patients with preeclampsia compare to patients with intrauterine growth restriction. Patients with early pre-eclampsia (PE) had very high rates of angiogenic factors at 20, 24, and 28 weeks. Patients with late PE and early and late intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) had high rates at 32 and 36 weeks. Conclusion: In high-risk women, angiogenic factors are disturbed before the onset of preeclampsia and this is true for intrauterine growth restriction.
Vibration on the soles of the feet evoking a sensation of walking expands peripersonal space

Processing of audio-tactile multisensory stimuli presented within the space immediately surrounding our body, i.e., peripersonal space (PPS), is known to be facilitated and the boundaries of the PPS extended by body action such as walking. However, it is unclear whether the boundaries change when a sensation of walking is induced with no physical body motion. Here, we presented several vibration patterns on the soles of the feet of seated participants to evoke a sensation of walking and examined the change in reaction times to detect a vibrotactile stimulus on the chest while listening to a looming sound approaching the body, which was taken as a behavioral proxy for the PPS boundary. Results revealed that a cyclic vibration consisting of lowpass-filtered walking sounds presented at the soles that clearly evoked a sensation of walking decreased the reaction times, indicating that the PPS boundary was expanded forward by inducing a sensation of walking.
Two Active Forms of UDP-N-Acetylglucosamine Enolpyruvyl Transferase in Gram-Positive Bacteria

ABSTRACT Gene sequences encoding the enzymes UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyl transferase (MurA) from many bacterial sources were analyzed. It was shown that whereas gram-negative bacteria have only one murA gene, gram-positive bacteria have two distinct genes encoding these enzymes which have possibly arisen from gene duplication. The twomurA genes of the gram-positive organismStreptococcus pneumoniae were studied further. Each of themurA genes was individually inactivated by allelic replacement. In each case, the organism was viable despite losing one of its murA genes. However, when attempts were made to construct a double-deletion strain, no mutants were obtained. This indicates that both genes encode active enzymes that can substitute for each other, but that the presence of a MurA function is essential to the organism. The two genes were further cloned and overexpressed, and the enzymes they encode were purified. Both enzymes catalyzed the transfer of enolpyruvate from phosphoenolpyruvate to UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, confirming they are both active UDP-N-acetylglucosamine enolpyruvyl transferases. The catalytic parameters of the two enzymes were similar, and they were both inhibited by the antibiotic fosfomycin.