Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Linking Verbal Transformations to Their Causes

The verbal transformation effect (VTE) is a perceptual phenomenon in which listeners report hearing illusory utterances when a spoken word is rapidly repeated for an extended period of time. The cause of the illusion was investigated by identifying regularities across the transformations that listeners reported and then testing hypotheses about the cause of those regularities. Variants of the standard transformation paradigm were used across 3 experiments to demonstrate that perceptual regrouping of the elements in the repeating utterance is 1 cause of the VTE. Findings also suggest that regrouping is influenced by whether the stimulus is perceived as speech or as nonspeech. Within the information-processing approach to perception, one method of inquiry is to investigate the causes of illusions, which are viewed as windows into the processes that operate during veridical perception. That is, illusions are temporary lesions (Warren, 1968) of the perceptual system that reveal its inner workings. One illusion whose cause continues to elude researchers despite years of study is the verbal transformation effect (VTE; Warren, 1961b). The VTE is experienced while listening to a word repeat at a fast rate (e.g., once per half second). Initially, the veridical percept (i.e., the intended word) is heard, but at some point illusory utterances begin to be perceived. For example, a subset of transformations reported in response to the word ripe includes “right,” “ride,” “rife,” “life,” “bright,” “rape,” and “wife” (Warren, 1961b). Verbal transformations are so vivid that participants believe that the stimulus changes along with the percept, making the VTE a very compelling illusion. In general, a few specific transformations are heard by many listeners, and each listener also reports idiosyncratic transformations. Although some transformations can be small phonetic deviations from the veridical percept, as in the examples above, others are positively weird (e.g., reporting “florist” when listening to trice). Investigations of the illusion have largely focused on the dynamics of switching among transformations. In recent work, Ditzinger, Tuller, and Kelso (1997) found evidence that switching is not always random but can involve rapid and long alternations between pairs of transformations, suggesting that there may be a coupling mechanism that underlies the illusion much like that responsible for alternating between views of a reversible figure.
Volatile Organic Compounds in Blood as Biomarkers of Exposure to JP-8 Jet Fuel Among US Air Force Personnel

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate blood volatile organic compound (VOC) levels as biomarkers of occupational jet propulsion fuel 8 (JP-8) exposure while controlling for smoking. Methods: Among 69 Air Force personnel, post-shift blood samples were analyzed for components of JP-8, including ethylbenzene, toluene, o-xylene, and m/p-xylene, and for the smoking biomarker, 2,5-dimethylfuran. JP-8 exposure was characterized based on self-report and measured work shift levels of total hydrocarbons in personal air. Multivariate regression was used to evaluate the relationship between JP-8 exposure and post-shift blood VOCs while controlling for potential confounding from smoking. Results: Blood VOC concentrations were higher among US Air Force personnel who reported JP-8 exposure and work shift smoking. Breathing zone total hydrocarbons was a significant predictor of VOC blood levels, after controlling for smoking. Conclusions: These findings support the use of blood VOCs as a biomarker of occupational JP-8 exposure.
The time of foaling of thoroughbred mares.

The length of pregnancy in the mare is known to be influenced both by the genotype of the foetus and the environment of the mother. The heritability of gestation length is 36% (Rollins & Howell, 1951), and male foetuses are carried longer than females (Uppenborn, 1933; Mauch, 1937). Mares mated between December and May have pregnancies that are on average 10 days longer than those of mares mated at other times of the year. This seasonal influence alone accounts for 44% of the observed variance in gestation length, and it appears to to be independent of nutritional factors (Howell & Rollins, 1951). In addition to these genetical and environmental factors that control the day of parturition, there appear to be other environmental factors that can even influence the hour ofbirth. The time of rupture of the chorio-allantoic membrane was recorded in 501 thoroughbred mares foaling at three public studs in the Newmarket area during 1960\p=n-\66.All the foalings occurred during the months ofJanuary to June, and the mares were all kept under similar conditions of management. The hourly incidence of foalings and the stud routine are shown in Text-fig. 1. It is obvious that the great majority of foalings take place at night; 86% occur between 19.00 and 07.00 hours. The maximal incidence is between 22.00 and 23.00 hours, and the distribution about this maximum is markedly skewed. These results are almost identical to those obtained in Poland (Zwolinski & Siudinski, 1965), and to the limited observations made in Sweden (Bane, 1961). Zwolinski & Siudinski (1965) also observed that as the nights became shorter in the summer, the frequency of foalings per hour of darkness actually increased. This, together with the fact that semi-wild mares in the New Forest also seem to foal at night (Davenport, personal communication), suggests that light is the controlling environmental factor. However, husbandry factors may also be important. At the University of Bristol Veterinary Field Station, students were in close attendance on thirteen
Biofilms and the food industry

Trachoo, N. Biofilms and the food industry Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol. , 2003, 25(6) : 807-815 In the past, interest in biofilms was limited to research related to water distribution systems, waste water treatment and dental plaques. Biofilm has become a more popular research topic in many other areas in recent years including food safety. Biofilm formation can compromise the sanitation of food surfaces and environmental surfaces by spreading detached organisms to other areas of processing plants. Unfortunately, these detached organisms are not similar to normal microorganisms suspended in an aquatic environment but are more resistant to several stresses or microbial inactivation including some food preservation methods. Microstructures of biofilms as revealed by different types of microscopic techniques showed that biofilms are highly complex and consist of many symbiotic organisms, some of which are human pathogens. This article reviewed the process of biofilm formation, the significance of biofilms on food or food contact surfaces, their ability to protect foodborne pathogens from environmental stresses and recent methods for the study of biofilms on food contact surfaces.
Otologic diseases in a tertiary hospital in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria

Diseases of the ear are common in the ear, nose and throat clinic. In our environment, otologic diseas es such as chronic suppurative otitis media are seen m ore as a nuisance than as a disease that can have serious complications. This often leads to late pre sentations and therefore complications. Objective: To determine the pattern of otologic diseases seen in our environment so as to set up an up to date otologic practice with infrastructures for training and retraining of specialists. It was a retrospect ive study of all patients seen with otologic conditions in the university of Port Harcourt teaching hospit al (UPTH) Port Harcourt, Nigeria within the period of January 2007 and December 2011.patients` records were retrieved from the ear, nose and throat (ENT) clinic, ward and the theatre registers. These were analyzed for age, gender, diagnosis, treatment and o utcome. A total of 4,211 patients presented with ear diseases out of a total number of 20,200 cases seen in the ENT clinic, giving a prevalence of 20.8 5% patients with otologic diseases. There were 2,091 m ales and 2,120 females. The age range was 2months to 86 years with a mean age of 28.45 years. The age range 21-30years accounted for majority of the cases 1125(26.72%). otitis externa was the commonest condition seen 896(21.28%). Overall complication rate was 0.47% with post auricular abscess as the c ommonest complication seen 0.19%. The percentage of patients that had procedures done on them was 33 . 29% and aural syringing was the most common procedure done 64.19%. There were only three mastoid ectomies done and no inner ear surgery was recorded. The commonest otologic disease seen in th is region was otitis externa followed by wax impaction and chronic suppurative otitis media. The re was in addition, appreciable number with varying forms of hearing impairment, therefore a need to es tablish a good otologic practice in this region wit h emphasis on training specialists in major ear surge ries and audiology is paramount.
Gender differences in self‐reported late effects, quality of life and satisfaction with clinic in survivors of lymphoma

Objectives: Gender differences in perceived vulnerability to late effects and views about follow‐up among cancer survivors have received little attention. As lymphoma affects both genders similarly, we compared the consequences of cancer (late effects, perceived vulnerability and quality of life (health‐related quality of life (HRQoL)), and satisfaction with clinic visits between genders.
Changes in the supragingival microbiota surrounding brackets of upper central incisors during orthodontic treatment

Abstract Objective. The aim of this study was to determine how fixed orthodontic appliances affect microbiota of supragingival plaque over 5 months. Materials and methods. Twenty individuals of Scandinavian origin, aged 10–16 years, were included. All subjects were fitted with fixed orthodontic appliances in both the maxillary and mandibular tooth arches. Pooled supragingival plaque samples from the labial surface of the two maxillary central incisors were collected before bonding (T1) and afterwards at 4 weeks (T2), 3 months (T3) and 5 months (T4). The plaque index (PI) was recorded for each sampling. The gingival status was documented at T1 and T4 by using clinical photographs. Plaque microbiota was identified using the Human Oral Microbe Identification Microarray (HOMIM). Results. Increased plaque levels were recorded after bonding, however the increase was not significant. The prevalence of gingivitis at the maxillary central incisors increased from 25% at T1 to 74% at T4. No significant changes of the plaque microbiota from the sample area were detected during the 5-month period. Trends toward a microbiota containing more periodontitis- and caries-associated bacteria were detected. Conclusions. Although trends toward a microbiota containing more periodontitis- and caries-associated bacteria were detected, the changes were not severe enough to be significant. Treatment with fixed orthodontics does not necessarily shift the microbiota to a more pathogenic composition.
Comparison of Biofeedback Modalities for Better Achievement in High School Students

Comparison of Biofeedback Modalities for Better Achievement in High School Students The aim of this pilot study was to compare three biofeedback methods for enhancement of cognitive abilities (concentration and attention) in high school students. The sample comprises 50 students in high school for nurses, aged 16-18 years, devised in three groups: I - 30 students trained with EEG-Peak Achievement Trainer (EEG-PAT); II - 10 students trained with Electrodermal Response Biofeedback (EDR); and III - 10 students trained with Heart Rate Variability (HRV). The EEG-PAT is supposed to activate the Executive Attention Network, while HRV and EDR were supposed to influence indirectly, through the stabilization of autonomous nervous system. As psychometric tests we used: Trail Making Test (form A and form B) and numbering forward and backward, each one applied prior and after the experiment. The obtained results suggested that EEG-PAT can be successfully used for improving the concentration and attention and to a less extend the Short Term Memory Span. The HRV showed modest improvement (only for numbers), and EDR group did not show significant improvement in the concentration, attention and the Short Term Memory Span. However, all the three methods are highly cost-benefit and very comfortable for application and can be used for stabilization of the homeostasis.
Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs and Certain Rare, Serious Adverse Events: A Cohort Study

We performed a population‐based study of over 100,000 users of diclofenac, naproxen, or piroxicam to identify cases of important blood, skin, central nervous system, kidney, pancreas, or pulmonary disorders caused by these drugs. In three cases a causal relation seemed likely; one of hemolytic anemia attributed to diclofenac, one of neutropenia attributed to naproxen, and one of pancreatitis attributed to piroxicam. In 13 additional cases a causal connection seemed unlikely but could not be fully ruled out. We conclude that such illnesses are uncommonly caused by the three agents studied.
A rare case of left inferior vena cava with azygous continuation and presence of the suprarenal segment of a right inferior vena cava.

in process of embryogenesis anomalies the IVC. A 29-year-old male patient presented with a two-week history of chest pain and coughing. Initial imaging showed a right cardiophrenic angle opacification on chest radiograph and dilatation of the azygos vein on contrast-enhanced lung computerized tomography imaging. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging of the thorax and abdomen revealed a left IVC (diameter: 16 mm) crossing posteriorly to the abdominal aorta and draining into the azygos vein (diameter: 13 mm) suprarenal mm) abdominal aorta into the superior vena cava, in turn drained hemiazygos
Cigarette smoking, coffee intake and alcohol consumption preceding Parkinson's disease: a case–control study

Objective: A case–control study was performed in Belgrade in order to investigate the association between Parkinson's disease (PD) and smoking, coffee and alcohol consumption. Methods: During the period 2001–2005, 110 new PD cases and 220 hospital controls were interviewed. Cases and controls were matched by sex, age and place of residence (urban/rural). For the analysis of data conditional univariate and multivariate logistic regression methods were used. Results: With PD were associated, independently from each other, current smoking [odds ratio (OR) = 0.44; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.23–0.82], alcohol consumption (OR = 4.78; 95% CI = 2.67–8.55) and coffee consumption (OR = 2.54; 95% CI = 1.36–4.75). In ever smokers the risk for PD significantly decreased with the increasing number of cigarettes smoked and with increasing duration of smoking. The risk for PD significantly increased with the increasing quantity of alcohol consumption. PD risk was significantly higher in subjects whose average daily consumption of coffee was 1 and 2–3 cups, and it was lower (but not significantly) in those whose daily coffee consumption was 4+ cups. Cases and controls did not differ in duration of alcohol and coffee consumption. The results of multivariate analyses did not substantially change after adjustment on family history positive on PD. Conclusion: The findings of this study support the hypotheses of inverse association of smoking with PD, but an inverse association with coffee was not confirmed. PD was found to be positively associated with coffee and alcohol consumption.
Explorer Dividend Irrelevance and Accounting Models of Value

In accounting models of value, dividends typically appear to have a strong positive relationship with value despite theoretical reasons to expect dividend displacement. We show that this result is driven by the relationship between dividends and both core earnings and other information derived from the valuation error in the prior year. Where core earnings can be effectively modelled in a specification including other information, dividend displacement is no longer rejected. Under these circumstances dividends exhibit weak incremental predictive power for earnings and earnings expectations and hence have little impact on value. We show that valuation models are sensitive to model specification and should be used with caution when testing the value impact of firm characteristics or accounting numbers.
Effects of errors in classification and diagnosis in various types of epidemiological-studies.

THE AUTHORS' interest in the effect of misclassification on inferences made from epidemiological studies was stimulated by the results of a study, reported in 1958, in which one of the authors participated. ' This study, made on a consecutive series of 192 male patients admitted to the Roswell Park Memorial Institute, was concerned with the comparison of their statements concerning their circumcision status and physical examination findings. The results are summarized in Table 1. We note that in 34.4 per cent of the patients, their statements, and the physical examination findings were not in agreement. Of the 84 patients found on examination to be circumcised, only 37 or 44.0 per cent said they were and of the 108 found on examination to be uncircumcised, 19 or 17.6 per cent said they were circumcised. Conversely, of the 56 patients who said they were circumcised, 37 or 66.1 per cent were found to be circumcised on examination and of the 136 patients who said they were not circumcised, 47 or 34.6 per cent were found on examination to be circumcised. Similiar results have been obtained in two subsequent studies by other investigators.2'3 This study of the validity of statements concerning circumcision status was conducted because of an interest in epidemiological studies of cancer of the cervix in which the lack of circumcision was suggested as being of etiological importance. As a result of these observations it was suggested that this type of misclassification may produce an observed association between cancer of the cervix and lack of circumcision, when in truth no association exists. This possibility can be illustrated with data reported by Wynder in his study on the relationship of circumcision to cancer of the cervix.4 Some data taken from the results of this study are shown in Table 2. In order to facilitate discussion and consideration of the issues the data have been simplified in that only two classes of circumcision status are considered. The actual situation was more complex in that there were pre-, extra-, and postmarital partners, and in the case of multiple marriages some women had been exposed to both circumcised and uncircumcised husbands. Let us assume that the degree of misclassification of circumcision status observed in the Roswell Park Memorial Institute study was present in the population studied by Wynder. Applying the proportions found there and
Phylogenetic and Taxonomic Heterogeneity of Cryptococcus humicolus by Analysis of the Sequences of the Internal Transcribed Spacer Regions and 18S rDNA, and the Phylogenetic Relationships of C. humicolus, C. curvatus, and the Genus Trichosporon

The phylogenetic and taxonomic heterogeneity of a rare opportunistic yeast pathogen, Cryptococcus humicolus, was revealed by analysis of the sequence of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Sixteen strains of C. humicolus showed a wide diversity in their ITS sequences. In addition, their 18S rDNA sequences were determined and used to analyze the phylogenetic relationships among C. humicolus and related yeasts. On trees constructed by the Neighbor‐Joining and Maximum Parsimony methods, C. humicolus strains were phylogenetically closely related to each other with the exception of one strain, and they clustered with C. curvatus and Trichosporon species with high bootstrap values. Three C. humicolus strains obtained from humans belonged to the group of Trichosporon serotype I species. The results suggest that C. humicolus is a genetically heterogeneous species which should be reclassified on the basis of DNA sequence data.
Comparative Aspects of Regulation and Function of the Adrenal Complex in Different Groups of Vertebrates

The adrenal complex of vertebrates consists of two different parts, the homologues of the mammalian adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla. These both parts are not always strongly connected as in mammals. Regarding the separation of the two parts as it is found in lower vertebrates they should be called interrenal tissue instead of cortex and chromaffin or adrenal tissue instead of medulla. Both parts together are called suprarenal gland when a distinct organ is formed. It is well known that the origins of both parts are different. The chromaffin tissue represents neuroblasts which belong to the postganglionic sympathetic nervous system. The interrenal tissue originates from the mesoderm connected with the renal and gonadal anlage. Consequently, the produced hormones are catecholamines or corticosteroids in all groups of vertebrates.
Subunit interactions provide a significant contribution to the stability of the dimeric four-alpha-helical-bundle protein ROP.

Detailed thermodynamic and spectroscopic studies were carried out on the ColE1-ROP protein in order to establish a quantitative basis for the contribution of noncovalent interactions to the stability of four-helix-bundle proteins. The energetics of both heat- and GdnHCl-induced denaturation were measured by differential scanning microcalorimetry (DSC) and/or by following the change in circular dichroism in the far-UV range. Sedimentation equilibrium analyses were performed to characterize the state of aggregation of the protein. No intermediate species could be detected during thermal unfolding of the dimer in the absence of GdnHCl. Under these conditions ROP unfolding exhibits a strict two-state behavior. The thermodynamic parameters for the reaction N2<->2D are delta HD = 580 +/- 20 kJ. (mol of dimer)-1, delta Cp = 10.3 +/- 1.3 kJ. (mol of dimer)-1.K-1, and Tm = 71.0 +/- 0.5 degrees C. The corresponding Gibbs energy change of unfolding is delta GD degree = 71.7 kJ. (mol of dimer)-1 at 25 degrees C and pH 6. In the presence of 2.5 M GdnHCl, however, ROP dissociates into monomers at elevated temperatures, as the loss of the concentration dependence of Tm and the decreased molecular weight demonstrate. The corresponding transition parameters are delta HD (2.5 M GdnHCl) = 130 +/- 10 kJ. (mol of monomer)-1 and Tm = 51.6 +/- 0.3 degrees C. Isothermal unfolding studies at 19 degrees C using GdnHCl as denaturant yielded a Gibbs energy change of unfolding of 22.4 kJ. (mol of monomer)-1. This extrapolated value is 38% lower than the corresponding delta GD degree value of 35.85 kJ. (mol of monomer)-1 calculated from thermal unfolding for the monomer in the absence of GdnHCl, where the protein is known to be a dimer. These results suggest that subunit interactions are an important source of stabilization of the native four-helix-bundle structure of ROP.