Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pseudo-gustatory display system based on cross-modal integration of vision, olfaction and gustation

In this paper, we propose a pseudo-gustatory display based on the cross-modal interactions that underlie the perception of flavor. Although several studies on visual, auditory, haptic, and olfactory displays have been conducted, gustatory displays have seldom been studied. This scarcity has been attributed to the fact that synthesizing arbitrary taste from basic tastants is difficult. On the other hand, it has been noted that the perception of taste is influenced by visual cues, auditory cues, smell, the trigeminal system, and touch. In our research, we aim at utilizing this influence between modalities for realizing a "pseudo-gustatory" system that enables the user to experience various tastes without changing the chemical composition of foods. Based on this concept, we built a "Meta Cookie" system to change the perceived taste of a cookie by overlaying visual and olfactory information onto a real cookie which an AR marker pattern. We performed an experiment that investigates how people experience the flavor of a plain cookie by using our system. The result suggests that our system can change the perceived taste based on the effect of the cross-modal interaction of vision, olfaction and gustation.
Interactions between Co2 Oral Pungency and Taste

Two experiments are reported in which the perceptual interactions between oral pungency, evoked by CO2, and the taste of each of four tastants–sucrose (sweet), quinine sulfate (bitter), sodium chloride (salty), and tartaric acid (sour)–were explored. In experiment 1 the effect of three concentrations of each tastant on the stimulus-response function for perceived oral pungency, in terms of both rate of change (slope) and relative position along the perceived pungency axis, was determined. In experiment 2 the effect of three concentrations of CO2 on the stimulus-response function for the perceived taste intensity of each tastant was examined. Results show that the characteristics of the mutual effects of tastant and pungent stimulus depend on the particular tastant employed. Sucrose sweetness and CO2 oral pungency have no mutual effect; sodium chloride saltiness or tartaric acid sourness and CO2 oral pungency show mutual enhancement; and quinine sulfate bitterness abates CO2 oral pungency, whereas CO2 has a double and opposite effect on quinine sulfate bitterness–at low concentrations of bitter tastant CO2 enhances bitterness, and at high concentrations of bitter tastant CO2 abates bitterness. It is suggested that the perceptual attributes of saltiness and sourness are closer, from a qualitative point of view, to oral pungency than are the attributes of bitterness and sweetness.
Effect of Tobacco Budworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Infestation Level on Budworm-Resistant and -Susceptible Varieties of Flue-Cured Tobacco in North Carolina

Abstract Field experiments were conducted from 1972 to 1978 and from 1998 to 1999 to evaluate tobacco budworm,Heliothis virescens (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), larval feeding on flue-cured tobacco,Nicotiana tabacum (L.), yield in eastern North Carolina. In the earlier studies, using variety Coker 319, treatment plots were evaluated when either 0 or 100% of plants in a plot were infested withH.virescens larvae. Treatment differences based on actual yield loss (kilograms per hectare) were compared with estimations of yield loss based on leaf consumption and leaf loss. Results indicate actual yield loss when 100% of plants were infested was less than the corresponding estimates of yield loss. In the later experiments, two tobacco budworm-resistant lines, ‘CU 263′ and ‘CU 370′, were compared with a commercial susceptible variety, K 326, when 0, 10, 20, or 40% of plants were infested (1998) and 0, 10, 40, 75, or 100% of plants were infested (1999). Although significant increases in leaf equivalents consumed were associated with infestations exceeding the recommended threshold, differences were not detected for yield (kilograms per hectare), quality (dollars per kilogram), and value (dollars per hectare) within each tobacco line. Additionally, there was not a significant correlation between value and infestations level for any of the tobacco lines. These results provide economic support for tolerance of a higher treatment threshold. Although K 326 sustained more leaf equivalent loss than CU 263 and CU 370, the value of K 326 harvested was higher than that of CU 263 and CU 370. To justify use of resistant varieties, the combination of pest pressure and the benefit of host plant resistance must be greater than the capacity of a susceptible variety to produce competitive yields, despite sustaining significantly higher loss.
Depression, Isolation, Social Support, and Cardiovascular Disease in Older Adults

Research evidence related specifically to psychosocial issues in older adults with cardiovascular disease remains sparse; however, widespread recognition of the impact of the changing population demographic is spurring new research in this important area. National guidelines for cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention in several countries include recommendations related to psychosocial issues; authors are beginning to address the older cardiac patient in their recommendations. The purpose of this article is to highlight some key psychosocial factors that have been independently associated with coronary heart disease but to do so with a focus on the older adult in the secondary prevention setting. The selected psychosocial factors are social support, social isolation, and depression. Although evidence supports a relationship between psychosocial factors and coronary heart disease, the issue addressed in this article is whether such relationships hold true in the older adult and whether rehabilitation and secondary prevention interventions are targeted to address these factors. As much as possible, current recommendations (related to psychosocial issues) from worldwide Clinical Practice Guidelines are highlighted. Finally, any examination of psychosocial factors and coronary heart disease must consider the possibility of sex and/or gender differences. Therefore, a commentary on reported differences between men and women with respect to social support, social isolation, and depression is included.
Electroconvulsive Therapy and Its Association With Demographic and Clinical Characteristics in Chinese Psychiatric Patients

Purpose Little is known about the frequency of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) use in China. This study examined the frequency of ECT and its relationship with demographic and clinical characteristics in a large psychiatric institution in China. Methods This was a retrospective chart review of all the 19,982 inpatients aged 18 to 59 years treated during the period of 8 years (2007–2013) in a tertiary psychiatric institution in Beijing. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected from the electronic chart management system for discharged patients. Results The frequency of ECT use was 57.7% in the whole sample, 68.4% in bipolar disorders, 66.3% in major depression, 55.2% in schizophrenia, and 28.6% in other psychiatric disorders. Patients who received ECT (ECT group) had shorter length of hospitalization compared with the non-ECT group. In multiple logistic regression analysis, ECT use was independently associated with age younger than 30 years; higher risk for suicide and aggression at time of admission; mood disorders; lower risk for falls; more treatment with antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and antidepressants; less health insurance coverage and major medical conditions; as well as non–local residency status. Compared with 2007 (35.5%), ECT use significantly increased in the period of 2008 (49.1%) to 2013 (61.9%). All these significant correlates combined explained 20% of the variance of ECT use (P < 0.001). Conclusions In a major psychiatric center in China, the use of ECT was much more common than the figures reported from most countries around the world. Reasons for this difference and variances in outcomes between settings with higher and lower ECT use should be studied.
Impaired Glycinergic Synaptic Transmission and Enhanced Inflammatory Pain in Mice with Reduced Expression of Vesicular GABA Transporter (VGAT)

Loading of GABA and glycine into synaptic vesicles via the vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT) is an essential step in inhibitory neurotransmission. As a result of the evidence linking alterations in GABAergic and/or glycinergic neurotransmission to various pain disorders, we investigated the possible influence of down-regulation of VGAT on pain threshold and behavioral responses in mice. The phenotypes of heterozygous VGAT knockout [VGAT(+/−)] mice were compared with wild-type (WT) mice using behavioral assays. In addition, GABAergic and glycinergic miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) were recorded in dorsal horn neurons. Western blot analysis confirmed significant reduction of VGAT protein levels in VGAT(+/−) mice. However, high-performance liquid chromatography revealed that glutamate, GABA, and glycine contents in the whole brain and spinal cord were normal in VGAT(+/−) mice. Behavioral analysis of VGAT(+/−) mice showed unchanged motor coordination, anxiety, memory performance, and anesthetic sensitivity to propofol and ketamine, although thermal nociception and inflammatory pain were enhanced. Patch-clamp recordings revealed that the frequency and amplitude of glycinergic mIPSCs in lamina II neurons were reduced in VGAT(+/−) mice. Genotype differences in glycinergic mIPSCs were more evident during sustained stimulation by solutions with high potassium levels, suggesting that the estimated size of the readily releasable pool of glycine-containing vesicles was reduced in VGAT(+/−) mice. These results provide genetic, behavioral, and electrophysiological evidence that VGAT-mediated inhibitory drive alters very specific forms of sensory processing: those related to pain processing. More close examination will be needed to verify the possibility of VGAT as a new therapeutic target for the treatment of inflammatory pain.
An oral sensitization model in Brown Norway rats to screen for potential allergenicity of food proteins.

We developed an oral sensitization protocol for food proteins for the rat. Young Brown Norway (BN) rats were exposed to 1 mg ovalbumin (OVA) by daily gavage dosing for 42 days without the use of an adjuvant. OVA-specific IgE and IgG responses were determined by ELISA. On an oral challenge with OVA some clinical symptoms of food allergy-like effects on the respiratory system, blood pressure, and permeability of the gastrointestinal barrier were studied. In addition, BN rats were orally exposed to a total hen egg white protein (HEW) extract and cow's milk (CM) and the specificities of induced antibody responses were compared with the specificities of antibodies in sera from egg- and milk-allergic patients using immunoblotting. Animals orally exposed to the allergens developed specific IgE and IgG antibodies which recognized the same proteins compared with antibodies from egg- or CM-allergic patients. Among the various clinical symptoms of food allergy, gut permeability was increased after an oral challenge. In addition, some animals demonstrated a temporary decrease in breathing frequency or systolic blood pressure. The results obtained show that the Brown Norway rat is a suitable animal model for inducing specific IgG and IgE responses on daily intragastric dosing of OVA without the use of an adjuvant. Moreover, local immune-mediated effects on oral challenge are observed. The observation that enterally exposed BN rats and food-allergic patients demonstrate antibody responses to a comparable selection of proteins on exposure to different protein mixtures (HEW and CM) further supports the suitability of the BN rat as an animal model for food allergy research and for the study of the allergenicity of (novel) food proteins.
Oligoclonal IgA Response in the Vascular Wall in Acute Kawasaki Disease1

Kawasaki Disease (KD) is a potentially fatal acute vasculitis of childhood. Although KD is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children in developed nations, its pathogenesis remains unknown. We previously reported the novel observation that IgA plasma cells infiltrate the vascular wall in acute KD. We have now examined the clonality of this IgA response in vascular tissue from three fatal cases of KD to determine whether it is oligoclonal, suggesting an Ag-driven process, or polyclonal, suggesting nonspecific B cell activation or a response to a superantigen. We first sequenced VDJ junctions of 44 α genes isolated from a primary, unamplified KD vascular cDNA library. Five sets of clonally related α sequences were identified, comprising 34% (15 of 44) of the isolated α sequences. Furthermore, point mutations consistent with somatic mutation were detected in the related sequences. Next, using formalin-fixed coronary arteries from two additional fatal KD cases, we sequenced VDJ junctions of α genes isolated by RT-PCR, and a restricted pattern of CDR3 usage was observed in both. We conclude that the vascular IgA response in acute KD is oligoclonal. The identification of an oligoclonal IgA response in KD strongly suggests that the immune response to this important childhood illness is Ag-driven.
Phase I study of accelerated conformal radiotherapy for stage I non-small-cell lung cancer in patients with pulmonary dysfunction: CALGB 39904.

PURPOSE The optimal treatment for medically inoperable stage I non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been defined. PATIENTS AND METHODS Cancer and Leukemia Group B trial 39904 prospectively assessed accelerated, once-daily, three-dimensional radiotherapy for early-stage NSCLC. The primary objectives were to define the maximally accelerated course of conformal radiotherapy and to describe the short-term and long-term toxicity of therapy. Entry was limited to patients with clinical stage T1N0 or T2N0 NSCLC (< 4 cm) and pulmonary dysfunction. The nominal total radiotherapy dose remained at 70 Gy, while the number of daily fractions in each successive cohort was reduced. RESULTS Thirty-nine eligible patients were accrued (eight patients each on cohorts 1 to 4 and seven patients on cohort 5) between January 2001 and July 2005. One grade 3 nonhematologic toxicity was observed in both cohort 3 (dyspnea) and cohort 4 (pain). The major response rate was 77%. After a median follow-up time of 53 months, the actuarial median survival time of all eligible patients was 38.5 months. Local relapse was observed in three patients. CONCLUSION Accelerated conformal radiotherapy was well tolerated in a high-risk population with clinical stage I NSCLC. Outcomes are comparable to prospective reports of alternative therapies, including stereotactic body radiation therapy and limited resection, with less apparent severe toxicity. Further investigation of this approach is warranted.
Mortality from myocardial infarction in relation to exposure to vibration and dust among a cohort of iron-ore miners in Sweden

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate myocardial infarction (MI) mortality in relation to exposure to hand/arm vibration (HAV) and whole body vibration (WBV) as well as exposure to dust among men employed in two Swedish iron-ore mines. Methods This study comprised employed men at two iron-ore mines in Sweden who had been employed for at least 1 year from 1923 up to 1996. The causes of death were obtained from the national cause of death register from 1952 to 2001. Myocardial infarction mortality was obtained by linking personal identification numbers to the national cause of death register. Poisson regression was used for risk estimations on exposure–response relation, and analyses were made on the two age groups ≤60 years and >60 years. Results Relative risks for MI mortality in relation to exposure were significantly increased for exposure (0/>0) to WBV (RR 1.18, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.31) and dust (RR 1.15, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.31), and the results indicated an exposure–response relation for WBV and dust separately. For 60 years and younger, exposure to HAV (0/>0) (RR 1.34, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.74) and WBV (0/>0) (RR 1.39, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.72) increased the risk of MI mortality. An exposure–response was found for HAV and WBV, as the medium and high exposed categories showed significantly increased risk estimates. None of the exposures significantly increased the risk in the group above 60 years. The increased risk estimates for exposure to WBV remained when adjusting for exposure to dust. Conclusions The results for the working age (≤60 years) group showed significantly increased MI mortality for univariate exposure to HAV, WBV and dust. We found an association between increased mortality from MI and occupational exposure to WBV, and the risk remained after adjustment for dust exposure.
Radiation dose levels for interventional CT procedures.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine typical radiation dose levels to patients undergoing CT-guided interventional procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 571 patients undergoing CT interventional procedures were included in this retrospective data analysis study. Enrolled patients underwent one of five procedures: cryoablation, aspiration, biopsy, drain, or injection. With each procedure, two scan modes were used, either intermittent (no table increment) or helical mode. Skin dose was estimated from the volumetric CT dose index (CTDI(vol)) and phantom measurements. Effective dose was calculated by multiplying dose-length product (DLP) and conversion factor (k factor) for helical mode, and using Monte Carlo organ dose coefficients for intermittent mode. RESULTS The mean (± SD) skin doses were 728 ± 382, 130 ± 104, 128 ± 81, 152 ± 105, and 195 ± 147 mGy, and the mean effective doses were 119.7 ± 50.3, 20.1 ± 11.0, 13.8 ± 9.2, 25.3 ± 15.4, and 9.1 ± 5.5 mSv for each of the five procedures, respectively. The maximum skin dose was 1.95 Gy. The mean effective dose across all procedure types was 24.1 mSv, with 2.3 mSv from intermittent scans and 21.8 mSv from helical scans. CONCLUSION Substantial dose differences were observed among the five procedures. The risk of deterministic effects appears to be very low, because the maximum observed skin dose did not exceed the threshold for transient skin erythema (2 Gy). The average risk of stochastic effects was comparable to that of 1-10 abdomen and pelvis CT examinations. Although the intermittent mode can contribute substantially to skin dose, it contributes minimally to the effective dose because of the much shorter scan range used.
Characterization of a nitrate-respiring bacterial community using the nitrate reductase gene (narG) as a functional marker.

Bacterial cultures capable of reducing nitrate to nitrite, or of complete denitrification, were established from 5, 10, 15 and 20 cm depths of a freshwater sediment. Taxonomic analysis of the 56 isolates using 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed an unexpected species richness, which included representatives of the gamma-Proteobacteria, Bacillus spp. , Staphylococcus spp. and members of the Actinobacteria. Gram-positive species tended to predominate in the lower depths of the sediment, where there was evidence of active sulphate respiration. Sequences (from the narG gene) potentially encoding the catalytic subunit of the membrane-associated nitrate reductase were successfully amplified from 46 of the isolates, using a nested PCR with four degenerate primers. NarG sequences clustered into three major groupings that were supported by alternative phylogenetic analyses. The NarG sequences from Gram-positive isolates (according to rRNA gene phylogeny) clustered together within sequences from the low-G+C Gram-positive bacteria. However, this cluster also included two sequences from members of the genus Pseudomonas. Another group contained mostly NarG sequences from the Proteobacteria (according to rRNA gene phylogeny), but also included five sequences from Gram-positive species. The third group of NarG sequences contained three sequences from Gram-positive species. Thus, the NarG-derived phylogeny is not entirely consistent with 16S rRNA-based taxonomy, precluding the use of the narG gene as a taxonomically useful tool for the characterization of nitrate-respiring bacteria. Total DNA was also extracted from the four depth intervals of the sediment sample and used in similar narG amplifications. Most sequences amplified directly from environmental DNA clustered in the Gram-negative group, and none was in the predominantly Gram-positive group. The study also revealed a degree of spatial organization of a nitrate-respiring community in terms of both microbiology and narG sequences.
Rationale for chemotherapeutic approaches to prostate cancer

The problems of curing tumors with a low growth fraction with cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents include 1) the fact that such agents attack biochemical pathways common and vital to all cells, 2) the existence in a tumor of cells with both temporary and permanent resistance to specific agents, and 3) the exponential nature of cell kill, which necessitates a much more intensive treatment to effect cure than to effect remission. The possible bases for selectivity of anticancer drugs include those factors that affect the concentration of the active form of the drug at the active site, those that affect the drug receptor interaction and those that determine whether this interaction will lead to cell death. Possible ways of overcoming resistance include combination chemotherapy, more intensive chemotherapy, adjuvant chemotherapy, and maneuvers leading to recruitment of cells into cycle. Because of tumor cell heterogeneity a different approach may be needed to effect cure from that required to induce complete remission.
Illness Identity and the Self-regulatory Model in Recovery from Early Stage Gynaecological Cancer

Women in recovery from early stage gynaecological cancer have extremely good survival and low recurrence rates. Despite this, women continue to feel vulnerable to cancer recurrence for years after treatment. Semi-structured interviews were utilized to explore the factors involved in recovery from gynaecological cancer. This article argues that the illness identity of gynaecological cancer perpetuates a vulnerability to cancer recurrence. The absence of self-diagnosis prior to medical diagnosis is important in the formation of gynaecological cancer illness identity. A lack of self-diagnosis may be due to the ‘normalization’ of initial symptomatology. It is suggested that illness identity is responsible for maintaining fears of symptom-free cancer recurrence. The self-regulatory model is employed to explore this process, looking in particular at the reinforcement of reassurance needs.